Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moisture and filler induced effects on the dynamic mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

The paper reports the results of moisture and filler induced effects on the dynamic mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites. The rate of water diffusion into the composites has been determined to understand the effect of moisture on the dynamic mechanical properties. Significant differences in the moisture uptake properties of the composites are observed which induce changes in storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), and damping factor (tan δ). It is also observed that water diffusion depends on the free volume content of the hybrid composites. Results of this study indicate that hybrid composites with combination of micro and nanofillers possess good dynamic mechanical properties in presence of moisture at higher temperatures.
Clinical and Radiological Improvement Following Ozone Disc Nucleolysis: A Case Report

The results of traditional open surgery for herniated intervertebral disc are often limited by complications and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Over the past few decades, a considerable amount of research has been done in the field of minimally invasive procedures as a treatment option for herniated intervertebral disc disease. Ozone disc nucleolysis is one such procedure which has results equal to or better than traditional surgery with virtually no complications. A 27-year-old post-partum female presented to the clinic with acute onset of severe lower back pain radiating to the left lower limb for one month. The pain started suddenly during labor and gradually increased over a period of few weeks post-partum. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a large herniated disc bulge at the L4-L5 level causing severe radiculopathy. There was no bladder or bowel involvement. The patient was managed conservatively for three weeks. However, she failed to show any signs of improvement. She opted to undergo ozone disc nucleolysis under local anaesthesia. She showed significant improvement immediately after the procedure and there was further improvement in symptoms over a period of six weeks. Post-procedure follow-up at three months and six months showed significant improvement on the visual analogue scale (VAS), which was used to measure pain intensity and pain affect, along with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), which was used to measure the degree of disability due to the lower back pain. Her VAS score improved from nine to two at three months and finally to one at six months, whereas the ODI score improved significantly from 46 to 10 at three months and eventually to four at six months. Ozone disc nucleolysis is an efficacious, safe, durable, and cost-effective treatment option for mild to moderate cases of herniated intervertebral disc which are resistant to conservative management. However, randomized control trials are required to build a long-term database regarding the efficacy and durability of ozone disc nucleolysis as compared to other minimally invasive procedures and surgery. We strongly believe that the availability of long-term data on ozone disc nucleolysis would make it a more acceptable form of treatment for disc herniation as compared to traditional surgery.
World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Revised October 7, 2000

Adopted by the 18th WMA General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964, and amended by the 29th WMA General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 1975, 35th WMA General Assembly, Venice, Italy, October 1983, 41st WMA General Assembly, Hong Kong, September 1989, 48th WMA General Assembly, Somerset West, Republic of South Africa, October 1996, and the 52nd WMA General Assembly, Edinburgh, Scotland, October 2000
N-terminal Myristoylation Regulates Calcium-induced Conformational Changes in Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1*

Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1), a Ca2+-binding protein, plays an important role in the modulation of neurotransmitter release and phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway. It is known that the physiological activity of NCS-1 is governed by its myristoylation. Here, we present the role of myristoylation of NSC-1 in governing Ca2+ binding and Ca2+-induced conformational changes in NCS-1 as compared with the role in the nonmyristoylated protein. The 45Ca binding and isothermal titration calorimetric data show that myristoylation increases the degree of cooperativity; thus, the myristoylated NCS-1 binds Ca2+ more strongly (with three Ca2+ binding sites) than the non-myristoylated one (with two Ca2+ binding sites). Both forms of protein show different conformational features in far-UV CD when titrated with Ca2+. Large conformational changes were seen in the near-UV CD with more changes in the case of nonmyristoylated protein than the myristoylated one. Although the changes in the far-UV CD upon Ca2+ binding were not seen in E120Q mutant (disabling EF-hand 3), the near-UV CD changes in conformation also were not influenced by this mutation. The difference in the binding affinity of myristoylated and non-myristoylated proteins to Ca2+ also was reflected by Trp fluorescence. Collisional quenching by iodide showed more inaccessibility of the fluorophore in the myristoylated protein. Mg2+-induced changes in near-UV CD are different from Ca2+-induced changes, indicating ion selectivity. 8-Anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid binding data showed solvation of the myristoyl group in the presence of Ca2+, which could be attributed to the myristoyl-dependent conformational changes in NCS-1. These results suggest that myristoylation influences the protein conformation and Ca2+ binding, which might be crucial for its physiological functions.
[CYP1A1 polymorphisms, lack of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), cooking oil fumes and lung cancer risk in non-smoking women].

