Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of diphtheria intoxication in human and nonhuman cell lines and their resistant variants

Differences in sensitivity to diphtheria toxin of several toxin-sensitive and toxin-resistant human and non-human cell lines were compared. A method is described whereby it is possible to compare the sensitivity of one cell line with another and obtain meaningful quantitative results. Based on the concentration of toxin required to produce 50% inhibition of protein synthesis after 24 h of exposure the ID50 (24) value toxin-resistant cells were found to be 105 to 106 times more resistant to toxin than toxin-sensitive cells. There was little variation in the ID50 (24) values for cells in each of the two groups. The toxin-resistant cells used in this study, naturally resistant as well as selected variants, possess elongation factor 2 which is susceptible to inactivation by toxin. It is suggested that they are capable of activation of toxin but either cannot bind toxin or are unable to transport toxin across the plasma membrane. Protein synthesis is inhibited when these resistant cells are exposed to high concentrations of toxin. Under these conditions it is likely that enough toxin is able to bypass the block in toxin-specific entry and reach the cytosol by a second, less efficient, nonspecific mechanism to catalyze the inactivation of elongation factor 2 and inhibit protein synthesis.
An Automatic Collocation Extraction from Arabic Corpus

Problem statement: The identification of collocations is very important part in natural language processing applications that require some degree of semantic interpretation such as, machine translation, information retrieval and text summarization. Because of the complexities of Arabic, the collocations undergo some variations such as, morphological, graphical, syntactic variation that constitutes the difficulties of identifying the collocation. Approach: We used the hybrid method for extracting the collocations from Arabic corpus that is based on linguistic information and association measures. Results: This method extracted the bi-gram candidates of Arabic collocation from corpus and evaluated the association measures by using the n-best evaluation method. We reported the precision values for each association measure in each n-best list. Conclusion: The experimental results showed that the log-likelihood ratio is the best association measure that achieved highest precision.
The Spectra of Type II Cepheids. II. The Hα Line in Intermediate-Period Stars

We present 98 Hα profiles for 21 pulsating variable stars with periods from 3 to 8 days. The strength, depth, and shape of Hα vary throughout the cycles of the stars in a way consistent with the temperature changes. Otherwise, they are quite uniform among all the stars, with a single exception. In FM Del, Hα is weaker and has a smaller central depth than in the other stars. This and the wavelength shifts of the core are attributed to incipient emission. The differential velocity of Hα relative to the metal lines is less than 25 km s-1 for all the stars except QY Cyg, FM Del, and EF Tau. We suggest that this indicates that only these stars are type II Cepheids despite the large distances of some of the others from the Galactic plane.
Phase‐rectified signal averaging for intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring is related to acidaemia at birth

Recent studies suggest that phase‐rectified signal averaging (PRSA), measured in antepartum fetal heart rate (FHR) traces, may sensitively indicate fetal status; however, its value has not been assessed during labour. We determined whether PRSA relates to acidaemia in labour, and compare its performance to short‐term variation (STV), a related computerised FHR feature.
A polarization-based Thomson scattering technique for burning plasmas

The traditional Thomson scattering diagnostic is based on measurement of the wavelength spectrum of scattered light, where electron temperature measurements are inferred from thermal broadening of the spectrum. At sufficiently high temperatures, especially those predicted for ITER and other burning plasmas, relativistic effects cause a change in the degree of polarization (P) of the scattered light; for fully polarized incident laser light, the scattered light becomes partially polarized. The resulting reduction of polarization is temperature dependent and has been proposed by other authors as a potential alternative to the traditional spectral decomposition technique. Following the previously developed Stokes vector approach, we analytically calculate the degree of polarization for incoherent Thomson scattering. For the first time, we obtain exact results valid for the full range of incident laser polarization states, scattering angles, and electron temperatures. While previous work focused only on linear polarization, we show that circularly polarized incident light optimizes the degree of depolarization for a wide range of temperatures relevant to burning plasmas. We discuss the feasibility of a polarization based Thomson scattering diagnostic for ITER-like plasmas with both linearly and circularly polarized light and compare to the traditional technique.
The relationship of intraocular pressure with age, systolic blood pressure, and central corneal thickness in an asian population.

