Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of static and dynamic balance in patients with unilateral and bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES Unilateral and bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients were compared with respect to static and dynamic balance in the postoperative sixth and 12th months. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty TKA patients 35 unilateral, 45 bilateral were assessed for static and dynamic balance using the balance master test device in sixth and 12th months after surgery. Patients were also measured with respect to Hospital for Special Surgery knee score and range of motions. Differences between groups were statistically evaluated using independent t-tests. Within-group time differences were statistically examined using paired t-tests. Correlation between the measurements was evaluated by the Pearson,s analysis. RESULTS Sensory interaction balance and unilateral stance test of static balance assessment were similar in unilateral and bilateral TKA (p>0.05). Patients with bilateral TKA had statistically significantly better performance at the limits of stability of dynamic balance evaluations (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between rhythmic weight shift tests in the sixth and 12th months after surgery (p>0.05). CONCLUSION In our study we concluded that while dynamic balance parameters in the daily activities of patients with bilateral TKA were expected to be better than patients with unilateral TKA, there was no significant difference between static balance parameters between the two groups.
Suitability of Transgenic Glyphosate-Resistant Soybeans to Green Cloverworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Host plant suitability to green cloverworm, Hypena scabra (F.), was evaluated on two conventional soybean varieties (Stine 2499–0 and 2972–2) and two RoundUp Ready Soybeans (Stine 2506–4 and 2892–4) with and without exposure to glyphosate. No differences among treatments were detected on developmental time and survivorship. Developmental time from first instar to adult ranged from 24.7 to 25.5 d, and survivorship ranged from 86 to 96%. No sex bias was observed among treatments (proportion of females ranged from 0.41 to 0.50). Morphological differences were observed between sexes; males had a longer and wider thorax, longer wings, and longer body. Females had longer and wider abdomens. Although treatments did not affect size (calculated with principal component analyses), significant differences were observed between males and females. These results suggest that soybean genetic differences (between conventional varieties and analogous transgenic varieties) or plant stress (induced by glyphosate metabolization) do not affect the plant suitability to H. scabra. RESUMEN El effecto como hospedero, de dos variedades convencionales de soya (Stine 2499–0 and 2972–2), y dos variedades de soya RoundUp Ready (Stine 2506–4 and 2892–4) expuestas y no expuestas a glyphosato, fueron evaluadas para Hypena scabra (F.). Ninguna diferencia estadística entre los tratamientos fue detectada en la duracción de desarrollo del insecto o su sobrevivencia. La duración de desarrollo de primer instar para adulto ociló entre 24.7–25.5 días, y la sobrevivencia fluctuó entre 86–96%. La proporción sexual (hembra:macho) fue similar entre los tratamientos, la cual ociló entre 0.41–0.5 (proporción de hembras sobre el total de adultos). Diferencias morfológicas fueron observadas entre uno y otro sexo, machos tuvieron un thorax mas largo y ancho, alas mas largas, y fueron mas largos que las hembras. Las hembras tuvieron abdómenes mas largos y anchos. Aunque entre los tratamientos no se encontraron diferencias en tamaño (calculado usando análisis de componente principal), se observaron diferencias significativas entre machos y hembras. Estos resultados indican que las diferencias genéticas en la soya (entre variedades convencionales y variedades transgénicas análogas) o el estrés en plantas (inducido por la metabolización de glyphosato) no afecta la calidad de la planta como hospedero de H. scabra.
Expression of the Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein Inhibits Alphavirus Replication

ABSTRACT The rat zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) was recently identified as a host protein conferring resistance to retroviral infection. We analyzed ZAP's ability to inhibit viruses from other families and found that ZAP potently inhibits the replication of multiple members of the Alphavirus genus within the Togaviridae, including Sindbis virus, Semliki Forest virus, Ross River virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. However, expression of ZAP did not induce a broad-spectrum antiviral state as some viruses, including vesicular stomatitis virus, poliovirus, yellow fever virus, and herpes simplex virus type 1, replicated to normal levels in ZAP-expressing cells. We determined that ZAP expression inhibits Sindbis virus replication after virus penetration and entry, but before the amplification of newly synthesized plus strand genomic RNA. Using a temperature-sensitive Sindbis virus mutant expressing luciferase, we further showed that translation of incoming viral RNA is blocked by ZAP expression. Elucidation of the antiviral mechanism by which ZAP inhibits Sindbis virus translation may lead to the development of agents with broad activity against alphaviruses.
Design of Phased Arrays of Series-Fed Patch Antennas With Reduced Number of the Controllers for 28-GHz mm-Wave Applications

