Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The capacity of lipopolysaccharides from bacteroides, fusobacterium and veillonella to produce skin inflammation and the local and generalized Shwartzman reaction in rabbits.

Purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from strains of Bacteroides, Fusobacterium and Veillonella were tested for endotoxic activity, utilizing the primary skin reaction and the Shwartzman phenomena in rabbits. Comparisons were made to Salmonella LPS. Each LPS preparation produced the primary skin reaction in a typical dose-response fashion. Skin sites injected with 400 μg of Fusobacterium LPS often produced necrotic lesions. In the comparisons made between the skin lesion doses (SLD50) of the Veitlonella LPS and the Salmonella LPS, the difference was either non-significant or the Salmonella LPS was only slightly more active (P <0.02). LPS from the Fusobacterium and the Bacteroides were significantly less toxic than the Salmonella LPS (P <0.005). All LPS preparations did prepare the skin for the local and the specific organs for the generalized Shwartzman reaction. The toxicity of the Bacteroides LPS was, however, very low in the local reaction (P <0.005). For all LPS preparations the sensitivity of the primary skin test (SLD50) was superior to the local Schwartzman reaction (SPD50) (P <0.005). Twenty-four hours after challenge for the generalized Shwartzman reaction, extensive fibrin thrombi in the capillaries of the renal glomeruli were found, as well as thrombi containing necrotic blood cells, both in the veins of the liver and in the arteries of the lungs. The high endotoxic activity of the Fusobacterium and the Veillonella LPS may reflect a similarity between their lipid A and that of the Salmonella LPS.
A novel gene selection method using GA/SVM and fisher criteria in Alzheimer's disease

Identification of those genes which cause diseases can develop the process of diagnosis and the treatment of diseases. In this paper, a gene selection method based on genetic algorithm (GA) and support vector machines (SVM) is presented. At first, Fisher criteria is utilized in order to do filtration for those genes which are noisy and redundant in high dimensional microarray data. Then, GA/SVM model is used for selection of various subsets of maximally informative genes with the use of different training sets. The frequency of appearance of each gene in various subsets of genes is analyzed. Therefore, the last subset contains those genes which are highly informative. In fact, Fisher and GA/SVM methods have been merged in order to take benefit from a filtering method as well as an embedded method. The proposed method is tested on DNA microarray gene expression data of Alzheimer's disease. The results show that the proposed method has a good selection and classification performance, which can yield 100% classification accuracy using only 15 genes. From biological point of view, at least 8 (53%) of these genes are Alzheimer associated genes. Thus, these genes not only can serve as predictors of the disease, but also can use as a means to find new candidate genes.
CD46 Is a Cellular Receptor for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

ABSTRACT Various monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize cell surface proteins on bovine cells were previously shown to efficiently block infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) (C. Schelp, I. Greiser-Wilke, G. Wolf, M. Beer, V. Moennig, and B. Liess, Arch. Virol. 140:1997-2009, 1995). With one of these MAbs, a 50- to 58-kDa protein was purified from calf thymus by immunoaffinity chromatography. Microchemical analysis of two internal peptides revealed significant sequence homology to porcine and human CD46. The cDNA of bovine CD46 (CD46bov) was cloned and further characterized. Heterologously expressed CD46bov was detected by the MAb used for purification. A putative function of CD46bov as a BVDV receptor was studied with respect to virus binding and susceptibility of nonpermissive cells. While the expression of CD46bov correlated well with the binding of [3H]uridine-labeled BVDV, the susceptibility of cells nonpermissive for BVDV was not observed. However, the expression of CD46bov resulted in a significant increase in the susceptibility of porcine cells to BVDV. These results provide strong evidence that CD46bov serves as a cellular receptor for BVDV.
Comparative phosphoproteomic analysis of neonatal and adult murine brain

Developmental processes are governed by diverse regulatory mechanisms including a suite of signaling pathways employing reversible phosphorylation. With the advent of large‐scale phosphoproteomics, it is now possible to identify thousands of phosphorylation sites from tissues at distinct developmental stages. We describe here the identification of over 6000 nonredundant phosphorylation sites from neonatal murine brain. When compared to nearly three times the number of phosphorylation sites identified from 3‐week‐old murine brain, remarkably one‐third of the neonatal sites were unique. This fraction only dropped to one‐quarter when allowing the site to stray plus or minus 15 residues. This provides evidence for considerable change in the profiles of developmentally regulated phosphoproteomes. Using quantitative MS we characterized a novel phosphorylation site (Ser265) identified uniquely in the neonatal brain on doublecortin (Dcx), a protein essential for proper mammalian brain development. While the relative levels of Dcx and phospho‐Ser265 Dcx between embryonic and neonatal brain were similar, their levels fell precipitously by postnatal day 21, as did phospho‐Ser297, a site required for proper neuronal migration. Both sites lie near the microtubule‐binding domain and may provide functionally similar regulation via different kinases.
Enhanced Cognitive Walkthrough: Development of the Cognitive Walkthrough Method to Better Predict, Identify, and Present Usability Problems

