Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical agitation of hybridoma suspension cultures: Metabolic effects of serum, pluronic F68, and albumin supplements

Metabolic effects of the medium supplements, fetal bovine serum (FBS), Pluronic F68, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were compared for agitated bioreactor cultures of hybridoma cells. Agitation speeds up to 600 rpm, without entrainment of gas bubbles by sparging or vortex formation, allowed examination of cell interactions with turbulent fluid forces. For cultures in FBS‐supplemented RPMI media, there was no significant effect of intense turbulent fluid shear on cell growth, metabolism, or antibody, production. Serum‐free cultures (Pluronic F68 or BSA supplements) at 600 rpm demonstrated greatly increased glycolysis rates during exponential growth relative to controls. Nutrient limitations caused increased rates of decline of the viable cell concentrations and a reduction in final antibody titers by around 70%. The Pluronic F68 and BSA supplements did not lead to cell protection by modifying metabolism under conditions of intense turbulent fluid shear. Supplementing the protein‐free medium with FBS reduced glycolysis rates in exponential growth phase, but this did not prevent a high rate of viable cell decline and low antibody titers. We concluded that FBS does not have a metabolic effect on cells subjected to intense turbulent fluid shear. Although the agitation conditions employed in this study were more intense than generally required for agitated bioreactor culture of hybridomas, we have demonstrated the importance of considering metabolic effects of turbulent fluid forces on cultures using nutrient‐rich basal media, in addition to the considerations of gas bubble effects described by other workers. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in glycogen muscle reserves because of ingestion of ethanol: a study in rats

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects of alcoholic ingestion and neurostimulation on the muscle glycogen reserve, body weight, blood sugar, and weight of the soleus muscle. Methods: Twenty male rats were distributed into four experimental groups (n=5), namely, Control, Ethanol, Electrostimulated, and Ethanol+Electrostimulated. The study lasted for 22 days. The groups submitted to the use of ethanol received the substance diluted in water, which was consumed during the entire experimental period. The groups that received electrostimulation, undersedationfor the procedure, had their left hind leg shaved, and the current was applied daily for 7 days, in 20-minute sessions. Next, after induced alcoholism and electrical stimulation in the corresponding groups, the animals were euthanized so that their muscles could be sent for glycogen analysis. Results: The Ethanol group displayed a lower body weight when compared to the Control and Electrostimulated groups; the Ethanol+Electrostimulated groups had a lower body weight compared to the Control and Electrostimulated groups, but were in a better situation when compared to the Ethanol group. As to glycogen capture, it was noted that the Ethanol group demonstrated resistance to blood glucose capture, whereas the Ethanol Electrostimulated group showed better capture than the other groups. As to muscle weight, it was observed that the Ethanol group had a lower weight than did the Controls, and that the Electrostimulated group weight greater when compared to the Control and Ethanol groups, respectively. On the other hand, the Ethanol+Electrostimulated groups showed no significant difference relative to the Controls, but had better results when compared to the Ethanol group. Conclusion: Chronic exposure to alcohol showed a direct relationship with reduced muscle and body weight, and in glycogen capture and muscle reserves, besides favoring innumerous organic disorders, thus interfering in rehabilitation processes.
Second-Order Phase Field Asymptotics for Unequal Conductivities

We extend Karma and Rappel's improved asymptotic analysis of the phase field model to different diffusivities in solid and liquid. We consider both second-order "classical" asymptotics, in which the interface thickness is taken much smaller than the capillary length, and the new "isothermal" asymptotics, in which the two lengths are considered comparable. In the first case, if the phase field model is required to be gradient flow for an entropy functional, then for unequal diffusivities it is impossible to construct a phase equation with finite kinetics which converges with second-order accuracy to a Gibbs--Thomson equilibrium condition with infinitely fast kinetics. In the second case, some error terms are pushed to higher orders, and it is easy to eliminate the remaining errors with finite phase kinetics.
Synergism between Occupational Arsenic Exposure and Smoking in the Induction of Lung Cancer

We assembled data from numerous studies to examine whether active smoking and occupational exposure to arsenic act synergistically (more than additively) to increase the risk of lung cancer. Although several smaller studies lacked the power to reject simple additive relations, the joint effect from both exposures consistently exceeded the sum of the separate effects by about 70 to 130%. The only study not showing a greater than additive effect appeared to have inadequate data to address this question. We calculated the excess fractions for the synergism; these showed that a minimum of between 30% and 54% of lung cancer cases among those with both exposures could not be attributed to either one or the other exposure alone. Previous authors addressing the synergism between arsenic exposure and smoking have evaluated deviations from a multiplicative model, which is inappropriate for this purpose. Reports of no interaction or “negative” interaction have therefore been misleading. Taken as a whole, the evidence is compelling that arsenic and smoking act in a synergistic manner to produce lung cancer. Substantial reductions in the lung cancer burden of smokers occupationally exposed to arsenic could be achieved by reductions in either exposure. The mechanism for the synergism is unclear. (Epidemiology 1992;3:23–31)
Gardnerella Biofilm Involves Females and Males and Is Transmitted Sexually

