Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a guinea pig cutaneous radiation injury model using low penetrating X-rays

Abstract Purpose: A guinea pig skin model was developed to determine the dose-dependent response to soft X-ray radiation into the dermis. Materials and methods: X-ray exposure (50 kVp) was defined to a 4.0 × 4.0 cm area on the lateral surface of a guinea pig using lead shielding. Guinea pigs were exposed to a single fraction of X-ray irradiation ranging from 25–79 Gy via an XRAD320ix Biological Irradiator with the collimator removed. Gross skin changes were measured using clinical assessments defined by the Kumar scale. Skin contracture was assessed, as well as histological evaluations. Results: Loss of dermal integrity was shown after a single dose of soft X-ray radiation at or above 32 Gy with the central 2.0 × 2.0 cm of the exposed site being the most affected. Hallmarks of the skin injury included moist desquamation, ulceration and wound contracture, as well as alterations in epithelium, dermis, muscle and adipose. Changes in the skin were time- and radiation dose-dependent. Full-thickness injury occurred without animal mortality or gross changes in the underlying organs. Conclusions: The guinea pig is an appropriate small animal model for the short-term screening of countermeasures for cutaneous radiation injury (CRI).
Economic aspects of decentralized government: structure, functions and finance

Local government Gordon Hughes and Stephen Smith Many OECD countries are uncomfortable with the structure and financing of their decentralized governments. In some, the pressures for change have even led to tax revolts. Much of the existing economic literature on decentralization considers that the purpose of local governments is to decentralize decisions. Lower tiers of government are assigned local public goods and matching taxes. This contrasts with actual arrangements. The patterns of government decentralization in OECD countries are diverse. Most local governments in Europe actually perform a major administrative role, in effect acting as agents for the central government. While this is justified by the advantages that local governments have over central governments in terms of information and control by voters, such arrangements require large financial resources, and more control by central government than where local governments simply provide local public goods. A drawback is the potential for conflict between different tiers of government. The trend towards more decentralization, common to most countries, has had to be met by more taxation or more grants. The need for revenue has encouraged a move away from property taxes to broader-based local taxes. Tax-sharing arrangements have often been under-rated, but in practice they compare favourably with complex and discretionary systems of transfers between levels of government.
Postmodern Family Tourism at Legoland

Qualitative data were gathered from 35 families visiting the Legoland tourist attraction in Billund, Denmark. Analysis employed a framework based upon established “push” and “pull” factors for tourism and leisure, but also took into account sociological changes in family structure and process. It was found that parents did not respond to Legoland as tourists might be expected to do, and that children mainly experienced the attraction as an isolated leisure opportunity. All of the families interviewed were essentially “modern” and “nuclear” in outlook, although there was some evidence of postmodern attitudes and stresses. Relatively few single parent families, and no phenomena comparable with “Disneyland dads” were encountered, implying that Legoland preferentially attracts families of a certain type and outlook. The findings are discussed in terms of the light they throw on families' experience of tourism and for their implications for developing and marketing attractions of this kind.
Single-cell quantitative RT-PCR analysis of Cpt1b and Cpt2 gene expression in mouse antral oocytes and in preimplantation embryos

