Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SELENIUM-IMPACTED WATER BY AQUATIC MACROPHYTES

Abstract. Stormwater runoff raises concern over potential downstream impacts of selenium (Se) on aquatic ecosystems. Constructed wetland phytoremediation is a sustainable, inexpensive, eco-friendly technology with potential to remove Se from stormwater. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate the bioavailability of Se chemical form and concentration on plant uptake and 2) determine the potential of aquatic macrophytes to improve water quality in a constructed wetland. The experiment was arranged as a 2 X 2 factorial nested within a split-split plot design replicated three times. Cattail (CT; Typha angustifolia L.), duckweed (DWD; Lemna minor L.), fanwort (CAB; Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray), soft rush (SR; Juncus effuses L.), muskgrass (MG; Chara spp.), and unplanted controls (UNP) were acclimatized 14 d in 115-L microcosms containing 0.035 m of Catalpa silty clay loam with 26 L of water supplemented with 0.1 N Hoagland’s solution. Selenium treatments were applied as a 4-L solution of either sodium selenite (SeO3 ) or sodium selenate (SeO4 ) to a total volume of 30 L at 0, 500, or 1000 μg Se L. Water samples were collected daily for six days. Plant and soil samples were collected prior to Se application and at three-day intervals post Se application. Water, plant, and soil samples were analyzed for total [Se] by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed with PROC GLM at α=0.05. After six days, CT and MG-planted microcosms significantly decreased aqueous [Se] by 75 and 74%, respectively, compared to 61% for UNP. The aqueous fraction of microcosms planted to CAB, DWD, and SR were similar to UNP controls. Plant tissue Se content in CT was significantly less than CAB, DWD, or MG, suggesting CT has the potential to volatilize Se. Given its abundance and efficacy, CT is likely a suitable species for Se removal in constructed wetlands supplied with either selenite or selenate-impacted waters. Additional
Asociación de genes relacionados con la resistencia a radioterapia y genes implicados en la división asimétrica de células madre tumorales

In this work we have studied several homologous human genes related to genes involved in neural asymmetric cell division in Drosophila melanogaster and their putative role in multiform glioblastoma. In particular we have established a relationship between the expression levels of those genes and radiotherapy resistance acquisition. The studied genes are MLLT4, TRIM2 and RAP2A. Our results indicate that expression of TRIM2 and RAP2A increase after iradiation of glioblastoma primary cultures obtained from surgical washes of glioblastoma patients at the Hospital General Universitario de Elche. Interestingly, we have also observed that isolated clonal populations resistant to radiotherapy obtained through sequential radiation of the primary culture HGUE-GB39, show a significant increase in RAP2A, TRIM2 and MLLT4 expression. Experiments performed in parallel in order to obtain a different resistance model, through transient transfection with specific siRNAs for SOCS1 and SOCS3 (genes previously reported to be related to radiorresistance), indicate that inhibition of SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression in HGUE-GB-39, correlates with radiorresistance acquisition as well as with an increase in RAP2, TRIM2 and MLLT4 expression. Our results suggest that RAP2A, TRIM2 and MLLT4 may play some role in radiorresistance acquisition in glioblastoma.
Compartmentalized megakaryocyte death generates functional platelets committed to caspase-independent death

