Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Water Removal from PEM Fuel Cells Using Acoustic Pressure Waves

Liquid water management remains a primary challenge in developing next generation low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. This work demonstrates the use of acoustic pressure waves superimposed on reactant channel air ﬂow as an effective means to enhance liquid water removal from gas diffusion layer surfaces. Experiments were conducted for a range of acoustic vibration frequencies; 20 to 120 Hz with 20 Hz intervals. Water transport was visualized using a CCD camera mounted over a transparent ex-situ PEM fuel cell test channel. Cumulative water areas were measured along the ﬂow channel along with two-phase ﬂow pressure drop for water ﬂuxes of 400, 600, and 800 μ (cid:2)/ h and a superﬁcial air velocity of 1.82 m/s. Results show that superimposing acoustic pressure waves on the air ﬂow can reduce liquid water build up and, therefore, reduce two-phase ﬂow pressure drops. Cumulative water area was reduced almost 85% with an acoustic vibration frequency of 80 Hz compared to the 0 Hz case. Additionally, at 80 Hz the lowest two-phase ﬂow pressure drop was recorded. Finally, a comparison of energy usage is made between different acoustic vibration application methods. The ﬁndings from this study showed that superimposing acoustic pressure waves on air ﬂow can be beneﬁcial in terms of expelling water droplets from inside the ﬂow channels. The novelty of the present work with respect to the previously published studies such as Refs. 51,52 include; ( i )testing a wider range of frequencies, ( ii )superimpos- ing acoustic pressure waves in pulsating as well as on demand mode, ( iii ) incorporating pressure drop data, ( iv ) evaluating cumulative area as a function of time, and ( v ) evaluating droplet displacement from a side-view angle. Because the natural frequency of a water droplet depends on its size and considering the fact that in an actual PEM fuel cell droplets with different sizes form the surface of GDL, testing wide novel superimposing modes efﬁcient terms speaker expel the same area of water droplet.
Calcium-Permeable α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid/Kainate Receptors Mediate Development, but Not Maintenance, of Secondary Allodynia Evoked by First-Degree Burn in the Rat

Intrathecal pretreatment with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists blocks development of spinal sensitization in a number of pain models. In contrast, secondary mechanical allodynia evoked by thermal injury (52.5°C for 45 s) applied to the hind paw of the rat is not blocked by intrathecal pretreatment with NMDA receptor antagonists. It is, however, blocked by antagonists to the non-NMDA, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid/kainate (AMPA/KA) and calcium-permeable AMPA/KA receptors. These findings suggest a role for these receptors in the development of spinal sensitization. The present study used the same thermal injury model to assess the effects of the AMPA/KA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and specific calcium-permeable AMPA/KA receptor antagonists philanthotoxin (PHTx) and joro spider toxin (JST) when given as postinjury treatments. Intrathecal saline injection at 5 and 30 min postinjury had no effect on thermal injury-evoked allodynia as measured by calibrated von Frey filaments. In contrast, 36 nmol of CNQX given at either time point reversed allodynia. Intrathecal 13 nmol of PHTx or 9 nmol of JST (higher doses than that required for pretreatment) reversed allodynia at the 5-min time point, but neither drug was antiallodynic at the 30-min time point. Thus, secondary mechanical allodynia in this model is not maintained by calcium-permeable AMPA/KA receptors, but instead requires activation of calcium-impermeable AMPA/KA receptors. This finding supports a role for AMPA/KA receptor function in responses occurring during spinal sensitization.
Genome Re-Sequencing and Functional Analysis Places the Phytophthora sojae Avirulence Genes Avr1c and Avr1a in a Tandem Repeat at a Single Locus

