Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Passive immunity transfer and serum constituents of crossbred calves

Passive immunity transfer (PIT) evaluation is an essential tool for the maintenance of healthy calves during the first months of life. Since lactation number and breed have been proven to influence immunoglobulin levels in colostrum, the aim of this study was to evaluate PIT from primiparous and multiparous Canchim cows to their calves. Blood samples were collected from the calves before colostrum intake and 1, 2, 7, 15 and 30 days thereafter, while colostrum samples from the cows were taken immediately after parturition. Activities of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulins, immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), total and ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium were evaluated in calves' serum and activities of GGT and ALP and concentrations of total protein, IgA and IgG were assessed in cow's colostrum whey. Immunoglobulins concentrations were evaluated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Serum biochemistry evaluations revealed an increase in gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase activities and in total protein, globulins, immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G levels in calves' serum after colostrum intake. Only total protein and light chain immunoglobulin G levels in colostrum whey were affected by the cows' lactation number. Phosphorus and magnesium levels in blood serum increased after colostrum intake, while sodium and potassium levels oscillated in the experimental period. PIT was influenced by the cows' lactation number but was efficient in both groups.
A Formal Approach for Security Policy Enforcement in Concurrent Programs

A composite sheet material exhibiting a low emittance characteristic at both of its outer surfaces for limiting radiant heat transmission therethrough comprises one composite sheet structure including a base layer of sheet material having high strength, resistance to tearing, stability, and body, and a first layer of material having a low emittance characteristic disposed in intimate contact with one surface of the base layer. A second composite sheet structure includes a protective layer of sheet material that is generally transparent to radiant energy in the infrared range of the energy spectrum and a second layer of material having a low emittance characteristic disposed in intimate contact with one surface of the protective layer. The composite sheet structures are bonded together with the second layer of material having low emittance facing the other surface of the base layer, that is with the first layer of material having low emittance forming one outer surface of the composite sheet material and the protective layer forming the other outer surface.
Cloning and expression of rat fucosyltransferase VII at sites of inflammation

The sialyl Lewis x (NeuAcα2‐3Galβ1‐4(Fucα1‐3)GlcNAc) determinants serve as ligands in the selectin‐mediated adhesion of leukocytes to activated endothelium. The final step in the sialyl Lewis x synthesis is catalyzed by α1‐3‐fucosyltransferase, which transfers fucose to sialylated type 2 chain. We report the cloning of rat α1‐3‐fucosyltransferase gene (rFUT) isolated from rat lymph node and kidney allograft. The rFUT is expressed as two splice variants, but only the long one showed enzymatic activity towards sialylated lactosamine. Also flow cytometry analysis with the sLex mAbs indicated that the cloned rFuc‐T was a functional enzyme and a member of the Fuc‐TVII family. The rFuc‐TVII mRNA expression level was strongly enhanced during acute inflammatory reaction induced by kidney allograft rejection, which could be detected by in situ hybridization and quantitative real‐time PCR.
A voltage/frequency control scheme for distributed resources in an autonomous multi-bus microgrid

In this paper, a novel voltage/frequency control is presented for distributed resources (DRs) in an islanded multi-bus microgrid (MG). Its operation principle and control method are explained and analyzed. The proposed scheme reduces coupling between active and reactive power control and also dependence of power sharing to system parameters. Moreover, it leads considerable improvement in the reactive power sharing among DRs and voltage regulation at microgrid buses simultaneously. To enhance dynamic and transient performance of microgrid, a complementary dynamic structure is added to the voltage/frequency control characteristics. Parameters of the proposed control schemes are determined based on an optimization problem and dynamic analysis of microgrid. Simulation results demonstrate efficiency of the suggested voltage/frequency control scheme respect to the conventional droop method.
Photooxidative Death in Blue-Green Algae

When incubated in the light under 100% oxygen, wild-type blue-green algae (Anacystis nidulans, Synechococcus cedrorum) die out rapidly at temperatures of 4 to 15 C, and at 35 C (or at 26 C in the case of S. cedrorum) in the absence of CO2. Photosynthesis is impaired in these cells long before they die. Blocking of photosystem II at high temperatures in the presence of CO2 sensitizes the algae to photooxidative death. Photooxidative death and bleaching of photosynthetic pigments are separable phenomena. Photooxidative conditions were demonstrated in Israeli fish ponds using A. nidulans as the test organism during dense summer blooms, when dissolved CO2 is low, and in winter, when water temperatures generally drop below 15 C. This finding suggests that photooxidative death may be responsible for the sudden decomposition of blue-green blooms in summer, and may be a factor in the absence of blue-green blooms in winter.
Cyanidin‐3‐glucoside ameliorates ethanol neurotoxicity in the developing brain

