Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of insulator shape on surface discharges and flashover under polluted conditions

Despite the extensive investigations carried out on the pollution performance of outdoor insulators, the flashover characteristic and its interaction with insulator shape is still not very well understood. In this paper, we present findings of experiments which allow quantifying the effects of insulator geometry on the flashover voltage. Two main parameters were considered: the flashover current (maximum magnitude of leakage current just before flashover) and the flashover voltage. Known difficulties related to accurate measurement of these parameters which are due to parallel partial arcs on some insulators, have been quantified using control insulators and simple modelling approaches. Furthermore, the effect of insulator shape on arc length has been quantified using nonuniform pollution techniques.
Associations Between Vitamin D Status, Adiposity, And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Young Women (18 – 30 Years)

Calcium and vitamin D intakes have been linked with reduced body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and body fat percentage in older adults and in obese women. However, very little is known about the extent of these associations in healthy nonobese young women. We evaluated these relationships among 270 women aged 18-30 years (Mean BMI: 22.9 ± 3.3 kg/m 2 ) in a cross-sectional analysis within the UMass Amherst Vitamin D Status Study (2006-2011). Dietary information and total body fat percentage (%TBF) were obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, respectively. After adjustment for total energy intake, physical activity level and smoking status, women reporting adequate intakes of calcium (≥ 1000 mg/day) but low intakes of vitamin D (< 600 IU/day) were over two-fold more likely to have high TBF (≥ 32%); [Odds Ratio, OR, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 2.27; 1.02 5.04], compared to those with adequate intakes of both calcium (≥ 1000 mg/day) and vitamin D (≥ 600 IU/day). Low intake of calcium from dietary supplements (225 to 500 mg/day) was associated with risk of increased WC (≥
The functional biogeography of species: biogeographical species roles of birds in Wallacea and the West Indies

Biogeographical systems can be analyzed as networks of species and geographical units. Within such a biogeographical network, individual species may differ fundamentally in their linkage pattern, and therefore hold different topological roles. To advance our understanding of the relationship between species traits and large-scale species distribution patterns in archipelagos, we use a network approach to classify birds as one of four biogeographical species roles: peripherals, connectors, module hubs, and network hubs. These roles are based upon the position of species within the modular network of islands and species in Wallacea and the West Indies. We test whether species traits – including habitat requirements, altitudinal range-span, feeding guild, trophic level, and body length – correlate with species roles. In both archipelagos, habitat requirements, altitudinal range-span and body length show strong relations to species roles. In particular, species that occupy coastal- and open habitats, as well as habitat generalists, show higher proportions of connectors and network hubs and thus tend to span several biogeographical modules (i.e. subregions). Likewise, large body size and a wide altitudinal range-span are related to a wide distribution on many islands and across several biogeographical modules. On the other hand, species restricted to interior forest are mainly characterized as peripherals and, thus, have narrow and localized distributions within biogeographical modules rather than across the archipelago-wide network. These results suggest that the ecological amplitude of a species is highly related to its geographical distribution within and across bio geographical subregions and furthermore supports the idea that large-scale species distributions relate to distributions at the local community level. We finally discuss how our biogeographical species roles may correspond to the stages of the taxon cycle and other prominent theories of species assembly.
Control technique for variable speed wind turbine using PI controller

This paper focuses on optimization algorithm of wind power tracking control system. Using the system to capture maximum wind power from the wind energy conversion system(WECS). The system consists of variable speed wind turbine with direct drive Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). The simulation model is developed for the wind turbine power generation system to obtain maximum p o w e r from the incident wind. The PI controller along with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is used in the model. The input voltage to the inverter was maintained. Simulation results show that the controller can extract maximum power.
Immunohistochemical characterization of palisaded, encapsulated neuroma

