Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coral Reef Electrotherapy: Field Observations

Coral reefs are the fastest collapsing ecosystems from accelerating global warming, sea level, disease, and pollution. Urgent steps are essential to regenerate them, and their biodiversity and environmental services, if there is to be a sustainable “Blue Economy”. Methods that greatly increase settlement, growth, survival and resistance to extremely high temperature and pollutant stress are critically needed to regenerate coral reef and coastal ecosystems now and in the future. Safe Extremely Low Voltage (SELV) electrical fields generated by the Biorock electrolytic reef process have been documented for more than 35 years to greatly increase settlement, growth, healing, and survival of marine organisms in general under extreme stress conditions. The visibly observable benefits of electrical stress relief on marine organisms are summarized, and testable hypotheses are proposed to determine mechanisms and improve applications. Although these field observations strongly imply that electricity in the proper range improves stress resistance and health, the mechanisms have never been studied at cellular, biophysical, biochemical, molecular, or genetic levels. Electrical stimulation is the only method known to reverse the impacts of extreme stresses on corals and other marine organisms. Widespread regeneration of coral reef ecosystems by electrotherapy is urgently needed before they become functionally extinct.
Hepatitis C. Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population sample.

(Based on: A report of the WHO/UNICEF Interagency Technical Team/Dracunculiasis Eradication Programme in West and Central Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso c/o WHO Representative and Abidjan, Côte dIvoire, c/o UNICEF/WCARO.) constituent les principaux défis des programmes nationaux. Cela devrait permettre daccélérer le processus déradication, de préparer la certification de léradication, de répondre dune manière plus adaptée aux besoins de santé et dassainissement des communautés dendémie, et daméliorer le rapport coût-efficacité des programmes.
Can an Automated Personalized Nutrition Assistance System Successfully Change Nutrition Behavior? - Study Design

Despite a multitude of existing dietary guidelines, the rise of the number of people suffering from a diet-related disease occurs on a yearly basis. Studies show that the response to different diets varies individually, calling for more personalized measures available at any time in any context. Therefore, this paper proposes a research design based on a smartphone app, that delivers automated, personalized dietary recommendations, to encourage a healthier nutrition lifestyle. Founding on previous research in computer and nutritional science, we propose 6 different intervention factors: (1) type of dietary recommendations, (2) dietary assessment, (3) tracking of physical activity via smartphones or smart activity trackers, (4) feedback with visualization of personal nutritional data, (5) feedback with textual explanations behind recommendations, and (6) dietary recommendations including blood values. In an extensive 6-month field study, we plan to examine which of the factors influence a healthier behavior change and long-term app engagement most.
MSH2 mutation carriers are at higher risk of cancer than MLH1 mutation carriers: a study of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families.

PURPOSE Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the clustering of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and various other cancers. The disease is caused by mutations in DNA-mismatch-repair (MMR) genes, most frequently in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6. The aims of the present study were to compare the risk of developing colorectal, endometrial, and other cancers between families with the various MMR-gene mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical and pathologic data were collected from 138 families with HNPCC. Mutation analyses were performed for all families. Survival analysis was used to calculate the cumulative risk of developing cancer in the various subsets of relatives. RESULTS Mutations were identified in 79 families: 34 in MLH1, 40 in MSH2, and five in MSH6. The lifetime risk of developing cancer at any site was significantly higher for MSH2 mutation carriers than for MLH1 mutation carriers (P < .01). The risk of developing colorectal or endometrial cancer was higher in MSH2 mutation carriers than in MLH1 mutation carriers, but the difference was not significant (P = .13 and P = .057, respectively). MSH2 mutation carriers were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer of the urinary tract (P < .05). The risk of developing cancer of the ovaries, stomach, and brain was also higher in the MSH2 mutation carriers than in the MLH1 mutation carriers, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Pending large prospective studies, the extension of the current surveillance program in MSH2 mutation carriers with the inclusion of the urinary tract should be considered.
Reduced mortality in former Tour de France participants: the benefits from intensive exercise or a select genetic tour de force?

