Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Review: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor--role and relationships in infectious diseases.

For more than a century physicians have recognized the relationship of the white blood cell count to the occurrence, severity, and outcome of many infectious diseases. Leukocytosis and neutrophilia were noted as frequent markers of acute and chronic bacterial infections in Sir William Osier's first textbook. The introduction of poisonous gases during World War I and the recognition of agranulocytosis due to aminopyrine soon thereafter led to the acceptance of leukopenia and neutropenia as important predisposing factors for infections. Until the 1960s, physicians were taught the importance of fever and leukocyte patterns in the diagnosis of many diseases associated with inflammation, but the physiologic principles underlying these responses were poorly understood [1]. Three important observations in the 1960s set the stage for our appreciation of the importance of the hematopoietic growth factors, called colony-stimulating factors, in regulating the neutrophil response in infectious diseases. Early in this era, Athens et al. [2] began classic studies of neutrophil kinetics, using diisopropylfluorophosphate as a selective label for in vivo studies. These investigations demonstrated that neutrophils have an extremely rapid turnover, with a blood half-life of only ~68 h, and a production rate in adults of ~10 X 1010 cells/day. Bodey et al. [3] reported on the interrelationships of blood neutrophil counts, duration of neutropenia, and susceptibility to infections in patients with acute leukemia. These studies showed that the risk of infections is directly proportional to the duration of neutropenia and that this risk increases greatly when neutrophil levels (absolute neutrophil count, ANC) fall below 200/mm3 (0.2 X 109ZL). In 1966, Bradley and Metcalf [4] in Australia and Ichikawa et al. [5] in Israel almost simultaneously described growth factors that can stimulate in vitro formation of neutrophils from hematopoietic precursor cells. These classic observations, together with the discoveries of the mechanisms of pus formation [1,6], phagocytosis [7], endogenous pyrogens [8], the neutrophil oxidative burst [9], and the specific role of myeloperoxidase in the killing of bacteria [10], were critical to the development of our understanding of the role of neutrophils in host defenses. Although each of these discoveries was important, the discovery of the growth factors
Reliable requirements through the quality gateway

We accept that testing software is an integral part of building a system. However, if the software is based on inaccurate requirements then, despite well-written code, the software will be unsatisfactory. Instead of limiting our testing to code, we should start testing as soon as we start work on the requirements for a product. This paper describes a quality gateway process for testing relevance, coherency, traceability, consistency and other characteristics that contribute to successful requirements. The starting point of the tests is that each requirement must have a testable fit criterion. The fit criteria are used to test whether any given solution satisfies, or does not satisfy, the requirement. The aim of the quality gateway is to find requirements-related defects as early as they can be identified and hence prevent them from being incorporated in the design and implementation.
Genome‐wide Screen for Individual Identification SNPs (IISNPs) and the Confirmation of Six of Them in Han Chinese with Pyrosequencing Technology *

Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) offer promise to forensic DNA analysts, but it remains uncertain whether a panel of individual identification SNPs can be as informative as the Combined DNA Index System short tandem repeats. Based on the highly accurate and publicly available HapMap SNP database (r21a) and a minor allele frequency cutoff of ≥0.45, we completed a genome‐wide screen through 3,905,819 SNPs with internally modified computer programs and identified 1439 SNPs with high heterozygosity and low Fst values among four populations (Utah Caucasian, Han Chinese, Tokyo Japanese, and Nigerian Yoruba). Using pyrosequencing technology, we studied six loci in a relatively large group of samples to determine whether these loci were as informative as the HapMap data suggest. These SNPs performed as expected in the Han Chinese in terms of heterozygosity and Fst. The 1439 identified SNPs should provide a comprehensive and reliable set of loci for identity and relationship testing.
ATM and ATR signaling at a glance

