Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Micro-fabricated polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) surfaces regulate the development of marine microbial biofilm communities

This study explored an antifouling (AF) concept based on deployment of microfabricated polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) surfaces with 1–10 μm periodicity corrugated topographies in temperate marine waters. The effect of the surfaces on the development of microbial biofilms over 28 days and during different seasons, including both summer and winter, was examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as well as terminal restriction fragment (T-RF) analysis for phylogenetic fingerprinting. The microscale topography significantly impacted biofilm development by altering the attachment pattern and reducing microcolony formation on the 1, 2 and 4 μm PDMS surfaces. Also, field deployments over 28 days showed a significant reduction in biovolume on the 4 and 10 μm PDMS surfaces despite altered environmental conditions. The microfabricated PDMS surfaces further significantly impacted on the community composition of the biofilms, as revealed by changes in T-RF profiles, at different stages of development. Moreover, altered biofilm resistance was demonstrated by exposing pre-established biofilms on 10 μm micro-fabricated surfaces to enhanced flagellate predation by a heterotrophic protist, Rhynchomonas nasuta. Pronounced changes in the overall marine microbial biofilm development as well as community composition warrant exploring substratum modification for marine AF applications.
A multi-metric routing protocol with service differentiation for cognitive radio ad-hoc networks

In Cognitive Radio Networks, secondary users are affected by the the activity of primary users on licensed channels. To solve this problem, most routing protocols select the most stable links/channels, or use the minimum delay route and switch to other channels when primary users become active. However, these approaches may lead to competition between the secondary users on the most preferred links/channels which may cause congestion and affect the quality of the transmissions. In this paper, a multi-metric routing protocol with service differentiation is proposed. The main idea is to use different routing metrics for different traffic types to select routes that satisfy the specific requirements of each traffic type and to make load balancing across the network. Simulation results show that, compared to other related approaches, our protocol provides better end-to-end delay and increases the aggregate throughput. It also achieves load balancing across the network.
Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and OH8dG levels correlate in the brain of aged subjects but not Alzheimer's disease patients

The levels of mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion (mtDNA4977) and mitochondrial DNA 8′‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (OH8dG) were determined in the same samples from two brain areas of healthy subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A positive correlation between the age‐related increases of mtDNA4977 and of OH8dG levels was found in the brain of healthy individuals. On the contrary, in both brain areas of AD patients, mtDNA4977 levels were very low in the presence of high OH8dG amounts. These results might be explained assuming that the increase of OH8dG above a threshold level, as in AD patients, implies consequences for mtDNA replication and neuronal cell survival. —Lezza, A. M. S. , Mecocci, P., Cormio, A. , Real, M. F. , Cherubini, A. , Cantatore, P., Senin, U. , Gadaleta, M. N. Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp deletion and OH8dG levels correlate in the brain of aged subjects but not Alzheimer's disease patients. FASEB J. 13, 1083–1088 (1999)
Comparative evaluation of remineralizing potential of three agents on artificially demineralized human enamel: An in vitro study

Introduction: Remineralization as a treatment procedure has received much attention from clinicians. The objective of this in vitro study was to find out the efficacy of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF), and tricalcium phosphate fluoride (TCP-F) in remineralizing enamel surface on which artificial caries lesion had been created. The changes were analyzed using DIAGNOdent® (KaVo) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Materials and Methods: A total of 52 premolars and 24 molars were selected and classified into four groups of 13 premolars and 6 molars in each: I (CPP-ACP), II (CPP-ACPF), III (TCP-F), and IV (artificial saliva). All the samples were assessed using DIAGNOdent at the baseline and after demineralization and remineralization. Ten samples were randomly selected from each group baseline after demineralization and after remineralization for surface evaluation using SEM. Results: Statistical analysis showed that all the experimental groups had a significantly higher amount of remineralization except for group IV. Conclusion: All the three experimental groups showed a statistically significant amount of remineralization. However, because of the added benefit of fluoride (NaF 0.2%), CPP-ACPF (Tooth Mousse-Plus®) and TCP-F showed marginally more amount of remineralization than did CPP-ACP (Tooth Mousse®). Remineralization efficacy was TCP-F > CPP-ACPF > CPP-ACP.
How to Read Many-Objective Solution Sets in Parallel Coordinates [Educational Forum]

