Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Operational performance of offshore de-oiling hydrocyclone systems

Maturing Oil & Gas reservoirs in the North Sea result in constant increases of water-cut, which correspondingly poses an increasing strain on the current offshore Produced Water Treatment (PWT) facilities. As one of the key elements of the PWT facilities, the hydrocyclone systems, are responsible for removing the remaining hydrocarbon content in the produced water before the treated water can be discharged, disposed, or reused as injection water. The hydrocyclone's performance heavily correlates with a number of system's and operational parameters, as well as dedicated control strategies. However, these correlations haven't yet been clearly explored from a control oriented point of view, due to the complex separation dynamics inside the cyclone systems. This work investigates and evaluates the hydrocyclone system's operational performance with respect to the most commonly used control paradigm, Pressure Drop Ratio (PDR) control, based on a lab-scaled pilot-plant. It has been clearly observed that in many situations the PDR is not consistently related to the system efficiency or to the inlet flow-rates, however these are assumed consistent in almost all available studies and control designs. In addition, the dynamic responses of PDR and de-oiling efficiency (measured in terms of Oil-in-Water (OiW) concentration) of the deployed hydrocyclone systems are systematically and experimentally studied in this paper. This data can be used to derive control-oriented dynamic models of the considered system, so that a control solution that is better than the current PID-based PDR control, could be developed based on those models.
Bioemulsifier (BE-AM1) produced by Solibacillus silvestris AM1 is a functional amyloid that modulates bacterial cell-surface properties

Abstract A novel estuarine bacterial strain, Solibacillus silvestris AM1, produces an extracellular, thermostable and fibrous, glycoprotein bioemulsifier (BE-AM1). The amyloid nature of the bioemulsifier (BE-AM1) was confirmed by biophysical techniques (Congo red based polarization microscopy, ThioflavinS based fluorescent microscopy, fibrous arrangement in transmission electron microscopy and secondary structure measurement by FTIR and CD spectrum analysis). Cell-bound BE-AM1 production by S. silvestris AM1 during the mid-logarithmic phase of growth coincided with a decrease in cell surface hydrophobicity, and an increase in cell autoaggregation and biofilm formation. It was observed that the total interfacial interaction energy () for the surface of the bioemulsifier producing S. silvestris AM1 and different derivatized surfaces of polystyrene (silanized and sulfonated) was found to support biofilm formation. This study has revealed that the BE-AM1, a bacterial bioemulsifier, is a functional amyloid and has a role in biofilm formation and cell surface modulation in S. silvestris AM1.
Voltage control of current source inverters

The current source inverters may become direct competitors of the voltage source inverters thanks to the voltage control techniques. The paper proposes an improved voltage control technique for current source inverters, that chooses the current vectors relying on bang-bang controllers. This technique is compared to a well-established one using current space vector modulation and synchronous-frame proportional and integral controllers. The presented controller is explained and validated by means of off-line as well as real time simulations and experimental tests. The numerical results prove that the proposed control technique produces less distorted voltage waveforms in terms of total harmonic distortion and spectrum. According to the real-time simulations performed the proposed control technique is computationally less expensive than the benchmark. Finally, the experimental results obtained confirm the feasibility of the proposal.
Discovery Versus Direct Instruction: Learning Outcomes of Two Pedagogical Models Using Tangible Interfaces

: We investigate the effect of using a tangible user interface (TUI) for discovery-based learning. For this purpose, we built EarExplorer, an interactive tangible system where students can manipulate and connect parts of the auditory system to rebuild a functional structure. An augmented reality layer displays sound waves and shows how they are transformed at various stages of the process. Our previous work suggests that TUIs are particularly good at preparing students for future learning; that is, students learn more when they can explore a novel domain with a TUI before compared to after receiving a traditional (e.g. lecture or text based) instruction. In this study, we isolated the impact of structured guidance versus no guidance during a hands-on TUI activity on learning. In one condition, students rebuilt the hearing system by self-driven discovery; in another condition they rebuilt it by following the step-by-step instructions of a video-teacher. We found that the first group (“discover”) significantly outperformed the second group (“listen”) by ~27% on the final learning test. To explain those results, we analyzed the TUI logs and explored how this effect unfolded with participants of different ability (i.e., low versus high GPA students).
Molecular cloning, partial purification, and characterization of a haemin‐binding lipoprotein from Haemophilus influenzae type b