Caspase-directed apoptosis usually fragments cells, releasing nonfunctional, prothrombogenic, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies marked for rapid engulfment by macrophages. Blood platelets are functional anucleate cells generated by specialized fragmentation of their progenitors, megakaryocytes (MKs), but committed to a constitutive caspase-independent death. Constitutive formation of the proplatelet-bearing MK was recently reported to be caspase-dependent, apparently involving mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, a known pro-apoptogenic factor. We extend those studies and report that activation of caspases in MKs, either constitutively or after Fas ligation, yields platelets that are functionally responsive and evade immediate phagocytic clearance, and retain mitochondrial transmembrane potential until constitutive platelet death ensues. Furthermore, the exclusion from the platelet progeny of caspase-9 present in the progenitor accounts for failure of mitochondrial release of cytochrome c to activate caspase-3 during platelet death. Thus, progenitor cell death by apoptosis can result in birth of multiple functional anucleate daughter cells.
Risk Factors for Nosocomial Primary Bloodstream Infection in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patients: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Objective. The primary objective was to determine the rate of and risk factors for nosocomial primary bloodstream infection (BSI) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients in order to determine the validity of our previously published findings. The secondary objective was to analyze whether risk factors for primary BSI differed by organism type, particularly whether device use was more strongly associated with BSI due to gram-positive organisms. Design. Prospective cohort study. Settings. St. Louis Children's Hospital, a 235-bed academic tertiary care center with a 28-bed combined medical and surgical PICU. Patients. PICU patients admitted between September 1, 1999, and September 1, 2001. Outcome Measures. Nosocomial primary BSIs. Results. Of 2,310 patients, 55% were male, and 73% were white. There were 124 episodes of primary BSI in 87 patients (3.8%). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus organisms were the leading cause of BSI (42 of 124 episodes). The rate of BSI was 9 BSIs/1,000 central venous catheter–days. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that independent predictors of nosocomial primary BSI included higher number of arterial catheter–days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.7 per day of arterial catheterization; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4-9.8), higher number of packed red blood cell transfusions (aOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), and genetic syndrome (aOR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.8-12). Severity of illness, underlying illnesses, and medications were not independently associated with increased risk of nosocomial BSI. Conclusion. Arterial catheter use and packed red blood cell transfusion are potentially modifiable risk factors for nosocomial primary BSI in PICU patients. Genetic syndromes may be markers for unrecognized immune defects that impair host defense against microorganisms.
Agglomerative hierarchical clustering with dissimilarity using discernibility on attribute subsets for nominal data sets

Clustering is a method to classify given data or objects into groups called clusters using their profiles described by some attributes. In this research, we focus on cluster analysis for nominal data sets in which all attributes are nominal. For objects with nominal attributes, logical or conceptual expressions such as “attribute a equals to v” or “a is not less than v” are suitable to describe natures of clusters. However, clustering methods based on dissimilarity between a pair of objects do not necessarily output clusters of simple and compact logical expressions. To overcome the drawback, we propose new dissimilaritiy measures using discernibility of objects on attribute subsets. Discernibility is a central idea of the classical rough set theory. We apply the proposed dissimilarity measures to agglomerative hierarchical clustering, and examine characteristics of them by numerical experiments.
Expectancies and Intentions to Use Snus Among Norwegian First-Year Students

Introduction: The prevalence of use of snus (low-nitrosamine smokeless tobacco, Swedish type) has reached epidemic proportions in parts of Northern Europe, and the trend is escalating. Knowledge of variables influencing use of snus is scarce, and this study set out to explore expectancies related to the use of snus as possible determinants of intentions to use snus in the next 6 months. Methods: The data stem from a questionnaire survey among university students in 2004 and included 141 snus users (mean age = 20.9 years, SD = 2.1). Thirteen items derived from a study by Juliano & Brandon (2004) were adapted to the use of snus, and a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. The predictive power of expectancies on snus intentions and behavioral experience on intentions were examined using structural equation modeling. Results: Five meaningful and interpretable expectancy factors were confirmed by the factor analysis: “negative affect,” “weight control,” “health risks,” “quitting smoking facilitation,” and “craving reduction. ” “Health risks” turned out to be the only expectancy factor that significantly predicted intentions to use snus. In addition, “current snus behavior” had a significant direct effect on intentions. Altogether, the model explained 27% of the variance in intentions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that expectancies of snus use can be applied to understand intentions to use snus. However, the range of expectancy items should preferably be broadened in future studies, and more attention should be paid to the inclusion of groups that differs in nicotine experience.
A Nutritional Approach for the Management of Deoxynivalenol (DON) Toxicity in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Growing Chickens

