Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hormone-stimulated Ca2+ reabsorption in rabbit kidney cortical collecting system is cAMP-independent and involves a phorbol ester-insensitive PKC isotype.

BACKGROUND Hormones such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are generally believed to act through cAMP to stimulate active Ca2+ reabsorption in the distal part of the nephron. METHODS This study investigates the relationship between intracellular cAMP levels and the rate of Ca2+ reabsorption in immunodissected rabbit connecting and cortical collecting tubules cultured to confluence on permeable supports. RESULTS Basolateral PTH, AVP, and PGE2 and apical adenosine dose dependently increased Ca2+ reabsorption from 48 to 110 nmol. hr-1. cm-2. Measurement of intracellular cAMP levels revealed that in the case of PTH and AVP, the dose-response curve for the increase in cAMP virtually matched that for transcellular Ca2+ transport. By contrast, with PGE2, this curve was shifted two decades to the right, whereas in the case of adenosine, no increase in cAMP was observed. The results with the latter two hormones disagree with the classic concept that Ca2+ reabsorption is stimulated via a cAMP-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, the potent adenylyl cyclase inhibitor 2', 5'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA; 100 micrometers) suppressed the PTH- and AVP-induced increase in cAMP completely without affecting Ca2+ reabsorption. Similarly, concentrations of PGE2, which maximally stimulated Ca2+ reabsorption without increasing cAMP, were not inhibited by DDA. The specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine (5 micrometers) inhibited PTH-, AVP-, PGE2-, and adenosine-stimulated Ca2+ reabsorption by 77%, 67%, 79%, and 100%, respectively. Down-regulation of phorbol ester-sensitive PKC isotypes by prolonged (120 hr) treatment with 0.1 micrometers 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate did not interfere with the inhibitory action of chelerythrine on hormone-stimulated Ca2+ transport. CONCLUSION PTH, AVP, PGE2, and adenosine stimulate Ca2+ reabsorption via a pathway that is independent of cAMP and that involves a phorbol ester-insensitive PKC isotype.
A Bayesian evaluation of the cost of abstractness

In this paper, we show how the modern study of reasoning under uncertainty can shed light on problems in phonology. In particular, we show how Bayesian reasoning can be used for model comparison, modeling an ideal learner. Taking a typical case of abstractness in phonology as an example, we show that Bayesian reasoning has inherent in it a simplicity bias, which is of potentially great interest to researchers in linguistics. We describe the consequences for phonological grammars and for the study of language acquisition.
Dynamique d'un fluide dans un cylindre en précession

Cette these est une etude theorique et experimentale de l'ecoulement d'un fluide dans un cylindre en precession. Elle s'inscrit dans le domaine des ecoulements tournants et trouve de nombreuses applications en aeronautique (precession des objets volants avec carburant liquide) et geophysique (influence de la precession terrestre sur la dynamique du noyau externe). Pour des nombres de Reynolds moderes, l'ecoulement d'un fluide en precession est une rotation solide a laquelle se superposent des ondes appelees modes de Kelvin. Ces ondes deviennent resonnantes lorsque leur frequence propre est egale a la frequence de precession. Afin de predire l'amplitude d'un mode de Kelvin resonnant, une theorie visqueuse et faiblement non-lineaire a ete developpee puis confirmee experimentalement. Lorsque le nombre de Reynolds augmente, l'ecoulement de base devient instable. Des mesures PIV ont montre que cette instabilite est due a une interaction entre le mode force par la precession et deux modes de Kelvin libres. Une analyse lineaire de stabilite basee sur un mecanisme de resonance triadique entre modes de Kelvin permet de predire correctement le seuil et le taux de croissance de l'instabilite. Cette instabilite est saturee par un mode geostrophique cree par l'interaction non-lineaire et visqueuse des modes de Kelvin libres avec eux meme. En accord avec les experiences, une theorie faiblement non-lineaire montre que les amplitudes des modes de Kelvin sont stationnaires ou oscillantes (cycles intermittents) en fonction du nombre de Reynolds. Finalement, le point fixe des equations non-lineaires (systeme dynamique a quatre degres de liberte) predit correctement l'ecoulement moyen a l'interieur du cylindre, meme pour des tres grands nombres de Reynolds (i.e. Re>50000).
La correcta utilización de los promedios

