Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An overview of sensory effects on juvenile salmonids exposed to dissolved copper: Applying a benchmark concentration approach to evaluate sublethal neurobehavioral toxicity

Dissolved copper (dCu) is a ubiquitous, toxic pollutant in U.S. surface waters. Four decades of research with dCu, indicate toxicity to multiple fish endpoints including fish sensory systems and behaviors. This document summarizes literature on the effects of dCu to salmonid sensory systems and conducts a targeted analysis on a recent sensory system behavioral dataset. The review portion of the document discusses peer reviewed and gray literature (see Appendix) on the effects of dCu on salmonid sensory systems, associated sensory-mediated behaviors, and physiology and is intended to facilitate understanding of the effects of dCu on sensory system mediated behaviors that are important to survival, reproduction, and distribution of salmonids. The review does not address the effects of dCu on salmonid habitats although copper is also highly toxic, at low ug/L concentrations, to aquatic plants and invertebrates. The targeted analysis was conducted with data from a recent experiment on fish olfaction and predator avoidance behavior. Results from this experiment showed that increases in dCu impaired the ability of juvenile salmonids to smell and by extension reduced their capacity to detect and respond to alarm signals (conspecific skin extracts). Impaired olfaction manifested over a period of minutes in juvenile coho. Olfaction and behavioral impairment endpoints were significantly correlated (r = 0.94) and indicated statistically significant effects (alpha =0.05) at all concentrations tested for olfaction (2, 5, 10, 20 ug/L) and at 5, 10, and 20 μg/L for alarm response (inhibition of swimming speed reductions). However, no experimental treatments were tested below 2 μg/L which corresponded to an approximately 50% reduction in olfactory function and a 47% reduction in alarm response. To address this critical uncertainty, we conducted a benchmark concentration (BMC) analysis with the olfactory dataset. The analysis produced BMC estimates ranging from 0.18 (BMC10) 2.1 (BMC50) μg/L which corresponded to approximately 8 – 57% estimated reductions in predator avoidance response. These results indicate juvenile salmonid sensory systems and their mediated ecologically relevant behaviors are particularly sensitive to low ug/L increases. Impairment of olfaction in juvenile salmonids can manifest in minutes, last for minutes to weeks (depending on dose), and potentially result in population level consequences. These sensory effects are discussed in the context of site specific issues including the bioavailability of dCu.
PRÁTICAS GERENCIAIS DE PEQUENAS EMPRESAS INDUSTRIAIS DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO: UM ESTUDO EXPLORATÓRIO

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar como proprietarios e gestores de pequenas empresas industriais bem sucedidas definem praticas gerenciais e identificar quais praticas eles adotam. Foi realizado um estudo exploratorio com quatro empresas, incluindo visitas as instalacoes, entrevistas e analise de documentos. O estudo revelou caracteristicas das pequenas empresas, tais como a informalidade nos processos, o acumulo de funcoes, a centralizacao das decisoes e a presenca do proprietario na operacao. O estudo revelou tambem que os proprietarios e gestores das empresas estudadas estao conscientes da importância das praticas gerenciais para o sucesso do negocio, o que se reflete na adocao de algumas praticas sofisticadas de gestao. No entanto, percebeu-se que as pequenas empresas abrem mao de certas praticas consideradas relevantes, por desconhecimento, por falta de recursos, devido a atitude dos proprietarios ou por estes considerarem a relacao custo-beneficio desvantajosa. A analise das praticas gerenciais nas areas de planejamento estrategico, operacoes e logistica, gestao de clientes, gestao da inovacao, monitoramento e incentivos, gestao de recursos humanos, gestao financeira, relacionamento com grupos de interesse e sustentabilidade permitiu compreender a realidade das pequenas empresas e seus desafios de gestao.
Topographic Effects on Stormflow Acidity

Topographic Effects on Stormflow Acidity David Wolock 1 This paper describes the theoretical and observed effects of topography onstormflow acidity in upland, forested watersheds. The theoretical effects were determined by a sensitivity analysis using the hydrologic model TOPMODEL. The observed effects were determined by an analysis of topographic and stormflow acidity data collected from eight watersheds in Wales, Great Britain. Results of the analyses indicated that the observed effects of topography were consistent with the theoretical expectations; that is, topography has an important effect on flow path, and that flow path, in turn, has an effect on stormflow acidity.
Developmental contexts and sporting success: birth date and birthplace effects in national hockey league draftees 2000–2005

Objectives: To examine relative age and birth place effects in hockey players drafted to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 2000 and 2005 and determine whether these factors influenced when players were chosen in the draft. Methods: 1013 North American draftees were evaluated from the official NHL website, which provided birthplace, date of birth and selection order in the draft. Population size was collected from Canadian and American census information. Athletes were divided into four quartiles on the basis of selection date to define age cohorts in hockey. Data between the Canadian and American players were also compared to see if the optimal city sizes differed between the two nations. Results: Relative age and birthplace effects were found, although the optimal city size found was dissimilar to that found in previous studies. Further, there were inconsistencies between the Canadian and American data. Conclusion: Contextual factors such as relative age and size of birthplace have a significant effect on likelihood of being selected in the NHL draft.
A personality study of highly successful and "ideal" swimming coaches.

