Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Epileptogenesis Requires Development of a Network of Pathologically Interconnected Neuron Clusters: A Hypothesis

Summary: Purpose: The “silent period” is a characteristic of human localization‐related symptomatic epilepsy. In mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), it follows an initial precipitating injury, and in animal models of MTLE in which brain damage is artificially created, there is also a prolonged interval between injury and the onset of spontaneous seizures. The neuronal reorganization responsible for epileptogenesis presumably takes place during this silent interval; however, the functional correlates of this process are poorly understood. We have previously described high‐frequency (250 to 500 Hz) oscillations, called fast ripples (FR), in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC) of intrahippocampal kainic acid (KA)‐injected rats and patients with MTLE that are confined to the region of spontaneous seizure generation. We have proposed, therefore, that FR reflect the mechanisms responsible for epileptogenesis. If this is the case, they should appear during the process of epileptogenesis, before the appearance of spontaneous seizures. The purpose of the present study was to record continuously from rats after KA injection to compare the temporal development of FR with spontaneous seizures. Additional goals were to determine in these rats after spontaneous seizures begin (a) the volume of tissue in which FR can be recorded in hippocampus and EC, (b) the multiple‐unit and field potential correlates of FR oscillations, and (c) whether there is an association of FR with mossy fiber sprouting.
Post-traumatic growth after head injury: A long-term follow-up

Primary objective: To investigate the time course of any positive psychological changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) by comparing questionnaire responses in two groups of TBI survivors, early, 1–3 years post-injury and late, 10–12 years post-injury. Research design: A cross-sectional, between-group design. Method and Procedure: TBI survivors were selected from the Reading Head Injury out-patient records by date of registration, early survivors from 2002–2004 and late survivors from 1993–1996 and sent a battery of postal questionnaires. These included The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, The Life Satisfaction Checklist and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Individuals were also given the opportunity to answer questions about their perception of their condition and to provide free text responses to reflect best and worst advice received, to describe positive and negative changes in themselves and to identify their most useful coping strategies. Results: 61 ‘early’ and 65 ‘late’ people were contacted with study details and 52 consented to the study, receiving questionnaires which provided 23 ‘early’ and 25 ‘late’ responses. There was a significantly greater degree of post-traumatic growth, as measured on ‘The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory’, reported by the later group (*p = 0.000), but no other significant differences between the groups in terms of all the other variables. Both groups reported greater life satisfaction pre-injury. Conclusion: Measures of Post-traumatic Growth (Relating to Others, Personal Strength, New Possibilities, Appreciation of Life and Spirituality) appear to increase over time after head injury. This is a positive message that clinicians should note and reinforce and could help to shape future adjustment.
Surgical Site Infections: Predisposing factors and Prevention

Despite medical advancements Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain important clinical problem worldwide and heavy financial burden on healthcare. Wound infection occurs after surgery depends on patient related factors, procedure related factor, microbial factor, and perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. Operative wound are classified as clean wound, clean contaminated, contaminated, and dirty infected wound. Frequently isolated pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus,coagulase negative Staphylococcus,MRSA,CA- MRSA(community acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus),multidrug resistant pathogens and anaerobic bacilli. Use of known prophylaxis measure is the best practice. Supplement oxygen may be useful. Intensive glucose control can lead to reduction in deep wound infection in diabetic patients. Prophylactic antibiotic must ensure that tissue concentrations remain well above the MIC values. CDC recommendations on prophylactic antibiotic dosing are beneficial. Noble perception that all SSIs are preventable is unrealistic andincorrect, given the presence of many risk factors. Keywords: Surgical site infections. Risk factors, Prevention, Antibiotic prophylaxis,
Wind turbine generator step-up transformer failure investigation