Eleven cases of palisaded, encapsulated neuroma (PEN) were studied by routine light microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. PEN showed the following staining reactions: strong, diffuse for S‐100 protein (11/11) and collagen Type IV (Col. IV) (11/11); moderately strong, focal for myelin basic protein (MBP) (9/11) and Leu‐7 (9/11); weak, focal for MBP (2/11), Leu‐7 (2/11), neuron specific enolase (NSE) (4/11), neural filaments (NF) (5/11), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) (6/ 11), and negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Bielschowsky silver stain was positive in 11/11, but only four cases contained numerous axons. Col. IV and EMA stains showed a complete capsule in 1/11, incomplete capsules in 5/11 and no discernible capsules in the remainder. We concluded that (1) the immunologic profile of PEN is not specific; (2) conventional silver stain remains a suitable method to demonstrate axon‐like structures; (3) the ratio of axons to Schwann cells is variable and generally less than 1:1, as previously assumed; (4) MBP and Leu‐7 coexpression in Schwann cells suggests myelinization of some of the nerve fibers; (5) the pattern of EMA reaction supports perineurial cell involvement in PEN; and (6) despite the current definition of PEN, they are usually not completely encapsulated as evidenced by Col. IV and EMA stains.
Dual Regulation of the Anaphase Promoting Complex in Human Cells by Cyclin A-Cdk2 and Cyclin A-Cdk1 Complexes

In mammalian somatic cells, the Anaphase Promoting Complex (APC) is inactivated during S phase by active cyclin A-Cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) 2 complexes promoting accumulation of mitotic regulators, such as cyclin B and Polo like kinase 1 (Plk1). However, mitotic entry does not appear to be perturbed in some human cancer cells or in normal mouse cells following Cdk2 RNA interference (i) or deletion of the Cdk2 gene. These results suggest functional complementation of APC regulation by a compensatory kinase. Using Plk1 protein level as readout of APC activity, we show that APC is inactivated during S phase in human cells by both cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin A-Cdk1 complexes. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of Cdk2 or Cdk2 RNAi in early S phase destabilizes Plk1 as it begins to accumulate. However, this effect wanes in late S phase, where destabilization of Plk1 also requires Cdk1 RNAi. Although Cdk2 is the dominant partner of cyclin A in these settings, cyclin A also binds Cdk1. Both complexes bind the APC targeting factor Cdh1, but Cdk1 complexes are inactive in early S phase, accounting for the stronger regulation of APC function by Cdk2. These results provide further evidence that cyclin A-Cdk2 and -Cdk1 complexes display overlapping and partially redundant roles in preparing cells for mitosis, through regulation of the APC.
Fluorescent antibody responses to chlamydial infection in patients with lymphogranuloma venereum and urethritis.

Indirect immunofluorescence (the micro IF test) was used to study trachomainclusion conjunctivitis and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) serum antibody patterns in a venereal disease clinic population. Antibodies undifferentiated as to immunoglobulin class, but probably IgG, were detected in 80% of the study participants and titers were particularly high in LGV patients. Two kinds of antibody were observed. One was broadly reactive to all test antigens, and one was specifically directed toward strains of a particular antigenic type. Although most sera were broadly reactive, 40% also showed some type specificity. Specific antibody patterns in persons from whom chlamydiae were isolated usually corresponded to the immunotypes of isolates, and LGV reaction patterns were particularly associated with LGV patients. IgM antibodies were observed in 20% of the study participants. These were usually type specific and perhaps indicated current infection. The sensitive micro IF test is considered useful in the epidemiologic study of chlamydial infections of genital origin and can provide information about the nature of infecting strains.
Visual scanning of facial expressions in schizophrenia.

