Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction of estrogenic activity of municipal wastewater by aerated lagoon treatment facilities

The estrogenic activity of municipal wastewater in aerated lagoon treatment facilities was evaluated using plasma concentrations of vitellogenin (Vtg) in male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Caged fathead minnows were exposed for 10 to 12 d in three lagoons that are connected in series at each of 10 municipal wastewater treatment facilities in central Iowa. USA, during October and November 2000. Fathead minnows held in the laboratory served as unexposed controls. Pooled (n = 4–10 fish) plasma Vtg, quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was 1,702 ± 670 (mean ± standard error [SE]) μg/ml in the first lagoons (n = 9), 0.94 ± 0.36 μg/ml in the second lagoons (n = 10), and 0.04 ± 0.02 μg/ml in the third lagoons (n = 8). Differences in mean fish plasma Vtg concentration among lagoons were highly significant (p < 0.001). The mean concentration of plasma Vtg in fish in the third lagoons was not significantly different (p = 0.990) from that of the control fish (0.04 ± 0.02 μg/ml). Plasma Vtg concentrations of fish in the first lagoons were inversely correlated with wastewater retention time in the lagoons (p = 0.002, r = −0.877). Water temperatures of the final effluents during the study ranged from 9 to 12°C General treatment efficiency of lagoons has been shown to be dependent on temperature, so the potential exists for decreased removal of estrogenic activity when water temperatures are lower (e.g., winter months) than the present study. In conclusion, wastewater entering aerated lagoon systems was estrogenic to fish, but with serial passage through the lagoons, the estrogenic activity decreased to a level that was not sufficient to induce vitellogenesis in male fathead minnows in a 10‐ to 12‐d exposure.
Crop load and harvest maturity effects on consumer preferences for apricots.

BACKGROUND Improving apricot fruit quality delivered to consumers is key to ensuring a successful apricot industry. Previous studies have focused on effects of either soluble solids content (SSC) or fruit firmness on consumer preferences, and results have been equivocal. This study evaluated the effects of crop load and harvest maturity how they affected on fruit SSC and firmness, and on subsequent consumer preferences. RESULTS SSC of apricots was an important factor only when fruit were firmer than 15 N and not immature. When fruit were softer than 15 N, SSC had little influence on consumer liking. In general, consumers preferred fruit that were grown on trees thinned to approximately 10-20% less than typical commercial crop loads and were harvested in a more mature condition. Consumers also preferred fruit that had a higher sugar/acid ratio or BrimA value, which is the °Brix - k × titratable acidity, where k is a constant that varies between species and cultivars depending on the specific acids and sugars present. High apricot flavour and juiciness were associated with greater sweetness. CONCLUSION Management practices that increase fruit SSC and sugar/acid ratio, such as reducing crop load, will improve consumer satisfaction as long as fruit are harvested at an adequate maturity stage and are maintained in storage so that they do not soften too quickly.
The phenobarbital response enhancer module in the human bilirubin UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase UGT1A1 gene and regulation by the nuclear receptor CAR

The UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase, UGT1A1, is the critical enzyme responsible for detoxification of the potentially neurotoxic bilirubin by conjugating it with glucuronic acid. For decades, phenobarbital (PB) treatment for hyperbilirubinemia has been known to increase expression of the UGT1A1 gene in liver. We have now delineated the PB response activity to a 290‐bp distal enhancer sequence (−3483/−3194) of the UGT1A1 gene. The enhancer contains 3 putative nuclear receptor motifs, and it was activated by the nuclear orphan receptor, human constitutive active receptor (hCAR), in cotransfected HepG2 cells. Bacterially expressed hCAR, acting as a heterodimer with in vitro–translated retinoid X receptor (RXRα), only bound to 1 of the 3 NR motifs, named gtNR1 in a gel‐shift assay. Consistently, mutations of the gtNR1 site significantly decreased the activation by hCAR of the 290‐bp DNA in transfection assays. Moreover, the 290‐bp DNA was effectively activated in mouse primary hepatocytes in response to PB, offering an excellent clinical test for the examination of the responsiveness of the UGT1A1 to PB in the human population, particularly individuals with hyperbilirubinemia. (HEPATOLOGY 2001;33:1232‐1238.)
Saliency detection based on Markov chain and Adaboost

