Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Metasequoia in Eocene Age from Liaoning Province of Northeast China

The fossil specimens of Metasequoia Miki, aged in early Eocene was collected from Guchengzi and Jijuntun Formations of Fushun, Liaoning Province, Northeast China. Female and male cones and nutricious shoots, together with leafy epidermis and epidermis of staminal bract were investigated and here by described in details. The specimens is attributed to M. occidentalis after comparing them with M. glyptostroboides, M. milleri and M. occidentalis, considering the characteristics of leaves, female and male cones, epidermal cells and stomata. The average stomatal density of M. glyptostroboides in the stomatal distributional regions is measured to be 183.85/mm~(2), that of Fushun specimens 140.13/mm~(2); the average stomatal index of M. glyptostroboides in the stomatal distributional regions is 10.79, that of Fushun specimens is 9.48.
Gene transfer of the neuronal NO synthase isoform to cirrhotic rat liver ameliorates portal hypertension.

Reduced production of nitric oxide (NO) in the cirrhotic liver results from a defect in hepatic endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) and appears to contribute to the high intrahepatic resistance and portal hypertension typical of cirrhosis. Therefore, we postulated that targeting a heterologous NOS isoform to sinusoidal endothelial cells or other perisinusoidal cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, would counter the defect in NO production and reduce resistance to blood flow. Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) carrying the neuronal NOS gene (nNOS) targeted liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, stellate cells, and hepatocytes more efficiently than the corresponding cells in cirrhotic livers, but transduction rates were substantial even in cirrhotic animals. Expression of nNOS in each liver cell type, whether from normal or injured liver, caused increased NO production and inhibited endothelin-1-induced contractility of perisinusoidal stellate cells. Finally, in 2 different in vivo models of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, transduction of livers with recombinant Ad.nNOS significantly reduced intrahepatic resistance and portal pressure. The data highlight the feasibility of gene transfer to diseased liver and hepatic cells and demonstrate the potential of a novel therapy for portal hypertension caused by cirrhosis.
Accuracy of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and hyperplasia: a systematic quantitative review.

CONTEXT Hysteroscopy (direct endoscopic visualization of the endometrial cavity) is used extensively in the evaluation of common gynecologic problems, such as menorrhagia and postmenopausal bleeding. However, there is a continuing debate about the value of this technology in the diagnosis of serious endometrial disease. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of hysteroscopy in diagnosing endometrial cancer and hyperplasia in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. DATA SOURCES Relevant articles were identified through searches of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and EMBASE (1984-2001), manual searches of bibliographies of known primary and review articles, and contact with manufacturers. STUDY SELECTION Studies were selected blindly, independently, and in duplicate if accuracy of hysteroscopy was estimated in women with abnormal uterine bleeding, using histopathologic findings as a reference standard. Our search identified 3486 articles; 208 of these were deemed to be potentially eligible and were retrieved for detailed data extraction. Sixty-five primary studies were analyzed, including 26 346 women. DATA EXTRACTION Data were abstracted on characteristics and quality from each study. Results for diagnostic accuracy were extracted to form 2 x 2 contingency tables separately for endometrial cancer and endometrial disease (cancer, hyperplasia, or both). Pooled likelihood ratios (LRs) were used as summary accuracy measures. DATA SYNTHESIS The pretest probability of endometrial cancer was 3.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7%-4.2%). A positive hysteroscopy result (pooled LR, 60.9; 95% CI, 51.2-72.5) increased the probability of cancer to 71.8% (95% CI, 67.0%-76.6%), whereas a negative hysteroscopy result (pooled LR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.13-0.18) reduced the probability of cancer to 0.6% (95% CI, 0.5%-0.8%). There was statistical heterogeneity in pooling of LRs, but an explanation for this could not be found in spectrum composition and study quality. The overall accuracy for the diagnosis of endometrial disease was modest compared with that of cancer, and the results were heterogeneous. The accuracy tended to be higher among postmenopausal women and in the outpatient setting. CONCLUSION The diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopy is high for endometrial cancer, but only moderate for endometrial disease (cancer or hyperplasia).
Duration of effect of single-dose inhaled fluticasone propionate on AMP‐induced bronchoconstriction

