Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and analysis of human spinal feedback control system

Many patients suffer from the spinal cord injury, thus a proper model of human spinal feedback control system will help to improve the prognosis of them. Based on the currently accepted theories and hypothesis, this paper introduces an integrated model to describe the static and dynamic characters of this system. And then some mathematical analyses about the relations between selective parameters and input descending commands are presented, which should be served as a guideline on the selection of the parameters.
Correlates of Echocardiographic Indices of Cardiac Remodeling Over the Adult Life Course: Longitudinal Observations From the Framingham Heart Study

Background— The heart progressively remodels over the life course, yet longitudinal data characterizing such remodeling in the community are limited. Methods and Results— Using multilevel modeling, we analyzed up to 4 serial echocardiographic observations obtained over a 16-year period in 4062 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 45 years, 54% women; 11 485 person-observations). We related left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, LV systolic and diastolic dimensions, and fractional shortening to age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure (including antihypertensive medication use), smoking, and diabetes mellitus (separate analyses for each echocardiographic measure). With advancing age, LV dimensions decreased, whereas fractional shortening and LV wall thickness increased concomitantly. Male sex, body mass index, and blood pressure indices/hypertension treatment were significantly related to both greater LV dimensions and LV wall thickness. The effect of age on cardiac remodeling was influenced by key covariates (P<0.05 for all interactions): Women and individuals with diabetes mellitus experienced greater age-associated increases in LV wall thickness; presence of diabetes or a higher blood pressure was associated with a lesser decrease in LV diastolic dimensions with increasing age; and antihypertensive medication use was a marker of an attenuated increase in fractional shortening with aging. Conclusions— Cardiac remodeling over the adult life course is characterized by a distinct pattern of increasing LV wall thickness, decreasing LV dimensions, and increasing fractional shortening with advancing age. Overall, female sex, greater blood pressure load, and presence of diabetes mellitus serve to attenuate this remodeling pattern. These observations suggest a mechanism for the preponderance of women with hypertension and individuals with diabetes among patients with diastolic heart failure.
Outer Membrane Protein P6 of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Is a Potent and Selective Inducer of Human Macrophage Proinflammatory Cytokines

ABSTRACT Interactions of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) with human macrophages contribute to the pathogenesis of NTHI-induced infection in humans. However, the immunologic mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate NTHI-mediated macrophage responses have not been well explored. Outer membrane protein (OMP) P6 is a conserved lipoprotein expressed by NTHI in vivo that possesses a Pam3Cys terminal motif, characteristic of immunoactive bacterial lipoproteins associated with Toll-like receptor signaling. We theorized that OMP P6 is a potent immunomodulator of human macrophages. To test this hypothesis, we purified OMP P6 as well as OMP P2, the predominant NTHI outer membrane protein, and lipooligosaccharide (LOS), the specific endotoxin of NTHI, from NTHI strain 1479. Human blood monocyte-derived macrophages, purified from healthy donors, were incubated with each outer membrane constituent, and cytokine production of macrophage supernatants interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-10, IL-12, and IL-8 was measured. OMP P6 selectively upregulated IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-8. While OMP P6 (0.1 μg/ml for 8 h) elicited slightly greater concentrations of IL-10, it resulted in over ninefold greater concentrations of TNF-α and over fourfold greater concentrations of IL-8 than did OMP P2. OMP P6 at doses as low as 10 pg/ml was still effective at induction of macrophage IL-8, while OMP P2 and LOS were not. OMP P6 of NTHI is a specific trigger of bacteria-induced human macrophage inflammatory events, with IL-8 and TNF-α as key effectors of P6-induced macrophage responses.
FORMULATION OF FUROSEMIDE SOLID DISPERSION WITH MICRO CRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FOR ACHIEVE RAPID DISSOLUTION

