Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro gas production of foliage from three browse tree species treated with different dose levels of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and energy utilization of foliages from three browse trees (Pithecellobium dulce, Heliocarpus velutinus and Guazuma ulmifolia). Mixture of EFE product was added to the leaves of the three browse tree species at three dose levels: 0 (control), 3.5 and 7.0 mg/g of DM. Chemical composition of the foliages, including plant secondary metabolites such as total phenolics (TP), saponins (SAP) and aqueous fraction (AF), was determined. In addition, in vitro assaying of ruminal gas production kinetics was determined for the three browse three foliages treated with EFE. P. dulce had the highest crude protein content (p < 0.05), whereas G. ulmifolia had the highest content of neutral detergent fibre and SAP (p < 0.05) and H. velutinus had the lowest content of TP (p < 0.05). The interaction between tree species and dose level of EFE was significant (p < 0.05) for gas production (GP) at 24 h of incubation, parameters b and c of the accumulated GP curve, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME). The lowest (p < 0.01) extent of accumulated GP as well as the b and c values occurred in G. ulmifolia at 0 mg EFE/g DM. P. dulce had the highest (p < 0.05) values for ME and SCFA at the highest dose of EFE. Tree species and dose level had significant (p < 0.05) effects on all parameters describing in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and energy utilization. Addition of EFE improved the fermentation kinetics of the browse species considered in this study.
Research on Detection for Broken Wires in Non-rotating Rope Base on SVM

Compared with general steel wire rope, the non-rotating rope incurs more inner broken-wires damage, which makes the damage detection difficult. This paper analyzes the causes of the broken-wires damage in non-rotating rope by creating a geometric model. A new method based on support vector machine (SVM) for the detection of the wires damage in non-rotating rope has been proposed, and experimental results show that SVM performs well in the identification of damage.
WNK1 Regulates Phosphorylation of Cation-Chloride-coupled Cotransporters via the STE20-related Kinases, SPAK and OSR1*

The WNK1 and WNK4 genes have been found to be mutated in some patients with hyperkalemia and hypertension caused by pseudohypoaldosteronism type II. The clue to the pathophysiology of pseudohypoaldosteronism type II was its striking therapeutic response to thiazide diuretics, which are known to block the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC). Although this suggests a role for WNK1 in hypertension, the precise molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we have shown that WNK1 phosphorylates and regulates the STE20-related kinases, Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and oxidative stress response 1 (OSR1). WNK1 was observed to phosphorylate the evolutionary conserved serine residue located outside the kinase domains of SPAK and OSR1, and mutation of the OSR1 serine residue caused enhanced OSR1 kinase activity. In addition, hypotonic stress was shown to activate SPAK and OSR1 and induce phosphorylation of the conserved OSR1 serine residue, suggesting that WNK1 may be an activator of the SPAK and OSR1 kinases. Moreover, SPAK and OSR1 were found to directly phosphorylate the N-terminal regulatory regions of cation-chloride-coupled cotransporters including NKCC1, NKCC2, and NCC. Phosphorylation of NCC was induced by hypotonic stress in cells. These results suggested that WNK1 and SPAK/OSR1 mediate the hypotonic stress signaling pathway to the transporters and may provide insights into the mechanisms by which WNK1 regulates ion balance.
Posttraumatic stress, quality of life, and psychological distress in young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and quality of life (QOL)/psychological outcome in young adult survivors of childhood cancer. DESIGN Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING A large comprehensive pediatric cancer center on the West Coast. SAMPLE Fifty-one young adult survivors of childhood cancer, 18-37 years of age, disease free, and off treatment for an average of 11 years (range 2.8-26.7 years). METHODS A structured clinical interview was used to establish a PTSD diagnosis. Self-report instruments were used to assess QOL (RAND SF-36) and psychological distress (Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)). Survivors with and without PTSD were compared on the BSI and RAND SF-36. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES PTSD status, QOL and psychological distress. FINDINGS Eleven subjects (20%) met full criteria for PTSD. Significant group differences were found for 17 of the 18 outcome variables. Survivors with PTSD reported clinically significant levels of psychological distress, whereas symptom levels for those without PTSD fell well within population norms. On all domains, QOL scores were significantly lower for the PTSD group compared to the non-PTSD group. CONCLUSIONS PTSD in survivors of childhood cancer is related to long-term outcome. PTSD is associated with a poorer QOL (physical and mental) and an increase in psychological distress. Data suggest that survivors with PTSD have significant functional limitations and psychological comorbidity. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Screening cancer survivors for PTSD will identify high-risk patients who need further evaluation and intervention.
Meta‐analysis of neuropsychological measures of executive functioning in children and adolescents with high‐functioning autism spectrum disorder

