Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of food availability on minimum and maximum rates of metabolism

Metabolic rates reflect the energetic cost of living but exhibit remarkable variation among conspecifics, partly as a result of the constraints imposed by environmental conditions. Metabolic rates are sensitive to changes in temperature and oxygen availability, but effects of food availability, particularly on maximum metabolic rates, are not well understood. Here, we show in brown trout (Salmo trutta) that maximum metabolic rates are immutable but minimum metabolic rates increase as a positive function of food availability. As a result, aerobic scope (i.e. the capacity to elevate metabolism above baseline requirements) declines as food availability increases. These differential changes in metabolic rates likely have important consequences for how organisms partition available metabolic power to different functions under the constraints imposed by food availability.
Study on Fatigue Life of Lime Fly-Ash Treated Aggregate Based on SHRP Standard

A new method for fatigue test is developed for semi-rigid pavement materials in this paper, which is much more reliable than the current method in domestic. The max deflection and max tensile strain among different specimens are compiled in flexural bending strength test. And the fatigue equation for lime fly-ash treated aggregate (LFTA) is established.
Folate Catabolites in Spot Urine as Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Folate Status during Habitual Intake and Folic Acid Supplementation

Background Folate status, as reflected by red blood cell (RCF) and plasma folates (PF), is related to health and disease risk. Folate degradation products para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG) and para-acetamidobenzoylglutamate (apABG) in 24 hour urine have recently been shown to correlate with blood folate. Aim Since blood sampling and collection of 24 hour urine are cumbersome, we investigated whether the determination of urinary folate catabolites in fasted spot urine is a suitable non-invasive biomarker for folate status in subjects before and during folic acid supplementation. Study Design and Methods Immediate effects of oral folic acid bolus intake on urinary folate catabolites were assessed in a short-term pre-study. In the main study we included 53 healthy men. Of these, 29 were selected for a 12 week folic acid supplementation (400 µg). Blood, 24 hour and spot urine were collected at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks and PF, RCF, urinary apABG and pABG were determined. Results Intake of a 400 µg folic acid bolus resulted in immediate increase of urinary catabolites. In the main study pABG and apABG concentrations in spot urine correlated well with their excretion in 24 hour urine. In healthy men consuming habitual diet, pABG showed closer correlation with PF (rs = 0.676) and RCF (rs = 0.649) than apABG (rs = 0.264, ns and 0.543). Supplementation led to significantly increased folate in plasma and red cells as well as elevated urinary folate catabolites, while only pABG correlated significantly with PF (rs = 0.574) after 12 weeks. Conclusion Quantification of folate catabolites in fasted spot urine seems suitable as a non-invasive alternative to blood or 24 hour urine analysis for evaluation of folate status in populations consuming habitual diet. In non-steady-state conditions (folic acid supplementation) correlations between folate marker (RCF, PF, urinary catabolites) decrease due to differing kinetics.
Bone tissue engineering using human dental pulp stem cells and 3D Bioglass® scaffolds

INTRODUCTION: The ability to regenerate new bone using stem cell therapy and biomimetic biomaterials is a major clinical need. Adult mesenchymal stem cells have been discovered in human dental pulp [1]. These cells were found to be multipotent with a high osteogenic potential compared to human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the osteogenic potential of human dental pulp stem cells on 3D Bioglass® scaffolds [2] for bone tissue engineering in vitro.
The Zirconia‐Titania System

A phase diagram for the zirconia-titania system is proposed, based on the existence of a hitherto unreported compound, ZrTiOd. Thermal-expansion and X-ray diffraction experiments were performed on three series of specimens heated at 980°, 1370°, and 176O°C. , respectively.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic An Optical Time Delay Estimate for the Double Gravitational Lens System B1600+434 An optical time-delay estimate for the double gravitational lens system

We present optical I -band light curves of the gravitationally lensed double QSO B1600+434 from observations obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) between April 1998 and November 1999. The photometry has been performed by simultaneous deconvolution of all the data frames, involving a numerical lens galaxy model. Four methods have been applied to determine the time delay between the two QSO components, giving a mean estimate of ∆ t = 51 ± 4 days (95% conﬁdence level). This is the fourth optical time delay ever measured. Adopting a Ω = 0 . 3, Λ = 0 Universe and using the mass model of Maller et al. (2000), this time-delay estimate yields a Hubble parameter of H 0 = 52 +14 − 8 km s − 1 Mpc − 1 (95% conﬁdence level) where the errors include time-delay as well as model uncertainties. There are time-dependent oﬀsets between the two (appropriately shifted) light curves that indicate the presence of external variations due to microlensing. independently to the separate bins. For each bin and time delay value, an additional constant or linear oﬀset is determined to improve the ﬁt. Finally, new time delay values are determined on these modiﬁed curves. The time delays determined in this way turn out to show very little sensitivity to the input values used, and to the diﬀerent splitting of the curves. The results converge towards a mean value of 51 days with a standard deviation (1 σ ) of 2 days and magnitude oﬀsets varying from 0.6 – 0.87 mag in the diﬀerent bins.
Round Window Membrane Insertion With Perimodiolar Cochlear Implant Electrodes

