Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SDL distributed simulator

Summary form only given. Formalisms allows the complete understanding of a simulation model and helps in its implementation. However only few simulation tools allows an automatic construction of a simulation model based in a formalization of the system. SDL is a modern object oriented formalism that allows the definition of distributed systems. It has focused on the modeling of reactive, state/event driven systems, and has been standardized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in the Z.100 recommendation. Since it is a graphical formalism simplifies the understanding of the model. In this poster we show an implementation of a simulation infrastructure that follows SDL formalization language. This infrastructure allows a distributed simulation of the models without any modification to the model definition. Since this infrastructure follows the SDL language formalism it is useful not only for a production use, but to teach formalisms and distributed simulation concepts.
Bewertung von Fahrzeugkonzepten mit Brennstoffzellen und Batterien

Der Beitrag bewertet Perspektiven und Herausforderungen von Fahrzeugkonzepten mit rein elektrischer Betriebsweise. Im Mittelpunkt der Analysen stehen dynamische Simulationen von Pkw unter Nutzung unterschiedlicher Fahrprofile und fahrzeugspezifischer Kenndaten. Unter Einbeziehung von Daten zur Bereitstellung von Kraftstoffen - einschliesslich Strom - werden Energiebedarf und Treibhausgasemissionen der vollstaendigen Energieumwandlungsketten von Elektrofahrzeugen mit Batterien und Brennstoffzellen vorgestellt. Die dargestellten Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass Batteriefahrzeuge mit Reichweiten ueber 200 km unter Beibehaltung des Gebrauchswertes von Pkw bezueglich Nutzlast und -volumen vor allem aufgrund des zur Reichweite bestenfalls proportionalen Massen- und Kostenanstiegs, nach heutigem Kenntnisstand nicht sinnvoll dargestellt werden koennen. Bei Reichweiten unter 200 km kann fuer reine Batteriefahrzeuge ein Anwendungspotenzial festgestellt werden, allerdings mit der Einschraenkung, dass eine schnelle Betankungsmoeglichkeit im heute gewohnten Minutenmassstab nicht absehbar ist. Der Vergleich zwischen Batteriefahrzeugen, die mit Strom entsprechend dem heutigen Strommix geladen werden und Brennstoffzellenfahrzeugen, die mit Wasserstoff aus Erdgas betankt werden, zeigt leichte Vorteile fuer das Brennstoffzellenfahrzeug. Dies gilt fuer die hier verwendeten Simulationsmodelle fuer Elektro-Pkw mit Brennstoffzellen und Batterien, die bezueglich der Auslegung der Komponenten des Elektroantriebsstranges noch Optimierungspotenzial aufweisen. Speziell fuer den Fall des Brennstoffzellenfahrzeugs kann eine Optimierung der hier verwendeten, vereinfachten Betriebsstrategie zu einer Reduzierung des Kraftstoffbedarfs fuehren. Bezogen auf die gesamte Prozesskette gilt, dass die Einfluesse durch die Kraftstoffbereitstellung sehr ausgepraegt sind, so dass eine Veraenderung der Primaerenergietraegerstruktur zu deutlicheren Vorteilen in der Primaerenergie- und Treibhausgasbilanz fuehren wird. Fuer die Bilanzierung der Batteriefahrzeuge ist es darueber hinaus notwendig, die Tageszeiten, an denen Batterieladungen typischerweise stattfinden, dem dann jeweils gueltigen Strommix gegenueberzustellen, da die Einspeisung zeitgleich stattfinden muss. Die Bereitstellung von Wasserstoff kann kurz- bis mittelfristig von der Einbeziehung von Restwasserstoff aus der Industrie profitieren, bevor laengerfristig der Aufbau neuer Produktionskapazitaeten vorzugsweise auf Basis erneuerbarer Energien und mit der Option der Energiespeicherung stattfindet. Beitrag zum Themenbereich "Brennstoffzelle" der 7. VDI-Tagung Innovative Fahrzeugantriebe 2010, Dresden, 10. und 11. November 2010. Siehe auch Gesamtaufnahme der Tagung, ITRD D368236.
Intercontinental Dispersal of Bacteria and Archaea by Transpacific Winds

