Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does dynamical downscaling introduce novel information in climate model simulations of precipitation change over a complex topography region?

Current climate and future climate‐warming runs with the RegCM Regional Climate Model (RCM) at 50 and 11 km‐resolutions forced by the ECHAM GCM are used to examine whether the increased resolution of the RCM introduces novel information in the precipitation field when the models are run for the mountainous region of the Hellenic peninsula. The model results are inter‐compared with the resolution of the RCM output degraded to match that of the GCM, and it is found that in both the present and future climate runs the regional models produce more precipitation than the forcing GCM. At the same time, the RCM runs produce increases in precipitation with climate warming even though they are forced with a GCM that shows no precipitation change in the region. The additional precipitation is mostly concentrated over the mountain ranges, where orographic precipitation formation is expected to be a dominant mechanism. It is found that, when examined at the same resolution, the elevation heights of the GCM are lower than those of the averaged RCM in the areas of the main mountain ranges. It is also found that the majority of the difference in precipitation between the RCM and the GCM can be explained by their difference in topographic height. The study results indicate that, in complex topography regions, GCM predictions of precipitation change with climate warming may be dry biased due to the GCM smoothing of the regional topography. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Neurobiological Pathways Linking Socioeconomic Position and Health

Across individuals, risk for poor health varies inversely with socioeconomic position (SEP). The pathways by which SEP affects health have been viewed from many epidemiological perspectives. Central to these perspectives is the notion that socioeconomic health disparities arise from an interplay between nested, recursive, and cumulative environmental, social, familial, psychological, behavioral, and physiological processes that unfold over the life span. Epidemiological perspectives on socioeconomic health disparities, however, have not yet formally integrated emerging findings from neuropharmacological, molecular genetic, and neuroimaging studies demonstrating that indicators of SEP relate to patterns of brain neurotransmission, brain morphology, and brain functionality implicated in the etiology of chronic medical conditions and psychological disorders. Here, we survey these emerging findings and consider how future neurobiological studies in this area can enhance our understanding of the pathways by which different dimensions of SEP become embodied by the brain to influence health throughout life. 5-HIAA = 5-hyrdoxyindoleacetic acid; SEP = socioeconomic position.
The Susceptibility Pattern of Salmonella species to commonly used Antibiotics in the Bamenda District Health Area, Cameroon.

The susceptibility of Salmonella bacteria to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole is threatened by the emergence of resistance strains of Salmonella. A cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2014 to November 2014 in the Regional Hospital Bamenda on individuals presenting with symptoms of salmonellosis. The Salmonellae were isolated from stool by culturing in Salmonella-Shigella Agar and Kliger Iron Agar, the later in which the isolates produced specific biochemical characteristics which were conclusive. They were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disc diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton Agar following both CLSI and EUCAST manual instructions. A total of 253 samples were collected and 22 cases were positive for Salmonella species with a prevalence of 8.70%. The susceptibility of the isolated Salmonellae to seven antibiotics was noted with ciprofloxacin having an overall sensitivity of 52.38%, ofloxacin, 47.62%, ceftriaxone, 47.62%, and gentamicin, 38.10%. Chloramphenicol had a low sensitivity percentage of 28.57%, while co-trimoxazole and amoxicilin had a high resistance level of 100.00% (0% sensitivity). The fluoroquinolones were found to be the best drugs for the treatment of typhoid; but there was also a noticeable re-emergence of chloramphenicol susceptible Salmonella.
Techniques for preparation prior to embryo transfer.

BACKGROUND Embryo transfer (ET) is the final and most vulnerable step in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Pregnancy rates after ET may be influenced by several factors including cervical preparation, the performance of a dummy or mock transfer, the choice of catheter, the use of ultrasound guidance, removing the mucus or blood on the catheter, and straightening of the utero-cervical angle. Recent research has focused on improving the embryo transfer technique in the hope of increasing the success rates of IVF. This review focused on preparation techniques as it is unclear whether these simple interventions will make ET an easier procedure with higher success rates and lower complication rates. OBJECTIVES To determine whether different preparation techniques prior to ET result in improved IVF outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched (November 2008). The citation lists of relevant publications, reviews, and included studies were handsearched. Experts in the field were contacted to identify any unpublished trials. SELECTION CRITERIA Only truly randomised controlled trials of the interventions straightening the utero-cervical angle, dummy transfer prior to ET, cervical and endometrial preparation, and embryo afterloading were included. The primary outcomes were live birth rate and pregnancy rate per woman randomised. Participants were women with any type of subfertility undergoing IVF treatment and reaching the ET stage. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors critically appraised potentially eligible studies. Ten studies were included in this review and data were independently extracted by two review authors. Disagreements were resolved by discussion and involvement of a third author. Risk of bias was also independently assessed by two authors. Dichotomous outcome data were expressed as Peto odds ratios. Subgroup analysis and the investigation of heterogeneity were planned. MAIN RESULTS At the time of ET, there was no evidence of benefit with the following interventions: full bladder, removal of cervical mucus, flushing the endocervical canal or the endometrial cavity. We did not identify any eligible studies for dummy transfer, changing patient position, the use of a tenaculum, or embryo afterloading. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the evidence in this review, no specific implications for practice are made. It is recommended, in general, that more, larger studies are done on ET preparation techniques. The studies need to be of a higher quality with better explained methods, more specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, and more participants.
In Vitro Studies of Red Cell Metabolism in Haemoglobin H Disease