The aim of this work was to map and identify the Phytophthora sojae Avr1c gene. Progeny from a cross of P. sojae strains ACR10×P7076 were tested for virulence on plants carrying Rps1c. Results indicate that avirulence segregates as a dominant trait. We mapped the Avr1c locus by performing whole genome re-sequencing of composite libraries created from pooled samples. Sequence reads from avirulent (Pool1) and virulent (Pool2) samples were aligned to the reference genome and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified for each pool. High quality SNPs were filtered to select for positions where SNP frequency was close to expected values for each pool. Only three SNP positions fit all requirements, and these occurred in close proximity. Additional DNA markers were developed and scored in the F2 progeny, producing a fine genetic map that places Avr1c within the Avr1a gene cluster. Transient expression of Avr1c or Avr1a triggers cell death on Rps1c plants, but Avr1c does not trigger cell death on Rps1a plants. Sequence comparisons show that the RXLR effector genes Avr1c and Avr1a are closely related paralogs. Gain of virulence on Rps1c in P. sojae strain P7076 is achieved by gene deletion, but in most other strains this is accomplished by gene silencing. This work provides practical tools for crop breeding and diagnostics, as the Rps1c gene is widely deployed in commercial soybean cultivars.
Mid-Term Effectiveness of Ozone (O2-O3) Compared to Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Parallel Controlled Trial

Objectives: A randomized parallel controlled trial was designed to compare eﬃcacy of ozone (O 2 -O 3 ) against platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as intra-articular inﬁltrations in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Methods: Tertiary-level outpatient rehabilitation service. Subjects: Fifty-four patients with knee OA grades 2 a - 4 a according to Kellgren-Lawrencescalewereincludedafterobtaininganinformedconsent. Thetargetsamplesizewas27patientspergroup. Inter-vention: Patientsreceivedfourozone(interventiongroup)orthreeplatelet-richplasma(controlgroup)intra-articularinﬁltrations at a one-week interval. Outcome measures: Patients were clinically and functionally evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS pain) and by Western Ontario and Mac Master index for osteoarthritis (WOMAC) at baseline and at two months follow-up. Pain, stiﬀness, function, and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated outcome variables. Results: Overall,27patientswererandomlyallocatedtotheinterventiongroup(ozone)and27tothecontrolgroup(PRP). Improve-mentinpain,function,andQoLwereobservedinbothgroupswithoutastatisticaldiﬀerence(P> 0.05). Stiﬀnessimprovementwas signiﬁcant between similar and diﬀerent treatment groups (P < 0.05). No side-eﬀects were observed in either group. Conclusions: Ozone (O 2 -O 3 ) is as eﬀective as PRP in the management of knee OA. Both interventions improved pain, function, and QoL with no statistical diﬀerence between them.
Transconductance with capacitances feedback compensation for multistage amplifiers

A new performance-boosting frequency compensation technique is presented in this paper, named transconductance with capacitances feedback compensation (TCFC). A transconductance stage and two capacitors introduce negative feedback to a three-stage amplifier, which significantly improves performances such as gain-bandwidth product, slew rate, stability and sensitivity. A TCFC amplifier, with optimized circuits structure, has been implemented, and fabricated in a 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS process. The TCFC amplifier, driving a 150 pF load capacitor, achieved 2.9 MHz gain-bandwidth product, dissipating only 45 /spl mu/W power with a 1.5 V supply, which shows a significant improvement on multistage amplifiers.
Polygenic Versus Monogenic Causes of Hypercholesterolemia Ascertained Clinically

Objective—Next-generation sequencing technology is transforming our understanding of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, including revision of prevalence estimates and attribution of polygenic effects. Here, we examined the contributions of monogenic and polygenic factors in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia referred to a specialty clinic. Approach and Results—We applied targeted next-generation sequencing with custom annotation, coupled with evaluation of large-scale copy number variation and polygenic scores for raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a cohort of 313 individuals with severe hypercholesterolemia, defined as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >5.0 mmol/L (>194 mg/dL). We found that (1) monogenic familial hypercholesterolemia–causing mutations detected by targeted next-generation sequencing were present in 47.3% of individuals; (2) the percentage of individuals with monogenic mutations increased to 53.7% when copy number variations were included; (3) the percentage further increased to 67.1% when individuals with extreme polygenic scores were included; and (4) the percentage of individuals with an identified genetic component increased from 57.0% to 92.0% as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased from 5.0 to >8.0 mmol/L (194 to >310 mg/dL). Conclusions—In a clinically ascertained sample with severe hypercholesterolemia, we found that most patients had a discrete genetic basis detected using a comprehensive screening approach that includes targeted next-generation sequencing, an assay for copy number variations, and polygenic trait scores.
Parkinson's disease transgenic mitochondrial cybrids generate Lewy inclusion bodies

