Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunity to adult Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematospiroides dubius): survival or rejection of adult worms following transplantation to mice refractory to larval challenge

ABSTRACT Experiments were carried out to explore the survival of 14-day adult H. polygyrus following transplantation to mice of four strains, immunized by various protocols. Adult worm establishment and survival was unimpaired in CFLP mice which were totally refractory to larval challenge. Transplanted adult worms were also successful in NIH mice immunized by the 9-day abbreviated infection regime. However, NIH mice exposed to irradiated larvae or subjected to the divided primary infection, expelled transplanted adults. The 9-day abbreviated infection was further examined in SJL and (C57 Bl10 X NIH) F1 mice which expel adult worms during a primary infection and although this regime was unsuccessful in causing NIH mice to reject adult worms, expulsion of adult worms was accelerated in SJL and F1 mice. The survival of adult H. polygyrus was discussed in the context of stage-specific immunity and the delicate balance between the immunogenic stimuli from developing larvae, the immunomodulatory activities of adult stages and the host's genetically determined capacity to respond to these opposing signals.
Changes in sputum composition between two inductions performed on consecutive days.

BACKGROUND: Sputnum induction is a non-invasive method for obtaining cellular and biochemical material from the airways and appears to be particularly suited for repeated testing. However, it has not been clarified whether repeated inductions lead to a change in sputum composition. The aim of this study was to compare induced sputum results between two inductions performed 24 hours apart. METHODS: Ten subjects with mild asthma and 19 healthy subjects were included. Sputum was obtained during three consecutive 10 minute periods of hypertonic saline inhalation. Samples were analysed separately for the three inhalation periods. Corresponding pooled values were computed, taking into account total cell numbers of each inhalation period. RESULTS: In the three consecutive inhalation periods mean (SE) percentages of neutrophils increased from 29.2 (4.2)%, 22.0 (4.6)% and 14.5 (2.9)% on day 1 to 43.1 (5.3)%, 34.8 (5.5)% and 25.7 (5.3)% on day 2 in healthy subjects and from 21.3 (4.3)%, 24.1 (5.9)% and 15.9 (3.7)% to 35.9 (6.9)%, 30.7 (7.1)% and 31.8 (6.5)% in asthmatic subjects. This parallel shift corresponded to a mean (95% CI) increase in the pooled percentages of neutrophils of 17.4 (11.6) to 23.3)% in healthy and 14.6 (1.2 to 28.0)% in asthmatic subjects. In contrast to neutrophils, the percentage of macrophages decreased from day 1 to day 2, while eosinophil and lymphocyte percentages did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the induction procedure itself causes a change in the composition of sputum detectable after 24 hours. This effect has to be taken into account when repeated sputum induction is performed.
Approximate Solutions for a Self-Folding Problem of Carbon Nanotubes

This paper treats approximate solutions for a self-folding problem of carbon nanotubes. It has been observed in the molecular dynamics calculations [1] that a carbon nanotube with a large aspect ratio can self-fold due to van der Waals force between the parts of the same carbon nanotube. The main issue in the self-folding problem is to determine the minimum threshold length of the carbon nanotube at which it becomes possible for the carbon nanotube to self-fold due to the van der Waals force. An approximate mathematical model based on the force method is constructed for the self-folding problem of carbon nanotubes, and it is solved exactly as an elastica problem using elliptic functions. Additionally, three other mathematical models are constructed based on the energy method. As a particular example, the lower and upper estimates for the critical threshold (minimum) length are determined based on both methods for the (5,5) armchair carbon nanotube.
Galvanic corrosion of silicon-based thin films: A case study of a MEMS microphone

MEMS microphones are widely utilized in commercial applications such as mobile phones and laptops. Microphones cannot be sealed completely from the atmosphere since sensing requires propagation of sound waves to the sensing element. Therefore, the sensing element is vulnerable to airborne impurities and humidity. The prevalent material of choice for MEMS microphones is silicon, which is generally considered reliable and inert material in normal atmospheric conditions, although micron-scale silicon is known to be susceptible to delayed fracture failures under cyclic stresses. Especially humidity has been shown to affect its fatigue properties. Furthermore, the fabrication history of the device can affect the mechanical performance of the devices significantly. Hence, there exist large discrepancy for the fatigue limit and fracture strength of micron-scale silicon in the literature. In addition, there is little information on how harsh environments can affect the reliability of silicon-based thin films in MEMS applications. Therefore, harsh environmental tests were conducted on MEMS microphones. The silicon-based sensing elements of the microphones were observed to degrade during the testing. Failure analysis was conducted employing microscopy and chemical analysis techniques. The degree of degradation was evaluated qualitatively with nanoindentation, and finite element method was employed in explaining the influence of the observed degradation.
A case of tamoxifen keratopathy.