Summary. A study has been made of glycolysis and some membrane abnormalities in the red cells of six patients with haemoglobin H disease. Haemoglobin H has been shown to be thermolabile and this property was used to determine the amount present in blood samples. Fresh red cells have increased anaerobic glycolysis and hexose monophosphate pathway activity in accord with the low MCHC of the cells and the young red cell population present in blood samples. However, red cell ATP was low in three of four patients studied and GSH was low in four of six patients. Red cell phospholipid was abnormally high in the four patients studied. Following incubation in vitro, red cell phospholipid, AChE activity, ATP and GSH decreased in an abnormal manner not attributable to the abnormal degree of lysis that occurred. Studies with young and old red cell fractions indicated that whilst GSH was significantly low in older cells hexose monophosphate pathway activity tended to be high. The significance of these results is discussed
Do Sexual Assault Bystander Interventions Change Men's Intentions? Applying the Theory of Normative Social Behavior to Predicting Bystander Outcomes

The high prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses has led to the implementation of health communication programs to prevent sexual assault. A few novel programs focus on primary prevention by targeting social norms related to gender and masculinity among men through bystander intervention. Guided by the theory of normative social behavior, this study sought to examine the relative effect of campaigns communicating positive versus negative injunctive norms and the interaction between exposure to such campaign messages and perceived descriptive norms and relevant cognitive moderators (e.g., outcome expectations, injunctive norms, group identity, ego involvement) among men. A 2 (high/low descriptive norms) × 2 (high/low moderator) × 3 (public service announcement) independent groups quasi-experimental design (N = 332) was used. Results indicated that messages communicating positive injunctive norms were most effective among men who were least likely to engage in bystander intervention. Furthermore, descriptive norms played a significant role in behavioral intentions, such that those with stronger norms were more likely to report intentions to engage in bystander behaviors in the future. Similarly, the moderators of aspiration, injunctive norms, social approval, and ego involvement had a significant positive effect on behavioral intentions. These findings have important implications for future message design strategy and audience segmentation.
Properties of an inducible extracellular neuraminidase from an Arthrobacter isolate

The elective isolation of a soil microorganism, tentatively assigned to the genus Arthrobacter, which produced an extracellular neuraminidase is described. The secretion of neuraminidase from washed cells in minimal medium required the presence of sialo-containing glycoproteins, whereas free N-acetyl-neuraminic asid of N-acetylmannosamine were poor inducers. No enzyme could be dected in the induction fitrated of cells, in the absence of inducer or in the culture filtrate of cells grown in a complete medium. The routine enzyme inducer was a hot-water extract of "edible bird's nest. " Mild acid treatment (0.05 N H2SO4) of this extract increased enzyme activity two--to threefold and the specific activity about eightfold. Neuraminidase induction with acid-treated bird's nest was manifested at a linear rate for 6 h without increase in cell number. No other anticipated glycohydrolase or protease activities were foud. The amount of enzyme located within the cells was barely detectable as compared to that found in the induction filtrate. Experiments with chloramphenicol or chlortetracycline indicate that de novo protein synthesis was required for neuraminidase production and that this exoenzyme was not released from a preformed pool. Neuraminidase from this source has an apparent molecular weight of 87,000, a pH optimum of 5 to 6, and an apparent Km of 2.08 mg/ml for collocalia mucoid and 3.3 X 10(-3) M for N-acetylneuraminlactose and is insensitive both to Ca2+ ions and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Preliminary studies indicate that the enzyme can hydrolyze alpha-2,3-, alpha-2,6-, or alph-2-8-N-acetylneuraminylglycosidic linkages. From total activity data and purification criteria, it would appear that this isolate can produce about 5 mg of enzyme per liter of induction medium.
Evaluation of Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat by Ultrasound and Its Relationship with Clinical and Metabolic Parameters of Insulin Resistance and Subclinical Atherosclerosis