ABSTRACT Microorganisms are abundant in the upper atmosphere, particularly downwind of arid regions, where winds can mobilize large amounts of topsoil and dust. However, the challenge of collecting samples from the upper atmosphere and reliance upon culture-based characterization methods have prevented a comprehensive understanding of globally dispersed airborne microbes. In spring 2011 at the Mt. Bachelor Observatory in North America (2.8 km above sea level), we captured enough microbial biomass in two transpacific air plumes to permit a microarray analysis using 16S rRNA genes. Thousands of distinct bacterial taxa spanning a wide range of phyla and surface environments were detected before, during, and after each Asian long-range transport event. Interestingly, the transpacific plumes delivered higher concentrations of taxa already in the background air (particularly Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes). While some bacterial families and a few marine archaea appeared for the first and only time during the plumes, the microbial community compositions were similar, despite the unique transport histories of the air masses. It seems plausible, when coupled with atmospheric modeling and chemical analysis, that microbial biogeography can be used to pinpoint the source of intercontinental dust plumes. Given the degree of richness measured in our study, the overall contribution of Asian aerosols to microbial species in North American air warrants additional investigation.
Long‐Term Trends in Chloride Concentrations in Shallow Aquifers near Chicago

The rapid expansion of major cities throughout the world is resulting in the degradation of water quality in local aquifers. Increased use of road deicers since the middle of the 20th century in cities in the northern United States, Canada, and Europe has been linked to degraded ground water quality. In this article, Chicago, Illinois, and its outlying suburban areas are used as an example of the effects of urbanization in a historical context. A statistical study of historical water quality data was undertaken to determine how urbanization activities have affected shallow (<60 m) ground water quality. Chloride (Cl−) concentrations have been increasing, particularly in counties west and south of Chicago. In the majority of shallow public supply wells in the western and southern counties, Cl− concentrations have been increasing since the 1960s. About 43% of the wells in these counties have rate increases greater than 1 mg/L/year, and 15% have increases greater than 4 mg/L/year. Approximately 24% of the samples collected from public supply wells in the Chicago area in the 1990s had Cl− concentrations greater than 100 mg/L (35% in the western and southern counties); median values were less than 10 mg/L before 1960. The greater increase in Cl− concentrations in the outer counties is most likely due to both natural and anthropogenic factors, including the presence of more significant and shallower sand and gravel deposits, less curbing of major highways and streets, and less development in some parts of these counties.
The effect of weekend versus weekday admission on outcomes of esophageal variceal hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Hospital staffing is often lower on weekends than weekdays, and may contribute to higher mortality in patients admitted on weekends. Because esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH) requires complex management and urgent endoscopic intervention, limitations in physician expertise and the availability of endoscopy on weekends may be associated with increased EVH mortality. OBJECTIVE To assess the differences in mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and costs between patients admitted on weekends versus patients who were admitted on weekdays. METHODS The United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients hospitalized for EVH between 1998 and 2005. Differences in mortality, LOS, and costs between patients admitted on weekends and weekdays were evaluated using regression models with adjustment for patient and clinical factors, including the timing of endoscopy. RESULTS Between 1998 and 2005, 36,734 EVH admissions to 2207 hospitals met the inclusion criteria. Compared with patients admitted on weekdays, individuals admitted on the weekend were slightly less likely to undergo endoscopy on the day of admission (45% versus 43%, respectively; P=0.01) and by the second day (81% versus 75%; P<0.0001). However, mortality (11.3% versus 10.8%; P=0.20) and the requirement for endoscopic therapy (70% versus 69%; P=0.08) or portosystemic shunt insertion (4.4% versus 4.7%; P=0.32) did not differ between weekend and weekday admissions. After adjusting for confounding factors, including the timing of endoscopy, the risk of mortality was similar between weekend and weekday admissions (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.14). Although LOS was similar between groups, adjusted hospital charges were 4.0% greater (95% CI 2.3 to 5.8%) for patients hospitalized on the weekend. CONCLUSIONS In patients with EVH, admission on the weekend is associated with a small delay in receiving endoscopic intervention, but no difference in mortality or the requirement for portosystemic shunt insertion. The weekend effect observed for some medical and surgical conditions does not apply to patients with EVH.
Ultrathin Cu(In, Ga)Se2 solar cells