In this paper, an effective saliency detection method is proposed to minimize the error caused by boundary prior. When the salient objects appear in picture edge, the results generated by the traditional methods are usually not ideal. We proposed a two-step algorithm to optimize the saliency detection. Firstly, an initial saliency map is generated by absorbing Markov chain model. In this model, super-pixels in edge of the picture are treated as virtual boundary absorbing nodes. The remaining super-pixels are treated as transient nodes. Transient nodes' absorbed time are calculated as their saliency value. Then the initial saliency map is utilized as training samples to train an Adaboost classifier. The initial saliency map is refined with the trained Adaboost model to get a optimized saliency map. By combining the two maps we get the final saliency map. Experiments show that our algorithm is superior to other traditional saliency detection method when salient objects are close to image boundaries.
Linking obesity to colorectal cancer: recent insights into plausible biological mechanisms

Purpose of reviewThis review will examine the recent scientific literature on the mechanisms that are thought to link obesity to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Recent findingsObesity has emerged as a leading environmental risk factor for the development of CRC. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not yet been fully elucidated. Recent literature has focused on inflammatory processes, adipokines, and estrogen. Obesity-enhanced inflammation is largely orchestrated by increases in adipose tissue macrophages leading to the secretion of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6, all of which are linked to CRC. Adiponectin is decreased with obesity and has been reported to be negatively associated with CRC, whereas leptin, which is increased, is positively associated with the disease. Estrogen has been shown to influence CRC, although its role remains controversial; some studies have implicated estrogen as being protective, whereas others have suggested it to be a risk factor. We highlight the most important recent advances that have been made on the aforementioned mechanisms that are thought to link obesity to CRC. SummaryA better understanding of the mechanisms linking obesity to CRC risk is necessary for the design of effective treatment approaches in future clinical trials.
Impaired coronary microvascular endothelial function in men with metabolic syndrome.

AIM To assess coronary endothelial function of conduit and resistance vessels in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS Seventy-eight men (mean age, 57 years) with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries were included in the study. Patients with coronary spastic angina were excluded. Changes in coronary artery diameter and coronary blood flow (CBF) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) were determined using quantitative coronary angiography and Doppler velocity measurements. Coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of coronary blood velocity after adenosine triphosphate infusion relative to baseline values. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of MS. RESULTS There were 24 patients in the MS group (31%). The increase in CBF in response to ACh infusion was impaired in the MS group (P < 0.0001) compared to the non-MS group, whereas changes in coronary artery diameter in response to ACh infusion did not differ between the two groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that MS was a significant factor associated with the lesser change in CBF induced by ACh infusion at 30 μg/min (P < 0.0001, r(2) = 0.46). CONCLUSION Coronary endothelial dysfunction was present at the level of resistance vessels but not conduit vessels in the MS patients included in our study.
Detailed peptide characterization using PEPTIDEMASS – a World‐Wide‐Web‐accessible tool

In peptide mass fingerprinting, there are frequently peptides whose masses cannot be explained. These are usually attributed to either a missed cleavage site during the chemical or enzymatic cutting process, the lack of reduction and alkylation of a protein, protein modifications like the oxidation of methionine, or the presence of protein post‐translational modifications. However, they could equally be due to database errors, unusual splicing events, variants of a protein in a population, or artifactual protein modifications. Unfortunately the verification of each of these possibilities can be tedious and time‐consuming. To better utilize annotated protein databases for the understanding of peptide mass fingerprinting data, we have written the program “PEPTIDE‐MASS”. This program generates the theoretical peptide masses of any protein in the SWISS‐PROT database, or of any sequence specified by the user. If the sequence is derived from the SWISS‐PROT database, the program takes into account any annotations for that protein in order to generate the peptide masses. In this manner, the user can obtain the predicted masses of peptides from proteins which are known to have signal sequences, propeptides, transit peptides, simple post‐translational modifications, and disulfide bonds. Users are also warned if any peptide masses are subject to change from protein iso‐forms, database conflicts, or an mRNA splicing variation. The program is freely accessible to the scientific community via the ExPASy World Wide Web server, at the URL address: www.expasy. ch/www/tools.html.
Conservation genetics of the endangered Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)

The Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus L. 1758) is the most endangered neotropical cervid, and in the past occupied a wide range of open habitats including grassland, pampas, savanna, and cerrado (Brazil) from 5° to 41° S. To better understand the effect of habitat fragmentation on gene flow and genetic variation, and to uncover genetic units for conservation, we examined DNA sequences from the mitochondrial control region of 54 individuals from six localities distributed throughout the present geographical range of the Pampas deer. Our results suggest that the control region of the Pampas deer is one of the most polymorphic of any mammal. This remarkably high variability probably reflects large historic population sizes of millions of individuals in contrast to numbers of fewer than 80 000 today. Gene flow between populations is generally close to one migrant per generation and, with the exception of two populations from Argentina, all populations are significantly differentiated. The degree of gene flow was correlated with geographical distance between populations, a result consistent with limited dispersal being the primary determinant of genetic differentiation between populations. The molecular genetic results provide a mandate for habitat restoration and reintroduction of Pampas deer so that levels of genetic variation can be preserved and historic patterns of abundance can be reconstructed. However, the source of individuals for reintroduction generally should be from populations geographically closest to those now in danger of extinction.
Insufficient Joint Forces of First-Generation Articulating Instruments for Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery

