Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An interlaboratory evaluation of the Buehler test for the identification and classification of skin sensitizers

The correct identification of potential skin sensitizers is an essential first step in enabling a proper risk assessment to be made and to permit the implementation of appropriate risk management practices designed to avoid the induction of sensitization, Consequently, regulatory guidelines around the world demand that new substances are evaluated to assess their skin sensitization potential. There are two guinea pig test methods which are generally recognised, the guinea pig maximisation test (GPMT) and the occluded patch test described by Buehler. In different countries, one procedure seems to be more prevalent and acceptable to regulatory authorities than the other. Notably, in the European Union, the latest revision of the Annex V (Directive 92/32/EC) Test Method for skin sensitization asks that justification should be given in the situation where the notifi this paper, the validity of the Buehler protocol in the context of European legislation is critically examined. Results from two laboratories are collated. showing that the method can identify significant contact allergens, particularly those which would he registered formally as such according to European legislation. It is demonstrated that minor methodological variations can he tolerated without compromising tesi sensitivity, hut it is recommended that suitable positive control testing is the best way to ensure proper test conduct.
Older and Younger Adults Show Comparable Affective Compatibility and Simon Effects

Background/Study Context: In affective Simon tasks, participants respond to the color of stimuli with positive or negative affect by saying “good” or “bad. ” The primary finding is that responses are faster when the affective valences of the stimulus and response correspond than when they do not. A similar compatibility effect occurs in an evaluation task for which stimulus affect is relevant and mapped compatibly or incompatibly to the responses. Methods: The present study compared the affective Simon and compatibility effects for younger and older adults in pure-task conditions (all trials from a single task) and mixed-task conditions (trials from the two tasks occurred equally often). Four schematic faces were used as stimuli for the affective Simon task and four different positive and negative images for the evaluation task. Results: The affective Simon effect was of similar size for older and younger adults under both pure- and mixed-task conditions: Mixed emotion-relevant trials increased the Simon effect when the mapping was compatible but had no influence on it when the mapping was incompatible. Older adults showed a larger affective compatibility effect than younger adults, but only the effect for younger adults was increased substantially by intermixing Simon-task trials. Conclusion: These results and others imply that automatic activation of corresponding affective responses occurs similarly for older and younger adults, with older adults mainly showing a deficit in intentional processing of incompatible affect mappings. The study provides little evidence that older adults have a general deficit at inhibiting activation by stimuli of their stereotypical responses.
Parental alarm calls suppress nestling vocalization

Evolutionary models suggest that the cost of a signal can ensure its honesty. Empirical studies of nestling begging imply that predator attraction can impose such a cost. However, parents might reduce or abolish this cost by warning young of the presence of danger. We tested, in a controlled field playback experiment, whether alarm calls cause 5–, 8– and 11–day–old nestlings of the white–browed scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis, to suppress vocalization. In this species, nestlings vocalize when parents visit the nest (‘begging’) and when they are absent (‘non–begging’), so we measured effects on both types of vocalization. Playback of parental alarm calls suppressed non–begging vocalization almost completely but only slightly reduced begging calls during a playback of parental feeding calls that followed. The reaction of nestlings was largely independent of age. Our results suggest two reasons why experiments ignoring the role of parents probably overestimate the real cost of nestling vocalizations. Parents can warn young from a distance about the presence of danger and so suppress non–begging vocalizations that might otherwise be overheard, and a parent's presence at the nest presumably indicates when it is safe to beg.
Read-Out Design Rules for Molecular Crossbar Architectures

This paper investigates the behavior of large-scale crossbar memory arrays, built from molecular switches. We construct SPICE models based on experimental I(V) curves and investigate how critical circuit parameters (read-out margin, power dissipation, and speed) scale with circuit size. We concentrate on the read-out process. We explore the effect of nonlinear/rectifying elements placed at the junctions and conclude that scalable crossbar memories could be built using molecules with nonlinear, nonrectifying behavior in the molecular I(V) curve. The ultimate achievable storage capacity of these arrays is estimated and prescriptions for optimized molecular switches are provided.
Lifetime Prediction for CMOS Devices with Ultra Thin Gate Oxides Based on Progressive Breakdown

Progressive breakdown observed in CMOS devices with ultra thin gate oxides can significantly increase the time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) reliability margin of digital CMOS products. The voltage acceleration, the failure distribution of the progressive breakdown and the methodology for quantification of the progressive breakdown is discussed. Extensive experimental data are provided, enabling its implementation
Ly49-Dependent NK Cell Licensing and Effector Inhibition Involve the Same Interaction Site on MHC Ligands