Rapid development of evolutionary algor ithms in handling many-objective optimization problems requires viable methods of visualizing a high-dimensional solution set. The parallel coordinates plot which scales well to high-dimensional data is such a method, and has been frequently used in evolutionary many-objective optimization. However, the parallel coordinates plot is not as straightforward as the classic scatter plot to present the information contained in a solution set. In this paper, we make some observations of the parallel coordinates plot, in terms of comparing the quality of solution sets, understanding the shape and distribution of a solution set, and reflecting the relation between objectives. We hope that these observations could provide some guidelines as to the proper use of the parallel coordinates plot in evolutionary manyobjective optimization.
Expression of Connexin36 in Cone Pedicles and OFF-Cone Bipolar Cells of the Mouse Retina

Transgenic technology, immunocytochemistry, electrophysiology, intracellular injection techniques, and reverse transcription PCR were combined to study the expression of neuronal connexin36 (Cx36) in the outer plexiform layer of the mouse retina. Transgenic animals expressed either a fusion protein of full-length Cx36 with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) attached at the C terminus or exon 2 of Cx36 was replaced byβ-galactosidase (β-gal). In the outer nuclear layer,β-gal-positive cell bodies, which were confined to the most distal region close to the outer limiting membrane, displayed immunoreactivity against S-cone opsin. Cx36–EGFP puncta colocalized with cone pedicles, which were visualized by intracellular injection. In reverse transcriptase PCR experiments, Cx36 mRNA was never detected in samples of rods harvested from the outer nuclear layer. These results strongly suggest expression of Cx36 in cones but not in rods. In vertical sections, Cx36 expression in the vitreal part of the outer plexiform layer was characterized by a patchy distribution. Immunocytochemistry with antibodies against the neurokinin-3 receptor and the potassium channel HCN4 (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel) displayed clusters of the Cx36 label on the dendrites of OFF-cone bipolar cells. In horizontal sections, these clusters of Cx36 appeared as round or oval-shaped groups of individual puncta, and they were always aligned with the base of cone pedicles. Double-labeling experiments and single-cell reverse transcriptase PCR ruled out expression of Cx36 in horizontal cells and rod bipolar cells. At light microscopic resolution, we found close association of Cx36–EGFP with the AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunit GluR1 but not with GluR2–GluR4, the kainate receptor subunit GluR5, or the metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR6.
Stockage de carbone et dynamique des matières organiques des sols en agroforesterie sous climat méditerranéen et tempéré

Les systemes agroforestiers stockent du carbone dans la biomasse des arbres. Cependant leur interet ne se limite pas a ce carbone stocke sous forme de bois. En effet, les arbres produisent de grandes quantites de litieres, et apportent egalement du carbone dans les horizons profonds du sol par la mortalite et l’exsudation racinaire. Or, les sols agricoles, ayant de tres faibles teneurs en matiere organique, ont un potentiel de stockage en carbone bien plus important que les sols forestiers. A ce jour, il n’existe pratiquement pas de travaux permettant d’avoir une estimation de l’impact des arbres agroforestiers sur le carbone du sol. La plupart des etudes sont en effet menees sur le stockage de carbone dans la biomasse aerienne des arbres. Une etude a ainsi estime qu’en climat tempere et pour des densites comprises entre 50 et 100 arbres/ha, le stockage de carbone serait compris entre 1.5 et 4 tC/ha/an, ce qui est tres important compare au potentiel de stockage d’autres systemes de culture. On se propose donc dans ce travail de contribuer significativement a la connaissance sur les possibilites de stockage de C dans les sols en agroforesterie. Tout d’abord, nous quantifierons les stocks de C dans les parcelles agroforestieres et les comparerons aux temoins agricoles. Nous etudierons egalement l’heterogeneite spatiale de ces stocks, sous la ligne d’arbres ou sous la culture intercalaire, et ce a differentes profondeurs. Dans un deuxieme temps, nous etudierons les entrees de carbone au sol, notamment via la mortalite racinaire des arbres. Puis, nous etudierons les processus lies a la stabilisation de ce carbone dans les horizons profonds du sol. Enfin, nous chercherons a savoir si l’apport de carbone frais dans les horizons du sol ne pourrait pas entrainer une mineralisation d’une partie du carbone stable du sol, phenomene connu sous le nom du priming effect, et qui pourrait jouer un role non negligeable dans le bilan de carbone de ces systemes. La modelisation sera utilisee afin d’estimer le stockage de carbone sur le long terme. L’etude sera menee dans un contexte de systeme de culture mediterraneen, sur un site experimental d’exception. L’analyse mecaniste fournira le cadre conceptuel pour la comprehension de la dynamique du C dans d’autres systemes agroforestiers a l’avenir.
Effective and Efficient Caching in Genetic Algorithms

