Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Innovative Use of Palladium Compounds To Selectively Detect Live Enterobacteriaceae in Milk by PCR

ABSTRACT Ethidium monoazide and propidium monoazide (EMA and PMA) have been used in combination with PCR for more than a decade to facilitate the discrimination of live and dead bacteria (LD discrimination). These methods, however, require many laborious procedures, including the use of a darkroom. Here, we demonstrate an innovative use of palladium compounds involving lower limits of detection and quantification of targeted live cells, fewer laborious procedures, lower costs, and potentially higher-throughput analysis than the use of EMA and PMA. We have also recently reported platinum compounds for LD discrimination, but platinum compounds carry costs that are 3 times higher because of the requirement for much larger amounts for LD discrimination than palladium compounds. Palladium compounds can penetrate dead (compromised) but not live bacteria and can be chelated primarily by chromosomal DNA and cell wall transmembrane proteins, with small amounts of DNA-binding proteins in vivo. The new mechanism for palladium compounds is obviously different from that of platinum compounds, which primarily target DNA. Combining palladium compounds with PCR (Pd-PCR) in water resulted in discrimination between live and dead Enterobacteriaceae bacteria that was much clearer than that seen with the PMA method. Pd-PCR correlated with reference plating or with the currently used PMA-PCR method for pasteurized milk, based on EN ISO 16140:2003 validation. Pd-PCR enabled us to specifically detect and assay viable Enterobacteriaceae cells at concentrations of 5 to 10 CFU/ml in milk while following U.S./EU regulations after a 4.5-h process in a typical laboratory exposed to natural or electric light, as specified by U.S./EU regulations. IMPORTANCE Ethidium monoazide and propidium monoazide (EMA and PMA) facilitate the discrimination of live and dead bacteria (LD discrimination). These methods, however, require many laborious procedures, including the use of a darkroom. Here, we demonstrate an innovative use of palladium compounds involving fewer laborious procedures, lower costs, and potentially higher-throughput analysis than the use of EMA and PMA. We have also recently reported platinum compounds for LD discrimination, but platinum compounds carry costs that are 3 times higher because of the requirement for much larger amounts for LD discrimination than palladium compounds, which have also a novel reaction mechanism different from that of platinum compounds. In view of testing cost, palladium compounds are also very useful here compared with platinum compounds. Ultimately, the innovative Pd-PCR method may be also substituted for the currently used reference plating methods.
EEG and HRV markers of sleepiness and loss of control during car driving

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) reflects the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Slower HRV rhythms (LF) indicate increased sympathetic and/or lower vagal activity, wakefulness characteristics, while faster HRV rhythms (HF) indicate lower sympathetic and/or increased parasympathetic and vagal activity, sleepy characteristics. In this work we demonstrate that power spectral analysis of drivers' heart rate can report driving errors caused by sleepiness. Furthermore, variation of Fractal Dimension (FD) can aid significant information for the assessment of the driving situation. ECG and EEG data were collected from sleep-deprived subjects exposed to real field driving conditions. A lower ratio of low frequency to high frequency components (LF/HF), and lower LF values were reported on the occurrence of driving errors.
A dynamic reconfigurable processor and a design tool for the next generation ECUs

During the last two decades, electronic control units (ECU) became key components in automotive. This market is consequently getting very competitive and constrictive in term of both demanded functionalities and time to market (TTM). Hence, ECU design bas become very tough and new technical solutions are to be found by manufacturers. In this context, we believe that dynamic reconfigurable processors are a pertinent solution for forthcoming ECU design. In effect they can provide with efficient all-software design flow from high-level languages, as well as higher performance and lower power consumption than general purpose processors. As an illustration, this paper introduces a dynamic reconfigurable processor along with a high-level synthesis design tool.
Simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) retransplantation in prior SPK recipients

