Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Reactor Feeding Pattern on Performance of an Activated Sludge SBR

The possible effects of changes in the feeding pattern on activated sludge properties related to bioflocculation have been analyzed in lab scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR) in order to determine if these changes in effluent water quality and settling and dewatering properties are significant, so they can be considered in future studies or if they can be recommended as crucial when operating and designing wastewater treatment plants. The activated sludge process is widely used to treat wastewater from both industrial and municipal sources. Biomass from industrial facilities containing high monovalent to divalent ion content usually settles poorly, which leads to low quality effluents that fail to meet environmental requirements. Therefore, the combined effect of feeding pattern plus the addition of sodium to activated sludge reactors was studied in this experiment. A series of SBRs were operated at different sodium concentrations that ranged from 1.5 – 15 meq/L and different feeding times that ranged from 1 minute to 4 hours. Biomass samples were taken from each reactor to study the settling and dewatering properties and effluent samples were used to analyze the amount of organic matter and exocellular polymeric substances present due to deflocculation. As expected, the changes in feeding strategies affected all of the properties measured. When the feeding time was maintained low (pulse feed) the effluent quality and settling properties were the best. As the feeding time was increased the effluent quality, settling, and dewatering properties increased suggesting that the way in which the reactors were fed affected the overall bioflocculation process. The causes of the high deflocculation observed are not well understood, but data suggest that a microbial community change could have affected exocellular biopolymers which are believed to play an important role on bioflocculation.
Risk-based security assessment in smart power grids

Future power grids are increasingly complex as they encompass elements such as renewables, storage, consumer options, and smart appliances. While these are likely to exacerbate uncertainties in both supply and demand, the overture of smart grid sensor and communication technologies promises, on the other hand, enhanced visibility and refined controls. Nonetheless, an evolutionary change in the tools used in system analysis is necessary to realize the full potential of the smart grid. This paper outlines a framework for assessing security in the operation planning horizon based on a quantitative risk measure. Value at Risk (VaR) is proposed as a measure of system security and is applied to an illustrative six-bus test system.
Decreased Serum C-Peptide/Insulin Molar Ratios After Oral Glucose Ingestion in Hyperthyroid Patients

Since C-peptide/immunoreactive insulin (IRI) molar ratios may reflect hepatic extraction of insulin, we measured simultaneous serum glucose, IRI, and C-peptide levels during fasting and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after 75 g of oral glucose in 10 hyperthyroid patients and 10 age- and weight-matched controls. Mean fasting serum glucose and IRI levels were significantly higher in the hyperthyroid versus control subjects (glucose: 4.9 ± 0.3 mmol/L versus 4.36 ± 0.11 mmol/L, P < 0.01; IRI: 0.10 ± 0.02 pmol/ml versus 0.05 ± 0.01 pmol/ml; P < 0.025). After glucose, mean serum glucose levels were significantly higher in the hyperthyroid versus control subjects at all times studied except for 180 min (P < 0.01). Mean IRI levels were significantly higher at all times studied including 180 min (P < 0.01). Mean fasting C-peptide levels were significantly greater in the hyperthyroid patients compared with the controls (1.2 ± 0.25 pmol/ml versus 0.62 ± 0.09 pmol/ml; P < 0.025). After oral glucose, mean C-peptide levels were significantly higher (P < 0.025) in the hyperthyroid compared with control subjects at 30–60 min but not at 90–180 min. Molar ratios of C-peptide/IRI were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the hyperthyroid versus control subjects at all times studied except fasting. In summary, glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinism occur in hyperthyroidism. In addition, C-peptide/IRI molar ratios are reduced after oral glucose ingestion.
Nidus and tasseled cell: Distinctive neuronal organization of the main olfactory bulb of the laboratory musk shrew (Suncus murinus)

