Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Immunosensors for Antibiotic Detection

Antibiotics are an important class of drugs destined for treatment of bacterial diseases. Misuses and overuses of antibiotics observed over the last decade have led to global problems of bacterial resistance against antibiotics (ABR). One of the crucial actions taken towards limiting the spread of antibiotics and controlling this dangerous phenomenon is the sensitive and accurate determination of antibiotics residues in body fluids, food products, and animals, as well as monitoring their presence in the environment. Immunosensors, a group of biosensors, can be considered an attractive tool because of their simplicity, rapid action, low-cost analysis, and especially, the unique selectivity arising from harnessing the antigen–antibody interaction that is the basis of immunosensor functioning. Herein, we present the recent achievements in the field of electrochemical immunosensors designed to determination of antibiotics.
AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF DENERVATION ATROPHY IN RED AND WHITE SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS

A study, mainly by electron microscopy, has been made on two leg muscles of rat, in the course of atrophy experimentally induced by total denervation. As a preliminary the chief distinctive features of the soleus, chosen as a representative of pure red muscle, and of the gastrocnemius, representative of pure white muscle, are described. Two major phases of atrophy, somewhat overlapping in time, were observed. In the first, a degenerative autolytic process takes place in areas of the fiber, with loss of striation. It can be detected as early as the 7th day, but the maximum is observed at the 14th day, and accounts for a gross weight loss of 50 per cent. The first alteration appears in the Z lines; disorder in the disposition of filaments then follows. The process occurs very rapidly, leaving large areas in the cell in which one can detect only ground substance, glycogen, rare randomly disposed vesicular elements, and some mitochondria. Several lysosomes and masses of lipoproteins, which assume the configuration of concentric lamellae, show up in these fibers. Subsequently large parts of the waste sarcoplasm are discarded into the intercellular spaces. In the second major phase the so called "simple" atrophy takes place. The process starts early, but its effects are more detectable after 1 month. In this period, single myofibrils undergo different degrees of reduction in diameter, while the spatial disposition of primary and secondary filaments inside the fibrils remains normal. The appearance of the fibrils in longitudinal sections suggests that the process takes place by the detachment of filaments from the periphery of the fibrils and by their subsequent breakdown in the interfibrillary spaces. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is still well preserved, and relatively overdeveloped. Mitochondria disappear in parallel with the contractile material.
The effect of visual stimuli noise and fatigue on steady-state visual evoked potentials

Objective. In many cases, noise in visual stimuli plays an active role in brain information processing. Electroencephalogram (EEG) provides an objective mean to measure brain cognition and information processing, and studies on the effect of noise on EEG can help us better understand the mechanisms involved in information processing. Approach. In this study, visual stimuli, consisting of images with different noise levels, were created using the phase-scrambled method. EEG data evoked by these images were then obtained using the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm and the N-back method was used to induce and assess the fatigue state of subjects. The effect of differing noise modulation levels on EEG in different fatigue states was studied by analyzing the differences in the characteristics of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP). Main results. The study results demonstrated that an image’s noise level had a significant impact on the evoked SSVEP characteristics. The amplitude and time delay of induced SSVEP were effectively enhanced by moderately increasing the noise of the visual stimulus images. Fatigue also appeared to affect SSVEP, and the difference in SSVEP characteristics induced by images with different noise levels decreased when the subject was fatigued. Significance. The conclusions of this study provide insights into the relationship between visual stimuli noise and SSVEP characteristics under different fatigue states. This might provide a basis for the study of the brain’s mechanisms in regulating attention resources and the stochastic resonance phenomenon. In addition, this study has the potential to provide an objective method for rapid fatigue detection based on EEG.
Trapping polar molecules in an ac trap

