Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blubber development in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Blubber, the lipid‐rich hypodermis of cetaceans, functions in thermoregulation, buoyancy control, streamlining, metabolic energy storage, and locomotion. This study investigated the development of this specialized hypodermis in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) across an ontogenetic series, including fetuses, neonates, juveniles, subadults, and adults. Blubber samples were collected at the level of the mid‐thorax, from robust specimens (n = 25) that stranded along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia. Blubber was dissected from the carcass and its mass, and the depth and lipid content at the sample site, were measured. Samples were prepared using standard histological methods, viewed by light microscopy, and digital images of blubber captured. Images were analyzed through the depth of the blubber for morphological and structural features including adipocyte size, shape, and numbers, and extracellular, structural fiber densities. From fetus to adult, blubber mass and depth increased proportionally with body mass and length. Blubber lipid content increased dramatically with increasing fetal length. Adult and juvenile blubber had significantly higher blubber lipid content than fetuses, and this increase was reflected in mean adipocyte size, which increased significantly across all robust life history categories. In juvenile, subadult, and adult dolphins, this increase in cell size was not uniform across the depth of the blubber, with the largest increases observed in the middle and deep blubber regions. Through‐depth counts of adipocytes were similar in all life history categories. These results suggest that blubber depth is increased during postnatal growth by increasing cell size rather than cell number. In emaciated adults (n = 2), lipid mobilization, as evidenced by a decrease in adipocyte size, was localized to the middle and deep blubber region. Thus, in terms of both lipid accumulation and depletion, the middle and deep blubber appear to be the most metabolically dynamic. The superficial blubber likely serves a structural role important in streamlining the animal. This study demonstrates that blubber is not a homogeneous tissue through its depth, and that it displays life history‐dependent changes in its morphology and lipid content. J. Morphol. 259:7–20, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Single stage true bridgeless AC/DC power factor corrected converter

This paper describes an isolated single stage converter AC/DC Power Factor Corrected (PFC) converter in two realizations. One is with a full bridge rectifier at its input and the other is a True Bridgeless version. The converter is derived from a topology known as the Davidson Converter that was invented and patented by the author in the early 80s'. This converter topology has very interesting properties that allows creation of efficient single stage isolated PFC converters. Being a boost derived converter it can operate very similarly to a traditional non-isolated PFC boost stage. Also it can accept either polarity of input depending upon the polarity of the primary side switching devices and creates a unipolar output, potentially allowing it to operate as a true bridgeless AC/DC converter. The operation of the converters is examined by Virtual Prototyping using PSIM simulation. A discussion on other considerations for achieving a reliable design with the proposed converters is also given.
The model for end‐stage liver disease‐based Japan Integrated Scoring system may have a better predictive ability for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing locoregional therapy

The Japan Integrated Scoring (JIS) system was revealed as a better model for outcome prediction compared with the Cancer of Liver Italian Program system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) was better as a prognostic predictor for patients with cirrhosis compared with the Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) system, which is a parameter used in the JIS system. The objective of the current study was to investigate the performance of the modified MELD‐based JIS system.
Variation of Resistance in Barley Against Biotypes 1 and 2 of the Russian Wheat Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

ABSTRACT The Russian wheat aphid, Diruaphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is globally one of the most devastating pests of bread wheat, Tritium aestivum L. ; durum wheat, Triticum turgidum L. ; and barley, Hordeum vulgare L. Host plant resistance is the foundation for cereal insect pest management programs, and several sources of D. noxia resistance have been incorporated in cultivars to manage D. noxia damage. The emergence of D. noxia North American biotype 2 (RWA2) in Colorado has made all known Dn genes vulnerable except the Dn7 gene from rye, Secale cereale, and has warranted exploration for sources of resistance to both RWA1 and RWA2. The category of resistance in resistant donor plants may exert selection pressure over the aphid population to form a new virulent population. In the current study, we report tolerance and antibiosis resistance to RWA1 and RWA2 in the barley genotype ‘Stoneham”. The rate and degree of expression of resistance in Stoneham against RWA1 and RWA2, although not similar, are greater than the partial resistance in ‘Sidney’. Antixenosis resistance to RWA1 or RWA2 was not observed in Sidney or Stoneham. The tolerance identified in Stoneham is encouraging because it may delay D. noxia biotype selection and fits well in a dryland barley cropping system.
Quantifying Emergency Department Visits From Sport and Recreation: Focus on the Lower Extremity and Knee, 1997-2009.