Abstract Selected coaches (N = 48) and international-caliber junior (under 16 years) swimmers (N = 30) constructed their “ideal” coach's personality profile on a 10-point scale (from Cattell's 16 P.F.I.). These profiles were compared with the objective test profiles of highly successful coaches and with the coaches' subjective self-assessments of personality. The highly successful coaches were chosen from a previously tested group of coaches by the three national swimming coaches based on selected criteria. Results indicated that greatest similarities were to be found between coaches' subjective self-assessments and the “ideal” coach; and between coaches' and swimmers' estimations of the “ideal” coach.
Purification of Cranin, a Laminin Binding Membrane Protein

Cranin was described in 1987 as a membrane glycoprotein expressed in brain and many other tissues, which binds laminin with high affinity in a calcium-dependent manner. Dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (“dystroglycan”) is a laminin-binding protein cloned in 1992 whose relation to cranin has remained uncertain. Here we describe the purification of cranin to homogeneity from sheep brain, show cranin to be a form of dystroglycan, and localize the N terminus of β-dystroglycan to amino acid residue 654. We find that brain α-dystroglycan is tightly associated with membranes, and localizes to regions of synaptic contact as assessed by immunocytochemistry of rat cerebellum. Brain α-dystroglycan expresses high mannose/hybrid N-linked saccharides, terminal GalNAc residues, and the HNK-1 epitope. Although dystroglycan has previously been presumed to be a proteoglycan, the amino acid sequence, pI, O-sialoglycoprotease susceptibility, lectin-binding profile, and laminin-binding properties of brain dystroglycan are more typical of mucin-like proteins. Furthermore, using CHO mutant cell lines deficient in xylosyltransferase and galactosyltransferase I, which are required for glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, it is shown that chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate are not critical for laminin binding, and indeed are apparently not expressed at all in dystroglycan from CHO cells.
Problems in psychotherapy with suicidal patients.

OBJECTIVE The authors studied recurrent problems in psychotherapy with suicidal patients by examining the cases of patients who died by suicide while receiving open-ended psychotherapy and medication. METHOD Therapists for 36 patients who died by suicide while in treatment filled out clinical, medication, and psychological questionnaires and wrote detailed case narratives. They then presented their cases at an all-day workshop, and critical problems were identified in the cases. RESULTS Six recurrent problem areas were identified: poor communication with another therapist involved in the case, permitting patients or relatives to control the therapy, avoidance of issues related to sexuality, ineffective or coercive actions resulting from the therapist's anxieties about a patient's potential suicide, not recognizing the meaning of the patient's communications, and untreated or undertreated symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These cases illuminate common problems therapists face in working with suicidal patients and highlight an unmet need for education of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals who work with this population.
Evaluating liposomal nanoparticles for controlled release of chemotherapeutics in vitro and in vivo

The clinical use of chemotherapeutic drugs is greatly hampered by a combination of severe side effects on healthy organs and low accumulation in the tumor tissue. Although entrapment in stable liposomes has long been known to increase tumor accumulation while protecting the drug in circulation, drug release after accumulation is generally low, leading to poor bioavailability and consequently poor therapeutic effect [1,2]. This essentially underlines the paradoxical problem of how to simultaneously maintain liposome stability in circulation and obtain efficient drug release at the tumor site
Nonlinear optical properties of castor oil

We report on the investigation of the nonlinear optical properties of castor oil using the Z-scan technique. Nonlinear refraction and absorption measurements were performed for two different laser wavelengths, 514 and 810 nm, in the CW regime, and for 810 nm in femtosecond regime. The CW results showed that castor oil has a large negative nonlinear refractive index n2 = -3.2 x 10 -8 cm 2 /W for the laser wavelength at 514 nm, and this value was about one order of magnitude smaller for excitation tuned at 810 nm. The negative sign and the slow response of this nonlinearity indicate the thermal origin of this effect. In the femtosecond regime, it was not possible to observe a typical Z-scan curve for castor oil. The nonlinear absorption was absent for all experimental configurations.
Interaction of Junctional Adhesion Molecule with the Tight Junction Components ZO-1, Cingulin, and Occludin*

Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) is an integral membrane protein that has been reported to colocalize with the tight junction molecules occludin, ZO-1, and cingulin. However, evidence for the association of JAM with these molecules is missing. Transfection of Chinese hamster ovary cells with JAM (either alone or in combination with occludin) resulted in enhanced junctional localization of both endogenous ZO-1 and cotransfected occludin. Additionally, JAM was coprecipitated with ZO-1 in the detergent-insoluble fraction of Caco-2 epithelial cells. A putative PDZ-binding motif at the cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus of JAM was required for mediating the interaction of JAM with ZO-1, as assessed by in vitro binding and coprecipitation experiments. JAM was also coprecipitated with cingulin, another cytoplasmic component of tight junctions, and this association required the amino-terminal globular head of cingulin. Taken together, these data indicate that JAM is a component of the multiprotein complex of tight junctions, which may facilitate junction assembly.
DevOps for network function virtualisation: an architectural approach

The Service Programming and Orchestration for Virtualised Software Networks (SONATA) project targets both the flexible programmability of software networks and the optimisation of their deployments by means of integrating Development and Operations in order to accelerate industry adoption of software networks and reduce time‐to‐market for networked services. SONATA supports network function chaining and orchestration, making service platforms modular and easier to customise to the needs of different service providers, and introduces a specialised Development and Operations model for supporting developers. © 2016 The Authors. Transactions on Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of pulmonary malignancies: combined treatment with brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to report the clinical experience and technical feasibility of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in conjunction with brachytherapy, a novel approach in the treatment of lung neoplasms. Data from three patients with lung malignancies illustrate the expanding therapeutic indications of this minimally invasive intervention. CONCLUSION Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in conjunction with brachytherapy is a promising minimally invasive combination modality. It may be a treatment option for patients with primary, recurrent, or metastatic malignancies of the lung that are not amenable to surgery or further external beam radiation therapy.
Seeing Is Believing: Visualizing Transcriptional Dynamics in Single Cells

For a gene to be expressed, the functions of multiple molecular machines must be coordinated at the site of transcription. To understand the role of nuclear organization in transcription, it is necessary to visualize the dynamic interactions of regulatory factors with chromatin and RNA. It is currently possible to localize individual transcription sites in single living mammalian cells by engineering reporter gene constructs to include sequence elements which permit the visualization of nucleic acids in vivo. Upon stable integration, these transgenes form chromatinized arrays, which can be imaged during activation to obtain high‐resolution quantitative information about transcriptional dynamics. Modeling can suggest new hypotheses about gene regulation, which can be tested both in the single‐cell imaging system and at endogenous genes. This gene‐specific imaging strategy has the potential to reveal regulatory mechanisms, which would be difficult to imagine outside of single living cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 259–265, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of ribozyme against transforming growth factorβ1 on biological character of activated HSCs

Transforming growth factorβ1 (TGFβ1) is considered to be the principal contributor to liver fibrosis. So in this study the ribozymes against TGFβ1 were designed. The in vitro cleavage activities of the ribozymes were assayed through incubation of 32p‐labeled target RNAs and 32p‐labeled ribozymes in different conditions. HSC‐T6 cells were transfected with the eukaryotic constructs encoding ribozyme and disable ribozyme, then the stable cell clones were used to evaluate its antifibrotic characteristic through the effect of ribozyme on biological character of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The results demonstrated that two ribozymes (Rz803 and Rz1395) could cleave target RNAs into expected products effectively, Rz803 possessed better cleavage activity in vitro. Stable transfection of Rz803 into activated HSCs reduced TGFβ1 expression in mRNA and protein level efficiently. The further studies demonstrated that Rz803 reduced deposition of collagen I, suppressed HSC proliferation, but had no effect on HSC activation in transfected HSC‐T6 cells. Therefore, it indicated that Rz803 could reverse the character of activated HSCs by down‐regulating TGFβ1 expression efficiently and diminishing TGFβ1 signaling underlying activation of hepatic stellate cells. As the consequence, it would provide a potential therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis. IUBMB Life, 57: 31‐39, 2005
Is Serum Transforming Growth Factor beta-1 Superior to Serum Creatinine for assessing Renal Failure and Renal Transplant Rejection

