Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-impactor-Based Methods for Sizing of Aerosols Emitted from Orally Inhaled and Nasal Drug Products (OINDPs)

The purpose of this article is to review non-impactor-based methods for measuring particle size distributions of orally inhaled and nasal pharmaceutical aerosols. The assessment of the size distributions of sprays and aerosols from orally inhaled and nasal drug products by methods not involving multi-stage cascade impaction may offer significant potential advantages in terms of labor savings and reducing the risk for operator-related errors associated with complex-to-undertake impactor-based methods. Indeed, in the case of nasal spray products, cascade impaction is inappropriate and alternative, and preferably non-invasive methods must be sought that minimize size-related bias associated with the measurement process for these relatively large droplets. This review highlights the options that are available to those involved with product quality assessments, providing guidance on relative strengths and weaknesses, as well as highlighting precautions that should be observed to minimize bias. The advent of Raman chemical imaging, which enables an estimate to be made of the proportion of each particle comprising active pharmaceutical ingredient(s) (APIs), necessitates a re-think about the value of classical microscopy image analysis as now being capable of providing API-relevant information from collected aerosols and sprays.
Locomotor activity in rats after administration of nicotinic agonists intracerebrally

1 Nicotine (0.13 and 0.4 mg kg−1, s.c.) increased the ambulatory component of locomotor activity in rats previously exposed to the drug. Nicotine did not increase repeated movements reliably. 2 An infusion of either nicotine (8 μg) or the potent nicotinic agonist cytisine (4 μg) into the ventral tegmental area of the forebrain increased ambulation but not repeated movements. 3 An infusion of nicotine or cytisine into the nucleus accumbens, striatum, dorsal hippocampal formation or motor thalamus did not increase ambulatory or repeated movements. 4 Mecamylamine (0.1–1.0 mg kg−1, s.c.) blocked increases in locomotor activity produced by an infusion of nicotine or cytisine into the ventral tegmental area. 5 The locomotor activity produced by systemically administered nicotine may be mediated, in part, through nicotinic receptors located in the ventral tegmental area of the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Mycobacteria in Finnish cooling tower waters

Evaporative cooling towers are water systems used in, e.g., industry and telecommunication to remove excess heat by evaporation of water. Temperatures of cooling waters are usually optimal for mesophilic microbial growth and cooling towers may liberate massive amounts of bacterial aerosols. Outbreaks of legionellosis associated with cooling towers have been known since the 1980's, but occurrences of other potentially pathogenic bacteria in cooling waters are mostly unknown. We examined the occurrence of mycobacteria, which are common bacteria in different water systems and may cause pulmonary and other soft tissue infections, in cooling waters containing different numbers of legionellae. Mycobacteria were isolated from all twelve cooling systems and from 92% of the 24 samples studied. Their numbers in the positive samples varied from 10 to 7.3 × 104 cfu/L. The isolated species included M. chelonae/abscessus, M. fortuitum, M. mucogenicum, M. peregrinum, M. intracellulare, M. lentiflavum, M. avium/nebraskense/scrofulaceum and many non‐pathogenic species. The numbers of mycobacteria correlated negatively with the numbers of legionellae and the concentration of copper. The results show that cooling towers are suitable environments for potentially pathogenic mycobacteria. Further transmission of mycobacteria from the towers to the environment needs examination.
Instantaneous geodetic positioning at medium distances with the Global Positioning System

We evaluate a new method of Global Positioning System (GPS) data analysis, called instantaneous positioning, at spatial scale lengths typical of interstation spacings in a modern crustal motion network. This method is more precise and versatile than traditional GPS static and kinematic processing of multi-epoch batches of data. The key to instantaneous positioning is the ability to resolve integer-cycle phase ambiguities with only a single epoch of dual-frequency phase and pseudorange data, rendering receiver cycle slips irrelevant. We estimate three-dimensional relative coordinates and atmospheric zenith delay parameters independently every 30 s over a 12-week period for baseline distances of 50 m, 14 km, and 37 km. Horizontal precision of a single-epoch coordinate solution is about 15 mm and vertical precision is about 7–8 times worse. Removing that component of each time series which repeats with a period of exactly 1 sidereal day, and thus manifests signal multipath, reduces the scatter by about 50% in all components. Solution averaging of the high-frequency time series can be performed using any number of measurement epochs to further improve coordinate precision. We demonstrate that the daily coordinates estimated with instantaneous positioning are more precise (by 20–50% per coordinate component) than those estimated with 24-hour batch processing. Spectral analysis of the single-epoch solutions indicates that the flicker noise characteristic of GPS time series observed in lower-frequency bands also affects GPS solutions in the frequency band 0.01 mHz to 10 mHz. We argue that the flicker noise is induced by tropospheric effects. Since modern GPS receivers are capable of observing at frequencies as high as 10 Hz, our technique significantly overlaps and complements the frequency band of broadband seismology and benefits other research areas such as earthquake geodesy, volcanology, and GPS meteorology.
Enterprise SOA - designing IT for business innovation