This editorial refers to ‘Mortality of French participants in the Tour de France (1947–2012)’[†][1], by E. Marijon et al. , on page 3145 During the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France, near the summit of Mount Ventoux, race leader Tom Simpson fell dramatically from his cycle. Legend dictates that Simpson demanded in whispered gasps ‘Put me back on my bike! ’ just moments before succumbing to a fatal cardiac arrest. Although post-mortem examination revealed amphetamines in Simpson's body, the story bears testament not only to the fanatical devotion of many endurance athletes, but also to the gruelling nature of this 3500 km event. Riders completing the Tour are estimated to have scaled the combined equivalent of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, and Everest within 21 days. In 2013, the year that has witnessed the 100th excursion of the Tour, the risk–benefit ratio of such extreme exercise continues to provoke fierce controversy amongst the scientific community. Evidence for the health benefits of physical activity is incontrovertible. Individuals engaging in habitual exercise exhibit reduced levels of cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, cancers, and depression, and live ∼6 years longer than their sedentary counterparts.1,2 These data are derived largely from analyses of modest exercise ‘doses’. A recent study of Danish joggers indicated that running at modest pace for 1–2.5 h/week yielded the greatest increase in life expectancy, above which the benefits plateaued.3 Meta-analyses … [1]: #fn-2
Performance analysis of different TCP variants in wireless ad hoc networks

Transmission control protocol is a reliable, connection oriented, congestion control protocol used by most of the networks. Significance of TCP is the congestion control mechanism that controls TCP sending rate and makes TCP react to congestion signals. Variety of TCP variants is available to suite to the requirements of various networks. TCP is a transport layer protocol that ensures ordered delivery of packets which complements the Internet Protocol (IP) at network layer. Routing is the main job at the network layer. There are various routing protocols that are used to route the packets. In this paper we performed a comparative analysis of the TCP variants — TCP Tahoe, TCP Reno, TCP New Reno over routing protocols — AODV, DSDV and DSR using the NS-2 network simulator. These results can be further used to conduct any experiments with proper combinations of TCP and routing protocols.
MEET : A Technical Framework Enabling Ubiquitous Music in a Social Context

As music gets digitalized and as mobile devices gets more powerful, possibilities for listening to your own music everywhere emerges. Synchronization is a technique often used to keep data consistent across multiple devices. It is however not suitable for extensive music collections because of the large amount of data that needs to be transferred and stored redundantly. Increasing availability of broadband Internet connections on mobile devices creates new opportunities for ubiquitous music and circumvent the shortcomings of synchronization. Through an exploratory technology analysis of existing music sharing systems we found an unexplored area which concerns the aspects of listening to music in a social context. Our solution tries to fill this gap by allowing users to metaphorically bring along their music collection using their mobile as a key token to their home music library. This enables the users to pick out what music to contribute to a common playlist and stream it directly from home. The system is a technical platform for further user interaction development aimed at a future usability field test.
Interface-state density of three dimensional silicon channels measured by charge pumping method