Objective: To study the incidence and distribution of adherent Gardnerella vaginalis. Methods: Bacteria adherent to desquamated epithelial cells in the urine were detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Urine from patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV, n = 20), their partners (n = 10) and different control populations (n = 344) including pregnant women and their partners, randomly selected populations of hospitalized man, women and children as also healthy controls was investigated. Results:Gardnerella was found in two different forms: cohesive and dispersed. In the cohesive form, Gardnerella were attached to the epithelial cells in groups of highly concentrated bacteria. In the dispersed form, solitary Gardnerella were intermixed with other bacterial groups. Cohesive Gardnerella was present in all patients with proven BV and their partners, in 7% of men and 13% of women hospitalized for reasons other than BV, in 16% of pregnant women and 12% of their male partners, and in none of the healthy laboratory staff or children. In sexual partners, occurrence of cohesive Gardnerella was clearly linked. Dispersed Gardnerella were found in 10–18% of randomly selected females, 3–4% of males and 10% of children and not sexually linked. In daily longitudinal investigations over 4 weeks no transition between cohesive and dispersed Gardnerella and vice versa was observed. Transmission of a cohesive Gardnerella strain could be followed retrospectively over 15 years using molecular genetic methods. Conclusions: Cohesive Gardnerella biofilm is a distinct, clearly definable entity which involves both genders and is sexually transmitted. The correct name distinguishing it from symptom-defined conditions like BV should be gardnerellosis and for the bacterium Gardnerella genitalis.
Utilising psychophysical techniques to investigate the effects of age, typeface design, size and display polarity on glance legibility

Abstract Psychophysical research on text legibility has historically investigated factors such as size, colour and contrast, but there has been relatively little direct empirical evaluation of typographic design itself, particularly in the emerging context of glance reading. In the present study, participants performed a lexical decision task controlled by an adaptive staircase method. Two typefaces, a ‘humanist’ and ‘square grotesque’ style, were tested. Study I examined positive and negative polarities, while Study II examined two text sizes. Stimulus duration thresholds were sensitive to differences between typefaces, polarities and sizes. Typeface also interacted significantly with age, particularly for conditions with higher legibility thresholds. These results are consistent with previous research assessing the impact of the same typefaces on interface demand in a simulated driving environment. This simplified methodology of assessing legibility differences can be adapted to investigate a wide array of questions relevant to typographic and interface designs. Practitioner Summary: A method is described for rapidly investigating relative legibility of different typographical features. Results indicate that during glance-like reading induced by the psychophysical technique and under the lighting conditions considered, humanist-style type is significantly more legible than a square grotesque style, and that black-on-white text is significantly more legible than white-on-black.
Biaxial deformation and experimental study of PET at conditions applicable to stretch blow molding

This article is concerned with understanding the behavior of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) process where it is typically biaxially stretched to form bottles for the packaging industry. A comprehensive experimental study was undertaken, analyzing the behavior of three different grades of PET under constant width (CW), simultaneous (EB), and sequential (SQ) equal biaxial deformation. Experiments were carried out at temperature and strain rate ranges of 80–110°C and 1 s−1 to 32 s−1, respectively, to different stretch ratios. Results show that the biaxial deformation behavior of PET exhibits a strong dependency on forming temperature, strain rate, stretch ratio, deformation mode, and molecular weight. The tests were also monitored via a high speed thermal image camera which showed an increase in temperature between 5°C and 15°C depending on the stretch conditions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers
Frontal Lobe Inputs to the Digit Representations of the Motor Areas on the Lateral Surface of the Hemisphere

We examined the frontal lobe connections of the digit representations in the primary motor cortex (M1), the dorsal premotor area (PMd), and the ventral premotor area (PMv) of cebus monkeys. All of these digit representations lie on the lateral surface of the hemisphere. We used intracortical stimulation to identify the digit representations physiologically, and then we injected different tracers into two of the three cortical areas. This approach enabled us to compare the inputs to two digit representations in the same animal. We found that the densest inputs from the premotor areas to the digit representation in M1 originate from the PMd and the PMv. Both of these premotor areas contain a distinct digit representation, and the two digit representations are densely interconnected. Surprisingly, the projections from the digit representation in the supplementary motor area (SMA) to the PMd and PMv are stronger than the SMA projections to M1. The projections from other premotor areas to M1, the PMd, and the PMv are more modest. Of the three digit areas on the lateral surface, only the PMv receives dense input from the prefrontal cortex. Based on these results, we believe that M1, the PMd, and the PMv form a densely interconnected network of cortical areas that is concerned with the generation and control of hand movements. Overall, the laminar origins of neurons that interconnect the three cortical areas are typical of “lateral” interactions. Thus, from an anatomical perspective, this cortical network lacks a clear hierarchical organization.
A Groupwise Universal Improvement Scheme for Location Estimation in Wireless Networks

