Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive modeling for hot water inactivation of planktonic and biofilm-associated Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis to support hot water sanitization programs

Abstract Hot water sanitization is a common means to maintain microbial control in process equipment for industries where microorganisms can degrade product or cause safety issues. This study compared the hot water inactivation kinetics of planktonic and biofilm-associated Sphingomonas parapaucimobilis at temperatures relevant to sanitization processes used in the pharmaceutical industry, viz. 65, 70, 75, and 80°C. Biofilms exhibited greater resistance to hot water than the planktonic cells. Both linear and nonlinear statistical models were developed to predict the log reduction as a function of temperature and time. Nonlinear Michaelis–Menten modeling provided the best fit for the inactivation data. Using the model, predictions were calculated to determine the times at which specific log reductions are achieved. While ≥80°C is the most commonly cited temperature for hot water sanitization, the predictive modeling suggests that temperatures ≥75°C are also effective at inactivating planktonic and biofilm bacteria in timeframes appropriate for the pharmaceutical industry.
Mutations in a CCHC zinc-binding motif of the reovirus sigma 3 protein decrease its intracellular stability

It has been demonstrated that the sigma 3 protein of reovirus harbors a zinc-binding domain in its amino-terminal portion. A putative zinc finger in the CCHH form is located in this domain and was considered to be a good candidate for the zinc-binding motif. We performed site-directed mutagenesis to substitute amino acids in this region and demonstrated that many of these mutants, although expressed in COS cells, were unstable compared with the wild-type protein. Further analysis revealed that zinc-binding capability, as measured by retention on a zinc chelate affinity adsorbent, correlates with stability. These studies also allowed us to identify a CCHC box as the most probable zinc-binding motif.
Microinjection of smg/rap1/Krev-1 p21 into Swiss 3T3 cells induces DNA synthesis and morphological changes

Microinjection of either Ki-rasVal-12 p21 or the GDP-bound form of Ki-ras p21 plus smg GDP dissociation stimulator (GDS), a stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein for Ki-ras p21, smg/rap1/Krev-1 p21, and rho p21, into quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells induced DNA synthesis irrespective of the presence or absence of insulin. The guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-bound form of smg p21B or the GDP-bound form of smg p21B plus smg GDS also induced DNA synthesis but only in the presence of insulin. Either the GDP-bound form of Ki-ras p21 or the same form of smg p21B alone was inactive, but smg GDS alone was slightly active only in the presence of insulin. The morphology of the cells was analyzed by scanning electron, phase-contrast, and confocal laser scanning microscopies. Ki-rasVal-12 p21 induced membrane ruffling irrespective of the presence or absence of insulin. The GTP gamma S-bound form of smg p21B showed the same effect only in the presence of insulin. Either the GDP-bound form of Ki-ras p21, the same form of smg p21B, or smg GDS alone was inactive. Upon microinjection of Ki-rasVal-12 p21, stress fibers markedly decreased and the cells became round and piled up. In contrast, upon microinjection of the GTP gamma S-bound form of smg p21B, stress fibers did not markedly decrease and the cells neither became round nor piled up. These results indicate that both ras p21 and smg p21 are mitogenic in Swiss 3T3 cells but that their actions are slightly different.
Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with heart failure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials between 1999 and 2013

Background Guidelines recommend exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (EBCR) for patients with heart failure (HF). However, established research has not investigated the longer-term outcomes including mortality and hospitalisation in light of the contemporary management of HF. Methods This was a systematic review including a meta-analysis of EBCR on all-cause mortality, hospital admission, and standardised exercise capacity using four separate exercise tests in patients with heart failure over a minimum follow-up of six months from January 1999–January 2013. Electronic searches were performed in the databases: Medline, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO constrained to randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Results A total of 46 separate RCTs qualified for the meta-analysis, which employed conventional methods for binary and continuous data. The relative risk (RR) ratio for hospital admission (12 studies) was significantly reduced (RR ratio 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.84; p = 0.001), but mortality (21 studies) was not (RR ratio 0.88; 95% CI 0.77–1.02; p = 0.08). The standardised exercise capacity (26 studies) showed a standardised mean difference (SMD) in favour of the exercise group as compared with the controls (SMD 0.98, 95% CI 0.59–1.37; p < 0.001). Women and elderly people were less frequently enrolled in the RCTs independent of the outcomes. Heterogeneity was moderate to high in the analysis of hospital admission and the standardised exercise capacity demonstrated through skewedness in their funnel plots. Conclusions EBCR in patients with HF is associated with significant improvements in exercise capacity and hospital admission over a minimum of six months follow-up, but not in all-cause mortality.
Synthesis of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) Complexes with Ciprofloxacin and Their Evaluation of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anti-Tubercular Activity