Furosemide, a weekly acidic, loop diuretic drug indicated for treatment of edema and hypertension having high permeability through stomach. It is practically insoluble in gastric fluid (0.006 mg/ mL) and having highly permeability through stomach but due to its solubility limitation it can’t enter into systemic circulation. It was logically decided to design experiment, so as to achieve the set objectives. Attempt was made to prepare solid dispersion of furosemide with Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 containing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as adsorbent which would dissolve completely in less than 30 minutes (target selected by considering minimum gastric empting time). Microcrystalline cellulose converted sticky dispersion in to free flow powder hence increase surface area which responsible for dissolution improvement. Factorial design was applied to optimize formulation. Amount of poly ethylene glycol 6000 and microcrystalline cellulose were selected as an Independent variable while angle of repose and T100% were selected as dependent variable. Attempts for dissolution rate of furosemide improve bioavailability and consequently dose reduction would possible.
De l'incertitude en gestion territoriale

L'incertitude est abordee sous deux angles complementaires. Elle est caracterisee telle qu'utilisee par les sciences sociales, notamment en sociologie, conceptuellement et methodologiquement. Elle est etudiee a partir d'un terrain concret, les villes francaises, en tant qu'acteurs et decideurs publics. Il est propose de distinguer inquietude et incertitude, cette derniere renvoyant a des parametres cognitifs et comportementaux. Il est montre que les responsables politiques locaux ne vivent pas un etat d'inquietude qui soit marque. Les facteurs sont identifies qui expliquent comment et pourquoi les dirigeants territoriaux reduisent l'incertitude et construisent les conditions d'un univers gestionnaire et politique non aleatoire. Il est enfin suggere que, loin de s'etre accrue avec la "crise" des dernieres annees, l'incertitude s'est trouvee reduite par les pratiques des entrepreneurs territoriaux.
Constructing knowledge from multivariate spatiotemporal data: integrating geographical visualization with knowledge discovery in database methods

We present an approach to the process of constructing knowledge through structured exploration of large spatiotemporal data sets. First, we introduce our problem context and define both Geographic Visualization (GVis) and Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD), the source domains for methods being integrated. Next, we review and compare recent GVis and KDD developments and consider the potential for their integration, emphasizing that an iterative process with user interaction is a central focus for uncovering interest and meaningful patterns through each. We then introduce an approach to design of an integrated GVis-KDD environment directed to exploration and discovery in the context of spatiotemporal environmental data. The approach emphasizes a matching of GVis and KDD meta-operations. Following description of the GVis and KDD methods that are linked in our prototype system, we present a demonstration of the prototype applied to a typical spatiotemporal dataset. We conclude by outlining, briefly, resea.
Effects of intersignal interval on the human auditory evoked response.

Average evoked responses were recorded from human vertex in response to tone pulses presented at intersignal intervals (ISI) ranging from 0.25 through 10 sec. Tone pulses were 20 msec in duration with 20‐msec rise and decay times. Frequencies investigated were 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz. Response amplitude was found to be a linear function of log10ISI. Response latency did not change significantly with ISI, except perhaps in component N2 of the response, which appeared to increase in latency as ISI increased. These relations obtained regardless of frequency.
Long-Term Effect of Social Relationships on Mortality in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality within the Western world, and yet psychosocial impact of this disease is under-researched. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of social relationships (perceived social support and perceived social isolation) on mortality risk in 119 patients with stable, symptomatic congestive heart failure. Fifty-one deaths were registered during the six-year follow-up period, all from cardiac causes. Analysis using proportional hazard models indicated that social isolation was a significant predictor of mortality (relative risk, 1.36; confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.78; p < 0.03), controlling for neuroticism, heart failure severity, functional status, gender, and age. The small sample size was a limitation of the study; therefore, further research is required in order to confirm these findings and to illuminate the mechanisms behind the relationships between social isolation and mortality.
Uloga percipiranog vršnjačkog nasilja i iskustva obiteljskog nasilja u počinjenju i doživljavanju nasilja u adolescentskim vezama

