Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a UPLC-FLD Method for Detection of Aflatoxin B1 and M1 in Animal Tissue to Study the Effect of Curcumin on Mycotoxin Clearance Rates

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and its metabolite aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) are well-known carcinogens for humans and animals health. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography linked with fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) method was optimized and validated. In addition, we investigated for the first time, the influence of curcumin on residue depletion of AFB1 and AFM1 in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues of broiler chickens and estimated a necessary clearance time required for AFB1 and AFM1 residues. The results showed that the average recoveries of AFB1 varied in liver, kidney, and muscles between 82.32–85.56, 85.34–88.45, and 84.88–89.73% respectively, while the average recoveries of AFM1 in liver, kidney, and muscles varied between 92.17–95.03, 94.12–97.21, and 95.32–98.51%, respectively. The detection limit of aflatoxin B1 was 0.008 ng/ml, while for aflatoxin M1 was 0.003 ng/ml. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for AFB1 and AFM1 was 0.02 and 0.01 ng/ml, respectively. Clearance time for AFB1 and AFM1 residues were analyzed in two experimental groups of broilers. One group fed with dietary AFB1 (5.0 mg/kg feed) and other with curcumin+AFB1 diet (curcumin; 300 mg/kg feed, AFB1; 5.0 mg/kg feed). AFB1 and AFM1 residues clearance time was calculated based on LOQ using withdrawal time calculation software (WT1.4). Clearance time analyzed for AFB1 ranged from 11 to 19 days and for AFM1 ranged from 10 to 12 days at 95% confidence level. Interestingly, curcumin supplementation in the diet reduced the clearance time of AFM1 in liver and kidney but not in muscle tissues. Conclusively, the developed method can be appropriately used for the quality control testing of commercial broiler-meat processing companies, food manufacturers, and quality control laboratories.
Discriminating methane sources in ground gas emissions in NW England

The identification of the source of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in gases within unconsolidated deposits outside municipal landfill sites, where there are multiple potential contributing gas inputs, is important for regulation and to inform gas management policy. Stable isotope analysis was applied to ground gas samples from boreholes close to but external to landfill cells, and landfill gas, to differentiate CH4 from biological and abiological geological sources at sites in NW England. Landfill flare gas and landfill without external gas inputs were biogenic references. Ground gases adjacent to one landfill had potential external CH4 inputs from underlying Coal Measures. Mineshaft vent gas and commercially-supplied North Sea gas were used as non-biological, thermogenic, source references. Ground gas samples were subjected to Compound-Specific Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and conventional IRMS examination. δ13CCH4 values for landfill flare gas and landfill Site 1 were −65.0 and −61.0‰, and δDCH4 values were −319 and −298‰ respectively, consistent with a wholly biogenic origin. δ13CCH4 values for Site 2 landfill were −55 to −48‰, and δDCH4 values were −173 to +55‰. Mineshaft vent gas and North Sea gas CH4 δ13CCH4 values were −46.2 and −43.5‰, and δDCH4 values were −214 and −203‰, respectively. Given their similarity to these data, gases in the vicinity of Site 2 landfill are considered to have a thermogenic CH4 contribution, due to 13C and D enrichment in CH4.
Strong Near-Infrared Emission Interior to the Dust Sublimation Radius of Young Stellar Objects MWC 275 and AB Aurigae

Using the longest optical-interferometeric baselines currently available, we have detected strong near-infrared (NIR) emission from inside the dust destruction radius of Herbig Ae stars MWC 275 and AB Aur. Our submilliarcsecond resolution observations unambiguously place the emission between the dust destruction radius and the magnetospheric corotation radius. We argue that this new component corresponds to hot gas inside the dust sublimation radius, confirming recent claims based on spectrally resolved interferometry and dust evaporation front modeling.
Efficient Stepwise Selection in Decomposable Models