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Mn(II) complexes synthesized by reflux of 6-bromo-3-(3-(4-chlorophenyl)acryloyl)-2H- chromen-2-one, Ciprofloxacin and various transition metal. 1H, 13C, IR and ESI Mass confirm the formation of ligand. The metal complexes were characterized on the basis of various spectroscopic techniques like IR studies and elemental analysis while the geometry of complexes was octahedral which is confirmed by electronic spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The compounds were subjected to antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-tubercular activity screening using serial broth dilution method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) is determined. Mn(II) complex has shown significant antifungal activity with an MIC of 6.25 μg/ml while Cu(II) complex is noticeable for antibacterial activity at the same concentration. Anti-TB activity of the ligand has enhanced on complexation with Ni(II) and Co(II) ions. While Ni(II) complex shows superior antioxidant activity than other complexes.
Wpływ herbicydów i nawożenia dolistnego na kształtowanie się wskaźnika powierzchni liściowej (LAI) i średniego kąta nachylenia liści (MTA) oplewionej i nagoziarnistej formy owsa

Celem przeprowadzonych badań była ocena wpływu chemicznej ochrony roślin, uwzględniającej zastosowanie herbicydu Lintur 70 WG oraz mieszaniny środków Lintur 70 WG i Chwastox Extra 300 SL na kształtowanie się wskaźników LAI i MTA oplewionej (Breton) i nagoziarnistej (Polar) formy owsa w warunkach dolistnego dokarmiania roślin nawozami Insol 3 i FoliCare 18:18:18. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2010–2012 na średnio ciężkiej rędzinie mieszanej. Ocenę wskaźników LAI i MTA w łanie owsa przeprowadzono 3-krotnie (BBCH 32–34; 55–59; 77–88), wykonując pomiary miernikiem LAI-2000 firmy LI-COR (USA). W fazach strzelania w źdźbło i wiechowania owsa istotnie większym wskaźnikiem pokrycia liściowego odznaczała się forma oplewiona, w okresie dojrzałości mleczno-woskowej zaś istotnie większą wartość LAI stwierdzono w łanie owsa nagoziarnistego. Chemiczna ochrona roślin przed chwastami istotnie zmniejszała wartość wskaźnika powierzchni liściowej w okresie strzelania w źdźbło i jednocześnie zwiększała średni kąt nachylenia liści w pozostałych fazach rozwojowych owsa. Pod wpływem nawozów dolistnych Insol 3 i FoliCare 18:18:18 stwierdzono istotne zwiększenie indeksu LAI w fazach strzelania w źdźbło i wiechowania owsa.
Clinical lacunar syndromes as predictors of lacunar infarctsA comparison of acute clinical lacunar syndromes and findingson diffusion‐weighted MRI