PURPOSE To describe the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) and its cross-sectional relationship to age, systolic blood pressure (sBP), and central corneal thickness (CCT) in an Asian population. METHODS This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 3280 Malay subjects (78.7% response) aged 40 to 80 years residing in Singapore. The participants had a standardized interview, examination, and ocular imaging at a centralized study clinic. IOP was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) before pupil dilation, CCT measurements were obtained with an ultrasound pachymeters, and sBP was taken with participants seated after 5 minutes of rest with an automatic blood pressure monitor. RESULTS IOP increased with age to the sixth decade, after which a decrease in IOP was seen with further increase in age, resulting in an inverted U pattern. sBP increased linearly with age whereas CCT decreased linearly with age. In regression models, age, CCT, and sBP were all significant determinants of IOP (P < 0.001 for all three). In younger persons aged 40 to 59 years, both CCT and sBP were positively associated with IOP (P < 0.001 for both), but in older persons of 60 to 80 years, only age and sBP had a positive association with of IOP (P = 0.001 for age, P < 0.001 for sBP). CONCLUSIONS Age, CCT and sBP are significant determinants of IOP in persons aged 40 to 80 years, with CCT being a more important determinant in younger persons. The opposing effects of age-specific changes in sBP and CCT interact to lead to a relatively flat profile of IOP with age, possibly with a subtle inverted U-shaped relationship.
Characterizing Blunt Use Among Twitter Users: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Use Patterns and Characteristics

ABSTRACT Background: Young adult Twitter users are exposed to and often participate in tweets that promote risky behaviors, such as blunt use. Blunts are hollowed out cigars or cigarillos that are filled with marijuana. Objectives: The current study was designed to determine the use patterns and characteristics of African American, Hispanic and White young adult Twitter users who reported past month blunt use. Methods: Young adults (N = 753, 74% male) who reported past month blunt use were recruited via Twitter to participate in a brief anonymous online survey about their blunt use. Results: Findings revealed that African American young adults initiated blunt smoking at an earlier age (14.8 years), reported more days of blunt smoking in the past month (23.2 days) and smoked more blunts in the past month (27.2 blunts) than their Hispanic (16.5 years, 19.7 days, and 15.4 blunts) and White (18.1 years, 15.8 days, and 22.2 blunts) counterparts, p <. 01. African American young adults were more likely than their White counterparts to report physical craving as an obstacle to quitting blunt smoking. Several racial/ethnic differences were also found on attitudes about blunt use and reasons for initiating and continuing to smoke blunts. Conclusions: Findings suggest that blunt use patterns and attitudes about blunt use vary by race/ethnicity. Understanding racial/ethnic differences in blunt use patterns and characteristics offers opportunities to tailor future interventions and enhance outcomes among African American, Hispanic and White young adults.
Antipsychotics for Children and Young Adults: A Comparative Effectiveness Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite increasing on-label and off-label use of antipsychotics, prescribing antipsychotics to children remains controversial due to uncertainty of their relative benefits and safety. We systematically reviewed the effectiveness and safety of first- (FGA) and second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) for patients aged ≤24 years with psychiatric and behavioral conditions. METHODS: We searched 10 databases from January 1987 to February 2011, gray literature, trial registries, and reference lists. Two reviewers independently selected studies, assessed methodologic quality, and graded the evidence. One reviewer extracted, and a second verified, data. We summarized findings qualitatively and conducted meta-analyses when appropriate. RESULTS: Sixty-four trials and 17 cohort studies were included. Most trials had a high risk of bias; cohort studies had moderate quality. All comparisons of FGAs versus SGAs, FGAs versus FGAs, and FGAs versus placebo had low or insufficient strength of evidence. There was moderate strength of evidence for the following comparisons. Olanzapine caused more dyslipidemia and weight gain, but fewer prolactin-related events, than risperidone. Olanzapine caused more weight gain than quetiapine. Compared with placebo, SGAs improved clinical global impressions (schizophrenia, bipolar and disruptive behavior disorders) and diminished positive and negative symptoms (schizophrenia), behavior symptoms (disruptive behavior disorders), and tics (Tourette syndrome). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive review comparing the effectiveness and safety across the range of antipsychotics for children and young adults. The evidence on the comparative benefits and harms of antipsychotics is limited. Some SGAs have a better side effect profile than other SGAs. Additional studies using head-to-head comparisons are needed.
Differences in greeting behaviour towards humans with varying levels of familiarity in hand-reared wolves (Canis lupus)

Socialized wolves' relationship with humans is a much debated, but important question in light of dog domestication. Earlier findings reported no attachment to the caretaker at four months of age in a Strange Situation Test, while recently attachment to the caretaker was reported at a few weeks of age in a similar paradigm. To explore wolf–human relationship, we analysed behaviours of hand reared, extensively socialized wolves towards four visitor types: foster-parents, close acquaintances, persons met once before, and complete strangers during a greeting episode. As hypothesized, in the greeting context subjects showed more intense and friendly behaviour towards foster-parents, than other visitor types, which may reflect familiarity and affinity. However, differences were more pronounced in the group situation (at six months of age) than in the individual situation (at 12 and 24 months), suggesting that unique status of foster parents may become less distinct as wolves get older, while exploration of novel social agents is expressed more with older age. Fear related behaviour patterns were only found in the individual situation, mainly displayed towards strangers. We showed that, in case of extensively socialized wolves, distinctive affiliation and affinity towards the foster parent prevails into adulthood.
The meteoritic origin of Tutankhamun's iron dagger blade

