Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examination of aerosol effects on the development of supercell storm using the WRF Double-Moment ( WDM ) microphysics schemes

Aerosol effects on large-scale stratiform clouds studied via several climate models (Menon 2004; Lohmann and Feichter 2005; Takemura et al. 2005) suggest that the suppression of precipitation with increased aerosols can alter the radiative fluxes due to changes in cloud lifetime or liquid water path. It is not certain whether the suppression of precipitation applies for deep convective cloud with increasing aerosol concentration. It is worth noting that most previous studies of aerosol-cloud interaction were primarily concentrated on warm and stratiform clouds. Generally speaking, despite the critical role of deep convective clouds in general circulation as well as the Earth-atmospheric radiative and hydrological budget, studies of aerosol-cloud interaction in this type of clouds are still in demand. Recently, aerosol effects on deep convective clouds have been evaluated through several observational and modeling works (Khain et al. 2005; Wang 2005; Feingold 2006). However, the formation and development of precipitation in convective clouds to increased aerosols do not follow the same process as in stratiform or warm clouds. Aerosol effects on cloud microphysics and precipitation could be non-monotonic under the different meteorological and aerosol conditions, because of the complicated coupling between the cloud microphysics and storm dynamics (Seifert and Beheng 2006; Fan et al. 2007; van den Heever and Cotton 2007; Lee et al. 2008). The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerosol effects on the development of supercell storm, focusing on the storm morphology and precipitation. Supercell thunderstorm, which is characterized by a deep, persistent, rotating updraft, is in fact the most prolific procedures of denser ice particles such as graupel and hail. Thus, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) DoubleMoment 6-class (WDM6) Microphysics scheme (Lim and Hong 2009), which includes the graupel substance, will be used. Even though several previous studies stressed the importance of the microphysical drop size distribution (or size itself) and evaporative cooling rates on tornadogenesis (van den Heever and Cotton 2004; Snook and Xue 2008), Few studies, which concerned aerosolrelated microphysical effects on the evolution of supercell storms, have been reported (Lerach et al. 2008). This paper is organized as follows. Section 2 outlines the numerical experiments conducted in this study, and their results are discussed in Section 3. Concluding remarks appear in the final section.
On the weak limit of compact operators on the reproducing kernel Hilbert space and related questions

Abstract By applying the so-called Berezin symbols method we prove a Gohberg- Krein type theorem on the weak limit of compact operators on the non- standard reproducing kernel Hilbert space which essentially improves the similar results of Karaev [5]: We also in terms of reproducing kernels and Berezin symbols investigate the structure of invariant subspaces of compact operators.
Errors and uncertainties in the measurement of ultrasonic wave attenuation and phase velocity

This paper presents an analysis of the error generation mechanisms that affect the accuracy of measurements of ultrasonic wave attenuation coefficient and phase velocity as functions of frequency. In the first stage of the analysis we show that electronic system noise, expressed in the frequency domain, maps into errors in the attenuation arid the phase velocity spectra in a highly nonlinear way; the condition for minimum error is when the total measured attenuation is around 1 Neper. The maximum measurable total attenuation has a practical limit of around 6 Nepers and the minimum measurable value is around 0.1 Neper. In the second part of the paper we consider electronic noise as the primary source of measurement error; errors in attenuation result from additive noise whereas errors in phase velocity result from both additive noise and system timing jitter. Quantization noise can be neglected if the amplitude of the additive noise is comparable with the quantization step, and coherent averaging is employed. Experimental results are presented which confirm the relationship between electronic noise and measurement errors. The analytical technique is applicable to the design of ultrasonic spectrometers, formal assessment of the accuracy of ultrasonic measurements, and the optimization of signal processing procedures to achieve a specified accuracy.
A gender perspective on conflict management strategies of nurses.

