Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intermetallic phase particles in cast AlSi5Cu1Mg and AlCu4Ni2Mg2 aluminium alloys

Purpose: In the technical Al alloys even small quantity of impurities - Fe and Mn - causes the formation of new phase components. Intermetallic particles form either on solidification or whilst the alloy is at a relatively high temperature in the solid state, e.g. during homogenization, solution treatment or recrystallization. The exact composition of the alloy and casting condition will directly influence the selection and volume fraction of intermetallic phases. The main objective of this study was to analyze the morphology and composition of complex microstructure of intermetallic phases in cast AlSi5Cu1Mg and AlCu4Ni2Mg2 aluminium alloys. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, several methods were used such as: optical light microscopy (LM), scanning (SEM) electron microscopy in combination with X-ray analysis (EDS) using polished sample, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify intermetallics in cast AlSi5Cu1Mg and AlCu4Ni2Mg2 aluminum alloys. Findings: The results show that the microstructure of cast AlSi5Cu1Mg and AlCu4Ni2Mg2 aluminum alloys in T6 condition consisted a wide range of intermetallic phases. By using various instruments (LM, SEM, XRD) and techniques (imagine, EDS) following intermetallic phases were identified: β-Al5FeSi, α-Al15(FeMn)3Si - in AlSi5Cu1Mg alloy and Al7Cu4Ni, Al12Cu23Ni, Al2CuMg, AlCuFeNi - in AlCu4Ni2Mg2 alloy. Research limitations/implications: In order to complete and confirm obtained results it is recommended to perform further analysis of the investigated aluminium alloys. Therefore it is planned to include in a next studies, microstructure analysis of the alloys by using transmission electron microscopy technique (TEM). Practical implications: Since the morphology, crystallography and chemical composition affect the intermetallic properties, what involves changes of alloy properties, from a practical point of view it is important to understand their formation conditions in order to control final constituents of the alloy microstructure. Originality/value: This paper proposes the best experimental techniques for analysis of the intermetallic phases occurring in the cast AlSi5Cu1Mg and AlCu4Ni2Mg2 aluminium alloys. This study has showed that the chemical phenol extraction method for the cast aluminium alloy is applicable.
Effect of flying altitude and pulse repetition frequency on laser scanner penetration rate for digital elevation model generation in a tropical forest

In tropical forests, the penetration ability of airborne laser scanning (ALS) may be limited because of highly dense vegetation cover. However, in the typical planning of ALS surveys, the ability of laser pulses to penetrate forests is not considered. Nine round-trip flight lines covering the area of a tropical forest on the northeast side of the Tsengwen Reservoir in Taiwan were designed in this study. Five flight lines flew at altitudes of 1.525, 1.830, 2.135, 2.440, and 2.745 km, and the other four had pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) of 100, 150, 200, and 250 kHz. The laser penetration index (LPI) is a quantitative index measuring the penetration ability of the ALS and consists of the ratio of the number of laser pulses reaching the forest floor to the total number of laser pulses. The LPI was used to represent the laser penetration rate and investigate the influence of flying altitude and PRF on the LPI. The results showed that as the flying altitude decreased by 1 km, the average LPI increased by 10%, and as the PRF decreased by 50 kHz, the average LPI increased by 2%. The effect of the LPI on digital elevation models (DEMs) was confirmed by visual images obtained by DEMs at five altitudes. The DEM obtained at an altitude of 2.745 km was coarsely textured, whereas that obtained at an altitude of 1.525 km was finely textured. The in-situ height data obtained from the electronic Global Navigation Satellite System (eGNSS) were compared with the data of the ALS-generated DEMs. The results indicated that when the LPI ≥60%, the height difference between the in situ data and DEM data was not prominent. However, when the LPI <60%, the ALS-derived DEM could be higher or lower than the in-situ height; the largest difference between the two was 1.7 m. The LPI of a forest should be considered for ALS survey planning, especially when consistent DEM precision for large tropical forest areas is paramount.
Variants of Folate Metabolism Genes and the Risk of Conotruncal Cardiac Defects

