Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of inflammatory markers produced by macrophages inoculated with invasive and colonizing strains of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) and evaluation of patients' clinical data

Introduction: Group B Streptococcus (GBS), infection and recurrence in newborns and pregnant women can lead to chronic medical illness resulting in significant morbidity, and mortality. Pathogenesis of GBS may be due to reasons such as activation of the immune system, followed by the production of inflammatory markers and toxic components by immune cells including macrophages. Methods: The studies on invasive and colonizing GBS strains inoculated either with peripheral or brain macrophages, the expression of nitric oxide (NO), cell viability, and CD40 were also measured by Griess assay, methyl tetrazolium assay (MTT), and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, the clinical manifestations of the selected patients were also assessed for this study. Results: Outcome of inflammatory markers studies, after GBS inoculation indicated that, invasive GBS strains induced higher inflammatory markers in comparison to colonizing GBS strains. Furthermore, patients’ clinical data showed that patients with invasive GBS infections had severe condition unlike among patients with colonizing GBS strains. The fatality rate in patients with invasive GBS strain were 30.8% while there was no death among carriers. Conclusion: This study, aimed to understand the immune response to GBS, and strengthen the knowledge on GBS pathogenesis. It was concluded that invasive GBS strains not only showed higher expression of inflammatory markers on immune cells but also had higher pathogenesis effect in comparison to colonizing GBS strains.
PROXIMATE ANALYSIS , PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF PREMATURE ARECA NUTS ( ARECA CATECHU ) 1

Areca catechu L. (Palmaceae), commonly known as Areca nut in English, is a perennial tree occurring throughout the Indian subcontinent and used traditionally for several medicinal purposes. The present study was expected to evaluate phytochemical contents using methanol extract of A. catechu nut. The phytochemical analysis of A. catechu nut established the presence of quinines, sterols, tannins, carbohydrate, glycosides and phenols. Evaluation of Nutritional values revealed that the methanol extract contains significant amount of carbohydrate, protein and crude fiber. Anti-inflammatory studies with In vitro models showed that areca catechu posses considerable protein stabilization and HRBC membrane stabilization activity.
The Likelihood Ratio Test in Structural Equation Models: A Multi-Group Approach to Portuguese Material Deprivation

In this study a multi-group approach is used within the structural equations modelling framework, with the purpose of validating the temporal stability of the material deprivation measurement model, as well the impact of the existence of children in the household. For the purposes of model comparison, the use of the likelihood ratio test is discussed, when the normal distribution of the data cannot be assumed and the robust Satorra-Bentler scaled-corrected chi-square estimator is used. The statistical package LISREL 8.8 is used for estimating models. Keywords— EU-SILC Data, Multi-Group Analysis, Satorra-Bentler Scaled Correct Chi-Square Estimator, Structural Equation Models.
A NEW ALGORITHM FOR CLOCK WEIGHTS FOR THE SIM TIME SCALE

The Sistema Interamericano de Metrologia (SIM) time scale, known as SIMT, was developed by combining the local time scales maintained by national metrology institutes (NMIs). SIMT became operational in January 2010 and is disseminated every hour via the Internet. SIMT is an ensemble time scale that treats the local time scales, SIMT(k), as individual clocks. This paper discusses a new weighting algorithm that was implemented in February 2012. The algorithm features an accuracy factor that proportionally limits the clock weights, based on the inverse of their relative frequency offset with respect to SIMT.
For functional studies , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , 10560-6 B MAT α leu 2 : : hisG trp 1 : : hisG

The aquaglyceroporin AQP7, a family member of aquaporin membrane channels, facilitates the permeation of water and glycerol through cell membranes and is crucial for body lipid and energy homeostasis. Regulation of glycerol permeability via AQP7 is considered a promising therapeutic strategy towards fat-related metabolic complications. Here, we used a yeast aqy-null strain for heterologous expression and functional analysis of human AQP7 and investigated its regulation by pH. Using a combination of in vitro and in silico approaches, we found that AQP7 changes from fully permeable to virtually closed at acidic pH, and that Tyr135 and His165 facing the extracellular environment are crucial residues for channel permeability. Moreover, instead of reducing the pore size, the protonation of key residues changes AQP7’s protein surface electrostatic charges, which, in turn, may decrease glycerol’s binding affinity to the pore, resulting in decreased permeability. In addition, since some pH-sensitive residues are located at the monomer-monomer interface, decreased permeability may result from cooperativity between AQP7’s monomers. Considering the importance of glycerol permeation via AQP7 in multiple pathophysiological conditions, this mechanism of hAQP7 pH-regulation may help the design of selective modulators targeting aquaglyceroporin-related disorders.
Laser-induced acoustic desorption of thermally stable and unstable biomolecules