Fatty acids represent an important energy source for preimplantation embryos. Fatty acids oxidation is correlated with the embryo oxygen consumption which remains relatively constant up to the 8-cell stage, but suddenly increases between the 8-cell and morula stages. The degradation of fatty acids occurs in mitochondria and is catalyzed by several carnitine acyl transferases, including two carnitine palmitoyl transferases, CPT-I and CPT-II. We have carried out a study to determine the relative number of transcripts of Cpt1b and Cpt2 genes encoding for m-CPT-I and CPT-II enzymes, during mouse preimplantation development. Here we show that Cpt1b transcripts are first and temporally detected at the 2-cell stage and reappear at the morula and blastocyst stage. Cpt2 transcripts decrease following fertilization to undetectable levels and are present again later at the morula stage. These results show that transcription of both Cpt1b and Cpt2 is triggered at the morula stage, concomitantly with known increasing profiles of oxygen uptake and fatty acids oxidation. Based on the number of Cpt2 transcripts detected, we could discriminate the presence of two groups of embryos with high and low number of transcripts, from the zygote throughout preimplantation development. To further investigate if the establishment of these two groups of embryos occurs prior to fertilization, we have analyzed the relative number of transcripts of both genes in antral and ovulated MII oocytes. As for preimplantation embryos, MII oocytes show two groups of Cpt2 expression. Antral oocytes, classified according to their chromatin configuration in SN (surrounded nucleolus, in which the nucleolus is surrounded by a rim of Hoechst-positive chromatin) and NSN (not surrounded nucleolus, in which this rim is absent), show three groups with different numbers of Cpt2 transcripts. All NSN oocytes have a number of Cpt2 transcripts doubled compared to that of the group of MII oocytes with high expression. Instead, SN oocytes could be singled out into two groups with high and low numbers of Cpt2 transcripts, similar to those found in MII oocytes. The results of this study point out a correlation between the timing of fatty acids oxidation during preimplantation development and the expression of two genes encoding two enzymes involved in the oxidative pathway. Furthermore, although the biological meaning for the presence of two groups of oocytes/embryos with different levels of Cpt2 transcripts remains unclear, the data obtained suggest a possible correlation between the levels of Cpt2 expression and embryo developmental competence.
Genetic analysis of type-specific antigenic determinants of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein C

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein C (gC-1) elicits a largely serotype-specific immune response directed against previously described determinants designated antigenic sites I and II. To more precisely define these two immunodominant antigenic regions of gC-1 and to determine whether the homologous HSV-2 glycoprotein (gC-2) has similarly situated antigenic determinants, viral recombinants containing gC chimeric genes which join site I and site II of the two serotypes were constructed. The antigenic structure of the hybrid proteins encoded by these chimeric genes was studied by using gC-1- and gC-2-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in radioimmunoprecipitation, neutralization, and flow cytometry assays. The results of these analyses showed that the reactivity patterns of the MAbs were consistent among the three assays, and on this basis, they could be categorized as recognizing type-specific epitopes within the C-terminal or N-terminal half of gC-1 or gC-2. All MAbs were able to bind to only one or the other of the two hybrid proteins, demonstrating that gC-2, like gC-1, contains at least two antigenic sites located in the two halves of the molecule and that the structures of the antigenic sites in both molecules are independent and rely on limited type-specific regions of the molecule to maintain epitope structure. To fine map amino acid residues which are recognized by site I type-specific MAbs, point mutations were introduced into site I of the gC-1 or gC-2 gene, which resulted in recombinant mutant glycoproteins containing one or several residues from the heterotypic serotype in an otherwise homotypic site I background. The recognition patterns of the MAbs for these mutant molecules demonstrated that (i) single amino acids are responsible for the type-specific nature of individual epitopes and (ii) epitopes are localized to regions of the molecule which contain both shared and unshared amino acids. Taken together, the data described herein established the existence of at least two distinct and structurally independent antigenic sites in gC-1 and gC-2 and identified subtle amino acid sequence differences which contribute to type specificity in antigenic site I of gC.
A dynamic analysis of muscle fusion in the chick embryo

Skeletal muscle development, growth and regeneration depend upon the ability of muscle cells to fuse into multinucleated fibers. Surprisingly little is known about the cellular events that underlie fusion during amniote development. Here, we have developed novel molecular tools to characterize muscle cell fusion during chick embryo development. We show that all cell populations arising from somites fuse, but each with unique characteristics. Fusion in the trunk is slow and independent of fiber length. By contrast, the addition of nuclei in limb muscles is three times more rapid than in trunk and is tightly associated with fiber growth. A complex interaction takes place in the trunk, where primary myotome cells from the medial somite border rarely fuse to one another, but readily do so with anterior and posterior border cells. Conversely, resident muscle progenitors actively fuse with one another, but poorly with the primary myotome. In summary, this study unveils an unexpected variety of fusion behaviors in distinct embryonic domains that is likely to reflect a tight molecular control of muscle fusion in vertebrates.
The Comparative Toxicity of Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine at Equipotent Doses in Rats

