Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary History of Atmospheric CO2 during the Late Cenozoic from Fossilized Metasequoia Needles

The change in ancient atmospheric CO2 concentrations provides important clues for understanding the relationship between the atmospheric CO2 concentration and global temperature. However, the lack of CO2 evolution curves estimated from a single terrestrial proxy prevents the understanding of climatic and environmental impacts due to variations in data. Thus, based on the stomatal index of fossilized Metasequoia needles, we reconstructed a history of atmospheric CO2 concentrations from middle Miocene to late Early Pleistocene when the climate changed dramatically. According to this research, atmospheric CO2 concentration was stabile around 330–350 ppmv in the middle and late Miocene, then it decreased to 278–284 ppmv during the Late Pliocene and to 277–279 ppmv during the Early Pleistocene, which was almost the same range as in preindustrial time. According to former research, this is a time when global temperature decreased sharply. Our results also indicated that from middle Miocene to Pleistocene, global CO2 level decreased by more than 50 ppmv, which may suggest that CO2 decrease and temperature decrease are coupled.
Finite Element Modeling of a Membrane Sector of a Satellite Reflector Made of Triaxial Composites

Single layers of triaxial woven fabric composites have been used to make communication satellite reflectors due to their extremely light weight with good stiffness and strength property. Special superfinite elements have been developed for the analysis of these lightweight materials. These superfinite elements are used for the deflection and stress analysis of a membrane sector of the satellite reflector subjected to lateral pressure. Due to the significant difference in the size of the satellite structure (order of meters) and the size of the superfinite elements (order of millimeters) it is not possible to model the satellite structure using the superfinite elements and computer facilities available in most labs (personal computers). In the process of finding a solution to this problem, a special similitude behavior for the deflection of the curved panels made of triaxial fabrics was discovered. Using this behavior, the deflection of a large-size reflector panel (order of meters) can be analyzed using models in the millimeters size range. Stresses in the triax reflector model were also calculated. However, no special similitude behavior was obtained for the stresses.
Pretreatment predictors of time to cancer specific death after prostate specific antigen failure.

PURPOSE Whether pretreatment factors that predict for time to prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure also predict for time to prostate cancer specific death after PSA failure for patients with competing causes of mortality treated during the PSA era was the subject of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 415 men with a median age of 73 years who underwent external beam radiation therapy between 1988 and 2001 for clinically localized prostate cancer 160 (39%) experienced PSA failure and 96 (23%) died. In 46 men (48%) the cause of death was prostate cancer. Cox regression multivariable analyses (multivariable analysis) were performed to evaluate the ability of the pretreatment PSA and centrally reviewed biopsy Gleason score to predict time to prostate cancer specific death after PSA failure. RESULTS When analyzed as categorical variables using multivariable analysis, biopsy Gleason score 4 + 3 (p = 0.02), 8 to 10 (p = 0.02) disease and a pretreatment PSA greater than 20 ng. /ml. (p = 0.03) were significant predictors of time to prostate cancer specific death after PSA failure. Estimates of prostate cancer specific death 5 years after PSA failure were 24%, 40% and 59% (p = 0.01) for patients with a biopsy Gleason score < or = 6, 3 + 4, 4 + 3 or higher and 22%, 40% and 60% (p = 0.04) for patients with a pretreatment PSA of 10 or less, greater than 10 and 20 or less, or greater than 20 ng. /ml. , respectively. CONCLUSIONS Patients at high risk for PSA failure after radiation therapy based on pretreatment PSA greater than 20 ng. /ml. or biopsy Gleason score 4 + 3 or greater are also at high risk for death from prostate cancer after PSA failure despite competing causes of mortality.
International Conference on Information , Networking and Automation ( ICINA ) The CPI Forecast Based on GA-SVM

The condition of CPI is very complex. The traditional forecast method certain limits because of the difficulty in modeling. The use of genetic algorithm optimization to improve the parameters of vector machine can avoid the blindness caused by men in selecting parameters, thus solving the problem produced by traditional and uncertain methods and promoting the training speed and the ability to predict and popularize of the model. On the basis of existed research and the analysis of the property of the parameters of the support vector machine SVM, this paper adopts genetic algorithms optimizes the parameter in SVM, then establishes the CPI forecast model based on genetic algorithms-support vector machine GA-SVM. Lastly, this paper does example forecasting by adopting this method. By doing so, the forecasting of CPI is greatly simplified. The effectiveness of the method is proved through the comparison of forecast results and actual ones. Keywords-GA-SVM; CPI; forecast model;optimize parameter; the analysis of the property
A new clinical test in diagnosing quadriceps tendon rupture.

