Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross‐species induction and enhancement of antimicrobial activity produced by epibiotic bacteria from marine algae and invertebrates, after exposure to terrestrial bacteria

Antibiotic producing marine bacteria isolated from surfaces of the marine alga Fucus vesiculosus and the nudibranch Archidoris pseudoargus were exposed to live cells of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and heat-killed cells of Staph. aureus. Twelve out of the 16 marine strains tested showed enhanced antimicrobial activity towards Staph. aureus, E. coli and Ps. aeruginosa following this exposure. Three out of seven strains tested showed enhanced antimicrobial activity when exposed to Ps. aeruginosa and three out of seven strains showed enhanced antimicrobial activity when exposed to E. coli. These results suggest that production of antimicrobial compounds by marine bacteria can be induced by the presence of terrestrial bacteria. This appears to be the first example of cross-species induction and enhancement of antimicrobial activity in marine bacteria and has important implications for the design of antibiotic screening assays and for an understanding of microbial competition in the environment.
Fully Embedded High Q Passives and Band Pass Filters for Low Cost Organic RF SOP (System on Package) Applications

In this paper, fully embedded high Q spiral inductors, MIM capacitor, 2.4 GHz WLAN BPF and wide-band pass filter are investigated into a multi-layered organic package substrate for low cost RF SOP (system on package) applications. These embedded passive components and filters were designed by using 3D EM simulators for finding out optimal geometries and verifying their applicability. An embedded circular spiral stacked inductor has inductance of 8.38 nH and maximum quality factor of 73 at 1.5 GHz, which is much higher than conventional film type chip ones. An embedded MIM capacitor has capacitance of 3.8 pF and maximum quality factor of 39.2 at 950 MHz. A folly embedded 2.4 GHz WLAN BPF has a size of 2.7 mm times 2.1 mm times 0.77 mm. It exhibits an insertion loss of -2.7 dB and return loss of -12.5 dB. WBPF is the first embedded and the smallest one of the filters formed onto the organic package substrate. It has a size of 3.2 mm times 2.5 mm times 0.77 mm. It exhibits an insertion loss of -2.65 dB, and an ultra-band width of 1.1 GHz, and a center frequency of 2.1 GHz. The measured performance characteristics of the embedded passive components and filters are well matched with the simulated ones.
Breaking the Vicious Circle

Critiques of government efforts to regulate risks to public health, such as the one contained in Justice StephenBreyer's Breaking the Vicious Circle: Toward Effective RiskRegula tion, could not be more timely. Increasing the effectiveness offederal regulations is on the agendas of Congress and the Clinton administration. As part ofthe "Contract with Amer ica," the U.S. House of Representatives has passed several bills dealing with regulatory reform, including a bill that requires federal agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for new regulations.
The role of condensed tannins in the nutritional value of Lotus pedunculatus for sheep