We compared the toxicity of systemic local anesthetics bupivacaine and ropivacaine administered at equivalent and equipotent doses. In the first experiments, 18 male Wistar rats were anesthetized with thiopental and maintained under positive controlled ventilation. Electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, and invasive arterial blood pressure were continuously recorded. The animals were randomly assigned to receive 3 mg · kg−1 · min−1 bupivacaine, 3 mg · kg−1 · min−1 ropivacaine IV (equivalent group), or 4.5 mg · kg−1 · min−1 ropivacaine (equipotent group). The timing of the occurrence of local anesthetic-induced toxic events (defined as the first QRS modification, dysrhythmia, seizures, moderate and severe bradycardia and hypotension, final systole) was recorded and the dose calculated. Eighteen additional rats, treated according to the same protocol were killed at the time of moderate, severe, and final hypotension for blood sampling and plasma bupivacaine and ropivacaine concentration measurement. In a third experiment, 15 awake rats (5 per group) received IV bupivacaine or ropivacaine (same infusion as in the first experiments) until seizure. At this moment, rats were allowed to recover from local anesthetic intoxication. In the first experiment, except for the first QRS modification, all the other toxic manifestations occurred at significantly larger doses (P < 0.05) in the two ropivacaine groups in comparison to the bupivacaine group. In awake rats, all the animals intoxicated by ropivacaine easily recovered. In the bupivacaine group, two animals required cardiopulmonary resuscitation before any seizure activity could be detected, and only three rats survived. We conclude that, in the model used, ropivacaine, even at an equipotent dose, is less toxic than bupivacaine. Implications Our results clearly demonstrate that ropivacaine, even used at an equipotent dose, has a wider therapeutic index than bupivacaine.
Risk and Governance in Water Recycling

Public acceptance is often seen as a key reason why water-recycling technology is (accepted or) rejected. A common assumption is that projects fail because the general public is unable to comprehend specialist information about risk and the belief that if the public were better informed, they would accept change more readily. This article suggests that rhetoric about acceptance is counterproductive in progressing sustainability as it does not address issues relating to institutional arrangements and reinforces a dichotomy between expert and lay groups. Instead, it is argued that institutional change is needed to build opportunities for constructive public engagement. The failure to implement sustainable water use through recycling can be understood as the result of several factors including present cost structures for water, institutional conservatism, administrative fragmentation, and inadequate involvement of communities in planning. Achieving sustainable water use through recycling may require better coordination between agencies and integrated government policies.
Breakdown of magnetism in sub-nanometric Ni clusters embedded in Ag

Downsizing to the nanoscale has opened up a spectrum of new magnetic phenomena yet to be discovered. In this context, we investigate the magnetic properties of Ni clusters embedded in a metallic Ag matrix. Unlike in Ni free-standing clusters, where the magnetic moment increases towards the atomic value when decreasing the cluster size, we show, by tuning the Ni cluster size down to the sub-nanoscale, that there is a size limit below which the clusters become non-magnetic when embedded in Ag. To this end, we have fabricated by DC-sputtering a system composed of sub-nanometer sized and non interacting Ni clusters embedded into a Ag matrix. A thorough experimental characterization by means of structural techniques (x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption spectroscopy) and DC-magnetization confirms that the cluster size is in the sub-nanometric range and shows that the magnetization of the system is dramatically reduced, reaching only 38% of the bulk value. The experimental system has been reproduced by density functional theory calculations on Nim clusters (m = 1–6, 10 and 13) embedded in Ag. The combination of the experimental and theoretical analysis points out that there is a breakdown of magnetism occurring below a cluster size of six atoms. According to our results, the loss of magnetic moment is not due to Ag–Ni hybridization but to charge transfer between the Ni sp and d orbitals, and the reduced magnetization observed experimentally is explained on the basis of the presence of a narrow cluster size-distribution where magnetic and non-magnetic clusters coexist.
Resistor-Less Design of Power-Rail ESD Clamp Circuit in Nanoscale CMOS Technology