Objectives– To evaluate if patients with acute lacunar syndromes have acute lacunar infarcts or other types of cerebral lesions on diffusion‐weighted MRI. Methods– Patients with acute lacunar syndromes underwent echo‐planar diffusion MRI of the brain within 3 days after stroke onset. Localization and size of lesions with hyperintense signal were determined, compared with clinical characteristics and with findings on follow‐up T2‐weighted MRI. Results– Twenty‐three patients participated in the study. Thirteen patients had pure motor stroke, 1 pure sensory stroke, 8 sensorimotor stroke, and 1 ataxic hemiparesis. Twenty‐two patients had at least one lesion with increased signal on diffusion‐weighted MR images. These acute lesions were in the internal capsule/basal ganglia/thalamus in 13 patients, subcortical white matter in 5 patients, brainstem in 2 patients, cortex (multiple small lesions) in 1 patient, and cortex+basal ganglia in 1 patient. The median volume of the lesions was 0.6 ml on the initial examination and on follow‐up, of 17 patients after 1 to 5 months, 0.5 ml. Conclusions– Almost all patients with acute ischemic lacunar syndromes have acute lesions on echo‐planar diffusion‐weighted MRI within 3 days after stroke onset. These lesions are mostly small and subcortical, compatible with lacunar infarcts caused by single penetrating artery occlusion, but in a minor proportion of patients (2 of 23 in our study) a cortical involvement is found.
HIV infection in Haiti: natural history and disease progression

ObjectiveA study was conducted to define the natural history and disease progression of HIV infection in a developing country. DesignA prospective longitudinal cohort study. MethodsForty-two patients with documented dates of HIV seroconversion were followed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Patients were seen at 3 month intervals or when ill. Patients were treated for bacterial, mycobacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections, but antiretroviral therapy was not available. Patients were followed until death or until 1 January 2000; median follow-up was 66 months. ResultsBy Kaplan–Meier analyses, the median time to symptomatic HIV disease (CDC category B or C) was 3.0 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.3–5.0 years]. The median time to AIDS (CDC category C) was 5.2 years (95% CI 4.7–6.5 years), and the median time to death was 7.4 years (95% CI 6.2–10.2 years). Community-acquired infections, including respiratory tract infections, acute diarrhea, and skin infections were common in the pre-AIDS period. AIDS-defining illnesses included tuberculosis, wasting syndrome, cryptosporidiosis, cyclosporiasis, candida esophagitis, toxoplasmosis, and cryptococcal meningitis. Rapid progression to death was associated with anemia at the time of seroconversion hazards ratio (HR) 4.1 (95% CI 1.1–15.0), age greater than 35 years at seroconversion HR 4.4 (95% CI 1.1–16.6), and lymphopenia at seroconversion HR 11.0 (95% CI 2.3–53.0). ConclusionThis report documents rapid disease progression from HIV seroconversion until death among patients living in a developing country. Interventions, including nutritional support and prophylaxis of common community-acquired infections during the pre-AIDS period may slow disease progression and prolong life for HIV-infected individuals in less-developed countries.
Effect of a Synthetic Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor (ONO-4817) on Neointima Formation in Hypercholesterolemic Hamsters

Degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins plays an important role in the development of vascular remodeling. We investigated the alteration of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) on the development of neointima formation and the effect of a newly synthesized MMP inhibitor using hypercholesterolemic hamsters. Endothelial injury was achieved by a catheter in the hamster carotid artery. Two weeks after the injury, neointima was detected in all hamsters. Oral administration (twice a day) of ONO-4817 was started 2 hours before injury and continued for the next 2 weeks. The neointimal area, with appearance of maze-like structures, was markedly reduced by 52.4 ± 8.4% by treatment with ONO-4817 at a dose of 20 mg/kg per day. The treatment by ONO-4817 (20 mg/kg per day) significantly reduced the indexes of histone H1 on day 1, 5, and 10 and the BrdU index of intimal smooth muscle cells on day 5 and 10, but not on day 1. Whereas DNA synthesis was not reduced by ONO-4817, in vitro SMC migration on the other hand was reduced dose dependently. According to the results of western-blotting analysis, the expressions of MMPs were increased 1 week after injury. Especially, MMP-12 was not detected in hamsters without cholesterol diet, but it was much increased after injury in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. Additionally, active form of MMP-12 increased in the injured artery of hypercholesterolemic hamsters. In conclusion, inhibition of MMPs results in the suppression of neointima following vascular injury via both prevention of SMC migration and SMC proliferation of late phase in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. MMP-12 plays an important role on vascular stenosis in hypercholesterolemia and ONO-4817 could be a useful compound for the therapy for this field.
Reoperation after primary posterior instrumentation and fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. Toward defining late operative site pain of unknown cause.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency and categorize the indications for reoperation in three implant systems (Harrington, Cotrel-Dubousset [C-D], and Isola). To define late operative site pain (LOSP) of no apparent cause as an indication for implant removal and determine the success of implant removal in relieving LOSP. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Late operative site pain of no apparent cause has been discussed briefly in the literature but has not been investigated as a major indication for implant removal. METHODS One hundred eighty-two of 190 consecutive patients with idiopathic scoliosis (96%) who underwent primary surgery between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1992, by one surgeon in one hospital, with use of Harrington, C-D, or Isola instrumentation were studied an average of 9 years after surgery to determine the indications for and frequency of reoperation. RESULTS The overall frequency of reoperation for all instrumentation types combined was 19%: Harrington, 19%; C-D, 24%; and Isola, 14%. By 6 years' follow-up the cumulative risk of reoperation by Kaplan-Meier analysis was Harrington, 14%; C-D, 21%; and Isola, 14%. (statistically nonsignificant difference). The most frequent indication for reoperation was LOSP of no apparent cause: 8% (14 patients) for all instrumentation types combined. The average interval between the initial operation and reoperation for LOSP was 46 months (range, 20-97 months). The frequency of each implant type was Harrington, 6%; C-D, 12%; and Isola, 6%. By 6 years' follow-up, the cumulative Kaplan-Meier risk for reoperation due to LOSP was Harrington, 5%; C-D, 13%; and Isola, 8% (statistically non-significant difference). Of the 14 patients who had instrumentation removal for LOSP, 10 (71%) had successful relief of pain after implant removal. CONCLUSIONS Occurring regardless of implant type, LOSP of no apparent cause after posterior instrumentation of scoliosis is a distinct clinical entity and is relieved by implant removal in most patients.
Two-Dimensional Viscous Aperture Flow : Navier-Stokes and Viscous-Potential-Flow Solutions

The flow of a planar liquid jet coming out of an aperture is simulated by solving the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. A convective equation is solved for the level set to capture the interface of liquid jet with gaseous environment. The flow for different Reynolds numbers, Weber numbers, liquid-to-gas density ratios and viscosity ratios are calculated. Results show that, for We = ∞, a maximum value of discharge coefficient appears for Re = O(100) . Using the total-stress criterion for cavitation, the regions that are vulnerable to cavitation are identified and the results are compared to the solution of viscous potential flow. It has been proved that the inviscid potential flow satisfies the normal stress boundary condition on free surface of a viscous flow as well. The results are close to viscous potential solution except inside the boundary layers.
‘Festival in a Box’: Development and qualitative evaluation of an outreach programme to engage socially isolated people with dementia

We co-designed and piloted ‘Festival in a Box’, an outreach programme to enable socially isolated people with dementia to engage with and enjoy cultural activities in their homes. It comprised 3–4 weekly home visits, each led by a professional artist to create art works using materials brought in ‘the box’. Activities included music, poetry, pottery, crafts and photography. We qualitatively interviewed 13 participants (6 people with dementia, 4 artists, 3 befrienders). Six participants with dementia completed, enjoyed and engaged with the planned visits. Main themes were: engagement, reflection on value of previous cultural activities, precariousness and isolation in current neighbourhood and the importance of a voice and being heard. Befrienders reported their preconceptions of what participants could do were challenged. Artists reported shifts in their preconceptions about dementia and the influence of the project on their professional practice. We propose that the ‘Festival in a Box’ pilot study suggests a means through which community arts festivals could work with socially isolated people with dementia to contribute to the creation of ‘Dementia Friendly Communities’. A larger-scale pilot study is now needed to develop this hypothesis.
The battery balancing circuit using multi-exciter method

This study proposes a multi-exciter method DC/DC converter topology in order to remove voltage unbalance from batteries. The proposed topology is characterized by a design in which all DC/DC convertor outputs the connected to modules converge into a single transformer. This paper attempts to analyze the dynamic properties of the proposed circuit using a Programmable Synthesizer Interface Module(PSIM), which is useful for power electronics analysis, while also attempting to demonstrate the validity of the proposed circuit through an experiment.
SPOP Regulates Endometrial Stromal Cell Decidualization in Mice