Background. The current articulating instruments used in laparoendoscopic single-site surgery do not appear to provide the joint forces required. Thus, we measured the joint forces of first-generation articulating laparoscopic instruments. To compare these forces with those necessary in the surgical context, we evaluated the forces sufficient to produce secure surgical ties in an animal model. Methods. The articulating instruments tested were Laparo-Angle (Cambridge Endoscopic Devices Inc, Framingham, MA), RealHand (Novare Surgical Systems Inc, Cupertino, CA), and Roticulator (Covidien Inc, Mansfield, MA). For each, we measured the angle between the end-effector and the shaft in proportion to the articulating force using a push–pull gauge. Two fixed-position configurations of the instruments were predetermined: the neutral and the fully articulated positions. The forces required to secure surgical ties for the ureter, renal artery, and renal vein were evaluated using kidneys harvested from a female pig. Results. The bending forces required to bend from the neutral position to 30° were 5.6 ± 1.2 and 4.7 ± 1.0 N with the Laparo-Angle and RealHand, respectively. Furthermore, the slippage forces in the fully articulated state were 1.8 ± 0.3, 1.6 ± 0.2, and 1.5 ± 0.2 N in the above order. In contrast, the mean forces to produce surgical ties of the ureter, renal artery, and renal vein were 14.5 ± 2.3, 11.5 ± 0.8, and 10.3 ± 2.3 N, respectively. Conclusion. The joint forces of first-generation articulating instruments for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery are not sufficient to meet the usual operative needs. Improved articulating instruments with greater articulating forces should be developed.
Scale dependent wavelet selection for de-noising of partial discharge detection

Wavelet shrinkage methods are effective for de-noising of partial discharge (PD) detection. Base wavelets are related to distortion of PD signals de-noised by wavelet shrinkage methods. This paper presents a scale dependent wavelet selection scheme for de-noising of PD detection. The scale dependent wavelet selection scheme is called the energy based wavelet selection (EBWS) because an energy criterion is proposed for the scheme. In the proposed energy criterion, a base wavelet is selected as an optimal base wavelet if it can generate an approximation with the largest energy among all base wavelets for selection at each scale. PD high-frequency signals are simulated and PD ultra-high-frequency signals are obtained by experiments in laboratory for de-noising experiments and analysis. In comparison with the correlation-based wavelet selection (CBWS) scheme, the wavelet shrinkage, based on the EBWS, generates significantly smaller waveform distortion and magnitude errors of de-noised PD signals.
Emerging Fusarium -Mycotoxins Fusaproliferin, Beauvericin, Enniatins, And Moniliformin—A Review

The contamination of foods and feed with mycotoxins is a commonly known problem. Intense investigations have been conducted to study the occurrence, toxicity, and recently also the prevention and detoxification strategies of mycotoxins in human and animal food chains. Most of the studies have emphasized on “traditional” mycotoxins, such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and trichothecenes. However, one of the most common grain-contaminating genus of fungi, Fusarium spp. , is also capable of producing other toxic secondary metabolites—the so-called emerging mycotoxins such as fusaproliferin, beauvericin, enniatins, and moniliformin. So far, only limited data is available on these metabolites. This is not only due to their late recognition but especially the late understanding of their role as mycotoxins. This paper summarizes the existing data on the chemistry, analytical techniques, biosynthesis, production, toxicity, and occurrence data on fusaproliferin, beauvericin, enniatins, and moniliformin. Based on the available studies, attention should be paid to the studies on the distinct signifigance of these compounds in the human and animal food chains.
Effects of word frequency and modality on sentence comprehension impairments in people with aphasia.