Scholars have long discussed the introduction and spread of iron metallurgy in different civilizations. The sporadic use of iron has been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean area from the late Neolithic period to the Bronze Age. Despite the rare existence of smelted iron, it is generally assumed that early iron objects were produced from meteoritic iron. Nevertheless, the methods of working the metal, its use, and diffusion are contentious issues compromised by lack of detailed analysis. Since its discovery in 1925, the meteoritic origin of the iron dagger blade from the sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun (14th C. BCE) has been the subject of debate and previous analyses yielded controversial results. We show that the composition of the blade (Fe plus 10.8 wt% Ni and 0.58 wt% Co), accurately determined through portable x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, strongly supports its meteoritic origin. In agreement with recent results of metallographic analysis of ancient iron artifacts from Gerzeh, our study confirms that ancient Egyptians attributed great value to meteoritic iron for the production of precious objects. Moreover, the high manufacturing quality of Tutankhamun's dagger blade, in comparison with other simple‐shaped meteoritic iron artifacts, suggests a significant mastery of ironworking in Tutankhamun's time.
[Relationships between well-being and social support: a meta analysis of studies conducted in Turkey].

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate overall relationships between well-being and social support through meta-analysis. Studies which investigated associations between social support and life satisfaction, subjective well-being, self-esteem, depression, loneliness were included in the meta-analysis. METHOD By doing literature review to assess studies for potential inclusion; studies were included which met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were that studies must be conducted in Turkey and must report a correlation coefficient between study variables. Data were analyzed using a random effect model. RESULTS It was found that there was a positive relationship between overall well-being and social support; level of social support was negatively correlated with depression and loneliness. For well-being variables, the mean effect size of perceived support from family and for depression/loneliness, the mean effect size of perceived support from friends were significantly stronger than other support sources. For both well-being variables and depression/loneliness variables, mean effect size of studies conducted with older people was significantly stronger than studies conducted with other age groups. Also, mean effect size of theses were significantly stronger than articles. CONCLUSION The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of relationships between social support and well-being.
A manic-depressive symptom self-report in optical scanable format.

INTRODUCTION The Internal State Scale (ISS) is a self-report instrument that allows the simultaneous assessment of both manic and depressive symptoms in individuals with manic-depressive disorder. Prior work indicates that subscales are highly correlated with clinician ratings of mania and depression and provide a discriminant function that identifies individuals in manic/hypomanic, mixed, depressed, and euthymic mood states. A drawback to the ISS is that its items were developed in the visual analogue scale (VAS) format which is labor-intensive to score, particularly with repeat (e.g. daily) administration. A Likert-based format would allow quick and easy optical scanning for which scoring could be automated. METHODS To compare discriminating properties in Likert versus VAS format we re-analyzed previously collected data and collected new data: (a) VAS-based ISS scores from 86 subjects from a prior four-site study were re-analyzed by collapsing scores into 20 and then 10 Likert-based bins to assess loss of precision from collapsing scores, and (b) 24 additional subjects were administered the ISS in VAS and Likert formats to assess loss of precision due to instrument completion factors. RESULTS Discriminant ability, including kappas and receiver operator characteristic curves, were unchanged across the two formats. Within-subjects reliability was uniformally high across formats. CONCLUSIONS Likert-based scoring of the ISS can be used without loss of precision, thus making automated scoring of the ISS feasible. This format will be particularly useful for studies that require processing of large numbers of ISSs, such as those that collect frequent ratings over long periods of time and/or those that utilize large samples.
Reference intervals for hematology, serum biochemistry, and basic clinical findings in free-ranging Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) from Taiwan.

BACKGROUND There are 8 species of Pangolins found in Asia and Africa. Among them, the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is an endangered insectivorous mammal found only in Asia. Hematology and serum chemistry reference intervals are critical for evaluating an animal's well-being and can be useful for clinical diagnostic purposes. Currently, there are no such reference intervals available for any Pangolin species. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to establish reference intervals for hematology and serum biochemical analytes, and some basic clinical findings, in Chinese Pangolins. METHODS Reference intervals for the hematology and serum chemistry variables, and basic clinical findings (body weight, heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen saturation) were collected from 100 clinically healthy Chinese Pangolins (51 males and 49 females) using parametric and nonparametric percentile methods. In addition, seasonal, age-related, and sexual differences for all variables were statistically analyzed. RESULTS No significant differences in the reference intervals were found between males and females, except for body weight. However, significant seasonal differences were observed for heart rate, body temperature, serum ALT and lipase activities, and phosphate concentrations. The variables, which were significantly different between adult and sub-adult Pangolins were heart rate, MCH, creatinine, total protein, phosphate, glucose, and potassium concentration, and amylase activity. Seasonal and age group differences should be taken into consideration when using these reference intervals. CONCLUSIONS The findings from the present study represent a valuable resource for assessing the health of Chinese Pangolins, and contribute toward the conservation of this endangered mammal.
Detection of Duck Hepatitis B Virus DNA on Filter Paper by PCR and SYBR Green Dye-Based Quantitative PCR

