Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative aspects of repetitive firing of mammalian motoneurones, caused by injected currents

Though several authors must have seen that motoneurones may fire repetitively to maintained intracellular stimulation and Frank & Fuortes (personal communication) have found the relation between impulse frequency and current strength to be linear, confirming Barron & Matthews (1938) depolarizing through the ventral root, the quantitative aspects of this relation do not seem to have been closely investigated. One would, for instance, need to know for what duration steady states of firing can be maintained at different current strengths, how well neurones follow the linear law, how 'adaptation' modifies it, etc. Some papers on the role of accommodation early in the discharge have been published (Araki & Otani, 1959; Frank & Fuortes, 1960; Bradley & Somjen, 1961; Sasaki & Otani, 1961) and will be discussed below. Long durations of stimulation do not seem to have been used or, at least, relevant data have not been published. This suggests that, when the experiments include variations of current strength, both technique and interpretation of the results are beset with difficulties and this, we find, is true. On the other hand, it is important to make an attempt to overcome such difficulties because the properties of the cell membrane itself, devoid of synaptic support, is the basic datum required for an understanding of firing also under synaptic bombardment (see Discussion). In the mean time an attempt had been made by Granit & Renkin (1961) to apply the linear law relating impulse frequency to current strength to an analysis of algebraical summation of 'natural' excitation and inhibition. Their preparation was the cat motoneurone firing tonically to stimulation of muscular afferents and inhibited by the recurrent route. The results were encouraging, inasmuch as they demonstrated the validity of the linear law in a physiological context and thus showed that such problems are accessible to quantitative study. For this reason their work served to underline the need for an investigation of the kind to be presented below. * Post-doctoral Fellow of the U.S. Public Health Service.
Earthworm-assisted bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil from mechanic workshop

The use of earthworms (Eudrilus eugenia) for vermi-assisted bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated mechanic workshop soils was investigated. Parameters of interest where earthworm survival, microbial count and identification, carbon and nitrogen contents of the soil and total petroleum hydrocarbon content of the soil. Earthworm survival was found to be dependent on the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon and nature of the mechanic workshop. The survival of the worms in the as-obtained mechanic workshop soil was much lower than the survival in mechanic workshop soil diluted with petroleum hydrocarbon free soil. Earthworm inoculation also resulted in lower soil C and N contents after 35 days of vermi-assisted bioremediation. After 35 days of treatment, earthworm inoculation effected a higher drop in total petroleum hydrocarbon contents as compared to the samples without worms, indicating that earthworms may be used as biocatalysts in the bioremediation process. Key words: Eudrilus eugeniae, total petroleum hydrocarbon, mechanic workshop soil.
A Positron Emission Tomographic Study of Symptom Provocation in PTSD

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mediating functional neuroanatomy of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Recently, Rauch and colleagues' used script-driven imagery and positron emission tomography (PET) to measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in eight individuals with PTSD. In separate scans, subjects imagined traumatic and neutral events. In the traumatic imagery condition, relative to control conditions, increased rCBF was found in several rightsided limbic, paralimbic, and visual areas, including amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, insular cortex, anterior temporal pole, anterior cingulate cortex, and secondary visual cortex. Decreased rCBF occurred in Broca's area. In the current study, we sought
The relationship between chewing sticks (Miswak) and periodontal health. 3. Relationship to gingival recession.

Aggressive or improper toothbrushing techniques may have a detrimental impact on the gingiva. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between chewing sticks (Miswak) and gingival recession. Gingival recession was measured on the mid facial surfaces of the incisors, canines, and premolars in 238 patients presenting for routine dental appointments. All patients had been interviewed previously regarding their oral hygiene habits and use of Miswak. Patients were divided into three groups: Miswak group, toothbrush group, and Miswak/toothbrush group. The Miswak users had significantly more (P less than or equal to .05) sites gingival recession than did the toothbrush users. Furthermore, the severity of the recession was significantly more (P less than or equal to .05) pronounced in the Miswak users than it was in the toothbrush users.
Effects of ethynyl estradiol and progesterone on triglyceride metabolism in the female rat.

