Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and Other Growth-Regulators on the Formation of a Red Pigment in Jerusalem Artichoke Tuber Tissue.

In the course of investigations concerning cellular growth in Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) tuber discs, it was noted that 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) induced the formation of a red pigment which was clearly evident only when the discs and the ambient culture solution were brought into prolonged contact with a cellulose substrate such as filter paper or cheese cloth. The 2,4-D acid used was triply recrystallized to minimize contamination by 2,4-dichlorophenol. Attempts to produce the pigment in greater quantity resulted in finding that tuber slices approximately 250 microns thick, incubated on filter paper impregnated with 2,4-D for 24 to 48 hours, gave a maximum pigmentation. Although the pigment was visible directly in the tissue, most of the red color appeared on the filter paper, which acted as a reservoir on which the pigment was strongly adsorbed. Localization of pigment formation was evident when slices cut normal to the tuber axis were incubated with 10 mg/l 2,4-D on filter paper. Maximum pigment production was coincident with the occurrence of the vascular bundles. Microscopic examination of the sections showed strong red pigment coloration in the phloem and xylem elements suggesting a relationship with the phenolphenolase system which is localized in the peripheral and vascular tissue of Jerusalem artichoke according to Belval and Legrand (1). Pigment formation is obligately aerobic as indicated by the complete lack of red color when tuber slices were incubated with 2,4-D in an atmosphere of purified nitrogen. Experiments with dark-prepared 2,4-D-treated tuber slices exposed to red, far-red, and unfiltered radiation as well as continuous darkness showed equal pigment formation with all treatments, indicating no photoperiodic response. The pigment was only very slightly water-soluble and rapidly turned brown when so removed from the stabilizing influence of the filter paper. Moderate solubility was obtained with methanol, and greatest solubility was attained with pyridine and dioxane. Reflectance measurements of the red impregnated filter paper using the G. E. Hardy spectrophotometer showed absorption maxima at 540, 510, and 460 m,u. Optical density data from methanol and pyridine extracts of the pigment were obtained with a Beckman DU quartz spectrophotometer. In methanol, absorption maxima were at 518, 485, 455 (weak) and 340 m,u, and in pyridine the maxima were 526, 490, 455 (weak), and 340 m,u. Browning of the extracts oc-
Implementing current-fed converters by adding an input capacitor at the input of voltage-fed converter for interfacing solar generator

The concern on observed climate change has increased the utilization of renewable energy sources. The harvesting of solar energy is recognized as one of the key issues in reducing green house gas emission. Reliable solar-energy systems composing of solar arrays and their interfacing converters are of prime importance in uninterrupted solar energy production. The interfacing maximum-power-point converters are implemented usually by modifying the conventional voltage-fed converters. Actually, the modifications change the converter into a current-fed converter with corresponding steady-state and dynamic properties. The paper investigates the true properties of these transformed converters based on theory and practical measurements. As an example a direct-duty-ratio-controlled voltage-fed buck converter is shown to be transformed into a current-fed boost-type converter.
Bacterial conversion of secoisolariciresinol and anhydrosecoisolariciresinol

Aims: It has been investigated whether secoisolariciresinol (SECO) and anhydrosecoisolariciresinol (AHS), an acid degradation product of SECO, could be fermented in a similar way, and to a similar extent, by members of the intestinal microbiota.
Green evidence of an unfamiliar metabolic strategy The function of the aerenchyma in arborescent lycopsids : Supplementary data tml