The authors previously observed that schizophrenic patients generated fewer fixations of < or = 50.1 ms in response to faces than did a clinical control group. This study examined whether deficits in short-duration eye movements were related to patients' problems in gestalt perception of faces. Faces were presented in upright and inverted orientations to examine the effects of distorting facial gestalts on eye movements. Normal subjects generated more saccades of < or = 50.1 ms to upright than to inverted faces. Patients' saccades of < or = 50.1 ms did not differ between orientations. Patterns of fixations and of saccades > 50.1 ms did not differ between groups. The results may indicate deficits in these patients in search strategies that underlie perception of facial gestalts.
Disclosure, Learning, and Coordination

We analyze how public disclosure of informed investors' trades results in manipulation, which in turn affects coordination and competition in a duopolistic setting. We show that disclosure always increases market efficiency but its effect on informed investors' profit is ambiguous. When informed investors have very imprecise information, disclosure makes them coordinate their trades, so their expected profits are higher. Moreover, an informed investor with very imprecise information would prefer competition in the presence of disclosure as he learns more from the other informed investor than the market maker and make more profits than he would obtain in a monopolistic market.
Cytomegalovirus Disease in High‐Risk Transplant Recipients Despite Ganciclovir or Valganciclovir Prophylaxis

The clinical patterns and predictors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in kidney and/or pancreas transplant patients on ganciclovir (1.0 g po t.i.d.) or valganciclovir (450 mg po q.d.) prophylaxis were studied. This is a retrospective analysis of 129 transplant recipients. Median follow up was 12 months (range, 6–18 months). The overall incidence of CMV disease at 1‐year post‐transplant was 14% (4% tissue‐invasive, 10% noninvasive). Seventeen of 18 patients were diagnosed with CMV after completion of 3 months' prophylaxis (median 8 weeks, range, 2–28 weeks). Induction treatment with thymoglobulin, and Donor +/Recipient – CMV status were the strongest predictors for the development of CMV disease. Cytomegalovirus incidence was not different between patients treated with ganciclovir or valganciclovir (15 vs. 17%, respectively).
Myasthenia gravis

To clarify the role of cell-mediated versus humoral immune effector responses in myasthenia gravis (MG), we examined the occurrence of inflammatory cells in muscle from 30 patients with MG, determined the site of accumulation of the cells (at or remote from end-plates), enumerated and immunophenotyped those cells at the end-plate, and evaluated the frequency of deposition of the complement membrane attack complex (MAC) at the end-plate. Seven of 30 patients had well-defined collections of mononuclear cells in muscle (lymphorrhages), but these were not topographically related to the end-plates. Twenty of 30 patients had inflammatory cells (mostly macrophages and T cells) at or near end-plates, but these cells were present at less than 10% of the end-plates, and only seldom was there more than one cell at any end-plate. None of the inflammatory cells penetrated the muscle fiber near the end-plate. All end-plates of all patients immunostained for MAC. The findings reconfirm that the predominant immune effector response in MG is humorally mediated. The lymphorrhages in muscle and other tissues are probably a nonspecific indicator of disturbed immune regulation in MG.
Apelin and Cardiac Function in Hemodialyzed Patients: Possible Relations?

Background: Apelin, a newly discovered adipocytokine, is produced by white adipose tissue and is also expressed in the kidney and heart. Increasing evidence suggests a role for apelin in the pathology of the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to the mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic renal failure. The aim of this study was to assess associations between apelin, coronary artery disease (CAD) and echocardiographic parameters in hemodialyzed patients. Patients and Methods: We investigated plasma apelin levels (using commercially available kits) in 81 nondiabetic, clinically stable hemodialyzed patients (38 females, 43 males) with and without CAD. Results: Patients with CAD were significantly older, with significantly increased left ventricular internal end-diastolic dimension (LVIDd), left ventricular internal end-systolic dimension (LVISd), right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), interventricular septum in diastole, left ventricle posterior wall in diastole (LVPW), aorta, pulmonary artery, significantly lower ejection fraction and apelin than patients without CAD. We observed statistically significant correlations between apelin and echocardiographic parameters: LVIDd, LVISd, RV, LA, right atrium, LVPW, aorta, and serum lipids: cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the only associate of apelin was LVIDd. Conclusions: Apelin level was significantly lower in dialyzed patients with CAD and it was associated with cardiac function. Apelin might be involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in chronic renal failure. Since apelin is an inotrope in normal and failing hearts, this finding may have clinical implications for future use of apelin as a novel inotropic agent also for patients with uremic cardiomyopathy.
Synthesis of Biodiesel in Microstructured Reactors Under Supercritical Reaction Conditions

