Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure–function relations of primate lower incisors: a study of the deformation of Macaca mulatta dentition using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI)

Teeth adopt a variety of different morphologies, each of which is presumably optimized for performing specific functions during feeding. It is generally agreed that the enamel cap is a crucial element in controlling the mechanical behavior of mammalian teeth under load. Incisors are particularly interesting in terms of structure–function relations, as their role in feeding is that of the ‘first bite’. However, little is known how incisor cap morphology is related to tooth deformation. In the present paper we examine the mechanical behavior of mandibular central incisors in the cercopithecine primate Macaca mulatta under loads similar to those encountered during ingestion. We map three‐dimensional displacements on the labial surface of the crown as it is compressed, using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI), an optical metrology method. In addition, micro‐computed tomography is used to obtain data regarding the morphology of the enamel cap, which in the M. mulatta lower incisors exhibits missing or very little enamel on the lingual face. The results showed that although compressed along a longitudinal axis, deformation in the incisors mostly occurred in the lingual direction and orthogonal to the direction of the applied load. Both isolated, embedded teeth and teeth in the mandible showed considerable lingual deformation. Incisor deformation in the mandible was generally greater, reflecting the additional freedom of movement enabled by the supporting structures. We show that the association with adjacent teeth in the arch is significant for the behavior of the tooth under load. Finally, loading two teeth simultaneously in the mandible showed that they work as one functional unit. We suggest that these results demonstrate the importance of enamel cap morphology in directing deformation behavior; an ability stemming from the stiffness of the enamel cap overlying the more pliable dentin.
Analysis of High Intensity Radiated Field Coupling into Aircraft Using the Method of Moments

In this paper, electromagnetic effects arising from high intensity radiated fields (HIRF) within realistic aircraft structures are investigated using the method of moments (MoM) and experimental tests. This study focuses on simulation-to-measurement correlation, where two potential error sources are investigated: Accuracy of the numerical techniques and the generation of numerical models. It is shown that the conventional mixed potential electric field integral equation may lead to inaccurate results regarding the field penetration through apertures. An alternative integral equation is introduced which splits the computational domain into an interior and an exterior domain, improving the results for aperture problems. To analyze the accuracy and the range of applicability for these integral equations, a generic aircraft structure is investigated, both numerically and experimentally. Thereby, various modeling aspects required for a meaningful simulation of aircraft are discussed. Following these observations, a real aircraft is analyzed in a broad frequency range from 10 kHz to 1 GHz. It is demonstrated that accurate numerical techniques are as important as modeling and appropriate simplification of the considered structures.
World Health Organization, radiofrequency radiation and health - a hard nut to crack (Review)

In May 2011 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated cancer risks from radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Human epidemiological studies gave evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma. RF radiation was classified as Group 2B, a possible human carcinogen. Further epidemiological, animal and mechanistic studies have strengthened the association. In spite of this, in most countries little or nothing has been done to reduce exposure and educate people on health hazards from RF radiation. On the contrary ambient levels have increased. In 2014 the WHO launched a draft of a Monograph on RF fields and health for public comments. It turned out that five of the six members of the Core Group in charge of the draft are affiliated with International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), an industry loyal NGO, and thus have a serious conflict of interest. Just as by ICNIRP, evaluation of non-thermal biological effects from RF radiation are dismissed as scientific evidence of adverse health effects in the Monograph. This has provoked many comments sent to the WHO. However, at a meeting on March 3, 2017 at the WHO Geneva office it was stated that the WHO has no intention to change the Core Group.
Inhaled budesonide does not prevent acute mountain sickness after rapid ascent to 4559 m

Recent studies showed that inhaled budesonide (200 µg twice per day) reduced the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) after passive ascent to 3700 and 3900 m [1, 2]. These findings raised the possibility that mediators released from the hypoxic lung transmit signals to the brain which contribute to the cerebral processes leading to AMS [3]. Because neither of these studies reflect alpine-style climbing, the present study was performed to test whether inhalation of budesonide at two different doses (200 and 800 µg twice per day) prior to active and rapid ascent (<20 h) to 4559 m prevents AMS in this high-risk setting. Prophylactic inhalation of budesonide does not prevent acute mountain sickness after rapid ascent to high-altitude http://ow.ly/Bc9p30dOz46
Platelet‐derived growth factor and its receptors are related to the progression of human muscular dystrophy: an immunohistochemical study