In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for performing stepwise selection in the class of decomposable models. We focus on the forward selection procedure, but we also discuss how backward selection and the combination of the two can be performed efficiently. The main contributions of this paper are (1) a simple characterization for the edges that can be added to a decomposable model while retaining its decomposability and (2) an efficient algorithm for enumerating all such edges for a given decomposable model in O(n2) time, where n is the number of variables in the model. We also analyze the complexity of the overall stepwise selection procedure (which includes the complexity of enumerating eligible edges as well as the complexity of deciding how to "progress"). We use the KL divergence of the model from the saturated model as our metric, but the results we present here extend to many other metrics as well.
Mapping fluids to subduction megathrust locking and slip behavior

In subduction zones, high fluid content and pore pressure are thought to promote aseismic creep, whereas well‐drained conditions are thought to promote locking and failure in earthquakes. However, observations directly linking fluid content and seismic coupling remain elusive. Heise et al. (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074641) use a magnetotelluric survey to image the electrical resistivity structure of the northern Hikurangi subduction thrust to ~30 km depth, as an indicator of interconnected fluid content. The authors document a clear correlation between high resistivity and a distinct geodetically locked patch and between conductive areas and weak coupling. Their study, together with other recent geophysical investigations, provides new evidence for the role of fluids in governing subduction thrust locking.
Support vector machine learning for image retrieval

A novel method of relevance feedback is presented based on support vector machine learning in the content-based image retrieval system. A SVM classifier can be learned from training data of relevance images and irrelevance images marked by users. Using the classifier, the system can retrieve more images relevant to the query in the database efficiently. Experiments were carried out on a large-size database of 9918 images. It shows that the interactive learning and retrieval process can find correct images increasingly. It also shows the generalization ability of SVM under the condition of limited training samples.
Microsurgical reversal of sterilisation - is this still clinically relevant today?

INTRODUCTION Women with previous tubal sterilisation seeking fertility are faced with treatment options of reconstructive tubal surgery or in vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques. The aim was to assess the current viability of tubal anastomosis in a local clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective cohort review of all sterilisation reversal cases from January 1998 to January 2008. The main outcome measures included fi rst pregnancy success and live birth after surgery. Subsequent live births, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, duration of surgery and hospitalisation within the study period were also reported. We included cases aged less than 40 years, without any known semen abnormalities, and performed by only one operator. Cases with only unilateral reversal were excluded. RESULTS Nineteen cases with previous Filshie clip ligation (9 laparoscopic/10 open) were reviewed. Cumulative pregnancy rates with surgery were 47.4% (<6 months), 57.9% (6 to 12 months), 68.4% (12 to 48 months) and 73.7% (>48 months). Pregnancy (77.8% vs 70.0%) and live birth rates (66.7% vs 60.0%) were similar between laparoscopy and open surgery. The mean interval to pregnancy was marginally lower via laparoscopy (11.3 vs 13.6 months). Hospitalisation stay was significantly halved (1.43 vs 3.00 days) but ectopic pregnancies were increased 3-fold (3 vs 1) with laparoscopy. Compared with IVF, the estimated average cost per delivery for laparoscopic reversal was reduced for laparoscopic reversal with no multiple pregnancies. CONCLUSION Our results favour surgical reversal after sterilisation for patients younger than 40 years old. It avoids hyperstimulation risks and the economic burdens associated with multiple pregnancies. Where expertise is available, laparoscopic reversal should be performed.
An experimental test of CSR theory using a globally calibrated ordination method

Can CSR theory, in conjunction with a recently proposed globally calibrated CSR ordination (“StrateFy”), using only three easily measured leaf traits (leaf area, specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content) predict the functional signature of herbaceous vegetation along experimentally manipulated gradients of soil fertility and disturbance? To determine this, we grew 37 herbaceous species in mixture for five years in 24 experimental mesocosms differing in factorial levels of soil resources (stress) and density-independent mortality (disturbance). We measured 16 different functional traits and then ordinated the resulting vegetation within the CSR triangle using StrateFy. We then calculated community-weighted mean (CWM) values of the competitor (CCWM), stress-tolerator (SCWM) and ruderal (RCWM) scores for each mesocosm. We found a significant increase in SCWM from low to high stress mesocosms, and an increase in RCWM from lowly to highly disturbed mesocosms. However, CCWM did not decline significantly as intensity of stress or disturbance increased, as predicted by CSR theory. This last result likely arose because our herbaceous species were relatively poor competitors in global comparisons and thus no strong competitors in our species pool were selectively favoured in low stress and low disturbed mesocosms. Variation in the 13 other traits, not used by StrateFy, largely argeed with the predictions of CSR theory. StrateFy worked surprisingly well in our experimental study except for the C-dimension. Despite loss of some precision, it has great potential applicability in future studies due to its simplicity and generality.
Modelling deterministic concurrent I/O