To avoid use errors when handling medical equipment, it is important to develop products with a high degree of usability. This can be achieved by performing usability evaluations in the product development process to detect and mitigate potential usability problems. A commonly used method is cognitive walkthrough (CW), but this method shows three weaknesses: poor high-level perspective, insufficient categorisation of detected usability problems, and difficulties in overviewing the analytical results. This paper presents a further development of CW with the aim of overcoming its weaknesses. The new method is called enhanced cognitive walkthrough (ECW). ECW is a proactive analytical method for analysis of potential usability problems. The ECW method has been employed to evaluate user interface designs of medical equipment such as home-care ventilators, infusion pumps, dialysis machines, and insulin pumps. The method has proved capable of identifying several potential use problems in designs.
QUANTITATIVE DETECTION OF CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA IN PLASMA SAMPLES BY DROPLET DIGITAL PCR

INTRODUCTION Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is present in plasma of individuals with advanced cancers. ctDNA is a prognostic marker for patients with CRC and it might also be used for predicting the response to targeted therapy. Although ctDNA is characterized by the presence of a somatic mutation, direct quantitative detection through a simple workflow of such mutant DNA is not feasible by current technologies because the ratio of ctDNA to wild-type DNA can be as low as 1/10,000. Among potential biomarkers, mutations in the KRAS oncogene constitute an ideal target. Mutations in KRAS are indeed found mutated at high rates in colon cancer, pancreatic and lung cancer and KRAS mutation is a predictive factor of resistance for therapies targeting EGFR. More than 90% of the activating mutations occur at 7 DNA positions in 2 codons (12 and 13).
[Effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on nocturnal polyuria in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on nocturnal polyuria in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS 15 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included. The number of nocturia, the nocturia output, the osmotic pressure of nocturia and the nocturia excretion of Na(+) were recorded. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in night were measured in 8 patients. After treatment with CPAP, all the criteria were repeated. RESULTS (1) The number of nocturia decreased significantly after treatment with CPAP (P < 0.01); (2) The difference between nocturia output pre-and post treatment was significant (P < 0.01); (3) The osmotic pressure of nocturia rose from (381 +/- 96) mmol/L to (570 +/- 169) mmol/L (P < 0.05); (4) The nocturia excretion of Na(+) dropped from (1.16 +/- 0.35) mmol/h to (0.63 +/- 0.13) mmol/h (P < 0.01); (5) Plasma levels of ANP in night decreased from (146 +/- 14) ng/L to (106 +/- 10) ng/L (P < 0.01); (6) After treatment with CPAP, the reduction of ANP is correlated with the reduction of the nocturia output, the addition of the osmotic pressure of nocturia and the reduction of the nocturia excretion of Na(+). The correlation coefficients were 0.82, 0.84, 0.81 respectively. CONCLUSION Treatment with CPAP can reduce the number of nocturia, the nocturia output and the nocturia excretion of Na(+), increase the osmotic pressure of nocturia. The changes probably relate to the reduction of plasma level of ANP.
aCN-RB-tree: Constrained Network-Based Index for Spatio-Temporal Aggregation of Moving Object Trajectory

Moving object management is widely used in traffic, logistic and data mining applications in ubiquitous environments. It is required to analyze spatio-temporal data and trajectories for moving object management. In this paper, we proposed a novel index structure for spatio-temporal aggregation of trajectory in a constrained network, named aCN-RB-tree. It manages aggregation values of trajectories using a constraint network-based index and it also supports direction of trajectory. An aCN-RB-tree consists of an aR-tree in its center and an extended B-tree. In this structure, an aR-tree is similar to a Min/Max R-tree, which stores the child nodes’ max aggregation value in the parent node. Also, the proposed index structure is based on a constrained network structure such as a FNR-tree, so that it can decrease the dead space of index nodes. Each leaf node of an aR-tree has an extended B-tree which can store timestamp-based aggregation values. As it considers the direction of trajectory, the extended B-tree has a structure with direction. So this kind of aCN-RB-tree index can support efficient search for trajectory and traffic zone. The aCN-RB-tree can find a moving object trajectory in a given time interval efficiently. It can support traffic management systems and mining systems in ubiquitous environments.
Double-blind parallel comparison of three dosages of sertraline and placebo in outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND Anecdotal evidence suggests patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are treated with selective serotonin uptake inhibitors at dosages significantly higher than those used with depressed patients. The current study examined the efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing strategy of sertraline in patients with OCD. METHODS Three hundred twenty-four nondepressed outpatients with OCD from 11 sites followed identical protocols using a double-blind parallel design. Following 1 week of single-blind placebo, patients were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with one of three fixed dosages of sertraline (50, 100, or 200 mg/d) or placebo. RESULTS Sertraline patients exhibited significantly greater improvement (P < .05) at end point than placebo patients on all three main efficacy measures in the 50-mg/d and 200-mg/d groups and on one measure in the 100-mg/d group. The placebo response was larger in this population of subjects with OCD than in those previously studied. Adverse experiences were common in the sertraline and placebo groups and appeared to be dose-related in the sertraline-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Results support the safety and efficacy of daily dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg of sertraline in the short-term treatment of patients with OCD.
Ethiopia has adopted two phases of decentralization , namely decentralizing of power from the federal government to the regional level and from the regional to the woreda level

