Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Xanthan lyases--novel enzymes found in various bacterial species.

Xanthan lyases, cleaving the terminal beta-mannosidic linkage of the side-chain of the exopolysaccharide xanthan from Xanthomonas campestris, have been obtained from several sources. These include a Bacillus species, a Corynebacterium species and a mixed culture. The lyases were initially associated with endo-beta-glucanases cleaving the main chain of xanthan. Partial purification of the enzymes was achieved and the Bacillus preparation was separated by FPLC into material free of endoglucanase and glycosidase activities. The lyase was active on polysaccharides with and without acetate and pyruvate. The optimal size of the substrate appeared to be in the range of degree of polymerization (DP) 25-35, i.e. 5-7 repeat units of the polysaccharide. No activity was found against xanthan modified by reduction of the carboxyl groups or by the addition of amine or hydroxyethyl groups. The combined action of the lyase and the endoglucanase yielded a series of oligosaccharides, each with a side-chain terminating in an unsaturated uronic acid and containing the molar ratio of D-glucose to D-mannose, 2:1.
Sensory profiles of breast meat from broilers reared in an organic niche production system and conventional standard broilers.

BACKGROUND Breast meat from broilers produced in very different production systems may vary considerable in sensory profile, which may affect consumer interests. In this study the aim was to evaluate differences in the sensory profiles of breast meat from five broiler products: two conventional standard products (A and B) and three organic niche genotypes (I657, L40 and K8) reared in an apple orchard. RESULTS Thirteen out of 22 sensory attributes differed significantly between the products. The aroma attributes 'chicken', 'bouillon' and 'fat' scored highest and the 'iron/liver' aroma lowest for the niche products. The meat was more 'tender', 'short' and 'crumbly' and less 'hard' and 'stringy' in the standard products than in one or more of the niche products. Product 'I 657' was less 'juicy' than the rest. Products 'I 657' and 'L 40' were more 'cohesive' and tasted more 'sourish' and less of 'sweet/maize' than the standard products. The 'overall liking' score was significantly higher for the 'K 8' product than for the 'Standard A' and 'L 40' products. The 'overall liking' score was significantly correlated with the scores for aroma and taste of 'chicken', 'umami/bouillon', 'iron/liver' and 'fat' aroma. CONCLUSION The sensory profiles differed particularly between conventional standard broilers and organic niche broilers, although differences were also found between breeds. The present study indicates that aroma and taste attributes were more important for the assessors than meat 'tenderness' for the overall liking of broiler meat.
Distributed finite-time containment control for second-order multi-agent systems

This paper addresses the finite-time containment control problem for second-order multi-agent systems under a fixed communication topology. First, a new finite-time consensus protocol based on both the relative position and velocity states is provided for achieving finite-time containment control in multi-agent systems in the presence of multiple active leaders. Then, a finite-time observer-type containment control protocol is exploited, where only the relative position states are involved. By using tools from finite-time control theory, it is theoretically shown that the states of the followers will converge to a convex hull spanned by those of the leaders in finite time, if for each follower there exists at least one leader that has a directed path to that follower. The effectiveness of the results are finally illustrated by numerical simulations.
Semântica nos sistemas de apoio a decisão: o estado da arte

O presente artigo tem por objetivo fornecer uma visao geral do estado da arte da capacidade semântica dos Sistemas de Apoio a Decisao-SAD. Nesse sentido, o texto relata o resultado de uma revisao sistematica atraves da qual foi feito um levantamento das publicacoes relativas ao tema e realizadas entre os anos de 2005 a 2009. Trata-se de uma pesquisa basica exploratoria na qual a metodologia empregada e a preconizada por Barbara Kitchenham (KITCHENHAM, 2004). Integram a referida revisao teses, dissertacoes e artigos cientificos, nacionais e internacionais, os quais totalizaram cem textos lidos. A coleta de dados foi feita usando o Portal Capes e filtros de busca na Internet, sendo seu objetivo tracar o perfil da producao atual sobre os SAD e, a partir dele, identificar os aspectos relevantes e predominantes, e tambem as lacunas existentes nas investigacoes. Neste sentido, restou evidenciado que as funcionalidades semânticas destes sistemas sao hoje sustentadas predominantemente com o uso de ontologias, como mecanismo para a representacao do conhecimento, e a aplicacao do raciocinio monotonico, como instrumento para o processo de inferencia sobre este conhecimento.
Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy and Scanning Thermal Microscopy

