Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of low temperature plasma treatment on the electroless nickel plating of polyester fabric

The present study is performed with an objective to acquire a deeper understanding of the properties of nickel-plated polyester fabric after conducing low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment. LTP treatment with oxygen and argon gases was employed to render a hydrophilic property of woven polyester fabrics and facilitate the absorption of a palladium catalyst to provide a catalytic surface for electroless nickel plating. The properties of LTP-induced electroless nickel-plated polyester fabrics were evaluated by various standard testing methods in terms of both physical and chemical performances. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Protracted Ventricular Tachycardia Induced by Premature Stimulation of the Canine Heart after Coronary Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion

The effects of premature ventricular stimuli were studied in two groups of dogs with infarcts, one group subjected to permanent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and the other to temporary occlusion for 2 hours. In dogs with permanent occlusion, spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias occurred after 3-6 hours. In 13 dogs with temporary occlusion, ventricular arrhythmias occurred immediately after reperfusion and then persisted. In five dogs with temporary occlusion, ventricular arrhythmias did not occur spontaneously until 13-15 hours after occlusion. On days 2-9 after surgery, after sinus rhythm had returned, the ventricles of each awake dog were stimulated. After permanent occlusion, premature stimuli occurring on the T wave usually induced from one to 10 repetitive responses on days 2-4. Protracted ventricular tachycardia (lasting > 10 seconds) was induced in only two of 10 dogs. The response to premature stimuli was similar after temporary occlusion when ventricular arrhythmias did not occur spontaneously until 13-15 hours after occlusion. Protracted tachycardia was not induced. In the dogs with temporary occlusion, which initially had continuous arrhythmias, premature stimuli occurring on the T wave on days 3-5 after surgery induced both repetitive responses and protracted ventricular tachycardia. Stimuli applied to the ventricles during tachycardia terminated it. Histological studies on all infarcts showed that, after permanent occlusion, necrosis was uniform; after temporary occlusion, viable myocardium survived in the necrotic region. These salvaged myocardial fibers may provide reentrant pathways, causing longlasting tachycardia. Ore Res 44: 833-846, 1979
Incentivizing High Quality Crowdwork

We study the causal effects of financial incentives on the quality of crowdwork. We focus on performance-based payments (PBPs), bonus payments awarded to workers for producing high quality work. We design and run randomized behavioral experiments on the popular crowdsourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk with the goal of understanding when, where, and why PBPs help, identifying properties of the payment, payment structure, and the task itself that make them most effective. We provide examples of tasks for which PBPs do improve quality. For such tasks, the effectiveness of PBPs is not too sensitive to the threshold for quality required to receive the bonus, while the magnitude of the bonus must be large enough to make the reward salient. We also present examples of tasks for which PBPs do not improve quality. Our results suggest that for PBPs to improve quality, the task must be effort-responsive: the task must allow workers to produce higher quality work by exerting more effort. We also give a simple method to determine if a task is effort-responsive a priori. Furthermore, our experiments suggest that all payments on Mechanical Turk are, to some degree, implicitly performance-based in that workers believe their work may be rejected if their performance is sufficiently poor. Finally, we propose a new model of worker behavior that extends the standard principal-agent model from economics to include a worker's subjective beliefs about his likelihood of being paid, and show that the predictions of this model are in line with our experimental findings. This model may be useful as a foundation for theoretical studies of incentives in crowdsourcing markets.
Network analysis of temporal effects of intermittent and sustained hypoxia on rat lungs.

