Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidation, Accumulation, and Turnover of Citrate in Normal and Diabetic Rats

Summary We compared the rate of accumulation, oxidation and turnover of citrate in normal and alloxan-diabetic rats, in order to explain the elevations of citric acid reported in diabetic states. Citrate utilization was blocked by intraperitoneal injections of sodium trans-aconitate (a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme aconitase); the rate of accumulation of citrate was found significantly lower in the diabetic rats. This suggested a decreased synthesis of citrate in vivo, and correlated with earlier findings of decreased in vitro citrate synthesis by diabetic rat tissues. Normal and diabetic rats were injected intraperitoneally with 6-14C citrate, and expired 14CO2 was collected at definite time periods to determine the rate of oxidation of injected citrate. In other groups of rats, the plasma citrate specific radioactivity and turnover were calculated following intravenous injection of 6-14C citrate. No significant difference was found in the oxidation or turnover rate of plasma citrate between normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. On the basis of these studies it seems that the hypercitremia in diabetes is not solely of endogenous origin.
High performance supercapacitor based on thick buckypaper/polyaniline composite electrodes

Large-size composite carbon nanotubes/polyaniline as supercapacitor electrode material has been investigated for optimization of the areal specific capacitance. Polyaniline, as conductive polymer, is synthesized on the structure of carbon nanotubes by an in situ method. Thicker the composite electrode and higher polyaniline loading increase the gravimetric and volumetric specific capacitance. It is noticeable that this report’s areal specific capacitance can reach approximately 6.5 F cm−2.
Adaptive tracking control of multi-link robots actuated by pneumatic muscles with additive disturbances

SUMMARY In this paper, we study the problem of adaptive position tracking for a multi-link robot driven by two opposing pneumatic muscle groups with additive disturbances. In contrast to widely used sliding mode control methods, the proposed controller is continuous and able to prevent chattering. All physical parameters of the robot and the pneumatic muscles, including pneumatic muscle coefficients, link lengths and moments of inertia are unknown and can be time-varying and the unknown additive disturbances can be discontinuous. Under these conditions, we prove that closed-loop trajectories of all of the joint positions can track any C1 joint reference signal. The joint errors will be within a prescribed error bound in a finite time. The adaptive controller only uses the reference signal, not its derivative. The continuous adaptive gain is one-dimensional. Simulations including a two-link robot arm with friction and realistic muscle models are presented to demonstrate the robustness of the adaptive control under severe changes of the system parameters. In all simulations, the joint positions can track C1 trajectories and all errors are within the prescribed error bound in the same time frame, even though the muscle parameters are vastly different.
Stimulatory response of neutrophils from periodontitis patients with periodontal pathogens.

OBJECTIVE Neutrophils play a crucial role in the defense of invading bacteria by releasing biologically active molecules. The response of peripheral blood neutrophils was studied in periodontitis-affected patients and in healthy controls towards stimulation to Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral venous blood was drawn from 23 adult patients with moderate to advanced chronic periodontitis (probing depth >or=5 mm, attachment loss >or=3 mm), and 30 healthy volunteers. Neutrophil response followed by metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion was assayed by zymography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, on both whole blood and purified neutrophils. In addition to periodontal pathogen extracts, known stimulating agents were tested, such as Escherichia coli-lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phytohemagglutinin, and zymosan A. RESULTS Neutrophil response, expressed as a secretion ratio under stimulated and non-stimulated conditions, measured in whole blood, showed no differences between periodontitis and healthy controls. Instead, in purified neutrophils from patients, MMP-9 exhibited a significantly higher secretion ratio with LPS and Pg (1.5- to 2-fold), whereas IL-8 showed a larger increase in secretion ratio (3- to 7-fold) in the presence of Pg, Aa, LPS, and zymosan A. CONCLUSION Peripheral neutrophils of periodontitis-affected patients are more reactive as suggested by their significantly higher response toward periodontal pathogen extracts and other stimulating agents.
Rare Case of Intramasseteric Cavernous Hemangioma in a Three-Year-Old Boy: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare, benign tumors of vascular origin. The masseter is the muscle most commonly involved in the head and neck region. Because of their infrequency, deep location, and unfamiliar presentation, these lesions are seldom correctly diagnosed clinically. This case report presents a severe facial asymmetry caused by a left intramasseteric cavernous hemangioma in a 3-year-old boy. We were unaware of the exact nature of the tumor until intraoperative examination. The routine investigations performed before operation failed to establish a diagnosis. Surgical excision was performed, and 1 year after the operation we observed that the patient's facial asymmetry had been corrected. In this article, we review the literature on intramasseteric hemangioma, discuss the clinical and radiologic diagnostic methods, and review the treatment methods.
Surgical Management of Faecal Incontinence and Functional Constipation