We evaluated the effect of the laser-induced acoustic desorption (LIAD) process on thermally stable and unstable biomolecules. We found that the thermally labile glycine molecule fragmented following desorption via LIAD, due to the production of hot molecules from the LIAD process. We furthermore observed a rise in translational temperature with increasing desorption laser intensity, while the forward velocity was invariant with respect to the desorption laser intensity for both glycine and adenine molecules. The forward kinetic energy was in the range of the surface stress energy, which supports the previously proposed stress-induced desorption model for the laser-induced acoustic desorption process.
Calcite dissolution in sediments of the Ontong‐Java Plateau: In situ measurements of pore water O2 and pH

We present in situ electrode measurements of sediment resistivity, pore water oxygen, and pore water pH from three stations between 2300 and 3000 m depth on the Ontong-Java Plateau in the western equatorial Pacific. One of these stations is also the site of a concurrent benthic chamber incubation experiment [Jahnke et al., 1994]. The pore water oxygen data and a steady state diffusion and reaction model constrain the depth-dependent rate of oxic respiration in the sediments and imply a diffusive flux of oxygen to the sediments of 10–21 μmol cm−2 yr−1. Given these respiration rates, the pore water pH data cannot be explained without calcite dissolution driven by metabolically produced CO2. The dissolution necessary to explain the observations, quantified by a statistical approach, is 3.5–6 μmol cm−2 yr−1, which corresponds to at least 20–40% of the calcite rain to these sediments. Over 65% of the total dissolution is driven by metabolic CO2. Oxygen fluxes and net calcite dissolution constrained by the electrode data are compatible with the benthic chamber measurements of Jahnke et al. [1994]. The dissolution flux, while a significant part of the early diagenesis of calcite in these sediments, is less than would be predicted by earlier models of dissolution, and Jahnke et al. [1994] probably could not distinguish it from zero with the benthic chamber technique. The dissolution rates found in this study are lower than previous estimates because the respiration reaction is concentrated near the sediment-water interface, and the calcite dissolution rate constants are very small. The statistical evaluation of the pore water pH data and model constrain the calcite dissolution rate constant to 0.005–0.16% d−1, following the general trend of lower values determined by in situ techniques rather than by laboratory methods.
Appendix for “ Increasing atmospheric 1 humidity and CO 2 concentration alleviate forest mortality risk ”

Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA 5 Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, 6 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA 7 Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA 8 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North 9 Carolina 27708, USA 10
Title Epidemic forwarding in mobile social networks

Recent years have witnessed the prosperity of mobile social networks, where various information is shared among mobile users through their opportunistic contacts. To investigate efficiency of information dissemination in wireless networks, epidemic models have been employed to study message forwarding delays, presuming message delivery whenever an opportunistic contact occurs. A practical concern is typically neglected, that one mobile user may only be willing to pass information onto others with social ties, rather than anyone upon contact. Under such a constraint, information dissemination may behave differently, according to the pattern of social ties that exist in the network. In this paper, we model social-aware epidemic forwarding in mobile social networks using mean-field equations, and carefully study the end-to-end unicast message propagation delays under different levels of social ties among users. Both cases of limited and unlimited message validity are considered in our models, i.e., whether relay nodes may delete a message after carrying it for some finite time T or never. Through careful theoretical analysis and empirical studies, we made a number of intriguing observations: First, the topology of social relation graphs significantly influences message forwarding delays, i.e., the more skewed the social relationship distribution is, the larger delay it results in. Second, the average delivery delay remains fairly stable with the growth of system scale, presenting a sharp contrast with the case without social awareness. Third, we observe that with a moderate choice of T , message delivery can achieve a successful ratio of almost 100% with an expected delay very close to the case of unlimited validity, signifying that a good tradeoff can be achieved between end-to-end message delivery efficiency and energy/storage overhead at the relay nodes in a network. All these provide useful guidance for efficient information dissemination protocol design in practical mobile social networks.
Harmonised Standards and Firm Performance : Difference-in-Differences Evidence

One of the main objectives of the European Union is to enhance the competitiveness of companies within its Member States and those that may be supported by further development of the Single Market. Introduction of harmonized standards for production of goods and services encourages companies to take advantage of the Single Market by reducing transaction costs. In other words, the EU is adjusting the economic and legal framework in which companies operate in order to remove existing barriers from its vision of a well-functioning Single Market. This paper researches the relationship between these changes and performance of microeconomic agents – firms. The analysis uses a panel data regression model with difference-in-differences research design built on a sample of affected and not-affected firms as control groups to be able to extract effect caused by the regulation. The article provides evidence of the positive relationship between regulatory changes and microeconomic performance in the majority of standards and an insignificant relationship in cases of others. Further consideration is provided in order to interpret results as causal.
Study of Mechanical Damage of Soybean Due to Different Threshing and Processing Methods by Using Sodium Hypochlorite Test

