Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DSC study of polyethylene terephtalate's physical ageing

When we keep an amorphous polymer at a temperature below its glass transition temperature Tg or when we vary the cooling rate of the polymer from its melting temperature to a temperature below Tg, it is not in a true thermodynamical equilibrium state and many of its properties change such as the free volume, the enthalpy and other properties. This behavior is called Physical ageing. In this paper, the study of this phenomenon in partially crystallized poly (ethylene terephtalate) (PET) (14%) is done by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The sample of PET is aged in two different ways: the first one consists on annealing the material at temperatures Ta below the glass transition temperature Tg for different ageing times Δta. The second one consists of cooling the polymer from a temperature higher than Tg (95°C) to the room temperature following various cooling rates b. An endothermic peak appears at a temperature situated just above Tg. We notice that for a slow cooling rate and higher annealing time, the area's peak increases and the temperature shifts toward a higher value. Examining the results reveals that the influence of the polymer's thermal history is important for a slow cooling rate and a significant annealing time.
No Increase of β2-Glycoprotein I Levels in Patients with Antiphospholipid Antibodies

Recently several groups reported that a plasma protein (ACA cofactor) is essential for the binding of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) to cardiolipin (1-4) and that its plasma level is increased (5) in patients with lupus anticoagulant (LA). In vitro this protein is known to exert different actions on haemostasis, for example by inhibiting the contact phase of intrinsic coagulation pathway, by binding to negatively-charged phospholipids and by inhibiting the ADP-induced platelet aggregation (6). However, little is known about the physiological action of ß2-glycoprotein I (ß2-GPI) and its possible role in thrombosis. In order to clarify this issue we measured ß2-GPI plasma levels (Liatest, Stago, Asnières, France, courtesy of Dr. J. Amiral) in 66 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or SLE like patients (8 men, 58 women, mean age 40, range 14-77 years) with (LA+) or without ( L A ) LA and with (ACA+) or without (ACA-) ACA. LA and ACA were determined as previously described (7, 8). The results were compared with a control group of 15 healthy donors (10 men, 5 women, mean age 37, range 28-54 years). We also measured the thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT, Behring, Marburg, FRG) in order to assess any activation of coagulation related to ß2-GPI. As shown in Table 1 no difference in ß2-GPI was found between patients groups (Kruskall-Wallis). When patients groups were compared to controls, no statistically significant difference was observed (Mann-Whitney test). This is in contrast with others who recently reported that ß2-GPI is increased in patients with LA (5). In opposite significant differences in TAT levels were observed (Mann-Whitney test) in all groups when compared to controls, except for LA+ ACA— patients (only 7 patients). However, no relationship was found between ß2-GPI and TAT plasma levels suggesting that, in vivo, this cofactor is not associated with an hypercoagulable state. Our results indicate that ß2-GPI levels are not different in these patients, as compared to controls, and that there is no relationship either with ACA or with LA. After this Letter was submitted similar results were reported by another group (9). If ß2-GPI might contribute to the thrombotic manifestations commonly found in these patients one would expect that its plasma level is correlated with a prethrombotic state assessed by increased TAT
EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF FRUIT EXTRACT FROM ZANTHOXYLUM ALATUM: A COMMONLY USED SPICE FROM PAKISTAN

Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb. , is a medicinal plant which abundantly grows in the hilly areas of Pakistan. The dried fruit of the plant is used as condiment and has excellent spice value. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of the Z. alatum whole fruit was evaluated by several In vitro systems e.g., lipid peroxidation, 2,2-diphenlyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities, phosphomolybdenum assay and metal chelation activity. The ethanolic extracts of fruit showed inhibition against Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), induced by different pro-oxidants (10 μM FeSO4 and 5 μM Sodium nitroprusside) in rat liver, brain and kidney homogenates. The extracts also caused the scavenging of DPPH (IC50 = 4.56 ± 1.3 mg/ mL) and hydroxyl radicals, and exhibited Fe chelating activity. The ability of the ethanolic extract to prevent the Fe/H2O2 induced deoxyribose decomposition was also determined. The extract showed its potential to prevent the decomposition of deoxyribose induced by iron and hydrogen peroxide at low concentration. The results suggest that the fruit of Z. alatum may act as an antioxidant agent which may be associated with its potential use as a functional food.
Sensory conduction velocity of plantar digital nerves in Morton's metatarsalgia