Background—Although congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common and serious group of birth defects, relatively little is known about the causes of these conditions and there are no established prevention strategies. There is evidence suggesting that the risk of CHD in general, and conotruncal and ventricular septal defects in particular, may be related to maternal folate status as well as genetic variants in folate-related genes. However, efforts to establish the relationships between these factors and CHD risk have been hampered by a number of factors including small study sample sizes and phenotypic heterogeneity. Methods and Results—The present study examined the relationships between variation in 9 folate-related genes and a subset of CHD phenotypes (ie, conotruncal defects, perimembranous and malalignment type ventricular septal defects, and isolated aortic arch anomalies) in a cohort of >700 case-parent triads. Further, both maternal and embryonic genetic effects were considered. Analyses of the study data confirmed an earlier reported association between embryonic genotype for MTHFR A1298C and disease risk (unadjusted P=0.002). Conclusions—These results represent the most comprehensive and powerful analysis of the relationship between CHD and folate-related genes reported to date, and provide additional evidence that, similar to neural tube defects, this subset of CHD is folate related.
High pretransplant serum levels of CXCL9 are associated with increased risk of acute rejection and graft failure in kidney graft recipients

Several clinical and experimental models have underlined the role of the CXCR3‐binding chemokines in the immune‐mediated kidney diseases. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of measuring pretransplant CXCL9 levels for acute rejection (AR) onset and kidney transplantation outcome. Pretransplantation serum levels of CXCL9 were tested retrospectively in 252 kidney graft recipients, whose stratification in two groups according to CXCL9 levels (<272.1 pg/ml vs. >272.1 pg/ml) showed highly significant differences in 5‐year survival rates (97.7% vs. 73.3%; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that among the analysed variables, CXCL9 [relative risk (RR) 11.708] and AR (RR 3.604) had the highest predictive power of graft loss. Accordingly, patients with AR (254.4 ± 22.1; P < 0.05) and, even more, those with anti‐thymoglobulin (ATG)‐treated AR also showed increased pretransplant serum CXCL9 levels (319.3 ± 28.1, P < 0.001). Moreover, CXCL9 expression and distribution were investigated in tissue specimens obtained from 10 patients affected by AR, and wide CXCL9 expression was detected not only in infiltrating inflammatory cells but also in vascular and tubular structures. Measurement of pretransplant serum CXCL9 levels might represent the tracking of a clinically useful parameter to identify subjects at high risk of AR and graft failure. These findings might be used for the individualization of immunosuppressive therapies.
Consistent sex-dependent effects of PKMζ gene ablation and pharmacological inhibition on the maintenance of referred pain

Background Persistently active PKMζ has been implicated in maintaining spinal nociceptive sensitization that underlies pain hypersensitivity. However, evidence for PKMζ in the maintenance of pain hypersensitivity comes exclusively from short-term studies in males using pharmacological agents of questionable selectivity. The present study examines the contribution of PKMζ to long-lasting allodynia associated with neuropathic, inflammatory, or referred visceral and muscle pain in males and females using pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation. Results Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PKMζ reduced mild formalin pain and slowly developing contralateral allodynia in nerve-injured rats, but not moderate formalin pain or ipsilateral allodynia in models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PKMζ also effectively reduced referred visceral and muscle pain in male, but not in female mice and rats. Conclusion We show pharmacological inhibition and genetic ablation of PKMζ consistently attenuate long-lasting pain hypersensitivity. However, differential effects in models of referred versus inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and in males versus females, highlight the roles of afferent input-dependent masking and sex differences in the maintenance of pain hypersensitivity.
Development of a solar powered bird repeller system with effective bird scarer sounds