PURPOSE To apply a gender perspective to synthesis of research findings on conflict management. ORGANIZING CONSTRUCT The Thomas-Kilmann Mode Instrument (TKI), for measuring five conflict-handling strategies: avoiding, compromising, collaborating, accommodating, and competing. METHOD Nursing research studies with the TKI and other studies are synthesized from perspectives in three gender theories. CONCLUSIONS Findings were that two conflict management strategies, avoiding and compromising, were used predominantly by all categories of nurses. Possible reasons for over- and underuse of the remaining three strategies (collaborating, accommodating, competing) are described. Implications of these findings for nurses and nursing organizations are discussed.
Modified Skin Incisions for Mastectomy: The Need for Plastic Surgical Input in Preoperative Planning

Skin-sparing mastectomy by definition describes the procedure of mastectomy, either simple or modified radical, with a minimum amount of skin excision. The surgical skin excision must: (1) include the nipple-areola complex, (2) include the biopsy site, and (3) allow for access to the axilla for possible dissection. In 27 mastectomies, the senior author has had direct input in the preoperative skin planning. All patients underwent immediate breast reconstruction. In large-breasted women, the mastectomy was performed to a Wise-type pattern. In small-breasted women, the mastectomy involved minimal skin excision followed by reconstruction. Non-continuous incisions were frequently used in small-breasted women, thereby minimizing breast scarring. When appropriately applied, skin-sparing mastectomy can greatly improve the final aesthetic result of the breast.
Seven Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Antigen-Antibody Combination Assays: Evaluation of HIV Seroconversion Sensitivity and Subtype Detection

ABSTRACT In this study, we evaluated the performance of two prototype human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) combination assays, one from Abbott Laboratories (AxSYM HIV Ag-Ab) and the other from bioMerieux (VIDAS HIV Duo Ultra), versus five combination assays commercially available in Europe. The assays were Enzygnost HIV Integral, Genscreen Plus HIV Ag-Ab, Murex HIV Ag-Ab Combination, VIDAS HIV Duo, and Vironostika HIV Uniform II Ag-Ab. All assays were evaluated for the ability to detect p24 antigen from HIV-1 groups M and O, antibody-positive plasma samples from HIV-1 groups M and O, HIV-2, and 19 HIV seroconversion panels. Results indicate that although all combination assays can detect antibodies to HIV-1, group M, subtypes A to G, circulating recombinant form (CRF) A/E, and HIV-1 group O, their sensitivity varied considerably when tested using diluted HIV-1 group O and HIV-2 antibody-positive samples. Among combination assays, the AxSYM, Murex, and VIDAS HIV Duo Ultra assays exhibited the best antigen sensitivity (at ∼25 pg of HIV Ag/ml) for detection of HIV-1 group M, subtypes A to G and CRF A/E, and HIV-1 group O isolates. However, the VIDAS HIV Duo Ultra assay had a lower sensitivity for HIV-1 group M and subtype C, and was unable to detect subtype C antigen even at 125 pg of HIV Ag/ml. The HIV antigen sensitivity of the VIDAS HIV Duo and Genscreen Plus combination assays was ∼125 pg of HIV Ag/ml for detection of all HIV-1 group M isolates except HIV-1 group O while the sensitivity of Vironostika HIV Uniform II Ag-Ab and Enzygnost HIV Integral Ag-Ab assays for all the group M subtypes was >125 pg of HIV Ag/ml. Among the combination assays, the AxSYM assay had the best performance for detection of early seroconversion samples, followed by the Murex and VIDAS HIV Duo Ultra assays.
Vitamin D and spondyloarthritis

In cross-sectional studies, vitamin D deficiency is frequent in spondyloarthritic patients and associated with increased spondyloarthritis (SpA) activity and structural damage. Experimental studies also show that vitamin D interferes with molecular pathways critically involved in SpA, especially regarding entheseal inflammation and ossification (involving cytokines such as IL-23 and sclerostin). Vitamin D deficiency might also affect the course of the disease through periodontal and gut inflammation, leading to increased functional impairment. Therefore, Vitamin D receptor selective agonists could represent a promising therapeutic pathway in this pathology. Randomised-controlled intervention studies are required in order to further elucidate complex relationships between vitamin D deficiency and SpA.
Recognition of colored road traffic light signals by normal and color-vision-defective observers.

