Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Bonding Strength of Hydrophobically Modified Gelatin Films on Wet Blood Vessels

The bonding behavior between hydrophobically modified alkaline-treated gelatin (hm-AlGltn) films and porcine blood vessels was evaluated under wet conditions. Hexanoyl (Hx: C6), decanoyl (Dec: C10), and stearyl (Ste: C18) chlorides were introduced into the amino groups of AlGltn to obtain HxAlGltn, DecAlGltn, and SteAlGltn, respectively, with various modification percentages. The hm-AlGltn was fabricated into films and thermally crosslinked to obtain water-insoluble films (t-hm-AlGltn). The 42% modified t-HxAlGltn (t-42HxAlGltn) possessed higher wettability than the 38% modified t-DecAlGltn (t-38DecAlGltn) and the 44% modified t-SteAlGltn (t-44SteAlGltn) films, and the t-42HxAlGltn film showed a high bonding strength with the blood vessel compared with all the hm-AlGltn films. Histological observations indicated that t-42HxAlGltn and t-38DecAlGltn remained on the blood vessel even after the bonding strength measurements. From cell culture experiments, the t-42HxAlGltn films showed significant cell adhesion compared to other films. These findings indicate that the Hx group easily interpenetrated the surface of blood vessels and effectively enhanced the bonding strength between the films and the tissue.
Assessing chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients: Blood plasma factors and cortisol saliva

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to identify changes in inflammatory molecules in the blood (plasma) of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared with controls. Altered levels indicate a systemic component by possible involvement of the prostate and/or the inner pelvic floor musculature. Material and methods. In 32 patients with CP/CPPS and 37 controls, blood plasma levels of testosterone, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF-β, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-1β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cortisol in saliva samples was measured in the morning and late evening. All participants answered a questionnaire regarding their health profile. Results. Significantly higher levels of MIF (p = 0.012) were detected in patients. The testosterone level was, contrary to other studies, little lower in patients (p = 0.014; age adjusted). When controls with health issues and patients with a parallel disease were excluded, the MIF and TNF-α levels were higher in the patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.016, respectively) than in controls, and the testosterone was slightly lower in patients (p = 0.047). Conclusions. The findings show an immune response extending to the circulatory system, in which MIF makes a significant contribution to CP/CPPS. This study also indicates TNF-α as a circulatory component when excluding subjects with concomitant diseases. Both MIF and TNF-α have previously been highlighted for other diseases related to chronic pain and here also for CP/CPPS. These results provide further insights into the immunological basis of CP/CPPS.
Metabolic Flux Analysis of Lipid Biosynthesis in the Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica Using 13C-Labled Glucose and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has considerable potential for producing single cell oil, which can be converted to biodiesel, a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, extensive fundamental and engineering efforts must be carried out before commercialized production become cost-effective. Therefore, in this study, metabolic flux analysis of Y. lipolytica was performed using 13C-labeled glucose as a sole carbon source in nitrogen sufficient and insufficient media. The nitrogen limited medium inhibited cell growth while promoting lipid accumulation (from 8.7% of their biomass to 14.3%). Metabolic flux analysis showed that flux through the pentose phosphate pathway was not significantly regulated by nitrogen concentration, suggesting that NADPH generation is not the limiting factor for lipid accumulation in Y. lipolytica. Furthermore, metabolic flux through malic enzyme was undetectable, confirming its non-regulatory role in lipid accumulation in this yeast. Nitrogen limitation significantly increased flux through ATP:citrate lyase (ACL), implying that ACL plays a key role in providing acetyl-CoA for lipid accumulation in Y. lipolytica.
Response of fecal cortisol to stress in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

This study examined whether fecal cortisol could be used as an index of stress responses. The stress responsiveness of fecal cortisol was tested with a stressor known to stimulate adrenal activity, the stress of anesthesia. Daily fecal and urine samples were collected from four captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) before and after anesthetizations with Telazol®/Ketasat®. Tests of assay validity indicated that cortisol was measurable in chimpanzee fecal extracts. Fecal cortisol concentrations were significantly elevated 2 days after anesthetization, with elevations in seven of the eight treatments. The posttreatment peak was significantly greater than baseline values in three of the four subjects. Both fecal concentrations and proportionate increases in response to stress were significantly correlated with the corresponding values in urinary cortisol, confirming the stressfulness of these procedures and the stress responsiveness of fecal cortisol. These findings provide evidence for the application of fecal cortisol as a noninvasive index of physiologic stress in nonhuman primates. Am. J. Primatol. 44:57–69, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Light responses and light adaptation in rat retinal rods at different temperatures

