Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Relationality, on Blackness: A Listening Post

IN THEIR INTRODUCTORY ESSAY to Comparison: Theories, Approaches, Uses, Ruth Felski and Susan Stanford Friedman ask, “How do we rethink the structures of comparison and the history of its uses in order to do justice to past and current postcolonial and global contexts? ” (1). A similar question surfaces as part of the recent “critical turn” in Comparative Ethnic Studies. In their introduction to a special issue of Critical Ethnic Studies reconsidering “racial comparativism,” Danika Medak-Saltzman and Antonio T. Tiongson, Jr. query the field’s epistemic investments in a priori forms of “congruency, symmetry, and commensurability” (5). These parallel lines of inquiry suggest that the substance of and space between the comparative in Comparative Literature and the comparative in Comparative Ethnic Studies continue to prompt substantive investigation. Both formations have housed consonant and sometimes overlapping scholarly projects and critical approaches, converging around issues of postcoloniality and coloniality, regimes of power/knowledge that produce and contest the “worlding of the world,” and the subaltern and fugitive figurations of other-worldliness present yet buried in sedimented histories of violence and degradation. Yet what the “comparative” names in each of these formations remains distinct, emerging as much from particular ways of knowing difference as from specific institutional loci and their
Simultaneous scheduling and binding for low gate leakage nano-complementary metaloxide-semiconductor data path circuit behavioural synthesis

The authors present two polynomial time-complexity heuristic algorithms for optimisation of gate-oxide leakage (tunnelling current) during behavioural synthesis through simultaneous schedulling and binding. One algorithm considers the time-constraint explicitly and the other considers it implicitly, whereas both account for resource constraints. The algorithms selectively bind the off-critical operations to instances of the pre-characterised resources consisting of transistors of higher oxide thickness, and critical operations to the resources of lower oxide thickness for power and performance optimisation. We design and characterise functional and storage units of different gate-oxide thicknesses and built a data path library. Extensive experiments for several behavioural synthesis benchmarks for 45 nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology showed that reduction as high as 85% can be obtained.
Vehicle Control and Information Systems for Safe Driving

OVERVIEW: Recently, there has been an increase in the practical application of ACC (adaptive cruise control) systems, which measure the following distance to the preceding vehicle by radar and automatically maintain an appropriate following distance, and lane keeping systems, which recognize lanes using vision sensors and keep the vehicle from deviating from the lane. Current systems are based on the premise of highway driving, but in the future, we can expect that these systems will come to be used on regular roads as well, in pursuit of even greater safety and comfort. Achieving this goal will require advancements in various related fields, including: (1) technologies for accurately recognizing the environment surrounding the vehicle; (2) technologies for controlling the vehicle’s speed by controlling engine, transmission, and brake operations; and (3) technologies for controlling vehicle dynamics. In “vehicle dynamics control,” driving dynamics information is passed between various components via an onboard network. Services are gradually being developed to analyze and utilize this driving dynamics information based on ITs (see Fig. 1). Hitachi, Ltd. is developing three types of sensor technologies for recognizing the conditions around the vehicle: millimeter wave radar, vision sensors, and sensor fusion. The company is also developing technologies for controlling the vehicle’s movements, as well as driving recorder technologies for analyzing vehicle dynamics control information (physical values recorded in the driving recorder that express the vehicle’s behavior) and diagnosing driving conditions and drivers’ characteristics, and services that apply these technologies. Hiroshi Kuroda Kazuaki Takano Nobuyuki Ueki Hiroshi Kondoh, Dr. Eng.
Reflex Interactions during Whole Head-and-Body Tilts are Modified by Age in Humans

