Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of electromagnetic radiation from 3G mobile phone on heart rate, blood pressure and ECG parameters in rats

Effects of electromagnetic energy radiated from mobile phones (MPs) on heart is one of the research interests. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from third-generation (3G) MP on the heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and ECG parameters and also to investigate whether exogenous melatonin can exert any protective effect on these parameters. In this study 36 rats were randomized and evenly categorized into 4 groups: group 1 (3G-EMR exposed); group 2 (3G-EMR exposed + melatonin); group 3 (control) and group 4 (control + melatonin). The rats in groups 1 and 2 were exposed to 3G-specific MP’s EMR for 20 days (40 min/day; 20 min active (speech position) and 20 min passive (listening position)). Group 2 was also administered with melatonin for 20 days (5 mg/kg daily during the experimental period). ECG signals were recorded from cannulated carotid artery both before and after the experiment, and BP and HR were calculated on 1st, 3rd and 5th min of recordings. ECG signals were processed and statistically evaluated. In our experience, the obtained results did not show significant differences in the BP, HR and ECG parameters among the groups both before and after the experiment. Melatonin, also, did not exhibit any additional effects, neither beneficial nor hazardous, on the heart hemodynamics of rats. Therefore, the strategy (noncontact) of using a 3G MP could be the reason for ineffectiveness; and use of 3G MP, in this perspective, seems to be safer compared to the ones used in close contact with the head. However, further study is needed for standardization of such an assumption.
HPV-E7 Delivered by Engineered Exosomes Elicits a Protective CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Immune Response

We developed an innovative strategy to induce a cytotoxic T cell (CTL) immune response against protein antigens of choice. It relies on the production of exosomes, i.e., nanovesicles spontaneously released by all cell types. We engineered the upload of huge amounts of protein antigens upon fusion with an anchoring protein (i.e., HIV-1 Nefmut), which is an inactive protein incorporating in exosomes at high levels also when fused with foreign proteins. We compared the immunogenicity of engineered exosomes uploading human papillomavirus (HPV)-E7 with that of lentiviral virus-like particles (VLPs) incorporating equivalent amounts of the same antigen. These exosomes, whose limiting membrane was decorated with VSV-G, i.e., an envelope protein inducing pH-dependent endosomal fusion, proved to be as immunogenic as the cognate VLPs. It is noteworthy that the immunogenicity of the engineered exosomes remained unaltered in the absence of VSV-G. Most important, we provide evidence that the inoculation in mouse of exosomes uploading HPV-E7 induces production of anti-HPV E7 CTLs, blocks the growth of syngeneic tumor cells inoculated after immunization, and controls the development of tumor cells inoculated before the exosome challenge. These results represent the proof-of-concept about both feasibility and efficacy of the Nefmut-based exosome platform for the induction of CD8+ T cell immunity.
Effect of stimulus intensity on cortical potentials in cochlear implant recipients

Cortical auditory evoked potentials were recorded in cochlear implant recipients and in individuals with normal hearing using a speech stimulus. Responses were acquired over two test sessions to investigate between group differences and test repeatability. Results indicate significant differences in N1P2 latency and amplitude measures between cochlear implant recipients and individuals with normal hearing.
Can a Smile Reveal Your Gender?

Automated gender estimation has numerous applications including video surveillance, human computer-interaction, anonymous customized advertisement and image retrieval. Most commonly, the underlying algorithms analyze facial appearance for clues of gender. In this work, we propose a novel approach for gender estimation, based on facial behavior in video-sequences capturing smiling subjects. The proposed behavioral approach quantifies gender dimorphism of facial smiling-behavior and is instrumental in cases of (a) omitted appearance-information e.g. low resolution due to poor acquisition), (b) gender spoofing e.g. makeup-based face alteration), as well as can be utilized to (c) improve the performance of appearance-based algorithms, since it provides complementary information. The proposed algorithm extracts spatio-temporal features based on dense trajectories, represented by a set of descriptors encoded by Fisher Vectors. Our results suggest that smile-based features include significant gender-clues. The designed algorithm obtains true gender classification rates of 86.3% for adolescents, significantly outperforming two state-of-the-art appearance-based algorithms (OpenBR and how-old.net), while for adults we obtain true gender classification rates of 91.01%, which is comparably discriminative to the better of these appearance-based algorithms.
Bond characteristics of ASTM A1035 steel reinforcing bars