INTRODUCTION Extensor mechanism ruptures might be easily overlooked and misdiagnosed, and delayed diagnosis of quadriceps tendon rupture is frequent. However, the literature recommends early surgical repair within 72 h. PATIENTS AND METHODS This paper describes a new simple clinical diagnostic test that directly evaluates the integrity of the distal 5 cm of the quadriceps tendon itself. It consists of inserting a needle in the tendon, proximal to the suspected rupture and mobilising the knee joint. RESULTS The suspected ruptured quadriceps tendons with a positive 'needle' diagnostic test were confirmed intra-operatively. CONCLUSIONS This minimally invasive and easily available technique should be considered in the diagnostic work-up and treatment planning of patients with suspected tears of the quadriceps tendon.
No primary association between LMP2 polymorphisms and extraspinal manifestations in spondyloarthropathies

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential role of the HLA-linked LMP2 (low molecular weight protein) gene polymorphisms in conjunction with DR4 and DR7 on extraspinal disease manifestations in HLA-B27 positive patients with spondyloarthropathy. METHODS 172 patients with spondyloarthropathy, 46 healthy, HLA-B27 positive blood donors, and 99 unrelated controls were typed for HLA-class I and II antigens. LMP2 alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction and subsequent restriction enzyme digestion. RESULTS There were statistically non-significant increases of DR4 and DR7 in spondyloarthropathy subjects. However these differences did not relate to specific extraspinal manifestations. There were no significant differences in the LMP2 genotype distribution in the disease groups. All differences in LMP2 genotype frequencies disappeared when correcting for DR4, which was in linkage disequilibrium with the LMP2B allele. CONCLUSIONS There is no independent association between LMP2 genotypes and the occurrence of uveitis or peripheral arthritis in HLA-B27 positive subjects with spondyloarthropathy. DR4 and DR7 do not contribute to these disease manifestations.
Aerodynamics of Gliding Flight in a Falcon and Other Birds

1. A live laggar falcon ( Falco jugger ) glided in a wind tunnel at speeds between 6.6 and 15.9 m. /sec. The bird had a maximum lift to drag ratio ( L / D ) of 10 at a speed of 12.5 m. /sec. As the falcon increased its air speed at a given glide angle, it reduced its wing span, wing area and lift coefficient. 2. A model aircraft with about the same wingspan as the falcon had a maximum L / D value of 10. 3. Published measurements of the aerodynamic characteristics of gliding birds are summarized by presenting them in a diagram showing air speed, sinking speed and L / D values. Data for a high-performance sailplane are included. The soaring birds had maximum L / D values near 10, or about one quarter that of the sailplane. The birds glided more slowly than the sailplane and had about the same sinking speed. 4. The ‘equivalent parasite area’ method used by aircraft designers to estimate parasite drag was modified for use with gliding birds, and empirical data are presented to provide a means of predicting the gliding performance of a bird in the absence of wind-tunnel tests. 5. The birds in this study had conventional values for parasite drag. Technical errors seem responsible for published claims of unusually low parasite drag values in a vulture. 6. The falcon adjusted its wing span in flight to achieve nearly the maximum possible L / D value over its range of gliding speeds. 7. The maximum terminal speed of the falcon in a vertical dive is estimated to be 100 m. /sec.
Shared Roles of Yeast Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Family Members in Nitrogen-Responsive Phosphorylation of Meiotic Regulator Ume6p