Several lipase activities in adipose tissue and liver as well as triglyceride content in liver and blood were concomitantly investigated in adult female rats after 21 days of oral treatment with ethynyl estradiol (6 fig daily), progesterone (5 μg daily), or the two steroids in combination. Treatment with ethynyl estradiol alone markedly decreased the levels of all lipase activities assayed at acid Qnd alkaline pH levels in liver fractions. Decreases in enzyme activities were associated with a 39% increase in blood triglyceride levels. The administration of progesterone alone did not modify triglyceride level in blood or liver lipase activities. The combined regimen of ethynyl e$tradiol plus progesterone caused maximal decreases in hepatic lipases, a 29% decrease in the triglyceride content of liver, but no change in the level of triglycerides in blood. Studies in adipose tissue showed that treatment with ethynyl estradiol and progesterone, separately or in combination, increased lipoprotein lipase activit.
The prevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease virus infection in native parrots in New Zealand

Abstract AIM: To determine the prevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) infection in native parrots in New Zealand. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine wild native parrots and 143 captive native parrots throughout New Zealand were examined for the presence of BFDV, from June 2003 to January 2005. Feathers of each bird, and blood samples from 15 birds, were collected and submitted for PCR assay to detect BFDV. RESULTS: All of the samples from wild native parrots were negative for BFDV by PCR assays. Similarly, of the 143 PCR tests from captive native parrots 139 (97%) were negative for BFDV. However, a pair of red-crowned parakeets and two Antipodes Island parakeets from different captive facilities were found to be infected with BFDV. The infected birds showed no clinical signs suggestive of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), although the second Antipodes Island parakeet was found dead, and had pathological changes consistent with acute septicaemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a very low prevalence of BFDV among free-living native parrots although captive birds, in particular native parakeets, are susceptible to BFDV infection, and the Antipodes Island parakeets may be susceptible to PBFD.
Process efficiency of the enterprise resource planning adoption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of business processes, operational process efficiency and profitability of enterprise resource planning (ERP) pre‐ and post‐adoption in the long term. The paper also aims to examine the factors of ERP supplier types and firm size in Taiwan.Design/methodology/approach – The paper measures business process (structure capital value added and operational expense ratio), process efficiency (account receivable turnover and inventory turnover) and profitability (continuing operating income and net profit margin) of pre‐ and post‐adoption ERP. First, the overall samples are tested. Second, ERP performances are compared, classified as large, medium and small. Finally, the ERP performances, classified as international and local supplier, are compared using the Wilcoxon rank test.Findings – The results show that the business process, process efficiency, and profitability increase in the fourth or fifth years. This shows that the benefits of ERP are ev.
The Factor V Activation Paradox*

The prothrombinase complex consists of the protease factor Xa, Ca2+, and factor Va assembled on an anionic membrane. Factor Va functions both as a receptor for factor Xa and a positive effector of factor Xa catalytic efficiency and thus is key to efficient conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. The activation of the procofactor, factor V, to factor Va is an essential reaction that occurs early in the process of tissue factor-initiated blood coagulation; however, the catalytic sequence leading to formation of factor Va is a subject of disagreement. We have used biophysical and biochemical approaches to establish the second order rate constants and reaction pathways for the activation of phospholipid-bound human factor V by native and recombinant thrombin and meizothrombin, by mixtures of prothrombin activation products, and by factor Xa. We have also reassessed the activation of phospholipid-bound human prothrombin by factor Xa. Numerical simulations were performed incorporating the various pathways of factor V activation including the presence or absence of the pathway of factor V-independent prothrombin activation by factor Xa. Reaction pathways for factor V activation are similar for all thrombin forms. Empirical rate constants and the simulations are consistent with the following mechanism for factor Va formation. α-Thrombin, derived from factor Xa cleavage of phospholipid-bound prothrombin via the prethrombin 2 pathway, catalyzes the initial activation of factor V; generation of factor Va in a milieu already containing factor Xa enables prothrombinase formation with consequent meizothrombin formation; and meizothrombin functions as an amplifier of the process of factor V activation and thus has an important procoagulant role. Direct activation of factor V by factor Xa at physiologically relevant concentrations does not appear to be a significant contributor to factor Va formation.
RADAR - A Proactive Decision Support System for Human-in-the-Loop Planning

Proactive Decision Support (PDS) aims at improving the de- cision making experience of human decision makers by en-hancing both the quality of the decisions and the ease of mak- ing them. In this paper, we ask the question what role automated decision making technologies can play in the deliber- ative process of the human decision maker. Speciﬁcally, we focus on expert humans in the loop who now share a detailed, if not complete, model of the domain with the assistant, but may still be unable to compute plans due to cognitive over- load. To this end, we propose a PDS framework RADAR based on research in the automated planning community that aids the human decision maker in constructing plans. We will sit-uate our discussion on principles of interface design laid out in the literature on the degrees of automation and its effect on the collaborative decision making process. Also, at the heart of our design is the principle of naturalistic decision making which has been shown to be a necessary requirement of such systems, thus focusing more on providing suggestions rather than enforcing decisions and executing actions. We will demonstrate the different properties of such a system through examples in a ﬁre-ﬁghting domain, where human comman- ders are involved in building response strategies to mitigate a ﬁre outbreak. The paper is written to serve both as a position paper by motivating requirements of an effective proactive decision support system, and also an emerging application of these ideas in the context of the role of an automated planner in human decision making, in a platform that can prove to be a valuable test bed for research on the same.
Behavior of MgB2 react & wind coils above 10 K

React & wind magnesium diboride pancake coils and solenoids were constructed and tested. The solenoids (6 layers) were manufactured by winding a single length of MgB/sub 2/ tape (80 m) onto a 15 cm diameter, 15 cm high mandrel. The pancake coils were manufactured starting from a 40 meter long tape: the conductor was wound onto a 12 cm diameter coil former. The magnets were tested both in liquid helium and conduction cooled in a cryogen free apparatus. The results compared with the tape characteristics are reported.
Intra- and interrater agreement of pressure pain threshold for masticatory structures in children reporting orofacial pain related to temporomandibular disorders and symptom-free children.