La palabra "Promedio" es tan antigua como el principio de contar, pero los frecuentes abusos de su utilizacion nos han conducido a una verdadera crisis en el manejo de la estadistica, hasta el punto de pensar que un "mal promedio" puede convertirse en un "buen promedio" o viceversa, mediente argucias matematicas o estadisticas.
Defining the structure of undergraduate medical leadership and management teaching and assessment in the UK

Abstract Medical leadership and management (MLM) skills are essential in preventing failings of healthcare; it is unknown how these attitudes can be developed during undergraduate medical education. This paper aims to quantify interest in MLM and recommends preferred methods of teaching and assessment at UK medical schools. Two questionnaires were developed, one sent to all UK medical school faculties, to assess executed and planned curriculum changes, and the other sent to medical students nationally to assess their preferences for teaching and assessment. Forty-eight percent of UK medical schools and 260 individual student responses were recorded. Student responses represented 60% of UK medical schools. 65% of schools valued or highly valued the importance of teaching MLM topics, compared with 93.2% of students. Students' favoured teaching methods were seminars or lectures (89.4%) and audit and quality improvement (QI) projects (77.8%). Medical schools preferred portfolio entries (55%) and presentations (35%) as assessment methods, whilst simulation exercises (76%) and audit reports (61%) were preferred by students. Preferred methods encompass experiential learning or simulation and a greater emphasis should be placed on encouraging student audit and QI projects. The curriculum changes necessary could be achieved via further integration into future editions of Tomorrow’s Doctors.
Adherence to Surgical Sutures : an Antibacterial-Coated Sutures Reduce he Risk of Microbial Contamination ?

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections are associated with severe morbidity and mortality. The role of surgical sutures in the etiology of surgical site infection has been the objective of discussion for decades. This study used a standardized in vitro microbiologic model to assess bacterial adherence and the antibacterial activity of a triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 (braided) suture against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates that may infect surgical wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Standardized cultures (2.0 log10 colony forming units/mL and 5.0 log10 colony forming units/mL of three clinical strains, Staphyllococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant S aureus [MRSA]), S epidermidis (biofilm-positive) and Escherichia coli (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase [ESBL]-producer) were inoculated to triclosan-coated and noncoated polyglactin 910 sutures to evaluate comparative adherence of bacterial isolates to the antibacterial coated and noncoated surgical sutures; to assess the impact of serum proteins (bovine serum albumin) on antibacterial activity of triclosan-coated suture; and to document the duration of antibacterial activity of the triclosan-coated material. Selected suture samples were prepared for scanning electron microscopy to demonstrate bacterial adherence. RESULTS: Substantial (p 0.01) reductions in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial adherence were observed on triclosan-coated sutures compared with noncoated material. Pretreatment of surgical sutures with 20% BSA did not diminish antibacterial activity of the triclosancoated braided device compared with noncoated suture (p 0.01), and antibacterial activity was documented to persist for at least 96 hours compared with controls (p 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro model demonstrated a considerable reduction (p 0.01) in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial adherence to a triclosan-coated braided suture, which was associated with decreased microbial viability (p 0.001). Because bacterial contamination of suture material within a surgical wound may increase the virulence of a surgical site infection, treating the suture with triclosan provides an effective strategy for reducing perioperative surgical morbidity. ( J Am Coll Surg 2006;203:481–489. © 2006 by the American College of Surgeons)
Long PCR and its application to hepatitis viruses: amplification of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C virus genomes