Information Technology professionals can use this book to move beyond the excitement of web services and service oriented architecture (SOA) and begin the process of finding actionable ideas to innovate and create business value. In Enterprise SOA: Designing IT for Business Innovation, SAP's blueprint for putting SOA to work is analyzed from top to bottom. In addition to design, development, and architecture, vital contextual issues such as governance, security, change management, and culture are also explored. This comprehensive perspective reduces risk as IT departments implement ESA, a sound, flexible architecture for adapting business processes in response to changing market conditions.This book answers the following questions:What forces created the need for Enterprise Services Architecture? How does ESA enable business process innovation? How is model-driven development used at all levels of design, configuration, and deployment? How do all the layers of technology that support ESA work together? How will composite applications extend business process automation? How does ESA create new models for IT governance? How can companies manage disruptive change? How can enterprise services be discovered and designed? How will the process of adapting applications be simplified? Based on extensive research with experts from the German software company SAP, this definitive book is ideal for architects, developers, and other IT professionals who want to understand the technology and business relevance of ESA in a detailed way--especially those who want to move on the technology now, rather than in the next year or two.
Factors Influencing Tourist Decision to visit the Burmese Temples in Lampang Province

The main aim of this research was to investigate the tourist decision to travel to Burmese temples in Lampang province. The scope of this study was based on Thai and foreign tourists who traveled in Burmese temples in Lampang. The study was considered to be both qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative interview method was conducted by the Director of Lampang Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports. The quantitative research was initiated by structured questionnaire to collect data from 400 respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the results of this research. The findings from the descriptive analysis showed that the majority of the respondents were female and married. They are aged between 45- 54, holding a master’s degree, working for government organizations, and having an average monthly income of 20,001 – 30,000 Baht. For the situational factors, several task definition factors were taken into account in the study and the destination being suitable for family vacations was the most significant task definition factor influencing tourists’ decision to travel to Burmese temples. Considering the marketing mix factors, product factor had the highest degree of influencing on their trips to Burmese temples. Ultimately, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ strategy to improve marketing and public relations on the role of local administration, national and international levels had the most influence in tourists’ decision to visit Burmese temples. Moreover, selling point of Burmese temples in Lampang province are cultural heritage sites. With promotional campaign and introduction of existing domestic attractions, more tourists may possibly travel to Burmese temples in the future. Keywords: Tourist decision, Lampang, Cultural tourism destination
BotR/A and TetR are alternative RNA polymerase sigma factors controlling the expression of the neurotoxin and associated protein genes in Clostridium botulinum type A and Clostridium tetani

Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani, respectively, produce potent toxins, botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeTx), which are responsible for severe diseases, botulism and tetanus. Neurotoxin synthesis is a regulated process in Clostridium. The genes botR/A in C. botulinum A and tetR in C. tetani positively regulate expression of BoNT/A and associated non‐toxic proteins (ANTPs), as well as TeTx respectively. The botR/A gene lies in close vicinity of the two operons which contain bont/A and antps genes in C. botulinum A, and tetR immediately precedes the tetX gene in C. tetani. We show that BotR/A and TetR function as specific alternative sigma factors rather than positive regulators based on the following results: (i) BotR/A and TetR associated with target DNAs only in the presence of the RNA polymerase core enzyme (Core), (ii) BotR/A and TetR directly bound with the core enzyme, (iii) BotR/A‐Core recognized −35 and −10 regions of ntnh‐bont/A promoter and (iv) BotR/A and TetR triggered in vitro transcription from the target promoters. In C. botulinum A, bont/A and antps genes are transcribed as bi‐ and tricistronic operons controlled by BotR/A. BotR/A and TetR are seemingly related to a new subgroup of the σ70 family that includes TcdR and UviA, which, respectively, regulate production of toxins A and B in C. difficile and bacteriocin in C. perfringens. Sequences of −35 region are highly conserved in the promoter of target toxin genes in C. botulinum, C. tetani, C. difficile and C. perfringens. Overall, a common regulation mechanism probably controls toxin gene expression in these four toxigenic clostridial species.
Current observations on the development of the Yellow Sea Warm Current