Supplementary data tml http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/suppl/2010/03/24/rspb.2010. 0224.DC1. h "Data Supplement" References http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing. org/content/277/1692/2257.full. html#ref-list-1 This article cites 77 articles, 14 of which can be accessed free Subject collections (1603 articles) ecology  Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Email alerting service here right-hand corner of the article or click Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article sign up in the box at the top
Temporal Trends in the Use of Investigations After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Background:Guidelines recommend that patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) undergo neuroimaging and cardiac investigations to determine etiology and guide treatment. It is not known how the use of these investigations has changed over time and whether there have been associated changes in management. Objectives:To evaluate temporal trends in the use of brain and vascular imaging, echocardiography, and antithrombotic and surgical therapy after stroke or TIA. Research Design:We analyzed 42,738 patients with stroke or TIA presenting to any of the 11 regional stroke centers in Ontario, Canada between 2003 and 2012 using the Ontario Stroke Registry database. The study period was divided into 1-year intervals and we used the Cochran-Armitage test to determine trends over time. Results:Between 2003/2004 and 2011/2012, the proportion of patients undergoing brain imaging increased from 96% to 99%, as did the proportion receiving ≥3 brain scans (21%–39%), magnetic resonance imaging (13%–50%), vascular imaging (62%–88%), or echocardiography (52%–70%) (P<0.0001 for all comparisons). There was an increase in the proportion receiving any antithrombotic therapy (83%–91%, P<0.0001) but no change in use of anticoagulation (25% overall and 68% in subgroup with atrial fibrillation) or carotid revascularization (1.4%–1.5%, P=0.49). Conclusions:The use of investigations after stroke has increased over time without concomitant changes in medical or surgical management. Although initial neurovascular imaging is in accordance with practice guidelines, the use of multiple imaging procedures and routine echocardiography are of uncertain clinical effectiveness.
Relation of plasma lipids to Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND The relation between plasma lipid levels and Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD), and the impact of drugs to lower lipid levels remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation between plasma lipid levels and the risk of AD and VaD and the impact of drugs to lower lipid levels on this relationship. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional and prospective community-based cohort studies. PARTICIPANTS Random sample of 4316 Medicare recipients, 65 years and older, residing in northern Manhattan, NY. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Vascular dementia and AD according to standard criteria. RESULTS Elevated levels of non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and decreased levels of HDL-C were weak risk factors for VaD in either cross-sectional or prospective analyses. Higher levels of total cholesterol were associated with a decreased risk of incident AD after adjustment for demographics, apolipoprotein E genotype, and cardiovascular risk factors. Treatment with drugs to lower lipid levels did not change the disease risk of either disorder. CONCLUSIONS We found a weak relation between non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels and the risk of VaD. Lipid levels and the use of agents to lower them do not seem to be associated with the risk of AD.
Besides American Value , What Else Do We Know about Organizational Citizenship Behaviors in a NonU . S . Context ?

Almost the entire body of the empirical research on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) are based on American value and these U.S.-based behavioral theories have been treated as applicable to a universal population. Yet, OCBs are organization-specific, and have a cultural component. This implies that without taking “culture” into consideration while investigating the socially-based citizenship behaviors, our knowledge on OCBs will be parochial. Though, an increasing growth of OCB in a non-U.S. context corresponds to the call, it is remarkable that what our understanding of OCB beyond a non-U.S. context seems so fragmental. What appears to be missing is an integrated understanding of OCB research in a non-U.S. context. Our paper aims to be at the inception of increasing our understanding about OCB research in a non-U.S. context. Specifically, it investigates the conceptual constructs of OCBs in a non-U.S. context and ends with the advance research propositions for future empirical testing.
Elemental Distribution in Selected Agaricus and Rhizina Mushrooms in South Africa

The levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, lead, chromium and cadmium in four prevalent mushroom species in South Africa, namely two edible Agaricus bisporus species, one inedible Agaricus xanthodermus species and a poisonous type mushroom, Rezhina undulata are reported. Analytical results from the open vessel and microwave digestion approaches were compared. While higher levels of Ca and Mg were found in the edible types, the inedible and poisonous type mushrooms had relatively high levels of manganese, chromium, cadmium and lead. Agaricus xanthodermus had Ca (204), Mg (660), Fe (306), Mn (30), Cr (16.2), Pb (50.6) and Cd (29.5) mg kg−1 by dry weight, while Rhizina undulata, which grows on dead wood recorded Ca (121), Mg (517), Fe (130), Mn (30.7), Cr (32.1), Pb (49.5) and Cd (20) mg kg−1 by dry weight.
Review Article: Quinolone Arthropathy—Acute Toxicity to Immature Articular Cartilage