Objective The round window membrane (RWM) approach is designed to provide an atraumatic approach to scala tympani implantation with the goal of enhanced preservation of hearing and vestibular receptor function. Perimodiolar electrode designs offer advantages in electrophysiologic testing. However, perimodiolar arrays have only been investigated in insertion trials using temporal bone material. The aim of the present study was to evaluate perimodiolar electrode placement in a clinical trial. Materials and Methods The prospective nonrandomized study included 27 patients (October 2010 to February 2011). Due to the RWM approach, cochlear implantation electrode insertion was performed using a perimodiolar electrode array fitted with a stylet that enables movement through the first cochlear turn by withdrawing the stylet. We judged the feasibility of RWM approaches with perimodiolar electrodes and the electrode placement using flat panel detector radiography. Hearing preservation, vestibular receptor function (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, subjective haptic vertical, and caloric irrigation), and subjective vertigo were evaluated in all RWM approaches. Results For anatomic reasons, RWM insertions were possible in 21 cases (78%). The basilar membrane disruption rate was 19% in RWM insertions using perimodiolar electrodes. In those patients with the electrode position within the scala tympani, vestibular receptor functions and subjective vertigo remained unchanged. The residual hearing preservation was unsatisfactory. The mean pure-tone average loss was 21 dB. Conclusion We believe that if performed regularly, the RWM insertion technique has almost no negative effects on vestibular receptor function and produces no vertigo. However, cochlear hair cells may be more sensitive to electrode insertion traumas than vestibular receptor cells. The use of perimodiolar electrodes may require more atraumatic electrodes to achieve hearing preservation.
High-throughput drug library screening identifies colchicine as a thyroid cancer inhibitor

We employed a high-throughput drug library screening platform to identify novel agents affecting thyroid cancer cells. We used human thyroid cancer cell lines to screen a collection of approximately 5200 small molecules with biological and/or pharmacologial properties. Parallel primary screens yielded a number of hits differentially active between thyroid and melanoma cells. Amongst compounds specifically targeting thyroid cancer cells, colchicine emerged as an effective candidate. Colchicine inhibited cell growth which correlated with G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These effects were hampered through inhibition of MEK1/2 and JNK. In contrast, inhibition of p38-MAPK had little effect, and AKT had no impact on colchicine action. Systemic colchicine inhibited thyroid cancer progression in xenografted mice. These findings demonstrate that our screening platform is an effective vehicle for drug reposition and show that colchicine warrants further attention in well-defined clinical niches such as thyroid cancer.
ASAP: a web-based platform for the analysis and interactive visualization of single-cell RNA-seq data

Motivation Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) allows whole transcriptome profiling of thousands of individual cells, enabling the molecular exploration of tissues at the cellular level. Such analytical capacity is of great interest to many research groups in the world, yet, these groups often lack the expertise to handle complex scRNA-seq data sets. Results We developed a fully integrated, web-based platform aimed at the complete analysis of scRNA-seq data post genome alignment: from the parsing, filtering, and normalization of the input count data files, to the visual representation of the data, identification of cell clusters, differentially expressed genes (including cluster-specific marker genes), and functional gene set enrichment. This Automated Single-cell Analysis Pipeline (ASAP) combines a wide range of commonly used algorithms with sophisticated visualization tools. Compared with existing scRNA-seq analysis platforms, researchers (including those lacking computational expertise) are able to interact with the data in a straightforward fashion and in real time. Furthermore, given the overlap between scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq analysis workflows, ASAP should conceptually be broadly applicable to any RNA-seq dataset. As a validation, we demonstrate how we can use ASAP to simply reproduce the results from a single-cell study of 91 mouse cells involving five distinct cell types. Availability The tool is freely available at http://asap.epfl.ch Contact bart.deplancke@epfl.ch
Exposure to Free Fatty Acid Increases the Transfer of Albumin across Cultured Endothelial Monolayers