3 ammonia molecules in a cylindrically symmetric ac trap is demonstrated. We present measurements of the spatial distribution of the trapped cloud as a function of the settings of the trap and compare these to both a simple model assuming a linear force and to full three-dimensional simulations of the experiment. With the optimal settings, molecules within a phase-space volume of 270 mm 3 m/s 3 remain trapped. This corresponds to a trap depth of about 5 mK and a trap volume of about 20 mm 3 .
Simulation and Implementation of Discrete Cosine Transform for MPEG-4

MPEG video compression is used in digital television set-top boxes, DSS, HDTV, video conferencing, Internet & such applications. The discrete cosine transforms (DCT) are used in MPEG & JPEG compression standards. So the DCT component has stringent timing requirements. The high performance which is required can not be achieved by sequential implementation of algorithm. Consequently, high quality of performance can not be achieved. Hence different optimization techniques to improve the performance of the DCT are discussed here. For DCT, VHDL codes were written in behavioral model for pipelined memory optimization design which reduces the memory requirement and cost of implementation. This design was also implemented on FPGA Spartan3e which occupied approximately 69,468 total equivalent gate count. The FPGA testing was made by using software chip-scope.
Providing Performance Guarantees in Multipass Network Processors

Current network processors (NPs) increasingly deal with packets with heterogeneous processing times. In such an environment, packets that require many processing cycles delay low-latency traffic because the common approach in today's NPs is to employ run-to-completion processing. These difficulties have led to the emergence of the Multipass NP architecture, where after a processing cycle ends, all processed packets are recycled into the buffer and recompete for processing resources. In this paper, we provide a model that captures many of the characteristics of this architecture, and we consider several scheduling and buffer management algorithms that are specially designed to optimize the performance of multipass network processors. In particular, we provide analytical guarantees for the throughput performance of our algorithms. We further conduct a comprehensive simulation study, which validates our results.
Hepatic angiosarcoma presenting as acute liver failure in young adults. Report of two cases and review of literature

Background: Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare tumor of endothelial origin that accounts for up to 2% of all primary neoplasms of the liver. It is uncommon in young adults and acute liver failure is a very unusual presentation of this disease. Case Presentation: We report the cases of two young male adults who presented with acute liver failure. One of them was diagnosed with primary hepatic angiosarcoma after transplantation based on the complete evaluation of the heaptectomy specimen; while the other was diagnosed through a liver biopsy which was done as part of the work-up for transplantation. Both patients had a rapidly worsening clinical course and died within 2 months of diagnosis. Conclusion: Hepatic angiosarcoma is a poor prognosis disease with high and early mortality. Therefore, a high level of suspicion should be present to promptly diagnose it, especially when dealing with patients with a rapidly worsening liver disease.
Surgical Outcome in Patients Taking Concomitant or Recent Intake of Oral Isotretinoin: A Multicentric Study-ISO-AIMS Study

Background: The current standard recommendation is to avoid surgical interventions in patients taking oral isotretinoin. However, this recommendation has been questioned in several recent publications. Aim: To document the safety of cosmetic and surgical interventions, among patients receiving or recently received oral isotretinoin. Materials and Methods: Association of Cutaneous Surgeons, India, in May 2012, initiated this study, at 11 centers in different parts of India. The data of 183 cases were collected monthly, from June 2012 to May 2013. Of these 61 patients had stopped oral isotretinoin before surgery and 122 were concomitantly taking oral isotretinoin during the study period. In these 183 patients, a total of 504 interventions were performed. These included[1] 246 sessions of chemical peels such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and combination peels;[2] 158 sessions of lasers such as ablative fractional laser resurfacing with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet and CO2, conventional full face CO2 laser resurfacing, laser-assisted hair reduction with long-pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, diode laser, and LASIK surgery;[3] 27 sessions of cold steel surgeries such as microneedling, skin biopsy, subcision, punch elevation of scars, excision of skin lesion, and wisdom tooth extraction;[4] 1 session of electrosurgery. Results: No significant side effects were noted in most patients. 2 cases of keloid were documented which amounted to 0.4% of side effects in 504 interventions, with a significant P value of 0.000. Reversible transient side effects were erythema in 10 interventions and hyperpigmentation in 15. Conclusion: The study showed that performing dermatosurgical and laser procedures in patients receiving or recently received isotretinoin is safe, and the current guidelines of avoiding dermatosurgical and laser interventions in such patients taking isotretinoin need to be revised.
Effect of Age on Healthy Human Nasal Airflow : A Computational Analysis

