Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward Improved Prediction of Mesoscale Convective System Dissipation

Abstract The complex issue of mesoscale convective system (MCS) dissipation over the central United States is investigated using both observations and Eta Model output from 47 cases that occurred during May–August 1998–99 in Iowa and surrounding states. The cold pool–shear balance theory of Rotunno et al. and Weisman, through tests with observational data, is not found to correlate well with actual dissipation of these MCSs. Differences are discussed that may account for the discrepancies between the results of the present study and the cold pool–shear balance theory. Both surface (SSRI) and elevated (ESRI) system-relative inflow tend to decrease as the MCSs near dissipation, due in part to a decrease in MCS speed of movement. A low-level jet (LLJ) affects most of the MCSs at some time during their life cycles, and there is a tendency for MCSs that were once affected by an LLJ to dissipate once no longer affected by an LLJ. A few cases experience significant decreases in the 850–500- and 700–500-mb lapse .
AUUUA Sequences Direct mRNA Deadenylation Uncoupled from Decay during Xenopus Early Development

ABSTRACT To study the regulation of AUUUA-mediated RNA deadenylation and destabilization during Xenopus early development, we microinjected chimeric mRNAs containing Xenopus or mammalian 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) sequences intoXenopus oocytes, mature eggs, or fertilized embryos. We found that the AU-rich elements (ARE) of Xenopusc-myc II and the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene (GMCSF) both direct deadenylation of chimeric mRNAs in an AUUUA-dependent manner. In the case of the Xenopus c-myc II ARE, mutation of a single AUUUA within an absolutely conserved 11-nucleotide region in c-myc 3′-UTRs prevents ARE-mediated deadenylation. AUUUA-specific deadenylation appears to be developmentally regulated: low deadenylation activity is observed in the oocyte, whereas rapid deadenylation occurs following egg activation or fertilization. Deadenylation results in the accumulation of stable deadenylated RNAs that become degraded only following mid-blastula transition. We conclude that ARE-mediated mRNA deadenylation can be uncoupled from ARE-mediated mRNA decay and that AUUUAs directly signal deadenylation during Xenopus early development.
A multisite study of initial respiration rate and heart rate as predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE Fear-conditioning models posit that increased arousal at the time of trauma predicts subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This multisite study evaluated the extent to which acute heart rate and respiration rate predict subsequent chronic PTSD. METHOD Traumatically injured patients admitted to 4 hospitals across Australia between April 2004 and February 2006 were initially assessed during hospital admission (N = 1105) and were reassessed 3 months later for PTSD by using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-IV and for major depressive disorder (MDD) by using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (English version 5.0.0) (N = 955). Heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure were assessed on the initial day of traumatic injury. RESULTS Ninety patients (10%) met criteria for PTSD and 159 patients (17%) met criteria for MDD at the 3-month assessment. Patients with PTSD compared to those without PTSD had higher heart rate (90.16 +/- 18.66 vs. 84.84 +/-17.41, t = 2.74, p < .01) and respiration rate (20.24 +/- 5.16 vs. 18.58 +/- 4.29, t = 3.43, p < .001) immediately after injury. There were no heart rate or respiration rate differences between patients who did and did not develop MDD. Patients were more likely to develop PTSD at 3 months if they had a heart rate of at least 96 beats per minute (15% vs. 8%, OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.34 to 3.33) or respiration rate of at least 22 breaths per minute (18% vs. 8%, OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.48 to 3.94). CONCLUSIONS Elevated heart rate and respiration rate are predictors of subsequent PTSD. These data underscore the need for future research into secondary prevention strategies that reduce acute arousal immediately after trauma and may limit PTSD development in some individuals.
Development of in vitro culture of rat Leydig cells after purification with Nycodenz gradient