Ethanol exposure induces neurodegeneration in the developing central nervous system (CNS). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are caused by ethanol exposure during pregnancy and are the most common nonhereditary cause of mental retardation. It is important to identify agents that provide neuroprotection against ethanol neurotoxicity. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed for ethanol‐induced neurodegeneration, and oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms. Recent evidence indicates that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is a potential mediator of ethanol‐mediated neuronal death. Cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (C3G), a member of the anthocyanin family, is a potent natural antioxidant. Our previous study suggested that C3G inhibited GSK3β activity in neurons. Using a third trimester equivalent mouse model of ethanol exposure, we tested the hypothesis that C3G can ameliorate ethanol‐induced neuronal death in the developing brain. Intraperitoneal injection of C3G reduced ethanol‐meditated caspase‐3 activation, neurodegeneration, and microglial activation in the cerebral cortex of 7‐day‐old mice. C3G blocked ethanol‐mediated GSK3β activation by inducing phosphorylation at serine 9 while reducing the phosphorylation at tyrosine 216. C3G also inhibited ethanol‐stimulated expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and p47phox, indicating that C3G alleviated ethanol‐induced oxidative stress. These results provide important insight into the therapeutic potential of C3G. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Targeting Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 gD to the Endoplasmic Reticulum and trans-Golgi Network

ABSTRACT Glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was modified to encode targeting signals known to localize proteins to either the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the trans-Golgi network. These motifs conferred the predicted targeting properties on gD in transfected cells as judged by immunofluorescence staining, and the exclusion of targeted gD from the cell surface was confirmed by the fact that these molecules exhibited substantially reduced activity in cell-cell fusion assays. Recombinant viruses expressing Golgi-targeted forms of gD grew to wild-type levels in noncomplementing cells, exhibited unaltered particle/infectivity ratios, and were found to contain wild-type levels of gD, whereas a recombinant expressing ER-retained gD was helper cell dependent and, when grown on noncomplementing cells, produced virions of low specific infectivity with greatly reduced levels of gD. These data imply that HSV-1 acquires its final membrane from a post-ER compartment and lend support to the view that the virus undergoes de-envelopment and reenvelopment steps during virus egress.
Computational Aesthetics of Photos Quality Assessment and Classification Based on Artificial Neural Network with Deep Learning Methods

Photograph aesthetical evaluation has been widely investigated in these decades. The most used assessing methods are mainly classical data mining methods such as SVM, ANN(Artificial Neural Network), linear programming and so on. In this paper, we presented a method based on artificial neural network and deep learning methods which is also a hot research topic recently. We downloaded a medium and a large dataset from a well-known online photograph portal and trained on them. Results showed that the accuracy of classification was above 82.1%, which was better than all state-of-the-art methods as well as a moderate result from those methods never adopted up to now.
The first proton NMR imaging of ice : Stray-field imaging and relaxation studies

A proton magnetic resonance image of ice was observed with the stray-field (STRAFI) technique. A preliminary study of proton relaxation times was performed in water and ice, at different temperatures. For example, a value of 3.5 ms for the spin–spin relaxation time, T2, was found in ice at 258K. Such a short T2 value leads to significant signal loss, as compared to liquid water, and to a shortening of the STRAFI echo-trains. In particular, a STRAFI signal for protons in ice could be observed only at echo times as short as 15 and 25ms, for RF pulse durations corresponding to 901 and 501 magnetisation tip angles, respectively. This behaviour is in contrast with that of deuteriated water. Imaging ice, as shown here, opens new prospects in studies involving environmental and materials science, for example. r 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
High-Speed Low-Loss Schottky-i-n InP-Based Optical Modulator for RF Photonics

An InP-based high-speed optical modulator is presented. The Schottky-i-n waveguide structure on InP-based material was used to reduce the switching voltage Vpi and the excess loss, while maintaining high-modulation efficiencies. To minimize residual amplitude modulation and to improve power handling capability, the bulk electrooptic effect in InGaAlAs was utilized for phase shifting. As a result, a simple structure InAlAs-InGaAlAs Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with traveling-wave electrodes was fabricated and characterized. This device achieved a switching voltage Vpi of 3.6 V, extinction ratio (>23 dB) and high-speed operation at 1.55-mum wavelength
Kernel induced random survival forests