We revealed the structural features of particular synaptic regions, nidi, and newly found neurons, tasseled cells, in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) of laboratory musk shrew (Suncus murinus). Nidi were intensely immunoreactive for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and calbindin D28k (CB), were 30–80 μm in diameter, and were located beneath glomeruli, appearing to make glomerulus‐nidus unit‐like complexes. In contrast to glomeruli, they contained few or no olfactory nerves. Nidi were distributed throughout the whole MOB and made a distinctive layer, nidal layer. Tasseled cells were located in the mitral cell layer and in the middle of the external plexiform layer (EPL) and extended single primary dendrites to the nidus, where their small tuft‐like complicated branches intermingled with processes of perinidal cells surrounding nidi. Primary dendrites of mitral/tufted cells also penetrated nidi but passed to glomeruli. In the outer half of the EPL, columnar structures were seen, where CB‐ and GAD‐positive elements appeared to associate with bundles of cylindrical dendrites of presumed mitral/tufted and tasseled cells. By electron microscopic examinations, nidi were confirmed to be particular synaptic areas where GAD‐positive processes made symmetrical synapses to GAD‐negative presumed tasseled and mitral/tufted cell dendrites and received asymmetrical synapses from the latter. Retrograde tracings revealed that tasseled cells, in addition to mitral/tufted cells, projected their axons to the lateral olfactory tract, indicating that there were two parallel projection systems in the shrew MOB, which might interact with each other via various types of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons. The present study clearly showed that the neuronal organization of the shrew MOB was distinctly different from that in rodents. J. Comp. Neurol. 430:542–561, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
l-NAME (Nω-Nitro-l-Arginine Methyl Ester), a Nitric-Oxide Synthase Inhibitor, and WIN 55212-2 [4,5-dihydro-2-methyl-4(4-morpholinylmethyl)-1-(1-naphthalenyl-carbonyl)-6H-pyrrolo[3,2,1ij]quinolin-6-one], a Cannabinoid Agonist, Interact to Evoke Synergistic Hypothermia

Cannabinoids evoke profound hypothermia in rats by activating central CB1 receptors. Nitric oxide (NO), a prominent second messenger in central and peripheral neurons, also plays a crucial role in thermoregulation, with previous studies suggesting pyretic and antipyretic functions. Dense nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) staining and CB1 receptor immunoreactivity have been detected in regions of the hypothalamus that regulate body temperature, suggesting that intimate NO-cannabinoid associations may exist in the central nervous system. The present study investigated the effect of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, on the hypothermic response to WIN 55212-2 [4,5-dihydro-2-methyl-4(4-morpholinylmethyl)-1-(1-naphthalenylcarbonyl)-6H-pyrrolo[3,2,1ij]quinolin-6-one], a selective cannabinoid agonist, in rats. WIN 55212-2 (1–5 mg/kg, i.m.) produced dose-dependent hypothermia that peaked 45 to 90 min post-injection. l-NAME (10–100 mg/kg, i.m.) by itself did not significantly alter body temperature. However, a nonhypothermic dose of l-NAME (50 mg/kg) potentiated the hypothermia caused by WIN 55212-2 (0.5–5 mg/kg). The augmentation was strongly synergistic, indicated by a 2.5-fold increase in the relative potency of WIN 55212-2. The inactive enantiomer of WIN 55212-2, WIN 55212-3 [S-(–)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazinyl]-(1-napthanlenyl) methanone mesylate] (5 mg/kg, i.m.), did not produce hypothermia in the absence or presence of l-NAME (50 mg/kg), confirming that cannabinoid receptors mediated the synergy. The present data are the first evidence that drug combinations of NOS blockers and cannabinoid agonists produce synergistic hypothermia. Thus, NO and cannabinoid systems may interact to induce superadditive hypothermia.
Increase in diagnosed newly acquired hepatitis C in HIV-positive men who have sex with men across London and Brighton, 2002–2006: is this an outbreak?