Within the UltraCIS project we have started to explore the possibility of reducing down the thickness of the Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) layer to the sub-micron level (0.1μm) while maintaining a high efficiency level of solar cells. The three main approaches we used are: — Reducing the CIGSe thickness by chemical etching combining the thickness reduction and smoothing effect of the absorber. Efficiency higher than 10 % on small area cells with an absorber thickness of 0.5 μm are obtained. Losses were attributed exclusively to the reduced photocurrent and the loss on texturation of the absorber — Optical management by front contact texturation or by replacement of the back contact by the “lift-off” of CIGSe layer from the Mo layer and deposition of a new reflective back contact. — Application of plasmonic structures to CIGSe solar cells enabling light confinement at the subwavelength scale
Regulation by Estradiol of Hypothalamic Somatostatin Gene Expression: Possible Involvement of Somatostatin in the Control of Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in the Ewe

Abstract In the ewe, the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) is the primary central site for estradiol to generate the preovulatory GnRH/LH surges and sexual behavior. This area contains numerous neurons expressing the estradiol receptor alpha, distributed in the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) and the infundibular nucleus (IN). A large proportion of these neurons express somatostatin, making this neuropeptide a potential candidate for transmission of the estradiol signal to the GnRH neurons located in the preoptic area. We tested this hypothesis using ovariectomized ewes that had been subjected to an artificial estrous cycle. In the first experiment, 22 h after progesterone removal, ewes received estradiol (treated ewes) or empty implants (control ewes) for 4 h and then were killed. Using in situ hybridization, we showed that this short estradiol treatment increased the somatostatin mRNA amount by about 50% in the VMN and 42% in the IN. In the second experiment, preovulatory estradiol signal was replaced by somatostatin intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration. This treatment abolished LH pulsatility and dramatically decreased the mean basal level of LH secretion while it did not affect the mean plasma GH concentration. We demonstrated that an increase in somatostatin mRNA occurs at the time of the negative feedback effect of estradiol on LH secretion during the early stage of the GnRH surge induction. As ICV somatostatin administration inhibits the pulsatile LH secretion by acting on the central nervous system, we suggest that somatostatin synthesized in the MBH could be involved in the estradiol negative feedback before the onset of the preovulatory surge.
Face washing promotion for preventing active trachoma.

