Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Introduction of a new vegetable fiber for textile application

Received 30 June 2008; accepted 18 February 2009DOI 10.1002/app.30301Published online 7 May 2009 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). ABSTRACT: Finding textile applications for a new orunderused ﬁber is always very attractive, especially whenthe ﬁber is natural and indigenous. Leaﬁran ﬁber is derivedform the leaves of a plant called Typha australis, whichbelongs to the family Typhaceae. The ﬁber was obtained bychemical retting. Some properties of this ﬁber, such as itstensile strength, chemical composition, thermal properties,moisture absorption, and IR spectra, were determined. Leaf-iran is a lignocellulosic ﬁber having a cellulose content of54%, a moisture regain of 8–10%, and a tenacity of 29 cN/tex. The results show that Leaﬁran could be an idealreplacement for some widely used natural textile ﬁbers.
Phylogenetic Tools for Generalized HIV-1 Epidemics: Findings from the PANGEA-HIV Methods Comparison

Viral phylogenetic methods contribute to understanding how HIV spreads in populations, and thereby help guide the design of prevention interventions. So far, most analyses have been applied to well-sampled concentrated HIV-1 epidemics in wealthy countries. To direct the use of phylogenetic tools to where the impact of HIV-1 is greatest, the Phylogenetics And Networks for Generalized HIV Epidemics in Africa (PANGEA-HIV) consortium generates full-genome viral sequences from across sub-Saharan Africa. Analyzing these data presents new challenges, since epidemics are principally driven by heterosexual transmission and a smaller fraction of cases is sampled. Here, we show that viral phylogenetic tools can be adapted and used to estimate epidemiological quantities of central importance to HIV-1 prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. We used a community-wide methods comparison exercise on simulated data, where participants were blinded to the true dynamics they were inferring. Two distinct simulations captured generalized HIV-1 epidemics, before and after a large community-level intervention that reduced infection levels. Five research groups participated. Structured coalescent modeling approaches were most successful: phylogenetic estimates of HIV-1 incidence, incidence reductions, and the proportion of transmissions from individuals in their first 3 months of infection correlated with the true values (Pearson correlation > 90%), with small bias. However, on some simulations, true values were markedly outside reported confidence or credibility intervals. The blinded comparison revealed current limits and strengths in using HIV phylogenetics in challenging settings, provided benchmarks for future methods’ development, and supports using the latest generation of phylogenetic tools to advance HIV surveillance and prevention.
Linking Physics with Physiology in TMS: A Sphere Field Model to Determine the Cortical Stimulation Site in TMS

A fundamental problem of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is determining the site and size of the stimulated cortical area. In the motor system, the most common procedure for this is motor mapping. The obtained two-dimensional distribution of coil positions with associated muscle responses is used to calculate a center of gravity on the skull. However, even in motor mapping the exact stimulation site on the cortex is not known and only rough estimates of its size are possible. We report a new method which combines physiological measurements with a physical model used to predict the electric field induced by the TMS coil. In four subjects motor responses in a small hand muscle were mapped with 9-13 stimulation sites at the head perpendicular to the central sulcus in order to keep the induced current direction constant in a given cortical region of interest. Input-output functions from these head locations were used to determine stimulator intensities that elicit half-maximal muscle responses. Based on these stimulator intensities the field distribution on the individual cortical surface was calculated as rendered from anatomical MR data. The region on the cortical surface in which the different stimulation sites produced the same electric field strength (minimal variance, 4.2 +/- 0.8%.) was determined as the most likely stimulation site on the cortex. In all subjects, it was located at the lateral part of the hand knob in the motor cortex. Comparisons of model calculations with the solutions obtained in this manner reveal that the stimulated cortex area innervating the target muscle is substantially smaller than the size of the electric field induced by the coil. Our results help to resolve fundamental questions raised by motor mapping studies as well as motor threshold measurements.
Closely related Symbiodinium spp. differ in relative dominance in coral reef host communities across environmental, latitudinal and biogeographic gradients

The diversity and community structures of symbiotic dinoflagellates are described from reef invertebrates in southern and central provinces of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, and Zamami Island, Okinawa, Japan. The symbiont assemblages from region to region were dominated by Clade C Symbiodinium spp. and consisted of numerous host-specific and/or rare types (specialists), and several types common to many hosts (generalists). Prevalence in the host community among certain host-generalist symbionts differed between inshore and offshore environments, across latitudinal (central versus southern GBR) gradients, and over wide geographic ranges (GBR versus Okinawa). One particular symbiont (C3h) from the GBR had a dramatic shift in dominance. Its prevalence ranged from being extremely rare, or absent on high-latitude reefs to dominating the scleractinian diversity on a mid-latitude inshore reef. These changes occurred among coral fauna whose larvae must acquire symbionts from environmental sources (horizontal symbiont acquisition). Such differences did not occur among 'vertical transmitters' such as Porites spp. , Montipora spp. and pocilloporids (corals that directly transmit symbionts to their offspring) or among those hosts displaying 'horizontal acquisition', but that associate with specific symbionts. Most host-specialized types were found to be characteristic of a particular geographic region (i.e. Okinawa versus Central GBR versus Southern GBR). The mode of symbiont acquisition may play an important role in how symbiont composition may shift in west Pacific host communities in response to climate change. There is no indication that recent episodes of mass bleaching have provoked changes in host-symbiont combinations from the central GBR.
The role of patient care workers in private hospitals in the Cape Metropole, South Africa

