Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and etiological profile of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in nonsmokers

Background: Tobacco smoking has been recognized as the most important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for a long time, but recent studies have shown that nonsmokers also contribute to a significant proportion of COPD. This study was performed to find out the proportion of nonsmoker individuals among COPD patients and to determine various etiologies in nonsmoker COPD patients. Materials and Methods: This study was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Department of Pulmonary Medicine, MLN Medical College, Allahabad. A total of 200 COPD patients, aged >18 years of either gender with COPD, diagnosed by clinical and spirometric criteria (GOLD guideline) were included in the study. Results: Of the 200 COPD patients, the proportion of nonsmoker patients was 56.5%, and the smoker was 43.5%. Among 113 nonsmoker COPD patients, maximum number of patients (69.03%) belonged to low socioeconomic status but most important and statistically significant risk factor was exposure to biomass smoke (53.98%), other significant risk factors were treated pulmonary tuberculosis (32.74%), and long-standing asthma (14.16%). Risk factors that were not statistically significant were occupational exposure (9.73%), exposure to outdoor air pollution (3.54%), and lower respiratory tract infection during childhood (1.77%). The patients who were exposed to more than one risk factors, developed COPD at an earlier age. Conclusions: This study revealed that nonsmokers contribute a significant proportion of COPD patients. Multiple risk factors other than smoking also play a major role in the development of COPD, particularly exposure to biomass smoke, treated pulmonary tuberculosis, and long-standing asthma.
Systems-Level Engineering of Nonfermentative Metabolism in Yeast

We designed and experimentally validated an in silico gene deletion strategy for engineering endogenous one-carbon (C1) metabolism in yeast. We used constraint-based metabolic modeling and computer-aided gene knockout simulations to identify five genes (ALT2, FDH1, FDH2, FUM1, and ZWF1), which, when deleted in combination, predicted formic acid secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under aerobic growth conditions. Once constructed, the quintuple mutant strain showed the predicted increase in formic acid secretion relative to a formate dehydrogenase mutant (fdh1 fdh2), while formic acid secretion in wild-type yeast was undetectable. Gene expression and physiological data generated post hoc identified a retrograde response to mitochondrial deficiency, which was confirmed by showing Rtg1-dependent NADH accumulation in the engineered yeast strain. Formal pathway analysis combined with gene expression data suggested specific modes of regulation that govern C1 metabolic flux in yeast. Specifically, we identified coordinated transcriptional regulation of C1 pathway enzymes and a positive flux control coefficient for the branch point enzyme 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH). Together, these results demonstrate that constraint-based models can identify seemingly unrelated mutations, which interact at a systems level across subcellular compartments to modulate flux through nonfermentative metabolic pathways.
Estimation of Antenna Factor of reduced-height loaded wire antennas

This paper presents the initial investigation on the performance of different loaded wire antennas (e.g. inverted L, T, I and C-shaped antennas) as electromagnetic interference (EMI) sensors. The performance of these loaded antennas as EMI sensors is described in terms of the Antenna Factor for the desired and cross-polarized component of incident electric field. The Method of Moments with Pulse basis function and Point-matching technique has been used to evaluate the current distribution on the antenna surface and hence the Antenna Factor. The results have been compared with the data achieved using a commercial software - CST-Microwave Studio.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE LARGE SUBUNIT RUBISCO GENE SUPPORTS THE EXCLUSION OF AVRAINVILLEA AND CLADOCEPHALUS FROM THE UDOTEACEAE (BRYOPSIDALES, CHLOROPHYTA) 1

