Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biofilm and mercury availability as key factors for mercury accumulation in fish (Curimata cyprinoides) from a disturbed amazonian freshwater system

The Petit‐Saut hydroelectric reservoir was filled in 1994 on the Sinnamary River in French Guiana (Amazonian basin). Flooding of the equatorial rain forest led to anoxia in most of the water column and enhanced mercury methylation in the reservoir hypolimnion. We selected the benthivorous/omnivorous fish species Curimata cyprinoides to investigate total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) bioavailability and bioaccumulation capacities in the reservoir and downstream in the Sinnamary River. Mercury concentrations in the dorsal skeletal muscle were 10‐fold higher in fish from the downstream zone. Stomach contents and stable nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios showed that biofilms and the associated invertebrate communities represented important food sources at the two sites. The δ13C measurements indicated that biofilms in the flooded forest zone of the reservoir consist of endogenous primary producers; downstream, they are based on exogenous organic matter and microorganisms, mainly from the anoxic layers of the reservoir. Total mercury and MeHg concentrations in the biofilms and associated invertebrates were much higher at the downstream site compared to concentrations at the reservoir. Our results clearly show the importance of MeHg export from the anoxic layers of this tropical reservoir. We conclude that differences between biofilm composition and MeHg concentrations in the ingested food could explain the marked differences observed between mercury levels in fish.
Factors Affecting the Success of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Thailand

This exploratory study compares factors which according to previous studies affect the success of thedevelopment, implementation, adoption, and use of Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP) inorganizations. Six factors organized in two categories (Characteristics of Users and the System andOrganizational Issues and System Development Approaches) were decomposed into 73 associated indicators.Data related to the indicators was collected by questionnaire from a sample of 211 stakeholders withexperience with ERP used in organizations in Thailand. Although the results confirmed many findingsreported in previous studies important differences were found between male and female stakeholders as wellas between those working in IT andnon IT positions. In addition, compared to previous studies less emphasisthan expected was given to the importance of characteristics of the organization, characteristics of users,change management activities, and aspects of system development and implementation. The findings are ofparticular importance to ERP project leaders/members, users, and vendors in Thailand.
Phospholipase activity of Candida albicans isolated from vagina and urine samples

Introduction and objective: Candida albicans is the most virulent among the Candida species, and can cause several forms of candidiasis in human. Extracellular phospholipases in C. albicans is discussed as one of the virulence factors. The present study, focused on extracellular phospholipase activities in different isolates of C. albicans isolated from vagina and urine samples from Ahvaz, Iran. In addition, phospholipase activities were compared in C. albicans isolated from two different sources. Materials and methods: In the present study, phospholipase activity of 100 isolates of C. albicans with urine and vaginitis origin was demonstrated using Sabouraud's dextrose agar supplemented with egg yolk. Results: The phospholipase activity was detected in all tested isolates with a high level in Pz<0.70. In the present study phospholipase activity with higher Pz values was more common in vaginal isolates (84.7% isolates with Pz value <0.70) compared with 75% in urine isolates. Conclusion: In the present study, 100% clinical isolates of C. albicans from vaginitis and urine samples demonstrated phospholipase activity.
Impaired Quadriceps Rate of Torque Development and Knee Mechanics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Patellar Tendon Autograft

Background: Rate of torque development (RTD) measures the ability of a muscle to produce torque quickly. Decreased quadriceps RTD may impair performance of sporting tasks after surgery. Currently, little is known about variations in quadriceps RTD between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)–reconstructed and noninjured limbs. Purpose: To determine the differences in RTD of the quadriceps, the rate and timing of knee extensor moment (KEM) development, and knee flexion excursion during running after ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study involved 21 patients (11 female) 6 months after ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft (median [IQR]: age, 18 [16-20] years; mass, 68.18 [61.34-75] kg; height, 1.74 [1.66-1.78] m). Patients performed four 5-second maximal voluntary isometric strength trials of both limbs on an isokinetic dynamometer. RTD was calculated as the mean slope of the torque-time curve between 20% and 80% of total time to peak torque. Then, patients underwent 3-dimensional motion analysis while running on an instrumented treadmill at a self-selected running speed (mean ± SD, 2.68 ± 0.28 m/s). The rate of knee extensor moment (RKEM) was calculated as the mean slope of the moment curve between 10% and 30% of stance phase. Between-limb comparisons were determined with a paired t test for peak KEM, RKEM, knee flexion excursion during 10% to 30% of stance, and time to generate KEM. Results: In the reconstructed limb, deficits in the peak rate of quadriceps torque development compared with the noninjured limb existed both isometrically (RTD, 257.56 vs 569.11 Nm/s; P < .001) and dynamically (RKEM, 16.47 vs 22.38 Nm/kg·m·s; P < .001). The reconstructed limb also generated a KEM later in the stance phase compared with the noninjured limb (11.37% vs 9.61% stance; P < .001) and underwent less knee flexion excursion (15.5° vs 19.8°; P < .001). Conclusion: After ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft, patients have lower RTD and RKEM in the reconstructed limb. Deviations in RTD and the timing of the KEM can change the way the knee is loaded and can potentially increase injury risk and future development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Rehabilitation should consider exercises designed to improve RTD and prepare the limb for the demands of sport performance.
Correspondence of event‐related potential tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging during language processing