BACKGROUND Nursing managers have to meet expectations of patients despite economic pressures, an increasing burden of disease and nursing shortages. Shifting health care-related tasks to lower categories of staff, including non-nursing support staff, has become one solution to address this dilemma. Patient care workers are a specific group of non-nursing support staff working in South African hospitals. Although patient care workers have been used for several years and their numbers are increasing, there are controversial opinions about the role of patient care workers, ranging from praise for their contribution towards patient care to serious concerns about the impact of their role on patient safety. OBJECTIVE The study objective was to explore and describe the role of patient care workers in private hospitals. METHODS A qualitative, descriptive design was applied to explore the role of patient care workers. Purposive sampling was used to select unit managers, nurses and patient care workers from medical and surgical wards of three private hospitals. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. The researcher applied interpretative data analysis to move from the participants' descriptions of their experiences to a synthesis of all participants' descriptions. RESULTS Patient care workers are involved in direct patient care and spend much time with patients, often not working under direct supervision of registered nurses despite limited training and lack of regulation. Their contribution, however, is valued by nurses. CONCLUSION Patient care workers are well-integrated into the patient care team and are mostly seen as nurses. Yet, there are concerns about their evolving role despite their limited training and the lack of direct supervision. Regulating the work of patient care workers is recommended.
Effects of Habitat-Forming Species Richness, Evenness, Identity, and Abundance on Benthic Intertidal Community Establishment and Productivity

In a context of reduced global biodiversity, the potential impacts from the loss of habitat-forming species (HFS) on ecosystem structure and functioning must be established. These species are often the main community primary producers and have a major role in the establishment of organisms through facilitation processes. This study focuses on macroalgae and mussels as HFS within an intertidal zone along the St. Lawrence estuary (Quebec, Canada). Over a 16-week period, we manipulated the in situ diversity profile (richness, evenness, identity, and abundance) of the dominant HFS (Fucus distichus edentatus, F. vesiculosus, and Mytilus spp.) in order to define their role in both the establishment of associated species and community primary production. Contrary to expectation, no general change in HFS richness, evenness, abundance, or identity on associated species community establishment was observed. However, over the study period, the HFS diversity profile modified the structure within the trophic guilds, which may potentially affect further community functions. Also, our results showed that the low abundance of HFS had a negative impact on the primary productivity of the community. Our results suggest that HFS diversity profiles have a limited short-term role in our study habitat and may indicate that biological forcing in these intertidal communities is less important than environmental conditions. As such, there was an opportunistic establishment of species that ensured rapid colonization regardless of the absence, or the diversity profile, of facilitators such as HFS.
Optofluidic whispering gallery mode microcapillary lasers for refractive index sensing

Whispering gallery modes (WGMs) allow for remarkable refractive index sensing performance with extremely low detection limits, and thus have found use in various emerging label free biosensing applications. Among the different types of resonators which have been studied, microcapillaries have the unique property of having the evanescent fields extend into and sample the medium inside the resonator, which is particularly interesting because the resonator itself serves as a microfluidic channel. Here, lasing of the WGMs in fluorescent microcapillaries is demonstrated for the first time, and their application to refractive index sensing is investigated. The laser gain medium used here is embedded inside a high refractive index polymer coating deposited onto the inner surface of the capillary. Lasing can only be realized for thick polymer coatings (in this case ≥ 800 nm), with higher Q factor but also stronger confinement of the propagating wave, which lowers the refractive index sensitivity compared to non-lasing capillaries which can have thinner polymer coatings. We however find that the large improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and Q factor realized upon lasing more than compensates for the reduced sensitivity, resulting in an order-of-magnitude improvement in the detection limit for refractive index sensing.
THE USE OF THE GRADUAL YIELDING MECHANISM DURING DOWNHILL WALKING IN TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEE GAIT – A CASE STUDY