The problem of expressing I/O and side effects in functional languages is a well-established one. This paper addresses this problem from a general semantic viewpoint by giving a unified framework for describing shared state, I/O and deterministic concurrency. We develop a modified state transformer which lets us mathematically model the API, then investigate and machine verify some broad conditions under which confluence holds. This semantics is used as the basis for a small deterministic Haskell language extension called CURIO, which enforces determinism using runtime checks.Our confluence condition is first shown to hold for a variety of small components, such as individual shared variables, 1-to-1 communication channels, and I-structures. We then show how models of substantial APIs (like a modification of Haskell's file I/O API which permits inter-process communication) may be constructed from these smaller components using "combinators" in such a way that determinism is always preserved. We describe combinators for product, name-indexing and dynamic allocation, the last of which requires some small extensions to cater for process locality.
A double-blind multicenter comparison of domperidone and metoclopramide in the treatment of diabetic patients with symptoms of gastroparesisFig. 1

Objective:A double-blind, multicenter, randomized trial was conducted to compare the side effects and efficacy of domperidone and metoclopramide in symptomatic diabetic gastroparesis.Methods:Ninety-three insulin-dependent diabetes patients with a ≥ 3-month history of gastroparesis symptoms were recruited; 48 received domperidone 2 × 10-mg tablets 4 times daily, and 45 received metoclopramide 1 × 10-mg tablet + 1 placebo tablet 4 times daily. Nausea, vomiting, bloating/distension, and early satiety were evaluated for severity after 2 and 4 wk. Adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects of somnolence, akathisia, asthenia, anxiety, depression, and reduced mental acuity were elicited and graded for severity at 2 and 4 wk.Results:Domperidone and metoclopramide were equally effective in alleviating symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis. Elicited adverse CNS effects were more severe and more common with metoclopramide. Somnolence was acknowledged by 49% of patients (mean severity score, 1.03) after 4 wk of metoclopramide compared with 29% of patients (mean severity score, 0.49) after 4 wk of domperidone (incidence, p= 0.02; severity; p= 0.03). A reduction in mental acuity was acknowledged by 33% of patients (mean severity score, 0.62) after 4 wk of metoclopramide, compared with 20% of patients (mean severity score, 0.27) after 4 wk of domperidone (incidence, p= 0.04; severity, p= 0.04). Akathisia, asthenia, anxiety, and depression were also acknowledged less often, and at a lower severity, after 4 wk of domperidone, although these differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions:Domperidone and metoclopramide effectively reduce the symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis; CNS side effects are more pronounced with metoclopramide.
Fatty Acid Translocase/CD36 Deficiency Does Not Energetically or Functionally Compromise Hearts Before or After Ischemia

Background—Evidence from humans suggests that fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 deficiency can lead to functionally and/or energetically compromised hearts, but the data are equivocal, and the subject remains controversial. In this report we assessed the contribution of FAT/CD36 to overall fatty acid oxidation rates in the intact heart and determined the effect of FAT/CD36 on energy metabolism during reperfusion of ischemic hearts. Methods and Results—Isolated working hearts from wild-type and FAT/CD36-knockout (KO) mice were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 0.4 or 1.2 mmol/L [U-3H]palmitate, 5 mmol/L [U-14C]glucose, 2.5 mmol/L calcium, and 100 &mgr;U/mL insulin at a preload pressure of 11.5 mm Hg and afterload pressure of 50 mm Hg. Hearts were aerobically perfused for 30 minutes or aerobically perfused for 30 minutes, followed by 18 minutes of global no-flow ischemia and 40 minutes of aerobic reperfusion. Rates of fatty acid oxidation in FAT/CD36-KO hearts were significantly lower than in wild-type hearts at both concentrations of palmitate (0.4 or 1.2 mmol/L). In addition, hearts from FAT/CD36-KO mice displayed a compensatory increase in glucose oxidation rates. On aerobic reperfusion after ischemia, cardiac work of FAT/CD36-KO hearts recovered to the same extent as wild-type hearts. Conclusions—FAT/CD36-deficient hearts are not energetically or functionally compromised and are not more sensitive to ischemic injury because glucose oxidation can compensate for the loss of fatty acid–derived ATP.
Role of RyR2 Phosphorylation at S2814 During Heart Failure Progression