The development of the scanning tunneling microscopy has led to the development of related techniques which include the scanning near-field microscopy (SNOM) and the scanning thermal microscopy (SThM). These techniques provide sample information in addition to the simultaneously obtained topography. With SNOM normal optical microscopy contrast mechanisms (adsorbance, fluorescence, polarization, etc.) can be used. The principles and design of a SNOM are presented. Subwavelength resolution (better than λ/20) is demonstrated. In SThM, the contrast is provided by temperature and thermal conductivity. The design of a resistive thermal probe is described. Several operating modes are described and image contrast due to thermal conductivity is demonstrated.
Growth and Development in the Rat during Sub-Chronic Exposure to Low Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide

The effects of low levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on mammalian growth and development are unknown although it has long been postulated that H2S can inhibit critical developmental functions through the cleavage of disulfide bonds and chelation of essential metal ions. Gravid rat dams exposed to H2S (≤75 PPM) from day 6 of gestation until day 21 postpartum (PP) demonstrated normal reproductive parameters until parturition. At parturition, however, delivery time was extended in a dose dependent manner with a maximum increase of 42% at 75 PPM. Maternal liver cholesterol content was elevated significantly on day 21 postpartum following exposure to 75 PPM H2S each day for 6 weeks. Pups which were exposed in utero and neonatally to day 21 postpartum developed with a subtle decrease in time of ear detachment and hair development and with no other observed change in growth and development throughday 21 postpartum.
Refinement of rodent research through environmental enrichment and systematic randomization

Recently, conventional housing of laboratory rodents has been criticised for inducing abnormal behaviours and poor well-being, which also questions the validity of many animal experiments. Environmental enrichment may prevent abnormal behaviours and improve animal well- being, but concerns have been r a i s e d t h a t i t m i g h t a l s o disrupt standardisation, thereby reducing the precision and replicability of animal experiments. In this article, we review the logic and evidence surrounding this debate. We show that animal welfare can be improved by beneficial enrichments without disrupting standardization. However, we also argue that standardization is a flawed concept, which entails the risk of obtaining results of poor external validity and therefore needs to be profoundly revised.
O CONTEXTO DA ATUAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL DO ECONOMISTA E A FORMAÇÃO EM CIÊNCIAS ECONÔMICAS

De 1997 para 2010, o numero de estudantes de Ciencias Economicas reduziu 23,4%, de 65.795 para 50.440. Em 1997, os estudantes de Ciencias Economicas representavam 3,39% do total de estudantes de nivel superior, em 2010, representavam 0,93% (Inep). Dada a problematica acima, o objetivo geral e levantar a problematica do contexto da formacao do profissional economista. Aborda-se a historia da ciencia e da filosofia da ciencia; o pensamento complexo e a interdisciplinaridade; os problemas e os anseios da vida em sociedade diante de crises e da sustentabilidade; as potencialidades e as fragilidades do profissional economista, a partir da percepcao dos orgaos de classe, de estudantes de ensino medio e de organizacoes publicas e privadas; e a apresentacao dos elementos fundamentais de logica do pensamento economico. Conclui-se que ha um desconhecimento do papel do economista perante a sociedade; e, dada a complexidade dos fenomenos sociais, o cenario de crise e a sustentabilidade contextualizam a formacao e a atuac do economista. A formacao em Ciencias Economicas no pais carece de uma acao articulada para apresentar a sociedade seus instrumentos de trabalho e campo de atuacao. Precisa encontrar suas proprias formas de pesquisa aplicada, no que tange aos experimentos laboratoriais, resguardando a aleatoriedade do comportamento humano, das ciencias sociais aplicadas. Sem abandonar o stricto sensu da Ciencia Economica, o economista precisa se relacionar com as demais areas do conhecimento e pensar como operacionalizara o volume de informacoes geradas por elas para melhorar o processo de decisao da sociedade em prol da sustentabilidade. Palavras-chave: Contexto. Atuacao Profissional. Economista. Formacao Profissional. Ciencias Economicas.
Small bowel segment reversal induces intestinal hyperplasia but reduces whole-body growth in massive bowel resected rats.