We have demonstrated that lower limb extensor muscle response to tibial nerve stimulation is significantly facilitated by whole head-and-body tilt in the forward direction. Our aim was to examine whether this reflex interaction is influenced by age. Reflexes were elicited in lower limb muscles by electrical stimulation (ES) of the right tibial nerve. We compared reflexes during supported stance (ESalone) and sudden forward tilting of the whole head-and-body (Tilt+ES) between 10 healthy subjects aged 66 ± 4 years and 13 subjects aged 27 ± 3 years. In young subjects the area of response evoked in the ipsilateral vastus lateralis (iVL) was significantly increased by 74% during Tilt+ES as compared with ESalone (p < 0.05). Moreover, the latency of contralateral VL and soleus muscle responses (cVL and/or cSO) was significantly shorter by 61 ms during Tilt+ES than ESalone (p < 0.01). In contrast, older subjects showed no significant increase in the excitability of iVL muscle response and cVL and/or cSO muscle responses during Tilt+ES as compared with ESalone despite the application of similar intensity of ES and head acceleration as in young subjects. Our findings showed that the interaction between ES-evoked and tilt-evoked responses in lower limb extensor muscles is modified with age, which suggests modifications of sensorimotor integration involved in balance control.
Hair reduction: 48 months of experience with 800nm diode laser

BACKGROUND: The goal of hair removal methods has always been permanent or at least long‐term epilation. Laser technology and the axiom of selective photothermolysis allowed a new approach to this subject. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the long‐term efficacy of a solid state, 800nm pulsed near infrared diode laser system for the reduction of pigmented hair, and extending habitual hair plucking intervals. METHODS: In 48 months 242 patients received 703 diode laser treatments on 477 sites. Treatment data and an anonymous patient questionnaire on data concerning undesired hair growth (e.g. predisposition, psychological aspects), and hair plucking habits were retrospectively evaluated to verify the benefit of 800‐nm diode laser application for the reduction of excess hair. RESULTS: After an average of 1.97 treatments (range 1–6) sufficient reduction of pigmented hair was achieved for a mean period of 8.1 months. The habitual hair plucking interval was raised from a mean of 3.69 days before treatment to 15.19 days after laser epilation. The procedure was tolerated by 81.4% without local anesthetics and well accepted by 82.55% of the patients. CONCLUSION: 800‐nm diode laser assisted hair removal represents a safe and effective treatment option for the reduction of pigmented hair.
Household air pollution and personal exposure to nitrated and oxygenated polycyclic aromatics (PAHs) in rural households: Influence of household cooking energies

Residential solid fuels are widely consumed in rural China, contributing to severe household air pollution for many products of incomplete combustion, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their polar derivatives. In this study, concentrations of nitrated and oxygenated PAH derivatives (nPAHs and oPAHs) for household and personal air were measured and analyzed for influencing factors like smoking and cooking energy type. Concentrations of nPAHs and oPAHs in kitchens were higher than those in living rooms and in outdoor air. Exposure levels measured by personal samplers were lower than levels in indoor air, but higher than outdoor air levels. With increasing molecular weight, individual compounds tended to be more commonly partitioned to particulate matter (PM); moreover, higher molecular weight nPAHs and oPAHs were preferentially found in finer particles, suggesting a potential for increased health risks. Smoking behavior raised the concentrations of nPAHs and oPAHs in personal air significantly. People who cooked food also had higher personal exposures. Cooking and smoking have a significant interaction effect on personal exposure. Concentrations in kitchens and personal exposure to nPAHs and oPAHs for households using wood and peat were significantly higher than for those using electricity and liquid petroleum gas (LPG).
The C‐terminal domain of the secretin PulD contains the binding site for its cognate chaperone, PulS, and confers PulS dependence on pIVf1 function

Related outer membrane proteins, termed secretins, participate in the secretion of macromolecules across the outer membrane of many Gram‐negative bacteria. In the pullulanase‐secretion system, PulS, an outer membrane‐associated lipoprotein, is required both for the integrity and the proper outer membrane localization of the PulD secretin. Here we show that the PulS‐binding site is located within the C‐terminal 65 residues of PulD. Addition of this domain to the filamentous phage secretin, pIV, or to the unrelated maltose‐binding protein rendered both proteins dependent on PulS for stability. A chimeric protein composed of bacteriophage f1 pIV and the C‐terminal domain of PulD required properly localized PulS to support phage assembly. An in vivo complex formed between the pIV‐PulD65 chimera and PulS was detected by co‐immunoprecipitation and by affinity chromatography.
On quality assessment of corneal endothelium and its possibility to be used for surgical corneal transplantation