To study the mechanical damage due to different threshing and processing methods on seed quality of soybean during storage an experiment was conducted and the mechanical damage was detected by using sodium hypochlorite test. The soybean seed coat is very thin and due to this the mechanical damage occurs which is one of the causes of great loss in soybean seed quality during harvest and processing. The mechanical damage to the soybean seed due to threshing & processing methods detected by sodium hypochlorite test shows the lowest damage (10. 28 %) in variety JS -9305 (V2) followed by JS -335 (V1). The highest mechanical damage was observed in variety JS - 9560 (V3). Among the threshing methods, the lowest mechanical damage (8.62 %) was recorded due to threshing with stick beating ( T-1) followed by multicrop thresher (T2). The combine harvester threshing (T3) recorded the highest mechanical damage (15.87 %). The seed sample collected before processing (control - P1 ) showed minimum damage (10.22 %) which was at par with mechanical damage of soybean seed drawn at inclined flight belt conveyor -I (P5). The highest mechanical damage was recorded in soybean seed collected at specific gravity separator (P8) (14.44 %) from second processing plant sequence. The interaction effect between varieties and threshing methods shows the variety JS 9305 (V2) recorded the lowest mechanical damage(7.04%) when seed threshed with steak beating method and the interaction effect of varieties and processing locations shows that the variety JS 9305 (V2) recorded the lowest mechanical damage (8.67%) when seed sample collected at inclined flight belt conveyor- I in second processing plant sequence. The interaction effect between threshing methods and processing locations shows that threshing with stick beatig recorded the lowest mechanical damage (7.00%) when collected before processing. Mechanical damage due to interaction effect between varieties, threshing methods and processing locations was detected by sodium hypochlorite test of soybean seeds shows the variety JS 9305 threshed with stick beatig collected before processing recorded the lowest mechanical damage (5.67%).
In vitro characterization of glutathione transferases from Sarcoptes scabiei

The mite Sarcoptes scabiei causes sarcoptic mange, or scabies, a disease that affects both animals and humans worldwide. The ectoparasite not only causes suffering in the host but also financial losses in e.g. pig herds. Infections can be cured with acaricides but treatment failures have been reported. Very little is known about drug detoxification in S. scabiei, and hence more information on underlying enzymatic mechanisms could prolong the lifespan of acaricides used in treatment of both animals and humans. The aim of this thesis was to characterize glutathione transferases (GSTs) from S. scabiei, investigate their possible involvement in resistance development and their potential as antigens in serology. GSTs are multifunctional enzymes with fundamental roles in the cellular detoxification, and these enzymes have been linked to drug resistance in various organisms. GSTs have also been suggested to confer acaricide resistance in S. scabiei. The first Delta GST occurring outside insects was identified, and phylogenetically classified. The crystal structure of this GST was also determined, which was the first Acari (mites and ticks) GST structure. The 3D-structures of two other Delta GSTs were predicted using homology modeling. Possible binding modes between the three Delta GSTs and various acaricides and the synergist diethyl maleate (DEM) were investigated using docking studies. Recombinant versions of the Delta GSTs and three Mu GSTs were biochemically characterized under steady-state conditions, and inhibition analyses with various acaricides and DEM were conducted. Additionally, the potential of the GSTs as antigens in serology was investigated. The results showed that all S. scabiei GSTs, except one, were catalytically active and significantly inhibited by various acaricides. However none of the GSTs were good antigens for serology. The docking studies showed that S. scabiei GSTs could metabolize or bind various acaricides, hence strengthening the suggestion that GSTs might confer resistance to acaricides in S. scabiei.
fficacy and safety of Fufangkushen colon-coated capsule in the treatment of lcerative colitis compared with mesalazine : A double-blinded and andomized study

