Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lens Opacity, Thickness, and Position in Subjects With Acute Primary Angle Closure

PurposeTo compare lens thickness (LT), lens position (LP), relative lens position (RLP), and degree and type of lens opacity between affected and fellow eyes of subjects with acute primary angle closure (APAC) to identify any differences in lens characteristics that may be contributory to the acute episode. In addition, axial length (AL) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements were evaluated. MethodsSeventy-three study subjects with unilateral APAC were treated with sequential laser iridotomy (LI) in both eyes. Two weeks after LI, ACD, LT, and AL measurements were made in both eyes using ultrasound pachymetry. LP was defined as ACD+1/2LT and RLP as LP/AL. The Lens Opacity Classification III (LOCS III) System was used for grading lens opacity. ResultsThe subjects were 90% Chinese and 63% female. Mean age was 61.0±10.9 years. Significant differences between the affected and fellow eyes were found in the ACD (2.11±0.35 vs 2.18±0.23; P=0.02) and LP (4.61±0.47 vs 4.75±0.29; P=0.02). Cortical opacity was greater in fellow eyes (0.32±0.72 vs 0.53±0.95; P=0.02). There was no difference in LT, RLP, or degree of lens opacity in the nuclear and posterior subcapsular regions. ConclusionsCompared with fellow eyes, APAC-affected eyes have shallower ACD, more anterior LP, and less cortical opacity. These differences may be contributory to APAC.
A comparative analysis of the mechanisms underlying speciation on Lord Howe Island

On Lord Howe Island, speciation is thought to have taken place in situ in a diverse array of distantly related plant taxa (Metrosideros, Howea and Coprosma; Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108, 2011, 13188). We now investigate whether the speciation processes were driven by divergent natural selection in each genus by examining the extent of ecological and genetic divergence. We present new and extensive, ecological and genetic data for all three genera. Consistent with ecologically driven speciation, outlier loci were detected using genome scan methods. This mechanism is supported by individual‐based analyses of genotype–environment correlations within species, demonstrating that local adaptation is currently widespread on the island. Genetic analyses show that prezygotic isolating barriers within species are currently insufficiently strong to allow further population differentiation. Interspecific hybridization was found in both Howea and Coprosma, and species distribution modelling indicates that competitive exclusion may result in selection against admixed individuals. Colonization of new niches, partly fuelled by the rapid generation of new adaptive genotypes via hybridization, appears to have resulted in the adaptive radiation in Coprosma – supporting the ‘Syngameon hypothesis’.
Thermal Requirements and Development of Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae)

ABSTRACT The tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis Guenée is a major turfgrass pest in the southeastern United States. We evaluated larval development on five artificial diets and at six temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32.5, 35 ± 1°C) on St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze). Only larvae fed St. Augustinegrass and soy-wheat germ diets completed their lifecycles. None of the artificial diets tested (corn-based, soy-wheat germ, corn cob-wheat germ, corn cob-soy flour, or pinto bean) were suitable for rearing this species, because of high mortality and slower developmental time. Total developmental time (oviposition to adult) on S. secundatum significantly decreased from 47.8 d at 20°C to 21.1 d at 30°C, and then increased to 32.6 d at 32.5°C. Tropical sod webworm failed to complete larval development at 15 and 35°C. The relationship between temperature and developmental rate was described using linear (common and polynomial) and nonlinear models (Briere-1, Briere-2, and Lactin-2). The estimated lower temperature thresholds using a linear model for eggs, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth instars, prepupa, pupa, and total development were 10.1, 6.9, 12.3, 10.5, 15.3, 13.9, 9.1, 13.1, 12.0, and 13.1°C, and the thermal constant of these stages were 62.9, 66.2, 38.2, 40.3, 24.9, 32.3, 51.9,106.4,109.9, and 370.4 degree-days, respectively. The Briere-1 model provided the best fit with estimated lower, upper, and optimum thresholds for total development of 14.9, 34.3, and 29.4°C, respectively. The developmental requirements of H. phaeopteralis can be used to help predict the distribution and seasonal phenology of this pest.
Effective Noise Cancellation Using Single-Carrier FDMA Transmission in Power-Line Channels