Objective: this study set out to investigate the association between abdominal obesity ultrasound measurements, waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome (MS) components and subclinical atherosclerosis. Methods: sixty patients were recruited and divided equally into two groups, according to the presence of MS. All subjects had an ultrasound examination for measurement of visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness and carotid IMT. Results: the values of visceral fat thickness, preperitoneal circumference and carotid IMT were higher in patients with MS than in control subjects. Visceral fat thickness showed significant correlations with many cardiovascular risk factors (waist circumference, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, HDL and LDL cholesterol). All abdominal obesity measurements were correlated with BMI. Carotid IMT showed correlations with age, visceral fat and preperitoneal circumference. Visceral fat was independently associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures and fasting plasma glucose. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and BMI were independent determinants of carotid IMT. Conclusion: visceral fat thickness showed the best correlation with MS components, suggesting that it could be a useful parameter in cardiovascular risk assessment. Age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and BMI were independent determinants of subclinical atherosclerosis. MS was associated with a higher carotid IMT.
Molecular dissection of Salmonella FliH, a regulator of the ATPase FliI and the type III flagellar protein export pathway

FliH is a soluble component of the flagellar export apparatus that binds to the ATPase FliI, and negatively regulates its activity. The 235‐amino‐acid FliH dimerizes and interacts with FliI to form a hetero‐trimeric (FliH)2FliI complex. In the present work, the importance of different regions of FliH was examined. A set of 24 scanning deletions of 10 amino acids was constructed over the entire FliH sequence, along with several combined deletions of 40 amino acids and truncations of both N‐ and C‐termini. The mutant proteins were examined with respect to (i) complementation; (ii) dominance and multicopy effects; (iii) interaction with wild‐type FliH; (iv) interaction with FliI; (v) inhibition of the ATPase activity of FliI; and (vi) interaction with the putative general chaperone FliJ. Analysis of the deletion mutants revealed a clear functional demarcation between the FliH N‐ and C‐terminal regions. The 10‐amino‐acid deletions throughout most of the N‐terminal half of the sequence complemented and were not dominant, whereas those throughout most of the C‐terminal half did not complement and were dominant. FliI binding was disrupted by C‐terminal deletions from residue 101 onwards, indicating that the C‐terminal domain of FliH is essential for interaction with FliI. FliH dimerization was abolished by deletion of residues 101–140 in the centre of the sequence, as were complementation, dominance and interaction with FliI and FliJ. The importance of this region was confirmed by the fact that fragment FliHC2 (residues 99–235) interacted with FliH and FliI, whereas fragment FliHC1 (residues 119–235) did not. FliHC2 formed a relatively unstable complex with FliI and showed biphasic regulation of ATPase activity, suggesting that the FliH N‐terminus stabilizes the (FliH)2FliI complex. Several of the N‐terminal deletions tested permitted close to normal ATPase activity of FliI. Deletion of the last five residues of FliH caused a fivefold activation of ATPase activity, suggesting that this region of FliH governs a switch between repression and activation of FliI. Deletion of the first 10 residues of FliH abolished complementation, severely reduced its interaction with FliJ and uncoupled its role as a FliI repressor from its other export functions. Based on these data, a model is presented for the domain construction and function of FliH in complex with FliI and FliJ.
Relationship between Intraoperative Mean Arterial Pressure and Clinical Outcomes after Noncardiac Surgery: Toward an Empirical Definition of Hypotension

Background:Intraoperative hypotension may contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and myocardial injury, but what blood pressures are unsafe is unclear. The authors evaluated the association between the intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the risk of AKI and myocardial injury. Methods:The authors obtained perioperative data for 33,330 noncardiac surgeries at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. The authors evaluated the association between intraoperative MAP from less than 55 to 75 mmHg and postoperative AKI and myocardial injury to determine the threshold of MAP where risk is increased. The authors then evaluated the association between the duration below this threshold and their outcomes adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results:AKI and myocardial injury developed in 2,478 (7.4%) and 770 (2.3%) surgeries, respectively. The MAP threshold where the risk for both outcomes increased was less than 55 mmHg. Compared with never developing a MAP less than 55 mmHg, those with a MAP less than 55 mmHg for 1–5, 6–10, 11–20, and more than 20 min had graded increases in their risk of the two outcomes (AKI: 1.18 [95% CI, 1.06–1.31], 1.19 [1.03–1.39], 1.32 [1.11–1.56], and 1.51 [1.24–1.84], respectively; myocardial injury 1.30 [1.06–1.5], 1.47 [1.13–1.93], 1.79 [1.33–2.39], and 1.82 [1.31–2.55], respectively]. Conclusions:Even short durations of an intraoperative MAP less than 55 mmHg are associated with AKI and myocardial injury. Randomized trials are required to determine whether outcomes improve with interventions that maintain an intraoperative MAP of at least 55 mmHg.
Cytotoxicity of natural extract from Tegillarca granosa on ovarian cancer cells is mediated by multiple molecules.