Combining event‐related potentials (ERP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may provide sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to clarify the functional connectivity of neural processes, provided both methods represent the same neural networks. The current study investigates the statistical correspondence of ERP tomography and fMRI within the common activity volume and time range in a complex visual language task. The results demonstrate that both methods represent similar neural networks within the bilateral occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus, precuneus and middle frontal gyrus, and the left inferior and superior parietal lobe, middle and superior temporal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus. The mean correspondence of both methods over subjects was significant. On an individual basis, only half of the subjects showed significantly corresponding activity patterns, suggesting that a one‐to‐one correspondence between individual fMRI activation patterns and ERP source tomographies integrated over microstates cannot be assumed in all cases. Hum. Brain Mapping 17:4–12, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Algorithms for dynamic geometric data streams

The increasing interconnectivity of modern computer systems generates huge amounts of data, which cannot be stored. In this thesis we develop data streaming algorithms, which process the data sequencially without storing. We only store a small sketch or summary of the data, and use it to approximately answer queries about the content of the data. In particular we look at the model of dynamic geometric data streams. Here we are given a data stream consisting of m insert and delete operations of points from a ddimensional space into a set M . We develop data stream algorithms, which use at most poly(log m) bits of memory: First we show how to efficiently maintain a sample of M in dynamic data streams. Then we develop a coreset technique, which can be used to maintain (1+ )-approximative k-Median, k-Means, and MaxCut clusterings of the dynamic point set M . We furthermore show many more applications of the coreset technique and use it to accelerate iterative clustering algorithms in practice. In the last chapter we introduce data stream algorithms to approximately count minors like triangles or bipartite cliques in huge graphs given as data streams. They can be used to obtain structural information about sozial graphs and the webgraph.
Development of Mice with Osteoblast-Specific Connexin43 Gene Deletion

Genetic deficiency of Cx43 in vivo causes skeletal developmental defects, osteoblast dysfunction and perinatal lethality. To determine the role of Cx43 in the adult skeleton, we developed two models of osteoblast-specific Cx43 gene deletion using Cre mediated replacement of a “floxed” Cx43 allele with a LacZ reporter gene. Cre recombinase expression in osteoblasts was driven by either the osteocalcin OG2 promoter or the 2.3 kb fragment of the Colα1(I) promoter. Homozygous Cx43fl/flmice, in which the Cx43 coding region is flanked by two loxP sites, were crossed with Cre expressing mice in a heterozygous Cx43-null background [Cx43±; Colα1(I)-Cre or Cx43±; OG2-Cre]. Cx43 gene ablation was demonstrated in tissues by selective X-gal staining of cells lining the endosteal surface, and in cultured osteoblastic cells from calvaria using different approaches. Although no LacZ expression was observed in proliferating calvaria cells, before osteoblast differentiation begins, post-proliferative cells isolated from conditional knockout mice [Cx43fl/−; Colα1(I)-Cre or Cx43fl/−; OG2-Cre] developed strong LacZ expression as they differentiated, in parallel to a progressive disappearance of Cx43 mRNA and protein abundance relative to controls. Selective Cre mediated Cx43 gene inactivation in bone forming cells will be useful to determine the role of Cx43 in adult skeletal homeostasis and overcome the perinatal lethality of the conventional null model.
Epidemiological Trends among the Population with Chronic HCV Infection in the Netherlands