There are grossly four elements to help control faecal continence: 1. Plug function Internal anal sphincter (IAS) plays a major role in acting as a plug at the final end of our gastrointestinal tract. It is innervated by our autonomous nervous system. External anal sphincter (EAS), puborectalis sling plus other pelvic floor muscle and haemorrhoidal cushings at anal canal also contribute. 2. Stool consistency The looser the stool, the more difficult we can prevent incontinence 3. Rectal capacity Rectum acts as temporary store for stool before we can choose a convenient place to evacuate. That means its volume and compliance are directly related our continence function. 4. Neurological function Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is definitely the higher centre to control. We can also control voluntary muscle like EAS through peripheral (somatic) nervous system. In the same time, autonomous nervous system receives sensation from rectum (distension) and anal canal (stretching) on one hand, it controls involuntary muscle like IAS on the other hand.
FEAR OF THE AGE: NOMOPHOBIA (NO-MOBILE-PHONE)

Nowadays, developing technology has brought some addictions into our lives. Smart phone addiction, which is seen with the introduction of smart phones in our lives, has become remarkable in daily life. In the digital age we live, almost every process is handled by smart mobile phones. This makes mobile technologies an indispensable part of our day. This work is designed to give information about nomophobia, a new concept known as fear of lack of mobile telephony. As a result of the study, the widespread use of smart phones made it easier for individuals to make their daily lives easier but on the other hand they caused many social and psychological problems.
Interpretability of fuzzy association rules as means of discovering threats to privacy

This paper focuses on studying how data privacy could be preserved with fuzzy rule bases as interpretable as possible. These fuzzy rule bases are obtained from a data mining strategy based on building a decision tree. The antecedents of each rule produced by these systems contain information about the released variables (quasi-identifier), whereas the consequent contains information only about the protected variable. Experimental results show that fuzzy rules are generally simpler and easier to interpret than other approaches but the risk of disclosing does not increase.
La variabilite atmospherique a basse frequence comme probleme de faible dimension

Cette these demontre que la dynamique atmospherique de grande echelle et de basse frequence peut etre decrite par un systeme tres simple d'equations. La demonstration est faite dans le cas d'un modele de reference de complexite intermediaire. Un modele reduit a ete construit, qui reproduit de maniere fidele la partie de basse frequence du modele de reference. L'etape fondamentale pour la construction de ce modele simplifie est la parametrisation da l'interaction des tourbillons transitoires de haute frequence avec la grande echelle. La these est divisee en deux parties. Dans la premiere, on etudie la parametrisation des ondes transitoires dans le cas du modele de reference, dans lequel elle est inseree comme terme supplementaire de forcage. Grace a ce terme, la climatologie du modele est amelioree. Au cours de l'etude du terme de forcage, on a aussi formule une methode variationelle generale d'estimation des erreurs de tendance des modeles. Dans la deuxieme partie on construit le modele reduit du modele de reference. Ce modele reduit se base sur la projection hautement tronquee des equations du modele de reference sur la base orthonormale de ses 10 premieres eofs (fonctions empiriques orthogonales). Le systeme d'equations ainsi obtenu a ete ferme par l'application du terme de forcage developpe dans la premiere partie du travail, toujours sense representer principalement l'effet des ondes transitoires. Le modele simplifie possede les memes etat moyen, variabilite a basse frequence et regimes de temps. La dynamique de basse frequence du modele de reference peut donc etre reproduite en la confinant a un sous-espace tres reduit de son espace des phases, et le confinement a lieu grace aux terme de fermeture. Une fois le modele reduit construit, on l'utilise comme outil pour etudier la dynamique du modele de reference et ses regimes de temps. On a aussi relie une des oscillations de basse frequence du le modele de reference et la nao.
Teleseismic analysis of the 1980 Mammoth Lakes earthquake sequence