The effect of age on healthy human nasal airflow along the entire nasal cavity has been investigated. A Malaysian 5-years-old female child was selected, and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) was implemented to develop and perform numerical analysis, in order to provide clear visualization of nasal airflow, and simultaneously, to allow the comparison with other models – male child and female adult model from previous works. This comparison includes nasal geometry, cross-sectional area, pressure drop, average velocity magnitude, velocity contours as well as velocity vectors and streamlines along the nasal cavities. The Malaysia female child model exhibited a narrower and thinner nasal passageway, and also shorter turbinates region when comparing with other two models. Despite of this, a general trend was observed for the cross-sectional area and average velocity magnitudes profiles of the airways along the axial distance. Besides, pressure drop, also known as breathing resistance was found decreases as the age increases. Furthermore, in child, the flow filed was noticed more concentrated centrally as the airstream is developing. The vortices were also found more prevalent in the upper olfactory region and just posterior to the nasal valve. Based on these evaluations, age is proven to provide impact on healthy human nasal airflow.
An Improved Space Vector Modulation for a Three-to-Seven-Phase Matrix Converter With Reduced Number of Switching Vectors

This paper proposes a space vector modulation (SVM) scheme for a three-to-seven-phase matrix converter (MC), feeding a variable-voltage variable-frequency multiphase drive. The main feature of the proposed technique is that it utilizes only 129 out of 2187 possible active space vectors for a successful ac-ac power conversion. Since the number of vectors is significantly reduced, the switching patterns are simplified, and the execution time of the algorithm is shortened. Despite the drastic reduction in the number of active vectors, it is found that there is no significant degradation in the performance of the MC. Furthermore, the SVM also produces balanced sinusoidal input currents with a unity power factor over a wide operational frequency range (1-110 Hz). In this paper, the theoretical analysis is supported by simulation and validated using a hardware prototype. The output voltage can reach up to 76.93% of the input voltage, which is the maximum physical limit of a three-to-seven-phase MC. In addition, it exhibits a better harmonic profile than the carrier-based modulation scheme; the total harmonic distortion for the output voltage waveform is measured to be below 5% over the entire operating frequency range.
Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy : Basic Principles , Advantages and Risks

The application of two-photon excitation to fluorescence microscopy has become a powerful tool for studying biological function in live tissue and offers many advantages over conventional imaging techniques. Neuroscientists in particular have used this technology to image physiological functioning in microscopic and subcellular neural compartments. Neurons can be imaged deep within highly light scattering tissue with unparalleled spatial resolution and dramatically reduced photodynamic tissue damage and fluorophore photobleaching. In this chapter we describe the basics of two-photon excited fluorescence imaging. We review the biophysical principles of fluorophore excitation by the absorption of two-photons and the operation fundamentals of the mode-locked pulsed Ti:Sapphire laser that is essential for optimal two-photon excitation. The advantages of using focal volume excitation by twophotons are outlined and compared with conventional single-photon excitation for fluorescence imaging in thick, highly scattering brain tissue. Finally, a discussion of the potential caveats of using two-photon excitation to image physiological functioning is presented.
Trigeminal schwannomas: removal of dumbbell-shaped tumors through the expanded Meckel cave and outcomes of cranial nerve function.