Existing literature on the profile of executive dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder showed inconsistent results. Age, comorbid attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cognitive abilities appeared to play a role in confounding the picture. Previous meta‐analyses have focused on a few components of executive functions. This meta‐analysis attempted to delineate the profile of deficit in several components of executive functioning in children and adolescents with high‐functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). Ninety‐eight English published case‐control studies comparing children and adolescents with HFASD with typically developing controls using well‐known neuropsychological measures to assess executive functions were included. Results showed that children and adolescents with HFASD were moderately impaired in verbal working memory (g = 0.67), spatial working memory (g = 0.58), flexibility (g = 0.59), planning (g = 0.62), and generativity (g = 0.60) except for inhibition (g = 0.41). Subgroup analysis showed that impairments were still significant for flexibility (g = 0.57–0.61), generativity (g = 0.52–0.68), and working memory (g = 0.49–0.56) in a sample of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subjects without comorbid ADHD or when the cognitive abilities of the ASD group and the control group were comparable. This meta‐analysis confirmed the presence of executive dysfunction in children and adolescents with HFASD. These deficits are not solely accounted for by the effect of comorbid ADHD and the general cognitive abilities. Our results support the executive dysfunction hypothesis and contribute to the clinical understanding and possible development of interventions to alleviate these deficits in children and adolescents with HFASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 911–939. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of starvation on the nitrification performance of constructed rapid infiltration systems

ABSTRACT Three constructed rapid infiltration (CRI) systems (C1, C2 and C3) were operated under 7, 14 and 21 days of continuous starvation, respectively. The effect of starvation on the ammonia removal efficiency (ARE), nitrite accumulation rate (NAR), bioactivity of nitrifiers and content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was investigated. The results showed that the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was higher than that of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in stabilization periods, leading to a complete nitrification in CRI systems. During starvation periods, the activity decay rates of AOB (kAOB) for C1, C2 and C3 were 0.172 ± 0.008, 0.132 ± 0.009 and 0.128 ± 0.009 d−1, respectively, and those of NOB (kNOB) were 0.159 ± 0.005, 0.152 ± 0.009 and 0.150 ± 0.005 d−1, respectively, implying that kAOB was higher than kNOB in a 7-day starvation period, while showing a contrasting result in a 14- or 21-day starvation period. When resuming wastewater supply, AOB activity as well as the ARE in C1, C2 and C3 gradually restored to their initial levels within 6, 10 and 23 days, respectively. However, NOB activity was unable to fully restore after a 14- or 21-day starvation period, causing the final NAR of C2 and C3 to remain at 25% and 60%, respectively. Furthermore, EPS could be used as the source of carbon and energy for hungry microorganisms to guarantee the metabolic activity of living cells in a starvation environment. These findings could provide a theoretical foundation for operational optimization of CRI systems under starvation conditions.
Caches All the Way Down: Infrastructure for Data Intensive Science

