Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time and calcium dependence of activation and inactivation of calcium- induced release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of a skinned canine cardiac Purkinje cell

Microprocessor-controlled changes of [free Ca2+] at the outer surface of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) wrapped around individual myofibrils of a skinned canine cardiac Purkinje cell and aequorin bioluminescence recording were used to study the mechanism of Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ from the SR. This Ca2+ release is triggered by a rapid increase of [free Ca2+] at the outer surface of the SR of a previously quiescent skinned cell. Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ occurred under conditions that prevented any synthesis of ATP from ADP, was affected differentially by interventions that depressed the SR Ca2+ pump about equally, and required ionic conditions incompatible with all known Ca2+- releasing, uncoupled, partial reactions of the Ca2+ pump. Increasing the [free Ca2+]trigger up to an optimum increased the amount of Ca2+ released. A supraoptimum increase of [free Ca2+] trigger inactivated Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+, but partial inactivation was also observed at [free Ca2+] below that necessary for its activation. The amplitude of the Ca2+ release induced by a given increase of [free Ca2+] decreased when the rate of this increase was diminished. These results suggest that Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ is through a channel across the SR membrane with time- and Ca2+-dependent activation and inactivation. The inactivating binding site would have a higher affinity for Ca2+ but a lower rate constant than the activating site. Inactivation appeared to be a first-order kinetic reaction of Ca2+ binding to a single site at the outer face of the SR with a Q10 of 1.68. The removal of inactivation was the slowest step of the cycle, responsible for a highly temperature-dependent (Q10 approximately 4.00) refractory period.
Multilocus Sequence Typing for Analyses of Clonality of Candida albicans Strains in Taiwan

ABSTRACT Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize the genetic profiles of 51 Candida albicans isolates collected from 12 hospitals in Taiwan. Among the 51 isolates, 16 were epidemiologically unrelated, 28 were isolates from 11 critically ill, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients, and 7 were long-term serial isolates from 3 HIV-positive patients. Internal regions of seven housekeeping genes were sequenced. A total of 83 polymorphic nucleotide sites were identified. Ten to 20 different genotypes were observed at the different loci, resulting, when combined, in 45 unique genotype combinations or diploid sequence types (DSTs). Thirty (36.1%) of the 83 individual changes were synonymous and 53 (63.9%) were nonsynonymous. Due to the diploid nature of C. albicans, MLST was more discriminatory than the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-BssHII-restricted fragment method in discriminating epidemiologically related strains. MLST is able to trace the microevolution over time of C. albicans isolates in the same patient. All but one of the DSTs of our Taiwanese strain collections were novel to the internet C. albicans DST database (http://test1.mlst.net/ ). The DSTs of C. albicans in Taiwan were analyzed together with those of the reference strains and of the strains from the United Kingdom and United States by unweighted-pair group method using average linkages and minimum spanning tree. Our result showed that the DNA type of each isolate was patient specific and associated with ABC type and decade of isolation but not associated with mating type, anatomical source of isolation, hospital origin, or fluconazole resistance patterns.
Gas sensitive thin inorganic and organic layers prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Thin active layers of chemical sensors were deposited from tin dioxide and tin acetylacetonate (SnAcAc) targets by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. The deposition was made by employing excimer KrF laser (wavelength 248nm, energy density 0.3- 2.5 J.cm -2 , pulse duration 16 ns). The Pt-electrodes in the interdigital configuration serve for reading of the sensor response - DC resistance of active layer. Under reducing gases the resistance of the active layer decreases (1000 ppm H2 ~ 2-3 orders). For the stabilisation of sensor properties it is necessary to use dopants (compounds of Ni). In this case the PLD technology enables an original solution- introduction of dopants as a multilayered structure. In order to improve the sensor parameters, catalytic Pt or Pd is vaporised to the surface of active layer in the form of non-aggregated particles.
SnoMedTagger : A Semantic Tagger for Medical Narratives

The identification and classification of semantic information in medical narratives is critical for various research applications such as question-answering systems, statistical analysis, etc. Our contribution is a novel semantic tagger named SnoMedTagger to tag complex semantic information (paraphrases of concepts, abbreviations of concepts, complex multiword concepts) with 16 SNOMED CT semantic categories in medical narratives. SnoMedTagger is developed to support domain users as well as non-domain users working on research questions using medical narratives. Our method includes corpus-based rule-patterns from real world dataset and rule-patterns developed by refinement of SNOMED CT (Systemised NOmenclature of MEDicine-Clinical Terms) clinical vocabulary. These rulepatterns were able to identify semantic information in a range of text and classify them with respective semantic categories derived from SNOMED CT. On unseen gold standard, our rulepattern-based semantic tagger outperformed SVM-based machine learning system and Ontology-based Bioportal web annotator. The study has shown that it is possible to identify and classify complete semantic information with SNOMED CT semantic categories in medical narratives with high accuracy than achieved by existing approaches. 82 SAMAN HINA, ERIC ATWELL, OWEN JOHNSON
Epidemiology of HIV and Schistosoma mansoni infections among sugar-estate residents in Ethiopia.