The source mechanisms of the three largest events of the 1980 Mammoth Lakes earthquake sequence have been determined using surface waves recorded on the global digital seismograph network and the long-period body waves recorded on the WWSSN network. Although the fault-plane solutions from local data (Cramer and Toppozada, 1980; Ryall and Ryall, 1981) suggest nearly pure left-lateral strike-slip on north-south planes, the teleseismic waveforms require a mechanism with oblique slip. The first event (25 May 1980, 16^h 33^m 44^s) has a mechanism with a strike of N12°E, dip of 50°E, and a rake of −35°. The second event (27 May 19^h 44^m 51^s) has a mechanism with a strike of N15°E, dip of 50°, and a slip of −11°. The third event (27 May, 14^h 50^m 57^s) has a mechanism with a strike of N22°E, dip of 50°, and a rake of −28°. The first event is the largest and has a moment of 2.9 × 10^(25) dyne-cm. The second and third events have moments of 1.3 and 1.1 × 10^(25) dyne-cm, respectively. The body- and surface-wave moments for the first and third events agree closely while for the second event the body-wave moment (approximately 0.6 × 10^(25) dyne-cm) is almost a factor of 3 smaller than the surface-wave moment. The principal axes of extension of all three events is in the approximate direction of N65°E which agrees with the structural trends apparent along the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada.
Targeted Chromatin Profiling Reveals Novel Enhancers in Ig H and Ig L Chain Loci

The assembly and expression of mouse Ag receptor genes are controlled by a collection of cis-acting regulatory elements, including transcriptional promoters and enhancers. Although many powerful enhancers have been identified for Ig (Ig) and TCR (Tcr) loci, it remained unclear whether additional regulatory elements remain undiscovered. In this study, we use chromatin profiling of pro–B cells to define 38 epigenetic states in mouse Ag receptor loci, each of which reflects a distinct regulatory potential. One of these chromatin states corresponds to known transcriptional enhancers and identifies a new set of candidate elements in all three Ig loci. Four of the candidates were subjected to functional assays, and all four exhibit enhancer activity in B but not in T lineage cells. The new regulatory elements identified by focused chromatin profiling most likely have important functions in the creation, refinement, and expression of Ig repertoires.
Existence and stability of pseudo almost periodic solutions for shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks with neutral type delays and time-varying leakage delays

In this paper, shunting inhibitory cellular neural networks(SICNNs) with neutral type delays and time-varying leakage delays are investigated. By applying Lyapunov functional method and differential inequality techniques, a set of sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence and exponential stability of pseudo almost periodic solutions of the model. An example is given to support the theoretical findings. Our results improve and generalize those of the previous studies.
Covalent intermediate trapped in 2-keto-3-deoxy-6- phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase structure at 1.95-Å resolution