BACKGROUND Surgical reversal of a small bowel segment has been proposed as a means to improve nutritional status in individuals with extensive bowel resection. However, clinical experience remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of bowel segment reversal on intestinal adaptation and whole-body anabolism. METHODS Male Wistar rats underwent a 70% small bowel resection with (REV) or without (CON) reversal of a 5-cm small bowel segment (5 cm distal to resected segment), or sham-operation (SHAM). After surgery (day 0), rats were fed with powdered diet from day 2 to day 12. Body weight, nitrogen balance, carcass compositions, and serum concentrations of albumin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 were determined to assess whole-body anabolism. The composition and architecture of the small intestine were measured to assess the intestinal growth response. Serum concentrations of tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured to assess the response of postoperative cytokines. RESULTS Surgical reversal significantly increased the intestinal protein and DNA contents in the proximal segment compared with surgical resection. REV rats had a significantly slower rate of weight gain and lower serum levels of albumin and IGF-1, and had significantly greater levels of circulating white blood cells, blood urea nitrogen, and IL-6 compared with CON and SHAM rats. There were no significant differences in serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and carcass percentages of water, protein, and fat among groups. CONCLUSIONS Small bowel segment reversal stimulates jejunal hyperplasia but the surgical reversal induced-elevation in serum IL-6 may eliminate the whole-body anabolism in massive bowel-resected rats.
Antidepressants , allergy drugs among 87 products with signals for insomnia Liver failure and antiviral failure with hepatitis C direct-acting drugs Harms of antipsychotic drugs reappraised Executive Summary

In this issue we analyze two notably different adverse drug events. We identify drugs with signals for insomnia, one of the most common drug side effects that can both impair the quality of life and at times affect health. At the other extreme we examine the emerging risks of the new drugs for hepatitis C for triggering liver failure, a rare and catastrophic medical event that often ends in death or a liver transplant. We also summarize our recently published, peer-reviewed study of the harms of antipsychotic drugs.
Thresholds for thermal damage to normal tissues: An update

The purpose of this review is to summarise a literature survey on thermal thresholds for tissue damage. This review covers published literature for the consecutive years from 2002–2009. The first review on this subject was published in 2003. It included an extensive discussion of how to use thermal dosimetric principles to normalise all time-temperature data histories to a common format. This review utilises those same principles to address sensitivity of a variety of tissues, but with particular emphasis on brain and testis. The review includes new data on tissues that were not included in the original review. Several important observations have come from this review. First, a large proportion of the papers examined for this review were discarded because time–temperature history at the site of thermal damage assessment was not recorded. It is strongly recommended that future research on this subject include such data. Second, very little data is available examining chronic consequences of thermal exposure. On a related point, the time of assessment of damage after exposure is critically important for assessing whether damage is transient or permanent. Additionally, virtually no data are available for repeated thermal exposures which may occur in certain recreational or occupational activities. For purposes of regulatory guidelines, both acute and lasting effects of thermal damage should be considered.
Solutions to the Van der Pol Equation: a Model of Aortic Blood Flow

Quantitative modeling, of large arteries, plays an important role in predicting and describing functional hemodynamic components. Here we present a descending thoracic aortic model based upon the nonlinear Van der Pol equation. The model is created by modification of the solution to this second order differential equation. The model displays a stroke volume of 97.82 ml and an average velocity of 22 cm/s for a heart rate of 70 bpm. An aortic radius of 1.16 cm is assumed.
The Effect of Compressive Axial Preload on the Flexibility of the Thoracolumbar Spine