AIMS To determine intra- and interrater agreement of the pressure pain threshold (PPT) values for children reporting orofacial pain related to temporomadibular disorders and symptom-free subjects when the mean of 3 consecutive measurements or the mean of the last 2 consecutive measurements was considered. METHODS Fourteen children reporting pain in masticatory muscles or the temporomandibular joint and 16 symptom-free children were selected at random from a sample of 100 children. Two trained raters used an algometer to obtain 3 consecutive measurements of PPT of the masticatory system sites. The children were evaluated in 3 sessions after a minimum period of 3 days after the initial evaluation. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the levels of agreement. RESULTS Excellent intra- and interrater agreement was observed (ICC > 0.75) for most of the structures evaluated in symptom-free children, and excellent and moderate agreement was obtained for the symptomatic group. Discarding the first of the 3 measurements increased the number of sites with ICC values classified as excellent in both groups. For evaluations performed on different days, this procedure reduced significantly the percentage of sites with ICC values classified as excellent only for the interrater agreement for the symptomatic group. CONCLUSION The lower levels of reproducibility for the measurements obtained on different days in the children who reported pain may have been related to instability of their clinical signs and symptoms, and a PPT assessment based on the mean of 3 consecutive measurements or the procedure of discarding the first measure should be considered for such evaluations, especially when they are conducted by different raters. Algometry was shown to be a reliable tool for the evaluation of pain threshold in the masticatory structures of children.
Febrile Transfusion Reaction Following Initial Transfusion in a Man With Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy and Granulocyte Autoantibodies

A 69‐year‐old man with immunoblastic lymphadenopathy and autoimmune hemolytic anemia who had no previous exposure to blood products developed a severe febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction following the initial infusion of packed red blood cells. The reaction recurred with transfusion of packed red blood cells, but not when freeze‐thawed red blood cells were used. Immunofluorescence techniques demonstrated granulocyte antibodies in his serum and on the surface of his granulocytes. Circulating immune complex, HLA, and platelet antibodies were not present. The granulocyte antibodies fluctuated in titers with disease activities, and could be completely removed from the serum by autologous granulocyte absorption. We conclude that our patient had granulocyte autoantibodies which probably produced febrile transfusion reactions.
A Plea for Process in Personality Prevarication

We make a series of recommendations for focusing research on personality test faking. Overall we suggest that a focus on the response process that test takers go through will accelerate our understanding of faking behavior. We argue that the decision-making process for faking must be simple and dependent on a modest set of decision rules or heuristics. The set of heuristics used by any given test taker will, in turn, be the result of test taker goals and situational press. By focusing in on what the test taker is doing, we will avoid adopting the wrong frame of reference and, we hope, make ever more rapid progress.
The effects of ruminal acidosis on volatile fatty acid absorption and plasma activities of pancreatic enzymes in lambs.

Twenty crossbred wethers (41.9 +/- 4.0 kg BW), each fitted with a ruminal cannula and a jugular catheter, were used in a completely randomized design to examine the effects of ruminal acidosis on plasma activities of pancreatic enzymes and fractional rates of VFA absorption. Lambs had ad libitum access to a 50% concentrate diet. Acidosis was induced by an intraruminal dose of glucose at 0, 6, 12, or 18 g/kg BW via the ruminal cannula. Ruminal fluid and plasma were collected 0, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h after dosing. Ruminal fluid pH was reduced (linear, P < .001) with increasing ruminal glucose. Total ruminal VFA concentration decreased (linear, P < .01) and D(-)-lactate (linear, P < .01) and L(+)- lactate (linear, P = .07) concentrations increased with increasing ruminal glucose. Activities of amylase and lipase in plasma were not affected by ruminal glucose (P > .10). Ten days after the acidosis insult, rumens were evacuated and contents were replaced with an isotonic Cr:VFA solution to measure ruminal VFA absorption. Ruminal fluid was collected hourly from 0 to 6 h. Fractional rate of acetate absorption was 13% lower for lambs receiving 18 g/kg BW glucose than for control lambs. In addition, fractional liquid passage rate was lower (P < .05) in lambs receiving 18 g/kg BW glucose 6 mo after the insult of acidosis. These data suggest that a short-term, severe insult of acute acidosis does not result in pancreatic tissue damage but may result in reduced ruminal VFA absorption for an extended period of time.
The Potential Application of$rm MgB_2$Superconducting Magnets in Space