Transplantation of corneal tissue is a usual practice in hospitals. The analysis of microscopy images of donor corneal endothelium is routinely carried out at eye banks for the clinical assessment of cornea quality and suitability for transplantation. One of the main clinical parameters expressing the health of a cornea, and assessing their suitability as a human graft, is the cell density of its endothelium. Endothelium cell density is conventionally estimated by a long, tedious and error-prone manual counting procedure, carried out by experts who, according to a protocol, observe specimen images through an optical microscope. Besides a great subjectivity, this manual process causes a great disparity in the results derived from the protocol considered. Another additional and very important drawback is that images are often blurred and noisy, what makes very difficult the correct recognition of the cells. Taking into account aforementioned problems, this paper introduces a computer intelligence-based system for automatic segmentation of corneal endothelium images that in addition to facilitating technicians work of will reduce the disparity of results
Scripting Refactorings in Java to Introduce Design Patterns

Introducing design patterns into a program by hand is tedious and error-prone. Refactorings help but manual tasks still remain: you must understand available refactorings, determine a precise sequence of refactorings to invoke, and perform these tasks repetitively to a laborious degree. We present Reflective Refactoring (R 2 ), a Java package to automate the introduction of classical design patterns (Visitor, Abstract Factory, etc), their inverses and variants. We encoded 78% of classical design patterns asR 2 scripts. In one application,R 2 automatically created a visitor with 276 visit methods by invoking 554 Eclipse refactorings in a few minutes ‐ an achievement that could not be done manually. We demonstrate the generality and scalability ofR 2 , illustrate its productivity potential, and explain why refactoring speed and correctness are critical issues for scripting in next-generation refactoring engines.
Regenerative caffeine‐induced responses in native rabbit aortic endothelial cells

1 Single native aortic endothelial cells obtained by enzymatic dispersion of the rabbit aortic endothelium were held under voltage clamp using patch pipette and whole‐cell membrane currents were measured. In parallel experiments performed on cells from the same batches, the free internal calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, in the cell was estimated by use of the Ca2+‐sensitive fluorescent dye, fura‐2. 2 Caffeine (20 mM) applied to the cell evoked an outward current and an initial peak in [Ca2+]1 followed by a lower sustained rise (plateau). Ca2+‐free, EGTA‐containing solution applied outside the cells did not reduce these responses. 3 Following caffeine stimulation there was a biphasic rising phase of outward current both in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+. 4 Application of graded doses of caffeine revealed all‐or‐none type responses of both the outward current and the rise in [Ca2+]i. 5 Preincubation with lower doses of caffeine reduced the magnitude of both the outward current and the [Ca2+]i transient evoked by 20 mM caffeine. 6 Tetraethylammonium (3 mM) applied to the bathing solution blocked unitary and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) stimulated by Ca2+‐free solution, but only reduced the outward current evoked by caffeine (20 mM). 7 In conclusion, our results reveal the all‐or‐none nature of Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in native aortic endothelial cells. Lower concentrations of caffeine (0.4‐0.5 mM) may deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores. Extracellular Ca2+ is not necessary for maintaining the activity of spontaneous and caffeine‐induced outward currents in native aortic endothelial cells. Spontaneous outward currents are believed to represent the sporadic release of calcium from store sites independent of both extracellular Ca2+ and the caffeine‐sensitive Ca2+ stores which stimulate the outward current.
Structural and functional aspects of the myosin essential light chain in cardiac muscle contraction