ATM and ATR signaling pathways are well conserved throughout evolution and are central to the maintenance of genome integrity. Although the role of both ATM and ATR in DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis have been well studied, both still remain in the focus of current research activities owing to their role in cancer. Recent advances in the field suggest that these proteins have an additional function in maintaining cellular homeostasis under both stressed and non-stressed conditions. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we present an overview of recent advances in ATR and ATM research with emphasis on that into the modes of ATM and ATR activation, the different signaling pathways they participate in – including those that do not involve DNA damage – and highlight their relevance in cancer.
Using logistic regression for assessing the probability of serious postoperative complications after colorectal operations in geriatric patients

This paper focuses on an analysis of data from elderly patients (aged 65 and older) who underwent an elective operation of colon or rectum in the years 2001–2009 at the Department of Surgery of the University Hospital Ostrava. The main purpose is to determine the main risk factors leading to serious postoperative complications or even death in consequence of the operation. Our results will serve as a foundation for creating a reliable predictor model that will assess the overall health of the patients and the potential benefits (and risk) of the operation, leading to a reduction in incidence of serious postoperative complications of the operation and an improvement in the quality of life for the seniors. For the primary analysis we used the logistic regression methodology.
A Wideband Compact WLAN/WiMAX MIMO Antenna Based on Dipole With V-shaped Ground Branch

A wideband printed dipole with V-shaped ground branches is proposed, which is designed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. It is based on a dipole with an integrated balun, and V-shaped ground branches are introduced to improve the impedance matching. The bandwidth of this element reaches 62.3% (2.30-4.40 GHz), which covers all three WiMAX bands (2.30, 2.50, and 3.30 GHz) and the 2.40 GHz WLAN band. Based on this element, a quad-element MIMO antenna is designed and fabricated. By reusing the V-shaped ground structure between adjacent elements, the size of this quad-element antenna is only 0.31 λ × 0.31λ × 0. 01λ. Meanwhile, a bandwidth of 60.6% (2.30-4.30 GHz) is achieved, in which the S11 <; - 10 dB, S12 <; - 10 dB, and S13 <; - 13 dB. Directional radiation patterns with 2.1 dBi average gain are attained, which are very stable throughout this band. This antenna system can be suitable for multielement MIMO devices such as wireless routers and adapters.
Instrumental Philanthropy: Trade and the Geographical Distribution of Foreign Aid

‘Trade, not aid’ has long been a catchphrase in international development discourse. The logic underpinning this slogan is that trade and private investment may serve as substitutes for development assistance and may be preferable to aid both because they are more effective means of promoting development objectives and because they do not siphon off resources from public coffers. Using a dataset that covers development assistance flows from 22 donor countries to 187 aid recipients from 1980 to 2002, this analysis evaluates whether the ‘trade, not aid’ logic has in practice driven bilateral aid allocation decisions. We find that rather than allowing trade or investment to displace foreign aid flows, donor countries have dispersed aid in order to reinforce existing commercial ties with recipient countries. Developing countries that have attracted private resource flows more easily have also been privileged as aid recipients, while countries that are less desirable as commercial partners tend to receive less aid.
Contribution of nitric oxide to beta2-adrenoceptor mediated vasodilatation in human forearm arterial vasculature.

AIMS beta2-adrenoceptor agonists are generally considered to produce endothelium independent vasodilatation through adenylate cyclase. We determined whether nitric oxide contributes to beta2-adrenoceptor vasodilatation in human arterial vasculature. METHODS Forearm blood flow responses to brachial intra-arterial infusions of ritodrine (2.5-50 microg min(-1)), a selective beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, were determined in 24 healthy, normotensive subjects (mean age 22 years, 5F) on two occasions with initial and concomitant administration of L-NMMA (800 microg min(-1)), an NO synthase inhibitor, or noradrenaline (5-30 ng min(-1)), a control constrictor not affecting basal NO activity. Responses to the endothelium dependent vasodilator scrotonin (n = 6) and an endothelium independent vasodilator GTN (n = 9) were also determined. RESULTS Maximal dilatation to ritodrine during L-NMMA infusion (310+/-32%; mean+/-s.e.mean) was reduced compared to that during noradrenaline infusion (417+/-41%, P<0.05), as were summary responses (1023+/-101 vs 1415+/-130; P<0.05). Responses to GTN were unaffected by L-NMMA compared to noradrenaline; max 177+/-26 vs 169+/-20%, 95% CI for difference -33,48; P=0.68; summary response 361+/-51 vs 396+/-37, 95% CI -142,71; P=0.46. Dilator responses to serotonin were reduced by L-NMMA; max 64+/-20 vs 163+/-26%, P<0.01; summary response 129+/-36 vs 293+/-60; P<0.05) and to a greater extent than ritodrine (58+/-7 vs 25+/-14%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS beta2-adrenoceptor mediated vasodilatation in the human forearm has an NO mediated component. The underlying mechanism for this effect is unclear, but flow mediated vasodilatation is unlikely to be responsible.
Secure ubiquitous connectivity in hybrid multipath wireless ad hoc network