All around the world, domestic birds are a major threat in the field of agriculture causing damage to economic field crops, storage houses and also dirtying human life areas. Such most common pest birds in many countries are House crows (Corvus), Common myna, Jungle myna, Brahminy starling, White-cheeked bulbul, Acridotterestritis etc. In order to distract these birds away, many traditional methods such as Scarecrow models, Hawk kites, Coloured lights, Lasers, Flashes, Chemicals etc are used which nowadays do not seem very effective. In this paper an effective bird deterrent technique i.e. Solar Powered Audible Bird Scarer has been developed. Different sounds due to which different species of birds get deterred were also noticed and studied. Unlike other projects, our project includes a variety of techniques playing sounds.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS IN MILK AND SERUM DURING POSTPARTUM PERIOD IN MONTBELIARD DAIRY COWS IN ALGERIAN HIGH PLAIN REGION.

The objective of this study was to investigate relationship between progesterone concentrations in milk and serum during postpartum period in Montbeliard dairy cows in Algerian high plain region. The relationships between the concentration of milk and serum progesterone on different days of postpartum was a significant (P < 0.05) linear, logarithmic, quadratic, cubic and expentiel relationship between the concentration of milk and serum progesterone on each of 30, 40 and 50 days postpartum.
Cementing Relationships: Vertical Integration, Foreclosure, Productivity, and Prices

This paper empirically investigates the possible market power effects of vertical integration proposed in the theoretical literature on vertical foreclosure. It uses a rich data set of cement and ready‐mixed concrete plants that spans several decades to perform a detailed case study. There is little evidence that foreclosure is quantitatively important in these industries. Instead, prices fall, quantities rise, and entry rates remain unchanged when markets become more integrated. These patterns are consistent, however, with an alternative efficiency‐based mechanism. Namely, higher‐productivity producers are more likely to vertically integrate and are also larger, more likely to survive, and more likely to charge lower prices. We find evidence that integrated producers’ productivity advantage is tied to improved logistics coordination afforded by large local concrete operations. Interestingly, this benefit is not due to firms’ vertical structures per se: nonvertical firms with large local concrete operations have similarly high productivity levels.
Hyaluronidase-sensitive halos around adherent cells. Their role in blocking lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis

A variety of adherent sarcoma, carcinoma and normal cells are surrounded in vitro by thick, transparent zones (approximately equal to 9 micron thick) that spleen cells and a variety of other cells and particles cannot penetrate. Seven lymphoblastoid cell lines did not possess such halos. The presence of these halos around adherent fibrosarcoma cells appeared to protect them from lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis. Hyaluronidase treatment, which destroyed the halo and allowed lymphocytes to approach the tumor cell membrane, enhanced the cytotoxic action of immune but not of normal spleen cells. These observations, in addition to highlighting a little-known feature of the cell surface, may also be of general relevance to the in vitro and in vivo killing of tumor cells by immune effector cells.
RNA Editing of the Human Serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine 2C Receptor Silences Constitutive Activity*

RNA transcripts encoding the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C (5-HT2C) receptor (5-HT2CR) undergo adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing events at up to five specific sites. Compared with rat brain, human brain samples expressed higher levels of RNA transcripts encoding the amino acids valine-serine-valine (5-HT2C-VSV) and valine-glycine-valine (5-HT2C-VGV) at positions 156, 158, and 160, respectively. Agonist stimulation of the nonedited human receptor (5-HT2C-INI) and the edited 5-HT2C-VSVand 5-HT2C-VGV receptor variants stably expressed in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated that serotonergic agonists were less potent at the edited receptors. Competition binding experiments revealed a guanine nucleotide-sensitive serotonin high affinity state only for the 5-HT2C-INI receptor; the loss of high affinity agonist binding to the edited receptor demonstrates that RNA editing generates unique 5-HT2CRs that couple less efficiently to G proteins. This reduced G protein coupling for the edited isoforms is primarily due to silencing of the constitutive activity of the nonedited 5-HT2CR. The distinctions in agonist potency and constitutive activity suggest that different edited 5-HT2CRs exhibit distinct responses to serotonergic ligands and further imply that RNA editing represents a novel mechanism for controlling physiological signaling at serotonergic synapses.
Towards Dynamic Remote Data Auditing in Computational Clouds