LaMattina JC, Sollinger HW, Becker YT, Mezrich JD, Pirsch JD, Odorico JS. Simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) retransplantation in prior SPK recipients. Clin Transplant 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2011. 01540.x. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Application of wireless sensor networks to remote medical treatment system

A rapid emergency response system is designed to deal with emergent medical event based on wireless sensor networks (WSN) technology so as to ensure remote dependable and timely medical treatment. This paper proposes a hybrid media access mechanism, which exploits strong synchronization scheme and accordingly possesses high reliability to transmit data. Using Kalman filter mechanism to weaken the environmental noise as much as possible, it ensures reliable delivery of physiological parameters. An emergent medical treatment system is implemented at MICA series node platform. Simulation results demonstrate that the system design is correct and compared with TinyOS default implementation the hybrid access mechanism proposed can greatly improve data delivery rate by means of strong synchronization scheme.
Environmental Kuznets Curve for SO_2 Emissions in China

This study examines the link between the economic growth and the environmental quality. Based on a panel data set, a N-shaped Environmental Kuzents Curve has been found for the sample period: a cubic relationship between per capita GDP and emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2). We also find that energy consumption is an important determinant of environmental degradation. The empirical results suggest that we should promote environmental protection as soon as possible.
A circular polarized electronically scanned antenna array with integrated transceiver system

TEM-horn antennas are excellent candidates to build up an electronically scanned antenna array with scanning angles larger than 50° and radiation efficiency better than 95% [1], [2]. Another important characteristic of such arrays is the minor degradation of gain under scanning, typically 1 dB at a scanning angle of 45°. Additionally the use of TEM-horn radiators allows the easy integration of components in rectangular wave guide technique like feeding networks, filters, directional couplers or orthomode transducers [3]. This contribution discusses results of an array with integrated duplexers in RWG technique, which is steerable about one axis. The general setup, simulations and measurements of radiation patterns (circular polarized) are presented.
Olfactory System and Demyelination

Within the central nervous system, the olfactory system represents one of the most exciting scenarios since it presents relevant examples of long‐life sustained neurogenesis and continuous axonal outgrowth from the olfactory epithelium with the subsequent plasticity phenomena in the olfactory bulb. The olfactory nerve is composed of nonmyelinated axons with interesting ontogenetic interpretations. However, the centripetal projections from the olfactory bulb are myelinated axons which project to more caudal areas along the lateral olfactory tract. In consequence, demyelination has not been considered as a possible cause of the olfactory symptoms in those diseases in which this sense is impaired. One prototypical example of an olfactory disease is Kallmann syndrome, in which different mutations give rise to combined anosmia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, together with different satellite symptoms. Anosmin‐1 is the extracellular matrix glycoprotein altered in the X‐linked form of this disease, which participates in cell adhesion and migration, and axonal outgrowth in the olfactory system and in other regions of the central nervous system. Recently, we have described a new patho‐physiological role of this protein in the absence of spontaneous remyelination in multiple sclerosis. In the present review, we hypothesize about how both main and satellite neurological symptoms of Kallmann syndrome may be explained by alterations in the myelination. We revisit the relationship between the olfactory system and myelin highlighting that minor histological changes should not be forgotten as putative causes of olfactory malfunction. Anat Rec, 296:1424‐1434, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modulation of cytochrome P450 metabolism by ergonovine and dihydroergotamine.

This study investigated modulation of the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A4)-mediated metabolism of ergotamine (ET) by ergonovine and dihydroergotamine. Liver microsomes were prepared from rats treated i.p. for 4 d with: low (10 mM) or high (100 mM) levels of dexamethasone (DM10 and DM100), dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, or control. Cytochrome P450 activity was evaluated using ET and its isomers as substrate. Ergotamine was converted to its metabolites at rates of 0.385 or 0.535 (SE = 0.040) nM/microg protein/min when incubated with liver microsomes from DM10 or DM100 treated rats, respectively. These rates were higher than for rats on other treatments. Induction of CYP34A activity was not greater for ergonovine or dihydroergotamine treatments than for controls. Both ergonovine and dihydroergotamine treatments inhibited in vitro CYP3A4 activity in a dose dependent manner producing quadratic inhibition curves.
Mobulid rays feed on euphausiids in the Bohol Sea