2-Keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase catalyzes the reversible cleavage of KDPG to pyruvate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The enzyme is a class I aldolase whose reaction mechanism involves formation of Schiff base intermediates between Lys-133 and a keto substrate. A covalent adduct was trapped by flash freezing KDPG aldolase crystals soaked with 10 mM pyruvate in acidic conditions at pH 4.6. Structure determination to 1.95-Å resolution showed that pyruvate had undergone nucleophilic attack with Lys-133, forming a protonated carbinolamine intermediate, a functional Schiff base precursor, which was stabilized by hydrogen bonding with active site residues. Carbinolamine interaction with Glu-45 indicates general base catalysis of several rate steps. Stereospecific addition is ensured by aromatic interaction of Phe-135 with the pyruvate methyl group. In the native structure, Lys-133 donates all of its hydrogen bonds, indicating the presence of an ɛ-ammonium salt group. Nucleophilic activation is postulated to occur by proton transfer in the monoprotonated zwitterionic pair (Glu-45/Lys-133). Formation of the zwitterionic pair requires prior side chain rearrangement by protonated Lys-133 to displace a water molecule, hydrogen bonded to the zwitterionic residues.
Frequency of cryptosporidium infection in children under five years of age having diarrhea in the North West of Pakistan

Cryptosporidium species are minute, coccidian protozoan parasites that have been associated with enterocolitis. It has worldwide distribution and has emerged as an important cause of diarrhea, particularly in children less than 5 years of age and in immunocompromised individuals. Waterborne transmission is particularly troublesome because Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts are not eliminated by chlorination or domestic disinfectants. In the present study, single stool specimens from young children (< 5 years) presented with diarrhea were collected in Khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Wet mount preparation and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining were used for identification of oocysts in stool specimens. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 18 (9.0%) out of 200 children suffering from diarrhea. Infection was common in children between 1 - 24 months of age and associated with abdominal cramps (50%), vomiting (61.1%) and prolonged duration of diarrhea (88.9%). Direct and indirect contact with animals was present in most of C. parvum infected children (83.3%). Most of C. parvum infected children were consumers of well water (77.8%). Cryptosporidium spp. are highly infectious causes of diarrheal illness around the world. It is an important cause of diarrhea in children. Clinician and laboratories should be encouraged to include C. parvum diagnostic techniques while dealing with diarrheal stool samples of young children.
A novel neuropeptide (FRamide) family identified by a peptidomic approach in Hydra magnipapillata

In the course of systematic identification of peptide signaling molecules combined with the expressed sequence tag database from Hydra, we have identified a novel neuropeptide family that consists of two members with FRamide at the C‐terminus; FRamide‐1 (IPTGTLIFRamide) and FRamide‐2 (APGSLLFRamide). The precursor sequence deduced from cDNA contained a single copy each of FRamide‐1 and FRamide‐2 precursor sequences. Expression analysis by whole‐mount in situ hybridization showed that the gene was expressed in a subpopulation of neurons that were distributed throughout the body from tentacles to basal disk. Double in situ hybridization analysis showed that the expressing cell population was further subdivided into one population consisting of neurons expressing both the FRamide and Hym176 (neuropeptide) genes and the other consisting of neurons expressing only the FRamide gene. FRamide‐1 evoked elongation of the body column of ‘epithelial’Hydra that was composed of epithelial cells and gland cells but lacked all the cells in the interstitial stem cell lineage, including neurons. In contrast, FRamide‐2 evoked body column contraction. These results suggest that both of the neuropeptides directly act on epithelial cells as neurotransmitters and regulate body movement in an axial direction.
The relationships between video game experience and cognitive abilities in adolescents

