Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Snowcover Influence on Backscattering from Terrain

The effects of snowcover on the microwave backscattering from terrain in the 8-35 GHz region are examined through the analysis of experimental data and by application of a semiempirical model. The model accounts for surface backscattering contributions by the snow-air and snow-soil interfaces, and for volume backscattering contributions by the snow layer. Through comparisons of backscattering data for different terrain surfaces measured both with and without snowcover, the masking effects of snow are evaluated as a function of snow water equivalent and liquid water content. The results indicate that with dry snowcover it is not possible to discriminate between different types of ground surface (concrete, asphalt, grass, and bare ground) if the snow water equivalent is greater than about 20 cm (or a depth greater than 60 cm for a snow density of 0.3 g · cm-3). For the same density, however, if the snow is wet, a depth of 10 cm is sufficient to mask the underlying surface.
Changes in enteric neurone phenotype and intestinal functions in a transgenic mouse model of enteric glia disruption

Aims: The influence of enteric glia on the regulation of intestinal functions is unknown. Our aim was to determine the phenotype of enteric neurones in a model of glia alterations and the putative changes in intestinal motility and permeability. Methods: Transgenic mice expressing haemagglutinin (HA) in glia were used. Glia disruption was induced by injection of activated HA specific CD8+ T cells. Control mice consisted of non-transgenic littermates injected with activated HA specific CD8+ T cells. Immunohistochemical staining for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was performed on jejunal submucosal plexus (SMP) and myenteric plexus (MP). Neurally induced jejunal muscle activity was characterised in vitro. Gastrointestinal transit and paracellular permeability were measured using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran markers. Results: CD3 positive T cells infiltrates were observed in the MP of transgenic mice. In the SMP, the proportions of VIP and SP positive neurones decreased in transgenic mice compared with control mice. ChAT remained unchanged. In the MP, the proportions of ChAT and NOS positive neurones increased and decreased, respectively, in transgenic mice. In contrast, VIP and SP remained unchanged. Neurally mediated jejunal relaxation was lower in transgenic mice than in controls. This relaxation was reduced by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester in control mice but not in transgenic mice. Gastrointestinal transit was delayed and intestinal permeability increased in transgenic mice compared with control mice. Conclusion: Glia disruption induces changes in the neurochemical coding of enteric neurones, which may partly be responsible for dysfunctions in intestinal motility and permeability.
pH‐Dependent and Carrier‐mediated Transport of Salicylic Acid Across Caco‐2 Cells

Abstract— The transport of monocarboxylic acid drugs such as salicylic acid was examined in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco‐2 cells that possess intestinal epithelia‐like properties. [14C]Salicylic acid transport was pH‐dependent and appeared to follow the pH‐partition hypothesis. However, 10 Mm unlabelled salicylic acid significantly reduced the permeability coefficient of [14C]salicylic acid. Kinetic analysis of the concentration dependence of the permeation rate of salicylic acid across Caco‐2 cells showed both saturable (K1 = 5·28 ± 0·72 Mm Jmax = 36·6 ± 3·54 nmol min−1 (mg protein)−1) and non‐saturable (kd = 0·37 ± 0·08 μL min−1 (mg protein)−1) processes. The permeation rate of [14C]salicylic acid was competitively inhibited by both acetic acid and benzoic acid, which were demonstrated in our previous studies to be transported in the carrier‐mediated‐transport mechanism which is responsible for monocarboxylic acids. Furthermore, certain monocarboxylic acids significantly inhibited [14C]salicylic acid transport, whereas salicylamide and dicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid did not. From these results, it was concluded that the transcellular transport of [14C]salicylic acid across Caco‐2 cells is by the pH‐dependent and carrier‐mediated transport mechanism specific for monocarboxylic acids.
Fermentation of Glucose, Fructose, and Xylose by Clostridium thermoaceticum: Effect of Metals on Growth Yield, Enzymes, and the Synthesis of Acetate from CO2