Background As the field of antiviral therapy for chronic HCV infection is rapidly evolving, this study aimed to assess the epidemiological changes in patient and disease characteristics among individuals with chronic HCV infection. Methods This study included all consecutive patients with chronic HCV monoinfection who were referred between 1990 and 2013 to the Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, a large tertiary centre in the Netherlands. To identify trends over time, the study population was divided into six equal eras based on date of first visit to the outpatient clinic. Results A total of 1,779 patients were diagnosed with chronic HCV infection. Mean age increased over time from 43.6 (sd 13.8) years to 51.7 (sd 11.2) years (P<0.001). The number of patients who were referred with cirrhosis increased over time, from 31 (25%) patients in Era 1 to 118 (42%) patients in Era 6 (P<0.001), respectively. More patients were referred with HCV genotype 1a and 3 in the last era, with 27 (48.2%) and 15 (14.0%) patients in Era 1 and 58 (54.2%) and 60 (21.8%) patients in Era 6 (P<0.001 both), respectively. The vast majority of patients (69.5%) were born between 1950 to 1975, with 62.5% of the patients being born between 1945 and 1965. Conclusions The HCV-infected population is ageing and is more often referred with severe liver disease. This study stresses the importance of urgently implementing national HCV screening programmes in order to be able to decrease the future burden of chronic HCV infection in the Netherlands.
The Estimation of Lethal doses for Acyclovir, Insulin and Ondansetron on developing chick embryos

There is paucity of data for lethal doses of insulin, ondansetron and acyclovir on developing chick embryo. The study was conducted to estimate the lethal doses for these drugs. Study also aims at observing Lowest published toxic concentration (TCLo), Lowest published lethal dose (LDLo), No Observable Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL), Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) for these drugs. Total of 132 eggs were taken for study which were divided into four groups. The number of survived eggs was noted for specific dose of each drug and on the basis of same lethal doses for each drug was evaluated. EPI software was used for statistical analysis. Cent percent mortality was seen in group injected with 2mg of ondansetron. The dose 5IU(International Unit) of insulin was estimated as lethal dose and 2.5 mg for acyclovir.
Survey of eye injuries in Norwegian children

Abstract. A review of the medical records of 238 children younger than 16 years admitted with ocular injury to the University Hospital in Trondheim during a 10‐years period was undertaken to provide information about the causes, circumstances and visual outcome of ocular trauma in young patients. Children with ocular injury represented 14% of all paediatric eye admissions. The majority were boys (77%). The frequency of injuries among boys increased markedly from the age of 8 years, while the frequency was almost the same among girls in all age groups. The most common cause of injury was projectiles (21.5%) followed by sticks, twigs and pencils (10.1%), falls (10.1%), bow and arrows and catapults (9.7%) and balls (8.8%). The most frequent diagnosis was contusion (43%). Perforating eye injuries amounted to 19%. Follow‐up examination showed that 49% of children with eye injuries had some visual deficit, including eighteen children (8%) with visual acuity worse than 0.1. Because most of the eye injuries among children are preventable, more appropriate strategies for the prevention of these should be implemented.
THE USE OF A COMPUTER MODEL TO SIMULATE EPITHELIAL PATHOLOGIES

The complexity of the interactions of the many rules governing cell behaviour and the changes that lead to the pathological features seen in disease is such that linking cause and effect can be very difficult. However, the use of computers to model normal biological and pathological processes provides a powerful technique for studying the effects of the interactions of a variety of biological rules. Such an approach is strengthened by using a graphical display that simulates the organization of cells in a tissue. Skin, and specifically the epidermis, is characterized by a regular morphology and the ability to regenerate itself throughout adult life and there are considerable biological data available on the normal and pathological processes that affect this organ. A model of normal skin has been developed which shows a structure similar to normal epidermis and is capable of healing itself if damaged. This paper describes the effects on the overall structure of introducing mutations to individual rules in the model. Changes that alter cell proliferation or differentiation are introduced and the effects that these produce are compared with epidermal pathologies. Even a simple model is capable of producing insights into the types of events that may occur in a variety of dermatopathological conditions.
A Comparison of Above-Ground and Below-Ground Populations of Culex pipiens pipiens in Chicago, Illinois, and New York City, New York, Using 2 Microsatellite Assays