Few studies have examined the interaction between schistosomiasis and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The overlap between the two infections, and the effect of HIV infection on the egg output and worm load of individuals co-infected with Schistosoma mansoni, were therefore investigated in a sugar estate in central Ethiopia. The 1239 subjects were selected by stratified sampling of residents aged 15-54 years. The intensities of infection with S. mansoni were measured as egg output in stools (all subjects) and as the concentration of circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine (a proxy for worm load, measured in 287 subjects). Schistosome infection was detected in 358 subjects [adjusted prevalence (AP) = 31.4%] and HIV infection in 52 (AP = 3.1%). The two infections clustered into different populations of the estate: the schistosome infections were predominantly found in the camps, and primarily affected young people (aged < 20 years) and those working in the field, whereas the HIV epidemic was found in the main village, primarily affecting those aged > 20 years and those who had recently arrived on the estate. Schistosome infection was detected in 348 of the 1187 HIV-negatives (AP = 31.6%) and 10 of the 52 HIV-positives (AP = 25.1%; P > 0.05). Schistosoma mansoni egg output was significantly lower in the HIV-positives than in the HIV-negatives (Mann-Whitney test; P = 0.03; ratio of geometric means = 0.74), and remained so after controlling for potential confounders (gender, age, and residence). However, CCA concentrations (i.e. worm loads) were found to be similar for these two groups, after controlling for potential confounders (age, gender, residence, and duration of residence).
A New Multicast Wavelength Assignment Algorithm in Wavelength-Converted Optical Networks

In this paper, we propose a new multicast wavelength assignment algorithm called NGWA with complexity of O(N), where N is the number of nodes on a multicast tree. The whole procedure of NGWA algorithm is separated into two phases: the partial wavelength assignment phase and the complete wavelength assignment phase. It tries to minimize the total number of wavelength conversions of the multicast tree. Meanwhile, the number of different wavelengths used is minimized locally. Through illustrative example and simulation experiments, it is proved that the NGWA algorithm works well and achieves satisfactory performance in terms of the average number of wavelength conversions and the average blocking probability.
On the Applicability of the Thermal Dose Cumulative Equivalent Minutes Metric to the Denaturation of Bovine Serum Albumin in a Polyacrylamide Tissue Phantom

Thermal dose has been proposed for various hyperthermic cancer treatment modalities as a measure of heat‐induced tissue damage. However, the applicability of current thermal dose metrics to tissue is not well understood, particularly at the temperatures and rates of heating relevant to ablative cancer therapy using High‐Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU). In this work, we assess whether the most widely employed thermal dose metric, Cumulative Equivalent Minutes (CEM), can adequately quantify heat‐induced denaturation in a tissue‐mimicking material (phantom) consisting of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) proteins embedded in a polyacrylamide matrix. The phantom is exposed to various temperature profiles and imaged under controlled lighting conditions against a black background as it denatures and becomes progressively more opaque. Under the assumption that the mean backscattered luminous intensity provides a good measure of the extent of BSA denaturation, we establish a relationship between the amount of thermal damage caused to the phantom, exposure time, and temperature. We demonstrate that, for monotonically increasing and bounded temperature profiles, the maximal degree to which the phantom can denature is dependent on the peak temperature it reaches, irrespective of exposure duration. We also show that when the CEM is computed using the commonly employed piecewise‐constant approximation of the parameter R, the CEM values corresponding to the same degree of damage delivered using different temperature profiles do not agree well with each other in general.
Before the Mandate: Cultivating an Organizational Culture of Trust and Integrity

mentioning the lack of judicial requirements for exemptions and the reasoning behind it. The practicalities of implementing the author’s suggested assessments of conscientious exemption requests further advocate the necessity to heed the warnings of the judicial precedent. Truly following the principles of public health would intimate that while individuals have rights of autonomy and liberty, those rights cannot endanger the health and well-being of others when there is little risk of harm.
Ion acceleration by superintense laser-plasma interaction

Ion acceleration driven by superintense laser pulses is attracting an impressive and steadily increasing effort. Motivations can be found in the potential for a number of foreseen applications and in the perspective to investigate novel regimes as far as available laser intensities will be increasing. Experiments have demonstrated in a wide range of laser and target parameters the generation of multi-MeV proton and ion beams with unique properties such as ultrashort duration, high brilliance and low emittance. In this paper we give an overview of the state-of-the art of ion acceleration by laser pulses as well as an outlook on its future development and perspectives. We describe the main features observed in the experiments, the observed scaling with laser and plasma parameters and the main models used both to interpret experimental data and to suggest new research directions.
Computing Egomotion and Detecting Independent Motion from Image Motion Using Collinear Points