The low mass density of magnesium diboride (MgB2) and its high critical temperature make it the ideal candidate for lightweight liquid hydrogen cooled superconducting magnets that are pivotal for space applications, where the cost per kilo to orbit is still such an expensive barrier. The feasibility of MgB2 magnets strongly depends on the effect of applied stresses during manufacturing and operational procedures. In this work we introduce our research on mechanical properties of PIT processed wires for magnet applications and for the first time we present results on Ti-sheathed MgB2 wires. Recently we improved our testing capability with new equipment and tested two coils: the first one was a coil with Fe-sheathed wire and the second one, in order to promote the use of this compound for space activities, uses wires with titanium as a sheath material. These wires show similar results to those sheathed with Fe, at 4 K the critical current density Jc is well above 7times10 5 A/cm2. The Ti-sheathed coil is still under testing
An infrared spectroscopic study of the basic copper phosphate minerals: Cornetite, libethenite, and pseudomalachite

Abstract The molecular structures of the basic copper phosphate minerals pseudomalachite, libethenite, and cornetite were studied using a combination of infrared emission spectroscopy, infrared absorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Infrared emission spectra of these minerals were obtained over the temperature range 100 to 1000°C. The infrared spectra of the three minerals are different, in line with differences in crystal structure and composition. The absorption spectra are similar, particularly in the OH stretching region, but characteristic differences in the bending regions are observed. Differences are also observed in the phosphate stretching and bending regions. The IR emission of the basic copper phosphates studied shows that the minerals are completely dehydroxylated by 550°C.
LncRNA expression profiles reveal the co-expression network in human colorectal carcinoma

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the most common cancer of the gastrointestinal tract with high prevalence, and the poor prognosis of this disease lead to the high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanism of CRC tumorgenesis and progression, and to screen the potential biomarker for CRC diagnosis. Expression profiles of mRNA and LncRNA of CRC tumor samples and it para-tumor samples were obtained with microarray technology. Co-expression network reveals several genes, such as CEACAM1, DHRS11, HNF4A, HGRLOS, MUC4 and TTN, were related to CRC, these genes play important roles in the progression of CRC and some have been suggest association with tumor cell transformation. Furthermore, significance analysis of all the gene expression profiling was performed. Functional annotation analysis reveals that differentially expressed genes were related to immune pathway and p53 signaling pathway which includes TP53 and CDKN2A. GO enrichment analysis reveal that DEGs were involved in kinase activity categories and epidermal growth factor. In total, our study described the transcriptome profile characteristic and providing clues for CRC researches.
Association Between Thyroid Autoimmune Dysfunction and Non-Thyroid Autoimmune Diseases

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of the association between thyroid autoimmune dysfunction in patients with and without Graves orbitopathy and non-thyroid autoimmune diseases. Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of 254 consecutive patients with thyroid autoimmune disease with (n = 150) and without (n = 104) orbitopathy who had been followed at the same institution by ophthalmologists and general clinicians. All medical records contained information on any systemic diseases of the patients and a detailed description of their eye examinations. The mean follow-up period was 5.25 ± 4.67 years. Results: Non-thyroid autoimmune diseases were detected in 24 (9.4%) patients. Type 1 diabetes was the most prevalent non-thyroid autoimmune disease diagnosed in the patients without orbitopathy (7 patients, 6.7%). For the patients with orbitopathy, vitiligo was the most prevalent condition, affecting 6 patients (4%). Other diseases including systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, Sjögren syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis were seen in a few patients in both groups. The time intervals between the diagnoses of the orbitopathy and the non-thyroid autoimmune disease were highly variable, ranging from none (concomitance of the 2 conditions) to decades. Conclusions: The present data show that several non-thyroid autoimmune diseases may be associated with thyroid autoimmune dysfunction. Patients with Graves disease without orbitopathy are likely to develop polyglandular syndrome due to the occurrence of type 1 diabetes. Patients with Graves orbitopathy should be screened for other autoimmune conditions, especially vitiligo.
Design for collaborative learnability

This paper considers computer-based support for the development of computer skills in the workplace. We suggest that computer systems should be designed to support collaborative learnability; to this end, we offer a number of collaborative learnability design princi­ ples. In particular, we emphasize that the prime objec­ tive should be user participation. We suggest some principles of collaborative visibility and highlight the importance of the demonstration in the sharing of skills. The various design principles are incorporated into a generic model for collaborative user support called MutualAid. A specific system based on this model is also described. This system uses multimedia demonstrations recorded by end users to support an in­ teractive problem-solving forum and the development of a local database of computer-related practice.