Kernel Induced Random Survival Forests (KIRSF) is a statistical learning algorithm which aims to improve prediction accuracy for survival data. As in Random Survival Forests (RSF), Cumulative Hazard Function is predicted for each individual in the test set. Prediction error is estimated using Harrell's concordance index (C index) [Harrell et al. (1982)]. The C-index can be interpreted as a misclassification probability and does not depend on a single fixed time for evaluation. The C-index also specifically accounts for censoring. By utilizing kernel functions, KIRSF achieves better results than RSF in many situations. In this report, we show how to incorporate kernel functions into RSF. We test the performance of KIRSF and compare our method to RSF. We find that the KIRSF's performance is better than RSF in many occasions.
Greater expression of the human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: analytical cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Impaired local cell immunity seems to contribute towards the pathogenesis and progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), but the underlying molecular mechanisms promoting its progression remain unclear. Identification of new molecular markers for prognosis and diagnosis of early-stage CIN may aid in decreasing the numbers of CIN cases. Several novel immunoregulatory molecules have been discovered over the past few years, including the human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), which through interaction with its receptors exerts important tolerogenic functions. Several lines of evidence suggest that T-helper interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing cells (Th17 cells) may play a role in antitumor immunity. However, recent reports have implicated Th17 cells and their cytokines in both pro and anti-tumorigenic processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the roles of HLA-G and Th17 in the immunopathogenesis of CIN I. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional study with a control group using 58 cervical specimens from the files of a public university hospital providing tertiary-level care. METHODS: We examined HLA-G and IL-17 expression in the cervical microenvironment by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated these findings with clinical and pathological features. RESULTS: There was a greater tendency towards HLA-G and IL-17 expression in specimens that showed CIN I, thus suggesting that these molecules have a contribution towards cervical progression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HLA-G and IL-17 expression may be an early marker for assessing the progression of cervical lesions.
Barriers to hospice enrollment among lung cancer patients: A survey of family members and physicians

ABSTRACT Objective: Most patients diagnosed with lung cancer present with advanced stage disease and have a poor chance of long-term survival. Despite the advantages of hospice care for lung cancer patients, many are enrolled late in the course of their illness or not at all. We sought to identify reasons for this pattern. Method: A list of perceived barriers to hospice enrollment was generated and used to create two self-administered surveys, one for physicians and one for caregivers. After focus group testing, the finalized instruments were mailed to physicians in South Carolina and to caregivers of lung cancer patients who died under hospice care with a local hospice between 2000 and 2004. Results: Fifty-three caregivers and 273 physicians responded to the survey. From the caregivers' perspectives, leading reasons for deferred hospice enrollment included patients' unanticipated rapid transition from well to sick and a belief that hospice means giving up hope. From the physicians' perspectives, impediments to earlier hospice enrollment included patients and caregivers overestimating survival from lung cancer and an (incorrect) assumption that patients need to be “DNR/DNI” prior to hospice enrollment. Significance of results: Lung cancer patients may benefit from earlier introduction to the concepts of hospice care and more education regarding prognosis so that an easier transition in goals of care could be achieved. A smaller proportion of lung cancer patients may benefit from earlier hospice enrollment.
Activity of N-acetyl-L-cysteine against Biofilm of Staphylococcus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa on Orthopedic Prosthetic Materials

Purpose Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently isolated from biofilm-associated orthopedic implant infections. This study assessed the activity of N-acetyl-L-cysteine at inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations against biofilm formed by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on prosthetic materials. Methods S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilm on smooth polyethylene and sand-blasted titanium discs was determined by means of a spectrophotometric assay before and at 3, 6, and 18 hours after addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Results N-acetyl-L-cysteine was able to disaggregate biofilm produced by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa on polyethylene and titanium discs after 3 h of incubation. A different rate in eradication of biofilm produced by P. aeruginosa was seen between polyethylene and titanium (50% vs. 20% respectively vs. biofilm formed before treatment). Results were confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Conclusions The results suggest a possible role of N-acetyl-L-cysteine in the treatment of orthopedic prosthetic infections.
Cutting Edge: Human Th17 Cells Are Identified as Bearing CCR2+CCR5− Phenotype1