The orthodromic sensory conduction velocity of the plantar interdigital nerves were measured with needle electrodes in 28 healthy subjects. The stimulating needle electrodes were placed close to the shaft of the proximal phalanx of the toe, and the recording needle electrode was placed behind the medial malleolus. We examined six subjects with clinical symptoms of entrapment of the common plantar digital nerve (Morton's metatarsalgia). Five of the subjects later had surgery. The conduction velocities of the affected interdigital nerves were abnormally blow. The method is technically simple, but more painful than conventional conduction studies.
In Vivo and in Vitro Characterization of the Angiogenic Effect of CTX0E03 Human Neural Stem Cells

CTX0E03 is a human neural stem cell line previously reported to reduce sensory motor deficits in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model of stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate if CTX0E03 treatment promotes angiogenesis. As stroke leads to damage of the vasculature in the brain, angiogenesis may contribute to the functional recovery. To test this hypothesis, the angiogenic activity of CTX0E03 was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, CTX0E03 expression of trophic and proangiogenic factors was determined by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA, and its angiogenic activity was investigated in well-established angiogenesis assays. In vivo, angiogenesis was investigated in naive mice and MCAo rat brain and was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using Von Willebrand factor (VWF), a marker of blood vessel formation, and BrdU/CD31 double labeling in naive mice only. In vitro results showed that CTX0E03-conditioned medium and coculture significantly increased total tubule formation compared with controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.0008, respectively). Furthermore, CTX0E03 cells were found to be in direct association with the tubules by ICC. In vivo CTX0E03-treated brains demonstrated a significant increase in areas occupied by VWF-positive microvessels compared with vehicle-treated naive mice (two-way ANOVA, Interaction p < 0.05, Treatment p < 0.0001, Time p < 0.0) and MCAo rat (p = 0.001 unpaired t test, Welch's correction). CTX0E03-treated naive mouse brains showed an increase in BrdU/CD31 colabeling. In conclusion, in vitro CTX0E03 cells express proangiogenic factors and may promote angiogenesis by both release of paracrine factors and direct physical interaction. Furthermore, in vivo CTX0E03-treated rodent brains exhibited a significant increase in microvessels at the site of implantation compared with vehicle-injected groups. Taken together these data suggest that CTX0E03 cell therapy may provide significant benefit to stroke patients through upregulation of angiogenesis in the ischemic brain.
Identification and Preclinical Testing of Novel Antiepileptic Compounds

Summary: Procedures for identifying novel antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are changing and need to change more. Widespread reliance on two primary screens has led to the identification of novel compounds that resemble either phenytoin (suppressing high‐frequency repetitive firing in cultured neurons and prolonging inactivation of voltage‐dependent sodium channels identified by the maximal electroshock test) or benzodiazepines (potentiating the inhibitory effect of “γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), identified by the threshold pentylenetetrazol test). Advances in molecular neurobiology have identified specific molecular targets (subunits of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and transporters) and have made them available in a form permitting high‐throughput screening. AEDs can be designed to interact with specific sites on the target molecules. Alternatively, the molecular screens can be used to identify active components in natural products, including folk remedies. Preclinical in vivo screens can be improved by using animals with genetic or acquired epilepsies that have similar modifications in the properties of the target molecules as do human epilepsy syndromes. Future work is likely to define molecular targets for AEDs that will block or reverse chronic epileptogenesis.
Use of a single intramuscular injection of a synthetic hormone analogue,ovupin for commercial carp seed production in Bangladesh