CONTEXT Few authors have reported nationally representative data on the number of sport and recreation (SR) injuries resulting in emergency department (ED) visitation. The existing studies have only provided 1 or 2 years of data and are not longitudinal in nature. OBJECTIVE To use a novel algorithmic approach to determine if ED visitation is due to SR, resulting in a substantially larger longitudinal dataset. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING Hospital. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a stratified random-sample survey of US hospital EDs was combined for years 1997-2009. There were 15 699 unweighted patient visits determined to be from SR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) A custom algorithm classified SR visits based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification E-code and pattern recognition of narrative text. Sport and recreation visits were assessed by age and categorized according to broad injury classifications. Additional quantification was performed on SR visits for lower extremity and knee-specific injuries. Sample weights were applied to provide national annual estimates. RESULTS Annually, 4 243 000 ED visits resulted from SR. The largest classification of injury from SR was sprains and strains (896 000/y). Males had substantially more SR-related ED visits than females (2 929 000/y versus 1 314 000/y). For patients 10-49 years old, 1 093 000 lower extremity and 169 000 knee-specific injury visits annually were from SR. For both injury types, males had a higher rate of ED visitation; however, females had 25% and 39% greater odds of visitation for lower extremity and knee-specific injury, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The burden on the health system of ED visits from SR was substantial. Males presented in the ED at a higher rate for SR injury, though females had a higher proportion of lower extremity and knee-specific injury ED visitations from SR. This longitudinal analysis of population-level data provides the information to target research on specific subpopulations to mitigate SR injury.
Enhanced maturation and functional capacity of monocyte‐derived immature dendritic cells by the synthetic immunomodulator Murabutide

Murabutide is a safe synthetic immunomodulator derived from muramyl dipeptide, the smallest bioactive unit of bacterial peptidoglycan. Although it is well known that muramyl peptides modulate the functions of monocytes/macrophages, their activity on dendritic cells is poorly documented. We thus investigated the effects of Murabutide on immunophenotype, endocytosis, T‐cell stimulatory capacity, and cytokine secretion of human monocyte‐derived immature dendritic cells (iDCs). We found that Murabutide triggers immunophenotypic changes as upon treatment, iDCs up‐regulate the surface expression of the major histocompatibility complex type II molecule human leucocyte antigen‐DR, the co‐stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40 and the differentiation marker CD83, and down‐regulate the expression of the mannose receptor. These phenotypic changes are also mirrored by changes in their biological activity. Subsequent to treatment with the synthetic immunomodulator, DC have a decreased endocytic capacity but exhibit enhanced stimulatory capacity for both allogeneic and autologous T cells. In addition, Murabutide‐stimulated iDCs have a greater cytostatic activity toward the tumour cell line THP‐1. Furthermore, in the presence of Murabutide, DCs transiently increased the release of macrophage inhibitory protein‐1β, tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐10, whereas the enhanced production of macrophage‐colony stimulating factor was sustained over the 3‐day period analysed. In addition, Murabutide triggers the phosphorylation of the three classes of mitogen‐activated protein kinases in iDCs. Altogether our results demonstrate that Murabutide triggers the maturation and activation of monocyte‐derived iDCs. As this immunomodulator is approved for administration in humans, it could be a useful adjunct to boost the efficacy of DC‐based vaccines designed against tumours or virus‐infected cells.
Fish oil decreases serum homocysteine in hyperlipemic men

BackgroundBecause of the inverse relation between dietary fish consumption and coronary heart disease and because of the importance of serum homocysteine as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, the effect of fish oil on serum homocysteine was studied in hyperlipemic men. MethodsFifteen men with either type IIa or llb lipoproteinemia or hypertriglyceridemia were maintained on a controlled, balanced diet and given either fish oil or olive oil supplements, 12 g/d for 3 weeks, followed by a cross-over period of 3 weeks during which the olive oil or fish oil supplements were given in reverse order. Serum homocysteine was determined by liquid chromatography of acid hydrolyzates of whole serum. ResultsFish oil was found to diminish serum homocysteine levels in 14 of 17 subjects (P<0.01). Serum homocysteine was 48% ±33% less than control values in seven of nine patients and 36% ± 22% less than values in seven of eight subjects who had first received olive oil. There was no effect of olive oil supplements on serum homocysteine, compared with control values, but olive oil produced an increase in serum homocysteine in those who had first received fish oil. Serum triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein were decreased by fish oil in patients who were first given olive oil, in agreement with previous studies. There was no effect of either fish oil or olive oil on total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein. ConclusionsThe protection against coronary heart disease afforded by a diet rich in fish may be attributed to the lowering of serum homocysteine levels by the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids of fish oils.
Expression of c‐erb B‐2/neu proto‐oncogene in human prostatic cancer tissues and cell lines