PURPOSE It is well known that people with aphasia have sentence comprehension impairments. The present study investigated whether lexical factors contribute to sentence comprehension impairments in both the auditory and written modalities using online measures of sentence processing. METHOD People with aphasia and non brain-damaged controls participated in the experiment (n = 8 per group). Twenty-one sentence pairs containing high- and low-frequency words were presented in self-paced listening and reading tasks. The sentences were syntactically simple and differed only in the critical words. The dependent variables were response times for critical segments of the sentence and accuracy on the comprehension questions. RESULTS The results showed that word frequency influences performance on measures of sentence comprehension in people with aphasia. The accuracy data on the comprehension questions suggested that people with aphasia have more difficulty understanding sentences containing low-frequency words in the written compared to auditory modality. Both group and single-case analyses of the response time data also indicated that people with aphasia experience more difficulty with reading than listening. CONCLUSION Sentence comprehension in people with aphasia is influenced by word frequency and presentation modality.
Metagoverning Collaborative Innovation in Governance Networks

Western liberal governments increasingly seek to improve the performance of the public sector by spurring innovation. New Public Management reforms from the 1980s onward viewed strategic entrepreneurial leadership and public–private competition as key drivers of public innovation. By contrast, the current wave of New Public Governance reforms perceives collaboration between relevant and affected actors from the public and private sector as the primary vehicle of public innovation, and tends to see governance networks as potential arenas for collaborative innovation. The new focus on collaborative innovation in networks poses a fundamental challenge for public managers, elected politicians, and others aiming to metagovern governance networks. Hence, we claim that a specific metagovernance strategy is needed when the purpose of governance networks is to stimulate efficiency, effectiveness, and democratic legitimacy through innovation rather than incremental improvements. The article aims to sketch out the contours of such a strategy by comparing it with more traditional metagovernance strategies. The argument is illustrated by an empirical analysis of an example of collaborative innovation in Danish elderly care.
OPC UA: Examples of Digital Reporting Applications for Current Industrial Processes

The fourth industrial revolution is obviously well underway. Every day, we have the demonstration through new modes of commercial and industrial organizations. We are faced with major breaks as well related to the evolution of technologies as to the globalization of the economy with the emergence and the maturity of new actors: the challenge of the energy transition, the digital revolution, the protection of our planet, the convergences between human sciences and sciences. This paper presents different applications implemented for “Internet of Things” with Profinet network. These applications can be used on all of the company's processes as part of the Industry of the Future. The OPC standard appeared in the mid-1990s to facilitate exchanges between the world of automation and that of PC-based supervision. The latest OPC UA (Unified Architecture) specifications are now validated. With this new version, the OPC Foundation is revolutionizing its standard of communication between industrial equipment. OPC UA breaks the links that made it inseparable from Microsoft Windows. It can be deployed on all types of platforms. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) manages a manufacturing process. Seven operator panels also manage the various production recipes. Client n°1 makes the link to other Clients (reporting, E-mail, opening up to a scientific platform). The results are presented and detailed for numerous opportunities for industrial developments.
Cell Surface Expression of Calnexin, a Molecular Chaperone in the Endoplasmic Reticulum*

The folding and assembly of nascent proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum are assisted by the molecular chaperone calnexin, which is itself retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. It was up to now assumed that calnexin was selectively expressed on the surface of immature thymocytes because of a particular characteristic of the protein sorting machinery in these cells. We now report that a small fraction of calnexin is normally expressed on the surface of various cells such as mastocytoma cells, murine splenocytes, fibroblast cells, and human HeLa cells. Surface biotinylation followed by chase culture of living cells revealed that calnexin is continuously delivered to the cell surface and then internalized for lysosomal degradation. These results suggest that there is continuous exocytosis and endocytosis of calnexin, and the amount of calnexin on the plasma membrane results from the balance of the rates of these two events. To study the structural requirement of calnexin for surface expression, we created deletion mutants of calnexin and found that the luminal domain, particularly the glycoprotein binding domain, is necessary. These findings suggest that the surface expression of calnexin depends on the association with glycoproteins and that calnexin may play a certain role as a chaperone on the plasma membrane as well.
Switching dynamics of the bacterial flagellar motor near zero load

Significance The behavior of the flagellar rotary motor was monitored by following the rotation of small gold particles attached to flagellar hooks, nanometer-sized components found at the ends of motor drive shafts, providing an accurate readout of motor function. Some measurements were made in the past with large markers on flagellar filaments that suggested the presence of hidden steps preceding switching events. These steps were probably filament polymorphic transformations. Our data argue for a simple two-state system with transitions between clockwise and counterclockwise states that occur at random times. Switching dynamics of flagellar motors of Escherichia coli is commonly observed through markers attached to the flagellar filaments. To eliminate possible complications resulting from the conformational transitions of these filaments and to look at the output of motors more directly, we monitored motor rotation by attaching nanogold spheres to the hooks of cells lacking filaments. We observed exponentially distributed counterclockwise (CCW) and clockwise (CW) intervals and Lorentzian power spectra of the switching time series consistent with models that treat motor switching as a two-state Poisson process.