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Fufangkushen colon-coated capsule (FCC) was a newly developed herbal drug for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern of damp-heat accumulating in the interior. Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of FCC in the treatment of active UC compared with Huidi (HD, mesalazine enteric-coated tablets) were evaluated in a double-blinded and randomized clinical trial. Materials and Methods: In the double-blind, double-dummy, multicenter, randomized and controlled study, 320 active UC patients with TCM pattern of damp-heat accumulating in the interior were assigned to two groups: 240 treated with FCC plus HD placebo treatment, 80 with HD plus FCC placebo. The drugs and their corresponding placebos were administrated at advised dosage for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was a positive clinical response at week 8, and Mayo scoring system was employed for assessment of UC activity. Results: At the 8th week, 72.50% of patients in FCC group (170 of 234) and 65.00% of patients in HD group (52 of 80) had achieved a clinical response. There was no statistically significance between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The proportions of patients who had a clinical remission was similar in 2 groups (41.50% in FCC group, 41.25% in HD group, P > 0.05), mucosal healing rate at week 8 in the two groups were also without significant difference (55.13% in FCC group, 55.00% in HD group, P > 0.05). Mayo scores at week 8 showed no statistically difference in the two groups. No significant differences were observed between the safety profiles of the 2 groups (P > 0.05). No severe AEs were reported in either group. The latent class analysis indicated that FCC was superior applicable for the left hemicolon involved patients than HD. Conclusions: Compared with HD, a mesalamine enteric-coated tablet, FCC is similarly effective and safe in the treatment of active UC with TCM pattern of damp-heat accumulation interior pattern. In addition, fect in FCC indicates superior ef
Crustal structure across the transition from rifting to spreading: the Woodlark rift system of Papua New Guinea

SUMMARY The Woodlark rift system is one of the few places where active ocean basin formation can be studied. Within this rift system, continental extension rates are some of the fastest on the planet, and extension progresses eastwards to full seafloor spreading. We use results from a recent passive seismic experiment to address the role of magmatism prior to the onset of seafloor spreading. We invert local earthquake P and S traveltimes for 3-D structure around and ahead of the active spreading tip. From the local earthquake tomography we observe three main structures. Seismic velocities in the crust show a sharp contrast between regions that resemble continental crust ahead of the spreading tip and oceanic crust to the east. In the continental portion, P velocities increase from 5.6 km s −1 to 6.9 km s −1 between 10 and 25 km depth, indicating a bulk felsic to intermediate composition, similar to other continental regions. Beneath the seismic Moho (23‐28 km depth, as defined by receiver functions) a 10‐15-kmthick gradient zone exist locally with velocities from 7.0 to 7.9 km s −1 , which may reflect an underplated mafic, granulite facies lowermost crust, or perhaps magmatic intrusion into the lithospheric mantle. In contrast, farther east and closer to the active spreading tip, velocities rapidly increase from 6.5 to 7.2 km s −1 between 8 and 18 km depth. These fast crustal velocities appear in a narrow zone roughly 60 km wide and indicate a mafic crust, similar to oceanic crust. Our velocity results suggest that the transition from diffuse continental rifting to localized seafloor spreading likely occurs across a narrow zone. Magmatism prior to the onset of seafloor spreading may not play a significant role in altering crust until the onset of seafloor spreading, except through underplating at the base of the crust.
enerating personalized advice for schizophrenia patients

The results of routine patient assessments in psychiatric healthcare in the Northern Netherlands are primarily used to support clinicians. We developed Wegweis, a web-based advice platform, to make this data accessible and understandable for patients. Objective: We show that a fully automated explanation and interpretation of assessment results for schizophrenia patients, which prioritizes the information in the same way that a clinician would, is possible and is considered helpful and relevant by patients. The goal is not to replace the clinician but rather to function as a second perspective and to enable patient empowerment through knowledge. Methods: We have developed and implemented an ontology-based approach for selecting and ranking information for schizophrenia patients based on their routine assessment results. Our approach ranks information by severity of associated schizophrenia-related problems and uses an ontology to decouple problems from advice, which adds robustness to the system, because advice can be inferred for problems that have no exact match. Results: We created a problem ontology, validated by a group of experts, to combine and interpret the results of multiple schizophrenia-specific questionnaires. We designed and implemented a novel ontology-based algorithm for ranking and selecting advice, based on questionnaire answers. We designed, implemented, and illustrated Wegweis, a proof of concept for our algorithm, and, to the best of our knowledge, the first fully automated interpretation of assessment results for patients suffering from schizophrenia. We evaluated the system vis-à-vis the opinions of clinicians and patients in two experiments. For the task of identifying important problems based on MANSA questionnaires (the MANSA is a satisfaction questionnaire commonly used in schizophrenia assessments), our system corresponds to the opinion of clinicians 94% of the time for the first three problems and 72% of the time, overall. Patients find two out of the first three advice topics selected by the system to be relevant and roughly half of the advice topics overall. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that an approach that uses problem severities to identify important problems for a patient corresponds closely to the way a clinician thinks. Furthermore, after applying a severity threshold, the majority of advice units selected by the system are considered relevant by the patients. Our findings pave the way for the development of systems that facilitate patient-centered care for chronic illnesses by automating the sharing of assessment results between patient and clinician. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.