A class effect of quinolone antibacterial agents observed during animal toxicity testing is a specific arthropathy (QAP). Despite the growing list of laboratory animals susceptible to QAP and reports of arthralgia in patients treated with quinolones, the potential for QAP development in humans remains unknown. This review discusses current concepts in the biology of articular cartilage and how these concepts elucidate QAP pathogenesis. Biomechanical forces within synovial joints and toxicokinetic properties of quinolones contribute to QAP induction. Since a limited number of mechanistic pathways exist for acute articular damage, QAP may serve as a research tool to probe the pathobiology of injury to articular cartilage.
Self-consistent multi-mode time domain analysis of gyrotrons

A self-consistent time domain analysis of gyrotrons is presented which allows studying multi-mode, multi-frequency operation. The electromagnetic field in the gyrotron cavity is expanded with respect to complete sets of eigenfunctions so that space charge effects are included in the analysis. It is demonstrated that the strong numerical requirements of this method can be met by using a vector computer. The simulations show that the assumption of a monofrequent steady state operation of gyrotrons, which is made by the commonly used frequency domain methods is not always fulfilled. For a low Q gyrotron, both oscillation build-up and steady state operation is investigated including mode competition and window reflections. <<ETX>>
Problems in decentralized decision making and computation

Abstract : This thesis investigates certain fundamental problems in decentralized decision making and computation. We study the problem of whether a set of decision makers (or processors) with different (but related) information may make compatible decisions without communication and we characterize the computational complexity of this problem. We also analyze the complexity of other basic problems of decentralized decision making, such as decentralized detection (hypothesis testing). We then consider a scheme whereby a set of decision makers (processors) exchange and update tentative decisions which minimize a common cost function, given information they possess; we show that they are guaranteed to converge to consensus. Finally, we consider a broad class of asynchronous distributed (deterministic and stochastic) iterative optimization algorithms tolerating communication delays. We associate communication requirements with such algorithms and show that they converge appropriately under certain conditions which are no more severe than those required for their centralized counterparts. Several applications in human organizations, parallel computation and distributed signal processing are indicated. Additional keywords: decision theory. (Author).
Aspergillus Panophthalmitis Complicating Treatment of Pterygium

A 58-year-old woman lost her left eye due to Aspergillus panophthalmitis four months after excision of a ptery-gium. The patient had received postoperative beta radiation and developed a scleral ulcer in the area of treatment from which no organisms could be cultured on two occasions. Because of the difficulty of diagnosing superficial mycotic infections of the eye, and because the treatment of so-called radiation scleritis may worsen fungal infections, ophthalmologists need to be aware of the potential infectious complications associated with the treatment of pterygia.
Eosinophils and asthma.

To the Editor: Bousquet et al. (Oct. 11 issue)1 and others2 2345 report that there is a general association between numbers of eosinophils and the severity of asthma. Unfortunately, the controls for their bronchial-biopsy data1 may not have been appropriate, since material obtained post mortem canno
PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF DRUGS AND WHO PRESCRIBING INDICATORS USED IN ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTH EASTERN INDIA

