Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presbycusis—Peripheral and Central

Historically, head and neck injuries constituted 16 to 20% of all nonfatal combat injuries. However, advances in body and vehicle armor in the context of the use of ambushes and improvised explosive devices by enemy combatants have resulted in fewer fatalities from head and neck wounds, and thus the incidence of nonfatal head and neck injuries has risen to as high as 52%. Despite this increase, data regarding specific injury distributions, surgical cases, and approaches to repair are lacking in the current literature. We conducted a study to systematically review the current literature regarding head and neck injuries and reconstructions during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. We found 44 articles that met our inclusion criteria. These articles covered 17,461 head and neck wounds sustained by 12,105 patients. Superficial soft-tissue facial injuries were most common wounds (31.7% of cases), followed by wounds to the neck (25.2%) and midface (17.9%). The 44 articles listed 5,122 discrete surgical reports covering 5,758 procedures. Of these procedures, simple facial laceration repairs (25.2%) and ophthalmologic surgeries (12.1%) were the most common soft-tissue repairs, and mandibular reconstructions (11.3%) were the most common type of bony reconstruction. Major flap reconstructions for coverage were required in only 0.4% of procedures. This information will be valuable for educating those involved in otolaryngology training programs, as well as civilian otolaryngologists regarding the types of injury patterns they should expect to see and treat in the returning veteran population.
Job Insecurity: Review of the Literature and a Summary of Recent Studies from Belgium

This contribution offers a short overview of research on job insecurity, with an emphasis on recent findings from the research tradition on job insecurity of the Work, Organisational & Personnel Psychology (WOPP), a research group from Leuven, Belgium. Top ics covered include the definition of job insecurity, prevalence and risk groups, consequences of job insecurity for health and well-being, for organisations, trade unions and political topics, new operationalisations of job insecurity and their correlates, moderators of the job insecurity – outcomes relationship, and explanations for the harmful impact of job insecurity.
Research on fault diagnosis in reactor-regenerator system of FCCU based on PSO-SVM

A fault diagnosis method in reactor-regenerator system of Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was proposed. The algorithm was implemented for optimization selection for parameter of SVM classifier utilizing global searching property of PSO. A fault diagnosis model in reactor-regenerator System of FCCU based on SVM algorithm was constructed. The results show this fault diagnosis method can achieve high diagnostic accuracy, and this method is practical.
A novel current mirror sensing based current balance method for multi-phase buck DC-DC converter

A novel current mirror sensing based multi-phase current balance developed in Global Foundry 0.18μm CMOS process was presented in this paper. Different from conventional current mirror sensing method, a new bypass branch was added to make the sample signal more accurate in high switching frequency situation. The method was realized in a 2.5MHz four-phase buck converter. As the simulation result shows, the inductor current imbalance among phases declines to lower than 0.1% using the designed current balance method without tricky circuits.
Transcriptional activity of the mouse oocyte genome: companion granulosa cells modulate transcription and chromatin remodeling.