This paper presents results from a study of the bond characteristics of high-strength steel reinforcing bars that conform to ASTM A1035. In the study, a total of 69 large-scale beam-splice specimens were independently tested at 3 universities. Concrete with nominal strengths of 5000 and 8000 psi (35 and 55 MPa) were used. Maximum bar stresses were compared with predictions obtained using the bond equations in the ACI 318-05 code provisions and those proposed by ACI Committee 408. Maximum stress levels of 120, 110, and 96 ksi (830, 760, and 660 MPa) were developed in No. 5, No. 8, and No. 11 (No. 16, No. 25, and No. 36) bars, respectively, not confined by transverse reinforcement. The failure of beams with spliced bars not confined by transverse reinforcement was sudden and produced explosive spalling of the concrete cover over the entire splice length. Providing confinement for No. 8 and No. 11 (No. 25 and No. 36) spliced bars using transverse reinforcement allowed stresses of up to 150 ksi (1035 MPa) to be developed. The design equations in ACI 318 showed a large percentage of the developed/calculated strength ratios below 1.0, indicating they should not be used in their present form for development and splice design with high-strength reinforcing steel The ACI Committee 408 equation is more conservative and provides a reasonable estimate of the strength for both unconfined and confined splices using a strength reduction factor of 0.82 and design parameters (cover, spacing, and concrete strengths) similar to those used in this study.
SOIL DISPLACEMENT UNDER A CIRCULAR LOADED AREA

THE PURPOSE IS TO INDICATE A METHOD OF COMPUTING VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT IN SOIL DUE TO A UNIFORM LOAD OVER A CIRCULAR AREA BY THE USE OF TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TEST DATA. THE VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF SETTLEMENT SO COMPUTED IS THAT CAUSED SOLELY BY LATERAL YIELD OF THE SOIL. IT IS ASSUMED THAT THIS TYPE OF SETTLEMENT IS COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE REALIZATION OF ANY SETTLEMENT DUE TO CONSOLIDATION OF THE SUPPORTING SOIL. IN THE COMPUTATIONS A MODULUS OF DEFORMATION IS USED IN THE FORMULAS INSTEAD OF THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY, AND, SINCE IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE SETTLEMENT OCCURS AT CONSTANT VOLUME, POISSON'S RATIO IS NECESSARILY EQUAL TO 0.5. THE MODULUS OF DEFORMATION IS HEREIN DEFINED AS THE RATIO OF STRESS TO DEFORMATION WITHOUT REGARD TO THE NATURE OF THE DEFORMATION WHETHER IT BE ELASTIC OR PLASTIC DEFORMATION OR BOTH. THE METHOD OF ANALYSIS USED IN THIS PAPER FOR THE CASE OF A UNIFORM LOAD OVER A CIRCULAR AREA MAY BE APPLIED, WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS, FOR THE CASE OF A PARABOLIC OR CONICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LOAD OVER THE CIRCULAR AREA. THE PROCEDURE USES LABORATORY STRESS- DEFORMATION CURVES OF THE SUBGRADE SOIL IN CONJUNCTION WITH RATIONAL THEORETICAL ANALYSES. THIS METHOD OF APPROACH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MAKING OF PENETRATION AND LOADING TESTS DIRECTLY ON THE SUBGRADE, A PROCEDURE THAT HAS VARIOUS DISADVANTAGES. A CORRELATION BETWEEN MEASURED DEFLECTIONS OF THE SUBGRADE UNDER WHEEL LOAD AND THE DEFLECTIONS COMPUTED FROM LABORATORY TEST DATA AND THEORY IS AN INDICATED EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE THAT SHOULD EXTEND OUR KNOWLEDGE IN THIS FIELD. /AUTHOR/
Surgical treatment of Rockwood grade-V acromioclavicular joint dislocations