A library of genomic DNA fragments from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) DL42 was constructed in plasmid pBR322, transformed into Escherichia coli strain RR1, and screened for recombinant clones with haemin‐binding activity by plating onto haemin‐containing agar. Expression of haemin‐binding activity by clones correlated with the expression of a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 51000 (51K) that was also recognized by anti‐Hib strain DL42 serum in immunoblots. One recombinant clone, designated pHM2, with the smallest DNA insert (3.62kb) was characterized further. Ethanol inhibition of expression of pHM2 in minicells revealed that the 51K protein was the result of a processing event involving a larger precursor. E. coli RR1(pHM2) adsorbed haemin in liquid suspensions as well as from solid media. Subcloning of a 2.6 kb fragment of pHM2 into a shuttle vector permitted the construction of a recombinant Hib clone, DL42(pHM1002), which overexpressed the 51K haemin‐binding protein. This 51K protein appears to be peripherally associated with the inner, and possibly outer, membranes of Hib. Affinity chromatography on haemin‐agarose was utilized to purify the haemin‐binding protein from both E. coli RR1(pHM2) and Hib DL42(pHM1002) to near homogeneity. The use of the antibiotic globomycin in a minicell expression system and radioimmunoprecipitation analysis of Hib proteins intrinsically radiolabelled with [3H]‐palmitate indicated that the 51K haemin‐binding protein is a lipoprotein.
Trm112p Is a 15-kDa Zinc Finger Protein Essential for the Activity of Two tRNA and One Protein Methyltransferases in Yeast*

The degenerate base at position 34 of the tRNA anticodon is the target of numerous modification enzymes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, five tRNAs exhibit a complex modification of uridine 34 (mcm5U34 and mcm5s2U34), the formation of which requires at least 25 different proteins. The addition of the last methyl group is catalyzed by the methyltransferase Trm9p. Trm9p interacts with Trm112p, a 15-kDa protein with a zinc finger domain. Trm112p is essential for the activity of Trm11p, another tRNA methyltransferase, and for Mtq2p, an enzyme that methylates the translation termination factor eRF1/Sup45. Here, we report that Trm112p is required in vivo for the formation of mcm5U34 and mcm5s2U34. When produced in Escherichia coli, Trm112p forms a complex with Trm9p, which renders the latter soluble. This recombinant complex catalyzes the formation of mcm5U34 on tRNA in vitro but not mcm5s2U34. An mtq2-0 trm9-0 strain exhibits a synthetic growth defect, thus revealing the existence of an unexpected link between tRNA anticodon modification and termination of translation. Trm112p is associated with other partners involved in ribosome biogenesis and chromatin remodeling, suggesting that it has additional roles in the cell.
A Conserved HPD Sequence of the J-domain Is Necessary for YDJ1 Stimulation of Hsp70 ATPase Activity at a Site Distinct from Substrate Binding (*)

The 46-kDa protein YDJ1 is one of several known yeast homologues of the Escherichia coli DnaJ protein. Like all J homologues, it shares homology with the highly conserved NH-terminal “J-domain” of DnaJ. A component of the DnaK (Hsp70) chaperone machinery that mediates protein folding, DnaJ is necessary for survival at elevated temperatures. It stimulates ATP hydrolysis by DnaK and effects the release of DnaK-bound polypeptides. Previous genetic and biochemical studies indicate that the J-domain is necessary for these functions. Using peptides corresponding to J-domain sequence, we show that a peptide containing the highly conserved His-Pro-Asp sequence at positions 34-36 in the J-domain competes off YDJ1 stimulation of Hsp70 ATPase activity. Inhibitory concentrations of peptide do not prevent binding of folding substrates, therefore YDJ1 must interact with Hsp70 at a site distinct from that for substrate binding. This interaction is critical for Hsp70 activity, since a mutant YDJ1 protein harboring a H34Q change (ydj1Q34) stimulates neither Hsp70 ATPase nor substrate release. The importance of the proper function of this region of the protein is supported by the poor growth and temperature-sensitive phenotype of yeast expressing ydj1Q34.
The design of suboptimal asymptotic stabilising controllers for nonlinear slowly varying systems

The design of asymptotic stabilising controllers for slowly varying nonlinear systems is considered in this paper. The designed control law is based on finding a slowly varying control Lyapunov function. Also, consideration of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation showed that the proposed controller is a suboptimal controller and the response of the system may be very close to its optimal solution. The maximum admissible rate of changes of the system dynamic is also evaluated. This technique is first applied to a created example and then to a practical example (optimal autopilot design for an air vehicle). The air vehicle is modelled as a nonlinear slowly varying system and the efficiency of the designed autopilot in terms of transient responses, control signals and the values of cost function are shown by numerical simulations.
Development and evaluation of an extraoral radiographic simulator model