The myosin essential light chain (ELC) is a structural component of the actomyosin cross‐bridge, but its function is poorly understood, especially the role of the cardiac specific N‐terminal extension in modulating actomyosin interaction. Here, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing the A57G (alanine to glycine) mutation in the cardiac ELC known to cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC). The function of the ELC N‐terminal extension was investigated with the Tg‐Δ43 mouse model, whose myocardium expresses a truncated ELC. Low‐angle X‐ray diffraction studies on papillary muscle fibers in rigor revealed a decreased interfilament spacing (~1.5 nm) and no alterations in cross‐bridge mass distribution in Tg‐A57G mice compared to Tg‐WT, expressing the full‐length nonmutated ELC. The truncation mutation showed a 1.3‐fold increase in I1,1/I1,0, indicating a shift of cross‐bridge mass from the thick filament backbone toward the thin filaments. Mechanical studies demonstrated increased stiffness in Tg‐A57G muscle fibers compared to Tg‐WT or Tg‐Δ43. The equilibrium constant for the cross‐bridge force generation step was smallest in Tg‐Δ43. These results support an important role for the N‐terminal ELC extension in prepositioning the cross‐bridge for optimal force production. Subtle changes in the ELC sequence were sufficient to alter cross‐bridge properties and lead to pathological phenotypes. —Muthu, P., Wang, L. , Yuan, C. ‐C. , Kazmierczak, K. , Huang, W. , Hernandez, O. M. , Kawai, M. , Irving, T. C. , Szczesna‐Cordary, D. Structural and functional aspects of the myosin essential light chain in cardiac muscle contraction. FASEB J. 25, 4394–4405 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Issues in accessing Web sites from mobile devices

Mobile devices such as PDAs and cellular phones that offer Internet access are proliferating. Due to the many unique characteristics of these devices, such as their small screen size and limited network connectivity, existing Web sites may have to undergo significant evolution to support this type of mobile client. The paper outlines some of the issues in accessing Web sites from mobile devices, such as the Apple Newton, the Compaq iPAQ, and WAP-enabled cell phones. These issues are based on our experiences as both users of mobile devices and as content providers.
Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Alleviated by Oral Appliance in a Three-Year-Old Boy

This clinical report describes a 3.5-year-old boy suffering from chronic daytime fatigue, accumulated snoring and dramatically appearing apnea during sleep. Oxycardiorespirography revealed a breathing pattern similar to repetitive obstructive apnea and an oxygen saturation periodically dropping to 80%. During tidal breathing, fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed aspiration of the aryepiglottic folds and the epiglottis during inspiration. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was excluded. Due to the acknowledged side effects from various surgical approaches and nasal continuous positive airway pressure, a removable, functional Fraenkel II oral appliance was applied during sleep. Clinical assessment demonstrated resolution of the main respiratory symptoms, and oxycardiorespirography revealed a fundamental reduction in periodic obstructive apnea and desaturation. In conclusion, we consider the use of an oral functional appliance for severe obstructive sleep apnea in children to be a valuable alternative to other treatment methods.
Air-fluid level in the right lung

179 A 52-year-old smoker male with 30 pack years smoking history and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bullous emphysema presented to our hospital with complaints of worsening dyspnea, fever, and productive cough for past 3–4 days. Physical examination revealed a well-built African-American male in moderate respiratory distress requiring supplemental oxygen through nasal cannula to maintain adequate oxygen saturation. Significant findings on respiratory system examination included tachypnea and bronchial breath sounds in the upper-right chest area. An upright PA and lateral view of chest radiograph [Figure 1, panel A and B] and computed tomographic scan (without contrast) of the chest [Figure 2] are shown.
Gesundheitsnetz Bodensee - Aufbau einer grenzüberschreitenden Plattform für den Erfahrungs- und Wissensaustausch von Gesundheitsdienstleistern