Airway hyperresponsiveness induced by adenosine‐5'‐monophosphate (AMP) is regarded as a reliable model for allergic asthma and for the evaluation of anti-asthmatic drugs. Single-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are known to be protective in this model, but the duration of action of these drugs in this model has never been studied. The duration of ICS protection was determined by administration of single-dose fluticasone propionate (FP; 1,000 µg) up to 26 h before AMP challenge. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover study was performed in 13 mild asthmatics (mean±sd predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 98±7%). Each subject received placebo and FP (at 26, 14 or 2 h prior to the AMP challenge). Furthermore, the marker exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) was studied after administration at these time points to investigate whether eNO also demonstrates the duration of action of ICS. The doubling concentrations difference (DCD) of AMP causing a 20% fall in FEV1, when FP was administered 26, 14 or 2 h prior to challenge, was significantly increased as compared with placebo: DCD (95% confidence interval) at 26 h, 0.73 (0.20–1.26), p=0.008; 14 h, 1.50 (0.99–2.01), p<0.001; and 2 h, 2.89 (2.37–3.40), p<0.001. However, eNO was not significantly affected at these time points. In conclusion, a single dose of 1,000 µg inhaled fluticasone propionate protects against adenosine‐5'‐monophosphate airway hyperresponsiveness up to 26 h after dosing. This study suggests that adenosine‐5'‐monophosphate challenge can be used as a sensitive marker to study the duration of action of inhaled corticosteroids.
The relationship between entomological indicators of Aedes aegypti abundance and dengue virus infection

Routine entomological monitoring data are used to quantify the abundance of Ae. aegypti. The public health utility of these indicators is based on the assumption that greater mosquito abundance increases the risk of human DENV transmission, and therefore reducing exposure to the vector decreases incidence of infection. Entomological survey data from two longitudinal cohort studies in Iquitos, Peru, linked with 8,153 paired serological samples taken approximately six months apart were analyzed. Indicators of Ae. aegypti density were calculated from cross-sectional and longitudinal entomological data collected over a 12-month period for larval, pupal and adult Ae. aegypti. Log binomial models were used to estimate risk ratios (RR) to measure the association between Ae. aegypti abundance and the six-month risk of DENV seroconversion. RRs estimated using cross-sectional entomological data were compared to RRs estimated using longitudinal data. Higher cross-sectional Ae. aegypti densities were not associated with an increased risk of DENV seroconversion. Use of longitudinal entomological data resulted in RRs ranging from 1.01 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02) to 1.30 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.46) for adult stage density estimates and RRs ranging from 1.21 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.37) to 1.75 (95% CI: 1.23, 2.5) for categorical immature indices. Ae. aegypti densities calculated from longitudinal entomological data were associated with DENV seroconversion, whereas those measured cross-sectionally were not. Ae. aegypti indicators calculated from cross-sectional surveillance, as is common practice, have limited public health utility in detecting areas or populations at high risk of DENV infection.
Successful Treatment of Partial Nephrogenic Diabetes insipidus with Thiazide and Desmopressin