Many models of Parkinson's disease (PD) have succeeded in replicating dopaminergic neuron loss or α‐synuclein aggregation but not the formation of classical Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of PD. Our cybrid model of sporadic PD was created by introducing the mitochondrial genes from PD patients into neuroblastoma cells that lack mitochondrial DNA. Previous studies using cybrids have shown that information encoded by mitochondrial DNA in patients contributes to many pathogenic features of sporadic PD. In this paper, we report the generation of fibrillar and vesicular inclusions in a long‐term cybrid cell culture model that replicates the essential antigenic and structural features of Lewy bodies in PD brain without the need for exogenous protein expression or inhibition of mitochondrial or proteasomal function. The inclusions generated by PD cybrid cells stained with eosin, thioflavin S, and antibodies to α‐synuclein, ubiquitin, parkin, synphilin‐1, neurofilament, β‐tubulin, the proteasome, nitrotyrosine, and cytochrome c. Future studies of these cybrids will enable us to better understand how Lewy bodies form and what role they play in the pathogenesis of PD.
Balancing the skill sets of founders: Implications for the quality of organizational outputs

The jack-of-all-trades theory of entrepreneurship suggests that technically adept employees require additional skills in order to effectively transition to the more generalist role of founder. However, it is silent about the effect of broader skill acquisition on the quality of the outputs that new ventures produce. This silence is problematic given ecological research that indicates how working across categories can hinder one’s performance in a focal role. This article examines the relationship between the pattern of prior career experiences of founders in the restaurant industry and consumer evaluations of the food that their restaurants produce. According to this analysis of 404 Toronto restaurants, founders with more prior kitchen experience receive superior food quality evaluations. However, their prior ownership experience – that which broadens their skill sets – has more tenuous implications. At the extreme, food quality ratings associated with restaurant founders who also claim to be head chefs at founding are harmed by their accumulated ownership experience.
Intramedullary Nail versus Dynamic Compression Plate Fixation in Treating Humeral Shaft Fractures: Grading the Evidence through a Meta-Analysis

There is a debate regarding the choice of operative intervention in humeral shaft fractures that require surgical intervention. The choices for operative interventions include intramedullary nailing (IMN) and dynamic compression plate (DCP). This meta-analysis was performed to compare fracture union, functional outcomes, and complication rates in patients treated with IMN or DCP for humeral shaft fractures and to develop GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation)-based recommendations for using the procedures to treat humeral shaft fractures. A systematic search of all the studies published through December 2012 was conducted using the Medline, Embase, Sciencedirect, OVID and Cochrane Central databases. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that compared IMN with DCP in treating adult patients with humeral shaft fractures and provided data regarding the safety and clinical effects were identified. The demographic characteristics, adverse events and clinical outcomes were manually extracted from all of the selected studies. Ten studies that included a total of 448 patients met the inclusion criteria. The results of a meta-analysis indicated that both IMN and DCP can achieve similar fracture union with a similar incidence of radial nerve injury and infection. IMN was associated with an increased risk of shoulder impingement, more restriction of shoulder movement, an increased risk of intraoperative fracture comminution, a higher incidence of implant failure, and an increased risk of re-operation. The overall GRADE system evidence quality was very low, which reduces our confidence in the recommendations of this system. DCP may be superior to IMN in the treatment of humeral shaft fractures. Because of the low quality evidence currently available, high-quality RCTs are required.
[Meta-analysis of risk factors on lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese female].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk factors of lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese women. METHODS The results of 7 case-control studies from 1990 to 1999 were analyzed by Meta-analysis method in this study. The cumulative cases and controls were 1 115 and 1 520, respectively. Der Simonian and Nan Laid model were applied to process data. RESULTS The pools OR values of family history of lung cancer, personal history of non-neoplastic lung disease, cooking oil fume pollution, coal pollution and exposure to environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) were 2.87, 2.79, 2.52, 1.42 and 1.64 respectively. CONCLUSION Family history of lung cancer and personal history of non-neoplastic lung disease might serve as the most important risk factors of female lung cancer in China. There appeared also significantly positive relationship between female lung cancer and the degree of cooking oil fume pollution or pollution of coal burning. The effect on lung cancer of exposure to ETS was uncertain in this study which calls for further investigation. Bias and confounding factors were also discussed in this study.
Theory of single-molecule controlled rotation experiments, predictions, tests, and comparison with stalling experiments in F1-ATPase