An initial exposure to high concentrations of free fatty acid increased the transfer of albumin across cultured endothelial monolayers. The rate and amount of albumin transfer was dependent on the oleic acid concentration to which the cultures were initially exposed, with 300 μM producing the maximum transfer. The albumin transfer also increased with the increasing time of exposure to oleic acid, the maximum effect occurring during the first 24 hours. An exposure to 300 μM linoleic acid produced an even greater increase in albumin transfer than did 300 μM oleic acid. The increased albumin transfer observed when cells were exposed to high concentrations of free fatty acid was largely reversible after reincubation of the cell monolayers in free fatty acid-poor media. In parallel experiments, radioactive oleic acid incorporation into cell triglycerides increased linearly as the fatty acid concentration was raised, with cell triglyceride content increasing up to sevenfold after incubation in a medium containing 300 μM oleic acid. A significant amount of oleic acid was incorporated into phospholipids, and the fatty acid composition of the endothelial triglycerides and phospholipids was modified. All these effects of oleic acid occurred without altering the incorporation of leucine into the cell protein. These results indicate that exposure to high concentrations of free fatty acid can alter endothelial cell lipid composition, and that this increases the albumin transfer across endothelium. This process might permit more macromolecules to enter the arterial wall.
Post global routing crosstalk synthesis

For the generation of a risk-free layout solution of a chip, crosstalk synthesis should be pursued at various stages in the routing process. This paper proposes a post global routing crosstalk optimization approach, which to our knowledge, is the first to estimate and reduce crosstalk risk at the global routing level. It consists of two parts: region-based crosstalk risk estimation and crosstalk risk reduction at the global routing level. In the first part, crosstalk risk graphs are first introduced for each routing region representing its current crosstalk situation. The crosstalk risk of each region, which indicates whether a risk-free routing solution of the region is possible, is then quantitatively defined and estimated using a graph-based approach. In the second part, the risk tolerance bound of each net is partitioned appropriately among its routing regions via integer linear programming for accurate (minimized) crosstalk risk estimation. If high risk regions still exist after bound partitioning, net ripping-up and rerouting is applied to reduce their crosstalk risks. At the end of the entire optimization process, a risk-free global routing solution is obtained together with partitions of nets' risk tolerance bounds which reflect the current crosstalk situation of the chip. These can greatly facilitate the generation of a risk-free final solution at later stages in the layout process. The proposed approach has been implemented and tested on CBL/NCSU benchmarks and the experimental results are very promising.
Acceleration by MS‐818 of early muscle regeneration and enhanced muscle recovery after surgical transection

The synthesized pyrimidine compound MS‐818 has neurotrophic effects in several kinds of neuronal cells, but its effect with respect to muscle cells remains unknown. We therefore examined the effects of MS‐818 on regeneration for 12 weeks in a wounded area (damaged and gap areas) of cut muscle in adult rats. The right semitendinosus muscles of reated and control groups were severed and sutured at the belly and the left semitendinosus muscles were left intact. MS‐818 was administered intraperitoneally to the treated group at a dose of 5 mg/kg once daily. Control rats received an equal volume of physiological saline. A reference group underwent no surgical procedure. MS‐818 significantly increased the maximal isometric twitch tension (Tmax) compared to control and reference rats after week 4 (approximately 1.4‐fold control value; 0.6‐fold reference value). Northern blotting showed that MS‐818 enhanced myogenin mRNA expression to about 1.5‐fold above the control level at 2, 4, and 7 days after surgery. Immunohistochemical and histochemical studies showed significant enhancement in the treated group since myogenic cells expressed desmin and were positive for neonatal myosin, and the fiber diameters and numbers of premature myofibers and end plates were increased when compared with those in the control group. These results show that MS‐818 accelerated the proliferation and differentiation of activated satellite cells and the fusion of myotubes to form immature myofibers. At week 12, Tmax, fiber diameter, and number of end plates in the treatment group recovered 60, 85, and more than 100%, respectively, compared to the reference group. The mechanism of MS‐818 effects on the accelerated regeneration of cut muscle is discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 218–229, 2002 DOI 10.1002/mus.10028
Evolutionary Game Theory and Social Learning Can Determine How Vaccine Scares Unfold