Hard discrete optimization problems using randomized methods such as genetic algorithms require large numbers of samples from the solution space. Each candidate sample/solution must be evaluated using the target fitness/energy function being optimized. Such fitness computations are a bottleneck in sampling methods such as genetic algorithms. We observe that the caching of partial results from these fitness computations can reduce this bottleneck. We provide a rigorous analysis of the run-times of GAs with and without caching. By representing fitness functions as classic Divide and Conquer algorithms, we provide a formal model to predict the efficiency of caching GAs vs. non-caching GAs. Finally, we explore the domain of protein folding with GAs and demonstrate that caching can significantly reduce expected run-times through both theoretical and extensive empirical analyses.
Factors of Adoption of Mobile Information Technology by Homecare Nurses: A Technology Acceptance Model 2 Approach

Pervasive healthcare support through mobile information technology solutions is playing an increasing role in the attempt to improve healthcare and reduce costs. Despite the apparent attractiveness, many mobile applications have failed or have not been implemented as predicted. Among factors possibly leading to such outcomes, technology adoption is a key problem. This must be investigated early in the development process because healthcare is a particularly sensitive area with vital social implications. Moreover, it is important to investigate technology acceptance using the support of scientific tools validated for relevant information systems research. This article presents an empirical study based on the Technology Acceptance Model 2 in mobile homecare nursing. The study elicited the perceptions of 91 Canadian nurses who used personal digital assistants for 1 month in their daily activities. A partial least squares modeling data analysis revealed that nurse's perception of usefulness is the main factor in the adoption of mobile technology, having subjective norm and image within the organization as significant antecedents. Overall, this study was the first attempt at investigating scientifically, through a pertinent information systems research model, user adoption of mobile systems by homecare nursing personnel.
Flowering of the Grass Lolium perenne. Effects of Vernalization and Long Days on Gibberellin Biosynthesis and Signaling1

Almost 50 years ago, it was shown that gibberellin (GA) applications caused flowering in species normally responding to cold (vernalization) and long day (LD). The implication that GAs are involved with vernalization and LD responses is examined here with the grass Lolium perenne. This species has an obligatory requirement for exposure to both vernalization and LD for its flowering (inflorescence initiation). Specific effects of vernalization or LD on GA synthesis, content, and action have been documented using four treatment pairs: nonvernalized or vernalized plants exposed to short days (SDs) or LDs. Irrespective of vernalization status, exposure to two LDs increased expression of L. perenne GA 20-oxidase-1 (LpGA20ox1), a critical GA biosynthetic gene, with endogenous GAs increasing by up to 5-fold in leaf and shoot. In parallel, LD led to degradation of a DELLA protein, SLENDER (within 48 h of LD or within 2 h of GA application). There was no effect on GA catabolism or abscisic acid content. Loss of SLENDER, which is a repressor of GA signaling, confirms the physiological relevance of increased GA content in LD. For flowering, applied GA replaced the need for LD but not that for vernalization. Thus, GAs may be an LD, leaf-sourced hormonal signal for flowering of L. perenne. By contrast, vernalization had little impact on GA or SLENDER levels or on SLENDER degradation following GA application. Thus, although vernalization and GA are both required for flowering of L. perenne, GA signaling is independent of vernalization that apparently impacts on unrelated processes.
Clinical assessment of balance: Normative data, and gender and age effects