Clostridium thermoaceticum ferments xylose, fructose, and glucose with acetate as the only product. In fermentations with mixtures of the sugars, xylose is first fermented, then fructose, and last, glucose. Fructose inhibits the fermentation of glucose, and this inhibition appears to be due to a repression of the synthesis of an enzyme needed for glucose utilization. Addition of metals to the culture medium increases the cell yield drastically from about 7 to 18 g per liter, and Y(glucose) values between 40 and 50 are obtained. According to the postulated pathways of the fermentation of glucose and synthesis of acetate from CO2 by C. thermoaceticum, 3 mol of ATP are available as energy for growth. Thus a Y(adenosine 5′-triphosphate) of 13 to 16 is obtained. Because the normal Y(ATP) value is 10.5, this could mean that an additional source of ATP is available by an unknown mechanism. The addition of metals also increases the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent formate dehydrogenase activity, the overall reaction (14CO2 → acetate), and the incorporation of the methyl group of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate into acetate. These reactions are catalyzed very efficiently by cells harvested in early growth, whereas cells obtained at the end of a fermentation have very low formate dehydrogenase activity and capacity to incorporate CO2 into acetate. The following enzymes involved in the synthesis of acetate from CO2 and in the metabolism of pyruvate are present in extracts of C. thermoaceticum: 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, phosphate acetyltransferase, and acetate kinase. These enzymes are not or are very little affected by the addition of metals to the growth medium. The amount of corrinoids in cells from early growth is low, whereas it is high in cells harvested late in growth. The opposite is found for the activity of δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase, which is high at the beginning of growth and low at the end.
Deep Knowledge as the Core of Sustainable Societies

Society is taken to be all of the conditions and actions of a social community, both inter-connected and inter-dependent. A social community is a bounded group of people living together in the same locality under the same governing structure, with conditions from which emerge a culture and related behaviors. Further, a social community is a complex system which must adapt quickly to opportunities to develop knowledge-based solutions while at the same time implementing solutions for value creation and maintaining learning efficacy. When these occur the social community is behaving as an intelligent complex adaptive system. This perspective is consistent with the perception forwarded by Garcia (2006) describing cities as connected (Huysman and Wulf, 2005) complex systems of values (Carrillo, 2004), meanings (Tuomi, 2005) and conversations (Dvir, 2006). Consistent with our previous work, information is considered the result of organization expressed by a non-random pattern or set of patterns (Bennet and Bennet, 2007b, 2008a, 2008b, 2008c, 2008d, 2009a; abSTracT
Glutathione S‐transferase T1 null‐genotype is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer

Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) are involved in detoxification of carcinogens, e.g., from tobacco smoke. Therefore, polymorphisms in the GST genes have been considered as potential modifiers of individual cancer risk. In a population‐based case‐cohort study where cases and the subcohort sample were matched on duration of smoking, we investigated the occurrence of lung cancer and histological subtypes of lung cancer in relation to deletion polymorphism in both GSTM1 and GSTT1, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GSTP1 (Ile105Val and Ala114Val) and a 3 base pair deletion polymorphism in GSTM3. We further investigated the effects of the GST polymorphisms on lung cancer risk within subgroups of subjects defined by gender and age. The results showed a 2.4‐fold (CI = 1.31–4.41) increased risk of lung cancer in GSTT1 null‐genotype carriers but no significant effects of the polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1‐105 or GSTP1‐114. The association was strongest in lower age groups, with a 9.6‐fold increase in risk for subjects with the GSTT1 null‐genotype in the 50–55 years age interval (CI = 3.03–30.59). Positive associations were found for GSTT1 within all major histological subtypes. Squamous cell carcinoma was the histological type most strongly associated with the GSTT1 genotype, with a 5.0‐fold (CI = 2.26–11.18) increase in risk for subjects carrying the GSTT1 null‐genotype. The effects of the GSTT1 null‐genotype seemed stronger in the presence of the GSTM1 null‐genotype or the GSTP1‐105 variant allele. These results suggest that the GSTT1 null‐genotype is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, especially in younger individuals. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of Nitric Oxide in Indomethacin‐Induced Gastric Mucosal Dysfunction in the Rat