Chromatin configuration in the germinal vesicle (GV) undergoes dynamic changes during oocyte growth, yet little is known about the mechanisms regulating chromatin remodeling in mouse oocytes. The hypothesis that companion granulosa cells play a role in modulating chromatin configuration and subsequent transcriptional activity in the oocyte genome was tested. Analysis of transcriptional activity, as determined by Br-UTP incorporation, revealed a similar percentage of transcriptionally active and inactive oocytes present in the large antral follicles of mature females. However, gonadotropin stimulation of follicular development induced an increase in the proportion of transcriptionally inactive oocytes. Interestingly, a similar proportion of stage-matched, oocyte-granulosa cell complexes grown in vitro without gonadotropin stimulation displayed chromatin redistribution around the nucleolus and no transcriptional activity. In contrast, when cultured in the absence of companion granulosa cells, transcriptional activity remained unabated in the majority of denuded GV stage oocytes. Extended prophase arrest in fully grown transcriptionally inactive oocyte-granulosa cell complexes had no effect on the progression of meiosis after in vitro maturation. However, it reduced the competence to complete preimplantation embryo development. These results indicate that chromatin redistribution around the nucleolus is associated with transcriptional repression in the GV of both fully grown in vivo-derived oocytes and cultured oocyte-granulosa cell complexes. Moreover, the results presented here suggest that some aspects of intraovarian control mechanisms were abrogated during culture of oocyte-granulosa cell complexes, resulting in a higher proportion of oocytes with "mature" chromatin. Most importantly, companion granulosa cells played an active role in modulating the transcriptional activity of the oocyte genome.
STAT5-Dependent CyclinD1 and Bcl-xL expression in Bcr-Abl-transformed cells.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are a family of transcription factors that were originally identified as mediators of cytokine-induced gene expression. We and others have recently shown that STAT5 also plays a major role in cellular transformation by the Bcr-Abl oncogene. Here we show that the antiapoptotic bcl-xL gene product and the cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 are targets of STAT5 in Bcr-Abl-transformed cells. In the CML cell line K562 and in BaF3 cells ectopically expressing Bcr-Abl, both the cyclin D1 and bcl-x promoters are highly active. The activity of these promoters can be strongly repressed by cotransfection of a dominant negative (DN) mutant of STAT5. Moreover, the cyclin D1 and bcl-x promoters contain STAT binding sites to which STAT5 constitutively binds in Bcr-Abl transformed cells. These results suggest that STAT5 contributes to transformation by Bcr-Abl by induction of cyclin D1 and bcl-xL expression.
Energy management systems with intelligent anomaly detection and prediction

In this paper, we present our Energy Management Systems (EMS) with intelligent anomaly detection techniques that achieve real-time detection of outlier(s), prediction of future fault(s), and extraction and amendment of historical data anomalies. The EMS has adopted advanced outlier detection theories and frameworks to optimize the use of key energy devices such as distributed energy storages with performance tracking and diagnosis mechanisms. Those advanced detection mechanisms have been integrated with our distributed EMS that communicates with one another to handle the current and potential outlier(s), which realizes the resilient operation of energy systems to avoid sudden interruption of operation. As one of the applications of the anomaly detection to energy management with distributed battery optimization, the framework has also been verified in the use case of demand charge (DC) cost reduction where the results based on modified load data by our proposed mechanism demonstrate the precise calculation of battery dis/charging profile, which reduces the cost incurred from the use of electricity in peak-time DC periods.
The forced swimming‐induced behavioural immobility response involves histone H3 phospho‐acetylation and c‐Fos induction in dentate gyrus granule neurons via activation of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase/mitogen‐ and stress‐activated kinase signalling pathway

The hippocampus is involved in learning and memory. Previously, we have shown that the acquisition of the behavioural immobility response after a forced swim experience is associated with chromatin modifications and transcriptional induction in dentate gyrus granule neurons. Given that both N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors and the extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 signalling pathway are involved in neuroplasticity processes underlying learning and memory, we investigated in rats and mice whether these signalling pathways regulate chromatin modifications and transcriptional events participating in the acquisition of the immobility response. We found that: (i) forced swimming evoked a transient increase in the number of phospho‐acetylated histone H3‐positive [P(Ser10)‐Ac(Lys14)‐H3+] neurons specifically in the middle and superficial aspects of the dentate gyrus granule cell layer; (ii) antagonism of NMDA receptors and inhibition of ERK1/2 signalling blocked forced swimming‐induced histone H3 phospho‐acetylation and the acquisition of the behavioural immobility response; (iii) double knockout (DKO) of the histone H3 kinase mitogen‐ and stress‐activated kinases (MSK) 1/2 in mice completely abolished the forced swimming‐induced increases in histone H3 phospho‐acetylation and c‐Fos induction in dentate granule neurons and the behavioural immobility response; (iv) blocking mineralocorticoid receptors, known not to be involved in behavioural immobility in the forced swim test, did not affect forced swimming‐evoked histone H3 phospho‐acetylation in dentate neurons; and (v) the pharmacological manipulations and gene deletions did not affect behaviour in the initial forced swim test. We conclude that the forced swimming‐induced behavioural immobility response requires histone H3 phospho‐acetylation and c‐Fos induction in distinct dentate granule neurons through recruitment of the NMDA/ERK/MSK 1/2 pathway.
${\rm MgB}_{2}/{\rm MgO/MgB}_{2}$ Josephson Junctions for High-Speed Circuits