1. Three experiments were conducted using Lotus pedunculatus containing high concentrations of condensed tannins (CT), and utilizing the principle that polyethylene glycol (PEG) application (molecular weight 3350) will irreversibly bind a portion of the CT and thus reduce the dietary reactive (i.e. non-PEG bound) CT concentration. Lotus diets containing 95, 45 and 14 g total reactive CT/kg dry matter (DM), induced by spraying with three PEG rates, were given to sheep at hourly intervals (600 g DM/d) for 21 d (Expt 1). In Expts 2 and 3, lambs grazed areas oversown with either lotus (89 g CT/kg DM) or clovers (Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense; < 1 g CT/kg DM) for 42 and 92 d respectively. In Expt 2 half the animals grazing each forage received oral PEG (75 g/d), whilst in Expt 3 half the lambs were sired by rams selected respectively for low or high levels of sub- cutaneous fat deposition. 2. Hormone concentrations in plasma (Expt 1 only) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Rates of [U-14C]-acetate and D-[U-14C]glucose incorporation and oxidation by subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue removed at slaughter, together with rate of glycerol release, were determined during in vitro incubation in all three experiments. 3. Plasma concentration of growth hormone was positively and linearly related to dietary reactive CT concentration, whilst 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine (T3) concentration tended to be negatively and linearly related to dietary reactive CT concentration. Diet CT concentration had no effect on plasma concentrations of the other hormones measured. 4. Feeding of lotus high in CT was associated with a consistent but non-significant increase in the rate of glycerol release from adipose tissue, which was reduced as dietary reactive CT concentration was lowered through PEG application, and a reduction in the lipogenesis: lipolysis value. Selection for leanness decreased acetate incorporation and increased glycerol release from adipose tissue, with the effect not interacting with the diet.
Vitreous proteomic analysis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause of anatomic failure in retinal detachment surgery. To understand the molecular mechanisms, vitreous proteomes of patients with PVR were investigated by two‐dimensional‐nano‐liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Vitreous samples of moderate PVR (grade B), and severe PVR (grade C or D) were aspirated during pars plana vitrectomy before infusion. In the current study, 129, 97 and 137 proteins were identified in vitreous of normal control, moderate and severe PVR, respectively. In PVR vitreous samples, complement components, serine proteinase inhibitors, and extracellular proteins were up‐regulated or appeared, while normal cytoskeleton and metabolism proteins were down‐regulated or disappeared. It was noteworthy that the proteins involved in transcription and translation regulation increased in vitreous with PVR. Among 102 PVR‐specific proteins, kininogen 1 was specifically detected in both vitreous and the corresponding serum. Therefore, it can be concluded that PVR is a complicated pathology process with great amount of proteins involved in metabolism dysfunction, immune reactions, and cytoskeleton remolding. Kininogen 1 may be a candidate biomarker of PVR. Further investigations of these special proteins will provide additional targets for treatment or prevention of ocular proliferative diseases.
A 0.16pJ/Conversion-Step 2.5mW 1.25GS/s 4b ADC in a 90nm Digital CMOS Process

A high-speed 4b flash ADC in 90nm digital CMOS is presented that uses a dynamic offset-compensation scheme in its comparators. It achieves a sampling rate of 1.25GS/s with 3.7 ENOB (23.8dB SNDR) from dc to Nyquist while consuming 2.5mW. It has an energy per conversion step of 0.16pJ
Association between childhood fatal injuries and socioeconomic position at individual and area levels: a multilevel study

Objectives: To simultaneously examine the effects of area-level and individual-level socioeconomic position on fatal injuries in children <5 years of age. Methods: A retrospective cohort study based on the national birth and death registers of Korea. 2 667 060 children born during 1995–8 were followed up from birth to the 5th birthday. Cumulative incidences of fatal injuries were calculated, and through multilevel Poisson regression models, relative risks (RRs) of incidence rate were estimated according to children’s sex, father’s occupation and mother’s education at individual level, and deprivation and degree of urbanity at area level. Results: Girls had lower risk for fatal injuries than boys (RR 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 0.87). Compared with children with fathers in non-manual occupations, those with fathers in manual (RR 1.45; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.58) or other occupations (RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.62) had higher risk. Children with mothers who were high school graduates (RR 1.23; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.36) or junior school graduates (RR 1.91; 95% CI 1.66 to 2.19) had higher risk than those whose mothers were college graduates. After controlling for individual-level variables, residence in more deprived districts (RR 1.13; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.21) or non-metropolitan regions (urban RR 1.34; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.47 and rural RR 1.61; 95% CI 1.40 to 1.86) was significantly associated with increased risk. Conclusions: Both individual-level and area-level socioeconomic position influenced the risk for childhood fatal injuries. To reduce the socioeconomic inequalities and the absolute burden in Korea, universal strategies should receive priority, and special efforts in implementation should be directed towards both disadvantaged households and areas.
Homogeneously staining regions and tumorigenicity