ABSTRACT Nitrogen limitation activates meiosis and meiotic gene expression in yeast, but nitrogen-responsive signal transduction mechanisms that govern meiotic gene expression are poorly understood. We show here that Ume6p, a subunit of the Ume6p-Ime1p meiotic transcriptional activator, undergoes increased phosphorylation in vivo in response to nitrogen limitation. Phosphorylation depends on an N-terminal glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) target site in which substitutions cause reduced Ume6p-Ime1p interaction and meiotic gene expression, thus arguing that phosphorylation promotes functional Ume6p-Ime1p interaction. Phosphorylation of this site depends on two GSK3 homologs, Rim11p and Mck1p. Prior studies indicate that Rim11p phosphorylates both Ume6p and Ime1p in vitro and is required for Ume6p-Ime1p interaction, but no evidence has linked Mck1p function to Ume6p activity. Here we find that Mck1p-Ume6p interaction is detectable by two-hybrid assays and that meiosis in a partially defective rim11-K68R mutant is completely dependent on Mck1p. These findings argue that nitrogen limitation governs Rim11p/Mck1p-dependent phosphorylation of Ume6p, which in turn is required for Ume6p-Ime1p interaction and meiotic gene activation.
Spectral indices of human cerebral blood flow control: responses to augmented blood pressure oscillations

We set out to fully examine the frequency domain relationship between arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow. Oscillatory lower body negative pressure (OLBNP) was used to create consistent blood pressure oscillations of varying frequency and amplitude to rigorously test for a frequency‐ and/or amplitude‐dependent relationship between arterial pressure and cerebral flow. We also examined the predictions from OLBNP data for the cerebral flow response to the stepwise drop in pressure subsequent to deflation of ischaemic thigh cuffs. We measured spectral powers, cross‐spectral coherence, and transfer function gains and phases in arterial pressure and cerebral flow during three amplitudes (0, 20, and 40 mmHg) and three frequencies (0.10, 0.05, and 0.03 Hz) of OLBNP in nine healthy young volunteers. Pressure fluctuations were directly related to OLBNP amplitude and inversely to OLBNP frequency. Although cerebral flow oscillations were increased, they did not demonstrate the same frequency dependence seen in pressure oscillations. The overall pattern of the pressure–flow relation was of decreasing coherence and gain and increasing phase with decreasing frequency, characteristic of a high‐pass filter. Coherence between pressure and flow was increased at all frequencies by OLBNP, but was still significantly lower at frequencies below 0.07 Hz despite the augmented pressure input. In addition, predictions of thigh cuff data from spectral estimates were extremely inconsistent and highly variable, suggesting that cerebral autoregulation is a frequency‐dependent mechanism that may not be fully characterized by linear methods.
MDCT detection of airway stent complications: comparison with bronchoscopy.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate the detection rate of central airway stent complications using MDCT as compared with bronchoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review was performed of all consecutive patients undergoing MDCT and bronchoscopy for suspected complications of airway stents during an 18-month period. MDCT images were interpreted in a blinded fashion by an experienced thoracic radiologist before bronchoscopy was performed, and the accuracy of MDCT was determined using bronchoscopy as the gold standard. MDCT images were specifically assessed for the presence of the following complications: narrowing of stent lumen due to granulation tissue or secretions (or both), stent fracture, stent invasion by adjacent neoplasm, stent migration, and perforation of adjacent airways. RESULTS The study population was composed of 21 patients, with mean age of 48 years (range, 16-79 years), who underwent tracheal (n = 3), tracheobronchial (n = 7), or bronchial (n = 11) stent placement for benign (n = 13) or malignant (n = 8) airway disorders. Eleven of 21 stents were metallic and the remaining 10 were silicone. Thirty complications were detected in 21 patients, including stent luminal narrowing due to granulation tissue or secretions (or both) (n = 13), stent migration (n = 9), stent fracture (n = 4), stent invasion by adjacent neoplasm (n = 3), and tracheal perforation (n = 1). MDCT accurately detected 29 (97%) of the 30 complications diagnosed by bronchoscopy. There was one false-negative case in which MDCT failed to detect a stent fracture. There were no false-positive diagnoses of stent complications. CONCLUSION MDCT is highly accurate for detecting airway stent complications.
Chronic Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Autonomic Control and Attenuates Systemic Inflammation and Heart Failure Progression in a Canine High-Rate Pacing Model