MgB<sub>2</sub>/MgO/MgB<sub>2</sub> sandwich-type Josephson junctions have been fabricated using MgB<sub>2</sub> films grown by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition (HPCVD). The MgO barrier and the insulating layer between wiring layers were made by RF magnetron sputtering. The junctions exhibit non-vanishing <i>J</i><sub>c</sub> up to 40 K, the <i>T</i><sub>c</sub> of MgB<sub>2</sub>. MgB<sub>2</sub> wiring is achieved without significantly changing the junction properties. The fabrication and properties of the junctions are described in detail. The <i>I</i>-<i>V</i> curves of the junctions are hysteretic at temperatures below 25 K and are RSJ-like above 25 K. Multiple Andreev reflection was observed, manifested by subgap peaks in the d<i>I</i>/d<i>V</i>-<i>V</i> curves and in good agreement with the theory. The <i>J</i><sub>c</sub> spread (1σ) of 10 junctions on one chip is better than 10%, which is likely due to the defects inside the MgO barrier as identified by transmission electron microscopy. Superconducting circuits made of these junctions may be expected to work at frequencies up to 1 THz or at temperatures over 20 K.
NimbRo Rescue: Solving Disaster‐response Tasks with the Mobile Manipulation Robot Momaro

Robots that solve complex tasks in environments too dangerous for humans to enter are desperately needed, e.g., for search and rescue applications. We describe our mobile manipulation robot Momaro, with which we participated successfully in the DARPA Robotics Challenge. It features a unique locomotion design with four legs ending in steerable wheels, which allows it both to drive omnidirectionally and to step over obstacles or climb. Furthermore, we present advanced communication and teleoperation approaches, which include immersive three‐dimensional (3D) visualization, and 6D tracking of operator head and arm motions. The proposed system is evaluated in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, the DLR SpaceBot Cup Qualification, and lab experiments. We also discuss the lessons learned from the competitions.
Game-City: a ubiquitous large area multi-interface mixed reality game space for wearable computers

This paper presents a novel wearable computer interaction and entertainment system which provides an interactive physical and mixed reality computer environment that spans large areas with multi-users, and can be extended to a whole city. Our system called "Game-City" is an embodied (ubiquitous, tangible, and social) wearable computing based mixed reality (MR) game space which regains the social aspects of traditional game plays whilst also maintaining the exciting fantasy features of traditional computer entertainment.
Application of subspace methods to the identification of a winding process

In this paper, a linear model identification of a winding pilot plant for a tension control application is presented. Such a system is characterised by strong interactions between the tensions, frictions, distorsione, sliding and bending effects which make the tension control difficult to handle. Moreover, most of physical state variables as the radius are not measured. Herein, a black-box identification approach based on subspace methods is developed in order to estimate a nominal state-space model around a given operating point. A Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller has been implemented to illustrate the applicability of the estimated model. While the pilot plant is non linear, results of this application show that such an `average' state-space model is enough to obtain interesting tension control performances on the whole winding zone.
Professional Practice and Innovation: Chronic Disease, Geographic Location and Socioeconomic Disadvantage as Obstacles to Equitable Access to E-Health