The placement of Avrainvillea and Cladocephalus in the family Udoteaceae (order Bryopsidales) has been questioned on the basis of nuclear, plastid, and other ultrastructural characteristics unique to these genera. Bayesian analysis of the chloroplast‐encoded LSU RUBISCO (rbcL) gene showed that the Udoteaceae is paraphyletic. Cladocephalus luteofuscus (P. Crouan et H. Crouan) Børgesen, Avrainvillea nigricans f. floridana D. Littler et Littler, and A. mazei G. Murray et Boodle form a clade with the freshwater alga Dichotomosiphon tuberosus (A. Braun ex Kütz.) A. Ernst that is basal to a clade that includes other members of the Udoteaceae, the Halimedaceae, and the Caulerpaceae. The noncalcified species Boodleopsis pusilla (Collins) W. R. Taylor, A. B. Joly et Bernat. groups with species of the calcified Udoteacean genera Penicillus, Rhipocephalus, Udotea, and Halimeda.
Human α-Defensin 6 Promotes Mucosal Innate Immunity Through Self-Assembled Peptide Nanonets

Netting the Bad Guys Antimicrobial peptides are an evolutionarily conserved component of innate immunity in the intestine. One family, α-defensins, typically exert their antimicrobial effects through microbicidal activity against bacteria. Humans express only two α-defensins, human defensin 5 (HD5) and HD6. HD5 exhibits bactericidal activity and plays a role in shaping the bacterial composition of the gut. HD6, on the other hand, does not show bactericidal activity and its function in the gut is unclear. Now, Chu et al. (p. 477, published online 21 June; see the Perspective by Ouellette and Selsted) show that HD6 protects against bacterial pathogens. Rather than killing them directly, HD6 binds to bacteria surface proteins and, through a process of self-assembly, forms fibrils and nanonets that ensnare invading bacterial pathogens. Rather than killing bacteria directly, a gut antimicrobial peptide forms netlike structures that ensnare invading bacteria. Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that contribute broadly to innate immunity, including protection of mucosal tissues. Human α-defensin (HD) 6 is highly expressed by secretory Paneth cells of the small intestine. However, in contrast to the other defensins, it lacks appreciable bactericidal activity. Nevertheless, we report here that HD6 affords protection against invasion by enteric bacterial pathogens in vitro and in vivo. After stochastic binding to bacterial surface proteins, HD6 undergoes ordered self-assembly to form fibrils and nanonets that surround and entangle bacteria. This self-assembly mechanism occurs in vivo, requires histidine-27, and is consistent with x-ray crystallography data. These findings support a key role for HD6 in protecting the small intestine against invasion by diverse enteric pathogens and may explain the conservation of HD6 throughout Hominidae evolution.
Agrypnia excitata in a patient with progeroid short stature and pigmented Nevi (Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome)

We report the video‐polysomnographic sleep characteristics of a 25‐year‐old woman with the Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome, a rare clinical condition characterized by progeria‐like aspect, peculiar multiple pigmented nevi, low stature, and cognitive impairment. Among the various exams, two overnight video‐polysomnographic recordings were carried out; moreover, cerebral MRI and molecular analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) were also performed. The video‐polysomnographic recordings showed the absence of clear sleep episodes but the presence of periods during which the patient had poor contact with the environment, stereotyped afinalistic movements of the upper limbs and hands, irregular or periodic breathing (with central apnea episodes), heart rate arrhythmia, and rapid eye movements. Cerebral MRI showed only diffuse mild enlargement of the cortical sulci and the molecular genetics analysis of the PRNP was normal. Our clinical and neurophysiological study seems to indicate that a particular condition of severe sleep disruption, similar to some extent to that reported in the fatal familial insomnia and in the Morvan fibrillary chorea, which has been indicated as Agrypnia Excitata in recent literature, might be associated with the Mulvihill‐Smith syndrome. The inclusion of a detailed study on the sleep characteristics of eventual additional patients will certainly help our understanding of this rare condition.
How to develop a differentiated supply chain strategy