The study examined the effect of human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) and/or Insulin Transferring Sodium Selenite (ITS) on the proliferation and development of rat Leydig cells purified by Nycodenz gradient. Leydig cells purity, viability and proliferation after purification and 3 days of cultured were evaluated. Leydig cells 1 × 106 cells/ml were cultured in DMEM containing 10% Newborn Calf Serum (NBCS) and divided into four kinds of treatments 1) as a control, 2) control + 2.5 IU/ml hCG, 3) control + ITS (5 μg/ml insulin, 10 μg/ml transferrin, 5 μg/ml Se), and 4) control + hCG + ITS. Leydig cells purification results showed 91.40% of purity, viability was 98.17% and concentration 7.03 × 106 cells/ml. The addition of ITS and hCG + ITS in DMEM produced Leydig cell proliferation by 88.35% and 90.64% higher than in controls (86.82%) (p p p
Evaluation of the energetic contribution of an ionic network to beta‐sheet stability

We have evaluated the interaction energy of a three‐residue ionic network constructed on the β‐sheet surface of protein G using double mutant cycles. Although the two individual ion pairs were each stabilizing by ∼0.6 kcal/mol, the excess gain in stability for the triad was small (0.06 kcal/mol).
New chloramphenicol resistance locus in Bacillus subtilis

A spontaneously occurring, noninducible, chloramphenicol-resistant mutant of Bacillus subtilis 168 has a mutation (cam-2) which maps in the ribosomal protein region of the chromosome near dal. Its presence does not confer dependence on chloramphenicol. Ribosomes of the cam-2 strain remained sensitive to chloramphenicol in in vitro protein synthesis. No chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity could be detected.
Thermal Endurance Evaluation of Insulating Materials: A Theoretical and Experimental Analysis

This paper presents the most significant results of multiyear research carried out in order to evaluate the thermal endurance properties of insulating materials. The thermal life model, proposed by Dakin, has been analyzed and compared with the experimental data; the importance of the selection of properties and their end points (failure criteria) on the shape and location of the thermal endurance graph, has been emphasized and new procedures have been proposed which allow a single thermal endurance graph to be obtained (even when many properties are measured to evaluate aging) and lower test temperatures to be used (without prolonging the test time). By these procedures a reliable and objective value of the temperature index can be determined even though the thermal endurance graph is not linear; this is particularly useful for comparing insulating materials. The experimental results reported in the paper are pertinent to thermosetting and composite materials, which have been exhaustively investigated.
High-temperature silicon carbide: characterization of state-of-the-art silicon carbide power transistors

For several decades, silicon (Si) has been the primary semiconductor choice for power electronic devices. During this time, the development and fabrication of Si devices has been optimized, which, in combination with the large abundance of material, has resulted in high manufacturing capability and extremely low costs. However, Si is approaching its limits in power conversion [1], [2]; improved efficiency, reduced size, and lower overall system cost can now be achieved by replacing Si devices with wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors [1]? [3].
The drop-jump screening test: difference in lower limb control by gender and effect of neuromuscular training in female athletes.

The drop-jump screening test: difference in lower limb control by gender and effect of neuromuscular training in female athletes. Abstract: BACKGROUND: A valgus lower limb alignment has been noted during noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. A video drop-jump test can indicate an athlete's ability to control lower limb axial alignment in the coronal plane. HYPOTHESES: Female athletes have decreased knee separation distances on landing and acceleration; male athletes have a neutrally aligned lower limb position. A neuromuscular training program will significantly increase knee separation distance in female athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: The authors tested 325 female and 130 male athletes aged 11 to 19 years. The distance between the hips, knees, and ankles was measured during a drop-jump test. The separation distance between the knees and ankles was normalized by the hip separation distance. A neuromuscular training program (Sportsmetrics) was completed by 62 female athletes, and their jump-landing characteristics were reexamined. RESULTS: A marked decrease in knee separation distance was found on takeoff in 80% of female athletes and in 72% of male athletes. There was no difference between male and female athletes in the normalized knee and ankle separation distance during the landing and takeoff phases. The knee separation distance on landing was 23 +/-9 cm in the female athletes and 22 +/-8 cm in the male athletes. The normalized knee separation distance was 51% +/-19% in the female athletes and 51% +/-15% in the male athletes. After training, statistically significant increases were found in the female athletes in the knee separation distance on landing (29 +/-8 cm, P < .0001) and in the normalized knee separation distance (68% +/-18%, P < .0001). The trained female athletes had significantly greater knee separation distance and normalized knee separation distance than did the males (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of untrained female and male athletes demonstrated a valgus alignment appearance on the video test. After neuromuscular training, female athletes had improved knee separation distances and a more neutral lower limb alignment on landing and takeoff.
Subcellular Localization of the Enzymes of the Arginine Dihydrolase Pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus

The enzymes of the arginine dihydrolase pathway were demonstrated in Tritrichomonas foetus and their subcellular localization determined for both T. foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ornithine carbamyltransferase (anabolic and catabolic activities), ornithine decarboxylase and carbamate kinase activity were localized predominately (56–80%) in the non sedimentable fraction of both species. A large proportion (35–40%) of the arginine deiminase was, however, recovered in the large granular fraction, and this distribution was unchanged by increasing the ionic strength of the buffer. Upon density gradient centrifugation the particles containing arginine deiminase activity had an isopycnic density of 1.09 g/ml in percoll, and separated from hydrogenosomes (1.18 g/ml) and lysosomes (1.12 g/ml). Arginine deiminase was also the only enzyme of the dihydrolase pathway which demonstrated latency upon treatment of the 1.09 g/ml fraction with non‐ionic detergents. The results demonstrate the presence of the arginine dihydrolase pathway in T. foetus and indicate that at least a portion of the arginine deiminase in trichomonads is membrane associated.
A new endemic focus of Heterophyes nocens, Pygidiopsis summa, and other intestinal flukes in a coastal area of Muan-gun, Chollanam-do.

A small coastal village of Muan-gun, Chollanam-do, was surveyed for intestinal fluke infections, especially heterophyids such as Heterophyes nocens and Pygidiopsis summa by fecal examination on 108 inhabitants. The egg positive rate of heterophyids was very high, 75.0%, and that of other parasites was comparatively low, 0.9-3.7% by parasite species. After treatment of 20 patients showing high E.P.G. with praziquantel and purging with MgSO4, total 3,864 specimens of H. nocens were collected from the diarrheic stools of all the patients treated (3-1,338 individually) and total 703 P. summa were harvested from 18 patients (1-170 individually), together with several other species of flukes. Other flukes included Stictodora fuscata (164 specimens from 4 patients), Heterophyopsis continua (2 from 2 patients), and Gymnophalloides seoi (4 from 3 patients). From this study, the surveyed coastal area of Muan-gun, Chollanam-do was proven to be a new endemic focus of H. nocens and P. summa. The occurrence of a few infected cases suggests that this area should also be a low-grade endemic area of S. fuscata, H. continua, and G. seoi.
Integration of a Communication System for Social Behavior Analysis in the SocialRobot Project

Human-Robot-Interaction is a vast research field with great potential and importance for the assignment of communication capabilities to robots. Dialogs can be considered as one of the most common ways of communication between humans. Through the auditory system, humans can locate the person with whom they are dialoguing, listen to what is said and perceive the emotional state of that person. In order to deliver robots with those same capabilities, it is necessary to implement an artificial auditory system, with functionalities similar to the human’s auditory system. In this thesis a integration effort is made with a module for the sound source localization, a speech recognition module and a module for the voice emotion recognition in order to achieve that goal. This work is based on capturing sound through microphones. For this purpose we use a sound processing toolkit named HARK, which enables the estimation of the location of a sound source using the MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) method; a speech recognition toolkit, the CMU-Sphinx, using its decoder Pocketsphinx, which uses a Hidden Markov Model classifier (HMM) and finally a toolkit for the voice emotion recognition named openEar which uses a Support Vector Machine classifier (SVM). This thesis also presents a module for the visualization of the sound source localization results and synthesis modules, such as a speech synthesizer and an application launcher. All modules in this thesis are integrated under the Robot Operating System (ROS), which gives the system a modular feature, providing a relative independence between them. In order to validate the communication system in this work, we considered some use cases scenarios, which are based on the SocialRobot project, an european project which has the University of Coimbra as a development partner. The integration also delivers an action controller module to manage the steps of the use case scenarios, which performs the corresponding actions according to the user’s social behavior. The social behavior is determined by combinations of the speech and emotion recognition results, which are associated to pre-defined actions for each use case scenario.
Isolation and identification of bat viruses closely related to human, porcine and mink orthoreoviruses