Both amplification and overexpression of c‐erb B‐2/neu have been associated with the progression and possible prognosis of a number of human cancers. In this study, we demonstrated that c‐erb B‐2/neu may also play an important role in human prostate cancer. Our conclusion is based on the following observations: (1) A monoclonal antibody raised against a peptide sequence from the C‐terminal domain of the human c‐erb B‐2/neu gene product reacted positively with 68.7% (11 of 16) of the human prostatic cancer tissue extracts analyzed by western blot procedure. These results were supported by the immunohistochemical staining of the prostatic cancer specimens; 80% (12 of 15) showed positive staining, primarily around the plasma membranes of the prostatic cancer cells, c‐erb B‐2/neu oncoprotein was not detectable in normal prostate tissues (five examined by immunohistochemical staining and three by western blotting) or in human benign prostatic hyperplasia (two examined by immunohistochemical staining and six by western blotting) and was expressed less abundantly with lower intensity in “normal” human prostate tissues adjacent to cancerous prostate tissue (5 of 12 examined by immunohistochemical staining). We observed no evidence of c‐erb B‐2/neu gene amplification in 10 fresh human prostatic cancer specimens examined by Southern blotting and in the cultured human prostatic cancer cell lines PC‐3, DU‐145, and LNCaP. (2) The c‐erb B‐2/neu protein was detected in both androgen‐receptor‐positive (LNCaP) and ‐negative (PC‐3 and DU‐145) human prostate cancer cell lines. Positive immunostaining of c‐erb B‐2/neu protein was found to be associated predominantly with the plasma membranes of PC‐3 cells, but was also found to be widespread in the cytoplasmic region of the LNCaP cells and in the perinuclear region of the DU‐145 cells. (3) Like prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) expression, c‐erb B‐2/neu mRNA expression was also positively regulated by androgen in androgen‐receptor‐positive LNCaP cells in vitro and LNCaP tumors in vivo. When LNCaP tumors were grown in castrated male hosts, levels of c‐erb B‐2/neu and PSA mRNA expression decreased initially, but rebounded at 3 wk to levels comparable to those expressed by tumors maintained in intact adult male hosts. © 1992 Wiley‐List, Inc.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Biological Growth Control by Chlorine-Based Biocides in Power Plant Cooling Systems Using Tertiary Effluent.

Recent studies have shown that treated municipal wastewater can be a reliable cooling water alternative to fresh water. However, elevated nutrient concentration and microbial population in wastewater lead to aggressive biological proliferation in the cooling system. Three chlorine-based biocides were evaluated for the control of biological growth in cooling systems using tertiary treated wastewater as makeup, based on their biocidal efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Optimal chemical regimens for achieving successful biological growth control were elucidated based on batch-, bench-, and pilot-scale experiments. Biocide usage and biological activity in planktonic and sessile phases were carefully monitored to understand biological growth potential and biocidal efficiency of the three disinfectants in this particular environment. Water parameters, such as temperature, cycles of concentration, and ammonia concentration in recirculating water, critically affected the biocide performance in recirculating cooling systems. Bench-scale recirculating tests were shown to adequately predict the biocide residual required for a pilot-scale cooling system. Optimal residuals needed for proper biological growth control were 1, 2-3, and 0.5-1 mg/L as Cl2 for NaOCl, preformed NH2Cl, and ClO2, respectively. Pilot-scale tests also revealed that Legionella pneumophila was absent from these cooling systems when using the disinfectants evaluated in this study. Cost analysis showed that NaOCl is the most cost-effective for controlling biological growth in power plant recirculating cooling systems using tertiary-treated wastewater as makeup.
Determinants of resting energy expenditure in hemodialysis patients, and comparison with healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the factors that affect the resting energy expenditure (REE) and nutritional status of hemodialysis patients, and to assess any differences with healthy subjects. DESIGN This was an observational case-control study. SETTING This study took place at the Hemodialysis Units of the Laikon General Hospital and 401 General Military Hospital (Athens, Greece). PATIENTS Twenty-five patients undergoing hemodialysis and 23 controls were recruited. Controls were healthy volunteers with no history of diseases or medication use. Patients with active infectious or inflammatory disease were excluded. INTERVENTION We measured REE using indirect calorimetry. Body composition as measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), anthropometry, and biochemical parameters were assessed in both groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Adjusted or unadjusted for muscle mass, REE was compared between the two groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to study independent determinants of REE. RESULTS Patients had no clinical signs of malnutrition. Resting energy expenditure was not different between the two groups, but REE adjusted for muscle mass was significanlty higher in hemodialysis patients. There were no differences in body composition, with the exception of muscle mass. Patients had lower muscle mass than controls, as determined by duration of disease. The only significant determinant of REE was muscle mass. CONCLUSION Patients had a higher REE adjusted for muscle mass than did controls, implying that they might be at a catabolic stage, and at risk of malnutrition. These findings indicate the need for determining body composition and for nutritional assessment and support in hemodialysis patients, even without indications of malnutrition.
Persistent alterations of gene expression profiling of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from smokers