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of supply chain (SC) design and operation by investigating how two case companies have developed and deployed differentiated SC strategies. This study primarily focuses on the operating part of the differentiated SC strategy, that is, how different manufacturing strategies – such as make‐to‐stock, assembly‐to‐order, and make‐to‐order – are used in contemporary manufacturing related SCs. However, this study also includes elements concerning supply and distribution parts. , – This study employs a descriptive multiple case study approach. The case organizations originate from Sweden, but they have significant international presence. Empirical data have been collected mainly from in‐depth interviews with key persons representing senior and middle management in the case companies. , – This research shows how two case companies have developed and deployed a differentiated SC strategy. The case study findings reveal that both the case companies already are employing several manufacturing strategies and also combine these with different distribution strategies. Up to now, the supply part of the differentiated SC strategy has been neglected but probably will be incorporated in the near future. This implies that one efficient way to develop a differentiated SC strategy could be to combine different supply, manufacturing and distribution strategies into various SC solutions. By combining relatively few strategies, it is possible to develop several differentiated SC solutions. , – The research work is limited to Swedish companies, however, the case companies are in top three in their respective industries measured by sales, which provides ground for the generalization of the research. , – This paper gives an insight to managers and practitioners in how to develop and deploy a differentiated SC strategy. , – Several studies have discussed the appropriate SC strategy issue but failed to address the need to utilize several SC solutions concurrently. However, this paper contributes by discussing how to develop and deploy a differentiated SC strategy and how to manage these multiple SCs.
In0.53Ga0.47As-Based nMOSFET Design for Low Standby Power Applications

III-V n-channel MOSFETs based on InxGa1-xAs are evaluated for low-power (LP) technology at a sub-10-nm technology node. Aggressive design rules are followed, while industry-relevant FinFET architecture is selected. We show, for the first time, quantum confinement-related leakage and performance tradeoff done self-consistently in performance evaluation using an in-house developed semiclassical tool. In this paper, we focus on In0.53Ga0. 47As as the channel material, as it has been investigated heavily in the literature. Furthermore, it has a bulk bandgap EG similar to that of Ge, another highly studied complementary p-FET channel material. Higher In-content results in lower EG and hence larger band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) current, resulting in more stringent design requirements for LP applications. A comparison is done with the state-of-the-art tensile-Si (t-Si) technology, with roughly 2-GPa stress, under similar constraints LG, design rules). Thus, we show that while for 0.75 V operation, In0.53Ga0. 47 As performance is limited by the BTBT and fails to outperform t-Si, it starts to perform better than t-Si below 0.7 V. VDD scaling further results in an increased performance gap between the two material systems.
Simulation of stall inception of a high speed axial compressor with rotor-stator interaction

This paper solves unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations to simulate stall inception of NASA compressor stage 35 with rotor-stator interaction. A full annulus of the rotor-stator stage is simulated with an interpolation sliding boundary condition (BC) to resolve the rotor-stator interaction. The tip clearance is fully gridded to accurately resolve tip vortices and its effect on stall inception. The unsteady simulation indicates that the inception of rotating stall in Stage 35 is spike inception. The stall cells grow quickly and brings the rotor to full stall within roughly 1.2 revolutions. The stall cell propagates at about 90% of rotor speed in the counter rotor rotation direction in relative the frame.
The Influence of Dietary Factors on Reproduction in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster

II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS III TABLE OF CONTENTS IV LIST OF FIGURES VI LIST OF APPENDICES VII CHAPTER 1 1 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTION 1 SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 3 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: 6 RECOGNITION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 9 Perceiving Volatile Cues 9 Perceiving Non-Volatile/Contact Cues 12 THESIS OBJECTIVES: 14 CHAPTER 2 16 MATERIALS AND METHODS 16 FLY STOCKS: 16 REARING CONDITIONS: 18 FLY COLLECTIONS: 18 GENETICS: 19 NUTRITION: 19 BEHAVIOURAL ASSAYS: 20 The 1x1 assay: 20 The 6x6 assay: 20 PROGENY ANALYSIS: 21 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: 21 CHAPTER 3 22 FOOD AND REPRODUCTION 22
Inhibition of return in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive obsessions and/or compulsions that interfere with daily functioning. Neuropsychological studies have suggested that such perseverative behaviors may be due to underlying attentional deficits. Inhibition of return (IOR) is an adaptive mechanism that is thought to assist visual search by biasing attention after a critical, short interval to novel, previously unattended areas. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether deficient IOR mechanisms could underlie some of the attentional, and perhaps behavioral, problems, reported in OCD patients. Using a computerized IOR paradigm, participants were required to respond to a target that appeared at either the same or different location to a precue that was presented either 100 ms or 700 ms earlier. Results indicate that patients had a reduced IOR for targets presented in the left visual field, suggesting lateralized anomalies in shifting attention. Results are consistent with lateralization anomalies previously reported in OCD. (JINS, 2004, 10, 54–59.)
A theory of microtubule catastrophes and their regulation