Rationale: Increased activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is thought to promote heart failure (HF) progression. However, the importance of CaMKII phosphorylation of ryanodine receptors (RyR2) in HF development and associated diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak is unclear. Objective: Determine the role of CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2 in patients and mice with nonischemic and ischemic forms of HF. Methods and Results: Phosphorylation of the primary CaMKII site S2814 on RyR2 was increased in patients with nonischemic, but not with ischemic, HF. Knock-in mice with an inactivated S2814 phosphorylation site were relatively protected from HF development after transverse aortic constriction compared with wild-type littermates. After transverse aortic constriction, S2814A mice did not exhibit pulmonary congestion and had reduced levels of atrial natriuretic factor. Cardiomyocytes from S2814A mice exhibited significantly lower sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak and improved sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ loading compared with wild-type mice after transverse aortic constriction. Interestingly, these protective effects on cardiac contractility were not observed in S2814A mice after experimental myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Our results suggest that increased CaMKII phosphorylation of RyR2 plays a role in the development of pathological sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak and HF development in nonischemic forms of HF such as transverse aortic constriction in mice.
Permanent scatterers in SAR interferometry

Differential SAR interferometry (DInSAR) is an unique tool for low-cost, large-coverage surface deformations monitoring. As well known, the technique involves interferometric phase comparison of SAR images gathered at different times and has the potential to provide millimetric accuracy. Though temporal decorrelation and atmospheric dishomogeneities strongly affect interferogram quality, reliable deformation measurements can be obtained in a multi-image framework on a small subset of image pixels, corresponding to stable areas. These points, hereafter called Permanent Scatterers (PS), can be used as a "natural GPS network" to monitor terrain motion, analysing the phase history of each one. In this paper, results obtained using 34 ERS SAR images gathered over the Italian city of Ancona are presented.
Transcriptional profiling of hematologic malignancies with a low-density DNA microarray.

BACKGROUND High-density microarrays are powerful tools for expression analysis of thousands of genes simultaneously; however, experience with low-density microarrays in gene expression studies has been limited. METHODS We developed an optimized procedure for gene expression analysis based on a microarray containing 538 oligonucleotides and used this procedure to analyze neoplastic cell lines and whole-blood samples from healthy individuals and patients with different hematologic neoplasias. Hierarchical clustering and the Welch t-test with adjusted P values were used for data analysis. RESULTS This procedure detects 0.2 fmol of mRNA and generates a linear response of 2 orders of magnitude, with CV values of <20% for hybridization and label replicates. We found statistically significant differences between Jurkat and U937 cell lines, between blood samples from 15 healthy donors and 59 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) samples, and between 6 acute myeloid leukemia patients and 4 myelodysplastic syndrome patients. A classification system constructed from the expression data predicted healthy or CLL status from a whole-blood sample with a 97% success rate. CONCLUSION Transcriptional profiling of whole-blood samples was carried out without any cellular or sample manipulation before RNA extraction. This gene expression analysis procedure uncovered statistically significant differences associated with different hematologic neoplasias and made possible the construction of a classification system that predicts the healthy or CLL status from a whole-blood sample.
The Degree of Freedom of Parallel Robots: A Group-Theoretic Approach