Recently, multi-gate and nanowire field-effect-transistors (FETs) with three-dimensional (3D) channels have drawing much interest because they have excellent short-channel-effect immunity due to better electrostatic control of the channel potential by gate electrodes. Therefore, the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor with 3D channels has been considered as one of the promising candidates to overcome the scaling issues in planar FETs. Generally, the 3D channels formed by plasma etching and/or oxidation process are consisted of various crystallographic orientations: facets or rounding shapes. One of the concerns with these structures is the interface-state density (Dit), which is strongly dependent on the surface orientations. Therefore, a direct measurement of cross-sectional-shape dependent Dit and its distribution in energy band gap (Eg) is required. In this study, the interface-state density of 3D Si body with rectangular cross section was measured by charge-pumping method with gated PIN diodes formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The PIN diodes were fabricated on line structures (fins) ranging from 70 to 110 nm in width and a (100)-oriented planar SOI layer of 70 nm thick as a control. 14-nm-thick gate-oxide film was formed by dry oxidation at 1000C for 10 min. P and BF2 ions were implanted to form N and P regions, respectively, each adjacent to the gate electrode. A tungsten (W) film was deposited by rf magnetron sputtering, followed by the formation of the gate electrode by wet etching. Then, samples were subjected to the activation annealing in nitrogen gas ambient at 800C for 5 min. Finally, the sample was annealed in forming gas (F.G.) (N2 : H2 = 97 : 3) ambient at 300 to 600C for 30 min. The interface-state density of the planar SOI structure was almost independent on the channel length and width. F.G. annealing temperature dependence was investigated for the 3D Si structures. With increasing the F.G. annealing temperature from 300 to 420C, the interface-state density decreased gradually, especially at near the midgap. Further, with increasing the forming gas annealing temperature from 420 to 540C, the interface-state density, on the contrary, increased gradually. The fin structures had higher Dit value than the planar SOI in the entire energy range in the gap. Moreover, the increase in Dit with decreasing the width of fin structures was found. From the fin-width dependency, Dit values of 1.3 x 10 and 2.6 x 10 cm eV for top and side surfaces were extracted, respectively. It can be modeled that Dit can be estimated by the averaged Dit values of top and sidewall surface areas, in proportion to the channel width. CONTENTS Chapter
Variability of the North Atlantic eddy‐driven jet stream

Much of the atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic sector is associated with variations in the eddy‐driven component of the zonal flow. Here we present a simple method to specifically diagnose this component of the flow using the low‐level wind field (925–700 hpa ). We focus on the North Atlantic winter season in the ERA‐40 reanalysis. Diagnostics of the latitude and speed of the eddy‐driven jet stream are compared with conventional diagnostics of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the East Atlantic (EA) pattern. This shows that the NAO and the EA both describe combined changes in the latitude and speed of the jet stream. It is therefore necessary, but not always sufficient, to consider both the NAO and the EA in identifying changes in the jet stream.
The Impact of Individual Differences on Language Learning

T he variables affecting language acquisition and development in the prelingually deaf child are many. While sensory deprivation, specifically deafness, affects the child in all areas of behavior, there may be qualitative differences superimposed on the basic deviation. These may be organic, psychological, physical, or sociological in nature and affect language learning. The concept of individual differences has been employed by educators for several decades. In the field of deafness the need for recognition of this uniqueness of individuality is becoming increasingly more urgent and more apparent. Commonly educators, psychologists, audiologists, and sociologists have referred to the deaf, suggesting a homogeneous population which is far from realistic. Althoughthere are factors present in the environment and heredity of deaf children comparable to those affecting the learning and adjustment of the hearing child, there are, in addition, subtle deviations and combinations of factors affecting learning and adjustment which are indigenous to deafness. To classify these variables as intrinsic and extrinsic seems useful. We shall consider as intrinsic the following: (a) hearing loss, (b) mental capacities and function, (c) physical defects, and (d) personality. Under extrinsic factors are subsumed: (a) socio-economic level, (b) paren-
Sleep apnoea and nocturnal hypoxaemia in dialysis patients: mere risk-indicators or causal factors for cardiovascular disease?

