Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ninety-Day Toxicity Study of Alpha-Iso-Methylionone in Rats

Alpha-iso-methylionone (AIM), a fragrance ingredient, was evaluated for systemic toxicity in rats. Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were administered 0, 5, 30, or 500 mg/kg/d AIM via gavage for 90 days. Statistically significant changes in blood chemistry parameters (reduced aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and increased cholesterol, creatinine, and total protein) were observed in both sexes at 500 mg/kg/d. There were statistically significant increases in liver and kidney weights in both sexes and in spleen weights in males at 500 mg/kg/d. Adaptive hepatocyte enlargement was observed in both sexes at 500 mg/kg/d. Globular accumulations of eosinophilic material were observed in the renal tubular epithelium in males at ≥30 mg/kg/d. Thyroid and bone marrow histopathological changes were observed in males at 500 mg/kg/d. The no-observed-effect level was 5 mg/kg/d for males and 30 mg/kg/d for females. Based on histopathological changes in the kidney in males, the no-observed-adverse-effect level was 30 mg/kg/d.
‘Urine testing is a waste of time’: newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes patients’ perceptions of self‐monitoring

Aims To date, there is no convincing evidence that non‐insulin treated patients who undertake self‐blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) have better glycaemic control than those who test their urine. This has led to a recommendation that non‐insulin dependent patients undertake urine testing, which is the cheaper option. This recommendation does not take account of patients’ experiences and views. This study explores the respective merits of urine testing and SBGM from the perspectives of newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes.
DESIGN OF ENERGY EFFICIENT ROUTING ALGORITHM FOR WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK (WSN) USING PASCAL GRAPH

Development of energy efficient Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) routing protocol is nowadays main area of interest amongst researchers. This research is an effort in designing energy efficient Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) routing protocol under certain parameters consideration. Research report discusses various existing WSN routing protocols and propose a new WSN energy efficient routing protocol. Results show a significant improvement in life cycle of the nodes and enhancement in energy efficiency of WSN. In this paper, an attempt has been made to design a wireless sensor network involving the extraction of Pascal Graph features. The standard task involves designing a suitable topology using Pascal Graph. As per the definition of interconnection network it is equivalent that a suitable graph can represent the different computer network topologies very efficiently. Different characteristics of Pascal Graph Topology has been discovered and used in network topology design. Since Pascal Graph gives better result in terms of finding the dependable and reliable nodes in topology, it has been considered for network analysis. Moreover, we propose a methodology that involves the Pascal Graph Topology for wireless sensor network which can analyse and represent the network and help in routing.
ELECTRODE POLARIZATION IMPEDANCE AND MEASUREMENTS IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS *

Consideration attention has been devoted to the direct current (DC) characteristics of metal electrodes and comparatively little work is concerned with their transient and alternating current (AC) steady state performance. This is surprising since most of the biological work necessitating electrodes either is concerned with the registration of time-dependent signals or with the application of transients or alternating currents and potentials. It is naive to assume that an electrode which has excellent DC-characteristics-i.e., is “nonpolarizab1e”-is also suitable for studies with transients or alternating currents. Indeed, many electrodes which are known for their low DC-polarizability have a high polarization impedance and electrodes of excellent AC-characteristics are often inadequate for DC-purposes. For example, the platinum electrode which is so suitable for AC-work is a very poor performer for DC-studies. As far as we know, only one attempt to develop an electrode which combines good DC-performance with low AC-polarization impedance has been conducted in recent years. ’ Transient aspects have been studied recently by Weinman and Mahler.2 This article will be concerned with the behavior of metal electrodes which is evoked by the passage of alternating currents. The presence of alternating current electrode polarization can be a major nuisance in biological impedance work. The relative magnitude of the electrode impedance contributing to the total sample impedance of interest is particularly pronounced at low frequencies and for more conducting materials. Even though the elements of AC-electrode polarization have been known for quite some time, recognition of the disturbing presence of electrode impedances and appropriate corrections are frequently neglected and effects due to the electrodes erroneously ascribed to the sample under study. Indeed, a significant fraction of all biological impedance work is subject to inquiry on this account. We shall (1) very briefly review some of the fundamental properties of AC-electrode polarization impedances, (2) discuss in greater detail the limits of linearity of electrode behavior and its implications in microelectrode work, and ( 3 ) describe a variety of techniques, in part known for some time and in part new, which are useful for the correction or elimination of electrode-induced errors in biological impedance work.
The a-factor transporter (STE6 gene product) and cell polarity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