The number of validated biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure is limited, and none exist for tobacco‐related cancer. Additional biomarkers for smoke, effects on cellular systems in vivo are needed to improve early detection of lung cancer, and to assist the Food and Drug Administration in regulating exposures to tobacco products. We assessed the effects of smoking on the gene expression using human cell cultures and blood from a cross‐sectional study. We profiled global transcriptional changes in cultured smokers’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) in vitro (n = 7) and from well‐characterized smokers’ blood (n = 36). ANOVA with adjustment for covariates and Pearson correlation were used for statistical analysis in this study. CSC in vitro altered the expression of 1 178 genes (177 genes with > 1.5‐fold‐change) at P < 0.05. In vivo, PBMCs of heavy and light smokers differed for 614 genes (29 with > 1.5‐fold‐change) at P < 0.05 (309 remaining significant after adjustment for age, race, and gender). Forty‐one genes were persistently altered both in vitro and in vivo, 22 having the same expression pattern reported for non‐small cell lung cancer. Our data provides evidence that persistent alterations of gene expression in vitro and in vivo may relate to carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke, and the identified genes may serve as potential biomarkers for cancer. The use of an in vitro model to corroborate results from human studies provides a novel way to understand human exposure and effect. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical analysis of propofol deep sedation for 1,104 patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: a three year prospective study.

AIM To analyze the hemodynamic and respiratory effects of propofol on patients undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy. METHODS In this prospective study, conducted over a period of three years, 1,104 patients referred for a same day GI endoscopy procedure were analyzed. All patients were given a propofol bolus (0.5-1.5 mg/kg). Arterial blood pressure (BP) was monitored at 3 min intervals and heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded continuously by pulse oximetry. Analyzed data acquisition was carried out before, during, and after the procedure. RESULTS A statistically significant reduction in mean arterial pressure was demonstrated (P < 0.001) when compared to pre-intervention values, but severe hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure below 60 mmHg, was noted in only 5 patients (0.5%). Oxygen saturation decreased from 96.5% to 94.4 % (P < 0.001). A critical decrease in oxygen saturation (< 90%) was documented in 27 patients (2.4%). CONCLUSION Our results showed that propofol provided good sedation with excellent pain control, a short recovery time and no significant hemodynamic side effects if carefully titrated. All the patients (and especially ASA III group) require monitoring and care of an anesthesiologist.
Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Information, Computer, and Communications Security

These proceedings contain the papers selected for presentation at the 4th ACM Symposium on Information, Computer and Communication Security, ASIACCS 2009, held in Sydney, Australia, on 10-12 March 2009. The conference is sponsored by the ACM Special Interest Group on Security, Audit, and Control (SIGSAC). ASIACCS 2009 is supported by Information and Networked Systems Security Research (INSS) at Macquarie University and Centre of Computer and Information Security at Wollongong University. This conference is also sponsored by the Australian Research Council Research Networks on Enterprise Information Infrastructures (EII) and Singapore Management University. We are grateful for their support. The ASIACCS series is built on the success of ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS) and ACM Transactions on Information and System Security (TISSEC) and aims at bringing together researchers and practitioners working in the areas of information, computer and communications security from universities, industry and government sectors. The conference received 147 paper submissions. Each paper was carefully reviewed by at least three members of the program committee on the basis of its significance, novelty, and technical quality. The reviewing process was double-blind and papers were selected by the program committee following online discussion on the reviewers' reports. Of the papers submitted, 33 regular papers and 7 short papers were selected for presentation at the conference. The accepted papers are from around the world including USA, Canada, China, Belgium, France, India, UK, Japan, Australia, Finland, Singapore, Sweden, Germany, Korea and Italy.
Current status of sperm banking for young cancer patients in Japanese nationwide survey

This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questionnaires requesting information on the number of patients, age, precryopreservation chemotherapy, semen analyses results and diagnoses, cryopreservation success rate, and causes of unsuccessful cryopreservation. Of these 695 institutes, 92 had cryopreserved sperm before chemotherapy within the study period. In all, 820 cancer patients (237 testicular, 383 hematological, 46 bone and soft tissue, 20 brain, and 134 other malignancy) consulted the responding institutes for sperm cryopreservation. Except for testicular tumor, the number of patients whose sperm was preserved before cancer treatment was low compared to that of young cancer patients. Approximately 20% of patients with malignancies other than testicular tumor underwent chemotherapy before cryopreservation. The success rate of cryopreservation in hematological malignancy was 82.5%, significantly lower than that of both the testicular cancer (93.6%) and other malignancy groups (95.6%) (P < 0.05). The primary reasons for preservation failure were azoospermia and poor semen quality. Patients with hematological malignancies had a higher rate of unsuccessful cryopreservation compared to those in other groups, possibly due to the large number of patients requesting sperm cryopreservation after chemotherapy induction. In Japan, information regarding sperm banking prior to cancer treatment appears to be lacking. Information regarding sperm preservation before chemotherapy should be provided to all Japanese oncologists.