This study has examined the immunological localization of platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐A, PDGF‐B, and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) alpha and beta to clarify their role in the progression of muscular dystrophy. Biopsied frozen muscles from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), and congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) were analysed immunohistochemically using antibodies raised against PDGF‐A, PDGF‐B, and PDGFR alpha and beta. Muscles from two dystrophic mouse models (dy and mdx mice) were also immunostained with antibodies raised against PDGFR alpha and beta. In normal human control muscle, neuromuscular junctions and vessels were positively stained with antibodies against PDGF‐A, PDGF‐B, PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta. In human dystrophic muscles, PDGF‐A, PDGF‐B, PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta were strongly immunolocalized in regenerating muscle fibres and infiltrating macrophages. PDGFR alpha was also immunolocalized to the muscle fibre sarcolemma and necrotic fibres. The most significant finding in this study was a remarkable overexpression of PDGFR beta and, to a lesser extent, PDGFR alpha in the endomysium of DMD and CMD muscles. PDGFR was also overexpressed in the interstitium of muscles from dystrophic mice, particularly dy mice. Double immunolabelling revealed that activated interstitial fibroblasts were clearly positive for PDGFR alpha and beta. However, DMD and CMD muscles with advanced fibrosis showed very poor reactivity against PDGF and PDGFR. Those findings were confirmed by immunoblotting with PDGFR beta. These findings indicate that PDGF and its receptors are significantly involved in the active stage of tissue destruction and are associated with the initiation or promotion of muscle fibrosis. They also have roles in muscle fibre regeneration and signalling at neuromuscular junctions in both normal and diseased muscle. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolution of a tRNA operon in gamma purple bacteria

Genomic DNA from eubacteria belonging to the gamma-3 subdivision of purple bacteria, as classified by Woese (C.R. Woese, Microbiol. Rev. 51:221-271, 1987), were probed with the argT operon of Escherichia coli encoding 5'-tRNA(Arg)-tRNA(His)-tRNA(Leu)-tRNA(Pro)-3'. The homologous operon from Vibrio harveyi was isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the five available sequences of this tRNA cluster from members of the families Enterobacteriaceae, Aeromonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae led to the conclusion that variations in different versions of this operon arose not only by point mutations but also by duplication and addition-deletion of entire tRNA genes. This data base permitted the formulation of a proposal dealing with the evolutionary history of this operon and suggested that DNA regions containing tRNA genes are active centers (hot spots) of recombination. Finally, since the operon from V. harveyi was not highly repetitive and did not contain tRNA pseudogenes, as in the Photobacterium phosphoreum operon, hybridization of genomic DNAs from different photobacterial strains with probes specific for the repeated pseudogene element was performed. We conclude that the phylogenetic distribution of the repetitive DNA is restricted to strains of P. phosphoreum.
Anti‐LGI1 encephalitis is associated with unique HLA subtypes

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE), represented by anti–leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 (anti‐LGI1) and anti–N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (anti‐NMDAR) encephalitis, has increasing clinical significance based on recent discoveries of neuronal autoantibodies. However, its immunopathogenesis is not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether AE is associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes.
Structural Characterization of Modification on the Interface between a Ligand and its Receptor for Biopharmaceuticals

The binding of a protein to its target is a major mode of action for most biopharmaceutical therapies with over 70% of biopharmaceuticals involved in binding between the protein and its target. The interfaces between a biopharmaceutical and its target are key regions for its efficacy. Any modifications to the amino acids at the interfaces invariably affect interactions between the biopharmaceutical and its receptor and may result in lowering therapeutic efficacy. Degradations of biopharmaceuticals by asparagine (Asn) deamidation and/or aspartate (Asp) isomerization have been well characterized and those modifications at the interfaces have resulted in a loss of activity. To characterize modification hot-spots on the interfaces, it is necessary to identify the amino acid residues on the interfaces. We recently addressed a visualization tool for amino acids on the interfaces between a protein ligand and its receptor. This tool was applied to visualize ligand protein-receptor interaction and antigen-antibody interaction. As a model system for ligand protein-receptor interaction, erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor were selected and amino acids on the interfaces were identified. Modifications on the interfaces were then investigated. Deamidation of Asn was identified at two amino acid residues, Asn47 and Asp147, on Interface 1 of EPO. The relative contents of deamidated residues on the interface of EPO were in the range of 3-5% of the total. As a model system for antigen-antibody interaction, Herceptin and its receptor, HER2, were chosen and amino acids on the interfaces were identified. Then modifications on the interfaces were assessed. Deamidation of the light chain Asn30 and heavy chain Asn55 were identified. The relative contents of the deamidated residues on the interfaces were in the range of 8-9% of the total. Along with deamidation, another modification, isomerization, was identified at the amino acid residue Asp102 of the heavy chain, and the level of oxidation was 13.5% of the total. Our studies provide a targeted method focusing on the interface between a protein and its target that can be coupled with other applications, for example, identification of modified amino acids on the interfaces.
Differing birth weight among infants of U.S.-born blacks, African-born blacks, and U.S.-born whites.