Mobulid rays have a conservative life history and are caught in direct fisheries and as by-catch. Their subsequent vulnerability to overexploitation has recently been recognized, but fisheries management can be ineffective if it ignores habitat and prey preferences and other trophic interactions of the target species. Here, we assessed the feeding ecology of four mobulids (Manta birostris, Mobula tarapacana, M. japanica, M. thurstoni) in the Bohol Sea, Philippines, using stomach contents analysis of fisheries specimens landed between November and May in 2013–2015. We show that the mobulids feed heavily on euphausiid krill while they are in the area for approximately six months of the year. We found almost no trophic separation among the mobulid species, with Euphausia diomedeae as the major prey item for all species, recorded in 81 of 89 total stomachs (91%). Mobula japanica and M. thurstoni almost exclusively had this krill in their stomach, while M. tarapacana had a squid and fish, and Ma. birostris had myctophid fishes and copepods in their stomachs in addition to E. diomedeae. This krill was larger than prey for other planktivorous elasmobranchs elsewhere and contributed a mean of 61 364 kcal per stomach (±105 032 kcal s.e., range = 0–631 167 kcal). Our results show that vertically migrating mesopelagic species can be an important food resource for large filter feeders living in tropical seas with oligotrophic surface waters. Given the conservative life history of mobulid rays, the identification of common foraging grounds that overlap with fishing activity could be used to inform future fishing effort.
Residual effects of zaleplon and zolpidem following middle of the night administration five hours to one hour before awakening

The objective was to assess residual effects of zaleplon and zolpidem after a middle of the night administration. This was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study, conducted in 40 healthy young male and female subjects. Subjects were awakened in the middle of the night and administered either placebo or zaleplon 10 or 20 mg or zolpidem 10 mg. A battery of objective tests exploring psychomotor and cognitive functions such as critical flicker fusion (CFF), choice reáction time (CRT), digit symbol substitution test (DSST), and memory tests (Sternberg memory scanning and a word list) were administered immediately after morning waking. Zaleplon 10 mg was devoid of residual effects whatever – the time of dosing – except a minimal but significant decrease in DSST scores when administered 1 h before awakening. Zaleplon 20 mg produced significant residual effects on performance (increase in CRT, and decrease in CFF threshold and in DSST scores) and memory (decrease in immediate and delayed free recall of words) only when administered 1 h before awakening. In contrast, zolpidem 10 mg produced significant detrimental residual effects on CRT and delayed free recall of words, when administered up to 5 h before waking, on DSST and Sternberg when administered up to 3 h before awakening and on CFF when administered 1 h before awakening. The residual effects of zolpidem 10 mg were more marked than those observed after zaleplon 20 mg. The present results demonstrate that zaleplon 10 mg has no or minimal residual effects when administered in the middle of the night as little as 1 h before waking. The lack of clinically significant residual effects with zaleplon may be explained by its unique pharmacokinetic (rapid elimination half‐life) and pharmacodynamic (selective binding for GABAA receptors with the α1 subunit, dissociation between sleep inducing properties and impairment of cognitive functions) profiles. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced motivation to self‐administer cocaine is predicted by self‐grooming behaviour and relates to dopamine release in the rat medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala

Rats, like humans, show strong individual differences in their response to anxiogenic and stressful stimuli. In the present study we evaluated whether differences in stress‐induced self‐grooming behaviour may predict an individual's vulnerability to engage in drug self‐administration behaviour. From a population of Wistar rats, the lower and upper quartile with respect to time spent self‐grooming on an elevated plus maze (EPM) were selected and trained to intravenously self‐administer cocaine under fixed and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement. High grooming (HG) rats reached considerably higher breakpoints than low grooming (LG) rats but showed no differences in acquisition rate and dose–response relationships. Further, EPM exposure elicited higher anxiety levels and enhanced plasma corticosterone secretion in HG rats. In addition, HG rats did not display enhanced novelty‐seeking and still spent more time self‐grooming during an EPM re‐test following the cocaine self‐administration procedure, indicating that stress‐induced self‐grooming is a stable behavioural trait marker. Neurochemically, electrically evoked [3H]dopamine release in vitro was profoundly lower in brain slices from the substantia nigra, medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala of naive HG rats as compared to LG rats, whereas no differences were found in the nucleus accumbens shell and core, the ventral tegmental area and caudate putamen. In conclusion, stress‐induced self‐grooming specifically predicts enhanced motivation to self‐administer cocaine rather than sensitivity to its reinforcing effects. Responsiveness of dopaminergic nerve terminals in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala may represent pre‐existing underlying factors.
Effects of the addition of glutathione during maturation on in vitro fertilisation of prepubertal goat oocytes

Glutathione (γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine; GSH) is a ubiquitous intracellular free thiol that improves development of the male pronucleus at fertilisation and has also been implicated in promoting the development of preimplantation embryos. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding GSH or cysteine to the in vitro maturation medium on intracellular GSH amounts after in vitro maturation and fertilisation of prepubertal goat oocytes. Oocytes were matured in TCM199 medium supplemented with 10% bovine fetal serum, 1 mg/ml 17β-estradiol, 10 μg/ml o-FSH, 10 μg/ml LH and 50 mg/ml gentamicin. In vitro maturation medium was completed with two independent treatments: GSH at different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mM) and L-cysteine at different concentrations (0, 150, 300, 600 and 900 μM). After 27 h of culture at 38.5 °C in 5% CO2 in air, the nuclear stage was evaluated. Simultaneously, another sample of oocytes was frozen and the intracellular GSH level was evaluated with spectrophotometric methodology. Oocytes were inseminated with fresh semen (2-3 × 106 sperm/ml) in TALP medium supplemented with 1 mg/ml hypotaurine. Oocytes were fixed at 20 h post-insemination to evaluate the in vitro fertilisation. Oocytes matured in 1.00 mM GSH-supplemented medium exhibited higher amounts of intracellular GSH (3.23 pmol per oocyte). The percentage of normal fertilisation (17-27%) was similar for the treatment groups. In conclusion, the addition of 1.00 mM GSH to the maturation medium could be a useful method for increasing the intracellular GSH levels of prepubertal goat oocytes. However, this increase was not associated with a higher normal fertilisation rate of prepubertal goat oocytes.
Design of Antennas for the UHF RFID System

In this paper, a dual-band circularly polarized antenna is designed for the UHF band (860 MHz ~ 960 MHz) and ISM band (2.4 GHz ~ 2.48 GHz) RFID reader applications and novel microstrip patch RFID tag antennas for the UHF RFID band (908 MHz -914 MHz) in Korea are proposed. They have less sensitive characteristic against the size of metallic object, wide impedance bandwidth and a long reading distance.
Experimental Study of the Atmospheric Plasma Jet for Plasma-Assisted Combustion

Plasma jets were studied for usage in plasma-assisted combustion in the supersonic channel, according to the method of Takita. The electrochemical plasma torch was evaluated as a novel promising tool to initiate and support combustion. It was able to ignite the propane/butane mixture at a 200-m/s flow speed, and its thermal output was not significant in comparison with the theoretical thermal power of the combustor. The reasons for ignition failure at supersonic flow velocity are discussed.
Effect of Toxic Metals on Indigenous Soil β-Subgroup Proteobacterium Ammonia Oxidizer Community Structure and Protection against Toxicity by Inoculated Metal-Resistant Bacteria