With the increasing demand of ubiquitous computing, the interconnection of mobile ad hoc network (MANET) to internet is also getting attractive, which is so‐called hybrid or connected MANET. Further, as the use of multipath ad hoc routing protocols is favorable in many application, hybrid multipath MANET, which is a MANET with multiple routes to the Internet, will also grow. Security issues in hybrid MANET, however, are still a challenging task. This paper addresses security issues related to Internet connectivity and ad hoc routing. In this paper, we present secure architecture framework for ubiquitous connectivity in hybrid multipath MANET that provides secure FA discovery as well as a secure Mobile IP registration for MN. We provide security and performance analysis for the proposed framework, and compare it with the exisitng schemes. It shows that the proposed framework is more effective than the existing schemes in terms of various parameters. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Corrosion/Electrochemistry of Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Beryllium in Aqueous Chloride Environment

Corrosion characteristics of high-purity polycrystalline beryllium as a function of pH and NaCl concentration were studied at 25 C, using cyclic polarization tests. Single crystal beryllium specimens oriented close to the (0001), (1010), and (1120) planes using Laue back reflection techniques were studied using cyclic polarization tests in 0.01M NaCl with a nominal pH of 7. Pit morphology of the polycrystalline and single crystals was studied using conventional scanning electron microscopy. On the polycrystalline specimens, passivity appears to be more a function of solution pH than of chloride concentration. Single crystal studies show dramatic differences in cyclic polarization plots and SEM micrographs. The two prism planes (1010) and (1120) behave similarly while the basal plane (0001) behaved in a substantially different manner.
On aberrations in saw-tooth refractive X-ray lenses and on their removal.

The X-ray lens, which is composed of opposing canted saw-tooth structures, originally assembled from cut-out pieces from long-playing records, is understood by recognizing that an incident plane X-ray wave will traverse a varying number of triangular prisms in them. The refraction will deflect any beam towards the prism tips and the variation of the deflection angle, which grows linearly with the number of traversed prisms, can result in X-ray focusing. The structure offers focusing flexibility by simply changing the taper angle. This report will discuss the aberrations arising in the saw-tooth structure in its simplest form with identical prisms. It is found that the saw-tooth structures in low-Z materials with focal length below 1 m provide less flux density in the focal spot than stacks of one-dimensionally focusing refractive lenses with identical transmission function. This is due to excessive aberrations in the regular structure, which are absent in stacks of concave lenses, and which limit the focusing to spot sizes of just submicrometre dimensions, as measured experimentally for some lenses. It will be shown that this limitation can be overcome by appropriately modifying the prism shape. Then the image size could be reduced by about an order of magnitude to the diffraction limit with competitive numbers even below 0.1 µm. Microfabrication techniques are identified as the appropriate means for producing the structures.
Intersegmental Moment Analysis Characterizes the Partial Correspondence of Jumping and Jerking