Despite recent public attention to e-health as a solution to rising healthcare costs and an ageing population, there have been relatively few studies examining the geographical pattern of e-health usage. This paper argues for an equitable approach to e-health and attention to the way in which e-health initiatives can produce locational health inequalities, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. In this paper, we use a case study to demonstrate geographical variation in Internet accessibility, Internet status and prevalence of chronic diseases within a small district. There are significant disparities in access to health information within socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The most vulnerable people in these areas are likely to have limited availability of, or access to Internet healthcare resources. They are also more likely to have complex chronic diseases and, therefore, be in greatest need of these resources. This case study demonstrates the importance of an equitable approach to e-health information technologies and telecommunications infrastructure.
Cardiovascular risk markers in patients with psoriatic arthritis: A meta-analysis of literature studies

Abstract Introduction. Several studies reported an increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We performed a meta-analysis on the impact of PsA on major markers of CV risk. Methods. Studies on the relationship between PsA and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), prevalence of carotid plaques, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitrate-mediated dilation (NMD), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. Results. Sixteen case-control studies (898 cases, 1,140 controls) were included. Compared to controls, PsA patients showed a higher CCA-IMT (MD 0.07 mm; 95% CI 0.04, 0.11; P < 0.0001), and a higher frequency of carotid plaques (OR 3.12; 95% CI 1.03, 9.39; P = 0.04). Moreover, a lower FMD was found in PsA subjects than in controls (MD –2.56%; 95% CI –4.17, –0.94; P = 0.002), with no differences in NMD (MD –0.40%; 95% CI –1.19, 0.39; P = 0.32). Because of the low number of studies, no meta- analytical evaluation was performed for PWV, AIx, and ABI. Despite heterogeneity among studies, PsA appears significantly associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and CV risk. Discussion. These findings could help to establish more specific CV prevention strategies in this clinical setting.
Low Molecular Weight GTP-binding Proteins in HL-60 Granulocytes

Phospholipase D (PLD) activation by guanine nucleotides requires protein cofactors in both the plasma membrane and the cytosol. HL-60 cytosol was fractionated by ammonium sulfate and gel-permeation chromatography. Two cytosolic protein fractions were found to reconstitute the GTPS (guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate)-stimulated PLD in a reconstitution assay consisting of 3H-labeled HL-60 membranes and eluted column fractions. The major peak of reconstituting activity was in the region of 50 kDa, and a second discrete peak of PLD reconstitution activity was observed in the region of 18 kDa. Rho GDP/GTP exchange inhibitor, Rho GDI, comigrated with Rac2 and RhoA, but not Rac1. RhoA and Rac2 were entirely complexed with Rho GDI and eluted with an apparent molecular mass of 43 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. The partial overlap between cytosolic Rac2 and RhoA with the 50-kDa peak of reconstituting activity was not consistent with the participation of cytosolic Rho-related GTPases in the activation of PLD by guanine nucleotides. However, recombinant Rho GDI, which inhibits nucleotide exchange on the Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins, reduced GTPS-stimulated PLD activity in HL-60 homogenates. The stimulatory exchange factor, Smg GDS, which is active on Rho and Rac, could be partially separated from the PLD-stimulating factor(s) by gel-permeation chromatography. Moreover, recombinant Smg GDS failed to stimulate GTP-dependent PLD activity. Cytosolic ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) was exclusively located in the 18-kDa peak of reconstitution activity. Faint amounts of membrane-bound ARF were also detected using the monoclonal antibody 1D9. The effects of the 50-kDa and 18-kDa PLD-inducing factors on the salt-extracted PLD activity were synergistic. The weak stimulatory effect of ARF alone suggested that the GTPS-stimulated PLD activity is dependent on the presence of another protein(s), presumably ARF-regulatory proteins. We propose that a membrane-bound GTP-binding protein, possibly ARF, may be involved in the activation of PLD when combined with the component(s) of the 50-kDa fraction.
Absorption of retinyl acetate in laying hens.