In this study we amplified virtually the entire genomes of hepatitis A virus (a member of the Picornaviridae family), hepatitis B virus (a member of the Hepadnaviridae family), and hepatitis C virus (a member of the Flaviviridae family) by using the recently described technique of long PCR. In order to do this, we first demonstrated, using the lambda phage, that long PCR can be made highly sensitive and the sensitivity can be further enhanced by nested long PCR. We also showed, using tobacco mosaic virus as a model, that a reverse transcriptase reaction can be linked to a long PCR, enabling the nearly full-length amplification of the genomes of RNA viruses. We then applied these techniques to serial dilutions of titrated stocks of well-characterized strains of hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. We amplified the nearly full-length sequence of each of these viruses from a small number of viral genomes, demonstrating the sensitivity of the process.
Distribution of variable vs fixed costs of hospital care.

CONTEXT Most strategies proposed to control the rising cost of health care are aimed at reducing medical resource consumption rates. These approaches may be limited in effectiveness because of the relatively low variable cost of medical care. Variable costs (for medication and supplies) are saved if a facility does not provide a service while fixed costs (for salaried labor, buildings, and equipment) are not saved over the short term when a health care facility reduces service. OBJECTIVE To determine the relative variable and fixed costs of inpatient and outpatient care for a large urban public teaching hospital. DESIGN Cost analysis. SETTING A large urban public teaching hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All expenditures for the institution during 1993 and for each service were categorized as either variable or fixed. Fixed costs included capital expenditures, employee salaries and benefits, building maintenance, and utilities. Variable costs included health care worker supplies, patient care supplies, diagnostic and therapeutic supplies, and medications. RESULTS In 1993, the hospital had nearly 114000 emergency department visits, 40000 hospital admissions, 240000 inpatient days, and more than 500000 outpatient clinic visits. The total budget for 1993 was $429.2 million, of which $360.3 million (84%) was fixed and $68.8 million (16%) was variable. Overall, 31.5% of total costs were for support expenses such as utilities, employee benefits, and housekeeping salaries, and 52.4% included direct costs of salary for service center personnel who provide services to individual patients. CONCLUSIONS The majority of cost in providing hospital service is related to buildings, equipment, salaried labor, and overhead, which are fixed over the short term. The high fixed costs emphasize the importance of adjusting fixed costs to patient consumption to maintain efficiency.
Identification of Novel N-(Morpholine-4-Carbonyloxy) Amidine Compounds as Potent Inhibitors against Hepatitis C Virus Replication

ABSTRACT To identify novel compounds that possess antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV), we screened a library of small molecules with various amounts of structural diversity using an HCV replicon-expressing cell line and performed additional validations using the HCV-JFH1 infectious-virus cell culture. Of 4,004 chemical compounds, we identified 4 novel compounds that suppressed HCV replication with 50% effective concentrations of ranging from 0.36 to 4.81 μM. N′-(Morpholine-4-carbonyloxy)-2-(naphthalen-1-yl) acetimidamide (MCNA) was the most potent and also produced a small synergistic effect when used in combination with alpha interferon. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses revealed 4 derivative compounds with antiviral activity. Further SAR analyses revealed that the N-(morpholine-4-carbonyloxy) amidine moiety was a key structural element for antiviral activity. Treatment of cells with MCNA activated nuclear factor κB and downstream gene expression. In conclusion, N-(morpholine-4-carbonyloxy) amidine and other related morpholine compounds specifically suppressed HCV replication and may have potential as novel chemotherapeutic agents.
Mining learners ’ traces from an online collaboration tool

As university courses increasingly require students to use online tools in their studies, the opportunity arises to mine the resulting large amounts of student learning data for hidden useful information. In this paper we study the application of data mining to data collected from third year software development group projects using Trac, an online collaboration tool. We applied two very distinctive techniques, clustering and sequential pattern mining. The results point to the importance of leadership and group interaction, and give promising indications of whether effective leadership is occurring in a group. In addition, patterns were found which appear to indicate good individual practices. The results have considerable promise for advising groups at the start of their work and in early identification of both effective and poor patterns, in time for remediation.
Effects of fear factors in disease propagation

