Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Charmonium properties from lattice 
QCD+QED
: Hyperfine splitting, 
J/ψ
 leptonic width, charm quark mass, and 
aμc

We have performed the first n f = 2 + 1 + 1 lattice QCD computations of the properties (masses and decay constants) of ground-state charmonium mesons. Our calculation uses the HISQ action to generate quark-line connected two-point correlation functions on MILC gluon field configurations that include u / d quark masses going down to the physical point, tuning the c quark mass from M J / ψ and including the effect of the c quark’s electric charge through quenched QED. We obtain M J / ψ − M η c (connected) = 120.3(1.1) MeV and interpret the difference with experiment as the impact on M η c of its decay to gluons, missing from the lattice calculation. This allows us to determine Δ M a n n i h i l n η c =+7.3(1.2) MeV, giving its value for the first time. Our result of f J / ψ = 0.4104(17) GeV, gives Γ ( J / ψ → e + e − ) =5.637(49) keV, in agreement with, but now more accurate than experiment. At the same time we have improved the determination of the c quark mass, including the impact of quenched QED to give m c ( 3 G e V ) = 0.9841(51) GeV. We have also used the time-moments of the vector charmonium current-current correlators to improve the lattice QCD result for the c quark HVP contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. We obtain a c μ = 14.638 ( 47 ) × 10 − 10 , which is 2.5 σ higher than the value derived using moments extracted from some sets of experimental data on R ( e + e − → h a d r o n s ) . This value for a c μ includes our determination of the effect of QED on this quantity, δ a c μ = 0.0313 ( 28 ) × 10 − 10 .
Biological Characteristics of Clostridium perfringens Type A Enterotoxin

An enterotoxin with the ability to induce fluid accumulation in rabbit ileal loops, erythema in the skin of guinea pigs, and lethality in mice appears in cell extracts (CE) and culture filtrates (CF) of sporulating cells of some Clostridium perfringens type A strains. All activities in CE and CF were eluted simultaneously from a Sephadex G-200 column. Different elution patterns were obtained for these activities present in CE and CF. Rabbit immune serum against CF and the active CE fractions eliminated the three biological activities in CE and CF. These activities present in CF and CE were not eliminated by any of the known antitoxins present in diagnostic serum against C. perfringens types A, B, C, D, and E. Immunodiffusion studies with immune serum against active CE fractions and CF indicated a precipitin line of identity between CF and CE of NCTC 8798 and other enterotoxin-positive strains but not enterotoxin-negative strains. Disc electrophoresis of active G-200 fractions on 7.0% polyacrylamide gels revealed a single area containing erythemal activity and mouse lethality. Immunodiffusion with acrylamide gels, containing crude fractionated enterotoxin, and immune serum against partially purified enterotoxin revealed a single precipitin band in the same area as the biological activities. Immunoelectrophoresis of CE of enterotoxin-positive and enterotoxin-negative strains also showed one precipitin band which occurred only with enterotoxin-positive strains. These findings suggest that one component is responsible for the biological activities attributed to the enterotoxin.
The MnSOD Ala16Val SNP: Relevance to human diseases and interaction with environmental factors

Abstract The relevance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production relies on the dual role shown by these molecules in aerobes. ROS are known to modulate several physiological phenomena, such as immune response and cell growth and differentiation; on the other hand, uncontrolled ROS production may cause important tissue and cell damage, such as deoxyribonucleic acid oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. The manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) antioxidant enzyme affords the major defense against ROS within the mitochondria, which is considered the main ROS production locus in aerobes. Structural and/or functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the MnSOD encoding gene may be relevant for ROS detoxification. Specifically, the MnSOD Ala16Val SNP has been shown to alter the enzyme localization and mitochondrial transportation, affecting the redox status balance. Oxidative stress may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various inflammatory conditions, or cancer. The Ala16Val MnSOD SNP has been associated with these and other chronic diseases; however, inconsistent findings between studies have made difficult drawing definitive conclusions. Environmental factors, such as dietary antioxidant intake and exercise have been shown to affect ROS metabolism through antioxidant enzyme regulation and may contribute to explain inconsistencies in the literature. Nevertheless, whether environmental factors may be associated to the Ala16Val genotypes in human diseases still needs to be clarified.
Grid-Interactive Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Converter PQ Plane Operating Region Analysis