Historically, the climatological mean northward flow in the Yellow Sea trough has been referred to as the Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) since it was thought to originate as a branch of the Tsushima Current which transports warm Kuroshio waters. However, the Tsushima Current does not penetrate into the Yellow Sea interior during winter. The onset of what is referred to as the YSWC during winter is directly observed using measurements of current profiles, pressure, and temperature, and a wind climatology for the time period July 1995 through January 1996. The YSWC is a result of weak southerly winds during summer. During fall transition and winter monsoon periods, strong northerly wind bursts drive a north-to-south rise in pressure extending from the trough over to the Korean coast and force a northward flow in the Yellow Sea trough. The rise in pressure and corresponding north wind-forced YSWC begin at the end of October for this measurement period and are observed into January. These measurements show that the YSWC has different seasonal forcing mechanisms. Direct current measurements are also presented which suggest a current flow north of Cheju, sometimes referred to as the Cheju Warm Current.
Microwave archaeointensities from Peruvian ceramics

SUMMARY Accurate determination of the strength of the ancient geomagnetic field is limited by mineralogical alteration that may occur when samples are heated to produce a thermoremanent magnetization (Thellier & Thellier 1959; Shaw 1974). By using direct microwave excitation of the magnetic grains we have been able to form a thermoremanent magnetization without significantly heating the bulk sample, thus avoiding thermal alteration (Walton et al. 1993). Incorporation of this new microwave heating technique with the conventional Thellier palaeointensity method has dramatically reduced the scatter of archaeointensity results from Peruvian ceramics and clearly defined how the field strength has varied in Peru over the past 2000 years. The new microwave technique will therefore enhance the feasibility of archaeointensity dating and provide accurate field strength data for geomagnetic modelling.
Observations on the Relation Between Ventricular Activation Sequence and the Hemodynamic State

Hemodynamic parameters including records of left and right ventricular pressure, aortic pressure, the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure curve, and carotid flow were recorded with different patterns of ventricular activation. Special measures were used to achieve a comparable role of the atrium in ventricular filling with the different ventricular activation patterns. With an intact cardiac conduction system, definite but small differences in the hemodynamic parameters named were associated with different activation patterns. Normal ventricular activation produced slightly higher peak pressures in both ventricles and higher carotid flow than did abnormal activation. Each different activation pattern was associated with differences in the detailed shape of the ventricular pressure curves and with differences in the relative time of onset of pressure rise in right and left ventricles. When the specialized conduction system was blocked with large doses of ouabain, various patterns of ventricular activation were associated with marked differences of the hemodynamic parameters named. These findings may explain previously published conflicting results. They also suggest that disease of the conduction system may have a significant functional role in cardiac disease.
THE WYOMING SURVEY FOR Hα. I. INITIAL RESULTS AT z ∼ 0.16 AND 0.24

The Wyoming Survey for Hα, or WySH, is a large-area, ground-based, narrowband imaging survey for Hα-emitting galaxies over the latter half of the age of the universe. The survey spans several square degrees in a set of fields of low Galactic cirrus emission. The observing program focuses on multiple Δz ∼ 0.02 epochs from z ∼ 0.16 to z ∼ 0.81 down to a uniform (continuum+line) luminosity at each epoch of ∼1033 W uncorrected for extinction (3σ for a 3″ diameter aperture). First results are presented here for 98+208 galaxies observed over approximately 2 deg2 at redshifts z ∼ 0.16 and 0.24, including preliminary luminosity functions at these two epochs. These data clearly show an evolution with lookback time in the volume-averaged cosmic star-formation rate. Integrals of Schechter fits to the extinction-corrected Hα luminosity functions indicate star-formation rates per co-moving volume of 0.009 and 0.014 h70 M☉ yr−1 Mpc−3 at z ∼ 0.16 and 0.24, respectively. The formal uncertainties in the Schechter fits, based on this initial subset of the survey, correspond to uncertainties in the cosmic star formation rate density at the ≳40% level; the tentative uncertainty due to cosmic variance is 25%, estimated from separately carrying out the analysis on data from the first two fields with substantial datasets.
Effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on hepatic microcirculation and function in a rat model of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation involves a period of ischemia and reperfusion to the graft which leads to primary non-function and dysfunction of the liver in 5-10% of cases. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been shown to reduce ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) injury to the liver and increase hepatic blood flow. We hypothesized that RIPC may directly modulate hepatic microcirculation and have investigated this using intravital microscopy. METHODS A rat model of liver IRI was used with 45 min of partial hepatic ischemia (70%) followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Four groups of animals (Sham, IRI, RIPC+IRI, RIPC+Sham) were studied (n= 6, each group). Intravital microscopy was used to measure red blood cell (RBC) velocity, sinusoidal perfusion, sinusoidal flow and sinusoidal diameter. Neutrophil adhesion was assessed by rhodamine labeling of neutrophils and cell death using propidium iodide. RESULTS RIPC reduced the effects of IRI by significantly increasing red blood cell velocity, sinusoidal flow and sinusoidal perfusion along with decreased neutrophil adhesion and cell death. CONCLUSIONS Using intravital microscopy, this study demonstrates that RIPC modulates hepatic microcirculation to reduce the effects of IRI. HO-1 may have a key role in the modulation of hepatic microcirculation and endothelial function.
Quantification of the northern Italy Pliocene climate from pollen data: evidence for a very peculiar climate pattern