UNLABELLED The molecular networks underlying the lung response to hypoxia are not fully understood. We employed systems biology approaches to study temporal effects of intermittent or sustained hypoxia on gene expression in rat lungs. We obtained gene expression profiles from rats exposed to intermittent or sustained hypoxia lasting 0-30 days and identified differentially expressed genes, their patterns, biological processes, and regulatory networks critical for lung response to intermittent or sustained hypoxia. We validated selected genes with quantitative real-time PCR. Intermittent and sustained hypoxia induced two distinct sets of genes in rat lungs that displayed different temporal expression patterns. Intermittent hypoxia induced genes mostly involved in ion transport and homeostasis, neurological processes, and steroid hormone receptor activity, while sustained hypoxia induced genes principally participating in immune responses. The intermittent hypoxia-activated network suggested a role for cross talk between estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and other key proteins in hypoxic responses. The sustained hypoxia-activated network was indicative of vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension. We confirmed the temporal expression changes of 12 genes (including the Esr1 gene and 4 ESR1 target genes) in intermittent hypoxia and 8 genes in sustained hypoxia with quantitative real-time PCR. CONCLUSIONS intermittent and sustained hypoxia induced distinct gene expression patterns in rat lungs. The functional characteristics of genes activated by these two distinct perturbations suggest their roles in the downstream physiological effects of intermittent and sustained hypoxia. Our results demonstrate the discovery potential of applying systems biology approaches to the understanding of mechanisms underlying hypoxic lung response.
Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and birth weight—A prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals may affect fetal development through disruption of hormonal actions and epigenetic modifications, potentially predisposing individuals to later on-set health risks, such as obesity. The objective of this study was to determine associations between biological exposure markers of various endocrine disrupting chemicals and birth weight in a newly established, prospective mother-child cohort in the Netherlands. Birth weight (n = 91) was obtained from birth records, and exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), three di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyl-153, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was determined in cord plasma. For DDE, exposure was also measured in breast milk. Linear regression analysis was used to determine associations between compounds and birth weight, which were stratified for gender and adjusted for a priori defined covariates. Increased exposure to DDE was associated with lower birth weight in boys (>95.89 ng L−1, −325.9 g, 95% CI −634.26 to −17.56), whereas in girls a tendency towards a higher birth weight was observed. Lower birth weights for boys were also observed for high exposure to MECPP, and to a certain extent also for PFOA. MEHHP and PFOS exposure on the other hand were associated with higher birth weights in boys. In girls no effects were observed for these compounds. It can be concluded that prenatal exposure to DDE, perfluorinated alkyl acids, and phthalates was associated with changes in birth weight in this population. Associations were gender specific, and appeared to be non-linear. Since the population was relatively small, results should be interpreted with caution.
Effects of sodium benzoate on storage stability of previously improved beverage from tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.)

The effect of sodium benzoate on the quality attributes of improved tamarind beverage during storage was investigated. Tamarind beverages were produced according to a previously reported improved method, with or without chemical preservatives (100 mg/100 mL sodium benzoate). Tamarind beverage produced according to traditional processing method served as the control. The tamarind beverages were stored for 4 months at room (29 ± 2°C) and refrigerated (4–10°C) temperatures. Samples were analyzed, at regular intervals, for chemical, sensory, and microbiological qualities. Appearance of coliforms or overall acceptability score of 5.9 was used as deterioration index. The control beverages deteriorated by 2nd and 10th days at room and refrigerated temperatures, respectively. Improved tamarind beverage produced without the inclusion of sodium benzoate was stable for 3 and 5 weeks at room and refrigerated temperatures, respectively. Sodium benzoate extended the shelf life of the improved tamarind beverage to 6 and 13 weeks, respectively, at room and refrigerated temperatures.
“Subpial Fan Cell” — A Class of Calretinin Neuron in Layer 1 of Adult Monkey Prefrontal Cortex

Layer 1 of the cortex contains populations of neurochemically distinct neurons and afferent fibers which markedly affect neural activity in the apical dendritic tufts of pyramidal cells. Understanding the causal mechanisms requires knowledge of the cellular architecture and synaptic organization of layer 1. This study has identified eight morphological classes of calretinin immunopositive (CRet+) neurons (including Cajal-Retzius cells) in layer 1 of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in adult monkey (Macaca fasicularis), with a distinct class — termed “subpial fan (SPF) cell” — described in detail. SPF cells were rare horizontal unipolar CRet+ cells located directly beneath the pia with a single thick primary dendrite that branched into a characteristic fan-like dendritic tree tangential to the pial surface. Dendrites had spines, filamentous processes and thorny branchlets. SPF cells lay millimeters apart with intralaminar axons that ramified widely in upper layer 1. Such cells were GABA immunonegative (-) and occurred in areas beyond PFC. Interspersed amidst SPF cells displaying normal structural integrity were degenerating CRet+ neurons (including SPF cells) and clumps of lipofuscin-rich cellular debris. The number of degenerating SPF cells increased during adulthood. Ultrastructural analyses indicated SPF cell somata received asymmetric (A — presumed excitatory) and symmetric (S — presumed inhibitory) synaptic contacts. Proximal dendritic shafts received mainly S-type and distal shafts mostly A-type input. All dendritic thorns and most dendritic spines received both synapse types. The tangential areal density of SPF cell axonal varicosities varied radially from parent somata — with dense clusters in more distal zones. All boutons formed A-type contacts with CRet- structures. The main post-synaptic targets were dendritic shafts (67%; mostly spine-bearing) and dendritic spines (24%). SPF-SPF cell innervation was not observed. Morphometry of SPF cells indicated a unique class of CRet+/GABA- neuron in adult monkey PFC — possibly a subtype of persisting Cajal-Retzius cell. The distribution and connectivity of SPF cells suggest they act as integrative hubs in upper layer 1 during postnatal maturation. The main synaptic output of SPF cells likely provides a transminicolumnar excitatory influence across swathes of apical dendritic tufts — thus affecting information processing in discrete patches of layer 1 in adult monkey PFC.
Internal jugular vein morphology and hemodynamics in patients with multiple sclerosis.