Objectives: To describe the development of an extraoral radiographic simulator model that allows the demonstrations of head position and practical training of extraoral radiographic techniques and its usability evaluation by the users. Methods: It was used a macerated human skull, autopolymerising acrylic resin, orthodontic elastics, screws, polyvinyl chloride pipe and a photograph tripod to build it. After theoretical and demonstration classes, and practical training using the simulator model, twenty-nine professionals from the last five classes of an Oral Radiology Specialization Course filled out a form to evaluate its usability. Results: the modified SUS (System Usability Scale) final score obtained for usability was eighty-three, indicating high acceptance of the simulator model. Conclusion: this extraoral radiographic simulator model can be built at a very low cost, is useful for practice extraoral radiographic techniques and it should be encouraging its use as a teaching aid in other institutions. Correspondence to: Heraldo Luis Dias da Silveira, Dental School – Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Oral Radiology Division, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2492/5 floor, Porto Alegre, RS – Brazil, Tel: 55–51–33085199, E-mail: heraldo@ufrgs.br
Comparative carcinogenicity in F344 rats of the tobacco-specific nitrosamines, N'-nitrosonornicotine and 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

The tobacco-specific carcinogens, N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), were tested for carcinogenicity in F344 rats. Each nitrosamine in trioctanoin was administered by s.c. injection to 12 male and 12 female rats over a period of 20 weeks. The total dose of each nitrosamine was 3.4 mmol. The experiment was terminated after 12 months. NNK induced nasal cavity tumors in 83% of the males and in 83% of the females, liver tumors in 83% of the males and in 100% of the females, and lung tumors in 67% of the males and in 67% of the females. NNN induced nasal cavity tumors in 92% of the males and in 75% of the females. Only one liver tumor and no lung tumors were observed in the NNN-treated rats. These results indicate that, in the F344 rat, NNK is a more powerful carcinogen than is NNN.
145 revision failures from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register, 1994-2011

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the source is credited. DOI Background and purpose — In Norway, the proportion of revision knee arthroplasties increased from 6.9% in 1994 to 8.5% in 2011. However, there is limited information on the epidemiology and causes of subsequent failure of revision knee arthroplasty. We therefore studied survival rate and determined the modes of failure of aseptic revision total knee arthroplasties. Method — This study was based on 1,016 aseptic revision total knee arthroplasties reported to the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register between 1994 and 2011. Revisions done for infections were not included. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the survival rate and the relative risk of re-revision with all causes of re-revision as endpoint. Results — 145 knees failed after revision total knee arthroplasty. Deep infection was the most frequent cause of re-revision (28%), followed by instability (26%), loose tibial component (17%), and pain (10%). The cumulative survival rate for revision total knee arthroplasties was 85% at 5 years, 78% at 10 years, and 71% at 15 years. Revision total knee arthroplasties with exchange of the femoral or tibial component exclusively had a higher risk of re-revision (RR = 1.7) than those with exchange of the whole prosthesis. The risk of re-revision was higher for men (RR = 2.0) and for patients aged less than 60 years (RR = 1.6). Interpretation — In terms of implant survival, revision of the whole implant was better than revision of 1 component only. Young age and male sex were risk factors for re-revision. Deep infection was the most frequent cause of failure of revision of aseptic total knee arthroplasties.
Effects of plant stanol esters on LDL receptor protein expression and on LDL receptor and HMG‐CoA reductase mRNA expression in mononuclear blood cells of healthy men and women

Functional foods enriched with plant stanols lower atherogenic LDL cholesterol concentrations. This effect is caused at least partly by a decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. It has been suggested that LDL production is reduced after plant stanol consumption, but it is unknown whether LDL receptor expression is affected and contributes to the LDL‐lowering effect of plant stanols. Markers for endogenous cholesterol synthesis (lathosterol) increase, but it is not known how this higher cholesterol synthesis is regulated at the molecular level.
In Vitro Selection of RNA Aptamers to a Protein Target by Filter Immobilization

This unit describes the selection of aptamers from a pool of single‐stranded RNA by binding to a protein target. Aptamers generated from this selection experiment can potentially act as protein function inhibitors, and may find applications as therapeutic or diagnostic reagents. A pool of dsDNA is used to generate an ssRNA pool, which is mixed with the protein target. Bound complexes are separated from unbound reagents by filtration, and the RNA:protein complexes are amplified by a combination of reverse transcription, PCR, and in vitro transcription. Curr. Protoc. Mol. Biol. 88:24.3. 1‐24.3. 27. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
HIV Type-1 Latency: Targeted Induction of Proviral Reservoirs

HIV type-1 (HIV-1) can establish a state of latency in infected patients, most notably in resting CD4+ T-cells. This long-lived reservoir allows for rapid re-emergence of viraemia upon cessation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, even after extensive and seemingly effective treatment. Successful depletion of such latent reservoirs is probably essential to ‘cure’ HIV-1 infection and will require therapeutic agents that can specifically and efficiently act on cells harbouring latent HIV-1 provirus. The mechanisms underlying HIV-1 latency are not well characterized, and it is becoming clear that numerous factors, both cell- and virus-derived, are involved in the maintenance of proviral latency. The interplay of these various factors in the context of viral reactivation is still poorly understood. In this article, we review the current knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying maintenance of HIV-1 latency, both transcriptional and post-transcriptional, with a focus on potential targets that might be exploited to therapeutically purge latent proviral reservoirs from infected patients.
Reference Japanese man--II. Distribution of strontium in the skeleton and in the mass of mineralized bone.