Rod responses to brief pulses of light were recorded as electroretinogram (ERG) mass potentials across isolated, aspartate‐superfused rat retinas at different temperatures and intensities of steady background light. The objective was to clarify to what extent differences in sensitivity, response kinetics and light adaptation between mammalian and amphibian rods can be explained by temperature and outer‐segment size without assuming functional differences in the phototransduction molecules. Corresponding information for amphibian rods from the literature was supplemented by new recordings from toad retina. All light intensities were expressed as photoisomerizations per rod (Rh*). In the rat retina, an estimated 34% of incident photons at the wavelength of peak sensitivity caused isomerizations in rods, as the (hexagonally packed) outer segments measured 1.7 μm × 22 μm and had specific absorbance of 0.016 μm−1 on average. Fractional sensitivity (S) in darkness increased with cooling in a similar manner in rat and toad rods, but the rat function as a whole was displaced to a ca 0.7 log unit higher sensitivity level. This difference can be fully explained by the smaller dimensions of rat rod outer segments, since the same rate of phosphodiesterase (PDE) activation by activated rhodopsin will produce a faster drop in cGMP concentration, hence a larger response in rat than in toad. In the range 15–25°C, the waveform and absolute time scale of dark‐adapted dim‐flash photoresponses at any given temperature were similar in rat and toad, although the overall temperature dependence of the time to peak (tp) was somewhat steeper in rat (Q10≈ 4 versus 2–3). Light adaptation was similar in rat and amphibian rods when measured at the same temperature. The mean background intensity that depressed S by 1 log unit at 12°C was in the range 20–50 Rh* s−1 in both, compared with ca 4500 Rh* s−1 in rat rods at 36°C. We conclude that it is not necessary to assume major differences in the functional properties of the phototransduction molecules to account for the differences in response properties of mammalian and amphibian rods.
The optimized pre-processing algorithm for hardware design implementation

Stereo matching algorithm is used to get depth map image using the matching cost, the difference between left and right images, from stereo camera. To get accurate depth map image, image which will be used for stereo matching algorithm needs camera calibration procedure. High depth map image quality will be obtained, if accurate camera calibration is applied accurately. However, the conventional rectification circuit size will grow exponentially with high frame rate and high resolution images. To compensate for this part, we proposed the optimized pre-processing algorithm for hardware design implementation.
The effect of warfarin and intensity of anticoagulation on outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND Warfarin sodium is highly effective for prevention of embolic stroke, particularly in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, but its expected benefit can be offset by risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We studied the determinants of ICH outcome to quantify the independent effect of warfarin. METHODS Consecutive patients with supratentorial ICH treated in a tertiary care hospital with a neurointensive care unit were prospectively identified during a 7-year period, and data on hemorrhage location, clinical characteristics, and warfarin use were collected. Independent predictors of 3-month mortality were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Of 435 consecutive patients aged 55 years or older, 102 (23.4%) were taking warfarin at the time of ICH. Three-month mortality was 25.8% for those not taking warfarin and 52.0% for those taking warfarin. Independent predictors of death were warfarin use (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.8), age 70 years or older (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.0), and presence of diabetes mellitus (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.3). Although 68.0% of all warfarin-related hemorrhages occurred at an international normalized ratio (INR) of 3.0 or less, increasing degrees of anticoagulation were strongly associated with increasing risk of death compared with no warfarin use. CONCLUSIONS Patients taking warfarin had a doubling in the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage mortality in a dose-dependent manner. The data suggest that careful control of the INR, already known to limit the risk of warfarin-related ICH, may also limit its severity.
Rejuvenating experimental computer science: a report to the National Science Foundation and others

This report is based on the results of an NSF sponsored workshop held in Washington, D.C. on November 2, 1978. The co-authors of the report are: Gordon Bell, Digital Equipment Corporation; Bernard A. Galler, University of Michigan; Patricia Goldberg, IBM Corporation; John Hamblen, University of Missouri at Rolla; Elliot Pinson, Bell Telephone Laboratories; and Ivan Sutherland, California Institute of Technology. Also participating in the workshop were representatives of NSF and other government agencies. In addition to the authors, a number of other people have contributed to the contents of this report. In preparation for the original workshop, all doctorate-granting computer science departments in the nation were asked for comments and suggestions on the problems of experimental computer science. A version of the current report dated January 15 was circulated to these departments and to a number of industrial and government groups for criticism. The editors and authors of this final version gratefully acknowledge the contribution of a large number of other people at all stages in the preparation of the report. [Note: Following this presentation of the report, there is a position paper on the crisis in experimental computer science written by the ACM Executive Committee. ]
Analysis of Genes Involved in Arsenic Resistance in Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032