The present study was undertaken to explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of experimental non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID)‐induced gastropathy. We assessed the role of NO inhibition and donation in indomethacin‐induced gastric mucosal dysfunction. The stomach was perfused with vehicle (control) for 20 min, followed by indomethacin (10 mg ml−1 in 1.25% sodium bicarbonate, pH 8.4) for 120 min. NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME, 5 and 10 mg kg−1, i.v. bolus), l‐arginine, D‐arginine (100 mg kg−1i.v. bolus, 10 mg kg−1 h−1, 2 h infusion) and the NO donor glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) were given at the same time (20, 40 and 80 μg kg−1 min−1, 15 min infusion) as perfusion with indomethacin was started. Epithelial permeability was quantified by measuring blood‐to‐lumen clearance of 51Cr‐labelled EDTA. Indomethacin caused a 20‐fold increase in 51Cr‐EDTA leakage compared with that of the control group. Treatment with l‐NAME or l‐arginine did not affect the indomethacin‐induced alterations in mucosal permeability. Administration of GTN (20 μg kg−1 min−1) significantly reduced the indomethacin‐induced mucosal dysfunction. By contrast, higher doses of GTN (80 μg kg−1 min−1) exacerbated epithelial dysfunction induced by indomethacin. Elevated levels of carbonyls and myeloperoxidase (MPO) observed after indomethacin administration were significantly reduced, to the control values, when GTN (20 μg kg−1 min−1) was administered along with indomethacin. These data suggest that NO from exogenous sources can exert a dual action on the integrity of the gastric mucosa challenged by indomethacin. Low doses of GTN can prevent mucosal dysfunction induced by indomethacin, while higher doses of GTN may exacerbate the increases in epithelial permeability.
CD36 abnormality and impaired myocardial long-chain fatty acid uptake in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) demonstrate abnormal myocardial long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) metabolism. However, the exact mechanism involved is unknown. Recently, it was proposed that myocardial cells take up LCFAs via a specific mechanism, in which the CD36 molecule has been implicated as a possible candidate molecule. In addition, a high prevalence of CD36 deficiency was also found in a small number of HCM patients. Accordingly, the investigation of abnormality of the CD36 molecule in a large number of HCM patients may be useful in finding the possible cause of HCM. Moreover, the analysis of myocardial LCFA uptake in patients with molecular abnormalities may be helpful in understanding the possible function of this molecule. In this study, in order to discover the relationship between HCM and the CD36 molecular abnormality, the expression level of platelet CD36 and CD36 cDNA in 55 HCM patients was analyzed. Twelve patients showed negligible (<5%) CD36 expression on their platelets. Among them, one was found to be homozygous for the C-478-->T substitution and 6 were heterozygous for the C-478-->T substitution. In 9 patients, CD36 was expressed by less than 50% of the platelets. One of them was found to be heterozygous for the C-478-->T substitution. Two other patients were also found to be heterozygous for this point mutation, although their platelets expressed CD36. Thus, 23 out of 55 (41.8%) HCM patients had negligible (<5%) or reduced (<50%) levels of CD36 expression on platelets, or had a point mutation of CD36 cDNA. These 55 HCM patients were also evaluated with myocardial scintigraphy both for LCFA uptake and perfusion, which showed a moderate to severe discrepancy between myocardial LCFA accumulation and myocardial perfusion in 95.5% of the patients (21/23). On the other hand, 70% of the patients with normal (>90%) CD36 expression (14/20) did not show any severe discrepancies between myocardial LCFA accumulation and myocardial perfusion. These data could suggest that abnormal myocardial LCFA metabolism seen in HCM patients may be related to abnormality of the CD36 molecule, and that abnormalities of this molecule may be linked to the cause of some types of HCM.
Delayed ureterectomy after incomplete nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma: pathologic findings and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the pathologic findings and outcomes after distal ureterectomy for a retained ureteral segment following incomplete nephroureterectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis or ureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS After IRB approval, an institutional database identified patients who underwent distal ureterectomy for a retained ureteral segment after assumed complete nephroureterectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the upper ureter or renal pelvis. Clinical and pathologic variables were analyzed. RESULTS From January 1993 to July 2007, 12 patients were identified with median age at the time of ureterectomy of 60.5 years (41-85 years). Initial approach to surgery was open in 9 patients and laparoscopic in 3 patients. The median time from nephroureterectomy to distal ureterectomy was 23.5 months (range 2-66). At the time of initial surgery, pathologic stage was Ta, T1, T2, and T3 in 3,4,1, and 4 patients respectively. Initial pathology was urothelial carcinoma; grade 2 in 6 patients and grade 3 in six patients. Pathology from the subsequent surgery demonstrated urothelial carcinoma in the retained ureteral segment in 8 patients, dysplasia or atypia in 3 patients, and 1 patient with chronic inflammation. Local recurrence in 2 patients was present in a segment of ureter discontinuous with the bladder after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. Three patients (25%), all with initial grade 3 renal pelvis lesions, developed metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS Tumor recurrence in a retained ureteral segment after incomplete nephroureterectomy is a significant problem and may contribute to intravesical recurrence or metastatic disease. Complete, en bloc resection is imperative to minimize these risks.
The effects of antero-posterior reversal of lengths of the primitive streak in the chick