This paper presents an investigation into the recurring failures of pad-mounted generator step-up transformers that have been experienced by Exelon Wind at a wind farm in Northern Texas. Observations indicate that the transformer failures are typically a result of contaminated oil due to arcing within the transformer expulsion fuse tube. To determine the underlying cause of this phenomena, S&C Electric Company installed digital monitoring equipment to capture electrical and thermal data at a pad-mounted generator step-up transformer over a four-month period. Electrical data was also captured at the point of interconnect between the wind farm and the local utility. The data captured in this time frame revealed that high-current surges and current cycling frequently occurred due to the WTG cycling on and off from the highly variable wind speeds in the area. High-current surges and current cycling places thermomechanical stress on the transformer and expulsion fuse links, which may ultimately lead to the types of failures experienced at this location.
Risk Factors for Development of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Pediatric Renal Transplant Recipients: An Analysis of the OPTN/UNOS Database

Background. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) after kidney transplant in pediatric renal transplant recipients using Organ Procurement Transplant Network/United Network of Organ Sharing database. Methods. A total of 2726 nondiabetic primary kidney transplant recipients (age 2-20 years, transplanted between July 2004 and December 2007) in the Organ Procurement Transplant Network/United Network of Organ Sharing database as of August 2008 with at least one follow-up report were included. We examined the risk factors for NODM using multivariate Cox regression analysis using the time to NODM reported as a time-varying endpoint. In recipients with functional graft at 1 year after transplant, the graft survivals during subsequent 24 months were compared according to the presence of NODM within first year of transplant. Results. NODM was reported in 4.6% (median follow-up time: 693 days). Independent risk factors for NODM included increased age (>10 years vs. <10 years, hazard ratio [HR]=2.143, P=0.015), abnormal body mass index percentile (<5% or >85% vs. 5%-85%, HR=1.697, P=0.01), and steroid use at discharge (yes vs. no, HR=3.573, P=0.03). Living donor transplant was associated with a decreased risk of NODM (living vs. deceased, HR=0.629, P=0.05). NODM within first year of transplant was not associated with inferior graft survival during subsequent 24 months. Discussion. Some of the identified risk factors for NODM are potentially modifiable, including abnormal body mass index percentile and the use of steroid. Prospective clinical trials are needed to assess whether modifying these risk factors will prevent NODM.
STC-MIMO Block Spread OFDM in Frequency Selective Rayleigh Fading Channels

In this paper, we expand the idea of spreading the transmitted symbols in OFDM systems by unitary spreading matrices based on the rotated Hadamard or rotated Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrices proposed in the literature to apply to Space-Time Coded Multiple-Input Multiple- Output OFDM (STC-MIMO-OFDM) systems. We refer the resulting systems to as STC-MIMO Block Spread OFDM (STC-MIMO-BOFDM) systems. In the proposed systems, a multi-dimensional diversity, including time, frequency, space and modulation diversities, can be used, resulting in better bit error performance in frequency selective Rayleigh fading channels compared to the conventional OFDM systems with or without STCs. Simulations carried out with the Alamouti code confirm the advantage of the proposed STC-MIMO-BOFDM systems.
Architecture of the Bacteriophage T4 Activator MotA/Promoter DNA Interaction during Sigma Appropriation*

Background: No structure exists of the bacteriophage T4 activator MotA with DNA. Results: Using FeBABE, physical models, and ICM Molsoft, we determined how MotA interacts with DNA within the transcription complex. Conclusion: The unusual “double-wing” motif in MotACTD sits within the DNA major groove. Significance: FeBABE analyses together with structures can be used to determine protein-DNA architecture within multiprotein complexes. Gene expression can be regulated through factors that direct RNA polymerase to the correct promoter sequence at the correct time. Bacteriophage T4 controls its development in this way using phage proteins that interact with host RNA polymerase. Using a process called σ appropriation, the T4 co-activator AsiA structurally remodels the σ70 subunit of host RNA polymerase, while a T4 activator, MotA, engages the C terminus of σ70 and binds to a DNA promoter element, the MotA box. Structures for the N-terminal (NTD) and C-terminal (CTD) domains of MotA are available, but no structure exists for MotA with or without DNA. We report the first molecular map of the MotA/DNA interaction within the σ-appropriated complex, which we obtained by using the cleaving reagent, iron bromoacetamidobenzyl-EDTA (FeBABE). We conjugated surface-exposed, single cysteines in MotA with FeBABE and performed cleavage reactions in the context of stable transcription complexes. The DNA cleavage sites were analyzed using ICM Molsoft software and three-dimensional physical models of MotANTD, MotACTD, and the DNA to investigate shape complementarity between the protein and the DNA and to position MotA on the DNA. We found that the unusual “double wing” motif present within MotACTD resides in the major groove of the MotA box. In addition, we have used surface plasmon resonance to show that MotA alone is in a very dynamic equilibrium with the MotA element. Our results demonstrate the utility of fine resolution FeBABE mapping to determine the architecture of protein-DNA complexes that have been recalcitrant to traditional structure analyses.
Butting by calves,Bos taurus, and rate of milk flow