Decentralized governance offers opportunities for achieving development through good governance and community participation at the grass root level (Ayenew, 2007). Ethiopia has adopted two phases of decentralization, namely decentralizing of power from the federal government to the regional level and from the regional to the woreda level (Gebre-Egziabher & Berhanu, 2007). Thus, this study has aimed at assessing the effect of the woreda level decentralization on the development of the Metekel zone. In particular, it examines the nature of political, administrative and fiscal decentralization in woredas. The study was conducted in two selected woreda, Bulen and Mandura. Data were collected from primary sources with the help of questionnaires, interviews and observations. The primary data were also supported by secondary documents such as federal and regional constitutions, proclamations, regulations, local development plans, official performance reports, and magazines. The study revealed that woreda level decentralization actually has influenced development at the grass root level in the Metekel zone in general. Better infrastructural provisions (education and health) were witnessed in the woredas. This is due to better community participation in the decision-making process and availability of opportunities to express their interest. Though, more is expected, the financial capacity of woredas has also registered progress. The shortage of qualified manpower and weak community participation in development activities were other factors that have impacted the further performance of woredas.
THE ROLE OF CARRIER ANIMALS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a viral infection capable of rapid horizontal spread between infected and susceptible cloven-hoofed animals. In the vast majority of cases transmission occurs following physical or close contact between acutely infected and susceptible individuals: high levels of FMD virus occur in all secretions as well as aerosols derived predominantly from the respiratory tract of animals for 1 to 3 days prior to, and for 7-14 days after, the development of lesions (97, 30, 67, 98, 38, 113). Urine and faeces contain variable but generally lower quantities of virus (67, 114). Less frequently the virus is spread mechanically between infected and susceptible animals by contaminated animal products (e.g. milk and meat), fomites, vehicles or people (67). Rarely, FMD virus is transported over long distances by air-borne aerosols across land (for up to about 10 km) or water surfaces (sometimes hundreds of kms) if suitable climatic and other circumstances prevail (52, 38).
Smoking, drinking, sleeping habits, and other lifestyle factors and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in Japanese females: findings from the KYSS study

Many risk factors have been proposed for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there is little information about the relationship between lifestyles and SLE in Japan. Two case control studies were conducted in Kyushu, southern Japan, and in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to examine the relationship between lifestyles and development of SLE in females. The participants were 78 patients and 329 controls in Kyushu and 35 patients and 188 controls in Hokkaido. Smoking was associated with an increased risk of SLE after adjusting for age in both regions. However, in Hokkaido, this association between smoking and SLE did not reach statistical significance after adjusting for alcohol drinking. The present study suggests that smoking may increase the risk of SLE among Japanese females.
Integrated Catalytic Conversion of γ-Valerolactone to Liquid Alkenes for Transportation Fuels

Lactic Fuels In the quest to find sustainable alternatives to petrochemicals, a small cyclic ester, γ-valerolactone, derived from cellulose offers promising raw material. Bond et al. (p. 1110) show that carbon dioxide can be catalytically excised from the lactone efficiently at high pressure, leaving a mixture of butanes. In a second-stage reactor, the butanes can be strung together to form heavier hydrocarbons similar to those found in automotive and jet fuels. The method simultaneously yields fuel and a relatively pure stream of pressurized carbon dioxide amenable to sequestration or further chemical modification. A biomass-derived compound is transformed into hydrocarbon fuels and a CO2 stream amenable to sequestration. Efficient synthesis of renewable fuels remains a challenging and important line of research. We report a strategy by which aqueous solutions of γ-valerolactone (GVL), produced from biomass-derived carbohydrates, can be converted to liquid alkenes in the molecular weight range appropriate for transportation fuels by an integrated catalytic system that does not require an external source of hydrogen. The GVL feed undergoes decarboxylation at elevated pressures (e.g., 36 bar) over a silica/alumina catalyst to produce a gas stream composed of equimolar amounts of butene and carbon dioxide. This stream is fed directly to an oligomerization reactor containing an acid catalyst (e.g., H ZSM-5, Amberlyst-70), which couples butene monomers to form condensable alkenes with molecular weights that can be targeted for gasoline and/or jet fuel applications. The effluent gaseous stream of CO2 at elevated pressure can potentially be captured and then treated or sequestered to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the process.
Need and demand for orthodontic treatment in a group of women in Sweden.