A study was conducted to investigate the possibility of employing a single intramuscular injection of a synthetic hormone analogue, ovupin on the induced breeding of two major carps, viz. rohu (Labeo rohita), mrigala (Cirrhinus mrigala) and an endangered minor carp, bata (Labeo bata). Three breeding trials of each species were performed. In case of major carp, the females were injected with single dose of ovupin solution at a rate of 0.5 mL kg-1 body weight, while the minor carp received ovupin solution at a dose of 0.3 mL kg-1 body weight, whereas males received extracted PG hormone at a dose of 2 and 1.5 mg kg-1 body weight for major carps and minor carp, respectively. All the three species were successfully bred using ovupin through a single injection. In case of major carps, the latent period was 9-10 h while 12-14 h for minor carp. The breeding response of females was 100% in major carps, whereas it was approximately 90% in minor carp. Fertilization rate varied between 87.07 and 89.94% for the major carps and between 87.6 and 89.9% for minor carps. Major carps showed higher hatching rates (77.21 to 80.19%) than minor carp (64.9 to 66.56%). The present study indicated that ovupin could be effective as alternative of PG in carp’s breeding in Bangladesh.
Relative importance of physicians' personal and situational characteristics for the quality of patient care.

This study measured the relative importance of physicians personal attributes (type of medical school attended time in practice and degree of specialization) and their work settings (type of ambulatory care settings and type of hospital) for the quality of patient care. The sample consisted of 454 physicians from 18 specialty categories in Hawaii in 1968. Relative importance was determined by comparing the marginal influence derived from the part correlation coefficients that were computed through use of Multiple Classification Analysis programs. The study was designed to assess Freidsons hypothesis that work behavior is more likely to be an outcome of the organized pressures of the work environment than of earlier socialization. The direct independent effects of physicians internal characteristics explained marginally 2% of the quality variations in physician performance while external characteristics explained 10% of the total variance. This finding implies that the physicians external characteristics exert a greater influence than internal qualities on physician performance and is consistent with Freidsons analysis of the medical profession. Also observed was a positive effect on physician performance of both training and hospital organization. The following order (descending) of quality performance was observed: 1) trained physicians in highly organized hospitals 2) physicians with less training but in highly organized hospitals 3) highly trained physicians in less organized hospitals and 4) physicians with less training in less organized hospitals. The work setting was somewhat less important for highly trained physicians but more so for physicians with less training. The quality of patient care differed more between hospitals affiliated with medical schools and all other hospitals than between diplomates of an American specialty board or fellows of an American college and physicians who were not diplomates or fellows but had voluntary or municipal hospital staff positions.
Mode Control in Planar Waveguide Grating Couplers With Double Surface Corrugation

Grating couplers with double surface corrugation are proposed to adjust the resonance behavior of both TE and TM modes simultaneously. Through proper selection of parameters, we designed a polarization-independent grating coupler operating at 1.55-μm telecommunication wavelength. Efficiency is achieved at around 55% for both TE and TM modes, and the polarization-dependent loss is <; 0.05 dB within the spectral window from 1544 to 1561 nm. Furthermore, a double-channel grating coupler is proposed to excite the TE and TM modes at 1.31 and 1.49 μm, respectively. The achievable efficiency is around 60% for both channels with good uniformity.
Population Structure and Domestication Revealed by High-Depth Resequencing of Korean Cultivated and Wild Soybean Genomes

Despite the importance of soybean as a major crop, genome-wide variation and evolution of cultivated soybeans are largely unknown. Here, we catalogued genome variation in an annual soybean population by high-depth resequencing of 10 cultivated and 6 wild accessions and obtained 3.87 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) after excluding the sites with missing data in any accession. Nuclear genome phylogeny supported a single origin for the cultivated soybeans. We identified 10-fold longer linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the wild soybean relative to wild maize and rice. Despite the small population size, the long LD and large SNP data allowed us to identify 206 candidate domestication regions with significantly lower diversity in the cultivated, but not in the wild, soybeans. Some of the genes in these candidate regions were associated with soybean homologues of canonical domestication genes. However, several examples, which are likely specific to soybean or eudicot crop plants, were also observed. Consequently, the variation data identified in this study should be valuable for breeding and for identifying agronomically important genes in soybeans. However, the long LD of wild soybeans may hinder pinpointing causal gene(s) in the candidate regions.
Power Supply Noise in Delay Testing