From the Deptt. of Immunopathology/ UGC Advanced Immunodiagnostic Training & Research Center & *Nephrology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 India Correspondence to : Dr Usha, Professor, Deptt. of Immunopathology/ UGC Advanced Immunodiagnostic Training & Research Center , Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 India A sustained overexpression of Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (TGF beta1), a cytokine has been implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrosis of kidney leading to end stage . The main aim of present study was to find the utility of TGF beta1 and serum creatinine in differentiating chronic renal failure (CRF) from acute renal failure (ARF), renal transplant rejection (Tx Rej) and stable renal transplant (Tx Stb) and to study has attempted histopathological correlation of rejection cases with TGF beta1 and serum creatinine. TGF beta1 was determined by using ELISA and serum creatinine was done by autoanalyser. In normal healthy controls (NHC), in majority of cases (80.0%) TGF beta1 was below 25 ng/ml while in 6.0% cases it was upto 34 ng/ml. Rise of TGF beta1 was significant in CRF patients as compared to ARF and NHC (p<0.05) . In rejection cases, TGF beta1 level was significantly raised as compared to NHC and stable graft cases (p<0.05). In rejection cases, it was raised above 40 ng/ml in only 50% cases. In two cases inspite of more than 70% glomerular fibrosis, the patient had TGF beta1 level of only 5 ng/ml and in other three cases of acute cellular rejection the level was 70, 35 and 28 ng/ml respectively.Contrary to it serum creatinine was raised above 2 mg/dl in all cases of transplant rejection but in stable transplant cases in majority (70.6%) it was below 1.5 mg/dl and in 5 cases it was between 1.5 – 1.9 mg/dl.Thus the study suggests that TGF beta1 may not be a good marker for chronic transplant rejection, as it does not correlate well with glomerular fibrosis, probably it is more associated with interstitial inflammation but it can differentiate CRF from ARF if cut off of 40 ng/ml is taken.
Reduced model of DFIGs wind farms using aggregation of wind turbines and equivalent wind

In this paper, a new reduced model of wind farms with doubly-fed induction generators wind turbines is proposed for representing all the wind turbines of a wind farm by one single equivalent wind turbine. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed reduced model to represent the collective response of a wind farm in the point of common coupling to grid during power system dynamic simulations. This model can be used for voltage and angle stability investigations of large power system with an important reduction of the model order and computation time
Trypanosoma cruzi infection does not impair major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of antigen to cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, lives free within the cytoplasm of infected host cells. This intracellular niche suggests that parasite antigens may be processed and presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules for recognition by CD8+ T cells. However, the parasite persists indefinitely in the mammalian host, indicating its success at evading immune clearance. It has been shown that T. cruzi interferes with processing and presentation of antigenic peptides in the MHC class II pathway. This investigation sought to determine whether interference in MHC class I processing and presentation occurs with T. cruzi infection. Surface expression of MHC class I molecules was found to be unaffected or up‐regulated by T. cruzi infection in vitro. A model system employing a β‐galactosidase (β‐gal)‐specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line (0805B) showed: (i) in vitro infection of mouse peritoneal macrophages or J774 cells with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of exogenous peptide (a nine‐amino acid epitope of β‐gal) to the CTL line, (ii) in vitro infection of a β‐gal‐expressing 3T3 cell line (LZEJ) with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of the endogenous protein to the CTL line and (iii) mouse renal adenocarcinoma cells infected with T. cruzi and subsequently infected with adenovirus expressing β‐gal were able to present antigen to the β‐gal‐specific CTL line. These findings indicate that the failure of the immune response to clear T. cruzi does not result from global interference by the parasite with MHC class I processing and presentation. Parasites engineered to express β‐gal were unable to sensitize infected antigen‐presenting cells in vitro to lysis by the CTL 0805B line. This was probably due to the intracellular localization of the β‐gal within the parasite and its inaccessibility to the host cell cytoplasm.
TOWARDS A VISION OF A SUSTAINABLE UNIVERSITY

Sustainable development is the biggest challenge to universities in the twenty‐first century. As many different definitions and interpretations of the concept exist, it is not surprising that the strategies of the universities that are beginning to strive for sustainability show some differences. Various universities have already become engaged in the process of integrating sustainable development in their activities. Some examples of such universities are presented, including the experiences of the University of Amsterdam. The diverging strategies of sustainable universities are classified to clarify the differences and to stimulate and advance the debate. Inevitably, management, research, education, communication and operation of any university with a genuine interest in sustainable development will have to change. However, if, as it seems, universities are deeply involved in current world‐wide patterns of unsustainability, could it perhaps be that existing university structures need to be replaced by a completely new type of “universal knowledge network” which is derived from a totally different paradigm of their role and function? In this article some clear indications are given about the meaning of sustainable development in this context in order to provide directions and guidelines for university strategies and practices. The consequences of the concept for universities are indicated and, finally, a possible model for a sustainable university is proposed.
Communication during learning in heterogeneous teams of learning agents

The objective of this work is to determine how/if learning agents can benefit from exchanging information during learning in problems where each team uses a different learning algorithm. In recent studies several problems were exposed, such as lack of coordination, exchange of useless information and difficulties in the adequate choice of advisors. In this work we propose new solutions and test them in two different domains (predator-prey and traffic-control). Our solutions involve hybrid algorithms derived from Q-Learning and Evolutionary Algorithms. Results indicate that some combinations of learning algorithms are more suited to the use of external information than others and that the difference in the results achieved, with and without communication, is problem dependent. The results also show that, in situations where communication is useful, the gain in quality and learning-time can be significant if the right combination of techniques is used to process external information.