ABSTRACT Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family, which includes human Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Woodchuck hepatitis virus. It is widely distributed in wild and domestic ducks due to congenital transmission. HBV is a worldwide health problem, with carriers at risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer. Medical staff and scientists working with HBV must be vaccinated because of its contagious nature. DHBV is a safe surrogate for HBV because of their similarities. Collection of serum and blood samples on filter paper has been used to screen for metabolic disorders, genetic diseases, and viral infection and for evolutionary studies of the genome. In this study, DHBV from serum and blood dried on filters was detected by PCR. A 0.1-μl sample was sufficient for detection. The immobilization potential of filter papers for DHBV was examined, and the highest yield of PCR products was observed with Whatman paper. Dried serum was stable under different storage temperatures for 4 weeks, but the yields of PCR products decreased when the temperature was ⩾4°C. The optimal condition for storage was −70°C. A newly developed quantitative PCR based on monitoring the amplification by measuring the increase in fluorescence caused by the binding of SYBR green dye to double-stranded products was applied herein. DHBV genomic DNA cloned in a plasmid was used for the generation of standard DHBV DNA for quantitative PCR. It validated results from PCR in terms of the copy number of DHBV particles. The specificity of PCR was demonstrated by melting curve analysis, and the differentiation of two DHBV isolates amplified from dried serum was demonstrated based on their melting temperatures determined by GC contents and sequence. It was easier and simpler than other PCR-based DNA techniques. The use of serum dried on filters allows samples from distant field for which cold storage and transportation are a problem to be mailed to the diagnostic laboratory. Samples can be archived for comparison and used as a source of DNA for cloning and sequencing.
Beta-Globin Gene Mutations in India and Their Linkage to β-Haplotypes

Abstract A total of 124 chromosomes of 64 unrelated Indian β- thalassemia and β-thalassemia patients along with their family members were studied for their haplotype pattern and mutations. These included, 35 with β- thalassemia major, 4 with thalassemia trait, and 25 with β-thalassemia. Fourteen mutations were detected by PCR and Sequencing. The most common mutation IVS1-5 (G-C) was linked with 8 different haplotypes. Nineteen haplotypes were found on β-thalassemia mutations, with haplotype (+ - - - - + -) being the most widespread and was found associated with 39 chromosomes of IVS1-5 (G-C), 2 of HPFH and 1 each of CD41/42(-CTTT) and CD16 (-C).
Stereoscopic subsystems for position in depth and for motion in depth

We describe psychophysical evidence that the human visual system contains information-processing channels for motion in depth in addition to those for position in depth. These motion-in-depth channels include some that are selectively sensitive to the relative velocities of the left and right retinal images. We propose that the visual pathway contains stereoscopic (cyclopean) motion filters that respond to only a narrow range of the directions of motion in depth. Turning to the single-neuron level we report that, in addition to neurons tuned to position in depth, cat visual cortex contains neurons that emphasize information about the direction of motion at the expense of positional information. We describe psychophysical evidence for the existence of channels that are sensitive to changing size, and are separate from the channels both for motion and for flicker. These changing-size channels respond independently of whether the stimulus is a bright square on a dark ground or a dark square on a bright ground. At the physiological level we report single neurons in cat visual cortex that respond selectively to increasing or to decreasing size independently of the sign of stimulus contrast. Adaptation to a changing-size stimulus produces two separable after-effects: an illusion of changing size, and an illusion of motion in depth. These after-effects have different decay time constants. We propose a psychophysical model in which changing-size filters feed a motion-in-depth stage, and suppose that the motion-in-depth after-effect is due to activity at the motion-in-depth stage, while the changing-size after-effect is due to activity at the changing-size and more peripheral stages. The motion-in-depth after-effect can be cancelled either by a changing-size test stimulus or by relative motion of the left and right retinal images. Opposition of these two cues can also cancel the impression of motion in depth produced by the adapting stimulus. These findings link the stereoscopic (cyclopean) motion filters and the changing-size filters : both feed the same motion-in-depth stage.