At IMM the advantages of an alternative synthesis route for biodiesel under supercritical conditions in micro-structured reactors applying heterogeneous catalysts are currently under investigation. Target of the development work is to build a pilot plant with an annual production capacity of 40 t which covers all process engineering steps and verifies their functionality in laboratory and field trials. The supercritical process applying catalysts has not been investigated in a continuous plant to date. The development work covers so far the optimization of the supercritical process conditions in absence of catalyst, which revealed full conversion in less than 5 min residence time. The preliminary screening of heterogeneous catalysts applying a model feed (Tricaprin) revealed full conversion in less than 30 s residence time over alumina catalysts. Based upon an ASPEN model of the process, a flow scheme of the future plant was set up.
When Do User Innovators Start Firms? A Theory of User Entrepreneurship

A rich and distinguished body of research has documented the importance of user innovations. For the most part, this literature has found that users innovate but do not commercialize their innovations. Instead, users benefit from using their innovations and allow manufacturers to commercialize innovations with financial value. Yet scholars have recently shown that entrepreneurial activity by users is more widespread than previously believed. We present data and statistics documenting the prevalence, technological impact, and economic impact of user entrepreneurship. Then, to reconcile these divergent empirical findings, we develop a theoretical model that explains when user innovations are commercialized by users, by manufacturers, or not commercialized at all. At the core of our model is the notion that users and manufacturers differ along two critical dimensions: their estimates of the financial returns to entering the product market, and their profit thresholds. Depending upon the magnitude of these differences, we propose alternative commercialization outcomes. This model helps to explain why user entrepreneurs are likely to spawn the creation of altogether new product markets and even industries. We illustrate our model with examples from the field of consumer sporting goods. The significance of user entrepreneurship and the implications of our model for theories of innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry emergence are discussed.
Marked species differences in the bioavailability of midazolam in cynomolgus monkeys and humans

The bioavailability (F) of midazolam in cynomolgus monkeys (0.02) was markedly lower than that in humans (0.24–0.46) and the reason for this difference in F between the two species was investigated. Based on the area under the plasma concentration–time curve after intravenous and intraportal infusion to cynomolgus monkeys, the hepatic availability (Fh) was estimated as 0.66. The fraction of dose absorbed (Fa) estimated from the single-pass intestinal perfusion method was 1.0 in cynomolgus monkeys. The intestinal availability (Fg = F/Fa/Fh) was calculated as 0.03 in cynomolgus monkeys. Since the Fa of midazolam has been reported to be almost 1.0 in humans, Fh and Fg were calculated as 0.33–0.76 and 0.46–1.00 when the reference values for hepatic blood flow (1026–1530 ml h−1 kg−1) were used. In conclusion, the main reason for low F in cynomolgus monkeys was the markedly higher first-pass intestinal metabolism seen in cynomolgus monkeys compared with humans.
Culturing primary human gingival epithelial cells: comparison of two isolation techniques.