NK cells become functionally competent to be triggered by their activation receptors through the interaction of NK cell inhibitory receptors with their cognate self-MHC ligands, an MHC-dependent educational process termed “licensing. ” For example, Ly49A+ NK cells become licensed by the interaction of the Ly49A inhibitory receptor with its MHC class I ligand, H2Dd, whereas Ly49C+ NK cells are licensed by H2Kb. Structural studies indicate that the Ly49A inhibitory receptor may interact with two sites, termed site 1 and site 2, on its H2Dd ligand. Site 2 encompasses the α1/α2/α3 domains of the H2Dd H chain and β2-microglobulin (β2m) and is the functional binding site for Ly49A in effector inhibition. Ly49C functionally interacts with a similar site in H2Kb. However, it is currently unknown whether this same site is involved in Ly49A- or Ly49C-dependent licensing. In this study, we produced transgenic C57BL/6 mice expressing wild-type or site 2 mutant H2Dd molecules and studied whether Ly49A+ NK cells are licensed. We also investigated Ly49A- and Ly49C-dependent NK licensing in murine β2m-deficient mice that are transgenic for human β2m, which has species-specific amino acid substitutions in β2m. Our data from these transgenic mice indicate that site 2 on self-MHC is critical for Ly49A- and Ly49C-dependent NK cell licensing. Thus, NK cell licensing through Ly49 involves specific interactions with its MHC ligand that are similar to those involved in effector inhibition.
Predicting Future Antibiotic Susceptibility using Regression-based Methods on Longitudinal Massachusetts Antibiogram Data

Antibiotic resistance evolves alarmingly quickly, requiring constant reevaluation of resistance patterns to guide empiric treatment of bacterial infections. Aggregate antimicrobial susceptibility reports, called antibiograms, are critical for evaluating the likelihood of effectiveness of antibiotics prior to the availability of patient specific laboratory data. Our objective is to analyze the ability of the methods to predict antimicrobial susceptibility. This research utilizes Massachusetts statewide antibiogram data, a rich dataset composed of average percent susceptibilities of 10 species of bacteria to a variety of antibiotics collected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health from over 50 acute-care hospitals from 2002 to 2015. First, we improved data quality by implementing data filtering strategies. We then predicted up to three future years of antibiotic susceptibilities using regression-based strategies on nine previous years of data. We discovered the same prediction methodology should not be utilized uniformly for all 239 antibiotic-bacteria pairs. Thus, we propose model selection strategies that automatically select a suitable model for each antibiotic-bacteria pair based on minimizing those models’ mean squared error and previous year’s prediction error. By comparing the predictions against the actual mean susceptibility, our experimental analysis revealed that the model selectors based on the predictions of the previous performed best.
Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins in the lacrimal acinar cell endomembrane system.

Secretagogues accelerate traffic in the lysosomal and basal-lateral pathways, as well as in the regulated apical secretory pathway, of lacrimal acinar cells. It has been proposed that alterations of protein segregation in compartments where these traffic pathways intersect may influence autoimmune responses. Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins couple secretagogue receptor ligand binding to activation of intracellular signaling cascades, but they are also suggested to participate in endomembrane traffic phenomena. Distributions of G(o), G(i3), G(q), G(11), and two G(s)isoforms were mapped in reconstituted lacrimal acini by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and in lysates of the reconstituted acini by analytical subcellular fractionation. All G proteins examined were detected at low levels in isolated compartments (blm(i,j)) believed to represent the basal-lateral plasma membrane. G(i3), G(11), and the G(s)isoforms were concentrated in a series of isolated compartments believed to be related to domains of a basal-lateral endosome with sorting and recycling functions (ble-s/r(i,j,k)), a distinct endosomal compartment with basal-lateral membrane-like composition (e-blml), and domains of the trans-Golgi network believed to be involved in traffic to and from the basal-lateral membrane (tgn-blmr). G(o)and G(q)were concentrated in compartments believed to represent a mixture of immature and mature secretory vesicle membranes (isvm and svm) and domains of the trans-Golgi network compartment believed to mediate traffic to secretory vesicles (tgn-svr) and to pre-lysosomes (tgn-lr). Confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of both basal-lateral membrane and intracellular pools of the G proteins. Stimulation with 10 microM carbachol for 20min caused a component of the G(o)to redistribute away from the isvm+svm; components of the G(i3), G(q), and G(s)to redistribute away from the tgn-svr+tgn-lr; and a component of the G(i3)to redistribute away from the ble-blml+tgn-blmr. Thus, these proteins may participate in endomembrane traffic steps activated by cholinergic stimulation in addition to playing their classical roles in plasma membrane signal transduction.
Objective evaluation of the efficacy of daily topical applications of cosmetics bases using the hairless mouse model of atopic dermatitis