In chick blastoderms at primitive streak stage, lengths of the primitive streak were cut out and replaced with their antero-posterior orientation reversed. In some experiments the region immediately in front of the primitive streak (presumptive prechordal head) was also included in the excisedpiece. Control operations involving excision and replacement without reversal were also performed. The embryos were subsequently grown in vitro by Waddington’s technique. After reversal of a variety of different parts of the streak at various developmental stages, many cases of regulative development were obtained. In these, the original orientation of the blastoderm was maintained, and while there were abnormalities of various kinds in the embryos, they were no different from the abnormalities found in the controls. Very occasionally the regulated axis was partially doubled after a reversal, though not after a control operation. A few specimens which had undergone reversal of long pieces of the primitive streak and had completely healed showed a failure of regulation in that there was some tendency for the reversed-piece to develop according to its own orientation. But at best this reversed differentiation was very distorted and incomplete. Evidently the orientation of the primitive streak does not at any stage control the orientation of the embryo; and the primitive streak, when it is fully developed and contains most of the presumptive axial material, is highly labile in its powers of differentiation. In spite of its well-known ‘organizer' activity, the primitive streak is subject to control by the surrounding blastoderm.
Investigation on influence of tangential stimulation on velvet hand illusion using psychophysical experiment

In the velvet hand illusion (VHI), a person rubs his/her hands together on either side of wires strung through a frame, producing the sensation of rubbing a very smooth and soft surface like velvet. We focus on VHI to determine the specifications of an actuator for a tactile display enhanced by VHI. We investigate the relationship between wire distance and intensity of illusionary sensation using a series of psychophysical experiments under active and passive touch. According to the experiments using Thurstone's Paired Comparison, the strength of VHI depends on the distance between two adjacent wires, and VHI caused by passive touch is considerably stronger than that caused by active touch. This result suggests that VHI is controlled by mechanical external stimulation using tactile displays. We think the mechanism of VHI is as follows: although the area bounded by two wires moves relative to the hands, tangential force does not occur on the hand surface except for wire-passing portion, causing operators to experience the illusion of touching a smooth virtual film with a zero coefficient of friction. Since VHI becomes weaker with a small distance between two adjacent wires, excessive tangential stimulation prevents the occurrence of VHI. Therefore, VHI control requires two actuations: one is for normal actuation on the operator's finger surface to generate a touch feeling; the other is appropriate tangential actuation to generate a moving-edge feeling on the operator's finger surface.
The Economic Impact of Community College Capacity Development in Developing Countries: A Longitudinal Analysis