This paper presents and analyzes a new constraint (the Collinear Point Constraint) for use in computing egomotion and detecting independently moving objects from image motion. The constraint provides an elegant means of cancelling the rotation of the observer while simultaneously providing evidence for the location of the Translational Focus of Expansion. It also provides the minimal computation necessary for detecting independent motion.
A Distributed Fault/Intrusion-Tolerant Sensor Data Storage Scheme Based on Network Coding and Homomorphic Fingerprinting

Recently, distributed data storage has gained increasing popularity for reliable access to data through redundancy spread over unreliable nodes in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, without any protection to guarantee the data integrity and availability, the reliable data storage cannot be achieved since sensor nodes are prone to various failures, and attackers may compromise sensor nodes to pollute or destroy the stored data. Therefore, how to design a robust sensor data storage scheme to efficiently guarantee the data integrity and availability becomes a critical issue for distributed sensor storage networks. In this paper, we propose a distributed fault/intrusion-tolerant data storage scheme based on network coding and homomorphic fingerprinting in volatile WSNs environments. For high data availability, the proposed scheme uses network coding to encode the source data and distribute encoded fragments with original data pieces. With secure, compact, and efficient homomorphic fingerprinting, our scheme can fast locate incorrect fragments and then initialize data maintenance. Extensive theoretical analysis and simulative results demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Hypogammaglobulinemia and Thymic Hypoplasia in Horses: a Primary Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder

A severe combined immunodeficiency disorder was demonstrated in two Arabian foals which were full siblings. The defect in the B-lymphocyte system was shown by hypogammaglobulinemia, lymphopenia, and absence of germinal centers. The almost total absence of thymic tissue in one foal and the lack of thymic dependent lymphocytes in the spleens of both foals demonstrate a T-lymphocyte defect. In a retrospective study of total available Arabian foal cases, 4 of 15 had evidence of immunodeficiency.
Towards (cid:1)D Hand Tracking using a Deformable Model

In this paper we (cid:3)rst describe how we have constructed a (cid:4)D deformable Point Distribution Model of the human hand(cid:5) capturing training data semi(cid:6)automatically from volume images via a physically(cid:6)based model(cid:7) We then show how we have attempted to use this model in tracking an unmarked hand moving with (cid:8) degrees of free(cid:6) dom (cid:1)plus deformation(cid:2) in real time using a sin(cid:6) gle video camera(cid:7) In the course of this we show how to improve on a weighted least(cid:6)squares pose parameter approximation at little computational cost(cid:7) We note the successes and shortcomings of our system and discuss how it mightbe improved(cid:7) (cid:1) Motivations
The Analysis of Tourist Demand as a criteria in destination positioning . The Persistence of the Sun & Beach tourist model in the Balearic Islands

Butler’s lifecycle model (1980) not only describes the physical evolution of a tourist destination, but also the evolution of its market. In this article, we aim to use some of the characteristics of that market to establish whether a destination is in a stagnation phase or has entered a phase of decline. Although the criteria of competitivity and economic viability have been previously pointed out to be good indicators of the positioning of a destination, up until now the Butler’s description (1980) of a market in a stagnation-decline phase had not been applied systematically to contrast the position of a destination. In our proposal, we pay particular attention to the analysis of tourist price offers as key elements of competitivity. This methodology is applied to one of the main world sun and beach tourist markets, the Balearic Islands. As a paradigm of mass tourism with a high environmental cost, they have been condemned by certain authors to enter into a definitive phase of decline. The analysis of the situation of the Balearic tourist market over the last decade will enable us to judge its current situation in the cycle, highlighting the importance of sustainable local development policies in the revaluation of a destination.
Back Stress Work Hardening Confirmed by Bauschinger Effect in a TRIP Steel Using Bending Tests

Martensite formed in TRIP steels causes large work hardening. The expectation that this is due to the back stresses induced into the ferrite by the hard martensite was examined by the Bauschinger effect after room temperature tensile straining of a TRIP steel into which the martensite had been introduced by prior straining at –50°C. Bending tests were employed to detect the Bauschinger effect. The tests showed that the compressive flow stress became much smaller than the tensile flow stress and confirmed the expectation.
What If You Could Actually Trust Your Kernel?