A resistor-less power-rail electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamp circuit realized with only thin-gate-oxide devices and with a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) as the main ESD clamp device has been proposed and verified in a 65-nm CMOS process. By skillfully utilizing the gate leakage current to realize the equivalent resistor in the ESD-transient detection circuit, the RC-based ESD detection mechanism can be achieved without using an actual resistor to significantly reduce the layout area in I/O cells. From the measured results, the new proposed power-rail ESD clamp circuit with an SCR width of 45 μm can achieve 5-kV human-body-model and 400-V machine-model ESD levels under the ESD stress event while consuming only a standby leakage current of 1.43 nA at room temperature under the normal circuit operating condition with 1-V bias.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL SYSTEM FOR GROWTH

Well-functioning financial systems promote economic growth by channeling funds from those who save to those who invest in the productive capacity of economies. What are the main features of a well functioning system? Are well developed capital markets essential to the process? Or are commercial banks and other "private" sources of capital capable of bringing about the same levels of growth and prosperity? 2001 Morgan Stanley.
Degradation behavior analysis of electro-hydraulic servo valve under erosion wear

This paper presents a simulation analysis method of degradation behavior for electro-hydraulic servo valve (EHSV). Unlike traditional statistical methods, our work is motivated by the failure mechanism of erosion wear. We assume that degradation trend of flow characteristic is related to structure wear in the valve components. Hence, in this paper, twin flapper-nozzle servo valve is considered as an example to analyze the degradation behavior in a simulation way. First, erosion wear rates at the precise structure are obtained in hydraulic oil of contaminant class 12 by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. Then, degradation trends of null leakage are simulated under different erosive wear conditions. Finally, the relationship between wear in the valve structure and degradation in null leakage is obtained by the testing data. The simulation results show that erosion wear happens at three sites i.e. the flapper surface, the nozzle outlet and sharp edges of the spool. Moreover, erosion wear of sharp edges greatly influences the flow rate of null leakage. The feasibility of our approach in analyzing degradation trend of hydraulic components is validated by the simulation experiments.
The Private Finance Initiative in the National Health Service: An Unhealthy Development in New Public Management?

New Public Management has expanded the role of the private sector in the provision of public services through ‘contracting out’ the supply of many public service inputs to the private sector. This paper examines the case of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which is of increasing importance in extending these inputs to include those of major capital assets, such as hospital buildings. Concerns arise as to whether this process does genuinely increase efficiency and accountability, and over the role of accounting in meeting the new demands being placed upon it, in the context of one of the most sensitive public services, that of health care.
Differential antigenic hierarchy associated with spontaneous recovery from hepatitis C virus infection: implications for vaccine design.

BACKGROUND Cellular immune responses play a central role in the control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and in some individuals the adaptive immune response can spontaneously eradicate HCV infection. The development of vaccine candidates to prevent the spread of this infection remains a top priority; however, understanding the correlates of effective immunological containment is an important prerequisite. METHODS Using 750 overlapping peptides, we directly characterized ex vivo total and subgenomic HCV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses in a large cohort of participants with either chronic infection or spontaneously resolved infection. RESULTS In chronic infection, the frequency of total CD4(+) T cells specific for HCV averaged 0.06%, compared with 0.38% in resolved infection. Total HCV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses were strongly correlated in the setting of spontaneous resolution but not in the setting of viral persistence. NS3 protein-specific responses comprised a significantly greater proportion of the total response in resolved infection than in chronic infection, whereas responses to different regions comprised a larger proportion of responses in chronic infection. CONCLUSION Because these data comprehensively define the breadth, specificity, and threshold of the T cell response associated with spontaneous recovery from HCV infection, they have important implications in the development of multigenic vaccine candidates for this common infection.
Control of the amiloride‐sensitive Na+ current in mouse salivary ducts by intracellular anions is mediated by a G protein.