Current interest in the design of novel architectures for parallel robots with less than six degrees of freedom (dof) has called for a revisiting of the dof determination of a multiloop kinematic chain. The paper attempts to shed some light on the issue by resorting to the theory of groups, as first proposed by Hervé in 1978. The concepts, illustrated with various examples, should help robot designers produce novel architectures that would be difficult to devise otherwise.
Crystallization of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex within thylakoid membranes

We have found that treatment of the photosynthetic membranes of green plants, or thylakoids, with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114 at a 10:1 ratio has three effects: (a) photosystem I and coupling factor are solubilized, so that the membranes retain only photosystem II (PS II) and its associated light-harvesting apparatus (LHC-II); (b) LHC-II is crystallized, and so is removed from its normal association with PS II; and (c) LHC-II crystallization causes a characteristic red shift in the 77 degrees K fluorescence from LHC-II. Treatment of thylakoids with the same detergent at a 20:1 ratio results in an equivalent loss of photosystem I and coupling factor, with LHC-II and PS II being retained by the membranes. However, no LHC-II crystals are formed, nor is there a shift in fluorescence. Thus, isolation of a membrane protein is not required for its crystallization, but the conditions of detergent treatment are critical. Membranes with crystallized LHC-II retain tetrameric particles on their surface but have no recognizable stromal fracture face. We have proposed a model to explain these results: LHC- II is normally found within the stromal half of the membrane bilayer and is reoriented during the crystallization process. This reorientation causes the specific fluorescence changes associated with crystallization. Tetrameric particles, which are not changed in any way by the crystallization process, do not consist of LHC-II complexes. PS II appears to be the only other major complex retained by these membranes, which suggests that the tetramers consist of PS II.
Vibrotactile Perception in Finger Pulps and in the Sole of the Foot in Healthy Subjects among Children or Adolescents

Aims To evaluate vibrotactile perception at different frequencies in fingers and in foot in healthy girls and boys. Methods Vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were measured in 283 healthy (8–20 years), consecutively included, girls (n=146) and boys (n=137); i.e., 269 children after excluding those with diseases or disorders possibly affecting the nervous system. Thresholds were measured in finger pulps of index and little fingers (seven frequencies; 8–500 Hz) and at first and fifth metatarsal head and at heel in the sole of the foot (six frequencies; 8–250 Hz;) using Multi Frequency Tactilometry. Results VPTs, divided in six groups by age and gender (i.e., 8–10 years, 11–15 years and 16–20 years), at all three sites in the sole increased with higher frequencies, but without gender differences. Thresholds at 64 and 125 Hz were generally higher at heel compared to metatarsal heads. VPTs in finger pulps of index and little fingers, with no finger differences, had a different pattern with increasing thresholds with frequency, but with lower thresholds at 64 and 125 Hz. Thresholds at lower frequencies were higher in finger pulps, while at higher frequencies VPTs were lower in finger pulps than in the sole of the foot; thus, vibration perception in the sole was better than perception in finger pulps at lower frequencies and opposite at higher frequencies. VPTs were higher among adolescents than in younger children in the foot, while thresholds were lower in the finger pulps among adolescents, particularly in index finger. Thresholds in finger pulps of index and little fingers, particularly at higher frequencies, correlated with each other, which the three sites in the sole also did. Conclusions VPTs in fingers and in feet are different as related to frequency in healthy girls and boys. Multi Frequency Tactilometry is a future valuable method to detect neuropathy in children and adolescents.
Theoretical Studies on TM-Polarized Light Emission for Ultraviolet BAlGaN/AlN Optoelectronic Devices

The transverse-magnetic (TM) light emission characteristics of ultraviolet BxAlyGa1-x-yN/AlN quantum well (QW) structures with several different Al contents (x = 0.7-0.9) were theoretically investigated using the multiband effective-mass theory. The TM-polarized spontaneous emission peak of BAlGaN/AlN QW structures is found to be significantly enhanced with the inclusion of the boron. In particular, in the case of the QW structure with a relatively low Al content (y = 0.7), the light intensity is about three times larger than for the conventional QW structure. This can be explained by the decrease in the internal field, in addition to the change of the characteristics of the topmost valence subband.