The rise of big data science has created new demands for modern computer systems. While floating performance has driven computer architecture and system design for the past few decades, there is renewed interest in the speed at which data can be ingested and processed. Early exemplars such as Gordon, the NSF funded system at the San Diego Supercomputing Centre, shifted the focus from pure floating-point performance to memory and IO rates. At the University of Queensland we have continued this trend with the design of FlashLite, a parallel cluster equipped with large amounts of main memory, flash disk, and a distributed shared memory system (ScaleMP's vSMP). This allows applications to place data "close" to the processor, enhancing processing speeds. Further, we have built a geographically distributed multi-tier hierarchical data fabric called MeDiCI, which provides an abstraction of very large data stores across the metropolitan area. MeDiCI leverages industry solutions such as IBM's Spectrum Scale and SGI's DMF platforms. Caching underpins both FlashLite and MeDiCI. In this I will describe the design decisions and illustrate some early application studies that benefit from the approach. I will also highlight some of the challenges that need to be solved for this approach to become mainstream.
Predictors of salivary fistula after total laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy and try to identify its predictors. METHODS From May 2005 to April 2010, 93 patients underwent total laryngectomy. We evaluated complications during and after surgery and compared them with the following variables: gender, nutritional status, previous tracheotomy, tumor location, type of surgery, TNM staging, prior treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, use of flaps for reconstruction and surgical margin. All patients presented with advanced neoplastic disease according to TNM. RESULTS 14 (15.1%) patients developed postoperative salivary fistula. The mean time to onset of salivary fistula was 3.5 days, with a standard deviation of 13.7 days. Comparing salivary fistula with TNM variables, type of operation and neck dissection, prior tracheotomy, use of flap, preoperative radio and chemotherapy and surgical margin, there was no statistically significant difference (p> 0,05). CONCLUSION The incidence of salivary fistula was 15.1% and no predictive factor for its formation was found.
The Absence of Delayed Graft Function Is Predicted by the Presence of Manganese-Superoxide Dismutase in Distal Tubules of Renal Allografts

Background. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in renal allograft biopsies correlates poorly with delayed graft function (DGF). Factors involved in the pathogenesis of DGF were evaluated in biopsies in an attempt to refine the recognition of DGF. Methods. Anti-cubulin and anti-AE-1/AE-3 antibodies identified proximal and distal tubules, respectively. The terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique and active caspase-3 staining were used to demonstrate apoptosis. Antibodies against superoxide dismutase (SOD) were used as markers of the protective tubular response. Tubular regeneration was evaluated using anti-ki 67 and antivimentin antibodies. Results. Of a total of 40 biopsies, 9 were associated with DGF. ATN was seen in 16 biopsies; 5 were associated with DGF. The finding of ATN in the biopsy of a graft predicted DGF in only 56% of cases. Absence of distal caspase-3 staining predicted the absence of ATN in 87% of cases. The presence of caspase-3 predicted ATN in 54% of cases. The detection of manganese-SOD in distal tubules predicts the absence of DGF in 76% of the cases. Conclusions. The use of immunohistochemical staining on posttransplant renal biopsies improved its predictive value with respect to ATN and DGF: The absence of active caspase-3 in distal tubular epithelium predicts the absence of ATN in 87% of cases, whereas its presence predicts ATN in 54% of cases. The presence of manganese-SOD in distal tubules predicts the absence of DGF in 76% of cases.
Role of malectin in Glc2Man9GlcNAc2-dependent quality control of α1-antitrypsin

In cells, human malectin stably interacted with newly synthesized ATNHK, but not AT, via G2M9 glycans. The interaction of ATNHK with malectin resulted in enhanced ERAD of ATNHK and prevented the secretion of the misfolded glycoprotein. These findings provide evidence of a role of malectin in glycoprotein quality control via recognition of G2M9.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin (TCDD) Stimulates Gonadotropin Secretion in the Immature Female Sprague-Dawley Rat Through a Pentobarbital- and Estradiol-Sensitive Mechanism but Does Not Alter Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Secretion by Immortalized GnRH Neurons In Vitro1