ABSTRACT Corynebacterium glutamicum is able to grow in media containing up to 12 mM arsenite and 500 mM arsenate and is one of the most arsenic-resistant microorganisms described to date. Two operons (ars1 and ars2) involved in arsenate and arsenite resistance have been identified in the complete genome sequence of Corynebacterium glutamicum. The operons ars1 and ars2 are located some distance from each other in the bacterial chromosome, but they are both composed of genes encoding a regulatory protein (arsR), an arsenite permease (arsB), and an arsenate reductase (arsC); operon ars1 contains an additional arsenate reductase gene (arsC1′) located immediately downstream from arsC1. Additional arsenite permease and arsenate reductase genes (arsB3 and arsC4) scattered on the chromosome were also identified. The involvement of ars operons in arsenic resistance in C. glutamicum was confirmed by gene disruption experiments of the three arsenite permease genes present in its genome. Wild-type and arsB3 insertional mutant C. glutamicum strains were able to grow with up to 12 mM arsenite, whereas arsB1 and arsB2 C. glutamicum insertional mutants were resistant to 4 mM and 9 mM arsenite, respectively. The double arsB1-arsB2 insertional mutant was resistant to only 0.4 mM arsenite and 10 mM arsenate. Gene amplification assays of operons ars1 and ars2 in C. glutamicum revealed that the recombinant strains containing the ars1 operon were resistant to up to 60 mM arsenite, this being one of the highest levels of bacterial resistance to arsenite so far described, whereas recombinant strains containing operon ars2 were resistant to only 20 mM arsenite. Northern blot and reverse transcription-PCR analysis confirmed the presence of transcripts for all the ars genes, the expression of arsB3 and arsC4 being constitutive, and the expression of arsR1, arsB1, arsC1, arsC1′, arsR2, arsB2, and arsC2 being inducible by arsenite.
Techniques for Mammalian Cell Tissue Culture

This unit opens with detailed discussions on the latest principles of sterile technique and preparation of culture media. Step‐by‐step protocols describe trypsinizing and subculturing monolayer cultures, passaging suspension cultures, freezing and thawing cells, counting cells using a hemacytometer, and preparing cells for transport.
Anthropometric measurements and body composition of English and Malaysian footballers

This comparative study was conducted to determine the anthropometric measurements and body composition of football teams in the UK and Malaysia. A total of 32 footballers from two teams were studied. The teams were the St Mary’s University team (UK) and the Selangor Reserved League team. The height and body weight of the subjects were measured using SECA digital balance with height attachment. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken using Harpenden skinfold callipers at four sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) and the VO2 max of the subjects was estimated by participation in a multi-stage 20m shuttle-run test. The UK team were significantly heavier (p<0.05), taller (p<0.05) and had a higher body fat content (p<0.05) than their Malaysian counterpart. There was no significant difference in VO2 max between the two teams, with the Malaysians recording a slightly higher VO2 max. With regard to playing position, the defenders were found to be the most physically robust and yet had the highest VO2 max, whilst the midfielders had the lightest body weights. More data on the body composition and nutritional status of Malaysian footballers would allow adjustments to be made to dietary intakes and training levels in order to obtain maximum performance throughout the football season.
Psychological Disturbance, Incomplete Effort, and Compensation-Seeking Status as Predictors of Neuropsychological Test Performance in Head Injury

Indices from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) representing cognitive and emotional disturbance as well as incomplete effort on the Recognition Memory Test (RMT; Warrington, 1984) were examined as predictors of performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRB; Reitan & Wolfson, 1993). In the current study, which included a large sample (N = 369) of patients referred for neuropsychological (NP) evaluation after presumptive head injury, MMPI-2 measures of psychological disturbance accounted for as much as 25% of the variance in HRB test scores, resulting in a moderate overall effect size (median Adj. R2 = .16; R = .40). When demographic variables, head injury severity, and compensation-seeking status were entered in previous steps, incomplete effort as defined by chance performance on the RMT accounted for between 2% and 13% of the variance in HRB test scores, with modest overall effect size (median R2 Δ = .07; R = .26) in multiple regression equations. Additionally, when MMPI-2 indices of psychological disturbance were included in the last step, they accounted for 2% to 11% of additional variance, retaining a modest overall effect (median R2 Δ = .03; R = .17). Compensation-seeking status and injury severity as measured by duration of post-traumatic amnesia were, at best, modestly related to NP test performance. Findings confirm the reliable relationship between test performance and psychological disturbance as well as incomplete effort when assessing dysfunction following head injury. In contrast to previous studies, incomplete effort was unrelated to compensation-seeking status.
Differences in the effectiveness of serum biomarkers for the diagnosis of bacterial infections in adult and elderly patients admitted to the emergency department.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study aimed to evaluate the superiority of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, white blood cell (WBC) counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in discriminating among infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and sepsis, and their differences according to age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patients were divided into an adult group and a geriatric group (over 65 years) and classified according to the presence of infection, SIRS, and sepsis. The patients' laboratory values (PCT, CRP, WBC, ESR), demographic characteristics, and vital signs were taken into consideration. RESULTS When the laboratory parameters were evaluated, there were no significant differences in the PCT, WBC, and ESR values between the age groups (P > 0.05). CRP was significantly higher in the adult patient group compared to the geriatric group (P < 0.001). When the two groups were compared in terms of infection, there were no significant differences in the PCT levels and the WBC count (P > 0.05) in SIRS and sepsis. In addition, the CRP levels and the ESR were significantly higher in the adult sepsis patients when compared with the geriatric patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION PCT levels do not distinguish among infection, SIRS, and sepsis in adult and geriatric age groups.
Combination Effects of (Tri)Azole Fungicides on Hormone Production and Xenobiotic Metabolism in a Human Placental Cell Line