Abstract Cleather, DJ, Goodwin, JE, and Bull, AMJ. Intersegmental moment analysis characterizes the partial correspondence of jumping and jerking. J Strength Cond Res 27(1): 89–100, 2013—The aim of this study was to quantify internal joint moments of the lower limb during vertical jumping and the weightlifting jerk to improve awareness of the control strategies and correspondence between these activities, and to facilitate understanding of the likely transfer of training effects. Athletic men completed maximal unloaded vertical jumps (n = 12) and explosive push jerks at 40 kg (n = 9). Kinematic data were collected using optical motion tracking and kinetic data via a force plate, both at 200 Hz. Joint moments were calculated using a previously described biomechanical model of the right lower limb. Peak moment results highlighted that sagittal plane control strategies differed between jumping and jerking (p < 0.05) with jerking being a knee dominant task in terms of peak moments as opposed to a more balanced knee and hip strategy in jumping and landing. Jumping and jerking exhibited proximal to distal joint involvement and landing was typically reversed. High variability was seen in nonsagittal moments at the hip and knee. Significant correlations were seen between jump height and hip and knee moments in jumping (p < 0.05). Although hip and knee moments were correlated between jumping and jerking (p < 0.05), joint moments in the jerk were not significantly correlated to jump height (p > 0.05) possibly indicating a limit to the direct transferability of jerk performance to jumping. Ankle joint moments were poorly related to jump performance (p > 0.05). Peak knee and hip moment generating capacity are important to vertical jump performance. The jerk appears to offer an effective strategy to overload joint moment generation in the knee relative to jumping. However, an absence of hip involvement would appear to make it a general, rather than specific, training modality in relation to jumping.
Comparison of Humic Substances Isolated from Thermal Water and Surface Water by Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

Characterization of humic substances isolated from thermal water and surface water was carried out by elemental analysis and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Atomic ratios derived from elemental analysis represented compositional differences of humic substances. Hydrogen-to-carbon and oxygen-to-carbon atomic ratios were also calculated from molecular formulae determined by ultra high-resolution mass spectrometry. The van Krevelen diagram was used to illustrate the bias between the atomic ratios from elemental analysis and mass spectrometry.
Hypoestoxide, a novel anti-inflammatory natural diterpene, inhibits the activity of IkappaB kinase.

Most inflammatory agents activate nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), resulting in induction of genes coding for cytokines, chemokines, and enzymes involved in amplification and perpetuation of inflammation. Hypoestoxide (a bicyclo [9,3,1] pentadecane) is a diterpene from Hypoestes rosea, a tropical shrub in the family Acanthacea, several members of which are used in folk medicine in Nigeria. Here, we demonstrate that hypoestoxide (HE) abrogates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, HE inhibits the production of nitric oxide (NO) by IL-1beta- or IL-17-stimulated normal human chondrocytes. In vivo, oral administration of HE to mice significantly ameliorated hind paw edema induced by antibodies to type II collagen plus LPS. Furthermore, topical administration of HE to mice also significantly inhibited phorbol ester-induced ear inflammation. The anti-inflammatory activity of HE may be due in part to its ability to inhibit NF-kappaB activation through direct inhibition of IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity. Thus, HE could be useful in treating various inflammatory diseases and may represent a prototype of a novel class of IKK inhibitors.
Power system transient stability enhancement using direct drive wind generators

Recent grid codes requires the wind farms not only to ride through the fault disturbances but also support the stability of nearby grid during severe network disturbances. This paper presents the impact of direct drive wind generators to the improvement of fault ride through (FRT) capability of fixed speed wind turbine. Three operational strategies have been investigated, i.e. without reactive power support, considering reactive power support complying with the Danish grid codes (with and without considering overloading of the converter currents). The proposed control strategies enable the direct drive wind generators to inject the required reactive power in order to help stabilizing the nearby fixed speed wind generators during faults. Simulation studies are carried out by using MATLAB/SIMULINK.
Design of generalized class E2 dc/dc converter

This paper presents a novel design procedure for class E2 dc/dc converter. The design procedure requires only circuit equations and design specifications. When the circuit equations are got, the other procedures for the computation of the design values are carried out with aid of computer. Therefore, we can design class E2 dc/dc converters with any conditions by using the proposed design procedure. Moreover, we give the design and the performance curves of class E2 dc/dc converter and discuss about them. By carrying out the circuit experiments, we show the validity of the proposed design procedure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human femoral artery and estimated muscle capillary blood flow kinetics following the onset of exercise