BACKGROUND Trachoma remains a major cause of avoidable blindness among underprivileged populations in many developing countries. It is estimated that about 146 million people have active trachoma and nearly six million people are blind due to complications associated with repeat infections. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review is to assess the effects of face washing on the prevalence of active trachoma in endemic communities. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials - CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group trials register) on The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2004), EMBASE (1980 to February 2004), the reference lists of identified trials and the Science Citation Index. We also contacted investigators and experts in the field to identify additional trials. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials, comparing face washing with no treatment or face washing combined with antibiotics against antibiotics alone. Participants in the trials were people normally resident in endemic trachoma communities. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Study authors were contacted for additional information. Two clinically heterogeneous trials are included, therefore a meta-analysis was considered inappropriate. MAIN RESULTS This review includes two trials with data from a total of 2560 participants. Face washing combined with topical tetracycline was compared to topical tetracycline alone in three pairs of villages in one trial. The trial found a statistically significant effect for face washing combined with topical tetracycline in reducing 'severe' active trachoma compared to topical tetracycline alone. No statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention and control villages in reducing ('non-severe') active trachoma. The prevalence of clean faces was higher in the intervention villages than the control villages and this was statistically significant. Another trial compared eye washing to no treatment or to topical tetracycline alone or to a combination of eye washing and tetracycline drops in children with follicular trachoma. The trial found no statistically significant benefit of eye washing alone or in combination with tetracycline eye drops in reducing follicular trachoma amongst children with follicular trachoma. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS There is some evidence that face washing combined with topical tetracycline can be effective in reducing severe trachoma and in increasing the prevalence of clean faces. Current evidence does not however support a beneficial effect of face washing alone or in combination with topical tetracycline in reducing active trachoma.
Patients with Amyloid-Negative Mild Cognitive Impairment have Cortical Hypometabolism but the Hippocampus is Preserved.

BACKGROUND Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at risk for Alzheimer's dementia but the presence of amyloid (Aβ) strongly increases this risk. In clinical settings, when Aβ status is not available, different neurodegenerative markers are used to characterize MCI. The accuracy of these markers to discriminate between Aβ-and Aβ+ MCI is not yet determined. OBJECTIVE To compare different markers of neurodegeneration in Aβ-and Aβ+ MCI, with an Aβ-elderly control (EC) group. METHODS Patients with MCI (n = 39) and EC (n = 28) underwent MRI, 18F-FDG PET, and Aβ PET (18F-flutemetamol). We compared FDG and MRI biomarker values in cortical and hippocampal regions of interest, and using voxel-wise surface maps. We computed ROC curves discriminating between the three groups for each biomarker. RESULTS All biomarker values were reduced in Aβ+ MCI compared to EC (p < 0.001). Aβ-MCI had low cortical metabolism (p = 0.002), but hippocampal volume, cortical thickness, and hippocampal metabolism were not significantly different between Aβ-MCI and EC (p > 0.40). Cortical metabolism best discriminated between MCI and EC (AUC = 0.92/0.86, Aβ+/Aβ-) while hippocampal volume best discriminated between Aβ-MCI and Aβ+ MCI (AUC = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS Cortical hypometabolism was observed in both Aβ-MCI and Aβ+ MCI whereas hippocampal atrophy was mostly found in Aβ+ MCI. For MCI patients without available Aβ information, hippocampal atrophy is thus more informative about Aβ status than cortical hypometabolism.
Phosphorylation of the Transit Sequence of Chloroplast Precursor Proteins (*)

A protein kinase was located in the cytosol of pea mesophyll cells. The protein kinase phosphorylates, in an ATP-dependent manner, chloroplast-destined precursor proteins but not precursor proteins, which are located to plant mitochondria or plant peroxisomes. The phosphorylation occurs on either serine or threonine residues, depending on the precursor protein used. We demonstrate the specific phosphorylation of the precursor forms of the chloroplast stroma proteins ferredoxin (preFd), small subunit of ribulose-bisphosphate-carboxylase (preSSU), the thylakoid localized light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (preLHCP), and the thylakoid lumen-localized proteins of the oxygen-evolving complex of 23 kDa (preOE23) and 33 kDa (preOE33). In the case of thylakoid lumen proteins which possess bipartite transit sequences, the phosphorylation occurs within the stroma-targeting domain. By using single amino acid substitution within the presequences of preSSU, preOE23, and preOE33, we were able to tentatively identify a consensus motif for the precursor protein protein kinase. This motif is (P/G)X(R/K)X(S/T)X(S*/T*), were n = 0-3 amino acids spacer and S*/T* represents the phosphate acceptor. The precursor protein protein kinase is present only in plant extracts, e.g. wheat germ and pea, but not in a reticulocyte lysate. Protein import experiments into chloroplasts revealed that phosphorylated preSSU binds to the organelles, but dephosphorylation seems required to complete the translocation process and to obtain complete import. These results suggest that a precursor protein protein phosphatase is involved in chloroplast import and represents a so far unidentified component of the import machinery. In contrast to sucrose synthase, a cytosolic marker protein, the precursor protein protein kinase seems to adhere partially to the chloroplast surface. A phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle of chloroplast-destined precursor proteins might represent one step, which could lead to a specific sorting and productive translocation in plant cells.
Purification and Preliminary Characterization of New Peptide Inhibitor of Insulin From Pork Pancreas