In power-line channels, impulsive noise (IN) is commonly reduced using a blanking technique in which the received signal is zeroed whenever it exceeds a certain threshold value. Determining an appropriate threshold, however, is critical to the performance of this technique as erroneously blanking unaffected parts of the signal will significantly degrade system performance. In this paper, we show that the performance of this technique is sensitive not only to the blanking threshold but also to the transmitted signal's peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). With this in mind, we propose to implement single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), which inherently has low PAPR, and address the issue of optimizing the blanking threshold for such a technique. The results reveal that significant improvements can be achieved with respect to the probability of blanking error, as well as achieving up to 4 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement relative to the conventional orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing case. Furthermore, it will be shown that in some cases of SC-FDMA, not only can a significant SNR enhancement be achieved but it is also possible to optimally blank IN irrespective of the noise characteristics.
Molecular Identification of NAT8 as the Enzyme That Acetylates Cysteine S-Conjugates to Mercapturic Acids*

Our goal was to identify the reaction catalyzed by NAT8 (N-acetyltransferase 8), a putative N-acetyltransferase homologous to the enzyme (NAT8L) that produces N-acetylaspartate in brain. The almost exclusive expression of NAT8 in kidney and liver and its predicted association with the endoplasmic reticulum suggested that it was cysteinyl-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase, the microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the last step of mercapturic acid formation. In agreement, HEK293T extracts of cells overexpressing NAT8 catalyzed the N-acetylation of S-benzyl-l-cysteine and leukotriene E4, two cysteine conjugates, but were inactive on other physiological amines or amino acids. Confocal microscopy indicated that NAT8 was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Neither of the two frequent single nucleotide polymorphisms found in NAT8, E104K nor F143S, changed the enzymatic activity or the expression of the protein by ≥2-fold, whereas a mutation (R149K) replacing an extremely conserved arginine suppressed the activity. Sequencing of genomic DNA and EST clones corresponding to the NAT8B gene, which resulted from duplication of the NAT8 gene in the primate lineage, disclosed the systematic presence of a premature stop codon at codon 16. Furthermore, truncated NAT8B and NAT8 proteins starting from the following methionine (Met-25) showed no cysteinyl-S-conjugate N-acetyltransferase activity when transfected in HEK293T cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that NAT8 is involved in mercapturic acid formation and confirm that NAT8B is an inactive gene in humans. NAT8 homologues are found in all vertebrate genomes, where they are often encoded by multiple, tandemly repeated genes as many other genes encoding xenobiotic metabolism enzymes.
Circa- and ultradians in the occurrence of simple extrasystoles in healthy men at lowland in the light of inferential statistics.

PURPOSE An exact description of circadian and ultradian rhythms of simple extrasystoles in healthy subjects is lacking. Thirty-seven healthy male subjects, aged 50-76, were randomly taken. Simple extrasystoles from 24-hour Holter ECG were registered and calculated per each hour and processed by cosinor regression. Their occurrence is formulated by 95% confidence and tolerance corridors for supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles. RESULTS The number of extrasystoles is relatively low, dispersion of ventricular extrasystoles is significantly higher than supraventricular ones. A significant increase of their frequency versus the general zero trend straight line was found only around 9 a.m. In supraventricular ones a significant increase around 6-7 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, and 4-5 p.m. and a significant depression around 1-2 a.m. and 10 p.m. was present. Only the 24-hour rhythm is significantly present (alpha=0.05) in ventricular beats while in supraventricular ones also the period lengths of 12, 6, 4, 3.4 and 2.4 hours are significant. The significant difference between supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles exists in the 24-hour amplitudes and 6-hour acrophases. CONCLUSION One circadian and several ultradian rhythms of simple extrasystoles are present in healthy male subjects over 50 years of age. The 95% tolerance chronograms can be exploited in clinical practice.
NOD-Like Receptor P3 Inflammasome Controls Protective Th1/Th17 Immunity against Pulmonary Paracoccidioidomycosis