It has been shown that DON has negative effects on the active transport of some nutrients in the small intestine of chickens. The plausible interactions between food contaminants and natural components could be high. The present study investigated the effects of DON on the presence or absence of dietary inulin on the electrophysiological response of the gut to glucose. Ussing chamber studies were conducted with isolated jejunal epithelia at the age of 35 days. Electrophysiology of the epithelia was recorded and the changes of the short-circuit current (Isc) were determined. The addition of d-glucose on the luminal side of the isolated mucosa increased (P < 0.05) the Isc in the control group and inulin supplemented group. The oligosaccharides did not increase glucose absorption in young healthy chickens compared with the controls. In the second experiment, after preincubation of tissues with DON, the addition of glucose did not increase the Isc in jejunum and colon in the control group (P > 0.05). However, in the dietary inulin supplemented group in both jejunum and colon, the addition of glucose after preincubation of tissues with DON increased the Isc, suggesting that the dietary inulin supplementation of the broilers regulated and improved the glucose absorption in the presence of DON and kept it at normal levels.
Conceptualizer : a Method for Suggesting Concepts

In this paper we discuss two methods for suggesting automatically detected semantic concepts used for searching through news video archives. It is based on the 436 concepts that are used in the MediaMill search engine. Given a query, a relevant word can be given as input and our methods suggest a list of concepts that can be useful for the search. The results are evaluated and compared with the current concept suggestion engine of MediaMill. The results show that using some simple methods, a concept suggestion engine can do quite well.
Tramadol Induced QTc-Interval Prolongation: Prevalence, Clinical Factors and Correlation to Plasma Concentrations.

UNLABELLED In recent years, several cases of torsade de pointes have been associated with many opioids. However, to present no cases have been reported with tramadol. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of tramadol on QT-interval in the clinical setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Medical history and comorbidities predisposing to QT interval prolongation were registered for patients requiring medical assistance that involved tramadol administration. Ionograms and ECGs were performed at baseline and intratreatment; QT interval was analyzed after correction with Bazzet, Fridericia, Framinghan and Hogdes formula. RESULTS 115 patients were studied (50.4% males) All patients had received tramadol 150-400 mg/day during 3.0-5.0 days at the moment of intratreatment control. Plasma concentrations of tramadol were 201-1613 ng/mL. Intratreatment electrocardiographic control, as mean ± SD (range), showed QTcB 372±32 (305 to 433), QTcFri 356±37 (281 to 429), QTcFra 363±33 (299 to 429), QTcH 362±30 (304 to 427), ΔQTcB 26±40 (-73 to 110), ΔQTcFri 24±48 (-97 to 121), ΔQTcFra 22±42 (-81 to 109) and . QTcH 22±38 (-68 to 110) ms. QTc interval presents high correlation with plasma tramadol concentrations (for .QTc, R>0.77). Renal failure was associated with a relative risk for ΔQTc > 30 ms of 1.90 (IC95% 1.31-2.74) and for ΔQTc > 60 ms of 4.74 (IC95% 2.57-8.74). No patient had evidence of arrhythmia during the present study. CONCLUSION Tramadol produces QTc interval prolongation in good correlation with plasma drug concentrations; renal failure is a risk factor for higher concentration and QT prolongation by tramadol.
Kinetic Modeling Reveals the Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and DNA Repair Processes in Shaping the Dose-Response Curve of KBrO3-Induced DNA Damage

We have developed a kinetic model to investigate how DNA repair processes and scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can affect the dose-response shape of prooxidant induced DNA damage. We used as an example chemical KBrO3 which is activated by glutathione and forms reactive intermediates that directly interact with DNA to form 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine DNA adducts (8-OH-dG). The single strand breaks (SSB) that can result from failed base excision repair of these adducts were considered as an effect downstream from 8-OH-dG. We previously demonstrated that, in the presence of effective base excision repair, 8-OH-dG can exhibit threshold-like dose-response dependence, while the downstream SSB can still exhibit a linear dose-response. Here we demonstrate that this result holds for a variety of conditions, including low levels of GSH, the presence of additional SSB repair mechanisms, or a scavenger. It has been shown that melatonin, a terminal scavenger, inhibits KBrO3-caused oxidative damage. Our modeling revealed that sustained exposure to KBrO3 can lead to fast scavenger exhaustion, in which case the dose-response shapes for both endpoints are not substantially affected. The results are important to consider when forming conclusions on a chemical's toxicity dose dependence based on the dose-response of early genotoxic events.
KEAP the balance between life and death