Background—Autonomic dysfunction, characterized by sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal, contributes to the progression of heart failure (HF). Although the therapeutic benefits of sympathetic inhibition with &bgr;-blockers in HF are clear, the role of increased vagal tone in this setting has been less studied. We have investigated the impact of enhancing vagal tone (achieved through chronic cervical vagus nerve stimulation, [VNS]) on HF development in a canine high-rate ventricular pacing model. Methods and Results—Fifteen dogs were randomized into control (n=7) and VNS (n=8) groups. All dogs underwent 8 weeks of high-rate ventricular pacing (at 220 bpm for the first 4 weeks to develop HF and another 4 weeks at 180 bpm to maintain HF). Concomitant VNS, at an intensity reducing sinus rate ≈20 bpm, was delivered together with the ventricular pacing in the VNS group. At 4 and 8 weeks of ventricular pacing, both left ventricular end-diastolic and -systolic volumes were lower and left ventricular ejection fraction was higher in the VNS group than in the control group. Heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity improved in the VNS dogs. Rises in plasma norepinephrine, angiotensin II, and C-reactive protein levels, ordinarily expected in this model, were markedly attenuated with VNS treatment. Conclusions—Chronic VNS improves cardiac autonomic control and significantly attenuates HF development in the canine high-rate ventricular pacing model. The therapeutic benefit of VNS is associated with pronounced anti-inflammatory effects. VNS is a novel and potentially useful therapy for treating HF.
Thermal generation of stable spin trap adducts with super-hyperfine structure in their EPR spectra: An alternative EPR spin trapping assay for radical scavenging capacity determination in dimethylsulphoxide

Thermal decomposition of potassium persulphate (K2S2O8) was studied in detail by the EPR spin trapping technique in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), employing 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), 5-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (EMPO) and 5-(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DIPPMPO) as spin traps. DMPO and/or its derivatives exclusively trapped the primary formed SO4• − radical anions producing stable spin adducts with half-lives exceeding 2 h at room temperature. High-resolution EPR spectra of these adducts showed unusually rich hyperfine structure due to the interaction of the unpaired electron with all magnetically active nuclei of the spin trap moiety. In contrast to aprotic DMSO solvent, •DMPO-OH adducts dominated in mixed DMSO/water solutions with water content higher than 50%. The thermal decomposition of K2S2O8 in DMSO represents an effective source of free radicals for the radical scavenging capacity (RSC) determination assay, applicable to hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic antioxidants. Efficiency of the assay is demonstrated with a series of cereal samples.
Relations among climbing fiber responses of nearby Purkinje Cells.

ACIWITY PATTERNS in the cerebellar cortex may be studied by simultaneously recording from two or more cells whose spatial separation and orientation are known. Appropriate statistics such as the cross-correlogram may then be used to describe the temporal relationships. Further computational and experimental methods some times permit an interpretation of the temporal relationships in terms of the underlying anatomical connections (20, 23, 24). Two quite different types of discharges may be recorded from cerebellar Purkinje cells, simple spikes and complex spikes. Simple spikes are similar to nerve impulses recorded elsewhere in the central nervous system and are evoked primarily through parallel fiber activation. Complex spikes have the same sharp initial component, but this is followed by a slow wave lasting 10-15 msec on which ripples or small spikes are superimposed. The complex spike has been shown to be the response of the Purkinje cell to a single spike or a brief burst of spikes in the climbing fiber axon (11), and is also referred to as a climbing fiber response (CFR). In our previous work (6) we found that the simple spikes of nearby Purkinje cells were often correlated in time. It was suggested that the temporal relationship between two such discharges depended on the parallel fiber input shared by the two cells and consequently could be related rather precisely to their spatial separation and orientation on the cerebellar sheet. Freeman (14) has made the same suggestion and provided experimental support for it. The present experiments also used the method of statistically analyzing simultaneous recordings from two or more cells
Diagnostic performance of visual field test using subsets of the 24-2 test pattern for early glaucomatous field loss.