In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for improving localization results of unknown wireless nodes (a.k.a. unknowns or mobile nodes). Our proposed solution, Groupwise Universal Improvement Scheme (G-UnIS), is based on additional information about the a priori known distances between mobile nodes. We show with the simulation results that our method can enhance the accuracy of location estimation. We compare the results of G-UnIS with our previous Pairwise Refinement Scheme. For the localization of unknowns, we have used prepositioned anchor nodes (beacons). The radio channel model used in the simulation was determined using ZEBRA2411 modules from senTec Elektronik GmbH, based on the chipset ZRP1 developed by Freescale Semiconductor.
The role of active efflux in antibiotic - resistance of clinical isolates of Helicobacter pylori.

PURPOSE In gram-negative bacteria, active efflux pumps that excrete drugs can confer resistance to antibiotics however, in Helicobacter pylori this role is not well established. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of active efflux in resistance of H. pylori isolates to antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) isolates resistant to at least four antibiotics, including beta-lactams, metronidazole, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin; three resistant to only beta-lactams, and two hyper-susceptible isolates, were obtained from screening of 96 clinical isolates of H. pylori . Their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibiotics and ethidium-bromide (EtBr) were compared in the presence- and absence of a proton-conductor, carbonyl cyanide-m chlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP) using agar-dilution and disc diffusion. Drug accumulation studies for EtBr and antibiotics were assessed in the presence and absence of CCCP using spectrofluorometry. RESULTS MIC of EtBr for eight MAR-isolates was decreased two- to four-folds in the presence of CCCP, of which five showed reduced MICs for beta-lactam, metronidazole, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin with CCCP. Accumulation of EtBr by the MAR-isolates was rapid and not dependant on the pattern of multiple resistance. Antibiotic accumulation assay confirmed the presence of energy-dependant efflux of beta-lactam, metronidazole, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin, but no erythromycin in five MAR isolates. Energy-dependant efflux of EtBr or antibiotics was not observed for four MAR-isolates, and three isolates were resistant only to beta-lactams. CONCLUSION Energy-dependant efflux plays a role in the resistance of H. pylori clinical isolates to structurally unrelated antibiotics in a broadly specific multidrug efflux manner. Difference in the efflux potential of MAR isolates may be related to the presence or absence of functional efflux-pumps in diverse H. pylori isolates.
Gender and Web information seeking: A self-concept orientation model

Adapting the consumer behavior selectivity model to the Web environment, this paper's key contribution is the introduction of a self-concept orientation model of Web information seeking. This model, which addresses gender, effort, and information content factors, questions the commonly assumed equivalence of sex and gender by specifying the measurement of gender-related self-concept traits known as self- and other-orientation. Regression analyses identified associations between self-orientation, other-orientation, and self-reported search frequencies for content with identical subject domain (e.g., medical information, government information) and differing relevance (i.e., important to the individual personally versus important to someone close to him or her). Self- and other-orientation interacted such that when individuals were highly self-oriented, their frequency of search for both self- and other-relevant information depended on their level of other-orientation. Specifically, high-self/high-other individuals, with a comprehensive processing strategy, searched most often, whereas high-self/low-other respondents, with an effort minimization strategy, reported the lowest search frequencies. This interaction pattern was even more pronounced for other-relevant information seeking. We found no sex differences in search frequency for either self-relevant or other-relevant information.
Dynamic patch generation for null pointer exceptions using metaprogramming

Null pointer exceptions (NPE) are the number one cause of uncaught crashing exceptions in production. In this paper, we aim at exploring the search space of possible patches for null pointer exceptions with metaprogramming. Our idea is to transform the program under repair with automated code transformation, so as to obtain a metaprogram. This metaprogram contains automatically injected hooks, that can be activated to emulate a null pointer exception patch. This enables us to perform a fine-grain analysis of the runtime context of null pointer exceptions. We set up an experiment with 16 real null pointer exceptions that have happened in the field. We compare the effectiveness of our metaprogramming approach against simple templates for repairing null pointer exceptions.
Function of Cd3ε-Mediated Signals in T Cell Development