Recent reports have shown that IL-17-producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) belong to a distinct helper T cell lineage and are critically involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and allergies. However, the chemokine receptor profile of Th17 cells remains to be clarified. In this study, we report that human Th17 cells are identified as CCR2+CCR5− memory CD4+ T cells. Analysis of PBMC from healthy donors showed that CCR2+ cells produce much larger amounts of IL-17 than CCR2− cells, indicating the preferential expression of CCR2 on Th17 cells. Notably, CCR2+CCR5− memory CD4+ T cells produced a large amount of IL-17 and little IFN-γ, whereas CCR2+CCR5+ cells reciprocally produced an enormous amount of IFN-γ but little IL-17. Moreover, a higher expression of T-bet was seen in the CCR5+ memory T cells. These results indicate that absence of CCR5 distinguishes human Th17 cells from Th1 cells.
The 4G/4G genotype at nucleotide position −675 in the promotor region of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1) gene is less frequent in young patients with minor stroke than in controls

Genetic risk factors play an important role in the aetiology of vascular diseases. The insertion/deletion polymorphism (4G/5G) in the promotor region of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1) gene has been associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. We investigated 136 patients with minor stroke (MS) and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and found a prevalence of 0·32 for the 4G/4G genotype in patients compared with 0·42 in 115 age‐matched healthy controls. The 4G/4G genotype was significantly less frequent among 61 patients symptomatic before the age of 60 years (prevalence 0·20) than in 75 patients symptomatic after 60 years of age (prevalence 0·42; odds ratio). Our results indicate that the 4G/4G genotype is not a risk factor for MS or TIA and may even be protective in young patients.
A Mood Management Intervention in an Internet Stop Smoking Randomized Controlled Trial Does Not Prevent Depression

Smoking and depression are related, and mood management interventions included in smoking cessation interventions can increase smoking abstinence rates. Could a mood management intervention embedded in an Internet-based smoking cessation intervention prevent major depressive episodes? Spanish- and English-speaking smokers (N = 17,430) from 191 countries were randomized to one of four online self-help intervention conditions (two with mood management). We analyzed preventive effects among those participants without a major depressive episode at baseline. The mood management intervention did not reduce the incidence of major depressive episodes in the following 12 months. However, we found a mood management by depression risk interaction (OR = 1.77, p = .004), such that high-risk participants who received the mood management intervention had an increased occurrence of major depressive episodes (32.8% vs. 26.6%), but not low-risk participants (11.6% vs. 10.8%). Further research on whether mood management interventions may have deleterious effects on subsets of smokers appears warranted.
A new hybrid genetic algorithm for the bi-criteria no-wait flowshop scheduling problem with makespan and total flow time minimization

Multi-objective flowshop scheduling problems have gained wide attention both in practical and academic fields. In this paper, a hybrid multi-objective genetic algorithm is proposed to solve multi-objective no-wait flowshop scheduling problems with both the makespan and the total flow time minimization. The proposed algorithm makes use of the principle of non-dominated sorting, coupled with the use of elitist solutions strategy. To improve efficiency, two effective multi-objective local search procedures based on objective increment are applied on each chromosome in the archive. Experimental results show that the proposal outperforms the other three heuristics both on effectiveness and efficiency.
Isolation of monoclonal antibodies-escape variant of dengue virus serotype 1.

INTRODUCTION During an outbreak from December 2004 to March 2005, 138 isolates of dengue virus were prospectively obtained from acute-phase serum samples of 1,067 patients with the provisional clinical diagnosis of acute dengue illness admitted to the adult wards of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang, Malaysia. Of the 138 dengue virus isolates, 87, 11, 24 and 3 were typed as dengue serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, by a commercial dengue virus typing kit using monoclonal antibodies (Mab). 13 dengue virus isolates could not be assigned to any specific serotype by serotyping Mab and molecular typing using dengue-type specific molecular typing primer pairs. We report the associated clinical features and limited molecular genetics of this Mab-escape dengue virus variant. METHODS Limited molecular characterisation of the Mab-escape dengue virus variants with respect to a few concurrently isolated dengue serotype 1 virus was performed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by nucleic acid sequencing of the 500-bp dengue virus partial genomic capsid-PreM fragment. RESULTS The aligned nucleic acid sequence of RT-PCR products showed that these Mab-escape variants were of identical nucleic acid sequence, and shared the highest sequence homology (99 percent) with dengue virus serotype 1 (GeneBank accession No. AB178040) isolated from a Japanese patient in 2004. Though these Mab-escape dengue virus variants were noted to replicate to a 2-log higher titre than the current circulating dengue virus serotype 1, there was no significant difference between these variants and the currently circulating dengue virus serotype 1 with respect to disease severity (dengue fever versus dengue haemorrhagic fever) and clinical features. CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients developing dengue haemorrhagic fever following acute infection by Mab-escape dengue virus 1 variant in comparison with infection by the conventional dengue virus 1. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the pattern of clinical presentations following acute infection by the two different strains of virus.