The advent of formally verified OS kernels means that for the first time we have a truly trustworthy foundation for systems. In this paper we explore the design space this opens up. The obvious applications are in security, although not all of them are quite as obvious, for example as they relate to TPMs. We further find that the kernel's dependability guarantees can be used to improve performance, for example in database systems. We think that this just scratches the surface, and that trustworthy kernels will stimulate further research.
Evaluating Bug-Fixing in Software Product Lines: an Industrial Case Study

[Background] Bug-fixing could be complex in industrial practice since thousands of products share features in their configuration. Despite the importance and complexity of bug-fixing, there is still a lack of empirical data about the difficulties found in industrial Software Product Lines (SPLs). [Aims] This paper aims to evaluate engineers' performance fixing errors and propagating the fixes to other configured products in the context of an industrial SPL. [Method] We designed and conducted an empirical study to collect data with regard to bug-fixing tasks within the context of a Induction Hob SPL in the BSH group, the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe. [Results] We found that effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction got reached good values. Through interviews we also found difficulties related to unused features, cloning features unintentionally, detecting modified features, and propagating the fix when the source of the bug is the interaction between features. [Conclusions] The identified difficulties are relevant to know how to better apply SPLs in industry in the future.
Simulating networks of wireless sensors

Previous advances in low-power embedded processors, radios, and micro-mechanical systems (MEMs) have made possible the development of networks of wirelessly interconnected sensors. With their focus on applications requiring tight coupling with the physical world, as opposed to the personal communication focus of conventional wireless networks, these wireless sensor networks pose significantly different design, implementation, and deployment challenges. We present a set of models and techniques that are embodied in a simulation tool for modeling wireless sensor networks. Our work builds up on the infrastructure provided by the widely used ns-2 simulator, and adds a suite of new features and techniques that are specific to wireless sensor networks. These features introduce the notion of a sensing channel through which sensors detect targets, and provide detailed models for evaluating energy consumption and battery lifetime.
Calibration of SWAT Hydrological Models in a Distributed Environment Using the gSWAT Application

Topics such as the sustainability and vulnerability of land management practices on water quality and quantity are very important in these days both for decision makers and for citizens. The enviroGRIDS FP7 project addresses some of these topics in the Black Sea Catchment area. One of the software tools developed in this project is gSWAT. It allows the calibration of SWAT hydrological models in a flexible development environment and uses distributed computational infrastructures to speedup the simulations. The development of SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) hydrological models is a well-known procedure for the hydrological specialists and this paper highlights, from the end-users point of view, the scenarios related with the calibration procedures available in the gSWAT application.
Compressive neuropathies complicating normal childbirth: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND Peroneal neuropathy has been well described in the literature, but few cases have been reported of bilateral peroneal neuropathy as a complication of normal childbirth. Most reported cases are due to prolonged squatting during childbirth, which is prevalent in certain countries. CASE REPORT A 30-year-old woman developed bilateral footdrop shortly after normal vaginal delivery under epidural analgesics. Neurological examination and electrodiagnostic studies confirmed bilateral common peroneal mononeuropathy most likely secondary to prolonged and excessive pressure around the knees by attendants who were assisting at the delivery. The woman showed significant improvement of her symptoms after physical therapy and assisted devices. CONCLUSIONS Excessive and prolonged pressure knee holding during normal childbirth may result in compressive peripheral neuropathy. Patient education and awareness among the labor and delivery team will prevent this avoidable complication.
A hierarchical packet forwarding mechanism for energy harvesting wireless sensor networks

Energy harvesting technologies have gained widespread attention for their perpetual energy supply for sensor nodes. However, the energy resources are still insufficient while the harvesting module is added on the node. To prolong the network lifetime and meet the demand of a green wireless network, a dynamic gradient-aware hierarchical packet forwarding mechanism is designed. According to the relative positions of nodes, gradient-aware clusters are established. Consequently, considering the energy conversion efficiency and relative distance, cluster heads are selected reasonably. Furthermore, by exploiting the available energy and the number of cluster members, packets can be forwarded to the sink in an energy-efficient manner. Results show that the network lifetime can be noticeably improved.
Nanosuspension of Phyllanthus amarus extract for improving oral bioavailability and prevention of paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats

Phyllanthus amarus (P. amarus) is commonly used for traditional Indian medicine and as dietary adjuncts for the treatment of numerous physiological disorders including hepatic disorders. Due to the poor water solubility of its major constituents such as lignans and flavonoids, its absorption upon oral administration could be limited. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of P. amarus (PAE) and its nanoparticles (PAN) on paracetamol induced acute liver toxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats. An oral dose of PAE at 125 and 250 mg kg−1 and PAN at 25 and 50 mg kg−1 showed a significant hepatoprotective effect relatively to the same extent (P < 0.001) by reducing levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bile salts. These biochemical assessments were supported by rat hepatic biopsy examinations. Moreover, the results also indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of 50 mg kg−1 PAN was effectively better than 125 mg kg−1 PAE (P < 0.001), and an oral dose of PAN that is five times less than PAE could exhibit similar levels of outcomes. In conclusion, we suggest that the nanoparticles system can be applied to overcome other poorly water soluble herbal medicines and furthermore to decrease the treatment dosage.