Ubiquitination is a regulatory mechanism that occurs after protein translation. To date, few studies have reported on ubiquitination during embryo implantation. We used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting analyses to analyze the expression of speckle-type pox virus and zinc finger (POZ) protein (SPOP; an adapter of E3 ligases of ubiquitination) in mouse uteri during early pregnancy and pseudopregnancy using an artificially induced decidualization model and a steroid hormone–processing model. At the same time, we established an artificially induced decidualization in vitro model. We observed that SPOP regulates endometrial stromal cell decidualization in mice and that hormones regulate the expression of SPOP. This study suggests that ubiquitination may be involved in embryonic implantation.
Formal models and quantitative measures of multisensory integration: a selective overview

Multisensory integration (MI) is defined as the neural process by which unisensory signals are combined to form a new product that is significantly different from the responses evoked by the modality‐specific component stimuli. In recent years, MI research has seen exponential growth in the number of empirical and theoretical studies. This study presents a selective overview of formal modeling approaches to MI. Emphasis is on models and measures for behavioral paradigms, such as localization, judgment of temporal order or simultaneity, and reaction times, but some concepts for the modeling of single‐cell spike rates are treated as well. We identify a number of essential concepts underlying most model classes, such as Bayesian causal inference, probability summation, coactivation, and time window of integration. Quantitative indexes for measuring and comparing the strength of MI across different paradigms are also discussed. Whereas progress over the last years is remarkable, we point out some strengths and weaknesses of the modeling approaches and discuss some obstacles toward a unified theory of MI.
FEATURE SELECTION BASED ON COMPACTNESS AND SEPARABILITY: COMPARISON WITH FILTER‐BASED METHODS

Selecting a subset of salient features for performing clustering using a clustering learning algorithm has been explored extensively in many real‐world applications. To select salient features during training, the filter model evaluates the intrinsic characteristics of each individual feature but is not permitted to use a clustering learning algorithm that provides clustered information to train the features. In particular, the filter model aims to predict unobservable clusters and measure how the features help provide satisfactory within‐cluster and between‐cluster scatters to achieve a good clustering quality. However, it is generally difficult to achieve both scatters in the filter model. For example, a random variable with a large variance may raise only the between‐cluster scatter, whereas another variable following a uniform distribution may raise only the within‐cluster scatter. In this paper, we present a new filter‐based method to quantify features that consider feature compactness and separability to ensure that both scatters are raised. Moreover, our method adopts a new search strategy to locate the best feature salience vector instead of visiting the space of all the possible feature subsets. After the benchmark data sets are tested, the experimental results indicate that our method performs better than many benchmark filter‐based methods at selecting a feature subset to perform clustering.
Fully 3-D Integrated Pixel Detectors for X-Rays

The vertically integrated photon imaging chip (VIPIC1) pixel detector is a stack consisting of a 500-μm-thick silicon sensor, a two-tier 34-μm-thick integrated circuit, and a host printed circuit board (PCB). The integrated circuit tiers were bonded using the direct bonding technology with copper, and each tier features 1-μm-diameter throughsilicon vias that were used for connections to the sensor on one side, and to the host PCB on the other side. The 80-μm-pixel-pitch sensor was the direct bonding technology with nickel bonded to the integrated circuit. The stack was mounted on the board using Sn-Pb balls placed on a 320-μm pitch, yielding an entirely wire-bond-less structure. The analog front-end features a pulse response peaking at below 250 ns, and the power consumption per pixel is 25 μW. A successful completion of the 3-D integration is reported. In addition, all pixels in the matrix of 64 x 64 pixels were responding on well-bonded devices. Correct operation of the sparsified readout, allowing a single 153-ns bunch timing resolution, was confirmed in the tests on a synchrotron beam of 10-keV X-rays. An equivalent noise charge of 36.2 e- rms and a conversion gain of 69.5 μV/e with 2.6 e- rms and 2.7 μV/e rms pixel-to-pixel variations, respectively, were measured.