The T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and pre-TCR complexes are composed of multiple signal-transducing subunits (CD3γ, CD3δ, CD3ε, and ζ) that each contain one or more copies of a semiconserved functional motif, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Although biochemical studies indicate that individual TCR-ITAMs may bind selectively or with different affinity to various effector molecules, data from other experiments suggest that at least some ITAMs are functionally equivalent. In this study, we examined the role of CD3ε ITAM-mediated signals in T cell development by genetically reconstituting CD3ε-deficient mice with transgenes encoding either wild-type or ITAM-mutant (signaling defective) forms of the protein. The results demonstrate that signals transduced by CD3ε are not specifically required for T cell maturation but instead contribute quantitatively to TCR signaling in a manner similar to that previously observed for ζ chain. Unexpectedly, analysis of TCR-transgenic/CD3ε-mutant mice reveals a potential role for CD3ε signals in T cell survival.
Occurrence rate and genotype distribution of the JC virus (JCV) in a sample from the Polish population

The JC virus (JCV) is a common human virus persisting in renal tissue. In immunocompromised individuals it may reactivate and cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). JCV has also been implicated in cancerogenesis, leading to various brain tumors and cancers of gastrointestinal tract. In this study the JCV excretion in urine of 113 healthy Polish donors was analyzed. A 215‐bp region of the viral gene coding for a major capsid protein VP1 was PCR‐amplified and detected in 52 individuals (46.0%). The occurrence rate increased with age and was highest in the group of over 60‐year‐old donors (63.6%). Sequence analysis of the VP1 gene fragment revealed the following distribution of JCV genotypes in the investigated group: 1A, 31 (59.6%); 1B, 13 (25.0%); 2A, 2 (3.8%); and 2C, 6 samples (11.5%). The frequency and distribution of the JCV genotypes in the Polish population resembles that in other European countries, with the most abundant genotype 1 (84.6%). However, while in those countries the second most frequent genotype was usually 4, in the investigated group genotype 4 was not detected. J. Med. Virol. 80:1079–1083, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Appraisal and coping strategies in stressful situations: a comparison of individuals who binge eat and controls.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate whether individuals who engage in binge eating appraise and cope with stressful situations in a different manner than people who do not regularly binge eat. METHOD Female undergraduates participated in a two-part study. The laboratory portion of the study involved participation in two tasks: an interpersonal stressor and an academic stressor. In the second portion of the study, participants completed a daily stress inventory for 1 week. RESULTS Individuals in the binge group appraised both the laboratory and natural environment stressors as more stressful than did the controls. Differences were evident in the amount and type of coping strategies used between eating groups. The binge group reported using more positive coping strategies and more catastrophizing in both settings. DISCUSSION Together, the results suggest that appraisal and coping or stress management components may be useful in treatment packages for individuals who binge eat.
A survey of psychiatrists in primary care: the silent growth of a new service.

ONE of the most significant developments in British psychiatry in the past few decades has been the recognition of the extent of psychiatric morbidity present in the community. The pioneering work of Shepherd and colleagues' demonstrated that, while between one fifth and one quarter of all patients presenting to the general practitioner suffer from significant psychiatric morbidity, no more than one in 20 are referred to specialist mental health facilities. In recent years, attempts have been made to focus attention on the possible ways in which psychiatrists and general practitioners can collaborate in the provision of care for this large pool of psychiatric patients. Williams and Clare have identified three models of collaboration: the 'replacement' model, the 'increased throughput' model and the 'liaison-attachment' model. The 'replacement model' is based on the idea that the psychiatrist replaces the general practitioner as the doctor of first contact. While this strategy has received a great deal of support in the USA, with the setting-up of community mental health centres, its underlying principle runs contrary to the World Health Organization's policy for primary care3 and it has been argued that it is not widely appropriate in the context of primary care structure in Great Britain.4 The 'increased throughput' model is based on the view that more patientsshould be referred to psychiatrists. It appears unlikely that this strategy will succeed in the face of evidence which shows that, despite the 28 per cent increase in the number of psychiatrists between 1970 to 1975, there was no corresponding increase in the number of new patients referred.5 The conclusion of Shepherd and colleagues,' drawn from their survey of psychiatric illness in general practice, remains pertinent: 'Admin istrative and medical logic alike suggest that the cardinal requirement for the improvement of the mental health services in this country is not a large expansion and proliferation of psychiatric agencies, but rather a strengthening of the family doctor in his therapeutic role! The logical development from this conclusion is the third model, that of 'liaison-attachment', whereby psychiatrists move out of hospital into the general practice setting itself. This model appears to have received a small measure of-support from a few isolated psychiatrists over the past 20 years, with occasional reports of individual psychiatrists forming attachments.6-9 In general, however, it has received little comment or support in the medical literature.