OBJECTIVE to study the correlation of polymorphisms of CYP1A1 MspI, GSTM1 null genotype, cooking oil fumes independently and in combination with the risk of non-smoking lung cancer in females. METHODS one hundred and sixty female non-smoking patients with primary lung cancer and 160 controls were enrolled from Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. PCR-RELP and PCR were used to detect the distribution of CYP1A1 MspI and GSTM1 genotypes respectively. The correlation of these genes and cooking oil fumes with the susceptibility to lung cancer was analyzed. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the frequencies of cooking oil fumes exposure between cancer cases and controls (χ(2) = 10.734, P < 0.01);but there was no statistical difference in CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms between the 2 groups (χ(2) = 3.731, P > 0.05). The combination of CYP1A1 polymorphisms and cooking oil fumes significantly increased the risk of lung cancer. The frequencies of GSTM1 null genotype was significantly different between cancer cases and controls (χ(2) = 0.518, P < 0.05). The risk of lung cancer was higher in those with the GSTM1 null genotype and the OR was 1.697 (95%CI 1.090 - 2.640). Individuals with both GSTM1 null genotype and exposure to cooking fumes had a higher risk of cancer than those with only one of them, the OR being 3.617 (95%CI 1.899 - 6.891). The combination of the two genes significantly increased the risk of lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS cooking oil fumes exposure was a risk factor for non-smoking lung cancer in females. The combination of CYP1A1 with cooking oil fume increased the risk of female lung cancer. GSTM1 null genotype was associated with risk of lung cancer in non-smoking females. The combination of GSTM1 null genotype and cooking oil fumes significantly increased the risk of female lung cancer. The combination of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 significantly increased the risk of lung cancer.
A fuzzy-theory-based face detector

This paper describes a fuzzy theory based face detection system. We use a perceptually uniform chromatic system to represent color information for increasing the robustness of our system. We build two models that describe the skin color and hair color, and use them to estimate the skin color likeness and the hair color likeness. We treat the appearance of faces in images as a combination of the skin part and the hair part, and model it with several two-dimensional patterns. Then we detect the "face like" regions by finding out patterns that are similar to one of the face models from input images using the fuzzy pattern matching method. Extensive experiments show the effectiveness of our method in the face detection from images with many people and complex background.
A Nonlinear Time Variant Model for Phase Noise in Electrical Oscillators

Linear time variant (LTV) model is capable of making accurate predictions about phase noise in electrical oscillators, on the assumption that current-phase relation is linear. Unfortunately, this linearity assumption is not valid in the presence of high-power environmental noise. The proposed nonlinear time variant (NLTV) model modifies the existing LTV model, considering phase response saturation in electrical oscillators. The accuracy of this model is verified through the simulation of a colpitts oscillator using
[Dental and oral symptoms of diabetes mellitus].

Dental and oral examinations of 1360 patients with diabetes mellitus showed higher DMFT mean values with fewer carious teeth and more filled and extracted teeth than the controls. PI mean values were higher in diabetics than in the controls, the difference being statistically significant, and showed a positive correlation with age, but no correlation with the length of lime since the disease was established. No correlation was found between the severity of gingivitis and changes in blood glucose levels. The sucrose-free diet of diabetics does not seem to reduce caries prevalence. The increased DMFT index is explained by the fact that, due to periodontitis, diabetics lose more teeth sooner than do healthy people.
Liarozole, an inhibitor of retinoic acid metabolism, exerts retinoid-mimetic effects in vivo.