A homogeneously staining region (HSR), a chromosome abnormality associated with gene amplification, was found to increase in length coincident with an enhancement in tumorigenicity when cells from a human retinoblastoma cell line were serially passaged in athymic (nu/nu) mice.
Identification of the Major Postsynaptic Density Protein as Homologous with the Major Calmodulin‐Binding Subunit of a Calmodulin‐Dependent Protein Kinase

Abstract: The major postsynaptic density protein (mPSDp), comprising >50% of postsynaptic density (PSD) protein, is an endogenous substrate for calmodulin‐dependent phosphorylation as well as a calmodulin‐binding protein in PSD preparations. The results in this investigation indicate that mPSDp is highly homologous with the major calmodulin‐binding subunit (p) of tubulin‐associated calmodulin‐dependent kinase (TACK), and that PSD fractions also contain a protein homologous with the o‐subunit of TACK. Homologies between mPSDp and a 63,000 dalton PSD protein and the p‐ and ó‐subunits of TACK were established by the following criteria: (1) identical apparent molecular weights: (2) identical calmodulin‐binding properties; (3) manifestation of Ca2+ ‐calmodulin‐stimulated autophosphorylation; (4)identical isoelectric points; (5) identical calmodulin binding and autophosphorylation patterns on two‐dimensional gels; (6) homologous two‐dimensional tryptic peptide maps; and (7) similar phosphoamino acid‐specific phosphorylation of tubulin. The results suggest that mPSDp is a calmodulin‐binding protein involved in modulating protein kinase activity in the postsynaptic density and that a tubulin kinase system homologous with TACK exists in a membrane‐bound form in the PSD.
On the nonlinear controllability of a quasiholonomic mobile robot

We report on the controllability of a novel mobile robot which comprises two driving wheels and an intermediate body carrying the payload. By virtue of quasiholonomy, a concept introduced elsewhere, the robot is underactuated by design. One challenge here is the control of the motion of the intermediate body, which will tend to rotate about the wheel axis as the wheels are actuated. We prove that it is possible to completely control the robot using only the wheel motors, while tracking a desired trajectory, with apparent advantages in terms of cost, weight and efficiency. To do this, we show that every linearization of the robot dynamics model around an equilibrium point verifies the Kalman rank condition for controllability. Moreover, using modern results from nonlinear control theory, we prove that the robot is locally accessible and small-time locally controllable.
Molecular Analysis of the B Microchromosome in Steindachnerina insculpta (Characiformes: Curimatidae) by Microdissection

B chromosomes are additional elements to standard karyotypes observed in different species of fishes, especially in Curimatidae. However, despite studies demonstrating the occurrence of Bs, little is known about their origin and evolution. To better understand the genomic composition and evolutionary processes involving B chromosomes, microdissection of B microchromosomes in Steindachnerina insculpta was conducted. Chromosome painting revealed the totally hybridized B and markings on A chromosomes both in S. in sculpta and in Cyphocharax spilotus, demonstrating a strong homology between these different species. In specimens of C. modestus, which do not have Bs, the signals were observed on A chromosomes. Cloning and sequencing of some B fragments revealed that the B microchromosome in S. insculpta is composed of repetitive elements, homologous to the DIRS-4 LTR retrotransposon of Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis. FISH with clone pSi48 with the DIRS-4 retroelement revealed signals on all A chromosomes in the 2 species and also on the B, suggesting the insertion of repetitive elements in these species.
Polyalanine Expansion in Synpolydactyly Might Result from Unequal Crossing-Over of HOXD13