Estimates of the prevalence of sleep apnoea syndrome stances that may destabilize breathing during sleep is (SA) in the general population give widely different another possibility but studies examining the effect of figures, ranging from 0.3 to 8.5% [1–3]. This is prob- dialysis on SA have produced mixed results. Other ably because of differences in definitions, in the design potential factors include anaemia, osmotic disequilibof the studies and the investigations performed as well rium, uraemic neuropathy and alterations in cytokine as in the age, sex and other characteristics of the levels [5–7]. The observation that SA is at least partly populations surveyed. The prevalence of this disturb- reversible after renal transplantation is convincing ance in patients on chronic dialysis is still uncertain proof that SA may be a direct consequence of renal but available estimates indicate that it may be at least failure [6 ]. five times higher than that in the general population [4–8]. Snoring is the symptom that usually alerts the physician to suspect SA. Restless sleep, frequent SA and cardiovascular risk in renal failure arousal, daytime somnolence, headaches and fatigue are all common complaints of patients with SA which SA increases morbidity and mortality related to hypermay be mistakenly attributed to chronic renal failure. tension, cardiac ischaemia, arrhythmia, and stroke. Perhaps the main reason why SA is important in Because coronary artery disease and stroke are the nephrology is that it is associated with various cardio- leading causes of mortality in the ESRD population, vascular complications ranging from cardiac isch- it is advisable that the nephrologist pays particular aemia, left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmia to attention to identifying SA as a risk factor in ESRD cardiorespiratory arrest [9–13]. Although the potential patients under his/her care. contribution of SA to cardiovascular complications in There is consistent evidence in the general populapatients with advanced renal diseases seems likely [14], tion that the high cardiovascular risk associated with until now evidence in support of this hypothesis is very SA depends mainly on enhanced sympathetic tone scanty. Importantly, if SA is causally related to the triggered by episodes of nocturnal hypoxaemia. high cardiovascular risk of renal failure, it would Intermittent hypoxia causes sympathetic activation represent a relevant target for intervention because it that outlasts the triggering stimulus [15]: as a result is well known that continuous positive airway pressure the systemic consequences of episodic hypoxia may be reverses SA in dialysis patients [4].
Lignocellulosic Ethanol: The Path to Market

Market deployment of lignocellulosic ethanol requires practical and plausible development paths that are able to support progress from existing small-scale demonstration plant to large industrial installations. Moreover, these development paths must be sufficiently attractive to persuade developers and investors that this technology remains an opportunity worth pursuing. This paper explores the opinions and practices of companies (and other market actors) who are pursuing lignocellulosic ethanol technology in the context of the academic literature on innovation. The premise that underpins the analysis is that the decisions that these actors make, and their appraisal of the potential offered, will, at least in the short term, determine the path to market. We conclude that corporate interest in lignocellulosic ethanol is principally driven by the desire to expand upon existing business assets or acumen. Market dominance is expected to come from privileged access to feedstocks and vertical integration. Large scale LE plants are largely regarded as hypothetical. The most credible paths to market (at least in the short term) are considered to be intermediate scale facilities, closely integrated with other industrial processes such as CHP, district heating, or conventional ethanol production.
A Preliminary Look at the Relationship Between Environmental Change and Economic Growth in Taiwan

[1] Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs (2010), Analysis of Fossil Fuel-related CO2 Emissions in Taiwan, http://www.moeaboe. gov.tw/promote/greenhouse/PrGHMain.aspx? PageId=pr_gh_l ist. [2] Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy Balance Sheet, http://www.moeaboe. gov.tw/English/Statistics/EnStatistics.aspx. [3] European Environment Agency (2009), EU Energy in Figures 2010 CO2 Emissions from Transport by Mode. http://ec.europa. eu/energy/publications/doc/statistics/ext_co2_emissions_from_tran sport_by_mode. pdf. [4] IPCC (1997a). Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Reference manual Volume 3 Chapter 1. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges. or.jp/public/gl/guidelin/ch1ref1.pdf. [5] IPCC (1997b). Revised 1966 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Workbook (Volume 2), http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges. or.jp/public/gl/guidelin/ch1wb1.pdf. 5
Pegylated Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Shows Improved Distribution into the Spinal Cord and Stimulates Locomotor Activity and Morphological Changes after Injury