BACKGROUND In the United States, the birth weights of infants of black women are lower than those of infants of white women. The extent to which the lower birth weights among blacks are related to social or genetic factors is unclear. METHODS We used vital records for 1980 through 1995 from Illinois to determine the distribution of birth weights among infants born to three groups of women -- U.S.-born blacks, African-born blacks, and U.S.-born whites. RESULTS The mean birth weight of 44,046 infants of U.S.-born white women was 3446 g, that of 3135 infants of African-born black women was 3333 g, and that of 43,322 infants of U.S.-born black women was 3089 g. The incidence of low birth weight (weight less than 2500 g) was 13.2 percent among infants of U.S.-born black women and 7.1 percent among infants of African-born black women, as compared with 4.3 percent among infants of U.S.-born white women (relative risks, 3.1 and 1.6, respectively). Among the women at lowest risk (those 20 to 39 years old, with 12 years of education for themselves and their spouses, early prenatal care, gravida 2 or 3, and no previous fetal loss), the rate of low birth weight in infants of African-born black women (3.6 percent) was closer to the rate in infants of U.S.-born white women (2.4 percent), and the rate in infants of U.S.-born black women remained high (7.5 percent). CONCLUSIONS The birth-weight patterns of infants of African-born black women and U.S.-born white women are more closely related to one another than to the birth weights of infants of U.S.-born black women.
Property Rights, Land Conflict and Tenancy in Brazil

Tenancy has been a means for labor to advance their socio-economic condition in agriculture yet in Brazil and Latin America, tenancy rates are low compared to the U.S. and the OECD countries. We test for the importance of insecure property rights in Brazil on the reluctance of landowners to rent because of a fear of expropriation arising from land reform. Since 1964, the Land Statute in Brazil has targeted rental lands for redistribution. The expropriation of farms, resulting from land conflicts, is currently at the heart of land reform policies in Brazil. Land conflicts are a means for landless peasants to bring attention to land reform agencies for the need for redistribution. Land conflicts may also signal to landowners that their land is at risk for expropriation. Utilizing data across all counties in Brazil, we found that land conflicts reduce the likelihood of tenancy. This result implies: a reduction in agricultural efficiency; a reduction in the well-being of potential tenants, now landless peasants; and an expansion of the agricultural frontier through deforestation. Because of endogeneity between land tenancy and land conflict we instrument land conflict with Catholic priests.
A Compressed Sensing Framework for Accurate and Robust Waveform Reconstruction and Phase Retrieval Using the Photonic Mixer Device

A common way of performing phase-shift-based time-of-flight imaging combines the emission of a continuous-wave (CW) illumination signal with correlation with some reference signals at the detector array. This is the case for the well-known photonic mixer device (PMD), which correlates against displaced versions of the illumination control signal, at known phase shifts, and requires only four correlation values to estimate the phase shift. The main drawback of such approaches is that they require the assumption of nonrealistic hypothesis regarding the sensing process, leading to simple sensing models that, despite allowing fast depth estimation from few acquisitions, often ignore relevant considerations for real operation, leaving the door open for systematic errors that affect the final depth accuracy. Typical examples are ignoring the effect of the illumination devices on the final shape of the illumination signal, supposing a sinusoidal reference signal at pixel level, or not accounting for multipath effects. In this work, we present a novel framework for PMD-based signal acquisition and recovery that exploits the sparsity of CW illumination signals in the frequency domain to provide accurate reconstruction of the illumination waveforms as received by the PMD pixels. Our method is extremely robust to signal distortion and noise, since no assumption is made on the illumination signal, other than being a periodic signal. Our approach ensures that no valuable information is lost during the sensing process and allows, therefore, accurate phase shift estimation in a wider range of operation conditions, getting rid of unrealistic assumptions.
A COMPARISON OF FOURIER METHODS FOR THE DESCRIPTION OF WING SHAPE IN MOSQUITOES (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Outlines of wings from 127 species of North American mosquitoes were digitized. Comparisons were made among several different methods of reducing the information in the resulting coordinates to a series of descriptors that could be used in multivariate analysis. Methods included Fourier analysis of both radii and tangent angle change functions. In addi- tion, the relatively new method of elliptic Fourier analysis was tried. Cluster and ordination analyses based on the various sets of descriptors summarized well the pattern of similarities and differences in wing shapes, but clusters of similar wings do not agree well with traditional taxonomic groupings. The use of elliptic Fourier descriptors appears to be especially promising for future work. (Fourier analysis; morphometrics; mosquitoes; image analysis; feature extrac- tion.)
Screening for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in obese youth: evaluating alternate markers of glycemia – 1,5‐anhydroglucitol, fructosamine, and glycated albumin