Cascaded H-bridge (CHB) multilevel converters are being considered as a promising option for interfacing renewable energy resources with the grid due to their modularity, scalability, and increased efficiency when compared with traditionally used two-level inverters. When used as grid interfaces, CHB converters should be capable of controlling the injected active and reactive power while also satisfying operating criteria such as grid standards, e.g., IEEE 519. This paper aims to identify $PQ$ plane operating points available when using symmetric and asymmetric grid-interactive CHB converter topologies, and to determine the factors that prevent utilization of other converter output points. Notably, for asymmetric CHB converters, a technique is proposed to identify discordant output points where power is transferred between cells within a leg, e.g., one cell has a net regenerative power flow while the overall CHB leg does not. This work ( i) provides distribution engineers with information regarding the active and reactive power that can feasibly be generated by grid-interactive CHB converter topologies, (ii) creates a framework for assessing operating point trajectories when altering the steady-state operation of grid-tied CHB converters, (iii ) provides a basis for selecting and modifying steady-state pulse-width modulation generation techniques in order to meet desired performance criteria, and (iv) presents analytical techniques that can be built upon to facilitate analysis of grid-interactive CHB under conditions such as grid imbalance or during continued operation after CHB cell faults.
Acid Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Different Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli Serogroups.

The objective of this study was to compare the acid resistance (AR) of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains belonging to serogroups O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, and O145 with O157:H7 STEC isolated from various sources in 400 mM acetic acid solutions (AAS) at pH 3.2 and 30 °C for 25 min with or without glutamic acid. Furthermore, the molecular subgrouping of the STEC strains was analyzed with the repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) method using a DiversiLab(TM) system. Results for a total of 52 strains ranged from 0.31 to 5.45 log reduction CFU/mL in the absence of glutamic acid and 0.02 to 0.33 CFU/mL in the presence of glutamic acid except for B447 (O26:H11), B452 (O45:H2), and B466 (O104:H4) strains. Strains belonging to serogroups O111, O121, and O103 showed higher AR than serotype O157:H7 strains in the absence of glutamic acid. All STEC O157:H7 strains exhibited a comparable DNA pattern with more than 95% similarity in the rep-PCR results, as did the strains belonging to serogroups O111 and O121. Surprisingly, the DNA pattern of B458 (O103:H2) was similar to that of O157:H7 strains with 82% similarity, and strain B458 strain showed the highest AR to AAS among the O103 strains with 0.44 log reduction CFU/mL without glutamic acid. In conclusion, STEC serotypes isolated from different sources exhibited diverse AR and genetic subtyping patterns. Results indicated that some non-O157 STEC strains may have higher AR than STEC O157:H7 strains under specific acidic conditions, and the addition of glutamic acid provided enhanced protection against exposure to AAS.
Impaired adrenal catecholamine system function in mice with deficiency of the ascorbic acid transporter (SVCT2)

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a cofactor required in catecholamine synthesis for conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine by dopamine β‐hydroxylase. Mutant mice lacking the plasma membrane ascorbic acid transporter (SVCT2) have severely reduced tissue levels of ascorbic acid and die after birth. We therefore investigated whether these mice might have impaired synthesis of catecholamines. Levels of catecholamines in brain were unaffected by SVCT2 deficiency. In heart, the only evidence for impaired dopamine β‐hydroxylase activity was a twofold increase in tissue dopamine. An influence of the deficiency on tissue catecholamines was most prominent in the adrenals where norepinephrine was decreased by 50% and epinephrine, by 81%. On the ultrastructural level, adrenal chromaffin cells in SVCT2 null mice showed depletion of catecholamine storage vesicles, increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, signs of apoptosis, and increased glycogen storage. Decreased plasma levels of corticosterone indicated additional effects of the deficiency on adrenal cortical function. These data show that deranged catecholamine system function in SVCT2 null mice is largely restricted to the adrenal medulla and cannot account for the lethality in these animals. The data, however, establish a crucial role for ascorbic acid in adrenal chromaffin cell function.
Quantitative nmr microscopy of multicellular tumor spheroids and confrontation cultures

In cancer research, tumor spheroids are a well established system to study tumor metabolism resembling the situation in vivo more closely cell monolayers. Spherical aggregates of malignant melanoma cells (MV3) and their invasion into rat brain aggregates have been investigated by quantitative NMR microscopy. Relaxation times (T1, T2) and diffusion parameter images were acquired with an in‐plane resolution of 14 × 14 μm2. The authors were able to demonstrate that the morphology of the spheroids can be visualized on these NMR maps. The contrast was mainly manifested in relaxation maps, where average relaxation times T1 = 1.94 ± 0.17 s and T2 = 42.8 ± 6.3 ms were obtained for proliferating cells, and T1 = 2.49 ± 0.31 s and T2 = 104.3 ± 29.4 ms for the necrobiotic center. The mean diffusion coefficients were 0.59 ± 0.12 μm2/ms and 0.85 ± 0.14 μm2/ms, respectively. The authors could follow the dynamic process of tumor cell invasion in the investigated co‐culture system. Knowledge about tumor cell migration and tumor cell invasion is essential for the understanding of cancer and its therapy. Quantitative NMR microscopy can study this dynamic process noninvasively and therefore may help to assess the influence of therapy on the micromilieu of these spheroids.
Clinical Presentation and Causes of Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome: Review of 100 Patients