Normal and color defective observers were asked to identify 13 signal light colors as either red, green, or yellow under laboratory conditions simulating road traffic signals but with only chromaticity and brightness differences as cues for identification. Choice reaction times and errors were measured. A high correlation between these yields was found and each was analyzed separately. Special statistical techniques were necessary for analysis of the errors. Reaction times provided a sensitive measure and proved simpler to analyze than errors. It was concluded that the chromaticity boundaries similar to those specified by ASA D10-1 (1958) were more reliable for all classes of observers than those more liberal boundaries established by the CIE (1955) and BS:1376 (1953). None of the yellow filters proved satisfactory for color defectives. Reaction times and errors suggest that the extension of the yellow limit of the red signals in the new U. S. standard (1964) may be undesirable.
The Origin, Formation and Developmental Significance of the Epicardium: A Review

Questions on the embryonic origin and developmental significance of the epicardium did not receive much recognition for more than a century. It was generally thought that the epicardium was derived from the outermost layer of the primitive myocardium of the early embryonic heart tube. During the past few years, however, there has been an increasing interest in the development of the epicardium. This was caused by a series of new embryological data. The first data showed that the epicardium did not derive from the primitive myocardium but from a primarily extracardiac primordium, called the proepicardial serosa. Subsequent data then suggested that the proepicardial serosa and the newly formed epicardium provided nearly all cellular elements of the subepicardial and intermyocardial connective tissue, and of the coronary vasculature. Recent data even suggest important modulatory roles of the epicardium and of other proepicardium-derived cells in the differentiation of the embryonic myocardium and cardiac conduction system. The present paper reviews our current knowledge on the origin and embryonic development of the epicardium.
Persistence, Distribution, and Emission of Telone C35 Injected into a Florida Sandy Soil as Affected by Moisture, Organic Matter, and Plastic Film Cover

Abstract With the phase-out of methyl bromide scheduled for 2005, alternative fumigants are being sought. This study of Telone C35, a mixture of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) with chloropicirin (CP), focuses on its emissions, distribution, and persistence in Florida sandy soil in microplots with different soil–water and organic matter carbon (C) content with and without two different plastic film mulches. The addition of CP did not affect the physical behavior of the isomers of 1,3-D. Slower subsurface dispersion and longer residence time of the mixed fumigant occurred at higher water content. An increase in the percent organic carbon in the soil led to a more rapid decrease for chloropicirin than for 1,3-dichloropene isomers. The use of a virtually impermeable film (VIF) for soil cover provided a more even distribution and longer persistence under all the conditions studied in comparison to polyethylene (PE) film cover or no cover. The conditions of near field capacity water content, low organic matter, and a virtually impermeable film cover yielded optimum conditions for the distribution, emission control, and persistence of Telone C35 in a Florida sandy soil.
Myxococcus xanthus encodes an ATP-dependent protease which is required for developmental gene transcription and intercellular signaling

The bsgA gene of Myxococcus xanthus plays an essential role in the regulation of early gene expression during fruiting body formation and sporulation. bsgA mutants behave as though unable to initiate a required cell-cell interaction and consequently fail to transcribe normal levels of many developmentally induced genes. We determined the nucleotide sequence of bsgA, which predicts a single gene encoding a 90.4-kDa protein. The deduced BsgA protein shares 45 and 48% amino acid identity with the lon genes of Escherichia coli and Bacillus brevis, respectively. The cloned bsgA gene was expressed in E. coli, and the BsgA protein was partially purified and found, like its E. coli homolog, to be an ATP-dependent protease. Thus, the basis for the phenotype of bsgA mutants is likely to be a defect in intracellular proteolysis.
Sulfonylureas and ischaemic preconditioning; a double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of glimepiride and glibenclamide.