Objective: To clarify whether combination treatment with desmopressin (DDAVP) and thiazide was clinically effective in a patient with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI), we evaluated the treatment in a 7-year-old boy with CNDI who had demonstrated a partial response to DDAVP. Method: Both volume of urine and the presence of nocturia were determined during treatment. Result: Neither the usual therapy of a low-salt diet and a thiazide nor intranasal therapy with a large dose of DDAVP was effective. However, combination treatment resulted in a decrease in urinary volume and the disappearance of nocturia. Conclusion: DDAVP coupled with thiazide may be useful for CNDI in patients who have shown a partial response to DDAVP.
Effect of long-term salmeterol therapy compared with as-needed albuterol use on airway hyperresponsiveness.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of long-term salmeterol aerosol therapy on airway hyperresponsiveness measured by methacholine challenge. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. SETTING Thirty-one clinical centers in the United States. PATIENTS Four hundred eight asthmatic patients > or = 12 years of age with baseline FEV1 of > or = 70% of predicted values. Patients were not using inhaled corticosteroids. INTERVENTIONS Twice-daily salmeterol aerosol, 42 microg, or placebo via metered-dose inhaler for 24 weeks. Backup albuterol was available. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Pulmonary function tests were performed before, during, and after treatment. Subjects recorded asthma-related symptoms, morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) levels, and use of supplemental albuterol daily on diary cards. Methacholine challenges were performed 10 to 14 h postdose at weeks 4, 12, and 24, and 3 and 7 days posttreatment. Over 24 weeks of treatment, salmeterol provided significant (p < 0.001) protection against methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction of approximately one doubling dose of methacholine when compared to placebo with no evidence for a progressive decrease in protection. A rebound increase in airway hyperresponsiveness was not observed 3 and 7 days after cessation of salmeterol therapy. Salmeterol treatment resulted in sustained improvements of 0.21 to 0.26 L in morning premedication FEV1 and an improvement of 26.2 L/min in morning PEF when compared to placebo (p < 0.001). The use of salmeterol significantly reduced combined daytime asthma symptoms by 20% when compared to placebo (p = 0.005). A total of 34 and 48 exacerbations, respectively, were reported in the Salmeterol and placebo groups, and no evidence was present for a difference in the severity of asthma exacerbations between groups. Adverse event profiles were similar for the salmeterol and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS Regular long-term use of salmeterol aerosol resulted in sustained improvements in pulmonary function and asthma symptom control over the 24-week treatment period. There was no increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness or loss of bronchoprotection at 24 weeks from that seen following 4 weeks of therapy. There was no evidence of rebound airway hyperresponsiveness after cessation of salmeterol treatment. Regular treatment with the long-acting beta-agonist salmeterol does not lead to clinical instability or vulnerability to unpredictable asthma attacks.
Two-level mapping based cache index selection for packet forwarding engines

Packet forwarding is a memory-intensive application requiring multiple accesses through a trie structure. The efficiency of a cache for this application critically depends on the placement function to reduce conflict misses. Traditional placement functions use a one-level mapping that naively partitions trie-nodes into cache sets. However, as a significant percentage of trie nodes are not useful, these schemes suffer from a non-uniform distribution of useful nodes to sets. This in turn results in increased conflict misses. Newer organizations such as variable associativity caches achieve flexibility in placement at the expense of increased hit-latency. This makes them unsuitable for L1 caches. We propose a novel two-level mapping framework that retains the hit-latency of one-level mapping yet incurs fewer conflict misses. This is achieved by introducing a second-level mapping which reorganizes the nodes in the naive initial partitions into refined partitions with near-uniform distribution of nodes. Further as this remapping is accomplished by simply adapting the index bits to a given routing table the hit-latency is not affected. We propose three new schemes which result in up to 16% reduction in the number of misses and 13% speedup in memory access time. In comparison, an XOR-based placement scheme known to perform extremely well for general purpose architectures, can obtain up to 2% speedup in memory access time.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE OXYNTIC CELL IN THE GASTRIC GLANDS OF THE BULLFROG, RANA CATESBIANA