Upon an outbreak of a dangerous infectious disease, people generally tend to reduce their contacts with others in fear of getting infected. Such typical actions apparently help slow down the spreading of infection. Thanks to today's broad public media coverage, the fear factor may even contribute to preventing an outbreak from happening. We are motivated to study such effects by adopting a complex network approach. First we evaluate the simple case where connections between individuals are randomly removed due to the fear factor. Then we consider a different case where each individual keeps at least a few connections after contact reduction. Such a case is arguably more realistic since people may choose to keep a few social contacts, e.g., with their family members and closest friends, at any cost. Finally, a study is conducted on the case where connection removals are carried out dynamically while the infection is spreading out. Analytical and simulation results show that the fear factor may not easily prevent an epidemic outbreak from happening in scale-free networks. However, it significantly reduces the fraction of the nodes ever getting infected during the outbreak.
Development of Proteinuria or Elevated Serum Creatinine and Mortality in HIV-Infected Women

BackgroundData on the incidence and prognostic significance of renal dysfunction in HIV disease are limited. ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women and to determine whether these abnormalities are predictors of mortality or associated with causes of death listed on the death certificate in HIV-positive women. DesignThe incidence of proteinuria or elevated serum creatinine and mortality was assessed in a cohort of 885 HIV-positive women and 425 at-risk HIV-negative women. SettingWomen from the general community or HIV care clinics in four urban locations in the United States. Outcome MeasuresCreatinine of ≥1.4 mg/dL, proteinuria 2+ or more, or both. Deaths confirmed by a death certificate (92%) or medical record/community report (8%). ResultsAt baseline, 64 (7.2%) HIV-positive women and 10 (2.4%) HIV-negative women had proteinuria or elevated creatinine. An additional 128 (14%) HIV-positive women and 18 (4%) HIV-negative women developed these abnormalities over the next (mean) 21 months. Relative hazards of mortality were significantly increased (adjusted relative hazard = 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.9–3.3), and there were more renal causes recorded on death certificates (24/92 (26%) vs. 3/127 (2.7%), p < . 0001) in HIV-infected women with, compared with those without these renal abnormalities. ConclusionsProteinuria, elevated serum creatinine, or both frequently occurred in these HIV-infected women. These renal abnormalities in HIV-infected women are associated with an increased risk of death after controlling for other risk factors and with an increased likelihood of having renal causes listed on the death certificate. The recognition and management of proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine should be a priority for HIV-infected persons.
Effects of repeated glyphosate applications on soil microbial community composition and the mineralization of glyphosate.

BACKGROUND Repeated applications may have a greater impact on the soil microbial community than a single application of glyphosate. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of one, two, three, four or five applications of glyphosate on soil microbial community composition and glyphosate mineralization and distribution of (14)C residues in soil. RESULTS Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) common to gram-negative bacteria were present in higher concentrations following five applications relative to one, two, three or four applications both 7 and 14 days after application (DAA). Additionally, sequencing of 16S rRNA bacterial genes indicated that the abundance of the gram-negative Burkholderia spp. was increased following the application of glyphosate. The cumulative percentage (14)C mineralized 14 DAA was reduced when glyphosate was applied 4 or 5 times relative to the amount of (14)C mineralized following one, two or three applications. Incorporation of (14)C residues into soil microbial biomass was greater following five glyphosate applications than following the first application 3 and 7 DAA. CONCLUSION These studies suggest that the changes in the dissipation or distribution of glyphosate following repeated applications of glyphosate may be related to shifts in the soil microbial community composition.
State of the Art and Challenges in Crowd Sourced Modeling