Background/aims: Dry skin (xerosis) is a characteristic change associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) and has often been treated with topical petrolatum applications despite its unfavorable feel. Recently, various therapeutically effective skin‐care products with better feel have been introduced. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the clinical effectiveness of these newer treatments, we used our recently established hairless mouse model of AD.
NPH 4 , a Conditional Modulator of Auxin-Dependent Differential Growth Responses in Arabidopsis 1

Although sessile in nature, plants are able to use a number of mechanisms to modify their morphology in response to changing environmental conditions. Differential growth is one such mechanism. Despite its importance in plant development, little is known about the molecular events regulating the establishment of differential growth. Here we report analyses of the nph4 (nonphototropic hypocotyl) mutants of Arabidopsis that suggest that the NPH4 protein plays a central role in the modulation of auxin-dependent differential growth. Results from physiological studies demonstrate that NPH4 activity is conditionally required for a number of differential growth responses, including phototropism, gravitropism, phytochrome-dependent hypocotyl curvature, apical hook maintenance, and abaxial/adaxial leaf-blade expansion. The nph4 mutants exhibited auxin resistance and severely impaired auxin-dependent gene expression, indicating that the defects associated with differential growth likely arise because of altered auxin responsiveness. Moreover, the auxin signaling events mediating phototropism are genetically correlated with the abundance of the NPH4 protein.
Spirituality, Religiosity, Depression, Anxiety, and Drug-Use Consequences During Methadone Maintenance Therapy

Substance addiction is damaging to the health of persons, families, and society. Often the person with addiction has decreased spirituality and religiosity and suffers from anxiety, depression, or both, increasing the risk for continued substance use and its concomitant negative consequences. The study purpose was to describe spirituality and religiosity, among persons enrolled in methadone maintenance therapy and to examine associations between spirituality, religiosity, anxiety, depression, and drug-use consequences. Using a descriptive and cross-sectional correlational design, 108 participants completed questionnaires assessing the study variables. Spiritual well-being was similar to other addiction samples and lower than healthy person samples. Most participants described themselves as spiritual or religious though religious participation was lower than in their past. The analysis indicated that spirituality, religiosity, depression, anxiety, and negative drug-use consequences are interrelated in the person with addiction. Higher anxiety was predictive of negative drug-use consequences.
A distributed real-time multi-view video encoder on consumer hardware

In this paper we describe a novel approach to create standard-compliant H.264/MVC video streams in realtime by distributing most of the computational complexity among multiple H.264/AVC encoders which can be part of the capturing cameras or separate devices in between the cameras and the transcoder. By exploiting the structural similarities between H.264/AVC and H.264/MVC the transcoder only has to decode its individual input streams at a very high level. With minimal changes to the input streams a standard-compliant multi-view video stream is created. This method is efficient enough that a high number of input streams can be transcoded on a consumer multi-core PC.
Behavioral Surveillance among People at Risk for HIV Infection in the U.S.: The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with 25 state and local health departments, began the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) in 2003. The system focuses on people at risk for HIV infection and surveys the three populations at highest risk for HIV in the United States: men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and high-risk heterosexuals. The project collects information from these three populations during rotating 12-month cycles. Methods for recruiting participants vary for each at-risk population, but NHBS uses a standardized protocol and core questionnaire for each cycle. Participating health departments tailor their questionnaire to collect information about specific prevention programs offered in their geographic area and to address local data needs. Data collected from NHBS will be used to describe trends in key behavioral risk indicators and evaluate current HIV prevention programs. This information in turn can be used to identify gaps in prevention services and target new prevention activities with the goal of reducing new HIV infections in the United States.
Identification of Clinically Significant Alloantibodies in Thai Patients with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Objective: To identify clinically significant alloantibodies in Thai patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) by acid elution technique, standard antibody identification technique and ZZAP allogeneic adsorption technique. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with AIHA who had positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and positive antibody screening were included. Acid elution kit was used to identify IgG antibodies bound on patient’s RBCs. Standard antibody identification and allogeneic adsorption with ZZAP-treated RBCs were used to identify alloantibodies in patient’s plasma. Results: A total of 20 alloantibodies were found in 16 (32%) of 50 samples but not found in eluate. The alloantibodies included 6 (30%) anti-S, 5 (25%) anti-Mia, 4 (20%) anti-E, 1 (5%) anti-c, 1 (5%) anti-Jka, 1 (5%) anti-Jkb, 1 (5%) anti-Dia and 1 (5%) anti-N. Fifteen (30%) samples had clinically significant alloantibodies (IgG) with a total of 19 specificities. Four samples showed 4 clinically significant alloantibodies which could be identified by allogeneic adsorption techniques but not by standard antibody identification. Conclusion: Patients with AIHA are at significant risk of red cells alloimmunization. Further testing with adsorption technique should be performed to identify alloantibodies for patients who had history of transfusion before transfusion of RBCs.
Selection of nonmucoid derivatives of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa is strongly influenced by the level of iron in the culture medium