ABSTRACT Contamination of soils with toxic metals is a major problem on military, industrial, and mining sites worldwide. Of particular interest to the field of bioremediation is the selection of biological markers for the end point of remediation. In this microcosm study, we focus on the effect of addition of a mixture of toxic metals (cadmium, cobalt, cesium, and strontium as chlorides) to soil on the population structure and size of the ammonia oxidizers that are members of the beta subgroup of the Proteobacteria (β-subgroup ammonia oxidizers). In a parallel experiment, the soils were also treated by the addition of five strains of metal-resistant heterotrophic bacteria. Effects on nitrogen cycling were measured by monitoring the NH3 and NH4+ levels in soil samples. The gene encoding the α-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) was selected as a functional molecular marker for the β-subgroup ammonia oxidizing bacteria. Community structure comparisons were performed with clone libraries of PCR-amplified fragments of amoA recovered from contaminated and control microcosms for 8 weeks. Analysis was performed by restriction digestion and sequence comparison. The abundance of ammonia oxidizers in these microcosms was also monitored by competitive PCR. All amoA gene fragments recovered grouped with sequences derived from culturedNitrosospira. These comprised four novel sequence clusters and a single unique clone. Specific changes in the community structure of β-subgroup ammonia oxidizers were associated with the addition of metals. These changes were not seen in the presence of the inoculated metal-resistant bacteria. Neither treatment significantly altered the total number of β-subgroup ammonia-oxidizing cells per gram of soil compared to untreated controls. Following an initial decrease in concentration, ammonia began to accumulate in metal-treated soils toward the end of the experiment.
The effects of prescribed fire on bat communities in the longleaf pine sandhills ecosystem

Abstract The historical exclusion of fire from the longleaf pine–wiregrass (sandhills) ecosystem has resulted in a tremendous net loss of this important habitat. Prescribed fire is recognized as an essential tool for the maintenance of natural successional dynamics in this system, and its positive effects on native tree, shrub, and ground-layer plant communities are well documented. However, little is known about the influence of fire periodicity on many of the wildlife species occupying these forests. Our goal was to determine the relative degree to which a forest's structural characteristics and insect abundance and biomass influence the activity of different ecomorphological guilds of insectivorous bats and whether either of these factors was influenced by the periodicity of prescribed fire. We conducted a 2-year echolocation-monitoring study of bats in sandhills forests experiencing 3 categories of fire periodicity: 1–2 years, 3–5 years, and >8 years. We found significant differences in tree, shrub, and ground-layer characteristics among these burn-frequency categories, but few differences in abundance or biomass of most orders of nocturnal insects. However, the biomass of Lepidoptera was greatest at sites with the longest time between burns and was positively associated with fire-dependent deciduous tree and shrub densities. Bat activity below the canopy was significantly lower in the sites with >8-year burn frequencies than in either of the other treatments and was positively associated with height of canopy closure (a fire-dependent variable). Species-specific activity patterns confirmed ecomorphological predictions. Small-bodied species with low wing loadings and aspect ratios replaced larger, less-maneuverable species below the canopy at sites with >8-year burn frequencies. We provide support for the hypothesis that the structural characteristics of a habitat have primacy over prey availability in habitat choice by large and fast-flying species of bats. We suggest that frequency of fire is an important indirect determinant in structuring the communities of bats that forage in forests.
The factors influencing saving in a matched savings program: The case of the Australian Saver Plus program

This paper explores the saving behaviour of the group of low-income households that have participated in the Australian Saver Plus matched savings program. The paper finds that a dynamic panel model represents a good technique for modelling the savings account balances of such participants. We find that, even after controlling for the unobservable individual response to the program incentive, the saving goal and education/financial literacy variables play a positive role in encouraging saving behaviour. More importantly however, we also find that programs such as Saver Plus are able to modify the saving behaviour of individuals to the point where their prior behaviour and their inherent attitude towards saving no longer play a significant role.