Significance The investigation of nucleotide binding and release dynamics vs. rotor shaft rotation in the F1-ATPase enzyme is necessary to reveal biological function. We elucidate the mechanism of the exponential-like change of binding and release rate (and thus the equilibrium) constants when probed against the rotor angle at the single-molecule level. We extend our group transfer theory proposed for the stalling experiments to treat controlled rotation experiments. The model correctly predicts the controlled rotation data on fluorescent ATP without any adjustable parameters. The theory provides a framework able to treat the binding and release of various nucleotides. In the process we also learn about the properties of the fluorescent nucleotide Cy3-ATP. A recently proposed chemomechanical group transfer theory of rotary biomolecular motors is applied to treat single-molecule controlled rotation experiments. In these experiments, single-molecule fluorescence is used to measure the binding and release rate constants of nucleotides by monitoring the occupancy of binding sites. It is shown how missed events of nucleotide binding and release in these experiments can be corrected using theory, with F1-ATP synthase as an example. The missed events are significant when the reverse rate is very fast. Using the theory the actual rate constants in the controlled rotation experiments and the corrections are predicted from independent data, including other single-molecule rotation and ensemble biochemical experiments. The effective torsional elastic constant is found to depend on the binding/releasing nucleotide, and it is smaller for ADP than for ATP. There is a good agreement, with no adjustable parameters, between the theoretical and experimental results of controlled rotation experiments and stalling experiments, for the range of angles where the data overlap. This agreement is perhaps all the more surprising because it occurs even though the binding and release of fluorescent nucleotides is monitored at single-site occupancy concentrations, whereas the stalling and free rotation experiments have multiple-site occupancy.
Two-Phase Genetic Local Search Algorithm for the Multimode Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem

In this paper, the resource-constrained project scheduling problem with multiple execution modes for each activity is explored. This paper aims to find a schedule of activities such that the makespan of the schedule is minimized subject to the precedence and resource constraints. We present a two-phase genetic local search algorithm that combines the genetic algorithm and the local search method to solve this problem. The first phase aims to search globally for promising areas, and the second phase aims to search more thoroughly in these promising areas. A set of elite solutions is collected during the first phase, and this set, which acts as the indication of promising areas, is utilized to construct the initial population of the second phase. By suitable applications of the mutation with a large mutation rate, the restart of the genetic local search algorithm, and the collection of good solutions in the elite set, the strength of intensification and diversification can be properly adapted and the search ability retained in a long term. Computational experiments were conducted on the standard sets of project instances, and the experimental results revealed that the proposed algorithm was effective for both the short-term (with 5000 schedules being evaluated) and the long-term (with 50000 schedules being evaluated) search in solving this problem.
Genetic and developmental basis for fin shape variation in African cichlid fishes