Objectives: To determine the incidence of diagnosed newly acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) across London and Brighton in order to inform public health interventions. Methods: Cases were defined as MSM attending London and Brighton HIV/genitourinary medicine clinics from January 2002 to June 2006, with HCV PCR RNA or antibody positive, and a negative HCV test in the previous three years. The yearly number of cases and HCV screening policy in MSM were examined. A negative binomial regression model was used to estimate HCV incidence density rate ratio and 95% CI. Results: 20 out of 38 clinics provided information, covering 84% of the HIV-positive MSM workload in London and 100% in Brighton. The estimated overall incidence was 9.05 per 1000 HIV-positive MSM patient-years. It increased from 6.86 per 1000 in 2002 to 11.58 per 1000 during January–June 2006. Incidence at clinics ranged from 0 to 15.4 (median 6.52) per 1000 HIV-positive MSM patient-years. There was some evidence of difference in the incidence and trend (p = 0.02) in each clinic. The average annual rise in incidence of HCV was 20% (95% CI 4% to 39%, p = 0.001). There was little evidence of such transmission among MSM with negative or unknown HIV status. Conclusions: HCV incidence clearly increased among HIV-positive MSM in London and Brighton during January 2002 to June 2006. Prospective enhanced surveillance of HCV in MSM, including HIV status and behavioural risk factors, is recommended to help inform control measures and better determine the frequency of transmission in all MSM.
Are inter- and intraspecific variations of sapling crown traits consistent with a strategy promoting light capture in tropical moist forest?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Morphological variation in light-foraging strategies potentially plays important roles in efficient light utilization and carbon assimilation in spatially and temporally heterogeneous environments such as tropical moist forest understorey. By considering a suite of morphological traits at various hierarchical scales, we examined the functional significance of crown shape diversity and plasticity in response to canopy openness. METHODS We conducted a field comparative study in French Guiana among tree saplings of 14 co-occurring species differing in light-niche optimum and breadth. Each leaf, axis or crown functional trait was characterized by a median value and a degree of plasticity expressed under contrasting light regimes. KEY RESULTS We found divergent patterns between shade-tolerant and heliophilic species on the one hand and between shade and sun plants on the other. Across species, multiple regression analysis showed that relative crown depth was positively correlated with leaf lifespan and not correlated with crown vertical growth rate. Within species displaying a reduction in crown depth in the shade, we observed that crown depth was limited by reduced crown vertical growth rate and not by accelerated leaf or branch shedding. In addition, the study provides contrasting examples of morphological multilevel plastic responses, which allow the maintenance of efficient foliage and enable effective whole-plant light capture in shaded conditions under a moderate vertical light gradient. CONCLUSIONS This result suggests that plastic adjustment of relative crown depth does not reflect a strategy maximizing light capture efficiency. Integrating and scaling-up leaf-level dynamics to shoot- and crown-level helps to interpret in functional and adaptive terms inter- and intraspecific patterns of crown traits and to better understand the mechanism of shade tolerance.
Clearance of Fungal Burden during Treatment of Disseminated Histoplasmosis with Liposomal Amphotericin B versus Itraconazole

ABSTRACT Animal studies have shown that fungal burden correlates with survival during treatment with new antifungal therapies for histoplasmosis. The purpose of this report is to compare the clearance of fungal burden in patients with histoplasmosis treated with liposomal amphotericin B versus itraconazole. In two separate closed clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B and itraconazole treatment of disseminated histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS, blood was cultured for fungus and blood and urine were tested forHistoplasma antigen. The clinical response rates were similar; 86% with liposomal amphotericin B (n = 51) versus 85% with itraconazole (n = 59). Of the patients with positive blood cultures at enrollment, after 2 weeks of therapy cultures were negative in over 85% of the liposomal amphotericin B group versus 53% of the itraconazole group (P = 0.0008). Furthermore, after 2 weeks, median antigen levels in serum fell by 1.6 U in the liposomal amphotericin B group versus 0.1 U in the itraconazole group (P = 0.02), and those in urine fell by 2.1 U in the liposomal amphotericin B group and 0.2 U in the itraconazole group (P = 0.0005). The more rapid clearance of fungemia supports the use of liposomal amphotericin B rather than itraconazole for initial treatment of moderately severe or severe histoplasmosis.
Psychological Factors Associated with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), characterized by serous detachment of the macula, is a clinically important retinal disease presenting as various visual symptoms. Predisposing psychopathological factors have been investigated and psychological stress, specific personality profiles and psychiatric disorders were suggested as relevant factors. These psychic factors induce hormonal changes by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, thus aggravating the extravasation of the serous fluid from choroid. Psychotherapeutic strategies may be a significant treatment modality for CSC patients.
IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES IN PATIENTS WITH PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE III PNEUMONIA TREATED WITH SUL-FANILAMIDE AND SERUM.