Cilj je bio utvrditi odnos nekih aspekata nasilja u adolescentskim romanticnim vezama s percepcijom pocinjenja nasilja u vezama među vrsnjacima i iskustvom obiteljskog nasilja. Zanimalo nas je i koji prediktori pridonose objasnjenju nasilja u romanticnim vezama mladih. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 200 ucenica i ucenika cetvrtih razreda srednjih skola u Zagrebu i Velikoj Gorici. Primijenjeni instrumentarij se sastojao od demografskog upitnika, Skale pogresnih uvjerenja o kvalitetnoj vezi, Upitnika pocinjenih i doživljenih nasilnih ponasanja u vezi, Skale prepoznavanja nasilnih ponasanja u vezi (Ajdukovic, Low i Susac, 2011), Skale izloženosti nasilju u primarnoj obitelji (M. Ajdukovic i Rajhvajn Bulat, 2011) i Upitnika percipiranog pocinjenja nasilja u vezama. Rezultati pokazuju umjerenu pozitivnu povezanost percepcije pocinjenja nasilja u vrsnjackoj grupi i pocinjenog i doživljenog nasilja. Sudionici koji imaju vece iskustvo obiteljskog nasilja cesce cine i doživljavaju nasilje. Djevojke cesce cine nasilje, dok ga mladici cesce doživljavaju. Pocinjenje nasilja je znacajna varijabla u objasnjenju doživljenog nasilja i obrnuto. Percipirano pocinjenje nasilja u vrsnjackoj grupi znacajno pridonosi objasnjenju pocinjenog nasilja u bliskim vezama. Pogresna uvjerenja i prepoznavanje nasilnih ponasanja se nisu pokazali znacajnima u objasnjavanju pocinjenja i doživljavanja nasilja.
Evaluation of a new battery of toxicity tests for boreal forest soils: Assessment of the impact of hydrocarbons and salts

The ability to assess the toxic potential of soil contamination within boreal regions is currently limited to test species representative of arable lands. This study evaluated the use of six boreal plant species (Pinus banksiana, Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Populus tremuloides, Calamagrostis Canadensis, and Solidago canadensis) and four invertebrate species (Dendrodrilus rubidus, Folsomia nivalis, Proisotoma minuta, and Oppia nitens) and compared their performance to a suite of standard agronomic soil test species using site soils impacted by petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) and salt contamination. To maintain horizon‐specific differences, individual soil horizons were collected from impacted sites and relayered within the test vessels. Use of the boreal species was directly applicable to the assessment of the contaminated forest soils and, in the case of the hydrocarbon‐impacted soil, demonstrated greater overall sensitivity (25th percentile of estimated species sensitivity distribution [ESSD25] = 5.6% contamination: 10,600 mg/kg fraction 3 [F3; equivalent hydrocarbon range of >C16 to C34] Of/Oh horizon, and 270 mg/kg F3 Ahg horizon) relative to the standard test species (ESSD25 = 23% contamination: 44,000 mg/kg F3 Of/Oh horizon, and 1,100 mg/kg F3 Ahg horizon). For salinity, there was no difference between boreal and standard species with a combined ESSD25 = 2.3%, equating to 0.24 and 0.25 dS/m for the Ah and Ck horizons. The unequal distribution of soil invertebrates within the layered test vessels can confound test results and the interpretation of the toxic potential of a site. The use of test species relevant to boreal eco‐zones strengthens the applicability of the data in support of realistic ecological risk assessments applicable to the boreal regions. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:766–777. © 2012 SETAC
Breeding site fidelity in southern elephant seals of the Falkland Islands

Breeding site fidelity, i.e., the tendency to return to the same breeding site for consecutive breeding attempts, is an important component of mammal life history strategies, and seems almost ubiquitous in Pinnipedia species, at least for land breeding ones. Site fidelity may entail significant somatic benefits and costs, and, if coupled with return for first breeding attempt to birth site, may produce a genetic sub-structuring of populations. We present data on female and male site fidelity, together with preliminary information on female phylopatry, of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) of Sea Lion Island, the main breeding site of the species in the Falkland Islands. We found a high level of site fidelity at small scale (hundred of metres) in both sexes, although higher in females, even when considering up to five consecutive breeding seasons of the same individual. We discuss the behavioural and genetic implications of site fidelity, emphasizing that it may affect mating tactics, breeding success, and genetic sub-structuring of local populations.
Cyclic Animation of Human Body Using PDE Surfaces and Maya