Abstract 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces aberrant release of gonadotropins, FSH, and LH and blocks ovulation during induced ovarian follicular development in rats by an unknown mechanism. In the current study, TCDD (0, 8, or 32 µg/kg orally) was administered to immature female Sprague-Dawley rats, and synchronous follicular development was induced 24 h later with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG, 5 IU s.c.). Both doses of TCDD induced a significant premature increase in serum FSH and LH (P < 0.05) at 12 h post-eCG. This premature gonadotropin surge was facilitated by the administration of a long-acting estradiol (estradiol cypionate, 0.01, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/kg s.c.), whereas the progesterone and cortisol receptor antagonist RU486 (0, 1, and 10 mg/kg s.c.) potentiated the premature release of FSH and LH following TCDD as well. Pentobarbital (32 mg/kg i.p.) administered at 6 or 9 h, but not 0 h, post-eCG ablated the ability of TCDD to stimulate the release of FSH and LH in vivo. TCDD had no significant effect on GnRH accumulation in vitro from immortalized GnRH neuronal (GT1–7) cells and failed to alter the cell number. Transfection of these cells with a rat GnRH promoter-reporter construct revealed no significant acute effect of TCDD on GnRH promoter activity. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor mRNA was not detected in the GT1–7 cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. TCDD appears to stimulate premature gonadotropin release in the gonadotropin-primed immature rat by interacting with an estradiol- and pentobarbital-sensitive neural signal for GnRH release but not by acting upon the GnRH neuron directly.
The Relationship of Continuity and Discontinuity, Functional Ability, Depression, and Quality of Life over Time in Stroke Survivors

&NA; The purpose of this study was to examine the concepts of continuity and discontinuity over time and to explore their relationships with depression, functional ability, and global quality of life (QOL). In a repeated‐measures design, 51 participants in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital were entered within 1 month of stroke and followed at 3 and 6 months; 33 completed the study. Depression, functional ability, and QOL all changed significantly between time 1 and time 2 and remained so through time 3 (6 months after stroke). There were no changes in continuity or discontinuity over time. Continuity/self, continuity/other, and discontinuity correlated moderately with depression and QOL at time 1; discontinuity and functional ability at time 1 correlated moderately with QOL at time 3. Functional ability related to discontinuity at time 3 and with QOL, otherwise, functional ability did not relate to the other variables, such as depression, in any time period. Although other variables changed over time, the sense of continuity/discontinuity did not. One of nursing's contributions to stroke survivors' rehabilitation may be in helping patients feel more continuous and less discontinuous with their prestroke sense of self.
Matrix metalloproteinase‐26 is present more frequently in squamous cell carcinomas of immunosuppressed compared with immunocompetent patients

Background: Skin cancers are the most frequent malignancies in organ transplant recipients (OTRs). Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) occur 65–250 times more frequently in OTRs and tend to be aggressive in behavior. Because matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have a central role in tumorigenesis and invasion, we investigated the epithelial and stromal MMP and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP) expression profile in SCCs of immunosuppressed (IS) compared with immunocompetent (IC) patients to determine if differences could explain the more aggressive behavior of SCCs in OTRs.
Does Power Differential between Board Chair and CEO Matter

Different with western companies, the board chair is the top decision maker of the business and the CEO is the executive of the decision among Chinese companies. So we assess the degree to which power differential between board chair and CEO may influence their companies’ capital structure. To test power gap effect, we focus on firms in which the CEO and board chair are separated. Using a China sample of 8,022 firm-year observations, our results indicate that increasing power differential between board chair and CEO is negatively associated with capital structure deviation degree and positively with capital structure adjustment speed. We also find this relationship is more significant when the firm is non-state-owned enterprise. Our results add to the literature examining the role and influence of power differential and suggest power gap between board chair and CEO may be an efficient governance mechanism to companies.
Porous dielectric elastomer based ultra-sensitive capacitive pressure sensor and its application to wearable sensing device

In this paper, we report a wearable and flexible capacitive pressure sensor based on porous dielectric elastomer with ultra-high sensitivity and stability. The capacitance response to a wide pressure range of 0~130kPa was investigated, which is generally considered as a human tactile pressure regime. The porous dielectric layer based pressure sensor showed highly sensitive and stable performance with pore-closing mechanism over the whole tactile pressure regime without any drift or structural instability. Finally, we demonstrated a bandage-type wearable pressure sensor for real-time monitoring of human wrist pulse.
Prostaglandin E1 inhibits TNFα‐induced T‐cell adhesion to endothelial cells by selective down‐modulation of ICAM‐1 expression on endothelial cells *