The NOD-like receptor P3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular multimeric complex that triggers the activation of inflammatory caspases and the maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, important cytokines for the innate immune response against pathogens. The functional NLRP3 inflammasome complex consists of NLRP3, the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and caspase-1. Various molecular mechanisms were associated with NLRP3 activation including the presence of extracellular ATP, recognized by the cell surface P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). Several pattern recognition receptors on innate immune cells recognize Paracoccidioides brasiliensis components resulting in diverse responses that influence adaptive immunity and disease outcome. However, the role of NLRP3 inflammasome was scantily investigated in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), leading us to use an intratracheal (i.t.) model of infection to study the influence of this receptor in anti-fungal immunity and severity of infection. For in vivo studies, C57BL/6 mice deficient for several NLRP3 inflammasome components (Nlrp3−/−, Casp1/11−/−, Asc−/−) as well as deficient for ATP receptor (P2x7r−/−) were infected via i.t. with P. brasiliensis and several parameters of immunity and disease severity analyzed at the acute and chronic periods of infection. Pulmonary PCM was more severe in Nlrp3−/−, Casp1/11−/−, Asc−/−, and P2x7r−/− mice as demonstrated by the increased fungal burdens, mortality rates and tissue pathology developed. The more severe disease developed by NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1/11 deficient mice was associated with decreased production of IL-1β and IL-18 and reduced inflammatory reactions mediated by PMN leukocytes and activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The decreased T cell immunity was concomitant with increased expansion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 regulatory T (Treg) cells. Characterization of intracellular cytokines showed a persistent reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing IFN-γ and IL-17 whereas those producing IL-4 and TGF-β appeared in increased frequencies. Histopathological studies showed that all deficient mouse strains developed more severe lesions containing elevated numbers of budding yeast cells resulting in increased mortality rates. Altogether, these findings led us to conclude that the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has a crucial role in the immunoprotection against pulmonary PCM by promoting the expansion of Th1/Th17 immunity and reducing the suppressive control mediated by Treg cells.
Construction and screening of a cDNA library from the triactinomyxon spores of Myxobolus cerebralis, the causative agent of salmonid Whirling Diseases

The ZAP Express cDNA library was constructed using mRNA extracted from the triactinomyxon spores of Myxobolus cerebralis. First-strand cDNA was synthesized using Moloney Murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase. Following second-strand cDNA synthesis, the double-stranded cDNA was digested with Xho I restriction enzyme, cDNA fragments less than 400 bp were removed and the remaining cDNA was ligated with the lambda ZAP Express vector. The recombinants were packaged in vitro using Gigapack III gold packaging extract. The primary cDNA library titre contained 0·5×106 clones, with 97% recombinant and only 3% non-recombinant clones. The cDNA library was then screened using the anti-triactinomyxon antibodies. Positive clones were selected and re-screened twice more to give a final selection of 526 clones. One clone (46-5) was selected randomly and subjected to in vivo excision of the pBK-CMV phagemid from the ZAP express vector. The sequence of the entire clone was obtained using rapid amplification of the cDNA ends. A search of the clone sequence against GenBank revealed that it related to ribosomal protein L23 and it had a high percentage similarity to this protein from different species. A conserved domain for ribosomal protein L23 was also identified in the clone sequence.
Cyclooxygenase inhibitors retard murine mammary tumor progression by reducing tumor cell migration, invasiveness and angiogenesis

Tumor‐derived prostaglandins (PGs) have been implicated in the progression of murine and human breast cancer. Chronic treatment with a non‐selective PG inhibitor indomethacin was shown in this laboratory to retard the development and metastasis of spontaneous mammary tumors in C3H/HeJ female retired breeder mice. The present study examined the role of endogenous prostaglandins in the proliferation/survival, the migratory and invasive behavior and angiogenic ability of a highly metastatic murine mammary tumor cell line, C3L5, originally derived from a C3H/HeJ spontaneous mammary tumor. This cell line was shown to express high levels of cyclooxygenase (COX) –2 mRNA and protein as detected by Northern and Western blotting as well as immunostaining. PGE2 production by C3L5 cells was primarily owing to COX‐2, since this was blocked similarly with non‐selective COX inhibitor indomethacin and selective COX‐2 inhibitor NS‐398, but unaffected with the selective COX‐1 inhibitor valeryl salicylate. C3L5 cell proliferation/survival in vitro was not influenced by PGs, since their cellularity remained unaffected in the presence of PGE2 or NS‐398 or PG‐receptor (EP1/EP2) antagonist AH6809; a marginal decline was noted only at high doses of indomethacin, which was not abrogated by addition of exogenous PGE2. Migratory and invasive abilities of C3L5 cells, as quantitated with in vitro transwell migration/invasion assays, were inhibited with indomethacin or NS‐398 or AH6809 in a dose‐dependent manner; the indomethacin and NS‐398‐mediated inhibition was partially reversed upon addition of exogenous PGE2. An in vivo angiogenesis assay that used subcutaneous implants of growth factor‐reduced matrigel inclusive of tumor cells showed a significant inhibition of blood vessel formation in these implants in animals treated with indomethacin compared with animals receiving vehicle alone. These studies show that selective and nonselective COX‐2 inhibitors retarded tumor progression in this COX‐2‐expressing murine mammary tumor model by inhibiting tumor cell migration, invasiveness and tumor‐induced angiogenesis. The inhibitory effects were not entirely PG dependent; some PG‐independent effects were also noted. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Outcomes after curative hepatectomy in patients with non‐B non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B virus hepatocellular carcinoma from non‐cirrhotic liver