A climatic reconstruction has been carried out on the Stirone pollen sequence (northern Italy), covering the Pliocene period from the Zanclean to the early Gelasian (˜5.1 to ˜2.2 Ma). Despite the existence of a number of hiatuses, the section provides a clear picture of the vegetation and climatic evolution during this time interval, which includes the first glacial‐interglacial cycles of the Northern Hemisphere. The climate of this period has been quantified using the ‘Climatic Amplitude Method’ developed for the Neogene, and five climatic parameters have been estimated. The results show that at the beginning of the Pliocene and during the interglacial periods the climate was warm and humid (mean annual temperature from 16 to 20°C, mean annual precipitation from 1100 to 1500–1600 mm), similar to that found elsewhere in the northwestern Mediterranean area. However, during the first glacial periods the reconstructed climate differs from that found at other Mediterranean sites: the mean annual temperature, the temperature of the warmest and coldest months show lower values than those found during the lower Pliocene, but no marked reductions are observed in the annual precipitation, allowing the continuous presence of a forested environment. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that from at least the Upper Pliocene the Po region has been a special region from the point of view of both vegetation and climate. The difference is particularly marked during the earliest glacial phases in northern Italy.
Screening for ketosis using multiple logistic regression based on milk yield and composition

Multiple logistic regression was applied to milk yield and composition data for 632 records of healthy cows and 61 records of ketotic cows in Hokkaido, Japan. The purpose was to diagnose ketosis based on milk yield and composition, simultaneously. The cows were divided into two groups: (1) multiparous, including 314 healthy cows and 45 ketotic cows and (2) primiparous, including 318 healthy cows and 16 ketotic cows, since nutritional status, milk yield and composition are affected by parity. Multiple logistic regression was applied to these groups separately. For multiparous cows, milk yield (kg/day/cow) and protein-to-fat (P/F) ratio in milk were significant factors (P<0.05) for the diagnosis of ketosis. For primiparous cows, lactose content (%), solid not fat (SNF) content (%) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content (mg/dl) were significantly associated with ketosis (P<0.01). A diagnostic rule was constructed for each group of cows: (1) 9.978 × P/F ratio + 0.085 × milk yield <10 and (2) 2.327 × SNF − 2.703 × lactose + 0.225 × MUN <10. The sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) of the diagnostic rules were (1) 0.800, 0.729 and 0.811; (2) 0.813, 0.730 and 0.787, respectively. The P/F ratio, which is a widely used measure of ketosis, provided the sensitivity, specificity and AUC values of (1) 0.711, 0.726 and 0.781; and (2) 0.678, 0.767 and 0.738, respectively.
A Novel Pathophysiological Mechanism for Osteoporosis Suggested by an in Vivo Gene Expression Study of Circulating Monocytes*

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a major risk factor for osteoporosis. Circulating monocytes may serve as early progenitors of osteoclasts and produce a wide variety of factors important to bone metabolism. However, little is known about the roles of circulating monocytes in relation to the pathophysiology of osteoporosis. Using the Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip® array, we performed a comparative gene expression study of circulating monocytes in subjects with high and low BMD. We identified in total 66 differentially expressed genes including some novel as well as some already known to be relevant to bone metabolism. Three genes potentially contributing to bone metabolism, CCR3 (chemokine receptor 3), HDC (histidine decarboxylase, i.e. the histamine synthesis enzyme), and GCR (glucocorticoid receptor), were confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR as up-regulated in subjects with lower BMD. In addition, significant negative correlation was observed between expression levels of the genes and BMD Z-scores. These three genes and/or their products mediate monocyte chemotaxis, histamine production, and/or sensitivity to glucocorticoids. Our results suggest a novel pathophysiological mechanism for osteoporosis that is characterized by increased recruitment of circulating monocyte into bone, enhanced monocyte differentiation into osteoclasts, as well as osteoclast stimulation via monocyte functional changes. This is the first in vivo microarray study of osteoporosis in humans. The results may contribute to identification of new genes and their functions for osteoporosis and suggest genetic markers to discern individuals at higher risk to osteoporosis with an aim for preventive intervention and treatment.
Human cellular immune response to measles virus polypeptides

Measles virus polypeptides were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroeluted from gel sections. The antigenicity of the polypeptides was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The ability of these measles virus antigens to stimulate lymphoproliferation was measured in both high- and low-responder individuals. In contrast to the low-responder lymphocytes which did not proliferate when stimulated with measles virus antigens, the high-responder lymphocytes proliferated when challenged with hemagglutinin, nucleocapsid-associated phosphoprotein, nucleocapsid protein, matrix protein, and fusion protein.