During the past season (November 1937 to May 1938) we had an opportunity to study the immune reactions of a group of patients with Pneumococcus Type III pneumonia before and during treatment with sulfanilamide and typespecific antipneumococcal rabbit serums used separately or in combination. Observations were also made on the effect of these substances, in zitro, on the bactericidal action of the blood of the patients taken before treatment. In this paper we present the results of these tests and attempt to correlate them with the course of the disease. Clinical results are reported in a separate communication ( 1 ).
Polyneuropathy with demyelinating features in mixed cryoglobulinemia with hepatitis C virus infection

Peripheral neuropathy can arise from various mechanisms during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, mainly involving associated mixed cryoglobulinemia. The frequency of demyelinating polyneuropathy is probably underestimated in these patients. We report two cases of demyelinating polyneuropathy in HCV‐infected patients. The first case concerned a 76‐year‐old woman followed for hepatitis C associated with a mixed cryoglobulinemia (type II), who developed a chronic progressive distal motor weakness and sensory disturbances concomitant with a raise in serum aspartate aminotransferase (GOT/AST) and alanine aminotransferase (GPT/ALT) levels. Other laboratory studies were normal except for a decrease in the hemolytic fraction of complement to 75 IU (n = 400–520). The second case was a 68‐year‐old woman followed for hepatitis C associated with a mixed cryoglobulinemia (type II), who had sensory disturbances in the lower limbs. Laboratory studies were otherwise unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid studies showed a normal protein content without pleocytosis in both patients. In both cases nerve conduction studies were suggestive of a mixed axonal and demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy. Sural nerve biopsy showed segmental demyelination and severe loss of large myelinated fibers as well as some onion bulb formation in both cases. The two patients subsequently improved, the first with an antiviral treatment and the second with oral steroids.
Current comorbidity of psychiatric disorders among DSM-IV major depressive disorder patients in psychiatric care in the Vantaa Depression Study.

BACKGROUND While numerous studies have documented the high comorbidity of major depressive disorder (MDD) with individual mental disorders, no published study has reported overall current comorbidity with all Axis I and II disorders among psychiatric patients with MDD, nor systematically investigated variations in current comorbidity by sociodemographic factors, inpatient versus outpatient status, and number of lifetime depressive episodes. METHOD Psychiatric outpatients and inpatients in Vantaa, Finland, were prospectively screened for an episode of DSM-IV MDD, and 269 patients with a new episode of MDD were enrolled in the Vantaa Depression MDD Cohort Study. Axis I and II comorbidity was assessed via semistructured Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, version 2.0, and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-II-R personality disorders interviews. RESULTS The great majority (79%) of patients with MDD suffered from 1 or more current comorbid mental disorders, including anxiety disorder (57%), alcohol use disorder (25%), and personality disorder (44%). Several anxiety disorders were associated with specific Axis II clusters, and panic disorder with agoraphobia was associated with inpatient status. The prevalence of personality disorders varied with inpatient versus outpatient status, number of lifetime depressive episodes, and type of residential area, and the prevalence of substance use disorders varied with gender and inpatient versus outpatient status. CONCLUSION Most psychiatric patients with MDD have at least 1 current comorbid disorder. Comorbid disorders are associated not only with other comorbid disorders, but also with sociodemographic factors, inpatient versus outpatient status, and lifetime number of depressive episodes. The influence of these variations on current comorbidity patterns among MDD patients needs to be taken account of in treatment facilities.
Ten-year change in quality of life in adults on growth hormone replacement for growth hormone deficiency: an analysis of the hypopituitary control and complications study.