PURPOSE To explore the diagnostic performance of threshold visual field tests using subsets of the standard 24-2 test pattern in detecting early/moderate glaucomatous field loss. METHODS Normal (Brusini stage 0, n = 2344) and defective eyes (Brusini stage 2-3, n = 2222) from a database of visual field tests (6696 eyes/3586 patients, SITA standard 24-2 algorithm) were selected and resampled using a bootstrap method. The positive predictive values (PPVs) of each test location were calculated for the resampled datasets with a fail criteria of a single missed stimulus at a pattern deviation probability level of less than 0.01. Optimized test patterns started with the most frequent location of the maximum PPV in datasets. Eyes missing the location were removed and the PPV values of residual sample recalculated. The process was repeated until all defective eyes were detected. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were established for the PPV-optimized and five randomized patterns. Characteristics of visual field defects detected with subsets of optimized test pattern were established. RESULTS With the PPV-optimized pattern, 95% of the field defects were detected with 30 locations and all with 43 locations. Areas under the ROC curve were greatest for the optimized pattern. With each increment in the number of test locations, the Mean Deviation of additionally detected eyes became more positive while Pattern Standard Deviation became less positive (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Good diagnostic performance can be obtained with optimized subsets of the standard 24-2 test pattern that can provide substantial savings in test times.
F‐actin distribution at nodes of Ranvier and Schmidt‐Lanterman incisures in mammalian sciatic nerves

Very little is known about the function of the F‐actin cytoskeleton in the regeneration and pathology of peripheral nerve fibers. The actin cytoskeleton has been associated with maintenance of tissue structure, transmission of traction and contraction forces, and an involvement in cell motility. Therefore, the state of the actin cytoskeleton strongly influences the mechanical properties of cells and intracellular transport therein. In this work, we analyze the distribution of F‐actin at Schmidt‐Lanterman Incisures (SLI) and nodes of Ranvier (NR) domains in normal, regenerating and pathologic Trembler J (TrJ/+) sciatic nerve fibers, of rats and mice. F‐actin was quantified and it was found increased in TrJ/+, both in SLI and NR. However, SLI and NR of regenerating rat sciatic nerve did not show significant differences in F‐actin, as compared with normal nerves. Cytochalasin‐D and Latrunculin‐A were used to disrupt the F‐actin network in normal and regenerating rat sciatic nerve fibers. Both drugs disrupt F‐actin, but in different ways. Cytochalasin‐D did not disrupt Schwann cell (SC) F‐actin at the NR. Latrunculin‐A did not disrupt F‐actin at the boundary region between SC and axon at the NR domain. We surmise that the rearrangement of F‐actin in neurological disorders, as presented here, is an important feature of TrJ/+ pathology as a Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth (CMT) model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Impact of an Acceptance Facilitating Intervention on Patients’ Acceptance of Internet-based Pain Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:Results from clinical trials indicate that Internet-based psychological pain interventions are effective in treating chronic pain. However, little is known about patients’ acceptance of these programs and how to positively influence patients’ intention to engage in them. Therefore, the present study aimed (1) to assess patients’ acceptance of Internet-based interventions, and (2) to examine whether patients’ acceptance can be increased by an acceptance facilitating intervention. Methods:A total of 104 patients with chronic pain from 2 pain units were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG) and a no-intervention control group (CG). The IG was shown a short informational video about Internet-based psychological pain interventions before receiving a questionnaire on patients’ acceptance of Internet-based psychological pain interventions and predictors of acceptance (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, Internet usage, and Internet anxiety). The CG filled out the questionnaire immediately. Patients’ acceptance was measured with a 4-item scale (sum score ranging from 4 to 20). Results:Baseline acceptance of Internet-based interventions was reported as low (sum-score:4-9) by 53.8%, moderate (10 to 15) by 42.3%, and high (16 to 20) by 3.9% of the patients with chronic pain in the CG. The IG showed a significantly higher acceptance (M=12.17, SD=4.22) than the CG (M=8.94, SD=3.71) with a standardized mean difference of d=0.81 (95% CI, 0.41, 1.21). All predictor variables were significantly improved in the IG compared with the CG, except for Internet usage. Conclusions:Patients with chronic pain display a relatively low acceptance of Internet-based psychological pain interventions, which can be substantially increased by a short informational video.