During nursing, the young of many ungulates butt at their dams' udder, which has been hypothesized to reflect difficulty obtaining milk. We investigated the effect of manipulating milk flow rate on the butting behaviour of domestic calves sucking milk from an artificial teat. The lowest rate of butting during nutritive sucking occurred with the fastest flow rate, and the highest rate of butting occurred with the slowest flow rate. When milk flow rate was changed during a meal, calves butted more following a decrease in flow rate than following an increase in flow rate. Butting rates were consistent and relatively low with a constant flow of milk. Regardless of flow rate, calves butted more at the beginning of their meal compared with the middle and end. Overall, the highest butting rate occurred when milk flow stopped, either at the end of the meal or when milk flow during the meal was stopped repeatedly for 30-s periods. We conclude that calves are sensitive to variations in milk flow rate and that butting rate changes accordingly. The occurrence of butting by young ungulates during nursing thus may indicate either a stoppage of milk flow or a decrease in milk flow rate, and thus may help identify periods of nonnutritive sucking during nursing. (c) 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
A new mechanism of SOX9 action to regulate PKCα expression in the intestine epithelium

Variations of protein kinase C (PKC) expression greatly influence the proliferation-to-differentiation transition (PDT) of intestinal epithelial cells and might have an important impact on intestinal tumorigenesis. We demonstrate here that the expression of PKCα in proliferating intestinal epithelial cells is repressed both in vitro and in vivo by the SOX9 transcription factor. This repression does not require DNA binding of the SOX9 high-mobility group (HMG) domain but is mediated through a new mechanism of SOX9 action requiring the central and highly conserved region of SOXE members. Because SOX9 expression is itself upregulated by Wnt-APC signaling in intestinal epithelial cells, the present study points out this transcription factor as a molecular link between the Wnt-APC pathway and PKCα. These results provide a potential explanation for the decrease of PKCα expression in colorectal cancers with constitutive activation of the Wnt-APC pathway.
Linking fiscal policy and growth in PER reports: : an operational framework for low-income countries

This note describes a framework for linking fiscal policy and growth issues in low-income countries. The framework has been developed in the context of a recently, completed Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability Review (PEMFAR) report in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. The note describes first the framework and then illustrates its application to fiscal reform and growth prospects in the context of Haiti. The note concludes by laying out an agenda for developing this framework further, ideally to facilitate use of this framework in preparing more Public Expenditure Reviews (PERs) and elaborating medium-term budget frameworks.
Competitive positioning : the key to market success

Marketing strategy - market-lead strategic managment, strategic marketing planning, portfolio planning competitive market analysis - industry analysis, assessment of corporate capabilities, customer analysis, competitor analysis identifying current and future competitive positions - segmentation concepts and principles, segmentation research, positioning research competitive positioning strategies - selecting market targets, building and maintaining defensible positions, offensive and defensive marketing strategies, conclusions.
Free Lunch! Arbitrage Opportunities in the Foreign Exchange Markets