Dynamic instability, in which abrupt transitions occur between growing and shrinking states, is an intrinsic property of microtubules that is regulated by both mechanics and specialized proteins. We discuss a model of dynamic instability based on the popular idea that growth is maintained by a cap at the tip of the fiber. The loss of this cap is thought to trigger the transition from growth to shrinkage, called a catastrophe. The model includes longitudinal interactions between the terminal tubulins of each protofilament and “gating rescues” between neighboring protofilaments. These interactions allow individual protofilaments to transiently shorten during a phase of overall microtubule growth. The model reproduces the reported dependency of the catastrophe rate on tubulin concentration, the time between tubulin dilution and catastrophe, and the induction of microtubule catastrophes by walking depolymerases. The model also reproduces the comet tail distribution that is characteristic of proteins that bind to the tips of growing microtubules.
Fatigue Crack Initiation in Nickel-based Superalloy René 88 DT at 593 °C

Fatigue crack initiation in the polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy, Rene 88 DT, was investigated at 593 °C in air using an ultrasonic fatigue testing instrument. Within the testing stress range of 500 - 760MPa, all fatigue failures initiated from internal regions. Large crystallographic facets were observed at the crack initiation sites in most failed fatigue samples. Critical microstructure features controlling fatigue crack initiation and the early stage of small crack growth were identified by the combination of serial sectioning, orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) and quantitative fractographic analysis. Large crystallographic facets at crack initiation sites were formed in regions close to Σ 3 annealing twin boundaries within favorably oriented large grains. The facet planes are parallel to Σ 3 annealing twin boundaries and are of {111} type. Cyclic deformation substructures were studied by transmission electron microscopy. At the low cyclic stresses and long lives examined, fatigue failure at 593°C is controlled by strain localization in large, favorably oriented grains and subsequent propagation of small cracks through neighborhoods of favorably oriented grains. Annealing twin boundaries, prevalent in the microstructure, appear to be important in cyclic strain localization.
EFECTO REOLÓGICO DE LA AGREGACIÓN DE NANOPARTÍCULAS A FLUIDOS LUBRICANTES

Se analiza la variacion en las propiedades reologicas de una suspension creada con lubricante PAO (polialfaolefina) y la incorporacion de nanotubos de carbono multicapa (MWCNT) a dicho fluido. La primer parte se baso en pruebas reologicas para determinar el efecto sobre el esfuerzo y en la viscosidad del PAO con cantidades de MWCNT de 0,3% y 1% en peso. En la segunda parte se trabajo en el analisis del efecto de la temperatura para las suspensiones anteriormente mencionadas, a 25°C, 55°C y 75 °C. Las medidas reologicas se obtuvieron en un reometro rotacional, en estado estacionario, con la geometria cono-plato 1° y 40 mm de diametro. Se encontro que los cambios de la viscosidad y el esfuerzo cortante son funcion de las siguientes variables: porcentaje en peso de nanotubos de carbono, temperatura de trabajo y tasa de cizalladura.
Thermodynamic electron equivalents model for bacterial yield prediction: Modifications and comparative evaluations