PURPOSE To determine the cellular and molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by Haishengsu (HSS), nature extract from Tegillarca granosa, toward human ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3. METHODS The cytotoxic effects of HSS on two ovarian cancer cell lines were tested by XTT assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by HSS were demonstrated by DNA ladder assay and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. RT-PCR or flow cytometric analysis was used to investigate the expression of bcl-2, caspase-3, p53, beta-catenin, E-cadherin, CD24, and CD44. RESULTS Continuous exposure to HSS for 48 h produced cytotoxic effects on both cell lines in a concentration dependent manner, which was accompanied by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Apoptosis associated gene bcl-2 and caspase-3, tumor metastasis associated gene ? -catenin, but not E-cadherin, and CD24, but not CD44, were involved in the effect of growth inhibition induced by HSS. Although p53 mediated apoptosis induced by HSS in OVCAR-3 cells, it was not required in SKOV-3 cells. CONCLUSION HSS has a potential cytotoxic effect on human ovarian cancer cells, which was mediated by multiple signal molecules including bcl-2, caspase-3, beta-catenin, and CD24. These findings will provide a theoretical basis for HSS's potential clinical application as a novel marine anti-cancer agent.
Torsional electromechanical systems based on carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most highly studied nanomaterials due to their unique (and intertwined) mechanical and electrical properties. Recent advances in fabrication have allowed devices to be fabricated that are capable of applying a twisting force to individual CNTs while measuring mechanical and electrical response. Here, we review major results from this emerging field of study, revealing new properties of the material itself and opening possibilities for advances in future devices.
Integrated Antenna-in-Package on Low-Cost Organic Substrate for Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communication Applications

This work proposes a Yagi-Uda array with fan-like driver for millimeter-wave application. The proposed antenna array is built on a low-cost and low-loss multilayer organic substrate for flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) package. The package size is 16 × 8 × 0.44 mm3. The proposed four-element antenna array results in a peak gain of 12 – 14.5 dBi at operating frequency band. The proposed antenna achieves both broadband and high gain characteristics for millimeter-wave application. The proposed antenna array is also used to develop a low-cost 60-GHz switched-beam antenna array with butler matrix network. This work provides a cost-effective approach to implement a switched-beam antenna array for fifth-generation mobile communications (5G), IEEE 802.11ad, such as smart phone, laptops, and wireless router.
Oscillation, Conduction Delays, and Learning Cooperate to Establish Neural Competition in Recurrent Networks

Specific memory might be stored in a subnetwork consisting of a small population of neurons. To select neurons involved in memory formation, neural competition might be essential. In this paper, we show that excitable neurons are competitive and organize into two assemblies in a recurrent network with spike timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP) and axonal conduction delays. Neural competition is established by the cooperation of spontaneously induced neural oscillation, axonal conduction delays, and STDP. We also suggest that the competition mechanism in this paper is one of the basic functions required to organize memory-storing subnetworks into fine-scale cortical networks.
Signal-induced degradation of I(kappa)B(alpha): association with NF-kappaB and the PEST sequence in I(kappa)B(alpha) are not required

Signal-induced degradation of I(kappa)B(alpha) via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway requires phosphorylation on residues serine 32 and serine 36 followed by ubiquitination on lysines 21 and 22. We investigated the role of other regions of I(kappa)B(alpha) which may be involved in its degradation. Here we report that the carboxy-terminal PEST sequence is not required for I(kappa)B(alpha) signal-induced degradation. However, removal of the PEST sequence stabilizes free I(kappa)B(alpha) in unstimulated cells. We further report that a PEST deletion mutant does not associate well with NF-(kappa)B proteins but is degraded in response to signal. Therefore, we conclude that both association with NF-(kappa)B and a PEST sequence are not required for signal-induced I(kappa)B(alpha) degradation. Additionally, the PEST sequence may be required for constitutive turnover of free I(kappa)B(alpha).
A QCL model with integrated thermal and stark rollover mechanisms

There is a need for a model that accurately describes dynamics of a bound-to-continuum terahertz quantum cascade laser over its full range of operating temperatures and bias conditions. In this paper we propose a compact model which, through the inclusion of thermal and Stark effects, accurately reproduces the light-current characteristics of an exemplar bound-to-continuum terahertz quantum cascade laser. Through this model, we investigate the dynamics of this laser with a view to applications in high-speed free space communications.
Nosocomial bloodstream infections in the critically ill.

To the Editor. —In the article by Dr Pittet and colleagues,1approximately 20% of the time the cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection was infection of intravenous (IV) lines. To better understand the study's impact, we need to know the duration of each of these 20 lines and whether the authors had a standard time of replacement of these lines that could have contributed to their being the cause of bacteremia. Were any of the IV line sites kept in place too long and could infection have been prevented through replacement or removal? Other investigators have suggested that nosocomial bloodstream infections from IV lines cause increased hospital stay, morbidity and mortality, and serious economic consequences, but can be reduced through diligent catheter care and replacement.2