Bats have been identified as natural reservoirs of many viruses, including reoviruses. Recent studies have demonstrated the interspecies transmission of bat reoviruses to humans. In this study, we report the isolation and molecular characterization of six strains of mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) from Hipposideros and Myotis spp. These isolates were grouped into MRV serotype 1, 2 or 3 based on the sequences of the S1 gene, which encodes the outer coat protein σ1. Importantly, we found that three of six bat MRV strains shared high similarity with MRVs isolated from diseased minks, piglets or humans based on the S1 segment, suggesting that interspecies transmission has occurred between bats and humans or animals. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 10 segments showed that the genomic segments of these bat MRVs had different evolution lineages, suggesting that these bat MRVs may have arisen through reassortment of MRVs of different origins.
The effect of digitonin on egg quality , cholesterol content in eggs , biochemical and haematological parameters in laying hens

The aim of the present study was to describe the effect of digitonin on egg quality, cholesterol content in eggs, some parameters of serum lipid metabolism and blood picture of laying hens. The experiment was split into 3 groups (8 laying hens per group); group 1 was fed control feed mixture with 16.54% crude protein and 11.61 MJ ME, group 2 received control feed mixture with 0.01% digitonin and supplement of digitonin in group 3 was 0.025%. Digitonin in the amount 0.025% significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced egg weight from 65.07 g in control group to 61.44 g in group 3, white weight (41.21 g vs. 37.96 g), and egg cholesterol content (13.64 mg/g vs. 12.95 mg/g of yolk). Digitonin significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased HDL cholesterol (0.43 mmol/l in control group to 0.59 mmol/l in group 3) and triglycerides from 13.47 mmol/l (control) to 16.90 mmol/l (group 3) in blood serum. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower number of erythrocytes and MCV value in group 3 were observed.
Intravascular coagulation in acute leukemia: clinical and subclinical abnormalities.

Fifteen patients with acute leukemia were found to have evidence of a generalized hemostatic disorder. These patients could be divided into three groups. The first group consisted of three patients with increased fibrinogen catabolism without clinical or laboratory evidence of intravascular coagulation. The second group of five patients had laboratory evidence of intravascular coagulation without clinically evident bleeding or thrombosis. The third group of seven patients developed symptomatic intravascular coagulation characterized by bleeding, renal failure, and poor response to platelet transfusions. Laboratory evidence for intravascular coagulation in these patients included falling plasma fibrinogen and factor V levels and elevated serum levels of fibrinogen degradation products. Heparin therapy resulted in clinical improvement in all seven patients. Rising plasma fibrinogen and factor V levels correlated with a beneficial clinical response to heparin. Increased fibrinogen catabolism, asymptomatic intravascular coagulation, and symptomatic intravascular coagulation form part of a spectrum of generalized hemostatic disorders in acute leukemia.
Diseases That Mimic Meningitis

A retrospective review of charts for 650 children who had lumbar puncture for suspected meningitis was undertaken to determine the characteristics of patients with and without meningitis, identify other conditions suggesting meningitis, and evaluate the predictive value of signs and symptoms of meningitis. The incidence of positive lumbar punctures increased with patient age. Younger infants did not present with classical features of meningitis. Bulging fontanel, lethargy, and irritability were nonspecific symptoms. Vomiting and headache, although not specific, proved to be more sensitive indicators of meningeal infection. Most patients with meningitis (75%) had at least one sign of meningeal irritation, but so did 25% of patients without meningitis. Brudzinski's sign was not specific. In contrast, nuchal rigidity and Kernig's sign had high predictive value. Up to age five, the diseases most often suggesting meningitis were right-sided pneumonia, gastroenteritis, otitis, tonsillitis, exanthema subitum, and urinary tract infections. Of 171 patients with febrile convulsion, one (0.5% ) had bacterial meningitis and four had aseptic meningitis.
HMGI(Y) activation by chromosome 6p21 rearrangements in multilineage mesenchymal cells from pulmonary hamartoma.