Modifications are made to an earlier thermodynamic model (TEEM1) for prediction of maximum microbial yields from aerobic and anaerobic as well as heterotrophic and autotrophic growth. The revised model (TEEM2) corrects for lower yields found with aerobic oxidations of organic compounds where an oxygenase is involved and with growth on single‐carbon (C1) compounds. TEEM1 and TEEM2 are based on energy release and consumption as determined from the reduction potential or Gibbs free energy of ½‐reaction reduction equations together with losses of energy during energy transfer. Energy transfer efficiency is a key parameter needed to make predictions with TEEM2, and was determined through evaluations with extensive data sets on aerobic heterotrophic yield available in the literature. For compounds following normal catabolic pathways, the best‐fit value for energy transfer efficiency was 0.37, which permitted accurate predictions of growth with a precision of 15%–20% as determined by standard deviation. Using the same energy transfer efficiency, a similar precision, but somewhat less accuracy was found for organic compounds where oxidation involves an oxygenase (estimates 8% too high) and for C1 compounds (estimates 17% too high). In spite of the somewhat lower accuracy, the TEEM2 modifications resulted in improved predictions over TEEM1 and the comparison models. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 377–388. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Priors and Desires : a Model of Optimism , Pessimism , and Cognitive Dissonance

This paper offers a model of optimism, pessimism, and cognitive dissonance. Beliefs—and consequently choices—depend not only on relevant information, but also on what makes the decision maker better-off. In an associated experiment, subjects who stood to gain from an increase in the price of a financial asset predicted higher prices than subjects who stood to gain from a decrease in price. Consistent with the model, better information resulted in a smaller bias, but incentives for accuracy made no difference. JEL classification: D01,D03,D80,D81,D83,D84.
Hemodynamic and metabolic responses to leukotriene C4 in isolated perfused rat liver

Responses of isolated perfused rat liver to leukotriene C4 were studied in order to assess the mechanisms involved in leukotriene‐mediated liver injury. Infusion of leukotriene C4 (11 and 44 pmoles per min per gm liver weight) into the portal vein resulted in a rise in portal pressure, a decrease in oxygen consumption, an increase in hepatic glucose and lactate efflux and lactate/pyruvate ratio in the perfusate and a small decrease in bile flow. Isoproterenol (1 μM) counteracted the effects of leukotriene C4 on respiration and portal pressure, whereas bile flow and glucose efflux were reversibly stimulated. The same changes were observed upon with‐drawal of leukotriene C4. The release of glucose was correlated with the increase in oxygen consumption upon both isoproterenol addition and withdrawal of leukotriene C4. These results are indicative of leukotriene C4‐induced microcirculatory redistribution of perfusate flow. Since, in the presence of nitroprusside (50 μM), both the effects of leukotriene C4 and their reversal by isoproterenol were diminished, a vascular site of action can be assumed. Accordingly, the accompanying metabolic responses can be explained by gradual changes in oxygen supply to parts of the liver. Reversibility of the leukotriene C4 effects and lack of short‐term impairment of viability of the isolated liver suggest that leukotriene‐mediated liver injury is a long‐term effect related to events subsequent to microcirculatory changes.
Optical properties of biomimetic probes engineered from erythrocytes

Light-activated theranostic materials offer a potential platform for optical imaging and phototherapeutic applications. We have engineered constructs derived from erythrocytes, which can be doped with the FDA-approved near infrared (NIR) chromophore, indocyanine green (ICG). We refer to these constructs as NIR erythrocyte-mimicking transducers (NETs). Herein, we investigated the effects of changing the NETs mean diameter from micron- (≈4 μm) to nano- (≈90 nm) scale, and the ICG concentration utilized in the fabrication of NETs from 5 to 20 μM on the resulting absorption and scattering characteristics of the NETs. Our approach consisted of integrating sphere-based measurements of light transmittance and reflectance, and subsequent utilization of these measurements in an inverse adding-doubling algorithm to estimate the absorption (μa) and reduced scattering (μs′) coefficients of these NETs. For a given NETs diameter, values of μa increased over the approximate spectral band of 630–860 nm with increasing ICG concentration. Micron-sized NETs produced the highest peak value of μa when using ICG concentrations of 10 and 20 μM, and showed increased values of μs′ as compared to nano-sized NETs. Spectral profiles of μs′ for these NETs showed a trend consistent with Mie scattering behavior for spherical objects. For all NETs investigated, changing the ICG concentration minimally affected the scattering characteristics. A Monte Carlo-based model of light distribution showed that the presence of these NETs enhanced the fluence levels within simulated blood vessels. These results provide important data towards determining the appropriate light dosimetry parameters for an intended light-based biomedical application of NETs.