Patients of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) attended the medicine department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with varieties of chief complaints like swelling of hind limb, hematemesis, abdominal distension and passing of starry black stools. The use of proton pump inhibitors, antioxidants, vitamins, laxatives, ulcer protective agents, cholagogues, corticosteroids, diuretics, antibiotics and hemorrheologic agents was very common for the treatment of ALD. The research was done to analyze the prescription pattern of drugs used in alcoholic liver disease patients’ in Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati in North Eastern India. A prospective observational; unicentric study was conducted in the medicine department of GMCH during February 2014 to May 2014. Patients who were attending to medicine department were enrolled in the study as per selection criteria. The information on alcoholic liver disease prescriptions was recorded and pattern of drugs used for it was analysed. A total of 118 patients were included in this study in four months period and their prescriptions were analyzed. The total number of male patients was much higher than female patients. As single prescription, pantoprazole was found to be the most frequently prescribed drugs, whereas cefotaxime and sulbactum were the most frequently used drugs as combination therapy. As per Wold Heath Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators, the average number of drugs per encounter was 7.1. Moreover, percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name, percentage of encounters with an injection, percentage of encounters with an antibiotics and percentage of drugs prescribed from National List of Essential Medicine of India (NLEMI) 2011 were 37.77, 42.22, 22.22 and 55.55 respectively. This unicentric study, shows that pantoprazole 80 mg and 40 mg were found to be the most commonly prescribed drug followed by lactiol monohydrate and vitamin B supplements in an alcoholic liver disease. Moreover, all WHO prescribing indicator showed a deviation from the standard prescribing indicators values, except antibiotics which were prescribed within the standard limits.
Renal dysfunction as a novel risk factor: microalbuminuria and cardiovascular risk.

only for elevated glucose or BMI values; the correlation extends well into the range of normal values. Apparently, the metabolic syndrome and microalbuminuria are tightly correlated with each other. This relation is of considerable interest because in patients with renal disease insulin resistance is found even in the very early stages [10], and even when GFR is still within the normal range (unpublished observations). Conversely, in a population sample it was found that insulin resistance (according to the HOMA index) was associated with a higher risk of chronic kidney disease [11]. The information obtained from microalbuminuria cannot be replaced by estimating the glomerular filtration rate. Although the reports in the literature are not entirely consistent, the study in Groningen showed that with increasing quantiles of urinary albumin excretion, the creatinine clearance tended to be higher and was lower only in the uppermost quantiles [12]. Although the creatinine clearance is not a reliable index of glomerular filtration, this observation would be plausible in view of a similar relation between GFR and albuminuria noted previously in diabetic patients [13]. There has been much discussion whether microalbuminuria reflects primarily a generalized endothelial cell dysfunction, as suggested by the Steno hypothesis [14], or whether it reflects a podocyte defect, as proposed more recently [15]. The observation that the rate of albumin escape from the plasma space is increased in patients with microalbuminuria [16] argues for the former possibility. The observation that the risk of being microalbuminuric was significantly higher for carriers of the Q-genotype of the 229 polymorphism of the podocin gene at any given level of body mass index or other correlates of microalbuminuria is more in favor of a podocyte problem [15].
Transport properties of toad kidney epithelia in culture.

The characteristics of a continuous line of toad kidney epithelial cells (A6) are described. These cells form a monolayer epithelium of high transepithelial electrical resistance (about 5,000 omega . cm2). The cells generate a transepithelial potential difference (apical surface negative) of about 9 mV. The short-circuit current is equivalent to net sodium flux. Net sodium flux is stimulated by aldosterone and by analogues of cAMP. The stimulation is readily reversible. Neither urea permeability nor osmotic water flow is altered by analogues of cAMP. Amiloride eliminates 90% of the short-circuit current. Thus A6 cells form an epithelium with several differentiated properties including hormonal regulation of transport.
Prophet: A Parallel Instruction-Oriented Many-Core Simulator