AIM The aim of this study is to compare the hemodynamics and the morphology of the internal jugular veins using colour-Doppler and B-mode sonongraphy in multiple sclerosis patients (MS) and in controls. METHODS The internal jugular veins of 25 MS patients and 25 controls were examined using colour Doppler and B-mode ultrasound in sitting and supine positions, recording the changes in hemodynamics and the presence or absence of morphological changes. The presence of at least two of the extracranial Zamboni criteria in the same individual was considered positive for evidence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). RESULTS According to the described criteria, 92% of the MS patients showed abnormal findings and 84% of them showed evidence of CCSVI, however; only 24% of controls showed abnormal findings, but none of them showed evidence of CCSVI (OR=7.25, 95% CI 2.92-18.01, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION Hemodynamic abnormalities and morphological changes involving the internal jugular vein are strongly associated with MS. These findings can be demonstrated by a non-invasive, cost effective Doppler ultrasound criteria.
Abduction and induction for modelling inhibition in metabolic networks

This paper describes the use of a mixture of abduction and induction for the problem of identifying the effects of toxins in metabolic networks. Background knowledge is used which describes network topology and functional classes of enzymes. This background knowledge, which represents the present state of understanding, is incomplete. In order to overcome this incompleteness hypotheses are entertained which consist of a mixture of specific inhibitions of enzymes (ground facts) together with general rules which predict classes of enzymes likely to be inhibited by the toxin (nonground). The foreground examples were derived from in vivo experiments involving NMR analysis of time-varying metabolite concentrations in rat urine following injections of toxin. Hypotheses about inhibition are built using Progol5.0 and predictive accuracy is assessed for both the ground and the non-ground cases.
Female Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Non-Malignant Cervical Diseases: A Study from an Urban Chinese Sample

Non-malignant cervical diseases are common causes of disease among women worldwide. Although many studies have focused on sexual function in women with cervical cancer, little is known about the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and its risk factors in women with non-malignant cervical diseases. The present study aims to assess sexual function in Chinese women with non-malignant cervical diseases and to identify potential risk factors for these diseases. A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted in Nanjing, China. The Chinese version of the Female Sexual Function Index (CVFSFI) was used to evaluate sexual function. Three hundred three women who had been diagnosed with at least one non-malignant cervical disease and 293 healthy women were recruited from Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. We found that women with non-malignant cervical diseases had a significantly higher prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) (51.8% vs. 34.8%), low desire (43.2% vs. 26.3%), arousal disorder (41.6% vs. 28.3%), and lubrication disorder (51.2% vs. 36.9%) compared with the control group. Cervicitis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were found to be independent risk factors for FSD. Our study indicates that women with cervicitis and CIN are at a high risk for FSD and deserve focused initial and follow-up management.
Inhospitable sweetness: nectar filtering of pollinator-borne inocula leads to impoverished, phylogenetically clustered yeast communities

Identifying the rules and mechanisms that determine the composition and diversity of naturally co-occurring species assemblages is a central topic in community ecology. Although micro-organisms represent the ‘unseen majority’ of species, individuals and biomass in many ecosystems and play pivotal roles in community development and function, the study of the factors influencing the assembly of microbial communities has lagged behind that of plant and animal communities. In this paper, we investigate experimentally the mechanisms accounting for the low species richness of yeast communities inhabiting the nectar of the bumble-bee-pollinated Helleborus foetidus (Ranunculaceae), and explore the relationships between community assembly rules and phylogenetic relatedness. By comparing yeast communities on the glossae of foraging bumble-bees (the potential species pool) with those eventually establishing in virgin nectar probed with bee glossae (the realized community), we address the questions: (i) does nectar filter yeast inocula, so that the communities eventually established there are not random subsamples of species on bumble-bee glossae? and (ii) do yeast communities establishing in H. foetidus nectar exhibit some phylogenetic bias relative to the species pool on bumble-bee glossae? Results show that nectar filtering leads to species-poor, phylogenetically clustered yeast communities that are a predictable subset of pollinator-borne inocula. Such strong habitat filtering is probably due to H. foetidus nectar representing a harsh environment for most yeasts, where only a few phylogenetically related nectar specialists physiologically endowed to tolerate a combination of high osmotic pressure and fungicidal compounds are able to develop.
Characterization of osteoclast precursors in human blood