OBJECT As in patients with vestibular schwannomas, advances in surgical procedures have markedly improved outcomes in patients with trigeminal schwannomas. In this article the authors address the function of cranial nerves in a series of patients with trigeminal schwannomas that were treated with gross-total surgical removal. The authors emphasize a technique they use to remove a dumbbell-shaped tumor through the expanded Meckel cave, and discuss the advantage of the extradural zygomatic middle fossa approach for total removal of tumor and preservation or improvement of cranial nerve function. METHODS Within an 11-year period (1989-2000), 25 patients (14 female and 11 male patients with a mean age of 44.4 years) with benign trigeminal schwannomas were surgically treated by the senior author (O.A.) with the aim of total removal of the tumor. Three patients had undergone previous surgery elsewhere. Trigeminal nerve dysfunction was present in all but two patients. Abducent nerve paresis was present in 40%. The approach in each patient was selected according to the location and size of the lesion. Nineteen tumors were dumbbell shaped and extended into both middle and posterior fossae. All 25 tumors involved the cavernous sinus. The zygomatic middle fossa approach was particularly useful and was used in 14 patients. The mean follow-up period was 33.12 months. In patients who had not undergone previous surgery, the preoperative trigeminal sensory deficit improved in 44%, facial pain decreased in 73%, and trigeminal motor deficit improved in 80%. Among patients with preoperative abducent nerve paresis, recovery was attained in 63%. Three patients (12%) experienced a persistent new or worse cranial nerve function postoperatively. Fifth nerve sensory deficit persisted in one of these patients, sensory and motor dysfunction in another, and motor trigeminal weakness in the third patient. In all patients a good surgical outcome was achieved. One patient died 2 years after treatment from an unrelated cause. In three patients the tumors recurred after an average of 22.3 months. CONCLUSIONS Preservation or improvement of cranial nerve function can be achieved through total removal of a trigeminal schwannoma, and skull base approaches are better suited to achieving this goal. The zygomatic middle fossa approach is particularly helpful and safe. It allows extradural tumor removal from the cavernous sinus, the infratemporal fossa, and the posterior fossa through the expanded Meckel cave.
A 1-V, self adjusting, 5-MHz CMOS RC-oscillator

A 5-MHz, self adjusting CMOS RC-oscillator for portable biomedical applications is presented. The oscillator is capable of operating. with a 1-V power supply and it features low current consumption (20 /spl mu/A @ 1 V) and low sensitivity to supply voltage and temperature variations. The total accuracy of the oscillator is within 5 % with component tolerances of 1 % in external elements R and C. The design was fabricated in a 0.35 /spl mu/m n-well standard digital CMOS process with threshold voltages of 0.5 V and -0.65 V. The design and the operation of the RC-oscillator with measurement results of fabricated chips are presented.
Part D. Section 3: Fatty Acids and Cholesterol

Dietary fats, or lipids, are a macronutrient class that includes fatty acids, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Fats supply fuel energy (9 kcal/g) and the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alphalinolenic acids. Fats, therefore, are a key factor in the maintenance of caloric balance and body weight. Specific fatty acids also serve as precursors for numerous biological pathways that influence inflammation, coagulation, and gene expression among other functions. Fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K) and carotenoids are absorbed and transported with fats.
Loss of Projections, Functional Compensation, and Residual Deficits in the Mammalian Vestibulospinal System of Hoxb1-Deficient Mice1,2,3