STE6 gene product is required for secretion of the lipopeptide mating pheromone a-factor by Saccharomyces cerevisiae MATa cells. Radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation, either with specific polyclonal antibodies raised against a TrpE-Ste6 fusion protein or with mAbs that recognize c-myc epitopes in fully functional epitope-tagged Ste6 derivatives, demonstrated that Ste6 is a 145-kD phosphoprotein. Subcellular fractionation, various extraction procedures, and immunoblotting showed that Ste6 is an intrinsic plasma membrane- associated protein. The apparent molecular weight of Ste6 was unaffected by tunicamycin treatment, and the radiolabeled protein did not bind to concanavalin A, indicating that Ste6 is not glycosylated and that glycosylation is not required either for its membrane delivery or its function. The amino acid sequence of Ste6 predicts two ATP- binding folds; correspondingly, Ste6 was photoaffinity-labeled specifically with 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that in exponentially growing MATa cells, the majority of Ste6 showed a patchy distribution within the plasma membrane, but a significant fraction was found concentrated in a number of vesicle-like bodies subtending the plasma membrane. In contrast, in MATa cells exposed to the mating pheromone alpha-factor, which markedly induced Ste6 production, the majority of Ste6 was incorporated into the plasma membrane within the growing tip of the elongating cells. The highly localized insertion of this transporter may establish pronounced anisotropy in a-factor secretion from the MATa cell, and thereby may contribute to the establishment of the cell polarity which restricts partner selection and cell fusion during mating to one MAT alpha cell.
Problems of Population Mapping: An Introduction

THE MAIN purpose of this number of the Transactions is to publish twelve maps showing the distribution of five aspects of the population of the British Isles as recorded in the Census of population, I96I,1 and so to make them available for reference and for detailed study. The papers were written to explain why and how the maps were produced, and to indicate some of the ways in which they can be used in the analysis and interpretation of the Census data. They do not attempt detailed analysis of the respective distributions, neither are they intended to conform to a standardized pattern. No significance should be attached to the priority given to Ireland in some of the accompanying papers, beyond the fact that the distinctive characteristics of the data and distribution patterns for the Republic make it convenient to deal with Ireland first. The views expressed in the papers are those of the individual authors. The maps, however, are the result of co-ordinated group work and form the pilot stage of a longer term project to produce a census atlas.
Detection of koi herpesvirus DNA in river water in Japan.