272 women living in the city of Gothenburg were subjected to a clinical examination, recordings on dental casts and interview by questionnaire. The prevalence of malocclusion and the need for orthodontic treatment were at the same level as previously found in children and adult men. 9%of the sample desired orthodontic treatment and expectation of an aesthetic improvement seemed to be the main reason for this. 25% of the women had orthodontic treatment, most often with removable appliances. The sample had very regular dental treatment habits but, despite this, fairly poor periodontal conditions, which seemed to be the main obstacle to orthodontic treatment in these women.
Comparison of enzyme activities among single muscle fibres within defined motor units.

1. Muscle fibres from single motor units of rat extensor digitorum longus were depleted of their glycogen by electrical stimulation and identified by the periodic acid‐Schiff stain after treatment in a medium that selectively enhanced glycogen content in the non‐depleted fibres. 2. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and fructose‐1,6‐diphosphatase (FDPase) activities were studied quantitatively in single dissected fibres of individual motor units and in fibres selected randomly from the same muscle. 3. In contrast to the large variability of MDH and FDPase in muscle fibres taken randomly, the muscle fibres from the same motor units had similar enzyme activities. 4. The resistance to fatigue of the motor units correlated well with the capacity of aerobic oxidative metabolism, as judged by the activity of MDH in the muscle fibres.
Enzyme immunoassay for detection of Mycoplasma bovis antigens in bull semen and preputial washings

A capture enzyme immunoassay was developed for the detection of Mycoplasma bovis antigens in bull semen or preputial washings. IgG prepared from rabbits immunised with M bovis was passively adsorped to 96-well polystyrene plates. This antibody captured M bovis antigens which were then detected by using an IgG preparation from an immunised cow and murine monoclonal antibody to the bovine L-chain conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. The sensitivity of the assay was approximately 200 colour changing units (ccu)/ml and the specificity was excellent in that other species of mycoplasma, ureaplasma or acholeplasma did not react. A blind study of bull semen experimentally contaminated with M bovis detected all specimens with more than 200 ccu/ml.
Circuit/Electromagnetic hybrid simulation of electrostatic discharge in contact discharge mode

In this paper, we describe a hybrid simulation technique for electrostatic discharge (ESD) events in contact discharge mode. The proposed technique is based on circuit, electrostatic field, and full-wave simulations. The circuit simulation is performed to obtain the currents which is used as the input excitation in the subsequent full-wave simulation. A circuit to be analyzed is the equivalent circuit model of an ESD generator attached with a ground strap and a target object. Meanwhile, we perform the electrostatic field simulation in order to calculate electric field distribution around the generator charged before the discharging phase. Finally, a computational domain excluding the ESD generator and the ground strap is analyzed by means of the full-wave simulation based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In other words, we do the full-wave simulation for only a part of the whole computational domain by using the input currents as external effects to the target object. Because the hybrid simulation can take a low computational cost relative to existing full-wave techniques, it can reduce the total CPU time and the amount of memory consumption. We compare the accuracy and the CPU time of our approach with those of the conventional FDTD solver to show the adequacy of the hybrid simulation method.
Reactive Magnetron Sputter Deposition of Bismuth Tungstate Coatings for Water Treatment Applications under Natural Sunlight

Bismuth complex oxides, in particular, bismuth tungstate, have recently attracted attention as promising photocatalytic materials for water treatment processes. In the present work, photocatalytic bismuth tungstate films were prepared by pulsed direct current (DC) reactive magnetron sputtering of Bi and W targets in an Ar/O2 atmosphere onto spherically-shaped glass beads. The uniform coverage of the substrate was enabled by the use of oscillating bowl placed underneath the magnetrons. The atomic ratio of Bi/W was varied through the variation of the power applied to the magnetrons. The deposited coatings were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The photocatalytic properties of the films were studied via the methylene blue (MB) degradation process under artificial (fluorescent light) and natural (sunlight) irradiation, and compared to the photocatalytic performance of titanium dioxide coatings deposited onto identical substrates. The results showed that the photocatalytic performance of bismuth tungstate and bismuth oxide-coated beads was superior to that exhibited by TiO2-coated beads. Overall, reactive magnetron co-sputtering has been shown to be a promising technique for deposition of narrow band gap bismuth-based semiconducting oxides onto irregularly-shaped substrates for potential use in water treatment applications.