Excessive power supply noise can affect path delay and cause overkill during delay test. This paper presents low-cost noise models for fast power supply noise analysis and timing analysis considering noise impact. Our prior work only considered array-bond chips. This work proposes a noise analysis methodology that can be applied to wire-bond chips as well as array-bond chips. Experiments were performed on an industrial design. Silicon results show as much as a 15% delay variation due to different don't care fill approaches. The power supply noise impact on delay must be taken into account when delay tests are applied
Scalp as skin graft donor site: rapid reuse with synthetic adhesive moisture vapor permeable dressings.

Synthetic Adhesive Moisture vapor permeable (S.A.M.) dressings, Op-Site and Tegaderm, are compared to Fine Mesh Gauze (F.M.G.), as a dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites. Scalp as a donor site is compared to nonscalp donor sites. The combination of S.A.M. dressings and scalp as a donor site allows for rapid reuse of a donor site. Pain is substantially decreased and rate of healing is increased when this combination is used. The scalp, because of its availability, accessibility, excellent color match for facial grafting, and rapid healing, is recommended as a donor site.
Beneficial effect of bacteriocin-producing strain Enterococcus durans ED 26E/7 in model experiment using broiler rabbits

Lauková A. , Pogány Simonová M. , Chrastinová Ľ. , Kandričáková A. , Ščerbová J., Plachá I. , Čobanová K. , Formelová Z. , Ondruška Ľ. , Štrkolcová G. , Strompfová V. (2017): Beneficial effect of bacteriocin-producing strain Enterococcus durans ED 26E/7 in model experiment using broiler rabbits. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 62, 168–177. From the aspect of probiotic properties and bacteriocins, Enterococcus faecium belongs to the most frequently studied species among enterococci. This study deals with testing the strain of the species Enterococcus durans ED 26E/7 in broiler rabbits. The strain ED 26E/7 isolated from ewes lump cheese produces an antimicrobial substance durancin. Forty-eight post-weaned rabbits (aged 5 weeks) of both sexes were divided into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) per 24 animals each, and kept in standard cages, two animals per cage. EG group rabbits were additionally administered the ED 26E/7 strain (500 μl/animal/day) into water for 21 days. CG group rabbits were fed a commercial feed. The experiment lasted 42 days. Faeces and blood samples were taken on days 0–1 (experiment onset), 21 (after a 3-week application), and 42 (3 weeks after ED 26E/7 strain cessation). On days 21 and 42, rabbits were slaughtered and caeca and appendix were sampled. The rabbits’ digestive tract was found to be sufficiently colonized by the strain ED 26E/7; the antimicrobial effect was demonstrated in caecum and appendix (e.g. decrease in coliforms). Reduction of Eimeria sp. oocysts in EG compared to CG rabbits was detected on day 21, when also a significant (P < 0.05) increase of phagocytic activity in EG was registered. Values of glutathioneperoxidase were lower in EG than in CG rabbits on day 21 implying that the ED 26E/7 application had not evoked oxidative stress. Biochemical blood parameters and quality of meat were not negatively influenced. First time tested in animals, E. durans ED 26E/7 seems to be a new candidate for use in rabbits husbandry.
1–3 piezocomposite design optimised for high frequency kerfless transducer arrays