Koi herpesvirus (KHV) has a diameter of 170– 230 nm and possesses a double-stranded DNA genome (Pokorova, Vesely, Piackova, Reschova & Hulova 2005). KHV was first discovered in the USA in 1998, followed by outbreaks in koi, Cyprinus carpio koi and common carp, C. carpio carpio, in Israel and the USA (Hedrick, Gilad, Yun & Spangenberg 2000). The virus subsequently spread to numerous countries worldwide (Haenen, Way, Bergmann & Ariel 2004). In Japan, the first large outbreak of KHV occurred in October 2003 in Kasumigaura Lake, where more than half of Japan’s farmed carp are produced (Sano, Ito, Kurita, Yanai, Watanabe, Miwa & Iida 2004). Subsequently, many outbreaks were reported in almost all of the prefectures in Japan, probably due to transport of infected carp from Kasumigaura Lake to other lakes, ponds or rivers (Kimiya 2004). Koi herpesvirus is suspected to be transmitted via water as the virus is excreted with faeces of the infected carp (Dishon, Perelberg, Bishara-Shieban, Ilouze, Davidovich, Werker & Kotler 2005). The virus can grow in carp at water temperatures from 15 to 25 C (Gilad, Yun, Adkison, Way, Willits, Bercovier & Hedrick 2003), thus KHV infection is suppressed during winter months. However, outbreaks of KHV can reoccur the following spring, partly because the virus remains infective in water for a long period (Perelberg, Smirnov, Hutoran, Diamant, Bejerano & Kotler 2003). Before resuming koi farming after an outbreak, it is important to confirm the absence of KHV in the water source. In our previous studies, we succeeded in detecting various kinds of human enteric viruses, such as noroviruses, adenoviruses or enteroviruses, in aquatic environments (Katayama, Shimasaki & Ohgaki 2002; Haramoto, Katayama, Oguma & Ohgaki 2005). A key step in the procedure is concentration of virus particles (<1 mL concentrated virus sample from 100 to 1000 mL of water sample). Viruses were then detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the concentrated sample. This method may be more broadly applicable to virus detection in aquatic environments and was used in this study to detect KHV. The diagnosis of KHV infection is usually based on virus isolation using KF-1 cells, followed by amplification of viral DNA using the PCR technique (Pokorova et al. 2005). However, due to the limited susceptibility of KF-1 cells, it is sometimes difficult to isolate KHV even from tissues with high titres of KHV, such as the gill, kidney and spleen of carp (Pokorova et al. 2005). Recently, a real-time quantitative TaqMan PCR system was developed for rapid, sensitive and specific detection of KHV (Gilad, Yun, Zagmutt-Vergara, Leutenegger, Bercovier & Hedrick 2004); this system could be a powerful tool to detect KHV at low levels in water. In this study, the occurrence of KHV in river water in Japan was investigated using a virus concentration method developed in our previous study (Haramoto, Katayama & Ohgaki 2004) in concert with a real-time PCR system (Gilad et al. 2004). Journal of Fish Diseases 2007, 30, 59–61
Delayed neurotrophic treatment preserves nerve survival and electrophysiological responsiveness in neomycin‐deafened guinea pigs

Benefits of cochlear prostheses for the deaf are dependent on survival and excitability of the auditory nerve. Degeneration of deafferented auditory nerve fibers is prevented and excitability maintained by immediate replacement therapy with exogenous neurotrophic factors, in vivo. It is important to know whether such interventions are effective after a delay following deafness, typical for the human situation. This study evaluated the efficacy of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor axokine‐1 analogue (CNTFAx1) application, 2 or 6 weeks postdeafening, in preventing further degeneration and a decrease in excitability. Guinea pigs were deafened and implanted with intracochlear stimulating electrodes, a scala tympani cannula‐osmotic pump system, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) recording electrodes. Subjects received BDNF + CNTFAx1 or artificial perilymph (AP) treatment for 27 days, beginning at 2 or 6 weeks following deafening. Electrical (E) ABR thresholds increased following deafening. After 1 week, in the 2‐weeks‐delayed neurotrophic factor treatment group, EABR thresholds decreased relative to AP controls, which were statistically significant at 2 weeks. In the 6‐week delay group, a tendency to enhanced EABR sensitivity began at 2 weeks of treatment and increased thereafter, with a significant difference between neurotrophic factor‐ and AP‐treated groups across the treatment period. A clear, statistically significant, enhanced survival of spiral ganglion cells was seen in both neurotrophic factor treatment groups relative to AP controls. These findings demonstrate that BDNF + CNTFAx1 can act to delay or possibly even reverse degenerative and, likely apoptotic, processes well after they have been activated. These survival factors can rescue cells from death and enhance electrical excitability, even during the period of degeneration and cell loss when the spiral ganglion cell population is reduced by >50% (6 weeks). It is noteworthy that this same degree of ganglion cell loss, secondary to receptor damage, is typically observed after a period equivalent to some years of deafness in humans. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Look Inside of the Complex Pathogenesis of B-RAF(V600E)-Driven Cancer