Liarozole is an imidazole-containing compound that inhibits the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). In vitro, liarozole (IC50, 2.2 microM) suppressed the P-450-mediated conversion of RA to more polar metabolites by hamster liver microsomes. In vivo, it enhanced the plasma level of RA from mostly undetectable values (less than 0.5 ng/ml) in control rats to 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.9 +/- 0.1 ng/ml in animals treated p.o. with 5 and 20 mg/kg of liarozole, respectively. Moreover, liarozole possessed antikeratinizing activity: when dosed subchronically (5-20 mg/kg, once daily for 3 days) to ovariectomized rats, the compound reversed the vaginal keratinization induced in these animals by estrogenic stimulation. Dose response experiments indicated that the antikeratinizating effect of liarozole was as potent as that of RA. One-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting of extracted vaginal epithelia showed that liarozole shared with RA the ability to inhibit the synthesis of high molecular weight (57-60 kDa) keratin proteins, and to enhance the expression of the 45 to 47 kDa keratin polypeptides. Furthermore, we found that antikeratinizing doses of liarozole doubled the RA concentration in the vagina of ovariectomized rats: the mean amount of RA extracted from 200 mg of vaginal tissue was increased from 1.1 +/- 0.1 ng in vehicle-treated animals to 2.2 +/- 0.2 and 2.6 +/- 0.2 ng after treatment with 5 and 20 mg/kg of liarozole, respectively. These findings indicate that liarozole, an inhibitor of RA metabolism and RA produce similar morphologic and biochemical effects on the differentiation process of rat vaginal epithelium. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Regulation of mesenchymal stem cell 3D microenvironment: From macro to microfluidic bioreactors

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have emerged as an important cell type in cell therapy and tissue engineering. In these applications, maintaining the therapeutic properties of hMSCs requires tight control of the culture environments and the structural cell organizations. Bioreactor systems are essential tools to achieve these goals in the clinical‐scale expansion and tissue engineering applications. This review summarizes how different bioreactors provide cues to regulate the structure and the chemico‐mechanical microenvironment of hMSCs with a focus on 3D organization. In addition to conventional bioreactors, recent advances in microfluidic bioreactors as a novel approach to better control the hMSC microenvironment are also discussed. These advancements highlight the key role of bioreactor systems in preserving hMSC's functional properties by providing dynamic and temporal regulation of in vitro cellular microenvironment.
Activity- and pharmacology-dependent modulation of adult neurogenesis in relation to Alzheimer’s disease

In de hersenen van een volwassen mens zijn stamcellen aanwezig. Deze delen zich om nieuwe neuronen te produceren. Dit proces heet neurogenese, en speelt een belangrijke rol bij verschillende hersenprocessen. De vraag is echter of stamcellen therapeutisch kunnen worden ingezet voor de behandeling van bijvoorbeeld de ziekte van Alzheimer, een ziekte waarbij neuronen vroegtijdig afsterven. Michael Marlatt laat zien dat lichaamsbeweging bij muizen ervoor zorgt dat neurogenese in de hersenen toeneemt. Daarnaast voorkomt lichaamsbeweging een leeftijd-gerelateerde afname van ruimtelijk geheugen. Ook bevestigt de aanwezigheid van neurogenese in de amygdala, een hersengebied dat een belangrijke rol speelt bij emoties. Zijn bevindingen zijn bemoedigend voor de toekomstige behandeling van de ziekte van Alzheimer. Mogelijk kan lichaamsbeweging of medicijnen de geheugenproblemen die met de ziekte geassocieerd worden, terugdraaien.
Colloidal Hard-Sphere Crystal Growth Frustrated by Large Spherical Impurities