Hepatocyte apoptosis in association with oxidative stress represent key pathogenic factors involved in tumor development in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In our recent study, we established that cellular degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) through sequestrosome (SQSTM)1/p62-dependent autophagy activates c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK), upregulates expression of Bcl-2–interacting mediator (BIM) and p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and contributes to hepatocyte apoptosis induced by saturated free fatty acids. These findings raise the possibility that dysregulation of KEAP1 may contribute to liver cell death and tumorigenesis during chronic inflammatory liver disease.
Power-Aware Speed Scaling in Processor Sharing Systems

Energy use of computer communication systems has quickly become a vital design consideration. One effective method for reducing energy consumption is dynamic speed scaling, which adapts the processing speed to the current load. This paper studies how to optimally scale speed to balance mean response time and mean energy consumption under processor sharing scheduling. Both bounds and asymptotics for the optimal speed scaling scheme are provided. These results show that a simple scheme that halts when the system is idle and uses a static rate while the system is busy provides nearly the same performance as the optimal dynamic speed scaling. However, the results also highlight that dynamic speed scaling provides at least one key benefit - significantly improved robustness to bursty traffic and mis-estimation of workload parameters.
Predictors of PM 2.5 and Radon Concentrations in Residences of Central Kentucky: A Cross Sectional Study

Aim: To measure levels of respirable particles (PM 2.5) and radon in homes in Central Kentucky and assess modifiable risk factors that could reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Methods: PM 2.5 and radon samples were taken in homes (n=21) in Central Kentucky. An inhome checklist was completed for each home that assessed a variety of potential environmental respiratory exposures. Results: The geometric mean of PM 2.5 for all 21 homes was 8.4 μg/m which was well below the EPA air quality standard of 35 μg/m. Smoking status, burning candles, and general cleanliness were statistically significant (P≤0.05) variables in determining elevated PM 2.5 levels. General cleanliness was determined through assessing the amount of dust, animal hair and clutter. Number of pets was statistically significant (P≤0.10) for PM 2.5 as well. None of the variables assessed for radon were statistically significant. Conclusion: Improving general cleanliness, reducing the number of candles burned, regularly grooming pets, and eliminating smoking in the home could reduce the amount of PM 2.5 in a home. This may be particularly important for people at risk of or who already have a respiratory disease. Prediction of radon levels based on home characteristics may be difficult due to the highly variable levels from home to home. All homeowners, especially those in regions where high levels of radon are known, should test their homes to determine if mitigation is needed. Although more research is needed to look at the association between PM 2.5 exposure and health outcomes in Central Kentucky, there are modifiable factors that may reduce the amount of PM
DFT Technique for Quick Characterization of Flash Offset in Pipeline ADCs

This paper proposes a novel DFT block and associated method for characterizing the offsets of the coarse flash used in a pipelined ADC. In non-SHA architecture, due to the presence of dynamic offset, measuring flash offsets across input frequency becomes important. By adding special data output modes, the proposed DFT technique allows speedy characterization of flash offset, across PVT, using the standard single-tone test and measurement setup for the ADCs.
The polygonal contraction heuristic for rectilinear Steiner tree construction

Motivated by VLSI/ULSI routing applications, we present a heuristic for rectilinear Steiner minimal tree (RSMT) construction. We transform a rectilinear minimum spanning tree (RMST) into an RSMT by a novel method called polygonal contraction. Experimental results show that the heuristic matches or exceeds the solution quality of previously best known algorithms and runs much faster.
Disease recognition by infrared and Raman spectroscopy

Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy are emerging biophotonic tools to recognize various diseases. The current review gives an overview of the experimental techniques, data‐classification algorithms and applications to assess soft tissues, hard tissues and body fluids. The methodology section presents the principles to combine vibrational spectroscopy with microscopy, lateral information and fiber‐optic probes. A crucial step is the classification of spectral data by a variety of algorithms. We discuss unsupervised algorithms such as cluster analysis or principal component analysis and supervised algorithms such as linear discriminant analysis, soft independent modeling of class analogies, artificial neural networks support vector machines, Bayesian classification, partial least‐squares regression and ensemble methods. The selected topics include tumors of epithelial tissue, brain tumors, prion diseases, bone diseases, atherosclerosis, kidney stones and gallstones, skin tumors, diabetes and osteoarthritis. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Not So Moral Moral Responses to Media Entertainment?

The present contribution comments Art Raney's article on the role of morality in emotional reactions to media entertainment. It dwells on Raney's distinction between pleasure-based versus appreciation-based media entertainment. On a normative level, Raney seems to favor appreciation-based media entertainment over pleasure-based entertainment, because he presumes the latter one to result from more automatic, archaic and, overall, less desirable moral activity among users. Recalling and extending Raney's arguments, the present article discuss the ambivalence of seemingly moral judgments of characters, the potential selfishness of users' concern for the fate of the protagonist, and potential biases in the appraisals of justice restoration. However, the present article wrestles with Raney's arguments underlying his critical evaluation of pleasure-based entertainment. While agreeing to most of his arguments about the moral mechanisms underlying pleasure-based entertainment, it departs from his normative position. The present article argues that pleasure-based entertainment may fulfill a psychologically functional role: it may allow people to effectively recreate and to restore exhausted resources.
High bandwidth sensorless algorithm for AC machines based on square-wave type voltage injection

This paper describes a new control algorithm which can enhance the dynamics of a sensorless control system and gives a precise sensorless control performance. When high frequency injection methods with conventional manners (sinusoidal voltage injection) are used, Low Pass Filters (LPFs) should be used to get an error signal. However, these LPFs degrade sensorless control performances due to the time delay of LPFs themselves. To avoid this effect, the proposed method uses square wave type voltage injection instead of the sinusoidal type voltage injection. As the result, the error signal can be calculated without any delay, and the position estimation performance can be enhanced. This paper contains the voltage injection method and corresponding signal processing method. Using the proposed method, the performance of sensorless control can be enhanced remarkably. The bandwidth of current controller was enhanced up to 250 Hz and that of speed controller was up to 50 Hz.
Genre Classification via an LZ78-Based String Kernel

We develop the notion of normalized information distance (NID) [7] into a kernel distance suitable for use with a Support Vector Machine classifier, and demonstrate its use for an audio genre classification task. Our classification scheme involves a relatively small number of low-level audio features, is efficient to compute, yet generates an accuracy which compares well with recent works.
Experimental Evidence of Persistent Androgen-Receptor-Dependency in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

In the majority of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), product of a gene that is almost exclusively regulated by the androgen receptor (AR), still acts as a serum marker reflecting disease burden, indicating that AR signaling is activated even under castrate level of serum androgen. Accumulated evidence shows that transcriptional ability of AR is activated both in ligand-dependent and -independent manners in CRPC cells. Some androgen-independent sublines derived from originally androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells overexpress the AR and PSA, for which silencing the AR gene suppresses cellular proliferation. The overexpression of the AR confers androgen-independent growth ability on androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells. Some patient-derived prostate cancer xenograft lines also acquire castration-resistant growth ability secreting PSA. More recent publications have shown that the AR activated in CRPC cells regulates distinct gene sets from that in androgen-dependent status. This concept provides very important insights in the development of novel anti-prostate cancer drugs such as new generation anti-androgens and CYP17 inhibitors.