Absorption of retinyl acetate (RA) was studied in hens. Animals (n = 10-10) received 12.5-,25-,50-,100-,150-,200-,250- and 300 x 10(3) IU of RA in capsules (p.os). Before treatment (0) and 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th hours later, as well as on the following day blood samples were taken for retinoid analysis. Vitamin A peaks were detected in the blood in the 4th hour. The alterations in the plasma vitamin A levels were caused basically by the elevations of the retinyl ester (RYL) fraction. The proportion of RYL was 7-27% of the total plasma vitamin A value in all groups at the time of RA administration (0 h). This RYL ratio was elevated parallel to RA doses, and in case of higher doses reached 80-90% (4th h). It has been found that the efficiency of RA absorption, in hens, is in inverse ratio to the dose that is used. The calculated relative absorption coefficients of efficiency have a close negative correlation (r = -0.89; p < 0.01) to the doses. Relationship between the maximum plasma retinoid concentrations and the dose/metabolic body mass can be fitted to the saturation function. It seems reasonable to conclude that in hens the absorption of retinol is an enzyme dependent and/or carrier mediated process even in cases of pharmacological doses.
The Use of the Short Tetracosactrin Test for the Investigation of Suspected Pituitary Hypofunction

The short Synacthen (tetracosactrin) test (SST) is an established method of assessing adrenocortical reserve, and is increasingly replacing the insulin tolerance test (ITT) for the assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, there is no consensus on how the test is performed, and various time points and routes of administration are used. The present study was done, first, to determine whether there was any difference in cortisol responses when Synacthen was administered intramuscularly compared with intravenously and, secondly, to compare cortisol responses at 30 and 60 min. We found no significant difference between the two routes of administration. However, cortisol responses at 60 min were significantly higher than at 30 min (P < 0·05). Previous validations for the use of the SST in place of the ITT have used cortisol responses 30 min after Synacthen. We conclude that where the SST is used to assess the HPA axis, cortisol response at 30 min after intravenous Synacthen should be used.
Error Bounds for Arbitrary Approximations of "Nearly Reversible" Markov Chains and an Aloha-Applications

A condition is provided to conclude error bounds for an arbitrary steady state approximation of a "nearly reversible" Markov chain. The error bound is of the form A.R, where (i) A can be computed merely by the approximation in order, (ii) R is to be obtained by bounding so-called bias terms for the system of interest. This can be established analytically. The results will be illustrated for ALOHA-type systems with different source characteristics. An approximation is suggested based on truncating the corresponding Mobius-function. The R-value is computed by an inductive Markov reward prooftechnique. Numerical illustration indicates that the analytic error bound can be reasonable for practical purposes. Keyvords Markov chain * Approximation * Error bound * Nearly reversible * Bias terms * ALOHA-systems.
PNPase modulates RNase II expression in Escherichia coli: implications for mRNA decay and cell metabolism

PNPase and RNase II are the key regulatory exo‐nucleases controlling mRNA decay in Escherichia coli The rnb transcripts were found to proceed through the terminator and PNPase was found to be involved in the 3’to 5’degradation of rnb mRNA. Analysis of these longer 3’termini revealed that they are located in UA‐rich regions. Comparison of single and double mutants suggested that PNPase and RNase II could have different roles in the degradation of these unstructured regions. We have shown that RNase II levels can vary over a fivefold range in haploid cells and that its expression depends on PNPase levels. PNPase‐deficient strains were found to have a 2–2.5‐fold increase in RNase M activity, while PNPase‐overproducing strains reduced the rnb message and RNase II levels. Conversely, the amount of PNPase in the rnb deletion strain was approximately twofold higher than that in the wild‐type strain. These observations suggest that the two main exonu‐cleases are inter‐regulated through a fine tuning mechanism. We discuss the implications of these results with regard to mRNA degradation and cell metabolism.