Using the "firm" quotes obtained from the tick-by-tick EBS (electronic broking system that is a major trading platform for foreign exchanges) data, it is found that risk-free arbitrage opportunities--free lunch--do occur in the foreign exchange markets, but it typically last only a few seconds. "Free lunch" is in the form of (a) negative spreads in a currency pair and (b) triangular arbitrage relationship involving three currency pairs. The latter occur much more often than the former. Such arbitrage opportunities tend to occur when the markets are active and volatile. Over the 12-year, tick-data samples, the number of free lunch opportunities has dramatically declined and the probability of the opportunities disappearing within one second has steadily increased. The size of expected profits is higher than transaction costs; trades that simultaneously take place on both sides of ask and bid (or three currency trades in case of triangular arbitrage) occur more often when free lunch appeared one second earlier than otherwise, suggesting that free lunch opportunities are actively taken. The probability of its disappearance within one second was less than 50% in 1999, but increased to about 90% by 2009. Less frequent occurrence and quicker disappearance in recent years are attributable to changes in trading microstructure: an introduction and proliferation of the Primary Customer system (weaker banks can use stronger banks' credit lines) and of direct connection of traders' programmed computers to the EBS computer.
ICOP 2009-International Conference on Optics and Photonics Chandigarh , India , 30 Oct .1 Nov . 2009 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON BOUNDARY DIFFRACTION WAVE

Experimental investigations on the Young’s boundar y diffraction wave have been reported using a Foucault’s knife-edge setup followed by Lloyd’s mir ror interferometer. Superposition of two diffracted wavefronts generates interference fringes in the wh ole space. Formation of these fringes in geometrica lly shadow region supports the physical existence of Young’s b oundary diffraction.
The Unintended Consequences of the Basel III Liquidity Risk Regulation

The new liquidity risk regulation represents the chief innovation introduced by Basel III, following the regulator‘s intention to fix Basel II‘s omissions. We review the substitution effect set off on the bank‘s balance sheets by the new liquidity risk regulation, which dissuades the use of the unsecured interbank market as a source of funding liquidity and promotes the reliance on sovereign debt and central bank support as the main source of liquidity. Such assessment of the new liquidity risk regulation shows that its application is not without unintended consequences, which we study in terms of the impacts on financial stability, the macroeconomic consequences and the moral hazard introduced in the banking system.
How cities can connect people in poverty with jobs

How can city stakeholders connect people in poverty with jobs? Poverty is an issue for people both in and out of work. This report reviews UK and international evidence on local approaches to linking people who are out of work to jobs and those in work to better jobs. As cities gain more powers and strategic discretion to address local issues it is important to build on existing evidence of ‘what works’ in connecting people in poverty with jobs. The report shows: - there is more evidence on pre-employment and employment entry than on staying in work and in-work progression; - there is less evidence at city level than nationally; - at the pre-employment stage holistic support packages encompassing advice and guidance, mentoring, and employer-designed training are valuable; - for employment entry workplace-based training and help with transport and childcare can help; - the quality of initial job entry is important for staying in work; - there is scope for stimulating opportunities for in-work progression with employers in growth sectors or with recruitment and retention problems.
Global brand positioning and perceptions

Global consumer culture is recognised as a collection of common signs and symbols (e.g. brands) that are understood by significant numbers of consumers in urban markets around the world. International advertising is a powerful driving force of this evolving phenomenon. However, scholars have suggested that more comprehensive theoretical frameworks are needed to better understand international advertising in the global environment. Global consumer culture positioning (GCCP) and perceived brand globalness (PBG) represent two important constructs for studying international advertising in the context of global consumer culture. This review of GCCP and PBG highlights their past application and future potential for advancing international advertising theory, research and practice. It also sheds light on the long-standing standardisation versus adaptation debate.
Whole-Cell Biocatalysis for 1-Naphthol Production in Liquid-Liquid Biphasic Systems