Cloud computing is a significant shift of computational paradigm where computing as a utility and storing data remotely have a great potential. Enterprise and businesses are now more interested in outsourcing their data to the cloud to lessen the burden of local data storage and maintenance. However, the outsourced data and the computation outcomes are not continuously trustworthy due to the lack of control and physical possession of the data owners. To better streamline this issue, researchers have now focused on designing remote data auditing (RDA) techniques. The majority of these techniques, however, are only applicable for static archive data and are not subject to audit the dynamically updated outsourced data. We propose an effectual RDA technique based on algebraic signature properties for cloud storage system and also present a new data structure capable of efficiently supporting dynamic data operations like append, insert, modify, and delete. Moreover, this data structure empowers our method to be applicable for large-scale data with minimum computation cost. The comparative analysis with the state-of-the-art RDA schemes shows that the proposed scheme is secure and highly efficient in terms of the computation and communication overhead on the auditor and server.
Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness for discriminating primary open‐angle glaucoma and normal‐tension glaucoma using optical coherence tomography

The aim of this study was to evaluate the discrimination capabilities of macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness parameters as measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) between primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG).
Development of a novel method for quantification of autophagic protein degradation by AHA labeling

Autophagy is a catabolic process during which cellular components including protein aggregates and organelles are degraded via a lysosome-dependent process to sustain metabolic homeostasis during nutrient or energy deprivation. Measuring the rate of proteolysis of long-lived proteins is a classical assay for measurement of autophagic flux. However, traditional methods, such as a radioisotope labeling assay, are technically tedious and have low sensitivity. Here, we report a novel method for quantification of long-lived protein degradation based on L-azidohomoalanine (AHA) labeling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and in human cancer cells. AHA is a surrogate for L-methionine, containing a bio-orthogonalazide moiety. When added to cultured cells, AHA is incorporated into proteins during active protein synthesis. After a click reaction between an azide and an alkyne, the azide-containing proteins can be detected with an alkyne-tagged fluorescent dye, coupled with flow cytometry. Induction of autophagy by starvation or mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) inhibitors was able to induce a significant reduction of the fluorescence intensity, consistent with other autophagic markers. Coincidently, inhibition of autophagy by pharmacological agents or by Atg gene deletion abolished the reduction of the fluorescence intensity. Compared with the classical radioisotope pulse-labeling method, we think that our method is sensitive, quantitative, nonradioactive, and easy to perform, and can be applied to both human and animal cell culture systems.
Effects of probiotic fermented milk on symptoms and intestinal flora in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Objective. The effect of probiotics on IBS symptoms has been mixed, but remains an intriguing treatment option with appeal to the patient. Material and methods. Patients fulfilling the Rome II criteria were randomized double-blind to a daily intake of 500 ml of fermented milk containing at least 5 × 107 CFU/ml of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp paracasei F19, Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 or an equal volume of acidified milk for 8 weeks. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and weekly using a disease-specific validated symptom rating scale (IBS-SSI). The predefined primary outcome measure was patient reported adequate symptom relief. Adherence to study protocol were assessed by performing stool samples at the of the treatment period. Results. Eight-one patients were screened. Sixty-four patients were randomized; 18 patients did not complete the study due to protocol violations or withdrew due to lack of effect. Fifty-two patients (13 males) completed the study as per protocol; mean age was 51.3 years (range 29–67). The proportion of patients reporting adequate symptom relief increased in both patient groups, but there was not any statistical difference between the groups. IBS-SSI scores did not differ statistically between the groups at the end of the treatment period, but improved during the study period in both groups. Conclusions. During this 8-week trial gastrointestinal symptoms improved. However, there was no difference between treatment with fermented milk containing probiotics or acidified milk. The effect of probiotics on IBS symptoms remains uncertain and further studies are warranted.
Brainstem Timing: Implications for Cortical Processing and Literacy