There is controversy regarding liver function of non‐B, non‐C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC‐HCC) patients, the biological behavior of their tumors, and the outcome after surgical treatment. The aims of the present study were to compare clinicopathologic data and long‐term clinical outcomes between NBNC‐HCC patients and hepatitis B virus HCC (HBV‐HCC) patients from non‐cirrhotic liver after curative hepatectomy.
Selective tissue accumulation of manganese and its effect on regional blood flow and haemodynamics after intravenous infusion of its chloride salt in the rat.

Manganese chloride (MnCl2), with or without the addition of trace amounts of 54Mn2+, was administered as a 7-min i.v. infusion in rats. Tissue accumulation of 54Mn2+ was determined 0-15 min after the infusion, and cardiac output, regional blood flows and vascular resistances were measured 5 and 60 min after the infusion by the microsphere technique. The plasma half-life of 54Mn2+ was found to be 4.7 min. Mn2+ accumulated in several organs, the highest relative concentrations being seen in the liver, duodenum, jejunum, kidney and heart, and intermediate concentrations in the ileum, colon, stomach and spleen. There was no uptake in the lung, skeletal muscle or brain. During the infusion of 180 mumol/kg b.w. of Mn2+, the arterial blood pressure fell from a mean of 123 +/- 5 mm Hg to a minimum of 85 +/- 7 mm Hg, and thereafter returned to normal. Five minutes after termination of the infusion, there was a decrease in cardiac output and minute work but not in total peripheral resistance, a finding interpreted as a negative inotropic effect of Mn2+. At this time blood flow was decreased in the stomach, ileum, colon, spleen and skin, and increased in duodenum, jejunum and liver. The blood flows were normalized 60 min after termination of the infusion in all organs except the liver and heart. The effects are probably due to the calcium-antagonistic properties of Mn2+ and the tissue accumulation is most probably a result of intracellular accumulation through calcium channels. The relation between tissue accumulation and tissue selectivity of blood-flow alterations is unexplained.
Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy, Estimated Cardiovascular Risk, and Circadian Blood Pressure Pattern in Diabetes Mellitus

This study was designed to investigate potential factors involved in the disruption of the circadian blood pressure (BP) pattern in diabetes mellitus, as well as the relation between BP, cardiac autonomic neuropathy, and estimated cardiovascular risk. We studied 101 diabetic patients (58% with type 2 diabetes; 59% men), age 21–65 yrs, evaluated by 48 h BP monitoring. We performed three autonomic tests in a single session: deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, and standing up from a seated position. Patients were classified according to the number of abnormal tests and their 10 yr risk of coronary heart disease or stroke. The prevalence of non-dipping 24 h patterning ranged from 47.6% in type 1 to 42.4% in type 2 diabetes. The awake/asleep ratio of systolic BP (SBP) was comparable between patients with or without abnormal autonomic tests. Pulse pressure (PP) was significantly higher in patients with ≥1 abnormal autonomic test (p < 0.001). Ambulatory SBP was significantly elevated in the group with higher risk of coronary heart disease (p < 0.001). Patients with higher stroke-risk had higher SBP but lower diastolic BP, and thus an elevated ambulatory PP by 9 mmHg, compared to those with lower risk (p < 0.001). Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is not the main causal-factor for the non-dipper BP pattern in diabetes mellitus. The most significant finding from this study is the high ambulatory PP found in patients with either cardiac autonomic dysfunction or high risk for coronary heart disease or stroke. After correcting for age, this elevated PP level emerged as the main cardiovascular risk factor in diabetes mellitus.
Study of fuel economy optimization for a semi-track air-cushion vehicle based on genetic algorithms and fuzzy control