rate of oxidative weathering. Nonetheless, the reactions and crustal constituents involved in oxidative weathering differ from those releasing P. Furthermore, P mobilized from primary minerals is extensively recycled on land, before being supplied, under variable chemical forms, to the oceans (2). Thus, the relationship between the reactive (bioavailable) flux to the oceans and the rate of O2 uptake by weathering depends on variables such as the lithology of drainage basins, continental topography, and climate. It is therefore unlikely that this relationship has remained constant over geologic time. Perturbations of the atmospheric O2 balance can also be produced by forcings other than relative changes in the rates of oxidative weathering and reactive P supply to the oceans. A change in the intensity of ocean mixing, for example, would rapidly change the net rate of atmospheric O2 production, by modifying the oceanic burial of organic carbon (3). However, it would not immediately affect the rate of O2 uptake on the continents. Thus, perturbations are likely to have affected the atmospheric O2 balance during the Phanerozoic (4). Our modeling results suggest that the proposed feedback would have efficiently limited the impact of these perturbations on the atmospheric O2 level. Whether the feedback acted alone or in concert with others remains to be determined (5). According to Colman et al., there is a lack of data from modern marine sediments supporting an inverse relation between the C:P ratio of buried organic matter and bottom water oxygenation. We proposed such a relation on the basis of a combination of data from modern marine and freshwater depositional environments, ancient shale sequences, wastewater treatment systems, and microbial studies (6). Additional evidence (Fig. 1) shows organic C:P ratios preserved in recent Black Sea sediments (7). The ratios are systematically higher for sites with permanently anoxic bottom waters. If the difference between oxic and anoxic end-members observed in the Black Sea were to be extrapolated to the entire ocean, our model would predict a strong stabilizing effect on atmospheric O2 [figure 2C in (1)]. Although more studies are needed to isolate the effect of bottom water oxygenation from those of other environmental variables, the currently available evidence agrees with our hypothesis. P. Van Cappellen School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332–0340, USA E. D. Ingall Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, TX 78373–1267, USA
Performance analysis of duty-cycle power saving techniques in GNSS mass-market receivers

The scope of this work is the analysis and assessment of power saving duty cycle techniques for GNSS receivers. One of the key design drivers of mass-market commercial GNSS devices is indeed power consumption. Different techniques are analyzed and a particular method, based on the alternation of active and sleep states, is implemented in a software receiver based on open-loop processing. The main issues related to the parameters re-initialization after the sleep state are described and a solution is proposed. Then, accuracy and performance are evaluated, for different signal power and in three different scenarios, simulating a static, a pedestrian and an automotive user. Results prove the good accuracy of the technique proposed in all conditions, confirming its validity also for applications different from the consumer market.
The organ-specific extrapulmonary presentation of sarcoidosis: a frequent occurrence but a challenge to an early diagnosis. A 3-year-long prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The percentage of organ-specific extrapulmonary presentation of sarcoidosis has usually been estimated on the basis of retrospective studies, with figures varying in the range of 7-22%. We have hypothesized that a prospective study could give a higher figure, and could better outline the variable pattern of extrapulmonary presentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A careful examination with particular interest to the possible extrapulmonary signs or symptoms of the disease, even if previously unrecognized, was carried out in 204 consecutive sarcoid patients (mean age 37 +/- 11) seen between 2000 and 2002. Some of them had already visited our clinic in previous years. Their median follow up in our clinic was 34 months, while the median duration of disease was 60 months. RESULTS An organ-specific extrapulmonary presentation did occur in 73 patients (35.78%). The most frequent extrapulmonary presentation was due to skin lesions (different from erythema nodosum) and to peripheral lymph nodes (8% each). Less frequent were renal stones (4%), uveitis (3%) and others (12%). The extrapulmonary presentation may be a challenge to the diagnosis. In our series an early diagnosis was reached only in 38 of 73 patients. In the other 35 patients, the diagnosis was reached later, after a time interval ranging from 6 months to 20 years. The lung involvement was detected early in 33 patients with extrapulmonary presentation. In 35 other patients the pulmonary involvement appeared after a median time interval of 24 months (range 6-240, interquartiles 15-60). In 5 patients, no pulmonary changes ever appeared after a long term follow up of 20 months, 5 years (2 patients), 10 years and 29 years respectively. CONCLUSION An organ-specific extrapulmonary presentation is common in sarcoidosis, but may go unrecognized for years.
Estrogen, NFκB, and the Heat Shock Response