Background and purpose Long-term outcome after surgery for grade-V acromioclavicular joint dislocation has not been reported. We performed a retrospective analysis of functional and radiographic outcome 15–22 years after surgery. Patients and methods We examined 50 patients who were treated at our hospital between April 1985 and December 1993. Various methods of stabilization were used: K-wires (n = 36), 4.5-mm screw (n = 12), or biodegradable screw (n = 2). Osteosynthesis material was removed after 6–8 weeks. Mean follow-up time was 18 (15–22) years. Outcomes were assessed with the Constant shoulder (CS) score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, the simple shoulder test (SST), the Copeland shoulder impingement test, the cross-arm test, pain, stability of the AC joint, and complications. From radiographs, we evaluated AC and glenohumeral (GH) arthrosis, osteolysis of the lateral clavicle, and alignment of the clavicle with the acromion. Results Mean values were 90 (75–100) in CS score, 5.1 (0–41) in DASH score, and 11 (2–12) in SST. There was no statistically significant difference in CS score between the injured shoulder and the uninjured shoulder. The AC joint was clinically stable in 42 patients. In 38 patients, the clavicle alignment with the acromion was normal in radiographs. Lateral clavicle osteolysis (10 patients) appeared to be associated with permanent AC joint dislocation. Interpretation Surgery with a temporary fixation for acute grade-V AC joint dislocation leads to successful long-term functional results. Only minor disability occurred in some patients.
Surface energetics of carbon fibers and its effects on the mechanical performance of CF/EP composites

SYNOPSIS To exploit the reinforcement potential of the fibers in advanced composites, it is necessary to reach a deeper understanding on the interrelations between fiber surface chemical and energetic characteristics, wetting properties, and mechanical performance. In this study CF/EP was chosen as a model thermoset composite material, whereby a hot-curing epoxy (EP) system served as the matrix. The fibers selected were PAN-based high-tenacity carbon fibers (CF) of varying surface treatment level and/or coating. Surface free energies for the carbon fibers were determined by dynamic contact angle measurements in a variety of test liquids of known polar and dispersive surface tension utilizing a micro-Wilhelmy wetting balance and following the methods proposed by Zisman and Owens and Wendt, respectively. Surface treatment resulted in an increase of the polar fraction of the fiber surface free energy, whereas its dispersive part remained unaffected. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) as determined in the microdroplet pull-off test was enhanced both by intensification of the surface treatment and sizing the CF with an EP component. A linear relationship between IFSS and the polar fraction of the fiber surface free energy 7: was found. Further attempts were made to find correlations between surface free energy of the CF and laminate strengths measured in shear and transverse tension. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Gollin Incomplete Figures Test: A Flexible, Computerised Version

The Gollin incomplete figures test has been used as a measure of visual development, as a clinical test for parietal cortex dysfunction, and to examine long-term memory in amnesic patients. It has traditionally been administered by using a series of three or five stimulus cards, successive cards containing progressively more information. A study is reported in which digitised outline drawings of familiar objects were presented via a computer, the percentage of the figure on the screen slowly increasing from 0 to 100. The original findings of Gollin were successfully replicated; children's performance on the task improved markedly over the age range 2–5 years, and performance improved dramatically over three tests in all subjects. Computerisation of the Gollin task provides a precise and versatile alternative to the original card version.
Utilization of Waste Tire Rubber in the Manufacturing of Particleboard

Utilization of waste tire rubber in the manufacture of particleboard was investigated, using the same method as that used in the wood-based panel industry. The manufacturing parameters were: a specific gravity of 0.65 and waste tire rubber content (10/90, 20/80, and 30/70 by wt% of waste tire rubber/wood particle). Two resin types, melamine/urea formaldehyde (MUF) and polyisocyanate, were used in the experiments. Average modulus of rupture values of MUF bonded particleboards with rubber crumbs were between 13–58% lower than the average of the control samples while polyisocyanate bonded particleboards were 12–51%. Water resistance of the boards improved with the increase in rubber crumb/wood particle ratio. Thickness swelling values of the MUF bonded particleboards decreased from 14–53% while polyisocyanate bonded particleboards were 9–48% as compared to control samples.
TRAUMA, AND GENITAL AND URETHRAL RECONSTRUCTION Long-Term Results of a Self-Expanding Wallstent in the Treatment of Urethral Stricture