Adaptive radiations are often characterized by the rapid evolution of traits associated with divergent feeding modes. For example, the evolutionary history of African cichlids is marked by repeated and coordinated shifts in skull, trophic, fin and body shape. Here, we seek to explore the molecular basis for fin shape variation in Lake Malawi cichlids. We first described variation within an F2 mapping population derived by crossing two cichlid species with divergent morphologies including fin shape. We then used this population to genetically map loci that influence variation in this trait. We found that the genotype–phenotype map for fin shape is largely distinct from other morphological characters including body and craniofacial shape. These data suggest that key aspects of fin, body and jaw shape are genetically modular and that the coordinated evolution of these traits in cichlids is more likely due to common selective pressures than to pleiotropy or linkage. We next combined genetic mapping data with population‐level genome scans to identify wnt7aa and col1a1 as candidate genes underlying variation in the number of pectoral fin ray elements. Gene expression patterns across species with different fin morphologies and small molecule manipulation of the Wnt pathway during fin development further support the hypothesis that variation at these loci underlies divergence in fin shape between cichlid species. In all, our data provide additional insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms associated with morphological divergence in this important adaptive radiation.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: RET‐Y and RBC‐Y in the diagnosis of iron deficiency associated with anaemia of inflammation

We evaluated the usefulness of RET‐Y and RBC‐Y in distinguishing functional iron deficiency from iron‐deficiency anaemia (IDA) in patients with anaemia of inflammation (AI). Sixty healthy blood donors constituted the control group. We studied RET‐Y and RBC‐Y in 115 patients with hypochromic/microcytic anaemia. Of these 42 patients had uncomplicated IDA and 73 had AI. The AI patients were further subdivided into AI with IDA and AI with functional IDA based on soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels. The mean RBC‐Y and RET‐Y values in iron‐deficient patients were 122.4 and 119.8, respectively, which were significantly lower than the control (P < 0.001). The mean level of RET‐Y in patients with AI associated with IDA was 149.3 and this level in AI patients with functional iron deficiency was 147.4. RET‐Y levels in both subgroups of AI patients were significantly lower than control but no significant difference was observed between the two subgroups. Similar findings were observed for RBC‐Y. Receiver operating characteristic analysis also showed lower specificity for RBC‐Y and RET‐Y compared with that of sTfR and its log ferritin ratio (F‐index). RET‐Y and RBC‐Y are useful in the diagnosis of simple IDA but have limited utility in the diagnosis of IDA with AI.
The storage of green coffee (Coffea arabica): decrease of viability and changes of potential aroma precursors.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS When green coffee is stored for a prolonged time the coffee quality decreases distinctively. Apart from well-known 'off-notes' that arise from undesired oxidations of lipids, a typical 'flattening' of the cup quality is detectable. In order to elucidate the biological causes for this phenomenon, differentially processed coffees (wet, dry, semi-dry processing), were stored under standard conditions for 2 years and analysed comprehensively. METHODS Wet-processed coffee was stored either as parchment coffee, where the endocarp remained around the beans or as hulled beans. Viability of coffee seeds was estimated using the tetrazolium-test of seed viability. Changes in concentration of free amino acids and soluble carbohydrates were analysed by HPLC. KEY RESULTS Whereas all other coffees lost viability within the first 6 months of storage, coffee beans stored within the parchment remained viable for >1 year. Glucose and fructose decreased slightly in the course of storage and glutamine content declined significantly. However, the changes observed in sugar and amino acid content were not correlated with the viability of the coffee beans. Consequently, neither typical metabolic reactions occurring within living cells nor characteristic post-mortem reactions could be responsible for the observed changes. As a result of post-mortem reactions in re-imbibed seeds, a characteristic bluish-green colour developed, putatively due to the oxidation of chlorogenic acids and subsequent reactions with primary amino compounds. This coloration might be an appropriate marker to substantiate if coffee seeds had been stored for an expanded time and putative quality losses were not relevant so far. CONCLUSIONS It is suggested that loss of viability is relevant for the aroma flattening. As neither metabolic nor post-mortem reactions were responsible for the observed changes, it is concluded that Maillard reactions that occur during storage might be the cause of the decrease in potential aroma precursors.