Cancer is a very complex disease, where cell alterations (i.e. gene mutations, dysregulated signaling pathway(s) and epigenetic modifications) contribute to its development and progression. Elucidating the connections among these cell modifications is a critical challenge, in order to understand the mechanisms which are activated from cancer cells to survive and proliferate. Interesting, Prof. Peng Hou and colleagues, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, identified unknown epigenetic mechanisms and their involvement in the tumorigenesis of B-RAF(V600E)-driven cancer.
Social media and the medical profession

Use of social media by doctors and medical students is common and growing. Although professional standards and codes of ethics that govern the behaviour of medical practitioners in Australia and New Zealand do not currently encompass social media, these codes need to evolve, because professional standards continue to apply in this setting. Inappropriate use of social media can result in harm to patients and the profession, including breaches of confidentiality, defamation of colleagues or employers, and violation of doctor–patient boundaries. The professional integrity of doctors and medical students can also be damaged through problematic interprofessional online relationships, and unintended exposure of personal information to the public, employers or universities. Doctors need to exercise extreme care in their use of social media to ensure they maintain professional standards.
Global Distribution of Cloud Top Height as Retrieved from SCIAMACHY Onboard ENVISAT Spaceborne Observations

The spatial and temporal analysis of the SCanning Imaging Absorption SpectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) onboard ENVISAT global cloud top height data for 2003–2006 is presented. The cloud top height is derived using a semi-analytical cloud top height retrieval algorithm based on an asymptotic solution of the radiative transfer equation in the oxygen A-band. The analysis is valid for thick clouds only. As expected, clouds are higher in the equatorial region. The cloud altitudes decrease towards the Poles due to the general decrease of the troposphere height. The global average cloud top height as derived from SCIAMACHY measurements is 7.3 km. We also studied the planetary reflectivity R at 443 nm and found that the annual average is R = 0.49 ± 0.08 for the years analyzed.
Dinosaurs in decline tens of millions of years before their final extinction

Significance Whether dinosaurs were in decline before their final extinction 66 Mya has been debated for decades with no clear resolution. This dispute has not been resolved because of inappropriate data and methods. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we apply a statistical approach that models changes in speciation and extinction through time. We find overwhelming support for a long-term decline across all dinosaurs and within all three major dinosaur groups. Our results highlight that dinosaurs showed a marked reduction in their ability to replace extinct species with new ones, making them vulnerable to extinction and unable to respond quickly to and recover from the final catastrophic event 66 Mya. Whether dinosaurs were in a long-term decline or whether they were reigning strong right up to their final disappearance at the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event 66 Mya has been debated for decades with no clear resolution. The dispute has continued unresolved because of a lack of statistical rigor and appropriate evolutionary framework. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we apply a Bayesian phylogenetic approach to model the evolutionary dynamics of speciation and extinction through time in Mesozoic dinosaurs, properly taking account of previously ignored statistical violations. We find overwhelming support for a long-term decline across all dinosaurs and within all three dinosaurian subclades (Ornithischia, Sauropodomorpha, and Theropoda), where speciation rate slowed down through time and was ultimately exceeded by extinction rate tens of millions of years before the K-Pg boundary. The only exceptions to this general pattern are the morphologically specialized herbivores, the Hadrosauriformes and Ceratopsidae, which show rapid species proliferations throughout the Late Cretaceous instead. Our results highlight that, despite some heterogeneity in speciation dynamics, dinosaurs showed a marked reduction in their ability to replace extinct species with new ones, making them vulnerable to extinction and unable to respond quickly to and recover from the final catastrophic event.
Using diffusion MRI for measuring the temperature of cerebrospinal fluid within the lateral ventricles