New modified 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 series-fed patch antenna arrays with beam-steering capability are designed and fabricated for 28-GHz millimeter-wave applications. In the designs, the patches are connected to each other continuously and in symmetric 2-D format using the high-impedance microstrip lines. In the first design, 3-D beam-scanning range of ± 25° and good radiation and impedance characteristics were attained by using only one phase shifter. In the second one, a new mechanism is introduced to reduce the number of the feed ports and the related phase shifters (from default number 2 N to the reduced number N + 1 in the serial feed (here N = 3) and then the cost, complexity, and size of the design. Here, good scanning performance of a range of ± 20°, acceptable sidelobe level, and gain of 15.6 dB are obtained. These features allow to use additional integrated circuits to improve the gain and performance. A comparison to the conventional array without modification is done. The measured and simulated results and discussions are presented.
Modulation of Gene Expression Related to Toll-Like Receptor Signaling in Dendritic Cells by Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid) Nanoparticles

ABSTRACT Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) have previously been reported as an efficient antigen delivery system with adjuvant activity. In this study, the gene expression in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) treated with γ-PGA NPs was examined by oligonucleotide microarray analysis and compared with that in cells treated with other adjuvants. The gene expression of proinflammatory chemokines, cytokines, and costimulatory molecules was upregulated considerably in DCs treated with γ-PGA NPs. The upregulation pattern was similar to that in DCs treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but not to that in DCs treated with unparticulate γ-PGA. The activation of DCs by γ-PGA NPs was confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of genes related to Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. The effect of γ-PGA NPs on DCs was not annihilated by treatment with polymyxin B, an inhibitor of LPS. Furthermore, the immunization of mice with γ-PGA NPs carrying ovalbumin (OVA) as an antigen significantly induced antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and antigen-specific production of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and gamma interferon from the cells. Such activities of γ-PGA NPs were more potent than those obtained with immunization with OVA plus aluminum hydroxide or OVA plus complete Freund's adjuvant. These results suggest that γ-PGA NPs induce a CD8+ T-cell response by activating innate immunity in a fashion different from that of LPS. Thus, γ-PGA NPs may be an attractive candidate to be developed further as a vaccine adjuvant.
Mechanism of High Temperature Retention Property (up to 200 °C) in ZrO2-Based Memory Device With Inserting a ZnO Thin Layer

In this letter, the switching mechanism of the ZrO2-based RRAM devices with the uniform and reliable reliability properties is investigated. The stability of memory window can be improved by inserting a ZnO thin film with the nonstoichiometric property between Ti top electrode and ZrO2 layer. Compared with ZrO2 film, the ZnO one can easily perform the oxidation-reduction reaction for stable endurance properties. In addition, through Gibbs free energy comparison of TiOx, ZrO2, and ZnO, we can demonstrate that the Gibbs free energy contributes to the retention performance. The device with thin ZnO layer has stable retention performance at high temperature (200 °C) due to its higher Gibbs free energy value than TiOx.
Preferential, cooperative binding of DNA topoisomerase II to scaffold‐associated regions.

DNA elements termed scaffold‐associated regions (SARs) are AT‐rich stretches of several hundred base pairs which are known to bind specifically to nuclear or metaphase scaffolds and are proposed to specify the base of chromatin loops. SARs contain sequences homologous to the DNA topoisomerase II cleavage consensus and this enzyme is known to be the major structural component of the mitotic chromosome scaffold. We find that purified topoisomerase II preferentially binds and aggregates SAR‐containing DNA. This interaction is highly cooperative and, with increasing concentrations of topoisomerase II, the protein titrates quantitatively first SAR‐containing DNA and then non‐SAR DNA. About one topoisomerase II dimer is bound per 200 bp of DNA. SARs exhibit a Circe effect; they promote in cis topoisomerase II‐mediated double‐strand cleavage in SAR‐containing DNA fragments. The AT‐rich SARs contain several oligo(dA). oligo(dT) tracts which determine their protein‐binding specificity. Distamycin, which is known to interact highly selectively with runs of A.T base pairs, abolishes the specific interaction of SARs with topoisomerase II, and the homopolymer oligo(dA). oligo(dT) is, above a critical length of 240 bp, a highly specific artificial SAR. These results support the notion of an involvement of SARs and topoisomerase II in chromosome structure.
A Note on Consumer Surplus and the Structure of Preferences

We represent quasi-linear preferences by the dual measure of consumer surplus, and investigate demand and the associated multiproduct pricing. In particular, we discuss the role of substitutability "within group" and with the outside commodity, deriving a Slutsky-like decomposition of the price effect. We use our results to show that Ramsey prices are proportional to marginal costs only if preferences are fully homothetic, and that commodities with larger outside substitutability have smaller Lerner indexes.
The effects of perceived stress and ways of coping in a sample of Portuguese health workers.