Abstract Prostaglandins have been shown to be involved in the suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) by so‐far ill understood mechanisms. T‐cell migration across the lining of cytokine‐activated endo‐thelial cells (EC) is thought to be a central step in the initiation of CHS. The aim of our investigation was therefore to examine whether prosta‐glandin E1 (PGE1) influences cytokine‐induced TK‐1 mouse T‐cell lymphoma adhesion to eEnd.2 mouse endothelioma cells. Here, we report that PGE1 (10−12− 10−8 M) dose‐dependently reduced TNFα‐induccd T‐cell binding, while TNFα‐unstimulated adhesion was not affected. To test whether PGE, acted primarily on T‐cells or on EC, they were separately pretreated with PGE, prior to the adhesion assay. Selective PGE1 pretreatment of eEnd.2, but not of TK‐1 dose‐dependenlly inhibited TNFα, stimulated T‐cell adhesion. Since binding of TK‐1 to TNFα‐treated eEnd.2 is mediated by the interaction of ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 (on EC) with their receptors LFA‐1 and VLA‐4 (on T‐cells), we further investigated whether PGE1 would modulate the expression of these molecules. FACS‐analysis revealed PGE1 to inhibit TNFα‐induced upregulation of ICAM‐1, but not of VCAM‐I on EC. Furthermore, constitutive LFA‐1 and VLA‐4 expression on T‐cells was not affected by PGE1. We conclude that PGE1 supresses T‐cell adhesion to EC by selectively inhibiting TNFα‐induced upregulation of ICAM‐1 on EC. This may be one mechanism by which prostaglandins suppress immune responses requiring T‐cell EC interactions such as contact hypersensitivity in skin.
Effects of ranolazine on recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes: the MERLIN-TIMI 36 randomized trial.

CONTEXT Ranolazine is a novel antianginal agent that reduces ischemia in patients with chronic angina but has not been studied in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and safety of ranolazine during long-term treatment of patients with non-ST-elevation ACS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multinational clinical trial of 6560 patients within 48 hours of ischemic symptoms who were treated with ranolazine (initiated intravenously and followed by oral ranolazine extended-release 1000 mg twice daily, n = 3279) or matching placebo (n = 3281), and followed up for a median of 348 days in the Metabolic Efficiency With Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (MERLIN)-TIMI 36 trial between October 8, 2004, and February 14, 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary efficacy end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), or recurrent ischemia through the end of study. The major safety end points were death from any cause and symptomatic documented arrhythmia. RESULTS The primary end point occurred in 696 patients (21.8%) in the ranolazine group and 753 patients (23.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.02; P = .11). The major secondary end point (cardiovascular death, MI, or severe recurrent ischemia) occurred in 602 patients (18.7%) in the ranolazine group and 625 (19.2%) in the placebo group (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.86-1.08; P = .50). Cardiovascular death or MI occurred in 338 patients (10.4%) allocated to ranolazine and 343 patients (10.5%) allocated to placebo (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.85-1.15; P = .87). Recurrent ischemia was reduced in the ranolazine group (430 [13.9%]) compared with the placebo group (494 [16.1%]; HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.99; P = .03). QTc prolongation requiring a reduction in the dose of intravenous drug occurred in 31 patients (0.9%) receiving ranolazine compared with 10 patients (0.3%) receiving placebo. Symptomatic documented arrhythmias did not differ between the ranolazine (99 [3.0%]) and placebo (102 [3.1%]) groups (P = .84). No difference in total mortality was observed with ranolazine compared with placebo (172 vs 175; HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.80-1.22; P = .91). CONCLUSIONS The addition of ranolazine to standard treatment for ACS was not effective in reducing major cardiovascular events. Ranolazine did not adversely affect the risk of all-cause death or symptomatic documented arrhythmia. Our findings provide support for the safety and efficacy of ranolazine as antianginal therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00099788.