In this work we propose a modelling technique for producing cyclic motions of human body. The surface of the human body has been created from a set of pre-configured curves that were used as the set of boundary conditions to solve a number of partial differential equations (PDE). These boundary curves are attached to a skeletal system that holds the animation for cyclic motions. An important function of the method described here is the use of mathematical expressions within Maya software for generating the cyclic motion leading to a very realistic movement. Thus, the user can interactively manipulate the position and movement of various body parts to achieve various cyclic motions. Finally the animation can be transferred to either the original mesh model from where the boundary curves associated with the PDE surface were extracted or to another mesh model with equivalent topology.
Bonobos Show Limited Social Tolerance in a Group Setting: A Comparison with Chimpanzees and a Test of the Relational Model

Social tolerance is a core aspect of primate social relationships with implications for the evolution of cooperation, prosociality and social learning. We measured the social tolerance of bonobos in an experiment recently validated with chimpanzees to allow for a comparative assessment of group-level tolerance, and found that the bonobo group studied here exhibited lower social tolerance on average than chimpanzees in this paradigm. Furthermore, following the Relational Model of de Waal, we investigated whether bonobos responded to an increased potential for social conflict with tolerance, conflict avoidance or conflict escalation, and found that only behaviours indicative of conflict escalation differed across conditions. Taken together, these findings contribute to the current debate over the level of social tolerance of bonobos and lend support to the position that the social tolerance of bonobos may not be notably high compared with other primates.
Four-Way Microstrip Lumped-Element Reconfigurable Dual-Mode Filtering Power Divider

In this paper, a novel four-way microstrip lumped-element reconfigurable dual-mode filtering power divider (FPD) is proposed. The two operating states are a four-way FPD with constant return loss, and a stopband filter (SBF) with high isolation, respectively. This switchless two operating states can be switched by selecting appropriate voltage without using switches. The tunable filtering response of four-way FPD based on a novel coupling scheme is realized by two pairs of varactor-tuned LC resonators. The measured four-way FPD can be tuned from 0.98 to 2.08 GHz with return loss better than 18 dB. Its frequency tuning range (FTR) is 72%. The measured isolation is better than 19.5 dB from dc to 5.7 GHz. Apart from the bandpass FPD application, the proposed circuit can also be utilized as an SBF, which is different that of conventional SBF by tuning off diodes to obtain isolation. By staggering the resonant frequencies of four lumped-element resonators and decrease mutual coupling between resonators, an SBF with high isolation can be obtained between two nonadjacent ports. The measured isolation is better than 40 dB from dc to 6 GHz and better than 45 dB from 1.1 to 4.8 GHz. The proposed four-way reconfigurable dual-mode FPD exhibits wide isolation bandwidth and FTR, good return loss, high isolation level, and compact size.
Kraniyofasiyal Morfoloji, Baş Postürü ve Hyoid Kemik Pozisyonu

OZET Bas ve boyun bolgesi, dentofasiyal yapilari etkilemesiyle ortodonti alaninda son zamanlarda arastirma konusu haline gelmistir. Bu kapsamdan yola cikarak, bu derlemede bas posturu, kraniyofasiyal morfoloji ve hyoid kemik pozisyonu arasindaki iliskiden bahsedilecektir.
Does adaptive radiation of a host lineage promote ecological diversity of its bacterial communities? A test using gut microbiota of Anolis lizards

Adaptive radiations provide unique opportunities to test whether and how recent ecological and evolutionary diversification of host species structures the composition of entire bacterial communities. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing of faecal samples to test for differences in the gut microbiota of six species of Puerto Rican Anolis lizards characterized by the evolution of distinct ‘ecomorphs’ related to differences in habitat use. We found substantial variation in the composition of the microbiota within each species and ecomorph (trunk‐crown, trunk‐ground, grass‐bush), but no differences in bacterial alpha diversity among species or ecomorphs. Beta diversity analyses revealed subtle but significant differences in bacterial composition related to host phylogeny and species, but these differences were not consistently associated with Anolis ecomorph. Comparison of a trunk‐ground species from this clade (A. cristatellus) with a distantly related member of the same ecomorph class (A. sagrei) where the two species have been introduced and are now sympatric in Florida revealed pronounced differences in the alpha diversity and beta diversity of their microbiota despite their ecological similarity. Comparisons of these populations with allopatric conspecifics also revealed geographic differences in bacterial alpha diversity and beta diversity within each species. Finally, we observed high intraindividual variation over time and strong effects of a simplified laboratory diet on the microbiota of A. sagrei. Collectively, our results indicate that bacterial communities are only weakly shaped by the diversification of their lizard hosts due to the strikingly high levels of bacterial diversity and variation observed within Anolis species.
Thinking Outside the Plant: Exploring Phloem Development Using VISUAL[OPEN]