AIM The goal of this study is to clarify the association between perceived stress in work and the types of coping strategies used by Portuguese nurses. BACKGROUND The healthcare work environment as a source of overwork and stress has been implicated in today's nursing shortage. Staff nurses play a pivotal role in creating work environments, but little is known about the nature of Portuguese nurses' work. DESIGN A descriptive correlational design and a cross-sectional approach were used for this study. METHOD A total of 102 registered nurses, in three Portuguese hospitals, were selected. The Perceived Stress Scale and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire were used to measure job stress and coping strategies, respectively. RESULTS High levels of stress were reported by 52·2% of respondents. The results showed that the main stressful factors for nurses are patient death and dying (32·8%), followed by emergency situations (22·8%) and low supportive relationships (18·0%). The most frequently used coping strategy was self-controlling, followed by planful problem-solving and seeking social support. Pearson's correlation tests indicated that the total score of the Perceived Stress Scale significantly negatively correlated with the subscales of the use of coping strategies of seeking social support, self-controlling, planful problem-solving, distancing and escape-avoidance, indicating that those who were more distressed showed lower levels in mentioned coping subscales. CONCLUSION Stress in nursing can be best reduced through the application of the control cycle approach and risk assessment/risk management techniques. Stress management of nurses may improve their productivity and quality of life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE A change in leadership styles from the managerial level and reallocation of personnel may help reduce job stress. It is important for clinical practitioners to understand theoretical research concerning human stress responses, appraisal and coping to apply knowledge in practice when dealing with a client who has experienced a crisis.
Comments on Shan and Walter: ‘Towards a Set of Design Principles for Executive Compensation Contracts’

This paper is developed around the set of design principles for executive compensation contracts as outlined in the study of Shan and Walter (2014). We propose guidance for determining an appropriate CEO starting compensation level based on past performance and the market for managerial talent. We also outline factors to be considered in determining annual changes to CEO compensation. This paper argues that stock options and restricted stock grants should become exercisable only upon meeting both time and performance criteria against an appropriate benchmark peer group. We agree with Shan and Walter’s (2014) recommendations regarding termination payments and make suggestions on how to apply these recommendations in practice.
Prospects for microbial biodiesel production

As the demand for biofuels for transportation is increasing, it is necessary to develop technologies that will allow for low‐cost production of biodiesel. Conventional biodiesel is mainly produced from vegetable oil by chemical transesterification. This production, however, has relatively low land‐yield and is competing for agricultural land that can be used for food production. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in developing microbial fermentation processes for production of biodiesel as this will allow for the use of a wide range of raw‐materials, including sugar cane, corn, and biomass. Production of biodiesel by microbial fermentation can be divided into two different approaches, (1) indirect biodiesel production from oleaginous microbes by in vitro transesterification, and (2) direct biodiesel production from redesigned cell factories. This work reviews both microbial approaches for renewable biodiesel production and evaluates the existing challenges in these two strategies.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy Provides Better Outcomes than Open Appendectomy in Elderly Patients

The incidence of acute appendicitis in elderly patients is increasing due to prolonged life span. The associated morbidity and mortality related to perforation of acute appendicitis continue to present challenges to physicians. The role of laparoscopic appendectomy is still controversial. This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of elderly patients who received either a laparoscopic or an open appendectomy. We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients with acute appendicitis between January 2005 and February 2009. Elderly patients who received laparoscopic or open appendectomies were enrolled. The demographics, preoperative condition, operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative course were analyzed. A total of 150 patients were enrolled in this study. On average, patients who received a laparoscopic appendectomy had fewer hospital days and lower rates of postoperative ventilator dependence than patients who received an open appendectomy. In the management of elderly patients with acute appendicitis, laparoscopic appendectomy provides better outcomes than open appendectomy.
Uncertainty Estimates in the Heston Model via Fisher Information

We address the information content of European option prices about volatility in terms of the Fisher information matrix. We assume that observed option prices are centred on the theoretical price provided by Heston's model disturbed by additive Gaussian noise. We fit the likelihood function on the components of the VIX, i.e., near- and next-term put and call options on the S&P 500 with more than 23 days and less than 37 days to expiration and non-vanishing bid, and compute their Fisher information matrices from the Greeks in the Heston model. We find that option prices allow reliable estimates of volatility with negligible uncertainty as long as volatility is large enough. Interestingly, if volatility drops below a critical value, inferences from option prices become impossible because Vega, the derivative of a European option w.r. t. volatility, nearly vanishes.
The Importance of Analyzing Graft and Patient Survival by Cause of Failure: An Example Using Pediatric Small Intestine Transplant Data