Immunization programs have often been impeded by vaccine scares, as evidenced by the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) autism vaccine scare in Britain. A “free rider” effect may be partly responsible: vaccine-generated herd immunity can reduce disease incidence to such low levels that real or imagined vaccine risks appear large in comparison, causing individuals to cease vaccinating. This implies a feedback loop between disease prevalence and strategic individual vaccinating behavior. Here, we analyze a model based on evolutionary game theory that captures this feedback in the context of vaccine scares, and that also includes social learning. Vaccine risk perception evolves over time according to an exogenously imposed curve. We test the model against vaccine coverage data and disease incidence data from two vaccine scares in England & Wales: the whole cell pertussis vaccine scare and the MMR vaccine scare. The model fits vaccine coverage data from both vaccine scares relatively well. Moreover, the model can explain the vaccine coverage data more parsimoniously than most competing models without social learning and/or feedback (hence, adding social learning and feedback to a vaccine scare model improves model fit with little or no parsimony penalty). Under some circumstances, the model can predict future vaccine coverage and disease incidence—up to 10 years in advance in the case of pertussis—including specific qualitative features of the dynamics, such as future incidence peaks and undulations in vaccine coverage due to the population's response to changing disease incidence. Vaccine scares could become more common as eradication goals are approached for more vaccine-preventable diseases. Such models could help us predict how vaccine scares might unfold and assist mitigation efforts.
A study in obese patient’s for sleep disordered breathing

Introduction-As the modern life style is dominantly accepted by our society along with sedentary life style our society is getting obesity as a gift, a gift that is costing human species a lots of health problems and one of them is sleep disturbances and sleep disorders specially obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA itself leads to hyper tension and other systemic manifestations.so we decide to study obese patients and related sleep disorder specially OSA. Aims/Objectives: 1 To analyze SDB in obese patients. 2 To analyze whether SDB is a risk factor for hypertension in obese individuals. Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at the department of pulmonology of People's College of Medical Sciences and Research centre, Bhopal, M.P. The duration of the study was 1 and half years. Total of 100 patients were included in this study. Results And ConclusionObesity has a very high and proportionate correlation with sleep disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea is the predominant sleep disordered breathing in our study population. Moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea correlates very highly for predicting hypertension and maybe considered as a risk factor for the same.
Honeynet-based collaborative defense using improved highly predictive blacklisting algorithm

We present a honeynet-based collaborative defense framework and an improved highly predictive blacklisting algorithm is developed to generate highly personalized and predictive blacklists for individual networks by correlating historic attackers captured by honeynet deployed in each network. In this way, different networks can defend new attackers in a collaborative way because one network will notify another network, by dint of honeynet, of the most probable attackers in the near future based on their historic correlation. A relatively proactive defense strategy is realized based on honeynet in a collaborative way and we evaluated our algorithm with real-world honeynet traces captured in different subnets. The results show our method can generate highly personalized and predictive blacklists for individual networks with a high hit rate and defense rate.
Flow behavior of LDPE and its blends with LLDPE I and II: A comparative study

Studies on melt rheological properties of blends of low density polyethylene (LDPE) with selected grades of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), which differ widely in their melt flow indices, are reported, The data obtained in a capillary rheometer are presented to describe the effects of blend composition and shear rate on flow behavior index, melt viscosity, and melt elasticity. In general, blending of LLDPE I that has a low melt flow index (2 g/10 min) with LDPE results in a decrease of its melt viscosity, processing temperature, and the tendency of extrudate distortion, depending on blending ratio. A blending ratio around 20-30% LLDPE I seems optimum from the point of view of desirable improvement in processability behavior. On the other hand, blending of LLDPE II that has a high melt flow index (10 g/10 min) with LDPE offers a distinct advantage in increasing the pseudoplasticity of LDPE/LLDPE II blends.
Impact of performance obstacles on intensive care nurses' workload, perceived quality and safety of care, and quality of working life.

OBJECTIVES To study the impact of performance obstacles on intensive care nurses' workload, quality and safety of care, and quality of working life (QWL). Performance obstacles are factors that hinder nurses' capacity to perform their job and that are closely associated with their immediate work system. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Data were collected from 265 nurses in 17 intensive care units (ICUs) between February and August 2004 via a structured questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 80 percent. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study design was used. Data were analyzed by correlation analyses and structural equation modeling. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Performance obstacles were found to affect perceived quality and safety of care and QWL of ICU nurses. Workload mediated the impact of performance obstacles with the exception of equipment-related issues on perceived quality and safety of care as well as QWL. CONCLUSIONS Performance obstacles in ICUs are a major determinant of nursing workload, perceived quality and safety of care, and QWL. In general, performance obstacles increase nursing workload, which in turn negatively affect perceived quality and safety of care and QWL. Redesigning the ICU work system to reduce performance obstacles may improve nurses' work.