OBJECTIVE To report the long-term outcome over 12 years of using the urethral UrolumeTM wallstent (AMS, Minnetonka, MI, USA) for treating recurrent bulbar urethral stricture disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS The case-notes of 60 consecutive men with urethral Urolume wallstents placed for treating recurrent bulbar strictures were reviewed retrospectively. Information was collected on patient demographics, stricture aetiology, stent-related complications and the need for further surgery to treat stentor stricture-related complications. RESULTS The mean (range) age of the men was 58 (32–76) years. The most common cause of stricture was iatrogenic, arising after previous endoscopic surgery or after an indwelling catheter (45%). Thirty-five men had complications, with re-operation required in 27 (45%) of them. The most frequent nonsurgical complications were postmicturition dribble (32%) and recurrent urinary tract infections (27%). The most common surgical interventions required were transurethral resection of obstructing stent hyperplasia (32%), urethral dilatation or urethrotomy for stent obstruction or stricture (25%) and endoscopic litholapaxy for stent encrustation or stone (17%). CONCLUSIONS The Urolume wallstent should only be used in patients who are unfit for or who refuse a bulbar urethroplasty.
Lower bounds on the graphical complexity of finite-length LDPC codes

This paper considers information-theoretic lower bounds on the graphical complexity of finite-length LDPC codes. It is assumed that the transmission of the codes takes place over a memoryless binary-input output-symmetric (MBIOS) channel, and the bounds are expressed as a function of the code performance and their achievable gap to capacity (either under ML decoding or any sub-optimal decoding algorithm). The lower bounds on the graphical complexity are compared to some explicit LDPC codes (or code ensembles), showing that these bounds are informative for considering the fundamental tradeoff which exists between the performance and graphical complexity of finite-length LDPC codes. This work relies on the full paper version [15].
Aldo‐keto reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase contribute to benznidazole natural resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi

The improvement of Chagas disease treatment is focused not only on the development of new drugs but also in understanding mechanisms of action and resistance to drugs conventionally used. Thus, some strategies aim to detect specific changes in proteins between sensitive and resistant parasites and to evaluate the role played in these processes by functional genomics. In this work, we used a natural Trypanosoma cruzi population resistant to benznidazole, which has clones with different susceptibilities to this drug without alterations in the NTR I gene. Using 2DE‐gel electrophoresis, the aldo‐keto reductase and the alcohol dehydrogenase proteins were found up regulated in the natural resistant clone and therefore their possible role in the resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal was investigated. Both genes were overexpressed in a drug sensitive T. cruzi clone and the biological changes in response to these compounds were evaluated. The results showed that the overexpression of these proteins enhances resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal in T. cruzi. Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial and cell membrane damage was observed, accompanied by a drop in the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species after treatment. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the mechanism of action of benznidazole.
Generation of replication-competent and -defective HSV vectors.

INTRODUCTION Engineering effective vectors has been crucial to the efficient delivery and expression of therapeutic gene products in vivo. Among these, HSV-1 represents an excellent candidate vector for delivery to the peripheral and central nervous systems. The natural biology of HSV-1 includes the establishment of a lifelong latent state in neurons in which the viral genome persists as an episomal molecule. Genomic HSV vectors can be produced that are completely replication-defective, nontoxic, and capable of long-term transgene expression. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors are constructed by using a replication-deficient vector backbone (TOZ.1) for homologous recombination with a shuttle plasmid containing a cassette expressing the gene of interest inserted into the UL41 gene sequence. The TOZ.1 vector expresses a reporter gene (lacZ) in the UL41 locus, such that recombination of the transgenic cassette into the UL41 locus results in the loss of the reporter gene activity. The TOZ.1 vector also contains a unique PacI endonuclease site for digestion of parental viral DNA that substantially reduces the nonrecombinant background. Following homologous recombination of the shuttle plasmid into the PacI-digested TOZ.1 genome, the recombinants are identified as clear plaques. After three rounds of limiting dilution analysis, the structure of the recombinants can be confirmed by Southern blot or by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.
Analytical study of connectivity in wireless multihop networks utilizing beamforming