The purpose of this study was to compare the kinetics of estimated capillary blood flow to those of femoral artery blood flow and estimated muscle oxygen uptake . Nine healthy subjects performed a series of transitions from rest to moderate (below estimated lactate threshold, 6 min bouts) knee extension exercise. Pulmonary oxygen uptake was measured breath by breath, was measured continuously using Doppler ultrasound, and deoxyhaemoglobin ([HHb]) was estimated by near‐infrared spectroscopy over the rectus femoris throughout the tests. The time course of was estimated by rearranging the Fick equation (i.e. ), (arterio – venous O2 difference) using the primary component of to represent and [HHb] as a surrogate for (a−v)O2. The overall kinetics of (mean response time, MRT, 13.7 ± 7.0 s), (τ, 27.8 ± 9.0 s) and (MRT, 41.4 ± 19.0 s) were significantly (P < 0.05) different from each other. We conclude that for moderate intensity knee extension exercise, conduit artery blood flow kinetics may not be a reasonable approximation of blood flow kinetics in the microcirculation , the site of gas exchange. This temporal dissociation suggests that blood flow may be controlled differently at the conduit artery level than in the microcirculation.
Effect of the antidepressant sertraline on Ca2+fluxes in Madin-Darby canine renal tubular cells

The effect of the antidepressant sertraline on cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells is unclear. This study explored whether sertraline changed basal [Ca2+]i levels in suspended MDCK cells by using fura-2 as a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye. Sertraline at concentrations between 1and 100 μM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The Ca2+ signal was reduced partly by removing extracellular Ca2+ implicating Ca2+ entry and release both contributed to the [Ca2+]i rise. Sertraline induced Mn2+ influx, leading to quench of fura-2 fluorescence, suggesting Ca2+ influx. This Ca2+ influx was inhibited by suppression of phospholiapase A2 but not by store-operated Ca2+ channel blockers and protein kinase C/A modulators. In Ca2+-free medium, pretreatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitors nearly abolished sertraline-induced Ca2+ release. Conversely, pretreatment with sertraline partly reduced inhibitor-induced [Ca2+]i rise, suggesting that sertraline released Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition of phospholipase C did not much alter sertraline-induced [Ca2+]i rise. Collectively, in MDCK cells, sertraline induced [Ca2+]i rises by causing phospholipase C-independent Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca2+ influx via phospholipase A2-sensitive Ca2+ channels.
Fifth-Order Mapped Semi-Lagrangian Weighted Essentially Nonoscillatory Methods Near Certain Smooth Extrema

Fifth-order mapped semi-Lagrangian weighted essentially nonoscillatory (WENO) methods at certain smooth extrema are developed in this study. The schemes contain the mapped semi-Lagrangian finite volume (M-SL-FV) WENO 5 method and the mapped compact semi-Lagrangian finite difference (M-C-SL-FD) WENO 5 method. The weights in the more common scheme lose accuracy at certain smooth extrema. We introduce mapped weighting to handle the problem. In general, a cell average is applied to construct the M-SL-FV WENO 5 reconstruction, and the M-C-SL-FD WENO 5 interpolation scheme is proposed based on an interpolation approach. An accuracy test and numerical examples are used to demonstrate that the two schemes reduce the loss of accuracy and improve the ability to capture discontinuities.
Neuroprotective effect of Clerodendron glandulosum against acute transient ischemia reperfusion cerebral injury in rats.

Cerebral ischemia may be due to primary thrombosis in carotid artery. This results in cerebral hypoxia and thus leading to cerebral infarction/ischemic stroke. The effect of CGE (C. glandulosum extract) on antioxidant status in I/R (ischemia-reperfusion) injury in the rat forebrain have been investigated. Further, its effect was assessed on behavioural parameters, infract size and histopathological parameters. Bilateral carotid artery occlusion followed by reperfusion produced significant cerebral infarction and impaired short term memory, motor co-ordination and lateral push response CGE markedly attenuated I/R induced cerebral injury in terms of decreased infarct, size. The result suggests that the use of CGE protect ischemia reperfusion induced cerebral injury with comparable potency.