n o ch n ic h t zu g eo rd n et Einleitung Ökonomisierung der Medizin, Fachkräftemangel und demografischer Wandel sind nur einige Schlagworte, die im Kontext medizinischer Versorgung immer häufiger zu hören sind. Ob nun Panikmache oder Realität – mit Einführung der Fallpauschalen und der gestiegenen Qualitätssensitivität in der Bevölkerung hat der Druck zur Spezialisierung und Beschleunigung der Abläufe im Gesundheitsbereich zugenommen [1]. Für Spitäler, die nach wie vor wichtigsten Säulen der Versorgung, bedeutet das, dass sie ihre Behandlungskernleistungen definieren, die Prozesse entlang der Behandlungskette ausrichten und eng mit komplementären Dienstleistern zusammenarbeiten sollten [2, 3]. Der Schlüssel für gleichbleibende Versorgungsqualität bei einer Stabilisierung der Kosten liegt also in neuen Formen der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Spitälern und ihren vorund nachgelagerten Versorgungspartnern. Leider gibt es aktuell praktisch keinen bzw. nur sehr wenig Austausch zwischen den verschiedenen Gesundheitsdienstleistern. Ungleich sonstiger wirtschaftlicher und sozialer Aktivitäten in der Bodenseeregion – man bedenke zum Beispiel den regen Grenzverkehr oder die starke Kooperation in Bildung und Tourismus – findet die grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Gesundheitsdienstleistern nur zögerlich statt.
Impact of User Satisfaction with Mandated CRM Use on Employee Service Quality

An increasing number of organizations are now implementing customer relationship management (CRM) systems to support front-line employees' service tasks. With the belief that CRM can enhance employees' service quality, management often mandates employees to use the implemented CRM. However, challenges emerge if/when employees are dissatisfied with using the system. To understand the role of front-line employee users' satisfaction with their mandated use of CRM in determining their service quality, we conducted a field study in one of the largest telecommunications service organizations in China and gathered time-lagged data from self-reported employee surveys, as well as from the firm's archival data sources. Our results suggest that employees' overall user satisfaction (UserSat) with their mandated use of CRM has a positive impact on employee service quality (ESQ) above and beyond the expected positive impacts that job dedication (JD) and embodied service knowledge (ESK) have on ESQ. Interestingly, the positive effect of UserSat on ESQ is comparable to the positive effects of JD and ESK, respectively, on ESQ. Importantly, UserSat and ESK have a substitutive effect on ESQ, suggesting that the impact of UserSat on ESQ is stronger/weaker for employees with lower/higher levels of ESK. Finally, ESQ predicts customer satisfaction with customer service employees (CSWCSE); ESQ also fully mediates the impacts of UserSat and ESK, and partially mediates the impact of JD, on CSWCSE. The results of this study emphasize the importance of user satisfaction in determining employees' task outcomes when use of an information system is mandated.
Les troubles du péripartum de la vache laitière : risques associés et moyens de contrôle Peripartum disorders in dairy cows: associated risks and control measures

Avec l’amelioration de leur productivite, les vaches laitieres sont confrontees en debut de lactation a de telles modifications de leur metabolisme que le moindre probleme peut avoir des consequences catastrophiques. Une mobilisation trop precoce ou trop forte de leurs reserves de lipides va conduire a une steatose hepatique, dont les consequences sur la sante de la vache sont multiples : chute de l’appetit, degradation de la neoglucogenese, de la reponse immunitaire. De meme, une calcemie trop faible induira non seulement un deficit de la contraction musculaire, pouvant entrainer un decubitus, mais aussi une baisse de la reponse immunitaire, ainsi que des perturbations des fonctions digestives. Enfin, toute alteration de l’immunite dans la periode du peripartum, moment ou elle est deja a son niveau le plus bas, provoquera une exacerbation des phenomenes infectieux mais aussi metaboliques. Ainsi, les troubles du peripartum sont tous lies les uns aux autres avec comme element declenchant un de ces trois facteurs. Une nouvelle approche therapeutique de la moindre affection a ce moment-la s’impose, qui prend en compte non seulement son traitement mais aussi la prevention des troubles directement lies. Une conduite d’elevage adaptee et une bonne maitrise de l’alimentation et des transitions alimentaires peuvent prevenir l’apparition de ces affections. Si ce n’est pas le cas, existe un arsenal de produits a visee dietetique dont l’efficacite a ete prouvee.