CONTEXT Previous studies showed improvement in impaired quality of life (QoL) in adult patients with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) who were treated with GH; improvement was sustained over a few years after GH therapy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the QoL over 10 years. DESIGN This was a prospective observational study. SETTING The study was conducted in clinical practice. PATIENTS 1436 adult patients with adult-onset (AO) GHD (mean age [standard deviation (SD)]: 49.0 [12.2] years; 49% female) and 96 with childhood-onset (CO) GHD (31.3 [10.0] years; 60% female) (total N = 1532). INTERVENTION GH therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES QoL was measured by Questions on Life Satisfaction-Hypopituitarism (QLS-H) in countries where validated questionnaires and normative data for calculation of Z-scores were available. Change in QoL was tested by Student's t test and predicted by mixed-model repeated measures (MMRM) analysis. RESULTS At study entry, patients had diminished QoL Z-scores (mean [SD] AO, -1.55 [1.69]; CO -0.98 [1.32]). The largest QoL improvements were in the first year: mean (SD) increase 0.77 (1.37) for AO (P < .001) and 0.50 (1.37) for CO (P < .001). The initial improvement from study entry remained statistically significant throughout 10 years for AO and in years 1 to 4, 6, and 7 for CO (P < .05). MMRM analysis predicted a greater QoL improvement in those who were not depressed, lived in Europe, had poorer Z-scores at entry, had lower body mass index at entry, and had no impaired vision. CONCLUSION These data suggest that GH replacement provides sustained improvement in QLS-H scores toward normality for up to 10 years.
Recommender systems: the case of repeated interaction in matrix factorization

This work presents a new matrix factorization recommender system approach, that takes repeated interaction into account. We analyze if and how users' repeated interaction behavior---such as repeat purchases---can be integrated into a recommender system. We develop a method that takes advantage of this additional data dimension that is studied in many other fields to derive useful conclusions. Furthermore, we empirically test our method on real-life retailer data and on the Last.fm dataset. We compare our algorithm with popular matrix factorization approaches. Results indicate that our method manages to slightly outperform the existing methods.
Sex Determination by Observation of Barr Body in Teeth Subjected to High Temperatures

La determinacion del sexo es uno de los pilares del proceso de identificacion, Un metodo histologico util para la determinacion del sexo es la observacion de cromatina de Barr. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el efecto de altas temperaturas sobre el rendimiento diagnostico de observacion de cromatina de Barr en piezas dentarias. Se utilizaron 50 piezas dentarias sanas, 25 de individuos de sexo masculino y 25 de sexo femenino con edades comprendidas entre los 14 y 44 anos. Las piezas dentarias fueron divididas en 5 grupos, (cada grupo con 5 piezas de sexo femenino y 5 de sexo masculino) y fueron expuestas a temperaturas controladas de 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, 800°C y 1000°C por 5 minutos. La pulpa coronaria fue obtenida y el tejido fue procesado para H-E. Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 4 placas histologicas de individuos de sexo masculino y 4 de sexo femenino, por cada nivel de temperatura, las cuales fueron observadas por microscopia convencional a un aumento de 100X, observandose 50 celulas por placa. La presencia de 1 celula con cromatina sexual visible se considero positiva para el sexo femenino. Solo fue posible evaluar las muestras provenientes de los grupos sometidos a 200°C y 400°C. En los grupos analizados la prueba presento un 100% de exactitud. El numero medio de celulas Barr positivas encontradas fue de 15 (DS 3,9) a 200°C y 11 (DS 2,8) a 400°C, por lo que a estas temperaturas fue posible el diagnostico del sexo mediante la observacion de la cromatina sexual en pulpa dental.
A Theory of Indicative Bidding

When selling a business by auction, sellers typically use indicative bids—nonbinding preliminary bids—to select a small number of bidders to conduct due diligence and submit binding offers. We show that if entry into the auction is costly, indicative bids can be informative: symmetric equilibrium exists in weakly increasing strategies, with bidders "pooling" over a finite number of bids. The equilibrium helps the seller select high value bidders with higher likelihood, although the highest value bidders are not always selected. When the number of potential bidders is large, revenue and total surplus are both higher than when entry is unrestricted.