In previous work, the effects of randomized beamforming, i.e., the strategy of every node in a wireless multihop network directing its antenna in a randomly chosen direction, on connectivity are studied by simulation. In this paper, we study some such effects analytically under similar but slightly simplified modeling assumptions. We begin by generalizing the notion of the threshold range for k-connectivity from the traditional Boolean network model to networks with arbitrary link attenuations. Then, for a network of uniformly distributed nodes with randomized beamforming, we derive analytically and evaluate numerically the degree distribution of a random node. Based on this, we apply a commonly used approximation to the probability that such a network is k-connected.We find that because the randomness caused by this strategy in the link attenuations shifts the network topology from being strictly a geometric random graph towards being a pure random graph, the k-connectivity probability of a network applying randomized beamforming can be approximated more accurately than that of a network with omnidirectional antennas. This added randomness also manifests itself as the increased variance of the node degree and the threshold attenuation range for k-connectivity. The main conclusion from our findings is that randomized beamforming cannot be said to strictly improve -- nor to degrade -- the connectivity of random wireless multihop networks.
A universal measure of chaotropicity and kosmotropicity.

Diverse parameters, including chaotropicity, can limit the function of cellular systems and thereby determine the extent of Earth's biosphere. Whereas parameters such as temperature, hydrophobicity, pressure, pH, Hofmeister effects, and water activity can be quantified via standard scales of measurement, the chao-/kosmotropic activities of environmentally ubiquitous substances have no widely accepted, universal scale. We developed an assay to determine and quantify chao-/kosmotropicity for 97 chemically diverse substances that can be universally applied to all solutes. This scale is numerically continuous for the solutes assayed (from +361 kJ kg(-1) mol(-1) for chaotropes to -659 kJ kg(-1) mol(-1) for kosmotropes) but there are key points that delineate (i) chaotropic from kosmotropic substances (i.e. chaotropes ≥ +4; kosmotropes ≤ -4 kJ kg(-1) mol(-1) ); and (ii) chaotropic solutes that are readily water-soluble (log P < 1.9) from hydrophobic substances that exert their chaotropic activity, by proxy, from within the hydrophobic domains of macromolecular systems (log P > 1.9). Examples of chao-/kosmotropicity values are, for chaotropes: phenol +143, CaCl(2) +92.2, MgCl(2) +54.0, butanol +37.4, guanidine hydrochloride +31.9, urea +16.6, glycerol [> 6.5 M] +6.34, ethanol +5.93, fructose +4.56; for kosmotropes: proline -5.76, sucrose -6.92, dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) -9.72, mannitol -6.69, trehalose -10.6, NaCl -11.0, glycine -14.2, ammonium sulfate -66.9, polyethylene glycol- (PEG-)1000 -126; and for relatively neutral solutes: methanol, +3.12, ethylene glycol +1.66, glucose +1.19, glycerol [< 5 M] +1.06, maltose -1.43 (kJ kg(-1) mol(-1)). The data obtained correlate with solute interactions with, and structure-function changes in, enzymes and membranes. We discuss the implications for diverse fields including microbial ecology, biotechnology and astrobiology.
The Differential DRP1 Phosphorylation and Mitochondrial Dynamics in the Regional Specific Astroglial Death Induced by Status Epilepticus

The response and susceptibility to astroglial degenerations are relevant to the distinctive properties of astrocytes in a hemodynamic-independent manner following status epilepticus (SE). Since impaired mitochondrial fission plays an important role in mitosis, apoptosis and programmed necrosis, we investigated whether the unique pattern of mitochondrial dynamics is involved in the characteristics of astroglial death induced by SE. In the present study, SE induced astroglial apoptosis in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial length. In contrast, clasmatodendritic (autophagic) astrocytes in the CA1 region showed mitochondrial elongation induced by SE. Mdivi-1 (an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission) effectively attenuated astroglial apoptosis, but WY14643 (an enhancer of mitochondrial fission) aggravated it. In addition, Mdivi-1 accelerated clasmatodendritic changes in astrocytes. These regional specific mitochondrial dynamics in astrocytes were closely correlated with dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1; a mitochondrial fission protein) phosphorylation, not optic atrophy 1 (OPA1; a mitochondrial fusion protein) expression. To the best of our knowledge, the present data demonstrate for the first time the novel role of DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission in astroglial loss. Thus, the present findings suggest that the differential astroglial mitochondrial dynamics may participate in the distinct characteristics of astroglial death induced by SE.