Purpose: To study the clinical features and etiology of recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES). Methods: We examined a total of 100 patients (117 eyes) with the diagnosis of RCES who presented at our institution (Instituto Clinico Quirúrgico de Oftalmología, Bilbao, Spain). Studied data included demography, etiology, corneal location, and association with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Results: The mean age of patients was 44.5 (range, 14–80) years. Attributed causes of RCES were previous minor trauma (46 eyes, 39.3%), epithelial basement membrane corneal dystrophy (20 eyes, 17.1%), photorefractive keratectomy (20 eyes, 17.1%), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (9 eyes, 7.7%), and of unknown origin (22 eyes, 18.8%). The most frequent site of RCES was the inferior paracentral cornea (68.4%), followed by the upper cornea (21.3%) and widespread location (21.3%). An association with MGD was found in 59% of patients. Conclusions: RCES has various etiologies, which explains the variety in the clinical presentation of the disorder. Interestingly, a significant number of RCES patients begin to manifest the syndrome after keratorefractive surgery, and a high percentage of patients also present with MGD.
Hormonal responses to acute exercise, training and overtraining a review with emphasis on the horse

Summary Overtraining is an imbalance between training and recovery leading to symptoms associated with a neuroendocrine dysbalance called the overtraining syndrome, a disease characterized by behavioral emotional and physical symptoms similar with depression. Although the prevalence of overtraining is high in human and equine athletes, at present no sensitive and specific test is available to prevent or diagnose overtraining. Nowadays, it is believed that combination of different (hormonal) parameters appear to be the best indicators of overtraining. Therefore, this review provides a summary of previous literature examining the response of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and the growth hormone‐insulin‐like growth factor‐I (GH‐IGF‐I) axis to acute and chronic exercise as well as overtraining in humans and horses. The exercise induced hormonal responses seem to be equal for the equine as well as the human athlete, which makes comparisons possible. Repeated bouts of exercise are suggested to provide a way to detect subtle changes in hormonal responses in the individual athlete, which may make them an important tool in detecting early overtraining. This should be combined with corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation tests and basal ACTH and GH pulsatility determination. Further research is needed to establish the correct training intensity and rest period for the exercise test in equines.
Experimental infection of human leukocytes with parainfluenza 1 (6/94) virus

Parainfluenza 1 (6/94) virus replicated in both unstimulated and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). After exposure of PBL to 6/94 virus at a multiplicity of infection of 1, the presence of viral antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm of less than 1% of unstimulated PBL and 1 to 5% of macrophages. Small amounts (less than 50 mean egg infective doses per ml in most instances) of cell-free virus were present in 18 of 30 (60%) cell cultures tested from 3 to 8 days postinfection. Cell-free virus peaked 6 days postinfection. Virus replication was enhanced in PHA-stimulated cells. Approximately 1 to 10% of PHA-stimulated PBL contained viral antigen as evidenced by immunofluorescence, and cell-free virus was present in 19 of 25 (76%) of the cell cultures tested from 3 to 8 days postinfection. Paramyxovirus nucleocapsids and tubular aggregates were seen in the cytoplasm of approximately 5% of PHA-stimulated PBL and were visualized only in lymphocytes. No other unusual intracytoplasmic or intranuclear structures were seen.
The effect of sildenafil on evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants: a randomised controlled pilot study

Abstract Objective: Sildenafil has been shown to preserve alveolar growth and lung angiogenesis in a rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We conducted a proof-of-concept randomised controlled pilot study to assess the feasibility of oral sildenafil treatment in extremely preterm infants with evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Methods: Preterm infants <28 weeks gestational age were eligible if they were mechanically ventilated on day 7 of life. Infants were randomised to a 4-weeks course of either oral sildenafil (3 mg/kg/day) or placebo solution. Pre-discharge cardiorespiratory outcomes and medication side effects were collected. Results: Twenty infants were randomised, 10 received sildenafil (mean gestational age 24 + 5 weeks (SD 4.9 days), mean weight 692 g (SD 98)) and 10 received placebo (mean gestational age 24 + 5 weeks (SD 6.5 days), mean weight 668 g (SD 147)). One infant in the sildenafil group did not receive treatment because of an early pneumoperitoneum. Two infants did not complete the study (transferred out). Of the remaining seven treated infants, three died (two from respiratory-related causes). One infant in the control group died from a non-respiratory cause. Sildenafil did not reduce length of invasive (median 688 versus 227 h) or non-invasive ventilation (median 1609 versus 1416 h). More infants in the sildenafil group required postnatal steroid treatment. One infant developed hypotension following sildenafil administration and was excluded after three doses. Conclusions: In this pilot study, oral sildenafil treatment did not improve any short-term respiratory outcomes in extremely preterm infants.
Smad Proteins Suppress CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein (C/EBP) β- and STAT3-mediated Transcriptional Activation of the Haptoglobin Promoter*

Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily, blocks interleukin (IL)-6 biological functions. The molecular basis of the influence of this TGFβ signaling on the IL-6 receptor triggered cascade is unknown. We studied IL-6-induced secretion of the acute phase protein haptoglobin by hepatoma cells. Overexpression of the C/EBPβ gene, a downstream effector in the IL-6 pathway, activated transcription from the haptoglobin promoter. This was abolished by either a constitutively active form of activin A type IB receptor (CAactRIB) or by a combination of Smad3 and Smad4. Similarly, Smads abolished transcriptional activation by co-stimulation with IL-6 and STAT3. The transcription co-activator p300 partially overcame the suppressive effect of Smads. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that C/EBPβ binding to haptoglobin promoter DNA was reduced by over-expression of CAactRIB and Smad4. We thus show that Smad proteins operate as transcription inhibitors on target genes of the IL-6 induced pathway. The effect of Smads is exerted on components of the transcription activation complex and may also involve interference with DNA binding. This study thus depicts molecular sites of interaction between the TGFβ superfamily and the IL-6 signaling cascades.
Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic features of acne in Dakar, Senegal

Background Acne, a chronic inflammatory dermatosis of the pilosebaceous follicle, is very widespread worldwide, affecting 75–80% of adolescents, with an impact on their quality of life. The etiologic factors are not always the same, and the treatments proposed are not always well tolerated in black individuals.
Robot Simulations Based on Bipedal Spring-Mass Model With Variable Slack Length and Stiffness

This paper proposed an extension of bipedal spring-mass model with variable slack length and stiffness. Since conventional bipedal spring-mass model has problems to accomplish stepping and low speed walking, we solve it by adjusting slack length of spring leg. Moreover, to produce heel-strike and toe-strike running, the stiffness of spring is changed to get running gaits with different frequencies. In order to imitate the human foot rolling behavior, we synchronize motion of center of pressure with that of center of mass. Based on the proposed methods, simulations of a human size robot achieve walking, heel-strike, and toe-strike running. Walking at a speed of 1 m/s can generate the double-humped ground reaction force. Heel-strike and toe-strike running gaits at a speed of 4.5 m/s are accomplished. The frequencies of two running gaits are consistent with those in human motion capture data. Joints angular positions of walking and heel-strike running are similar to those of human data. Therefore, the proposed model turns out to be effective in generating human-like walking and running behaviors.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae colony growth and ageing: biphasic growth accompanied by changes in gene expression

Although colony growth and morphology are central tools in yeast genetics, little is known about the cell physiology and how it changes during the colony growth and ageing. Here we show that the growth of a well‐separated Saccharomyces cerevisiae colony is biphasic; a rapid growth phase is followed by a sharp transition to a slower growth phase. In the first growth phase (∼24 cell divisions) most, if not all, cells divide at a rate similar to that in liquid medium and exhibit morphological, biochemical and genetic characteristics of cells engaged in the cell cycle. During the second growth phase, cells in the centre of a colony gradually enter stationary phase, so that later in this phase the growth occurs predominantly at the periphery. Unlike the biphasic growth in rich liquid media containing a fermentable carbon source, in which the first growth is fuelled by fermentation and the second by aerobic metabolism, the two phases of the colony growth can be fuelled either exclusively by fermentation or exclusively by aerobic metabolism. We also describe a novel technique for in situ estimation of the transcriptional status in the colony cells, which was used to monitor transcription dynamics during the colony development. Using this technique and standard methods to determine mRNA levels, we show that the transition between the first and second growth phases is accompanied by a global change in the pattern of transcription: transcription of most genes is repressed while that of some genes is induced. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of 7.5-MeV proton irradiation on front-back gate coupling effect in ultra thin gate oxide FD-SOI n-MOSFETs

The degradation of deep submicron (0.1 /spl mu/m) fully depleted (FD)-silicon-on-insulator (SOI) n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) subjected to 7.5-MeV proton irradiation is reported. The radiation-induced damage is investigated by studying the static characteristics of devices with different geometries and bias conditions. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the front-back gate coupling effect by changing the back-gate bias V/sub BG/. The change of the front and back channel parameters, the impact of the gate coupling effect and the gate-induced floating body effect are clarified. A correction procedure is proposed for the extraction of the front- and back-interface and oxide trap charge contribution to the threshold voltage shift by accounting for the front-back gate coupling.