The fine structure of the oxyntic cell from the gastric glands of the bullfrog was studied in lead hydroxide—stained sections of gastric mucosa fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide and embedded in n -butyl methacrylate. The oxyntic cell in non-acid-secreting stomachs (gastric juice pH, 7.4–7.8) is characterized by: ( a ) numerous closely packed smooth surfaced vesicular and tubular profiles disposed randomly in the cell; some of these elements show interconnections making it possible to identify this component with smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticula of certain other cell types, ( b ) a small percentage of rough surfaced profiles characteristic of endoplasmic reticula possessing RNP particles on the outer membrane surfaces, ( c ) a Golgi complex consisting of multiple isolated non-polarized arrays of smooth surfaced parallel elongated profiles and associated vesicular elements, ( d ) a sparse granular component (140 A) scattered freely in the cytoplasmic matrix, ( e ) numerous mitochondria with a dense matrix and containing an unusually large number of closely approximated cristae, ( f ) a number of zymogen granules consisting of either a dense body limited by a membrane or surrounded by a halo of less dense material which is in turn limited by a membrane, and ( g ) a number of granules (∼260 A) containing several smaller granules (∼80 A) identified presumably as glycogen. Intracellular canaliculi were not observed. Instead the free surface of the oxyntic cell facing the lumen of the gastric gland shows a complicated plication of the plasma membrane. Intercellular canaliculi are seen frequently between adjacent oxyntic cells. The walls of these canaliculi are made up of folded and ruffled cell membranes. The basal surface of the cell also exhibited this type of configuration. Occasional smooth surfaced profiles are seen communicating with the free surface, the wall of an intercellular canaliculus, or the basal surface of the cell. Although nerve endings were not found in association with oxyntic cells, unmyelinated nerves were observed in the vicinity of the gastric glands.
Song genre classification via training on segment chromas and MFCCs

Automatic song classification has been an open challenge for a number of years as it has many useful applications including dataset labelling and hit song prediction. There exists research into many different approaches, including all of the standard feature-based classifiers. In this paper, we experiment with classification by multiple Hidden Markov Models trained on chroma segment data from each song. These models are theoretically much better suited to capture characteristics of songs for two reasons. First, they capture the notion that consequetive segments of music are not independent. Second, we derive the chroma and timbal data from the song pitches and aggregate them intelligently over bars of songs, producing time-data that better aligns with chords and real musical features. Ultimately, our model performed much worse than previous models; however, we hope think the results of this model will at least inform our understanding of how machine learning can be applied to musical data.
A Case study - Design of Warehouse Management Program in JML and Verification with ESC/Java2 -

In the software development, the notion “Design by Contract(DbC)” has been recently obtained a lot of attentions. In the DbC, contracts are represented as assertions. JML(Java Modeling Language) is one of the languages able to represent such assertions. In this research, we designed and programmed the Warehouse management program in Java and JML as a case study. This design is veriﬁed with “ESC/Java2”. The paper reports the knowledge about what we learned in this process. Discussion about the issue on using JML in software development is also presented
Demonstration of Host Resistance against Sarcomas Induced by Implantation of Cellophane Films in Isologous ( Syngeneic ) Recipients

Whether it is possible to build up host resistance against sarcomas induced by the implantation of cellophane films was studied by pretreating autochthonous and isologous (syngeneic) hosts with heavily irradiated cells of the same tumor. In the ten available autochthonous hosts, whose tumors had been operatively removed, no resist ance could be demonstrated after pretreatment with irradiated cells followed by chal lenge with low numbers of viable cells from the same tumor. After similar pretreatment isologous mice could be rendered slightly resistant. This resistance was manifested only when low cell doses were inoculated and was considerably weaker than the previously demonstrated resistance with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. The threshold dose of cells that could grow out into tumors was lower in animals that received 350-400 r total-body irradiation than in untreated mice. Lymph node cells of preimmunized hosts that were resistant against low cell doses showed a certain neutralizing effect when admixed to target cells. Thus at least some of the film-induced tumors are weakly antigenic in isologous hosts even though their antigenicity in the autochthonous host remains to be demonstrated.
Cholesteryl de-esterifying enzyme from Staphylococcus aureus: separation from alpha toxin, purification, and some properties