Impurities affect the nucleation, growth, and structure of crystals. Here we report the effect of large, spherical, polymethylmethacrylate impurities on the crystal growth of monodisperse, hard, polymethylmethacrylate colloids in a density- and optically matching apolar solvent mixture. Crystal growth, initiated at the bottom of the sample, was studied by imaging sequences of two-dimensional xy slices in the plane of the impurity's center with a laser scanning confocal microscope. Impurities form the center of grain boundaries, and a single fluid particle layer around the impurity persists in all cases. The growth rate sensitively depends on the impurity's size. Crystal growth is inhibited to a greater extent near smaller impurities, pointing to local crystal frustration induced by the curvature of the impurity.
Beyond Interferometers Based on Silicon-Air Bragg Reflectors: Toward On-Chip Optical Microinstruments—A Review

In this paper, we review recent advances in optical microinstruments based on distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) focusing mainly on two application areas: spectrometry and profilometry. For spectrometry applications, we consider state-of-the-art architectures. Among these are novel architectures of high-Q Fabry-Perot resonators based on cylindrical surfaces. In addition, we consider a microelectromechanical Michelson interferometer based on a robust (silicon-air) beam splitting interface. Its measurement principle relies on recording the spatial interferogram using movable mirror followed by inverse Fast Fourier transform (iFFT) to deduce the spectral content of the tested sample. For profilometry applications instead, an elaborated Michelson interferometer based on planar DBR is deployed for profile measurements using the technique of wavelength sweep and FFT to extract the dimensional characteristics. In the last section, we revisit the applications of DBR structures in optofluidics wherein a curved FP cavity has been deployed for optical trapping and binding of microparticles. Besides, a Michelson-based optofluidic probe has been deployed for off-chip measurements of fluid refractive index and absorbance. Globally, DBR based microinstruments demonstrate a strong potential in the targeted application areas.
Vasopeptidase inhibition and Ang-(1-7) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

BACKGROUND Omapatrilat, a new vasopeptidase inhibitor, inhibits the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP). Because these two enzymes participate in the degradation of the vasodilator and natriuretic peptide, angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], we assessed whether omapatrilat treatment is associated with changes in the plasma and urinary excretion rates of the angiotensins. METHODS We investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (0.24 kg body weight) the effect of omapatrilat on plasma and urinary concentrations of angiotensin (Ang) I, Ang II and Ang-(1-7) during 17 days of administration of either the drug (N = 15, 100 micromol/kg/day) or vehicle (N = 14) in the drinking water. Hemodynamic and renal excretory function studies were associated with histological examination of the expression of Ang-(1-7) in the kidneys of both vehicle and omapatrilat-treated SHRs. RESULTS Omapatrilat induced a sustained lowering of systolic blood pressure (-68 mm Hg) without changes in cardiac rate. The mild positive water balance produced by omapatrilat did not cause natriuresis or kaliuresis, although it was associated with a significant decrease in urine osmolality. Blood pressure normalization was accompanied by increases in plasma Ang I (2969%), Ang II (57%), and Ang-(1-7) (163%) levels, paralleling pronounced increases in urinary excretion rates of Ang I and Ang-(1-7) but not Ang II. Detection of Ang-(1-7) immunostaining in the kidneys of five other SHR exposed either to vehicle (N = 3) or omapatrilat (N = 2) ascertained the source of the Ang-(1-7) found in the urine. Intense Ang-(1-7) staining, more pronounced in omapatrilat-treated SHR, was found in renal proximal tubules throughout the outer and inner regions of the renal cortex and the thick ascending loop of Henle, whereas no Ang-(1-7)-positive immunostaining was found in glomeruli and distal tubules. CONCLUSIONS Omapatrilat antihypertensive effects caused significant activation of the renin-angiotensin system associated with increases in urinary excretion rates of Ang I and Ang-(1-7). Combined studies of Ang-(1-7) metabolism in urine and immunohistochemical studies in the kidney revealed the existence of an intrarenal source, which may account for the pronounced increase in the excretion rate of the vasodilator heptapeptide. These findings provide further evidence for a contribution of Ang-(1-7) to the regulation of renal function and blood pressure.
Analysts expectations suffer from the same problem , as we saw with several high profile instances in the late 1990 s , and are frequently little more than guestimates