BACKGROUND Cultured epithelial cells offer many potential clinical applications. There have generally been two techniques that have been used to cultivate oral keratinocytes, which include the direct explant technique and the enzymatic method. Little work has been done comparing these two techniques and their capacity to isolate and cultivate oral keratinocytes. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the difference in the percentage of keratinocyte isolation between the direct explant technique and the enzymatic method of human gingival epithelial cell culture and (2) to examine the effect of age and sex of the subjects providing the tissue samples on (a) the success in cultivation and (b) the growth patterns of gingival keratinocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Gingival tissue was obtained from healthy human subjects and was used for keratinocyte isolation using the direct explant technique or the enzymatic method. Epithelial cell cultures from each of the two culture techniques were selected randomly for flow cytometry analysis for cell expression of vimentin and cytokeratin. Growth rate assays were also conducted. RESULTS The success rate for cultivation from the direct explant technique was higher (82%) than in the enzymatic method (57.9%). The success rate of both methods was not significantly associated with either age or sex of the subjects providing the tissue. From flow cytometry, the average percentage of cells that was positive to anti-pan cytokeratin was nearly the same for both methods at about 97%. It was noted that the cells from the enzymatic method gave significantly higher percentages of cells that were positive to anti-pan cytokeratin only. CONCLUSION Both the direct explant technique and the enzymatic method can be used for isolating and culturing human oral keratinocytes. The direct explant technique appeared to be more successful in culturing human oral keratinocytes than the enzymatic method, although there were limitations found with both methods. The age and sex of the subjects providing the gingival samples did not appear to be a factor influencing the success rate in culturing the keratinocytes. However, contamination by oral microbiological flora from the gingival tissue samples remained an ever present problem. Further studies are needed in the investigation of clinical applications of these two epithelial cell isolation methods.
How I Vote Depends on How I Feel

Long-popular rational-choice models of voting (e.g., Riker & Ordeshook, 1968) suggest that affect plays a nonexistent or detrimental role in voting decisions. However, more recent work demonstrates affect’s powerful and sometimes beneficial function (see Isbell, Ottati, & Burns, 2006). Some researchers have assumed that negative affective reactions, particularly fear, lead voters to disengage and go astray from the democratic ideal—that is, a nation of well-informed voters who choose the candidate who best represents their concerns (for a review, see Valentino, Hutchings, Banks, & Davis, 2008). Recent research examining the effects of discrete negative emotions paints a more complex picture and suggests that this assumption may be inaccurate (Lerner & Tiedens, 2006). In fact, fear may contribute to the ideal of informed voting by enhancing detailed processing (Tiedens & Linton, 2001), whereas anger may detract from this ideal by promoting less careful processing and reliance on heuristics (Bodenhausen, Sheppard, & Kramer, 1994). Consistent with this possibility, work in political science (e.g., Marcus, Neuman, & MacKuen, 2000; Valentino et al., 2008) suggests that anxiety (fear) motivates citizens to learn, which may lead them to become better informed voters. The current work examined how this process might unfold and extended earlier work by examining the effects of anger and fear on voters’ decision making. Although some political scientists acknowledge the importance of examining how voters research candidates and reach a decision (Lau & Redlawsk, 2006), psychologists (Jacoby, Jaccard, Kuss, Troutman, & Mazursky, 1987) and political scientists alike rarely use behavior-process research methods (but see Lau & Redlawsk, 2006). Yet such a paradigm captures the real-world information processing of voters who actively and selectively seek out information. We relied on this methodology to test the prediction that fear would lead participants to use specific issue-based information when choosing a candidate, whereas anger would lead participants to rely on general criteria (e.g., party loyalty). Method
Association of ABO Blood Group and Malaria Parasitic Infection in Eiedbabkier, Sudan

Background:Malaria is an infection caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, and transmitted by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Many studies reported an association between malaria and parasitic density with a different ABO blood group, but with contradictory results. Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine the association between ABO blood groups and Malaria parasiticinfection. Methods:Two hundred and six samples from Sudanese population were included in this study (103 of them were Malaria patients and the other 103 were healthy controls), all of them were evaluated to determine the ABO blood groups. The blood group of the study participants was determined by direct ABO method. Results: in our study there was asignificant association between the ABO blood group and malaria infection with (p value 0.013). The most frequent blood group among patient group was A (42, 40.8%), followed by O (28, 27.2%), B (26, 25.2%), and at last AB (7, 6.8%). Conclusion:The current study revealed that most frequent blood group in patient group was A, followed by O, B, and eventually AB, the males were more affected by malaria than females and blood group B is more susceptible to the infection by malaria than other blood groups.