The recent ubiquitous availability of large crowd sourced photo collections (e.g. Facebook, Picassa, Flickr) has opened a wide field of new applications ranging from virtual tourism, cultural heritage preservation to intelligence and defense applications. The research in this active area was energized by the seminal PhotoTourism paper (Snavely et al., 2006) starting from registering 3000 photos on 24 PCs in two weeks. In only five years the community advanced to dense scene reconstruction from 3 million images on as single PC within 24 hrs. At the same time these crowd sourced photo collections are growing at exponential rates posing significant challenges for their long term use. Even the current stateof-the-art methods in scene reconstruction from photo collections lag behind today’s demand to scale to the true size of larger city scale datasets like the 12 million images of New York. Even more challenging is the long term demand for world scale reconstructions required for virtual tourism, disaster response and large image based localization for navigation. In this paper we will discuss the goals that need to be reached in term of scalability, robustness against temporal and apperance variation, within the context of generating high quality dense 3D models from heterogenous input imagery. We will present the current state of the art to achieve the goal and some of the challenges that are left to conquer. 1. GOALS FOR CROWD SOURCED MODELLING We identify three crucial performance goals to be achieved by automated crowd sourced modeling systems (CSMS) in order to fulfill current and future performance demands, while broadening the scope of their applicability:  Scalable Performance: A CSMS will ideally scale with not more than linear complexity in the number of input images. Such performance would enable city scale reconstructions of 12 million images (number of images of New York on Flickr) or more, while still creating complete models.  Robustness to Temporal and Appearance Variation: Large image collections capture complex variation due to physical modification of the scene or atmospheric perturbations that will modify the appearance of a scene being photographed. A reconstruction system needs to be able to cope and detect these variations to ease the scene interpretation.  High quality dense 3D models from heterogeneous input: Images found in Internet photo-collection describe the scene very differently because the devices used and their positioning vary greatly. Dense reconstruction systems that use this type of images need to leverage this formidable variation to obtain the most accurate model possible. In this paper we review the state of the art while keeping in mind these goals. We outline some of the approaches that have been presented to meet these challenges and describe some of the open problems that need to be solved in order to obtain a truly usable reconstruction system using crowd sourced modeling. Photogrammetric Week '11 Dieter Fritsch (Ed.) Wichmann/VDE Verlag, Belin & Offenbach, 2011
First and second language acquisition: Towards a reconcillation

Abstract For the past two decades, research on first language acquisition on the one side, and on second language acquisition and learning on the other have largely developed separately, probably as a reaction to the failure of earlier attempts to use the same methods or simply transfer insights gained in one of the fields to the other. T his article argues that a reconciliation may be fruitful, provided that different aspects which have often got blurred in the discussion are considered separately. These aspects include the assessment of multilingualism and monolingualism, the age factor and the definition of “first” and “second” language, the understanding of linguistic competence and of completeness of acquisition, different forms of acquisition and learning, and uniformity vs. individual differences in the process of language acquisition. By challenging some widely held views on characteristics of first language acquisition and its differences to second language learning, more fine-grained research questions are revealed, some of which have been addressed in recent studies on language acquisition and multilingualism
Application of Fordisc 3.0 to Explore Differences Among Crania of North American and South African Blacks and Whites ,

Using discriminant function analysis, classification accuracies for ancestry and sex in white and black South Africans were compared using North American (FDB), African groups in Howells (HDB), and South African (SADB) databases in FORDISC 3.0. (FD3). Twenty‐four standard linear measures were collected from a total of 86 black and 101 white crania obtained from the Pretoria Bone Collection. White and black South Africans classified 73% correctly in FDB, 55% correctly in HDB, and 71% correctly in SADB. The percentage of atypical cases was higher with FDB than SADB. In all three databases, misclassification occurred more with sex than ancestry revealing differences in sexual dimorphism between population groups. Broad ancestral differences may explain low misclassification rates for ancestry. FD3, with a modern South African reference sample, can assist South African anthropologists to standardize methodology and to justify procedures for estimating ancestry.