A semi-track air-cushion vehicle (STACV) which combines an air-cushion lifting system with a semi-track propulsion system is an efficient solution for heavy-duty vehicles working on soft terrain, such as the vehicles for agricultural, oil industrial and military purposes. Focusing on optimizing fuel economy of the vehicle, five main issues are studied in this paper. Firstly, based on the analyses of resistances for the STACV in a sandy loam working condition, a theoretical model for fuel consumption of 100 km, which is an evaluation index for fuel economy, is established. Secondly, through simplified by a group of constraint equations based on the physical structure of the vehicle, the running parameters and control target (fuel consumption of 100 km) could be expressed by the following two measurable and adjustable parameters, fan rotational speed and vehicle forward speed. Thirdly, a genetic algorithms (GA) model is designed to optimize the fuel consumption and to get the relevant parameters off line as control objectives of status variables of a control system. Fourthly, the control system with a fuzzy PID controller and a GA-based PID controller is built to achieve the minimal fuel consumption by regulating fan rotational speed and vehicle forward speed respectively. Fifthly, simulations are performed in a MATLAB/Simulink software environment. The result illustrates that this control system works efficiently and steadily.
A Novel Band-Reject Frequency Selective Surface With Pseudo-Elliptic Response

A novel frequency selective surface (FSS) exhibiting pseudo-elliptic band-reject response is presented. The proposed FSS consists of a two-dimensional periodic array of microstrip lines. For an incident wave of linear polarization perpendicular to the printed lines, virtual magnetic walls are formed between the microstrip lines. Since a microstrip line shielded with magnetic side walls supports two quasi-TEM modes, the two-dimensional array effectively forms a dual-mode resonator. The elliptic response is thus realized by coupling the incident wave to both modes of the resonator. A wideband pseudo-elliptic response is achieved by including higher-order modes of the array. To analyze this FSS, we treat it as a cascaded junction of air-to-microstrip line discontinuities, and investigate the problem using the full-wave mode-matching method. We provide useful design guidelines for both narrow-band and wide-band FSSs, while explaining the effect of various geometrical parameters on the performance of this FSS. Narrow-band and wideband FSS prototypes are fabricated and measured results validate our design concept. This new class of FSS is easy-to-assemble, exhibits a superior performance, and is thus potentially useful for many practical applications.
Preoperative grading of glioma malignancy with thallium-201 single-photon emission CT: comparison with conventional CT.

PURPOSE To compare thallium-201 single-photon emission CT with conventional CT in grading the malignancy of gliomas and to determine the reliability of each in tumor assessment. METHODS We studied 37 patients who had gliomas (31 high grade and 6 low grade) and compared the CT findings with the thallium-201 index, which we defined as tumor uptake relative to the uptake in the contralateral hemisphere. RESULTS Among the high-grade gliomas, we observed a significant correlation between breakdown volume of the blood-brain barrier and thallium-201 uptake. However, 8 of the high-grade gliomas had low thallium-201 uptake, in the same range as the low-grade gliomas. Of these, 2 were nonenhancing and the other 6 showed ring enhancement on CT scans. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in thallium-201 indexes between low-grade gliomas and highly malignant (grade II-III) gliomas. Accuracy of thallium-201 imaging was lower (78%) than that of CT (84%) in identifying high-grade gliomas. CONCLUSIONS Damage to the blood-brain barrier is a prerequisite for uptake of thallium-201 in gliomas. Tumors with central necrotic areas and moderate ring enhancement tend to be underestimated when evaluated by means of thallium-201 scintigraphy. The results indicate a need for caution when interpreting findings on images obtained with thallium-201 single-photon emission CT in preoperative evaluation of brain tumors.