ABSTRACT Developing countries have significantly expanded efforts to import more flexible short-cycle institutions based on the United States community college model. The U.S. community college model addresses human capital needs of the labor market in developing countries by increasing access to an affordable education. However, there is limited research on the effects of importing the U.S. community college model on economic growth. This study addressed this gap by examining the effects of importing the U.S. community college model on macroeconomic growth in developing countries that have engaged in partnerships via the Community College for International Development (CCID). A longitudinal analysis of macroeconomic growth of 176 countries from 1995–2014 was conducted. The results provide evidence for the positive economic impact of community college capacity development in developing countries, as well as a comparative advantage of labor for developing countries that have engaged in partnerships. Implications for policy and research are discussed.
Minimal Hearing Loss: From a Failure-Based Approach to Evidence-Based Practice.

PURPOSE A representative sample of the literature on minimal hearing loss (MHL) was reviewed to provide evidence of challenges faced by children with MHL and to establish the need for evidence-based options for early intervention. METHOD Research articles published from 1950 to 2013 were searched in the Medline database using the keywords minimal hearing loss, unilateral hearing loss, and mild hearing loss. References cited in retrieved articles were also reviewed. RESULTS In total, 69 articles contained relevant information about pediatric outcomes and/or intervention for unilateral hearing loss, 50 for mild hearing loss, and 6 for high-frequency hearing loss. Six challenges associated with MHL emerged, and 6 interventions were indicated. Evidence indicates that although some individuals may appear to have no observable speech-language or academic difficulties, others experience considerable difficulties. It also indicates that even though children with MHL may appear to catch up in some areas, difficulties in select domains continue into adulthood. CONCLUSIONS Evidence indicates significant risks associated with untreated MHL. Evidence also demonstrates the need for early intervention and identifies several appropriate intervention strategies; however, no single protocol is appropriate for all children. Therefore, families should be educated about the impact of MHL and about available interventions so that informed decisions can be made.
Investigating the Influence of Continuous Babble on Auditory Short-Term Memory Performance

A number of factors could explain the adverse effect that babble noise has on memory for spoken words (Murphy, Craik, Li, & Schneider, 2000). Babble could degrade the perceptual representation of words to such an extent that it compromises their subsequent processing, or the presence of speech noise in the period between word presentations could interfere with rehearsal. Thirdly, the top-down processes needed to extract the words from the babble could draw on resources that otherwise would be used for encoding. We tested all these hypotheses by presenting babble either only during word presentation or rehearsal, or by gating the babble on and off 500 ms before and after each word pair. Only the last condition led to a decline in memory. We propose that this decline in memory occurred because participants were focusing their attention on the auditory stream (to enable them to better segregate the words from the noise background) rather than on remembering the words they had heard. To further support our claim we show that a similar memory deficit results when participants perform the same memory task in quiet together with a nonauditory attention-demanding secondary task.
Chapter 4 Hepatitis C — Overview and Update in Treatment

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, making it a major public health issue. The World Health Organiza‐ tion (WHO) estimates a worldwide prevalence of 3%. Each year, three to four million people are newly diagnosed with HCV, and it remains endemic in many countries of the world. According to the WHO, there are at least 21.3 million HCV carriers in Eastern Mediterranean countries, a figure close to the combined number of estimated carriers in the Americas and Europe. The purpose of this chapter is to give an overview and update in treatment of HCV patients by a broad search of published literature on aspect of epidemiology, natural history, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of HCV, graded on the best available evidence. All that to improve HCV patient care, and to promote and improve the multidisciplinary care required in the treatment of these patients.