ABSTRACT Whole-cell biocatalysis to oxidize naphthalene to 1-naphthol in liquid-liquid biphasic systems was performed. Escherichia coli expressing TOM-Green, a variant of toluene ortho-monooxygenase (TOM), was used for this oxidation. Three different solvents, dodecane, dioctyl phthalate, and lauryl acetate, were screened for biotransformations in biphasic media. Of the solvents tested, lauryl acetate gave the best results, producing 0.72 ± 0.03 g/liter 1-naphthol with a productivity of 0.46 ± 0.02 g/g (dry weight) cells after 48 h. The effects of the organic phase ratio and the naphthalene concentration in the organic phase were investigated. The highest 1-naphthol concentration (1.43 g/liter) and the highest 1-naphthol productivity (0.55 g/g [dry weight] cells) were achieved by optimization of the organic phase. The ability to recycle both free cells and cells immobilized in calcium alginate was tested. Both free and immobilized cells lost more than ∼60% of their activity after the first run, which could be attributed to product toxicity. On a constant-volume basis, an eightfold improvement in 1-naphthol production was achieved using biphasic media compared to biotransformation in aqueous media.
Impact of board size and board diversity on firm value: Australian evidence

The aim of this paper is to provide a preliminary analysis of the relationship between firm market value and the size and gender diversity of a board of directors for a sample of publicly listed Australian firms. Our results show that smaller boards appear to be more effective in representing the shareholders as smaller boards are associated with higher firm value. As board size increases firm value declines, however at a decreasing rate suggesting that the relationship between board size and firm value is not strictly linear. Our findings further indicate that gender diversity promotes shareholders' value as the presence of women directors is associated with higher firm value.
On the optimal power-distortion tradeoff in asymmetric gaussian sensor network

We present necessary and sufficient conditions, similar to the recent results of Gastpar (2007), for the achievability of all power-distortion tuples (P,D) = (P1, P2, middot middot middot , PL,D) in an asymmetric Gaussian sensor network where L distributed sensors transmit noisy observations of a Gaussian source through a Gaussian multiple access channel to a fusion center. We show numerically that in general the gap between the provided upper bound and the lower bound of the distortion D is small. We also provide an optimal power allocation that minimizes the total power consumption, Pmacr = Sigmai=1 L Pi, for uncoded transmission scheme while satisfying a given distortion constraint D. Numerical evaluations show that by applying the optimal power allocation uncoded transmission can perform nearly optimal in an asymmetric sensor network subject to a sum-power constraint. In the symmetric case both bounds agree and provide the optimal power-distortion tradeoff (P,D); this agrees with result of (M. Gastpar, 2007). Thus, in the sense of achieving the optimal (P,D) tradeoff, uncoded transmission is optimal in the symmetric case and can be nearly-optimal in the asymmetric case.
FSH dystrophy and a subtelomeric 4q haplotype: a new assay and associations with disease

Background Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant disease associated with contraction of arrays of tandem 3.3-kb units (D4Z4) on subtelomeric 4q. Disease-linked arrays usually have fewer than 11 repeat units. Equally short D4Z4 arrays at subtelomeric 10q are not linked to FSHD. The newly described 4qA161 haplotype, which is more prevalent in pathogenic 4q alleles, involves sequences in and near D4Z4. Methods We developed two new assays for 4qA161, which are based upon direct sequencing of PCR products or detecting restriction fragment length polymorphisms. They were used to analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) indicative of 4q161 alleles. Results All (35/35) FSHD patients had one or two 4qA161 alleles (60% or 40%, respectively). In contrast, 46% (21/46) of control individuals had no 4qA161 allele (p<10−4), and 26% had homozygous 4qB163 alleles. Conclusions Our results from a heterogeneous population are consistent with the previously described association of the 4qA161 haplotype with FSHD, but a causal association with pathogenesis is uncertain. In addition, we found that haplotype analysis is complicated by the presence of minor 10q alleles. Nonetheless, our sequencing assay for the 4qA161allele can enhance molecular diagnosis of FSHD, including prenatal diagnosis, and is simpler to perform than the previously described assay.