AIMS Glimepiride is a new sulfonylurea for diabetes treatment which is supposed to impact less on extra-pancreatic ATP-dependent K+ channels than the conventional drug glibenclamide. This study was performed to evaluate whether this results in a better maintenance of ATP-dependent K+ channel mediated ischaemic myocardial preconditioning. METHODS AND RESULTS In a double-blind placebo-controlled study the period of total coronary occlusion during balloon angioplasty of high grade coronary artery stenoses was used as a model to compare the effects of both drugs. Quantification of myocardial ischaemia was achieved by recording the intracoronary ECG and the time to the occurrence of angina during vessel occlusion. All patients underwent three dilatations. The first dilatation (dilatation 1) served to determine the severity of ischaemia during vessel occlusion. During dilatation 2, baseline values were recorded. Thereafter, glimepiride (15 patients: 1.162 mg), glibenclamide (15 patients: 2.54 mg) or placebo (15 patients) were intravenously administered over 12 min. Dilatation 3 started 10 min after the beginning of the drug administration. Mean ST segment shifts in the placebo group decreased by 35% (dilatation 2: 0.23; dilatation 3:0.15 mV; CI -0.55 to 0.00 mV; P=0.049). A similar reduction also occurred in the glimepiride group, in which repetitive balloon occlusion led to a 34% reduction (dilatation 2: 0.35; dilatation 3: 0.23 mV; CI -0.21 to -0.02 mV; P=0.01). There was little influence however, on mean ST segment shifts in the glibenclamide group (dilatation 2 and dilatation 3: 0.24 mV; CI -0.10 to 0.25 mV; P=0.34). Accordingly, time to angina during balloon occlusion slightly increased (by 30%) in the placebo group (dilatation 2: 37 s; dilatation 3: 48 s; CI 0.0 to 15.0 s; P=0.16); increased by 13% in the glimepiride group (dilatation 2: 40 s; dilatation 3: 45 s; CI 0.0 to 14.0 s; P=0023); and remained unchanged in the glibenclamide group (dilatation 2 and dilatation 3: 30 s; CI -7.5 to 7.5 s; P=0.67). CONCLUSION These results show that glimepiride maintains myocardial preconditioning, while glibenclamide might be able to prevent it.
Cell adhesion and the immune system: a case study using earthworms

In the earthworm's immune system, cell adhesion, which occurs by putative receptors on leukocytes, is essential after recognition of self vs. non‐self. Confrontation with foreign antigens is a normal event in the environment, replete with microbial pathogens that pose a threat to survival. To better understand what happens when an effector cell first recognizes a foreign target followed by its adhesion to it, isolated leukocytes, in sufficient quantities to be subjected to various analyses, have been extremely beneficial. In vitro approaches when accompanied by biochemical, immunological, and molecular technologies, have opened up new vistas concerning the immune response of earthworms and other invertebrates. The most recent discovery includes the preliminary identification of cell differentiation (CD) markers that play vital roles in recognitive and adhesive events. Certain leukocyte effectors show characteristics of natural killer (NK) cells that may act differently depending upon their source, whether autogeneic, allogeneic, xenogeneic, or expressed under normal or varying environmental conditions including exposure to xenobiotics. At the level of earthworm evolution, there is apparently a dissociation of phagocytosis from the process of killing by NK‐like effectors. There are at least three future challenges. First, it is essential to determine the precise nature of the CD markers with respect to their molecular structure. Second, once their molecular and biochemical characteristics have been defined, the role of these markers in cellular and humoral mechanisms must be clarified in order to define effector cell products and resulting immune responses. Third, there is a need to differentiate between the several lytic factors that have been found in earthworms with respect to molecular structure, and biochemical and functional characterization. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:237–253, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation and Characterization of a Newly Deduced Cell Wall Hydrolase Gene (cwlJ) Which Affects Germination of Bacillus subtilis Spores

ABSTRACT The predicted amino acid sequence of Bacillus subtilis ycbQ (renamed cwlJ) exhibits high similarity to those of the deduced C-terminal catalytic domain of SleBs, the specific cortex-hydrolyzing enzyme of B. cereus and the deduced one of B. subtilis. We constructed acwlJ::lacZ fusion in the B. subtilischromosome. The β-galactosidase activity and results of Northern hybridization and primer extension analyses of the cwlJgene indicated that it is transcribed by EςE RNA polymerase. cwlJ-deficient spores responded to bothl-alanine and AGFK, the A580 values of spore suspensions decreased more slowly than in the case of the wild-type strain, and the mutant spores released less dipicolinic acid than did those of the wild-type strain during germination. However, the mutant spores released only slightly less hexosamine than did the wild-type spores. In contrast, B. subtilis sleB spores did not release hexosamine at a significant level. While cwlJand sleB spores were able to germinate, CJSB (cwlJ sleB) spores could not germinate but exhibited initial germination reactions, e.g., partial decrease inA580 and slow release of dipicolinic acid. CJSB spores became slightly gray after 6 h in the germinant, but their refractility was much greater than that of sleB mutant spores. The roles of the sleB and cwlJmutations in germination and spore maturation are also discussed.
Lack of apoptosis in patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and mutated adenine nucleotide translocator‐1 gene