We investigated the effects of cations on the stability in culture of mucoid strains pf Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis by studying their effects on the selection of nonmucoid derivatives which arise by spontaneous mutation in cultures of mucoid organisms. Calcium ion concentrations in the range 0.55 to 1.85 mM had no effect on the growth or stability of the mucoid cultures. Higher levels (5.0 mM) inhibited the growth of both mucoid and nonmucoid cells. Likewise, magnesium ion in concentrations of 0.3 to 3.0 mM had no effect. The concentration of iron (either Fe2+ or Fe3+) had a profound effect on the selection of nonmucoid mutants in unshaken cultures of mucoid organisms. In medium containing 0.01 mM iron, nonmucoid mutants rapidly accumulated to a greater than 100-fold-higher frequency than the mucoid forms. Rates of accumulation of nonmucoid derivatives were lower in media containing lower concentrations of iron. The possible role of iron in the selection of nonmucoid cells from a population of mucoid P. aeruginosa is discussed.
Comparison of Fructosamine With Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Plasma Proteins as Measures of Glycemic Control

The relative value of fructosamine as an alternative to glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) and other measures of glycemic control was assessed in 100 insulin-dependent (IDDM) and 104 non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) diabetic patients. We measured HbA1 (by electrophoretic and affinity methods), plasma glucose, glycosylated plasma proteins, and fructosamine in blood taken at a single clinic visit. The values were compared both by correlation analysis and by considering whether the various indices of glycemic control placed the patients in the same clinical decision categories as they were in by the HbA1 (affinity) result. Fructosamine correlated moderately well with HbA1 (affinity; r = .8) and placed 71% of IDDM and 72% of NIDDM patients in the same clinical category of good, moderate, or poor control. Differences can probably be partly attributed to the different periods over which HbA1 and fructosamine reflect average glycemia and partly to imprecision.
Goodness-of-Fit Assessment in Multidimensional Scaling and Unfolding

ABSTRACT Judging goodness of fit in multidimensional scaling requires a comprehensive set of diagnostic tools instead of relying on stress rules of thumb. This article elaborates on corresponding strategies and gives practical guidelines for researchers to obtain a clear picture of the goodness of fit of a solution. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of permutation tests. The second part of the article focuses on goodness-of-fit assessment of an important variant of multidimensional scaling called unfolding, which can be applied to a broad range of psychological data settings. Two real-life data sets are presented in order to walk the reader through the entire set of diagnostic measures, tests, and plots. R code is provided as supplementary information that makes the whole goodness-of-fit assessment workflow, as presented in this article, fully reproducible.
Fish larvae and the management of regulated rivers

Alterations to the natural hydrologic regime in regulated rivers can disrupt cues that initiate the maturation and spawning of riverine fish, or they can change the conditions which are suitable for the recruitment of larvae into juvenile populations. Observations of fish larvae have the potential to provide insights into the effects of flow regulation, showing whether it has had a greater impact on fish by preventing spawning or by reducing or eliminating recruitment. We investigated historical and current records of native fish in the highly regulated Campaspe River and the moderately regulated Broken River, Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, and compared these with the results from sampling of fish larvae over three consecutive years to assess the likely impact that river regulation has had on fish populations in lowland Australian rivers. Of the 12 native species of fish that have been recorded historically from the Campaspe River, eight still occur, generally in low abundance, but only three of these were recorded as larvae in this experiment. From recent records, ten native fish species are extant in the Broken River from a suite of 15 that have been recorded there; of these, nine were collected as larvae. The presence of Murray cod larvae in this river was a significant finding. Thus, the less regulated Broken River is in a much healthier state than the Campaspe River. The results of sampling in both rivers indicated that most species of fish spawned each year, despite high inter-annual variation in antecedent hydrological conditions. This suggests that for the species present in these two rivers, the hydrology (pattern of daily discharge) during the winter and spring preceding breeding was unlikely to be a cue for final maturation and spawning. These findings are only preliminary, but they may show that river regulation has had more of an impact on post-spawning recruitment than on prevention of spawning. This has important implicatons for the remediation of the effects of river regulation, with targeting of recruitment processes and the factors influencing these, a priority. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eczema and infant diet

The relationship between parental atopy, breast‐feeding, early solid food diet and the rate of eczema was studied in a birth cohort of 2‐year‐old children. Rates of eczema varied significantly with parental atopy and solid feeding: children of atopic parents given solid food during the first 4 months had over two‐and‐a‐half times the rate of eczema of children not given solid food and who had non‐atopic parents. Further, rates of eczema increased in almost direct proportion to the number of different types of solid food that the child had been given during the first 4 months. Breast‐feeding had no significant effect on rates of eczema.