Consumers are exposed to multiple residues of different pesticides via the diet. Therefore, EU legislation for pesticides requires the evaluation of single active substances as well as the consideration of combination effects. Hence the analysis of combined effects of substances in a broad dose range represents a key challenge to current experimental and regulatory toxicology. Here we report evidence for additive effects for (tri)azole fungicides, a widely used group of antifungal agents, in the human placental cell line Jeg-3. In addition to the triazoles cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, flusilazole and tebuconazole and the azole fungicide prochloraz also pesticides from other chemical classes assumed to act via different modes of action (i.e., the organophosphate chlorpyrifos and the triazinylsulfonylurea herbicide triflusulfuron-methyl) were investigated. Endpoints analysed include synthesis of steroid hormone production (progesterone and estradiol) and gene expression of steroidogenic and non-steroidogenic cytochrome-P-450 (CYP) enzymes. For the triazoles and prochloraz, a dose dependent inhibition of progesterone production was observed and additive effects could be confirmed for several combinations of these substances in vitro. The non-triazoles chlorpyrifos and triflusulfuron-methyl did not affect this endpoint and, in line with this finding, no additivity was observed when these substances were applied in mixtures with prochloraz. While prochloraz slightly increased aromatase expression and estradiol production and triflusulfuron-methyl decreased estradiol production, none of the other substances had effects on the expression levels of steroidogenic CYP-enzymes in Jeg-3 cells. For some triazoles, prochloraz and chlorpyrifos a significant induction of CYP1A1 mRNA expression and potential combination effects for this endpoint were observed. Inhibition of CYP1A1 mRNA induction by the AhR inhibitor CH223191 indicated AhR receptor dependence of this effect.
A Housing Survey

The above summary reports the total findings of the housing survey by community and condition for all residential structures sampled within the City. Because vacant parcels are indicated on individual community maps within the report, their numbers have been included in this summary but not in the percentages representing the condition of housing. In direct comparison to the 1995 Housing Survey, nearly 98% of housing stock is rated in the Condition 1 category as compared to just under 90% in 1995, showing an overall improvement in the housing stock. In 1995, nearly 10% was rated in Category 2 condition with the 2010/2011 percentage at 1%, another indication of residents’ pride and maintenance commitment in their homes. In Categories 3 and 4, those that reflect the Major Repairs Required and Poor Conditions, the percentages stayed the same in Category 3 at less than 1% in 1995 and 2010/2011 and decreasing from under 1% in 1995 to 0% in 2010/2011 in Category 4. structure falls in category of Maintenance
Diazepam promotes choice of abstinence in cocaine self‐administering rats

When facing a choice between cocaine and a potent, albeit inessential, non‐drug alternative (i.e. water sweetened with saccharin), most cocaine self‐administering rats abstain from cocaine in favor of the non‐drug pursuit, regardless of the dose available and even after extended drug use. Only a minority continues to take the drug despite the opportunity of making a different choice and increasing stakes. This pattern of individual variation could suggest that the majority of rats are resilient to addiction, taking cocaine by default of other options. Only a minority would be vulnerable to addiction. This study tested the hypothesis that rats choose to refrain from cocaine self‐administration because cocaine would be conflictual, having both rewarding and anxiogenic properties. Contrary to this hypothesis, however, we report here that diazepam—a broad‐spectrum benzodiazepine anxiolytic—did not decrease, but instead, further increased cocaine abstinence. Interestingly, although diazepam decreased locomotion, rats adapted to this effect by spending more time near the lever associated with the preferred reward, a behavior that minimized the need for locomotion at the moment of choice. When responding for cocaine or saccharin was analyzed separately, we found that diazepam decreased responding for cocaine without affecting responding for saccharin. Finally, the abstinence‐promoting effects of diazepam were also induced in cocaine‐preferring rats treated chronically with diazepam. Overall, this study demonstrates that abstinence from cocaine cannot be explained away by the anxiogenic effects of cocaine, thereby reinforcing the notion of resilience to addiction. It also supports the use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of cocaine addiction.