The purpose of this study was to provide age specific normative data of clinical gait and balance tests and to determine to what extent gender contributes to differences in postural control. Standing balance and walking performance was tested in 318 asymptomatic adults. The logistic regression, using both 10- and 30-second time limits as a dichotomization point, revealed a significant age effect for standing on foam with eyes closed, tandem Romberg with eyes closed (TR-EC), and one leg stance (eyes open and closed). The actual effect of decline was different for each test. Both tandem gait and dynamic gait index showed a ceiling effect up to 60 years of age, with a rapid decline of performance for subjects in their seventies. Linear regression equations indicated that for both men and women, timed up and go test (TUG) times increased with age, but even older subjects should perform the TUG in 10 seconds or less. Women performed significantly poorer on the TUG and TR-EC (30-second time limit).
Aspartate neurotoxicity on cultured cortical neurons

L‐aspartate neurotoxicity was quantitatively characterized in murine cortical cell cultures. Five‐minute exposure to 30 μM–3 mM L‐aspartate resulted in concentration‐dependent (ED50 about 190 μM) neuronal destruction over the next 10 hr; glia were not injured. D‐aspartate and L‐aspartate were roughly equipotent neurotoxins. Ion substitution experiments suggested that L‐aspartate neurotoxicity is comprised of both acute, sodium‐dependent “excitotoxicity” and delayed, calcium‐dependent degeneration, with the latter predominant under conditions of brief exposure. Aspartate neurotoxicity could be attenuated by D‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovalerate (D‐APV), dextrorphan, ketamine, and kynurenate, but not by L‐glutamate diethyl ester or gamma‐D‐glutamyl‐aminomethyl sulfonate, consistent with principal involvement of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors. DAPV and dextrorphan produced different effects on the aspartate concentration–toxicity relation; the former drug was consistent with a competitive and the latter with a noncompetitive mechanism of antagonism.
CANONICAL FORMULAS FOR wK4

Abstract We generalize the theory of canonical formulas for K4, the logic of transitive frames, to wK4, the logic of weakly transitive frames. Our main result establishes that each logic over wK4 is axiomatizable by canonical formulas, thus generalizing Zakharyaschev’s theorem for logics over K4. The key new ingredients include the concepts of transitive and strongly cofinal subframes of weakly transitive spaces. This yields, along with the standard notions of subframe and cofinal subframe logics, the new notions of transitive subframe and strongly cofinal subframe logics over wK4. We obtain axiomatizations of all four kinds of subframe logics over wK4. We conclude by giving a number of examples of different kinds of subframe logics over wK4.
Improving in-kennel presentation of shelter dogs through response-dependent and response-independent treat delivery.

In a sequence of studies, we evaluated 2 behavioral interventions designed to decrease undesirable in-kennel behaviors of shelter dogs. In Experiment 1, we compared the efficacy of a simple pairing of person with food (response-independent treat delivery) to an increasing interval differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) procedure and a control condition. Both procedures decreased the median percentage of undesirable behavior from baseline (88.13%, interquartile range [IQR] = 52.78% and 66.43%, IQR = 89.06% respectively), and the control condition increased behavior by 15.13% (IQR = 32.08%), H(2) = 6.49, p = . 039. In Experiment 2, we assessed the efficacy of a response-independent procedure on the whole shelter population. We found a 68% decrease from baseline in the number of dogs that behaved undesirably (U = -4.16, p < .001). Our results suggest that a response-independent procedure is equivalent in efficacy to a DRO procedure to decrease undesirable in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs.
Chronic pouchitis is not related to small intestine bacterial overgrowth