To facilitate downhill walking in transfemoral amputees, some prostheses contain knee joints that have a yielding mechanism. The aim of this case study was to investigate 1) at which gradient unilateral transfemoral (UTF) amputees first utilised the yielding mechanism, 2) whether this mechanism is linked to altered spatio-temporal parameters and 3) if the switch occurs at a different gradient when the prosthetic ankle component is altered. Two UTF amputees walked at different slopes (0° to -15°) with an articulating and a rigid prosthetic ankle component. Results showed that the gradient at which the UTFs first used the yielding mechanism is highly individual (UTF1: -6°; UTF2: -12°). UTF2 showed with the switch a decreased speed, step & stride length. The use of an articulating compared to a rigid ankle component did not influence the yielding pattern.
Evidence supporting an intentional Neandertal burial at La Chapelle-aux-Saints

Significance For several decades, scholars have questioned the existence of burial in Western Europe prior to the arrival of Anatomically Modern Humans. Therefore, an approach combining a global field recovery and the reexamination of the previously discovered Neandertal remains has been undertaken in the site of La Chapelle-aux-Saints (France), where the hypothesis of a Neandertal burial was raised for the first time. This project has concluded that the Neandertal of La Chapelle-aux-Saints was deposit in a pit dug by other members of its group and protected by a rapid covering from any disturbance. These discoveries attest the existence of West European Neandertal burial and of the Neandertal cognitive capacity to produce it. The bouffia Bonneval at La Chapelle-aux-Saints is well known for the discovery of the first secure Neandertal burial in the early 20th century. However, the intentionality of the burial remains an issue of some debate. Here, we present the results of a 12-y fieldwork project, along with a taphonomic analysis of the human remains, designed to assess the funerary context of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints Neandertal. We have established the anthropogenic nature of the burial pit and underlined the taphonomic evidence of a rapid burial of the body. These multiple lines of evidence support the hypothesis of an intentional burial. Finally, the discovery of skeletal elements belonging to the original La Chapelle aux Saints 1 individual, two additional young individuals, and a second adult in the bouffia Bonneval highlights a more complex site-formation history than previously proposed.
Prognostic Factors and Efficacy of First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Thymic Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of 286 Patients from NEJ023 Study.

BACKGROUND The prognostic factors and the efficacy of first-line chemotherapy remain unclear in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study named NEJ023 for patients with advanced thymic carcinoma. All patients without any indication of curative treatment were treated with chemotherapy from 1995 to 2014 at 40 institutions of the North East Japan Study Group. RESULTS A total of 286 patients with advanced thymic carcinoma were analyzed. First-line chemotherapy included platinum-based doublets in 62.2% of the patients, monotherapy in 3.5%, and other multidrug chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin, doxorubicin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide [ADOC]) in 34.3%. The median follow-up period was 55.5 months, and the median overall survival (OS) from the start of first-line chemotherapy was 30.7 months (95% confidence interval, 25.9-35.9 months). There was no significant difference in OS among different first-line chemotherapy regimens (e.g., between carboplatin/paclitaxel and ADOC, median OS: 27.8 vs. 29.9 months). Masaoka-Koga stage IVa and volume reduction surgery were favorable prognostic factors for OS in the multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model. CONCLUSION The efficacy of each first-line chemotherapy regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma did not vary significantly. Our results might support the adequacy of the use of carboplatin/paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for these patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Because of its rarity, there is limited information about prognostic factors and efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma. This is the largest data set for those patients treated with chemotherapy. This study suggests there is no significant difference in efficacy between carboplatin/paclitaxel and cisplatin/doxorubicin/vincristine/cyclophosphamide for advanced thymic carcinoma. This result can support the adequacy of the selection of platinum doublets as treatment for those patients, rather than anthracycline-based multidrug regimen.
Improvement of blown film extrusion of poly(Lactic Acid): Structure–Processing–Properties relationships

The blown extrusion of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) presents several challenges mainly due to the poor shear and elongation properties of this biopolymer. This article highlights some promising routes to enhance the processability of PLA for blown extrusion. To achieve this objective, various formulations of PLA with multifunctionalized epoxy, nucleating agents, and plasticizer were elaborated and studied on the basis of their linear viscoelasticity and elongational properties. We further characterized both the structure and thermomechanical properties of blown films produced with these PLA formulations. Stability charts for the film blowing of neat and modified PLA were thus established at different processing conditions. On the basis of these results, we managed to achieve a large enhancement of the blown processing windows of PLA with high blow-up ratio (BUR) and take-up ratio attained. We were able to demonstrate that a higher kinetic of crystallization can also be reached for chain-extended and branched PLA formulated with adequate amounts of nucleating agents and plasticizers. Induced crystallization during process was also demonstrated. Through this work, blown films with interesting thermomechanical and mechanical properties have been elaborated using an optimal formulation for PLA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:840–857, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Increased levels of alveolar and airway exhaled nitric oxide in runners

Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to apply extended NO analysis for measurements of NO dynamics in the lung, divided into alveolar and airway contribution, in amateur runners and marathoners. Methods: The athletes participated in either a marathon or a half marathon. The athletes self-reported their age, weight, height, training distance per week, competing distance, cardio-pulmonary health, atopic status, and use of tobacco. Measurements of exhaled NO (FENO) with estimation of alveolar NO (CANO) and airway flux (JawNO), ventilation, pulse oximetry, and peak flow were performed before, immediately after, and 1 hour after completing the race. Results: At baseline the alveolar NO was higher in amateur runners, 2.9 ± 1.1 ppb (p = 0.041), and marathoners, 3.6 ± 1.9 ppb (p = 0.002), than in control subjects, 1.4 ± 0.5 ppb. JawNO was higher in marathoners, 0.90 ± 0.02 nL s−1 (p = 0.044), compared with controls, 0.36 ± 0.02 nL s−1, whereas the increase in amateur runners, 0.56 ± 0.02 nL s−1, did not attain statistical significance (p = 0.165). Immediately after the race there was a decrease in FENO in both amateur runners and marathoners, whereas CANO and JawNO were decreased in marathoners only. Conclusion: Our results support the view that there is an adaptation of the lung to exercise. Thus strenuous exercise increased both airway and alveolar NO, and this might in turn facilitate oxygen uptake.
Effects of Moderate Aerobic Exercise Training on Hemorheological and Laboratory Parameters in Ischemic Heart Disease Patients

Background and Design In this study we set out to determine the effects of long-term physical training on hemorheological, laboratory parameters, exercise tolerability, psychological factors in cardiac patients participating in an ambulatory rehabilitation program. Methods Before physical training, patients were examined by echocardiography, tested on treadmill by the Bruce protocol, and blood was drawn for laboratory tests. The enrolled 79 ischemic heart disease patients joined a 24-week cardiac rehabilitation training program. Blood was drawn to measure hematocrit (Hct), plasma and whole blood viscosity (PV, WBV), red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and deformability. Hemorheological, clinical chemistry and psychological measurements were repeated 12 and 24 weeks later, and a treadmill test was performed at the end of the program. Results After 12 weeks Hct, PV, WBV and RBC aggregation were significantly decreased, RBC deformability exhibited a significant increase (p<0.05). Laboratory parameters (triglyceride, uric acid, hsCRP and fibrinogen) were significantly decreased (p<0.05). After 24 weeks the significant results were still observed. By the end of the study, IL-6 and TNF-α levels displayed decreasing trends (p<0.06). There was a significant improvement in MET (p<0.001), and the BMI decrease was also significant (p<0.05). The vital exhaustion parameters measured on the fatigue impact scale indicated a significant improvement in two areas of the daily activities (p<0.05). Conclusions Regular physical training improved the exercise tolerability of patients with ischemic heart disease. Previous publications have demonstrated that decreases in Hct and PV may reduce cardiovascular risk, while a decrease in RBC aggregation and an increase in deformability improve the capillary flow. Positive changes in laboratory parameters and body weight may indicate better oxidative and inflammatory circumstances and an improved metabolic state. The psychological findings point to an improvement in the quality of life.
Expression of deep brain photoreceptors in the Pekin drake: a possible role in the maintenance of testicular function

&NA; Several putative deep brain photoreceptors (DBPs) have been identified, such as melanopsin, opsin 5, and vertebrate ancient opsin. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of DBPs in gonadal regulation in the Pekin drake. As previously reported, we observed opsin‐like immunoreactivity (‐ir) in the lateral septum (LS), melanopsin‐ir in the premammillary nucleus (PMM), and opsin 5‐ir in the periventricular organ. To determine the sensitivity of the DBPs to specific wavelengths of light, drakes were given an acute exposure to red, blue, or white light. Blue light stimulated an increase (P < 0.01) in the immediate early gene fra‐2‐ir co‐expression in melanopsin‐ir neurons in the PMM, and red light increased (P < 0.05) fra‐2‐ir co‐expression in opsin‐ir neurons, suggesting these neurons are blue‐ and red‐receptive, respectively. To further investigate this photoperiodic response, we exposed drakes to chronic red, long‐day white, short‐day white, or blue light. Blue light elicited gonadal regression, as testes weight (P < 0.001) and plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (P < 0.001) were lower compared to drakes housed under long‐day white light. Photo‐regressed drakes experienced complete gonadal recrudescence when housed under long‐day red and blue light. qRT‐PCR analyses showed that gonadally regressed drakes showed reduced levels (P < 0.01) of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA but not photoreceptor or GnIH mRNAs compared to gonadally functional drakes. Our data suggest DBP in the LS may be rhodosin and multiple DBPs are required to fully maintain gonadal function in Pekin drakes.