Objectives: Video games are especially popular among adolescents and young adults as a form of entertainment and the amount of time spent playing video games has increased rapidly. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of video games on cognitive functions in adolescents. Methods: An exploratory, cross-sectional study was employed to investigate cognitive function in adolescent video game players. Cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and executive functions, were evaluated in 46 adolescents who had been playing video games regularly for at least 1 h per day, 5 days per week, for at least a year, and 31 adolescents (who played video games <5 h per week) using cognitive function assessment tests. Other data, such as demographics, medical information, video game types, and time spent playing video games were collected by questionnaires. Results: No significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of age, gender, IQ levels, and sociodemographic variables. Our findings show that visual memory results were slightly better in the playing group. Moreover, in the group that plays video games regularly, the increase in daily time spent playing games significantly increased the total error value in the Stroop Test and total interference value in California Verbal Learning Test-Children’s Version test. We also found that more time is spent on online games compared with traditional games. Conclusions: In this study, we emphasize the pathological and uncontrolled consumption of video games and the possible consequences of time spent playing games. Our findings indicate the need for more extensive research. Future research should address the various implications of video game play, especially between the potentially positive and negative effects of video games.
Submandibular gland morphogenesis: stage-specific expression of TGF-alpha/EGF, IGF, TGF-beta, TNF, and IL-6 signal transduction in normal embryonic mice and the phenotypic effects of TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and EGF-r null mutations.

Branching morphogenesis of the mouse submandibular gland (SMG) is dependent on cell-cell conversations between and within epithelium and mesenchyme. Such conversations are typically mediated in other branching organs (lung, mammary glands, etc.) by hormones, growth factors, cytokines, and the like in such a way as to translate endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine signals into specific gene responses regulating cell division, apoptosis, and histodifferentiation. We report here the protein expression in embryonic SMGs of four signal transduction pathways: TGF-alpha/EGF/EGF-R; IGF-II/IGF-IR/IGF-IIR; TGF-betas and cognate receptors; TNF, IL-6, and cognate receptors. Their in vivo spatiotemporal expression is correlated with specific stages of progressive SMG development and particular patterns of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and mucin expression. Functional necessity regarding several of these pathways was assessed in mice with relevant null mutations (TGF-beta2, TGF-beta(3), EGF-R). Among many observations, the following seem of particular importance: (1) TGF-alpha and EGF-R, but not EGF, are found in the Initial and Pseudoglandular Stages of SMG development; (2) ductal and presumptive acini lumena formation was associated with apoptosis and TNF/TNF-R1 signalling; (3) TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 null mice have normal SMG phenotypes, suggesting the presence of other pathways of mitostasis; (4) EGF-R null mice displayed an abnormal SMG phenotype consisting of decreased branching. These and other findings provide insight into the design of future functional studies.
Three-stage large capacitive load amplifier with damping-factor-control frequency compensation

A novel damping-factor-control frequency compensation (DFCFC) technique is presented in this paper with detailed theoretical analysis, This compensation technique improves frequency response, transient response, and power supply rejection for amplifiers, especially when driving large capacitive loads, Moreover, the required compensation capacitors are small and can be easily integrated in commercial CMOS process. Amplifiers using DFCPC and nested Miller compensation (NMC) driving two capacitive loads, 100 and 1000 pF, were fabricated using a 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process with V/sub tn/=0.72 V and V/sub tp/=-0.75 V. For the DFCFC amplifier driving a 1000-pF load, a 1-MHz gain-bandwidth product, 51/spl deg/ phase margin, 0.33-V//spl mu/s slew rate, 3.54-/spl mu/s settling time, and 426-/spl mu/W power consumption are obtained with integrated compensation capacitors. Compared to the NMC amplifier, the frequency and transient responses of the DFCFC amplifier are improved by one order of magnitude with insignificant increase of the power consumption.
Lipopolysaccharide serotyping of Neisseria meningitidis by hemagglutination inhibition

The method of hemagglutination inhibition was used to investigate the antigenic diversity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Neisseria meningitidis and to develop a serotyping systems based on this antigen. The system uses outer membrane complex prepared by a simple extraction procedure to inhibit homologous hemagglutination reactions involving sheep erythrocytes sensitized with purified LPS and rabbit antiserum raised to whole meningococci. Antisera with specificity for eight different LPS determinants were used as typing sera to serotype a cross section of 67 meningococcal strains. Only two strains (both group A) were not typable with the eight sera, and most strains had more than one type. Comparison of LPS type and bactericidal serotype suggests that the LPS and protein serotypes are independent serological markers.