Study Design: An in vitro flexibility study of the human thoracolumbar spine under compressive preload. Objective. To attain kinematics descriptive of the thoracolumbar spine in vitro by applying a pure bending moment under a range of physiologic compressive preloads. Summary of Background Data. Many studies on the mechanical behavior of the spine under pure moment have been conducted; however, little is known regarding variations in the range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine attributable to simulated body weight and other physiologic load conditions. Methods. Five fresh human cadaveric thoracolumbar spine specimens (T9–L3) were used. Five compressive axial preloads ranging from 75 to 975 N were applied to each specimen along the spinal curvature through four adjustable brackets attached to each vertebral body. Flexibility measurements were taken by applying a maximum of 5 Nm pure bending moment to the specimen in flexion and extension. The flexibilities in flexion and extension for each loading case were compared. Results. The thoracolumbar spine supported compressive preloads as much as 975 N without damage or instability in the sagittal plane when the preload was applied along the natural curvature of the spine through estimated centers of rotation. The flexibility in bending (flexion/extension) of the ligamentous thoracolumbar spine decreased with increasing compressive preload. Conclusion. A higher bending stiffness was reached after the compressive load exceeded 500 N. Such knowledge could be used to establish better testing guidelines for implant evaluation and more realistic loading conditions.
Use of dexamethasone in patients with high-grade glioma: a clinical practice guideline.

BACKGROUND Dexamethasone is the corticosteroid most commonly used for the management of vasogenic edema and increased intracranial pressure in patients with brain tumours. It is also used after surgery (before embarking on radiotherapy), particularly in patients whose tumours exert significant mass effect. Few prospective clinical trials have set out to determine the optimal dose and schedule for dexamethasone in patients with primary brain tumours, and subsequently, fewer clinical practice guideline recommendations have been formulated. METHODS A review of the scientific literature published to November 2012 considered all publications that addressed dexamethasone use in adult patients with brain tumours. Evidence was selected and reviewed by a working group comprising 3 clinicians and 1 methodologist. The resulting draft guideline underwent internal review by members of the Alberta Provincial cns Tumour Team, and feedback was incorporated into the final version of the guideline. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the evidence available to date, the Alberta Provincial cns Tumour Team makes these recommendations: Treatment with dexamethasone is recommended for symptom relief in adult patients with primary high-grade glioma and cerebral edema.After surgery, a maximum dose of 16 mg daily, administered in 4 equal doses, is recommended for symptomatic patients. This protocol should ideally be started by the neurosurgeon.A rapid dexamethasone tapering schedule should be considered where appropriate.Patients who have high-grade tumours, are symptomatic, or have poor life expectancy, can be maintained on a 0.5-1.0 mg dose of dexamethasone daily.Side effects with dexamethasone are common, and they increase in frequency and severity with increased dose and duration of therapy. Patients should be carefully monitored for endocrine, muscular, skeletal, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, and hematologic complications, and for infections and other general side effects.
Sorteador de material conformante, programado y automatizado con base en el peso del producto