The search for a unique biological marker of language-based learning disabilities has so far yielded inconclusive findings. Previous studies have shown a plethora of auditory processing deficits in learning disabilities at both the perceptual and physiological levels. In this study, we investigated the association among brainstem timing, cortical processing of stimulus differences, and literacy skills. To that end, brainstem timing and cortical sensitivity to acoustic change [mismatch negativity (MMN)] were measured in a group of children with learning disabilities and normal-learning children. The learning-disabled (LD) group was further divided into two subgroups with normal and abnormal brainstem timing. MMNs, literacy, and cognitive abilities were compared among the three groups. LD individuals with abnormal brainstem timing were more likely to show reduced processing of acoustic change at the cortical level compared with both normal-learning individuals and LD individuals with normal brainstem timing. This group was also characterized by a more severe form of learning disability manifested by poorer reading, listening comprehension, and general cognitive ability. We conclude that abnormal brainstem timing in learning disabilities is related to higher incidence of reduced cortical sensitivity to acoustic change and to deficient literacy skills. These findings suggest that abnormal brainstem timing may serve as a reliable marker of a subgroup of individuals with learning disabilities. They also suggest that faulty mechanisms of neural timing at the brainstem may be the biological basis of malfunction in this group.
Outage capacity estimation of FSO links with pointing errors over gamma turbulence channels

The Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems, are rapidly gaining popularity as effective, low cost and secure means of transferring data at high rates over relative short distances, with line of sight, through the atmosphere. However, due to the fact that the characteristics of the propagation path do not remain invariable, the systems' performance varies, as well. An important phenomenon which mitigates significantly their performance is the atmospheric turbulence, which causes the scintillation effect and results in fast irradiance fluctuations at the receivers' side, which could be modeled with various statistical distributions depending on the turbulence's strength. Here, we assume weak turbulence conditions and an accurate and with a very compact mathematical expression statistical model is the gamma distribution. Additionally, because of the very narrow optical beam the alignment between the transmitter and the receiver is not perfect and the pointing errors effect should be taken into account. Thus, in this work, we investigate the influence of these effects at the systems' performance, by means of the estimation of their outage capacity, over gamma modeled atmospheric turbulence channels with pointing errors. We derive closed form mathematical expressions for the above mentioned performance metric and we present our results, along with the corresponding simulation outcomes.
Cognitive and affective sequelae of primary hyperparathyroidism and early response to parathyroidectomy

Abstract Cognitive and affective complaints are common in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but few studies have used psychometric testing to document these symptoms and their response to parathyroidectomy. The current study sought to clarify the nature of cognitive and affective impairments in PHPT and changes postparathyroidectomy. One hundred eleven patients with PHPT underwent neuropsychological evaluation prior to parathyroidectomy with 68 returning for an early postsurgical evaluation. Changes in cognition were assessed using practice effect corrected reliable change indices. Biochemical and anesthesia variables were compared between groups who improved and declined. In a subset of patients, assessment revealed a significant pattern of cognitive slowing, reductions in psychomotor speed, memory impairment, and depression prior to parathyroidectomy. Postsurgical evaluations revealed a trend for improvements on timed tests and depression but a decline in memory. Older patients responded less well to surgical intervention, as did patients who experienced more dramatic changes in biochemical status following surgery. Cognitive changes early postparathyroidectomy are characterized by improved information processing speed and decline in verbal memory, with younger patients more likely to recover during this acute phase. The need for longer-term follow-up studies and increasing utilization of neuropsychological assessments in this population are discussed. (JINS, 2009, 15, 1002–1011.)