The chromosome band 6p21 high-mobility group gene, HMGI(Y), encodes DNA-binding proteins with both chromatin structural and gene regulatory roles. Although HMGI(Y) expression is associated with neoplastic transformation, no oncogenic HMGI(Y) mutations have been identified. We report pulmonary chondroid hamartoma chromosome 6p21 aberrations targeting HMGI(Y). Several pulmonary chondroid hamartomas had chromosome rearrangements mapping within 100 kb of HMGI(Y), and one pulmonary chondroid hamartoma contained an intragenic fusion juxtaposing HMGI(Y) A.T book DNA-binding domains with a laminin alpha 4 chain epidermal-growth-factor-like/ zinc-finger-like motif. These findings demonstrate an oncogenic role for HMGI(Y) and for laminin chain transcriptional regulatory motifs.
Effectiveness of a chronic kidney disease clinic in achieving K/DOQI guideline targets at initiation of dialysis--a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND Limited data exist about the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) clinics on quality-of-care indicators in patients before initiation of dialysis. METHODS A single-centre retrospective chart review study was conducted on all patients who initiated dialysis at the Veterans Affairs Denver Healthcare System between 2000 and 2005. Patients initiating dialysis were evaluated at the start of dialysis and 12 months after dialysis initiation, as a function of care provided by nephrologists in training (renal-hypertension clinic) vs a trained renal nurse practitioner (CKD clinic). RESULTS Data were available for 77 patients followed in the CKD clinic and 36 in the renal-hypertension clinic. There were no major demographic differences between the cohorts at the time of clinic referral. The length of follow-up before dialysis did not differ significantly between the cohorts (10.7+/-9.8 months for the patients in the CKD clinic cohort and 13.6+/-16.0 months for the patients in the renal-hypertension clinic cohort, P=0.3299). At the initiation of dialysis, patients followed in the CKD clinic had higher haemoglobin (11.6+/-1.5 vs 10.8+/-1.7 g/dl, P=0.0239) and serum albumin (3.4+/-0.5 vs 3.0+/-0.7 g/dl, P=0.0020) concentrations. More of the CKD clinic patients had a functioning permanent vascular access (P<0.0001). The number of all-cause hospitalizations in the 12 months after initiation of dialysis was significantly lower in the CKD clinic group (P=0.0024), but no significant differences were noted in all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that a single experienced renal nurse practitioner, working to a protocol, is more likely to adhere to guidelines than are multiple nephrology trainees rotating through a nephrology clinic.
[Spanish diet quality according to the healthy eating index].

OBJECTIVE To determine the quality of the Spanish diet by means of the Healthy Feeding Index (IASE) and its relationship with geographical and socioeconomic variables. METHODS Cross-sectional descriptive study from the National Heath Questionnaire 2006 (ENS-2006). 29,478 people answering the Frequency of Consumption Questionnaire (CFC) were studied (women = 15,019; men =14,459). The IASE comprises 10 variables (grains and derivatives, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meats, legumes, cold-processed meats, sweets, beverages, and diet-variety) constructed from the CFC and the recommendations of the Feeding Guidelines (Spanish Society of Community Nutrition 2004). The IASE categories (maximum score: 100) were: healthy feeding > 80 points; Need-for-change > 5,080; Little healthy, 50. A descriptive analysis was performed with differences of the means (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests), and the Chi-square test to study the independency of the variables such as age, gender, social class, and educational level with the IASE categories. RESULTS 72% of the whole sample needs changes in their feeding patterns. The mean score for women was 73.7 ± 10.5 and for men 69.9 ± 11.3 (p < 0.001). Among the healthy category, the age group > 65 years and women obtain higher percentage (38.8% and 28.3%, respectively) in comparison to men (18.4%). Besides, the higher the social class the higher the healthy diet index will be (class-I: 24.4%, class-II: 25.0%, class-III: 25.8%) (p < 0.001). The Autonomous Communities from Valencia (5.4%), Balearic Islands (4.6%) and Andalusia (4.3%) are the ones presenting the highest index of little healthy feeding. CONCLUSIONS The IASE is a rapid and cheap method to estimate the quality of the diet in the population since it uses secondary data coming from the ENS and the feeding guidelines. It is useful to planning the nutritional policies in Spain.