1. We have previously reported that the Na+ conductance in mouse intralobular salivary duct cells is controlled by cytosolic anions, being inhibited by high cytosolic concentrations of Cl‐ and NO3‐ but not of glutamate. In the present paper, we use whole‐cell patch‐clamp methods to investigate whether this anion effect is mediated by a G protein. 2. Inclusion of 100 mumol l‐1 GTP‐gamma‐S, a non‐hydrolysable GTP analogue, in the glutamate‐containing pipette solution, i.e. when the Na+ conductance is active, reduced the size of the Na+ conductance whereas inclusion of 100 mumol l‐1 GDP‐beta‐S, a non‐hydrolysable GDP analogue, had no effect. 3. Inclusion of 100 mumol l‐1 GDP‐beta‐S in the NO3(‐)‐containing pipette solution, i.e. when the Na+ conductance is inhibited, reactivated the conductance. Inclusion of 500 ng ml‐1 activated pertussis toxin in the NO3(‐)‐containing pipette solution had a similar effect on the Na+ conductance. 4. We conclude that the inhibitory effect of intracellular anions such as NO3‐ and Cl‐ on the amiloride‐sensitive Na+ conductance in mouse mandibular intralobular duct cells is mediated by a G protein sensitive to pertussis toxin.
UV-written long-period gratings on polymer waveguides

We report an ultraviolet (UV)-writing technique for the fabrication of a long-period waveguide grating on a benzocyclobutene ridge waveguide coated with epoxy (UV 11-3), where the grating is formed by exposing the waveguide to 248-nm UV pulses emitted from a KrF excimer laser through an amplitude mask. The UV pulses produce both index modulation and corrugation on the epoxy cladding, and their combined effect gives rise to the observed transmission spectrum. We also highlight the effects of UV-induced nonuniformity along the grating by simulation and measure the temperature sensitivity of the resonance wavelength of the grating.
Factors associated with death or hospitalization due to pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection in California.

CONTEXT Pandemic influenza A(H1N1) emerged rapidly in California in April 2009. Preliminary comparisons with seasonal influenza suggest that pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) disproportionately affects younger ages and causes generally mild disease. OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical and epidemiologic features of pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) cases that led to hospitalization or death. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Statewide enhanced public health surveillance of California residents who were hospitalized or died with laboratory evidence of pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported to the California Department of Public Health between April 23 and August 11, 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Characteristics of hospitalized and fatal cases. RESULTS During the study period there were 1088 cases of hospitalization or death due to pandemic 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infection reported in California. The median age was 27 years (range, <1-92 years) and 68% (741/1088) had risk factors for seasonal influenza complications. Sixty-six percent (547/833) of those with chest radiographs performed had infiltrates and 31% (340/1088) required intensive care. Rapid antigen tests were falsely negative in 34% (208/618) of cases evaluated. Secondary bacterial infection was identified in 4% (46/1088). Twenty-one percent (183/884) received no antiviral treatment. Overall fatality was 11% (118/1088) and was highest (18%-20%) in persons aged 50 years or older. The most common causes of death were viral pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS In the first 16 weeks of the current pandemic, the median age of hospitalized infected cases was younger than is common with seasonal influenza. Infants had the highest hospitalization rates and persons aged 50 years or older had the highest mortality rates once hospitalized. Most cases had established risk factors for complications of seasonal influenza.