Piezocomposites that can operate at frequencies above 30 MHz without spurious modes are required in order to develop sufficiently sensitive high frequency arrays for high resolution imaging. However, scaling down of conventional piezocomposite fabrication techniques becomes increasingly difficult as dimensions decrease with increasing frequency. The approach presented here is to use micro-moulded 1-3 piezocomposites and a distribution of piezoelectric segment size and separation. Innovative approaches to composite pattern design, based on a randomized spatial distribution, are presented. Micro-moulding techniques are shown to be suitable for fabricating composites with dimensions required for high frequency composites. Randomized piezocomposite patterns are modeled and are shown to suppress spurious modes.
One hundred five penetrating cardiac injuries: a 2-year prospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the parameters measured in the field, during transport, and upon arrival of the physiologic condition of patients sustaining penetrating cardiac injuries, along with the Cardiovascular Respiratory Score (CVRS) component of the Trauma Score, the mechanism and anatomical site of injury, operative characteristics, and cardiac rhythm as predictors of outcome. We also set out to identify a set of patient characteristics that best predict mortality outcome and to correlate cardiac injury grade as determined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Organ Injury Scale (AAST-OIS) with mortality. METHODS This report was a prospective study at American College of Surgeons Level I urban trauma center. Interventions included thoracotomy, sternotomy, or both, for resuscitation and definitive repair of cardiac injury. The main outcome measures used were those parameters measuring physiologic condition of patients, CVRS, mechanism and anatomical site of injury, mortality, and grade of injury. RESULTS A total of 105 patients sustained penetrating cardiac injuries: 68 injuries (65%) were gunshot wounds and 37 injuries (35%) were stab wounds. The mean Injury Severity Score was 36. Of the 105 wounds, 23 wounds (22%) involved multiple-chamber injuries. The overall survival was 35 of 105 patients (33%): survival of gunshot wound victims was 11 of 68 patients (16%); survival of stab wound victims was 24 of 37 patients (65%). Emergency department thoracotomy was performed in 71 of the 105 patients (68%) with 10 survivors (14%). CVRS: 94% mortality (50 of 53) when CVRS = 0, 89% mortality (57 of 64) when CVRS = 0 to 3, and 31% mortality (12 of 39) when CVRS 4 to 11 (p < 0.001). The presence of sinus rhythm when pericardium was opened predicted survival (p < 0.001). Anatomical site of injury (injured chamber) and the presence of tamponade did not predict survival. Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified gunshot wound, exsanguination, and restoration of blood pressure as most predictive variables of mortality. AAST-OIS injury grade and mortality: grade I, 0 of 1 (0%); grade II, 1 of 2 (50%); grade III, 2 of 3 (66%); grade IV, 28 of 50 (56%); grade V, 29 of 38 (76%); grade VI, 10 of 11 (91%). Overall incidence: grades IV-VI, 99 of 105 (94%). CONCLUSIONS Parameters measuring physiologic condition, CVRS, and mechanism of injury are significant predictors of outcome in penetrating cardiac injuries. AAST-OIS injury grades I-III are rare in penetrating cardiac trauma. AAST-OIS Injury grades IV-VI are common in penetrating cardiac trauma and accurately predict outcome.
CENTRAL ENGINE MEMORY OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS AND SOFT GAMMA-RAY REPEATERS

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are bursts of γ-rays generated from relativistic jets launched from catastrophic events such as massive star core collapse or binary compact star coalescence. Previous studies suggested that GRB emission is erratic, with no noticeable memory in the central engine. Here we report a discovery that similar light curve patterns exist within individual bursts for at least some GRBs. Applying the Dynamic Time Warping method, we show that similarity of light curve patterns between pulses of a single burst or between the light curves of a GRB and its X-ray flare can be identified. This suggests that the central engine of at least some GRBs carries “memory” of its activities. We also show that the same technique can identify memory-like emission episodes in the flaring emission in soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), which are believed to be Galactic, highly magnetized neutron stars named magnetars. Such a phenomenon challenges the standard black hole central engine models for GRBs, and suggest a common physical mechanism behind GRBs and SGRs, which points toward a magnetar central engine of GRBs.