This study provides new evidence on valuation-based acquisition theories. Using risk-adjusted stock returns prior to the acquisition announcement date, I find evidence that bidders have higher valuations than targets, as measured by implied long-run excess returns. I also find evidence that excess returns of bidders and targets deviate substantially from fundamental values prior to the announcement date. Both bidders and targets display mean reversion in returns, suggesting temporary swings away from fundamental values, compared with positive correlation in returns for their industries. Targets have lower valuations than bidders and their industry average. The evidence suggests both parties are mispriced prior to an acquisition: bidders appear to be overvalued while targets are undervalued. Evidence on Tobin’s Q, the most commonly used valuation measure, is mixed. It is higher for bidders than targets, but lower than and their industry means, calling into question the efficacy of Tobin’s Q as a valuation metric. Implied long-run excess returns are also significant predictors of whether a firm undertakes an acquisition after controlling for industry, size and Tobin’s Q. Raw monthly returns for bidders are higher than a control sample prior to the acquisition but lower post-acquisition. There is evidence net returns (pre-and postacquisition returns) are higher for the merged firm than a control sample on nonbidders and targets, supporting Shleifer and Vishny (2003).
What is ‘moral distress’? A narrative synthesis of the literature

Aims: The aim of this narrative synthesis was to explore the necessary and sufficient conditions required to define moral distress. Background: Moral distress is said to occur when one has made a moral judgement but is unable to act upon it. However, problems with this narrow conception have led to multiple redefinitions in the empirical and conceptual literature. As a consequence, much of the research exploring moral distress has lacked conceptual clarity, complicating attempts to study the phenomenon. Design: Systematic literature review and narrative synthesis (November 2015–March 2016). Data sources: Ovid MEDLINE® In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations 1946–Present, PsycINFO® 1967–Present, CINAHL® Plus 1937–Present, EMBASE 1974–24 February 2016, British Nursing Index 1994–Present, Social Care Online, Social Policy and Practice Database (1890–Present), ERIC (EBSCO) 1966–Present and Education Abstracts. Review methods: Literature relating to moral distress was systematically retrieved and subjected to relevance assessment. Narrative synthesis was the overarching framework that guided quality assessment, data analysis and synthesis. Results: In all, 152 papers underwent initial data extraction and 34 were chosen for inclusion in the narrative synthesis based on both quality and relevance. Analysis revealed different proposed conditions for the occurrence of moral distress: moral judgement, psychological and physical effects, moral dilemmas, moral uncertainty, external and internal constraints and threats to moral integrity. Conclusion: We suggest the combination of (1) the experience of a moral event, (2) the experience of ‘psychological distress’ and (3) a direct causal relation between (1) and (2) together are necessary and sufficient conditions for moral distress.
Essai sur une théorie classique de la création et de l'annihilation des charges électriques

© Université Paul Sabatier, 1956, tous droits réservés. L’accès aux archives de la revue « Annales de la faculté des sciences de Toulouse » (http://picard.ups-tlse.fr/~annales/) implique l’accord avec les conditions générales d’utilisation (http://www.numdam.org/conditions). Toute utilisation commerciale ou impression systématique est constitutive d’une infraction pénale. Toute copie ou impression de ce fichier doit contenir la présente mention de copyright.
Comparative Screening of Digestion Tract Toxic Genes in Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis is a common urinary tract pathogen, and may induce various inflammation symptoms. Its notorious ability to resist multiple antibiotics and to form urinary tract stones makes its treatment a long and painful process, which is further challenged by the frequent horizontal gene transferring events in P. mirabilis genomes. Three strains of P. mirabilis C02011/C04010/C04013 were isolated from a local outbreak of a food poisoning event in Shenzhen, China. Our hypothesis is that new genes may have been acquired horizontally to exert the digestion tract infection and toxicity. The functional characterization of these three genomes shows that each of them independently acquired dozens of virulent genes horizontally from the other microbial genomes. The representative strain C02011 induces the symptoms of both vomit and diarrhea, and has recently acquired a complete type IV secretion system and digestion tract toxic genes from the other bacteria.