The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) shows promise for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) trauma and disease. Effective delivery methods are required, however, for BDNF to be useful as a therapeutic agent. To this end, we examined the penetration of intrathecally infused N-terminal pegylated BDNF (peg-BDNF) compared to similar infusion of native BDNF after spinal cord injury (SCI). Pegylation dramatically improved delivery of BDNF to the spinal cord and induced the expression of Fos in spinal cord neurons. To test whether enhanced delivery would improve the modest effects on behavioral recovery and axonal outgrowth observed with native BDNF infusion, we assessed the efficacy of 2-week 25 microg/day peg-BDNF treatment, beginning 12-24 h (early) or 15 days (delayed) after midthoracic spinal contusion. Similar to native BDNF, early treatment with peg-BDNF accelerated the recovery of stepping in the open-field and acutely stimulated locomotor central pattern generator activity, as seen by the activation of hindlimb airstepping during either period of administration. The infusion of peg-BDNF, regardless of the timing of delivery, was related to enhanced sprouting of putative cholinergic fibers, like that observed after high dose native BDNF treatment. Despite improved delivery, however, neither axonal responses nor the extent of locomotor recovery were enhanced compared to native BDNF treatment. This suggests that alternative strategies, such as neurotrophin treatment in conjunction with cell transplantation techniques, or treatment nearer the cell bodies of target neurons might be employed in an attempt to effect significant repair after SCI.
Effects of whole wheat feeding on the development of coccidial infection in slow-growing broiler chickens

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species is an important disease in poultry production. Depending on Eimeria species, it leads to a reduced growth and sometimes to death such as with E. tenella in chickens. Moreover, this disease predisposes the chickens to intestinal bacterial infections (WILSON et al., 2005). Therefore, in order to prevent and limit this disease, anticoccidial drugs, synthetic products or antibiotic ionophores, are routinely used as feed additives. However, due to the appearance of resistance to coccidiostats, the consumer demand for less feed additives, and the expected ban of coccidiostats in 2012 in Europe, alternatives have been proposed as vaccines (CROUCH et al., 2003) or by dietary means (ALLEN et al., 1998; CRÉVIEU-GABRIEL and NACIRI, 2001). Among these latest alternatives, feeding whole grain was reported to have a beneficial effect during coccidiosis (CUMMING, 1989). As this mode of feeding has several advantages including reducing feed cost and meeting consumer demands for more ‘natural’ feeding systems, its use has been developed in northern Europe (NOIROT et al., 1998). This led to further research in Europe on the effect of whole grain during coccidiosis. Several authors reported no beneficial effects of this mode of feeding (WALDENSTEDT et al., 1998; BANFIELD and FORBES, 2001) or even detrimental effects (BANFIELD et al., 2002; GABRIEL et al., 2006a). All these studies were performed with fast-growing standard lines of chickens. To meet a specific consumer demand, particularly in France, rearing systems for slow-growing type lines have been developed and some use whole grain in the diet without knowing the incidence of this mode of feeding on coccidiosis. However, selection for growth rate has an effect on disease development such as coccidiosis (MAATMAN et al., 1993; ZULKIFLI et al., 1993; SAIF and NESTOR, 2002). Consequently, the effects of whole wheat feeding during coccidiosis may be different between fast-growing and slow-growing lines of chickens. In order to assess the effects of this mode of feeding on coccidial development in a slow-growing line, the following experiment was undertaken with the three most com-
Antiproliferative and Survival Properties of PMA in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell

Although PKCs are assumed to be the main targets of phorbol esters (PMA), additional PMA effectors, such as chimaerins (a family of RacGTPase activating proteins) and RasGRP (exchange factor for Ras/Rap1), can counteract or strengthen the PKC pathways. In this study, we evaluated the proliferative behavior of PMA-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cell and found that: PMA induced growth arrest and inhibited cell death; PMA activated ERKs, which, in turn, induced p21; and inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) and PKC (GF109203X) prevented p21 induction and abolished the PMA survival effect. We conclude that PMA inhibits MCF-7 cell growth and simultaneously stimulates cell survival; both responses are linked to ERK-dependent and p53-independent p21 induction.