A cholesteryl de-esterifying enzyme found in partially purified preparations of alpha toxin produced by the Wood 46 strain on Staphylococcus aureus has been separated from other staphylococcal proteins and from alpha toxin by isoelectric focusing and gel filtration. Preparations of alpha toxin from Bi-Gel P-60 columns and of the cholesteryl esterase from Bio-Gel P-200 columns showed a high degree of purity, as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation, gel diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the cholesteryl esterase determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate was 25,500 and on Bio-Gel P-300 columns it was 175,000, indicating an associating system. The density of the enzyme was lower than expected for simple proteins (about 1.19 g/ml). Chloroform-methanol extracts showed the presence of a neutral lipid that did not contain cholesterol. This material, possibly a glycolipid, might play a role in the stabilization of the enzymatically active protomer. The isoelectric point of the esterase was 9.1. Cholesteryl esterase was labile and lost its activity easily. It could bind reversibly to agarose-containing gels. After elution, it was enzymatically inactive, with an isoelectric point of less than 6.2. The W46M mutant of the Wood 46 strain, which does not produce alpha toxin, also does not produce cholesteryl esterase.
Do Framing Effects Reveal Irrational Choice?

Framing effects have long been viewed as compelling evidence of irrationality in human decision making, yet that view rests on the questionable assumption that numeric quantifiers used to convey the expected values of choice options are uniformly interpreted as exact values. Two experiments show that when the exactness of such quantifiers is made explicit by the experimenter, framing effects vanish. However, when the same quantifiers are given a lower bound (at least) meaning, the typical framing effect is found. A 3rd experiment confirmed that most people spontaneously interpret the quantifiers in standard framing tests as lower bounded and that their interpretations strongly moderate the framing effect. Notably, in each experiment, a significant majority of participants made rational choices, either choosing the option that maximized expected value (i.e., lives saved) or choosing consistently across frames when the options were of equal expected value.
Trends in the Stability Properties of CLSS Controllers: A Root-Locus Analysis

The control of flexible systems includes a variety of control strategies that are implemented via numerous architectures (open-loop control, feedback loops, etc.). One useful form of vibration control is input shaping. Traditionally, input shaping is an open-loop control strategy utilizing the destructive interference of vibration waves to eliminate oscillations. However, some research has advanced the traditional use of input shaping by utilizing it within feedback loops. This paper focuses on the closed-loop stability of feedback loops containing input shapers by analyzing their dynamics via root locus plots. Experimental results on an industrial bridge crane support the theoretical conclusions.
Mapping the integrative field: taking stock of socio-technical collaborations

Responsible innovation requires that scientific and other expert practices be responsive to society. We take stock of various collaborative approaches to socio-technical integration that seek to broaden the societal contexts technical experts take into account during their routine activities. Part of a larger family of engaged scholarship that includes inter- and transdisciplinarity as well as stakeholder and public engagement, we distinguish collaborative socio-technical integration in terms of its proximity to and transformation of expert practices. We survey a variety of approaches that differ widely in terms of their integrative methods, conceptions of societal context, roles, and aspirations for intervention. Taking a handful of “communities of integration” as exemplars, we then provide a framework for comparing the forms, means, and ends of collaborative integration. We conclude by reflecting on some of the main features of, and tensions within, this developing arena of practical inquiry and engagem.
Bmc Microbiology

A novel surface protein of Trichomonas vaginalis is regulated independently by low iron and contact with vaginal epithelial cells Abstract Background: Trichomonosis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis is the number one, non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) that affects more than 250 million people worldwide. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) has been implicated in resistance to mucosal infections by pathogens. No reports are available of IgA-reactive proteins and the role, if any, of this class of antibody in the control of this STD. The availability of an IgA monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunoreactive to trichomonads by whole cell (WC)-ELISA prompted us to characterize the IgA-reactive protein of T. vaginalis.