La industria automotriz ha sufrido en los ultimos anos grandes innovaciones algunas de ellas han traido ventajas muy significativas en este ramo, otras han colaborado a la comodidad del usuario, sin embargo una de las herramientas mas importantes e indispensable en el uso de cualquier automovil son las cerraduras las cuales han sufrido muchas modificaciones buscando comodidad y seguridad a los usuarios. En la actualidad en mercado globalizado ha traido como consecuencia que las empresas dia con dia busquen mejorar sus procesos de trabajo, mediante la implementacion de innovacion que les permita competir en un mercado cada vez mas exigente. Ha sido tan significativa la evolucion que hay empresas que se dedican precisamente al ensamble especificamente de cerraduras automotrices. Todo trabajo de manufactura cuenta con desviaciones en su proceso los cuales pueden afectar en menor o mayor grado la satisfaccion del cliente o el resultado de producto final. Los cambios en cuestion de seguridad y comodidad no se han hecho esperar en este ramo, las cerraduras tambien han sufrido cambios, se les han incorporado nuevas tendencias y accesorios de manera que el usuario puede disfrutar de mejore seguridad y comodidad en su uso. Sin embargo, una empresa dedicada al ensamble de cerradura para uso automotriz, se presenta frecuentemente el reclamo de cliente debido a que los paquetes de las llaves en muchas ocasiones no tienen la cantidad correcta. Esta problematica esta trayendo otros problemas de indole economica, desperdicio de material y tiempo en mano de obra tanto para inspeccion y correccion del inconveniente, en este tipo de situaciones es muy importante tomar acciones en este proyecto se plantea la propuesta y desarrollo de una solucion a este problema mediante la automatizacion del proceso final de empaque con la incorporacion de sorteador de material conformante automatizado en base al peso del producto, que funcionara mediante una bascula electronica automatizada por medio de una tarjeta de LabVIEW, que tiene como proposito detectar el peso de cada paquete de llaves automotrices y asi evitar desviaciones en el llenado, cumpliendo asi con lo especificado por el cliente.
Insecticide resistance in the Anopheles gambiae complex in Benin: a nationwide survey

Benin has embraced World Health Organization‐recommended preventive strategies to control malaria. Its National Malaria Control Programme is implementing and/or coordinating various actions and conducting evaluation trials of mosquito control strategies. Mosquito control is based on the use of insecticide‐treated nets and indoor residual spraying, but the efficacy of these strategies to control malaria vectors is endangered by insecticide resistance. Here, we present the results of a nationwide survey on the status of insecticide susceptibility and resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) carried out in Benin in 2006–2007 (i.e. before extensive vector control was undertaken).
Situational insomnia: consistency, predictors, and outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the consistency of situational insomnia across several stressful conditions, including the first night in the sleep laboratory, phase advance of sleep time by 3 hours, phase advance of sleep time by 6 hours, and administration of 400 mg of caffeine. The impact of situational insomnia on alertness, metabolic rate, and cardiac measures on the following day was also measured. DESIGN AND SETTING Subjects spent 5 to 7 nights and the following days in the laboratory. Standard polysomnographic recordings were made on each night. On each day, subjects had a Multiple Sleep Latency Test, performance testing, and metabolic and heart-rate observation periods. PARTICIPANTS Fifty adult normal sleepers. INTERVENTIONS Subjects had 1 night with their sleep phase advanced by 3 hours, 1 night with sleep phase advanced by 6 hours, and 1 night with the administration of 400 mg of caffeine 30 minutes prior to lights out. MEASUREMENT AND RESULTS Sleep efficiency was reduced and variability was increased in each of the stressful conditions, as predicted. Those subjects with the greatest sleep efficiency on the adaptation night (top 25%) were compared with those subjects with the lowest sleep efficiency on the adaptation night (bottom 25%). Those subjects with the poorest sleep on the adaptation night (situational insomnia) had normal sleep on the baseline night that followed but had significantly reduced sleep efficiency when their sleep was advanced or they were given caffeine. Those same subjects had a significant decrease on their Multiple Sleep Latency Test on the day following the 6-hour advance and a significant increase in their Multiple Sleep Latency Test on the day following caffeine administration. The good sleepers had no significant change in their Multiple Sleep Latency Test during any of the study conditions. In terms of demographic variables, the situational insomnia group used less alcohol and tended to include a higher percentage of men. The situational insomnia group also had an elevated heart rate and increased low-frequency and decreased high-frequency electrocardiographic spectral power compared to the good sleepers. Significant differences were not found on personality or historical reports of poor sleep. CONCLUSIONS Normal young adults have a consistent response to various types of situational stress. Those individuals who respond with poor sleep may display increased sleepiness associated with their poor sleep but may also be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. These individuals have cardiac changes consistent with sympathetic nervous system activation, and they may be at risk for developing insomnia and other associated disorders.