Adenine nucleotide translocator‐1 (ANT‐1), encoded by chromosome 4 (4q34‐35 locus), is a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores that are involved in apoptotic mechanisms. We studied muscle biopsies from seven individuals with autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia caused by ANT‐1 mutations. We found no instance of terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity nor significant expression of apoptosis‐related proteins. Furthermore, there was no morphological evidence of apoptosis at the ultrastructural level. Thus, degeneration of muscle in this disorder is nonapoptotic. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 265–269, 2002
The changes in membrane potential produced by alternating current or repetitive square pulses in the frog skeletal muscle fibres.

Although a number of investigations have been done on the threshold of excitation to alternating current(AC)in the nerve fibre(COPPEE,1934;HILL et al.,1937;KATZ,1939;TASAKI and SATO,1951),little informations have been submitted about the repetitive responses to the suprathreshold AC in the muscle fibre.ROsENBLuETH et al.(1940)pointed out the change in resting Polarization near the AC poles in the cat nerve.They stated that when the intensity of the AC applied was progressively increased,the regions of the nerve at the poles became progressively more negative with respect to a distant crushed point.KATZ and Lou(1947)suggested,applying the AC to the frog muscle, that the cathodal half-cycles at each stimulated point caused a local depolarization which summed during successive cycles and the effective stimulating electrodes covered the whole length of the fibre.Recently,KUMAZAWA(1966) studied the voltage-duration relationship in the threshold responses of single muscle fibre to transversely applied middle-frequency pulse stimulation and concluded that the local depolarization ascribed to a nonpolarity mechanism was independent of the intensity and duration of stimulating pulses.However, no information has been submitted on the maximum frequency,to which the muscle membrane can respond with spike potentials or local responses,and the nature of membrane depolarization produced by repetitive stimuli at higher frequencies. The present study deals with the changes in membrane potential of the muscle fibre produced by the AC in comparison with the repetitive square pulses.Some of the results were published in the preliminary report(MASHIMA and WASHIO,1967). The mechanical responses following the changes in membrane potential will be described in the next paper.
Association between rotator cuff abnormalities and reduced acromiohumeral distance.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between rotator cuff abnormalities and reduced acromiohumeral distance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Acromiohumeral distance was measured on conventional radiographs and on MR images. Three age- and sex-matched patient groups each including 21 patients were stratified according to acromiohumeral distance on conventional radiographs (group 1, <or= 7 mm; group 2, 8-10 mm; group 3, > 10 mm). Acromiohumeral distance was related to the presence, location, and size of a rotator cuff tear and the degree of fatty degeneration of the muscle assessed on MR arthrography. The relative influence on acromiohumeral distance of the various MR arthrographic findings was assessed. Spearman's rank correlation and stepwise regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS In group 1 (acromiohumeral distance <or= 7 mm) full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears were present in 90% (19/21) of the patients, infraspinatus tendon tears in 67% (14/21) of the patients, and subscapularis tendon tears in 43% (9/21) of the patients. The size of rotator cuff tendon tears and the degree of fatty degeneration in all rotator cuff muscles showed a significant negative correlation with acromiohumeral distance (p < 0.05). After stepwise regression, a significant relative influence on acromiohumeral distance remained for size of rotator cuff tear (p < 0.0001) and for degree of fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus muscle (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION Tendon tears and fatty muscle degeneration in the rotator cuff correlate with reduced acromiohumeral distance. Size of rotator cuff tear and degree of fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus muscle have the most pronounced influence on acromiohumeral distance.