Osteoclast precursors (OCPs) circulate in the mononuclear fraction of peripheral blood (PB), but their abundance and surface characteristics are unknown. Previous studies suggest that the receptor activator for NF‐κB (RANK) on cytokine‐treated OCPs in mouse bone marrow interacts with osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL/TRANCE/RANKL/ODF) to initiate osteoclast differentiation. Hence, we used a fluorescent form of human OPGL (Hu‐OPGL‐F) to identify possible RANK‐expressing OCPs in untreated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting analysis. Monocytes [CD14‐phycoerythrin (PE) antibody (Ab) positive (+) cells, 10–15% of PBMCs] all (98–100%) co‐labelled with Hu‐OPGL‐F (n > 18). T lymphocytes (CD3‐PE Ab+ cells, 66% of PBMCs) did not bind Hu‐OPGL‐F; however, B cells (CD19‐PE Ab+ cells, 9% of PBMCs) were also positive for Hu‐OPGL‐F. All Hu‐OPGL‐F+ monocytes also co‐labelled with CD33, CD61, CD11b, CD38, CD45 and CD54 Abs, but not CD34 or CD56 Abs. Hu‐OPGL‐F binding was dose dependent and competed with excess Hu‐OPGL. When Hu‐OPGL‐F+, CD14‐PE Ab+, CD33‐PE Ab+, Hu‐OPGL‐F+/CD14‐PE Ab+ or Hu‐OPGL‐F+/CD33‐PE Ab+ cells were cultured with OPGL (20 ng/ml) and colony‐stimulating factor (CSF)‐1 (25 ng/ml), OC‐like cells readily developed. Thus, all freshly isolated monocytes demonstrate displaceable Hu‐OPGL‐F binding, suggesting the presence of RANK on OCPs in PB; also, OCPs within a purified PB monocyte population form osteoclast‐like cells in the complete absence of other cell types in OPGL and CSF‐1 containing medium.
Pupil Diameter May Reflect Motor Control and Learning

ABSTRACT Non–luminance-mediated changes in pupil diameter have been used since the first studies by Darwin in 1872 as indicators of clinical, cognitive, and arousal states. However, the relation between processes involved in motor control and changes in pupil diameter remains largely unknown. Twenty participants attempted to compensate random walks of a cursor with a computer mouse to restrain its trajectory within a target circle while the authors recorded their pupil diameters. Two conditions allowed the authors to experimentally manipulate the motor and cognitive components of the task. First, the step size of the cursor's random walk was either large or small leading to 2 task difficulties (difficult or easy). Second, they instructed participants to imagine controlling the cursor by moving the mouse, but without actually moving it (task modality: imagined movement or real movement condition). Task difficulty and modality allowed the authors to show that pupil diameters reflect processes involved in motor control and in the processing of feedback, respectively. Furthermore, the authors also demonstrate that motor learning can be quantified by pupil size. This noninvasive approach provides a promising method for investigating not only motor control, but also motor imagery, a research field of growing importance in sports and rehabilitation.
Extending the Body for Interaction with Reality

In this paper, we explore how users can control remote devices with a virtual long arm, while preserving the perception that the artificial arm is actually part of their own body. Instead of using pointing, speech, or a remote control, the users' arm is extended in augmented reality, allowing access to devices that are out of reach. Thus, we allow users to directly manipulate real-world objects from a distance using their bare hands. A core difficulty we focus on is how to maintain ownership for the unnaturally long virtual arm, which is the strong feeling that one's limbs are actually part of the own body. Fortunately, what the human brain experiences as being part of the own body is very malleable and we find that during interaction the user's virtual arm can be stretched to more than twice its real length, without breaking the user's sense of ownership for the virtual limb.
Integrin-linked kinase localizes to the centrosome and regulates mitotic spindle organization

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a serine-threonine kinase and scaffold protein with well defined roles in focal adhesions in integrin-mediated cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and signaling. Using mass spectrometry–based proteomic approaches, we identify centrosomal and mitotic spindle proteins as interactors of ILK. α- and β-tubulin, ch-TOG (XMAP215), and RUVBL1 associate with ILK and colocalize with it to mitotic centrosomes. Inhibition of ILK activity or expression induces profound apoptosis-independent defects in the organization of the mitotic spindle and DNA segregation. ILK fails to localize to the centrosomes of abnormal spindles in RUVBL1-depleted cells. Additionally, depletion of ILK expression or inhibition of its activity inhibits Aurora A–TACC3/ch-TOG interactions, which are essential for spindle pole organization and mitosis. These data demonstrate a critical and unexpected function for ILK in the organization of centrosomal protein complexes during mitotic spindle assembly and DNA segregation.