Aim: Hypothermia is often induced to reduce brain injury in newborns, following perinatal hypoxic–ischaemic events, and in adults following traumatic brain injury, stroke or cardiac arrest. We aimed to devise a method, based on diffusion‐weighted MRI, to measure non‐invasively the temperature of the cerebrospinal fluid in the lateral ventricles.
‘This really explains my case!’: biographical reconstruction of Japanese people with fibromyalgia meeting peers

ABSTRACT Fibromyalgia (FM) is a controversial disorder with an unknown organic basis, so the legitimacy of the disease is controversial. People with FM struggle to explain their ‘invisible’ illness and to reconstruct their biographies. This study focuses on the significance of self-help groups (SHGs) in the process of reconstructing biographies of persons with FM. We interviewed 13 individuals with FM who participated in 2 different types of SHGs. Informants suffer from disparities between their severe bodily symptoms and appraisals from others, resulting in self-doubt and existential crisis. These disruptions were partially repaired by receiving a diagnosis, but this provided limited power to explain their ‘unreasonable’ disruption. Our findings indicate the importance of hearing the life stories of peers which can repair informants’ disrupted biographies through the fu-ni-ochiru experience, a form of comprehension of one's illness by which the informant obtains a clear perspective through physical sensation, or full acceptance rather than logical understanding. Thus, our study expands knowledge regarding how people with FM reconstruct their biographies.
Structure of the adult central complex in Drosophila: Organization of distinct neuronal subsets

The central complex (CX) is a defined set of neuropils located on the midline of the protocerebrum in several arthropods and has been implicated in a number of behaviors. To investigate the function of the CX further it is imperative to know the neuroarchitecture of this structure and to ensure all known neuron types conform to a common nomenclature system. Several types of CX neuron have been identified but it is not known if these exist singly or as components of isomorphic sets. We used an enhancer trap approach to study the adult structure, connectivity, and polarity of CX neurons in Drosophila. We observed several isomorphic sets of small‐field neurons including pontine and fb‐eb neurons, and also isomorphic sets of large‐field neurons including R neurons and F neurons. We found that several types of large‐field F neurons existed in isomorphic sets of approximately eight (four per hemisphere) and found evidence for small‐field neuron types existing as isomorphic sets of 16. Small‐field neurons were observed in clearly organized layers. This study provides a novel insight into CX structure and connectivity and provides a set of characterized enhancer trap lines that will be valuable for future study. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1500–1524, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Robust estimation of edge density in blurred images

Edge is an important cue for object detection in computer vision. In this paper, we present a filtering method for speeding up the object detection by using edge density as a prefiltering measure. Specifically the paper focuses on two problems of derivation of scale invariant edge density measure and robust edge extraction in blurred images. Normalization of edge density is performed based on the square root of the target area for scale invariance. Experimental result confirms validity of the suggested density measure. Second problem of edge extraction in blurred images is addressed by extracting edge pixels in scaled-down images with histogram equalization, giving more reliable edge extraction result. Experiment results on large set of pedestrian images captured under various conditions including daylight, raining, motion blur, and night are presented and analyzed quantitatively.
The individual in an ICT world

This article explores contemporary engagement with social media and other forms of information and communications technology in relation to identity formation and the individual. It is argued that in an information and communications technology world, the materialization as well as the materiality of identity is of a performative nature and it is subject to a negotiation of being both online and offline. This negotiation is associated with being recognized as having established a presence online. In the web of connected knowledge, exchange of information and multiple identifications, the individual comes into being through its participation in a complex system of watching and being watched. With a primary focus on what has come to be termed as participatory culture – a term which has also been criticized for masking its ambivalent nature behind the celebration of the birth of the ‘prosumer’ – often exemplified in the use of or participation in social media (an aspect of being online), the article tries to elucidate the darker sides of ‘being’ on social media through an examination of surveillance and sousveillance as they contribute to the (de)construction of the individual in an information and communications technology world.