Background. Although graft and patient survival are vital in reporting overall results of clinical transplant studies, these outcomes do not account for distinct types of graft failure and death, which clearly exist in pediatric small intestine transplantation (Itx). The use of a cause-specific hazard (CSH) approach may provide more precise identification and thus greater insight as to why certain factors are prognostically important. Methods. Among 119 pediatric patients who received primary Itx at our center since 1994, Cox model stepwise regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for the following CSH rates: intestinal graft failure (IGF)/death due to rejection, death due to infection not triggered by IGF, and intestinal graft loss/death due to other causes. Results. Two factors were associated with a significantly higher rate of developing IGF due to rejection (23 such failures): receiving an isolated intestine or liver-intestine transplant (P=0.00001) and receiving no induction agent (P=0.006). Conversely, age at transplant <1 year was the single factor associated with a significantly higher death rate due to infection (P=0.0005) (21 such deaths). Two characteristics were associated with a significantly higher death rate due to other causes: being in the hospital pretransplant (P=0.007) and not receiving daclizumab induction therapy (P=0.02) (24 such deaths). Although these four factors (transplant type/age/hospital status/induction therapy) were, for the most part, associated with graft/patient survival, the CSH analysis more precisely identified their prognostic value and achieved greater statistical power. Conclusions. A CSH approach should be used in conjunction with overall outcome analyses.
The longitudinal course of bipolar disorder as revealed through weekly text messaging: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES To examine the feasibility of collecting course of illness data from patients with bipolar I and II disorder, using weekly text-messaged mood ratings, and to examine the time trajectory of symptom ratings based on this method of self-report. METHODS A total of 62 patients with bipolar I (n = 47) or II (n = 15) disorder provided mood data in response to weekly cell phone text messages (n = 54) or e-mail prompts (n = 8). Participants provided weekly ratings using the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self Report. Patients with bipolar I and II disorder, and men and women, were compared on percentages of time in depressive or manic mood states over up to two years. RESULTS Participants provided weekly ratings over an average of 36 (range 1-92) weeks. Compliance with the procedure was 75%. Overall, participants reported depressive symptoms 47.7% of the time compared to 7% of entries reflecting manic symptoms, 8.8% reflecting both depressive and manic symptoms, and 36.5% reflecting euthymic mood. Participants with bipolar I disorder reported more days of depression and were less likely to improve with time than participants with bipolar II disorder. Gender differences observed at the beginning of the study were not observed at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The results are similar to those of other longitudinal studies of bipolar disorder that use traditional retrospective, clinician-gathered mood data. Text-message-based symptom monitoring during routine follow-up may be a reliable alternative to in-person interviews.
Oscillatory torque caused by dead time in the current control of high power gearless mills

In modern high energy industrial processes, high power converters are one of the most important topics in terms of efficiency, energy savings and dynamic behaviour of all electrical drives. In our time, synchronous machines are used in many high power applications, like electric generation (hydroelectric and nuclear plants, etc) transportation (trains, cars, etc), and many more. In the mining industry multipulse cycloconverters are used to feed high power gearless SAG mills, which ones are a critical stage in the entire mining process. So the reliability of the electrical and mechanical behaviour of the drive it is fundamental. If the converter has an inadequate control or modulation technique the electric machine could be facing a great mechanical stress [13], which could damage it. The free circulating current configuration, used in many multipulse cycloconverter topologies, has a dead time implementation, where the output current it is very close to zero. This paper presents the electrical impact, in terms of the oscillatory torque, of this dead time in the current control of gearless SAG mills.
Why Ramsey Pricing Is Wrong: The Case of Telecommunications Regulation

In a recent telecommunications case before the Oregon Public Utility Commission, two of the PUC's staff economists suggested that improvements in social welfare would accrue if common costs were allocated on the basis of what some economists call the Inverse Elasticity Rule and others, Ramsey Pricing. The essence of this allocation principle is to allocate common costs to customer classes in proportion to the elasticity of demand of the various classes of service: those classes with inelastic demands would bear the largest share of costs, while those classes with more elastic demands would be assigned a smaller share. On cross examination these economists testified that the adoption of Ramsey Pricing would require increases in the price of basic residential service of approximately 120 percent,' resulting in loss of service to 6 percent of current subscribers2 (approximately 40,000 residential customers). 3 When asked to explain how this loss of basic service to so many residential customers could be justified on social welfare grounds, they responded that lower prices for other services (such as call forwarding) resulting in expanded usage more than made up for the losses.4 When asked how many new sign-ups for call forwarding would justify the loss of basic service to one household, the response was, "11 1. "I Finally, when asked whether their analysis took into consider-