AbstractThe distribution of stable strontium concentration in different bones, as well as in a single bone, was studied. Dependence of the stable strontium-to-calcium ratio upon age was observed. A non-uniform distribution of the stable strontium to calcium ratio was found in both the skeleton and t
An extended Kalman particle filter algorithm for HRG-based srapdown attitude system

In this paper, we propose a leveling algorithm based on extended Kalman particle filter (EKPF) for compensating the initial attitude error and the accumulated error. The meaning of leveling in the paper is to acquire two attitude angles of the roll and the pitch of the aircraft during its motion. The EKPF algorithm is applied to our inertial attitude reference unit based on the hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG), which is made in China. Simulation results indicate that the performance of the proposed leveling algorithm is superior to that of the standard extended Kalman filter (EKF).
Responsiveness of the Multiple Sclerosis Impairment Scale in comparison with the Expanded Disability Status Scale

The Multiple Sclerosis Impairment Scale (MSIS) is a measure of accumulated deficits assessed by means of a standard neurological examination. We compared the responsiveness of the MSIS with that of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). We reviewed 4300 records collected systematically from 1995 to 2003 and identified 534 patients who had clinically definite multiple sclerosis and had had at least two clinical assessments with a time interval of 2-5 years. The rate of deterioration was significantly higher on the MSIS than on the EDSS. The annualized change in EDSS exhibited a maximum at baseline EDSS 4 and a subsequent rapid decline at higher baseline EDSS, while the annualized change in MSIS was fairly stable over a wide middle range of baseline MSIS. The variance of the annualized change in EDSS fluctuated markedly between the baseline EDSS categories, being highest at baseline EDSS 2, while the variance of the annualized change in MSIS was stable. The study indicates that the responsiveness of the MSIS is better than that of the EDSS in terms of both magnitude and stability over the range of measurement.
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A New Classification to Determine Extent of Spinal Arthrodesis

Background: The lack of a reliable, universally acceptable system for classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has made comparisons between various types of operative treatment an impossible task. Furthermore, long‐term outcomes cannot be determined because of the great variations in the description of study groups. Methods: We developed a new classification system with three components: curve type (1 through 6), a lumbar spine modifier (A, B, or C), and a sagittal thoracic modifier (-, N, or +). The six curve types have specific characteristics, on coronal and sagittal radiographs, that differentiate structural and nonstructural curves in the proximal thoracic, main thoracic, and thoracolumbar/lumbar regions. The lumbar spine modifier is based on the relationship of the center sacral vertical line to the apex of the lumbar curve, and the sagittal thoracic modifier is based on the sagittal curve measurement from the fifth to the twelfth thoracic level. A minus sign represents a curve of less than +10°, N represents a curve of 10° to 40°, and a plus sign represents a curve of more than +40°. Five surgeons, members of the Scoliosis Research Society who had developed the new system and who had previously tested the reliability of the King classification on radiographs of twenty‐seven patients, measured the same radiographs (standing coronal and lateral as well as supine side-bending views) to test the reliability of the new classification. A randomly chosen independent group of seven surgeons, also members of the Scoliosis Research Society, tested the reliability and validity of the classification as well. Results: The interobserver and intraobserver kappa values for the curve type were, respectively, 0.92 and 0.83 for the five developers of the system and 0.740 and 0.893 for the independent group of seven scoliosis surgeons. In the independent group, the mean interobserver and intraobserver kappa values were 0.800 and 0.840 for the lumbar modifier and 0.938 and 0.970 for the sagittal thoracic modifier. These kappa values were all in the good-to-excellent range (>0.75), except for the interobserver reliability of the independent group for the curve type (kappa = 0.74), which fell just below this level. Conclusions: This new two-dimensional classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, as tested by two groups of surgeons, was shown to be much more reliable than the King system. Additional studies are necessary to determine the versatility, reliability, and accuracy of the classification for defining the vertebrae to be included in an arthrodesis.
Neighborhood Racial Isolation, Disorder and Obesity

Recent research suggests that racial residential segregation may be detrimental to health. This study investigates the influence of neighborhood racial isolation on obesity and considers the role of neighborhood disorder as a mediator in this relationship. For the city of Philadelphia, we find that residence in a neighborhood with high black racial isolation is associated with a higher body mass index and higher odds of obesity among women, but not men, highlighting important sex differences in the influence of neighborhood structure on health. Furthermore, the influence of high racial isolation on women’s weight status is mediated, in part, by the physically disordered nature of such neighborhoods. Disorder of a more social nature (as measured by incident crime) is not associated with weight status.