Estrogen has pleiotropic actions, among which are its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effects. Recently, an interaction between 17β-estradiol (E2) and the transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NFκB) has been identified. NFκB has a central role in the control of genes involved in inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Prolonged activation of NFκB is associated with numerous inflammatory pathological conditions. An important facet of E2 is its ability to modulate activity of NFκB via both genomic and nongenomic actions. E2 can activate NFκB rapidly via nongenomic pathways, increase cellular resistance to injury, and induce expression of the protective class of proteins, heat shock proteins (HSPs). HSPs can bind to many of the pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory targets of NFκB and, thus, indirectly inhibit many of its deleterious effects. In addition, HSPs can block NFκB activation and binding directly. Similarly, genomic E2 signaling can inhibit NFκB, but does so through alternative mechanisms. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cross-talk between E2, NFκB, and HSPs, and the biological relevance of this cross-talk.
Logical Cascaded Private Subnet - A Novel Scheme for Optical Burst Switching Networks under Self-Similar Traffic

Many recent studies have convincingly demonstrated that network traffic exhibits a noticeable self-similar nature which has a considerable impact on network performance. Therefore, we present a novel scheme for optical burst switching (OBS) networks, called logical cascaded private subnet. We define the concept of `canoe' relative to `cluster' in self-similar traffic, and introduce a new device named payload segregator at the edge node as a gateway to the core node in OBS networks. According to the changes in the edge node framework, we put forward the concept of cluster private subnet and canoe private subnet in the core node correspondingly. Performance study indicates that, the new scheme is robust under self-similar traffic
Severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SEED-AN): a qualitative study of patients with 20+ years of anorexia nervosa.

Little is known about how patients with long-term eating disorders manage their clinical problems. We carried out a preliminary qualitative study (using Thematic Analysis) of patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SEED-AN) in which we undertook recorded interviews in eight participants whose conditions had lasted 20-40 years. We found 15 principle features in physical, psychological, social, family, occupational and treatment realms. Psychological and social realms were most affected. Severe physical problems were reported. They described feelings of unworthiness, frugality regarding money and obsessive time-keeping. Persisting with negligible social networks, participants described depression and hopelessness, while somehow achieving a sense of pride at their endurance and survival in spite of the eating disorder. They emphasized the importance of professional help in managing their care. The severe and enduring description, often reserved for people with psychotic illness, is appropriately applied to SEED-AN, which has major impacts in all realms.
Development and evaluation of a childbirth education programme for Malawian women.

AIM This paper is a report of a study to develop and evaluate a childbirth educational programme for Malawian women. BACKGROUND Providing parent education is integral to the midwife's role. Malawian midwives face a challenge in fulfilling this role, with no existing childbirth education programme to facilitate this process. METHOD A mixed method approach was used for this three-phase study. In Phase 1, childbirth information needs of Malawian women were determined from literature and interviews with midwives. In Phase 2, a structured childbirth education programme was developed. In Phase 3, a quasi-experimental design using sequential sampling was conducted to evaluate the education programme. Participants were pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics in 2002, with 104 in the control group and 105 in the intervention group. Changes in childbirth knowledge were determined over a 6-week period. FINDINGS The childbirth education programme included information, teaching strategies and a schedule for implementation for content relevant to the antenatal, labour and birth and postnatal time periods. Results revealed no significant difference in knowledge in the control group between pretest and post-test scores. For the intervention group, however, an overall significant increase in knowledge across all time periods was demonstrated (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION A childbirth education programme, developed for the Malawian context, was associated with important increases in maternal knowledge about antenatal, labour and birth and postnatal topics. The findings have implications for midwives in other developing countries and offer an example of a midwifery-led initiative to provide formal childbirth education to these vulnerable women.