Most existing computer architecture simulators are cycle oriented, i.e., they are driven cycle by cycle. However, frequent switches among simulation contexts, excessive buffer accesses and tightly coupled manner often make such an architecture simulator slow, difficult to parallelize and hard to scale to large-scale many-core systems. In this paper, we propose Prophet, a parallel instruction-oriented simulation framework for many-cores. Prophet adopts a general instruction-oriented model to simulate processor cores, in which a simulator is built from the perspective of each simulated instruction impacting a small number of relevant processor components, as opposed to that of a large number of processor components executing many instructions in each cycle as in the cycle-oriented approach. Prophet determines the execution cycle of a simulated instruction based on the states of the relevant components impacted by the instruction, and update the components states after the execution of the instruction. Prophet also adopts a speculative model to decouple private resources from the shared resources (e.g., shared cache), which avoids unnecessary interactions between them and only pays a penalty upon a rare mis-speculation. We have designed and implemented a prototype of Prophet that supports both user-level and full-system simulation. Experimental results show Prophet can scale up to simulate thousands of simulated cores (4,096 cores in the current implementation) with good performance and small accuracy loss. It achieves average simulation speeds of about 98 and 235 MIPS (millions of simulated instructions per second) for full-system and user-level simulation, respectively, with only 3 percent IPC error rate and negligible deviation in cache simulation results. When run on a many-core platform (i.e., Intel Xeon Phi), it achieved an average simulation speed of about 413 MIPS.
The incidence and risk factors of community‐acquired hepatitis C in a cohort of Italian blood donors

To assess the incidence and source of community‐acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among subjects at low risk for blood‐borne diseases, we prospectively studied a cohort of 16,515 repeat blood donors over a mean follow‐up time of 36 months. Second‐ and third‐ generation methods were used for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti‐HCV) testing. HCV RNA was determined in the serum of anti‐HCV‐positive donors by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. Liver biopsy was performed in the viremic subjects. Risk factors for HCV infection were identified by a psychosocial questionnaire in the whole cohort. During follow‐up, 5 donors became infected with HCV. The incidence was 1 per 10,000 person‐years (95% confidence interval, 0.3‐2.4 per 10,000). During the 6 months before seroconversion, four subjects (80%) underwent medical or surgical percutaneous procedures, compared with 26.5% in the entire donor cohort (difference between frequencies, 53.5%; CI: 18.9‐89.1). One seroconverting donor had sexual intercourse with an infected subject. Only 1 infected donor developed clinically evident acute hepatitis. HCV RNA remained detectable in 4 of 5 subjects for 8 to 36 months after seroconversion, and liver biopsy showed chronic hepatitis in all cases. Thus, new cases of hepatitis C occur among individuals without a history of known risk factors, some of which may be caused by nosocomial exposure.
Activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis in microsurgical reconstructions in the lower extremities.

Coagulation and fibrinolysis activities in relation to trauma, surgery and thrombosed microanastomoses were studied during free-flap surgery in eight patients with lower-extremity defects due to recent trauma or chronic ulcers. One patient had an intraoperative thrombosis, and three more patients required reoperations on the same day due to postoperative thromboses; one of these also required a second reoperation due to flap failure. The baseline level of fibrinogen was slightly elevated in all patients except one, and was significantly higher in the patients who underwent reoperation. At the end of the primary surgery, distinct thrombin generation (TAT and F1+2) was seen in three patients with excessive bleeding, and all three later underwent reoperations. One of these patients generated excessive thrombin on the eighth postoperative day, upon removal of a necrotic flap. Thrombin generation (F1+2) was also seen at baseline in the patient with the intraoperative thrombosis, and persisted on the first postoperative day. D-dimer at baseline was higher in patients with recent trauma, and in two of these, both of whom underwent reoperations on the same day, D-dimer remained high perioperatively. Resistance to fibrinolysis with increased PAI-1 levels was seen in these two patients at the time of reoperation. In all, TAT and F1+2 were associated with the threat of flap failure. A preoperative hypercoagulable state and excessive bleeding during the operation were predictors of reoperation. The markers for coagulation and fibrinolysis could be used preoperatively to target antithrombotic control, and postoperatively to detect the threat of flap failure. Meticulous haemostasis during surgery might help to diminish the need for reoperations.