Investigating how plants grow and develop often requires a bit of creativity. For example, deep within the plant, the vascular cambium, a layer of embryonic, highly cytoplasmic cells, gives rise to xylem and phloem tissue, which must expand throughout the plant’s lifetime. Water and nutrients
Recovery from nonfluent aphasia after melodic intonation therapy

We examined mechanisms of recovery from aphasia in seven nonfluent aphasic patients, who were successfully treated with melodic intonation therapy (MIT) after a lengthy absence of spontaneous recovery.We measured changes in relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) with positron emission tomography (PET) during hearing and repetition of simple words, and during repetition of MIT-loaded words. Without MIT, language tasks abnormally activated right hemisphere regions, homotopic to those activated in the normal subject, and deactivated left hemisphere language zones. In contrast, repeating words with MIT reactivated Broca's area and the left prefrontal cortex, while deactivating the counterpart of Wernicke's area in the right hemisphere. The recovery process induced by MIT in these patients probably coincides with this reactivation of left prefrontal structures. In contrast, the right hemisphere regions abnormally activated during simple language tasks seem to be associated with the initial persistence of the aphasia. This study supports the idea that abnormal activation patterns in the lesioned brain are not necessarily related to the recovery process. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 1504-1511
Evidencias para la prevención y control de lesiones en motociclistas

Los accidentes del transito representan una de las principales causas de mortalidad, lesiones y discapacidad en personas a nivel mundial. Este fenomeno no es ajeno al contexto colombiano, con la particularidad del aumento del parque automotor durante las ultimas dos decadas con mayor numero de motocicletas, que representan mas del 50 % de las lesiones y muertes en los accidentes de transito. El trabajo fue autorizado por el comite de etica e investigacion, su proposito es identificar las estrategias mas efectivas que contribuyan a la prevencion y control de las lesiones causadas por el transito de motocicletas. Se realizo una revision sistematica de la literatura que incluyo estudios observacionales, investigacion cualitativa y estudios econometricos. Se recopilaron 30 articulos publicados entre el 2002 y el 2013. Estos estudios muestran la implementacion del uso del casco, de medidas de visibilidad, control de comportamientos de riesgo y la aplicacion de leyes donde se restringe la ingesta de alcohol, como las principales practicas orientadas a la prevencion de accidentes en los motociclistas. El presente estudio resalta la robustez del uso del casco como la principal medida para la prevencion y control de estos accidentes, reconoce la complejidad del fenomeno y la necesidad en consecuencia de la sinergia entre metodos cualitativos y cuantitativos para darleuna mayor explicacion; supone una base conceptual solida para la generacion de politicas publicas pertinentes que busquen la disminucion de la morbilidad, mortalidad y discapacidad asociada a este tipo de siniestros viales.
Effects of Beauveria bassiana on embryos of the inland silverside fish (Menidia beryllina)

A chemical toxicity and teratogenicity test was adapted to assess potential adverse effects of a microbial pest control agent on a nontarget fish. Developing embryos of the inland silverside, Menidia beryllina, were exposed to conidiospores of the insect-pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Embryo rupture and death were observed. Embryo rupture did not always result in death, nor was death always associated with embryo rupture. Adherence of spores to the chorion, followed by germination and penetration by the germ tube, probably caused the embryos to rupture. Statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) responses were observed in tests in which conidiospore concentrations were greater than or equal to 8.3 x 10(4) or less than or equal to 1.5 x 10(6)/ml. Conidiospores treated with a dispersant (biological detergent) showed significantly less binding (P less than or equal to 0.01) to embryos than did untreated spores. Both detergent-treated and heat-killed spores failed to cause significant adverse effects.