Abstract Aboveground and belowground populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens pipiens are traditionally classified as form (f.) pipiens and f. molestus, respectively, and gene flow between forms is thought to be limited. Relatively few f. molestus populations have been found in the United States, which has hindered their study in North America. In this investigation, we used microsatellites to characterize a recently discovered population of f. molestus in Chicago, IL, and compared levels of genetic diversity and differentiation in above-ground and below-ground populations from Chicago and New York City, NY. Levels of genetic diversity were markedly lower in both f. molestus populations. Pairwise FST values between populations indicated that f. molestus populations were highly divergent from each other, as well as from their associated aboveground populations. The most likely number of genetic clusters depended on the number of loci used; we began with a set of 8, and reanalyzed the specimens with 17. Using a panel of 17 loci, there were 4 clusters, 1 for each below-ground population, and 1 for each pair of above-ground populations. Our findings are supportive of the hypothesis that f. molestus populations in Chicago and New York City arose from local aboveground populations.
Place branding: are we wasting our time? Report of an AMA special session

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a special session entitled “Place branding: Are we wasting our time? ”, held at the American Marketing Association’s Summer Marketing Educators’ conference in 2014. Design/methodology/approach – The report details the outcome of an Oxford-style debate with two opposing teams of two persons – one team supporting and one team opposing the motion. The opening speaker of each team had 10 minutes to put their case across, and the closing speaker had 8 minutes. Teams took to the stand alternately, matching up against each other’s arguments. Findings – The outcome of the debate points towards a need for place brands to develop as more inclusive and organic entities, in which case it may be best for place practitioners to avoid creating and imposing a place brand and instead help shape it from the views of stakeholder constituencies. This shifts the notion of place branding towards an activity centred on “curation”. Originality/value – The use of a competitive de.
Tripartite Effects: Exploring Users’ Mental Model of Mobile Gestures under the Influence of Operation, Handheld Posture, and Interaction Space

ABSTRACT In this research, we conducted an elicitation study with 54 participants to evaluate user-defined mobile gestures given three types of operations, handheld postures, and interaction spaces, respectively, to investigate the effects of these factors on mental model. The results of the elicitation study revealed that each of the three factors significantly affected the users’ mental models, which could be reflected by the characteristics (e.g., nature, number of steps, and spatial utility) of the user-defined mobile gestures. In addition, we found that users tended to assign different roles to mid-air and on-screen gestures based on their motor ability given a handheld gesture and their interpretation of the characteristics and requirements of an operation. We further derived a set of gestures commonly defined in the elicitation study for a list of representative operations, and we share our insights into users’ mental models and the implications on future mobile-gesture design in different contexts.
How Many Choices Are Good? Measurement of the Effects of Course Choice on Perceptions of a Marketing Option

This study examines the effects of amount of choice given students in selecting courses to complete a marketing minor, referred to as a marketing option. It examines how differing levels of choice can affect perceptions of, and feelings about, a marketing option. The course choice process is also explored. The impact of choice on students’ desire for the option depended on the level of interest in the courses available. Perceived value of the marketing option to employers and for student's future careers was greatest when there was some choice, but not too much. Tests for emotional reactions supported the findings in that they also indicated that choice can be associated with diminishing returns, especially when the choices are not particularly interesting. The results of this study suggest that students do want choice, but within limits, and they do appear to place value on guidance and direction.
Near Field Properties and Plasmonic Effects of a Periodic Bowtie Antenna Array Embedded in a Substrate with Different Depths

 Abstract—We numerically investigate the near field properties and plasmonic effects of a periodic bowtie antenna array which is embedded in a substrate with different depths by means of finite element method with three-dimensional calculations. The electromagnetic modes obtained from the embedding cases are quite different from that of air background case of the same size, resulting in an intensity enhancement and a redshift phenomenon. We find that the embedded depth of the bowtie antenna in a silica substrate is an important parameter which can influence the field enhancement and the position of peak resonant wavelengths. The near-field intensity becomes less intense and the spectrum of peak resonances red-shifted as the embedded depth is increased.
The survival of Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococci in specimens of sputum sent to the laboratory by post

The isolation rates of H. influenzae and pneumococci from fresh specimens of sputum are compared with those from samples sent to the laboratory by post. The rate for both organisms from postal specimens is found to be approximately one half of that from fresh ones. The finding that postal specimens tend to be more acid than fresh ones does not seem to bear significantly on the survival of organisms. The examination of three fresh specimens from each patient, instead of a single sample, increases the isolation rate of H. influenzae from 40% to 70% in patients with pus in the sputum. The rate for pneumococci is increased from 32% to 41%. The corresponding increases in mucoid sputum are from 15% to 23% for H. influenzae and from 15% to 34% for pneumococci.