Abstract The genetic mechanisms underlying the developmental and functional specification of brainstem projection neurons are poorly understood. Here, we use transgenic mouse tools to investigate the role of the gene Hoxb1 in the developmental patterning of vestibular projection neurons, with particular focus on the lateral vestibulospinal tract (LVST). The LVST is the principal pathway that conveys vestibular information to limb-related spinal motor circuits and arose early during vertebrate evolution. We show that the segmental hindbrain expression domain uniquely defined by the rhombomere 4 (r4) Hoxb1 enhancer is the origin of essentially all LVST neurons, but also gives rise to subpopulations of contralateral medial vestibulospinal tract (cMVST) neurons, vestibulo-ocular neurons, and reticulospinal (RS) neurons. In newborn mice homozygous for a Hoxb1-null mutation, the r4-derived LVST and cMVST subpopulations fail to form and the r4-derived RS neurons are depleted. Several general motor skills appear unimpaired, but hindlimb vestibulospinal reflexes, which are mediated by the LVST, are greatly reduced. This functional deficit recovers, however, during the second postnatal week, indicating a substantial compensation for the missing LVST. Despite the compensatory plasticity in balance, adult Hoxb1-null mice exhibit other behavioral deficits that manifest particularly in proprioception and interlimb coordination during locomotor tasks. Our results provide a comprehensive account of the developmental role of Hoxb1 in patterning the vestibular system and evidence for a remarkable developmental plasticity in the descending control of reflex limb movements. They also suggest an involvement of the lateral vestibulospinal tract in proprioception and in ensuring limb alternation generated by locomotor circuitry.
Primary care professionals ’ perceptions of using a short family history questionnaire

Background. Improving access for relatives at-risk of genetic conditions by building referral systems from primary care to genetic services is well recognised. Objectives. This study aimed to explore primary care professionals’ (PCPs) views about using a short, seven-item family history questionnaire (S-FHQ) as an intervention for identifying at-risk relatives of patients with a genetic condition in routine primary care for referral to genetic services. Method. This qualitative study was conducted in the UK in 2013–14. Focus groups were held with 21 PCPs. The normalisation process theory (NPT) was used during analysis as the theoretical lens for exploring potential implementation and sustainability of the intervention. Results. In principle, participants were supportive of the S-FHQ. They initially expressed enthusiasm for the S-FHQ and identified benefits of its use. However, in discussions about its use in practice, they raised concerns about their expertise to deliver the intervention, implications for their workload, potential duplication with existing roles and services in secondary care, the ethical implications of its use in routine care and its acceptability to patients. Conclusion. This study shows why even a short family history questionnaire, as an intervention for identifying at-risk relatives, is unlikely to be implemented by primary care professionals.
FARMER PERCEPTIONS OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY BENEFITS

Abstract The objective of this research was to evaluate producers’ perspectives of four key precision agriculture technologies (variable rate fertilizer application, precision soil sampling, guidance and autosteer, and yield monitoring) in terms of the benefits they provide to their farms (increased yield, reduced production costs, and increased convenience) using a best-worst scaling choice experiment. Results indicate that farmers’ perceptions of the benefits derived from various precision agriculture technologies are heterogeneous. To better understand farmers’ adoption decisions, or lack thereof, it is important to first understand their perceptions of the benefits precision agriculture technologies provide.
The Use of Pointwise Interpolation in Domain Decomposition Methods with Nonnested Meshes

In this paper, the author develops a new technique and a corresponding theory for Schwarz-type overlapping domain decomposition methods for solving large sparse linear systems which arise from finite element discretization of elliptic partial differential equations. The theory provides an optimal convergence of an additive Schwarz algorithm that is constructed with a nonnested coarse space and a not necessarily shape regular subdomain partitioning. The theory is also applicable to the graph partitioning algorithms recently developed by Cai and Saad [Overlapping domain decomposition algorithms for general sparse matrices, Preprint 93-027, Univ. of Minnesota] and Farhat and Lesoine [Internat. J. Numer. Methods Engrg. , 36 (1993), pp. 745–764] for problems defined on unstructured meshes.
AUA Working Paper Series No . 2010-2 February 2010 The role of training in experimental auctions

In this paper we examine the role of providing extensive training to subjects in the context of experimental auctions. We conducted an experiment where we auctioned several lotteries with varying payoffs. One group of subjects was extensively trained while another group of subjects was only minimally trained. We find that subjects in the extensive training treatment, were submitting bids significantly higher than subjects in the minimal training treatment, suggesting that subjects without proper training may underreport their WTP.