A new active peptide was purified from the acid-alcohol extract of pork pancreas. It markedly suppressed the insulin activity detected by either in vivo mouse convulsion assay or in vitro free–fat cell assay. When the extract was subjected to chromatography on a carboxymethylcellulose column, the insulin fraction completely passed through the column, whereas the glucagon fraction was absorbed. The fact that the total apparent biological activity of insulin in the exclusive eluate was higher than in the original extract and the insulin radioimmunoactivity remained unchanged led to the discovery of a potent insulin inhibitor in the extract. The inhibitor was separated from glucagon and insulin in the extract by ion-exchange chromatography on a carboxymethylcellulose column followed by gel filtration on a Bio-Gel P-6 column and finally purified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a C-18 column. The antagonistic effect of this inhibitor on insulin was dose dependent with an ED50 of 2 × 10−10 M, which was the same level used for insulin in vitro assay (1.7 × 10−10 M). Amino acid analysis of the inhibitor showed that it was rich in arginine and glycine. It was estimated to be ∼3000 Mr. The NH2-terminal of the peptide was proved to be blocked because it could not be degraded by Edman degradation. Based on the physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of the inhibitor and compared with other active peptides known to be in the pancreas, the inhibitor is probably a new active peptide that might play an important role in homeostasis of carbohydrate metabolism.
Zona Hardening, Zona Drilling and Assisted Hatching: New Achievements in Assisted Reproduction

Prior to fertilization, the zona pellucida surrounding the mammalian oocyte acts as a species-specific sperm barrier and is involved in sperm binding. After fertilization, the zona plays a role in blocking polyspermic fertilization, it protects the integrity of the preimplantation embryo during early embryonic development, and also helps its oviductal transport. Zona hardening occurs naturally after fertilization in order to ensure this threefold function. A combination of lysins produced by the cleaving embryo or the uterus and physical expansion then reduces the zona thickness in preparation for hatching. Zona hardening, although not readily quantifiable, may also be induced by in vitro culture and by in vivo aging. Indeed, prolonged exposure of human oocytes and embryos to artificial culture conditions seems to impair their ability to implant. Implantation rates are also inversely correlated with advanced female age. Recently, failure of the embryonic zona pellucida to rupture following blastocyst expansion has been put forward as a possible contributing factor in implantation failure. In order to help embryos escape from their zonae during blastocyst expansion, different types of assisted hatching have been developed. Zona drilling involves the creation of an opening in the zona with acidified medium, whereas zona slitting is carried out in the same manner as partial zona dissection. In zona thinning, the zona is just made thinner over a certain area without a hole or a slit being created. More recently, laser-assisted hatching has been introduced. In vitro studies with both mouse and human embryos have indicated that an artificial gap in the zona pellucida significantly improves the hatching ability of blastocysts grown in vitro as compared to non-micromanipulated embryos. However, the clinical relevance of assisted hatching within an assisted reproduction program remains controversial and elusive. Very few randomized studies are available. Most reports are of retrospective analyses which report either no differences in implantation and pregnancy rates between assisted hatching and control embryos or better results after assisted hatching. Five randomized controlled studies suggest that assisted hatching – of no benefit to the overall patient population – might be of value in increasing embryo implantation rates only in selected cases. No further evidence exists for an age-related benefit from assisted hatching in patients with advanced maternal age.