Background: Restorative ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA) potentially may lead to upper gastrointestinal tract motility disturbances. In addition, a bacterial etiology of IPAA complication—pouchitis—has been suggested. The oro‐anal transit time is significantly reduced in this patient group. Therefore, we investigated the hypothesis if IPAA constitutes a significant risk for small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Methods: Twenty‐eight patients age 23–71 years with IPAA operated due to ulcerative colitis without subjective symptoms of pouchitis were evaluated as outpatients according to the prescheduled follow‐up after operation and included in the study. The modified Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) was determined in all IPAA patients, including clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological (Moskowitz criteria) parameters. In addition, anorectal manometry was performed. The presence of SIBO was determined with the use of a glucose breath test (GBT). Results: In 1 subject (3.6%) an abnormal GBT result was recorded consistent with SIBO. In addition, 2 borderline values (7.1%) were documented. Both patients with SIBO as subjects with borderline values presented with low PDAI values. All patients with PDAI >7 had normal GBT results. In patients with SIBO the maximal tolerated rectal volume was significantly higher than in subjects without SIBO (P < 0.007). Similarly, the PDAI value was significantly lower (P < 0.014). Conclusions: Asymptomatic chronic pouchitis is not related to SIBO. However, excessive colonization of the small intestine does occur in some IPAA patients and needs to be kept in the differential diagnosis.
Development of a Human Adaptive Immune System in Cord Blood Cell-Transplanted Mice

Because ethical restrictions limit in vivo studies of the human hemato-lymphoid system, substitute human to small animal xenotransplantation models have been employed. Existing models, however, sustain only limited development and maintenance of human lymphoid cells and rarely produce immune responses. Here we show that intrahepatic injection of CD34+ human cord blood cells into conditioned newborn Rag2–/–γc–/– mice leads to de novo development of B, T, and dendritic cells; formation of structured primary and secondary lymphoid organs; and production of functional immune responses. This provides a valuable model to study development and function of the human adaptive immune system in vivo.
Mutations in the X‐linked pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) α subunit gene (PDHA1) in patients with a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency

Defects in the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex are an important cause of primary lactic acidosis, a frequent manifestation of metabolic disease in children. Clinical symptoms can vary considerably in patients with PDH complex deficiencies, and almost equal numbers of affected males and females have been identified, suggesting an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of the disease. However, the great majority of PDH complex deficiencies result from mutations in the X‐linked pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) α subunit gene (PDHA1). The major factors that contribute to the clinical variation in E1α deficiency and its resemblance to a recessive disease are developmental lethality in some males with severe mutations and the pattern of X‐inactivation in females.
Reliability of a New Caries Diagnostic System Differentiating between Active and Inactive Caries Lesions

Current scoring systems for dental caries do not consider the dynamic nature of the disease. The aims of the present study were to describe a new set of clinical caries diagnostic criteria which differentiate between active and inactive caries lesions at both the cavitated and non–cavitated levels and to evaluate the reliability of this criteria system in a population with high caries experience. Ten diagnostic codes were defined: 0 = sound; 1 = active (intact); 2 = active (surface discontinuity); 3 = active (cavity); 4 = inactive (intact); 5 = inactive (surface discontinuity); 6 = inactive (cavity); 7 = filling; 8 = filling with active caries; 9 = filling with inactive caries. Distinction between active and inactive caries lesions was made on the basis of a combination of visual and tactile criteria. The inter– and intra–examiner reliability was assessed through repeated examinations of 50 children by 2 recorders over a period of 3 years. The percentage agreement of caries diagnoses varied between 94.2 and 96.2%. The kappa values ranged between 0.74 and 0.85 for intra–examiner examinations and between 0.78 and 0.80 for inter–examiner examinations; 81.6% of all misclassifications involved non–cavitated caries lesions. Disagreement between sound surfaces and non–cavitated active or non–cavitated inactive lesions (31.3 and 31.2%, respectively) was more common than disagreement between non–cavitated active and non–cavitated inactive lesions (10.6%). The probability of reconfirming a sound, non–cavitated active or non–cavitated inactive caries lesion – given that the surface was diagnosed as either sound, non–cavitated active or non–cavitated inactive at the first examination – was 98.0, 68.7 and 72.5%, respectively. The results show that the use of a new set of clinical caries diagnostic criteria based on activity assessment can be performed with a high reliability, even when non–cavitated diagnoses are included in the criteria system.