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is increasingly performed over the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as the initial screening test for type 2 diabetes in youth. However, the optimal strategy for identifying type 2 diabetes in youth remains controversial. Alternate glycemic markers have been proposed as potentially useful tools for diabetes screening. We examined the relationships among fructosamine (FA), glycated albumin (GA), and 1,5‐anhydroglucitol (1,5‐AG) with traditional screening tests, HbA1c and OGTT. Youth 10–18 yrs, BMI ≥85th‰, and HbA1c <7.5% had a single visit with measurement of HbA1c, 1,5‐AG, FA, GA, and a standard OGTT. Distributions of FA, GA, and 1,5‐AG by HbA1c and 2‐hour glucose (2hG) categories were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)‐curves were generated to determine the cut points at which alternate markers maximized sensitivity and specificity for predicting prediabetes and diabetes. One hundred and seventeen, 62% female, 59% Hispanic, 22% White, 17% black, median 14.1 yr, and body mass index (BMI) z‐score 2.3 participated. Median values of each alternate marker differed significantly between prediabetes and diabetes HbA1c and 2hG categories (p < 0.017). Only GA medians differed (p = 0.006) between normal and prediabetes HbA1c. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC‐AUCs) for alternate markers as predictors of prediabetes (0.5–0.66) were low; however, alternate marker ROC‐AUCs for identifying diabetes (0.82–0.98) were excellent. Although the alternate markers were poor predictors of prediabetes, they all performed well predicting diabetes by 2hG and HbA1c. Whereas the usefulness of these markers for identifying prediabetes is limited, they may be useful in certain scenarios as second line screening tools for diabetes in overweight/obese youth.
Hyperbilirubinemia after cardiac surgery: An observational study

Background We aimed to assess the incidence and perioperative risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia after cardiac surgery, and determine its influence on early operative outcome. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted on 476 patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures from January 2014 to March 2014. Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia was defined as serum total bilirubin >2.0 mg dL−1. Results The overall incidence of postoperative hyperbilirubinemia was 25% (119 patients). Patients undergoing valve repair or replacement had the highest incidence of hyperbilirubinemia (36.2%), followed by coronary artery bypass grafting with concomitant valve surgery (34.1%), congenital heart surgery (23.1%), and coronary artery bypass alone (12.7%). Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia was associated with increased duration of inotropic support (p = 0.0001), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0001), intensive care unit stay (p = 0.001), hospital stay (p = 0.006), and mortality (p = 0.014). The perioperative factors associated with postoperative hyperbilirubinemia were increased preoperative bilirubin level (p < 0.0001), preoperative prothrombin time (p < 0.0001), cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.028), aortic crossclamp time (p = 0.004), and blood transfusion units (p = 0.0001). Conclusions Postoperative hyperbilirubinemia is common in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and is associated with high hospital mortality. The factors associated with its occurrence are increased preoperative bilirubin level, preoperative prothrombin time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic crossclamp time, and blood transfusion units. Persistent hyperbilirubinemia is associated with a worse outcome than early transient hyperbilirubinemia.
Facilitation and Interference from Formally Similar Word Primes in a Naming Task

Abstract The naming of a word (e.g., CAVE) is delayed if participants first name a formally similar, but nonrhyming, prime (e.g., HAVE). Taraban and McClelland (1987) interpreted this effect in terms of competition between activated phonological codes, while Bradshaw and Nettleton (1974) argued that these interference effects are due to conflicting output codes and only arise when primes are named. Experiment 1 shows interference effects for nonrhyming primes read silently (e.g., HAVE-CAVE), contrary to Bradshaw and Nettleton's claim, but rhyming primes (e.g., NEED-WEED) produced no facilitation, contrary to predictions from Taraban and McClelland's model. In Experiment 2 participants named both prime and target, and both interference and facilitation were observed. In Experiment 3 formally dissimilar rhyming prime-target pairs (e.g., EIGHT-HATE) produced no facilitation even when primes were named. Both interference and facilitation effects seem to result from a complicated interaction of orthographic, phonological, and output codes.
The impact of molecular characters on systematics of filamentous ascomycetes.

Information derived from nucleic acid analyses either has complemented phylogenetic arguments based on phenetic characters or facilitated choice among competing hypotheses. Despite limited taxon sampling, a picture of the interrelationships of filamentous Ascomyceteas at higher taxonomic levels is developing. Intergeneric relationships within groups that include economically important fungi (e.g. Eurotiales, Hypocreales) are being clarified, and generic circumscriptions redefined. Molecular analyses have supported predictions of links between individual asexual species of groups or asexual species of the Fungi Imperfecti, and groups of Ascomycete genera and species. However, individual asexual species have not been linked unequivocally to individual Ascomycete species. Anamorph names are necessary and should be retained because teleomorphs may not be recognized in vivo nor formed in vitro. In the few cases where phenetic and molecular phylogenies seem irreconcilable, the ribosomal genes may not give the most parsimonious explanation. The taxon name Plectomycetes is confused and should be dropped.