Tamoxifen citrate (ICI46474) is an antiestrogenic agent used in cases of disseminated breast carcinomas and as adjuvant postoperative therapy. Toxic reactions to tamoxifen, such as decreased visual acuity, bilateral macular edema, and yellow-white dots in the paramacular and foveal areas, are relatively rare (reported incidence between 0.9%-12%). In 1978, Kaiser-Kupfer and Lippman first reported the occurrence of what has become known as tamoxifen keratopathy and tamoxifen retinopathy in 4 women treated with very high doses (up to 320 mg per day) of tamoxifen citrate for longer than 1 year. The typical findings were bilateral white, whorl-like, central, subepithelial opacities in the cornea. They also found white refractive opacities superficial to retinal blood vessels, forming clusters located in the paramacular and foveal areas, with the highest concentration temporally, and clinical and angiographic evidence of cystoid macular edema. The keratopathy led to decreased visual acuity but was reversible on withdrawal of the drug, whereas the retinopathy, which also led to decreased visual acuity, was not reversible. Despite the decrease in the recommended dose of tamoxifen, retinopathy was reported in patients taking 40 mg of tamoxifen citrate per day and later in patients taking 20 mg of tamoxifen citrate per day. In the majority of cases, however, the toxic effects were reversible. Optic neuritis after tamoxifen use was reported as well.
Immunocontraception in Wild Horses: One Inoculation Provides Two Years of Infertility

Abstract Previous studies reported one year of contraception associated with a 1-injection porcine zona pellucida (PZP) vaccine. We have subsequently determined contraceptive effectiveness of a presumptive 1-injection, 2-year-duration PZP vaccine in free-roaming wild horses (Equus caballus) in Nevada, USA. In January 2000, we captured, freeze-branded, treated, and subsequently released 96 adult females that received 1) a primary dose of vaccine emulsion consisting of aqueous PZP and Freund's Complete Adjuvant, and 2) booster doses of PZP and adjuvant in controlled-release polymer pellets. We determined PZP release characteristics of pellets in vitro, prior to field use. We determined reproductive success in treated and untreated females through October 2004 via measurement of estrone sulfate and progesterone metabolites in fresh feces collected from the ground and by twice-annual foal counts. Among treated females, annual reproductive success from 2001 though 2004 sequentially was 5.9%, 14.0%, 32.0%, and 47.5%. Untreated females showed average reproductive success of 53.8 ± 1.3% across this period. This study revealed that: 1) PZP acted as an effective contraceptive for 2 years posttreatment; 2) some residual contraceptive effect remained in year 3; and 3) fertility returned to control levels by year 4 posttreatment. It appears that controlled-release technology can replace both the second (1-month) and annual booster injection of PZP vaccine, thereby decreasing cost and increasing efficiency of use of this vaccine in wild horse management.
Automated grading of facial paralysis using the Kinect v2: A proof of concept study

Grading of facial paralysis has been the subject of numerous works in the past half century and is thus essential in order to quantify the extent of the condition and to evaluate the effect of treatment. However there is still a need for an accurate quantitative grading system that is easy to use, inexpensive and has low inter-observer variability. This work presents such a grading system based on the newly released Kinect for Windows v2 and accompanying SDK 2.0. This new system automatically detects facial landmarks and is designed to compute and grade resting facial symmetry and the extent of facial paralysis for several voluntary movements. The system also offers the option to report grading according to three widely used traditional grading systems. The system developed so far shows promising results and is a work in progress. More facial landmarks and more voluntary movements are being added to have a comprehensive quantitative grading tool which can be widely used by clinicians. With further work, it can be extended to become a virtual rehabilitation tool for facial paralysis.
Object-centred planning: lifting classical planning from the literal level to the object level

A great deal of emphasis in classical AI planning research has been placed on search-control issues in plan generation, while the issue of knowledge representation and acquisition of models for use with classical planning engines has been largely ignored. Work in knowledge-based planning, on the other hand, is often associated with 'scruffy' AI, there being no standard representation languages with associated formal semantics for encoding domain models. In this paper we describe a method to create a planning domain model which preserves the domain independence, generality and 'clean' properties of generative planners to which the model can be attached. Our method is based an lifting the level of domain representation from the literal-centred, to the object-centred. This object-centred method has the advantage that it naturally allows for the creation of a supporting tools environment to help in (i) the creation and validation of a precise planning model, and (ii) the speed-up of plan generation.
Architecture of the Human Ndc80-Hec1 Complex, a Critical Constituent of the Outer Kinetochore*

The Ndc80 complex is a constituent of the outer plate of the kinetochore and plays a critical role in establishing the stable kinetochore-microtubule interactions required for chromosome segregation in mitosis. The Ndc80 complex is evolutionarily conserved and contains the four subunits Spc24, Spc25, Nuf2, and Ndc80 (whose human homologue is called Hec1). All four subunits are predicted to contain globular domains and extensive coiled coil regions. To gain an insight into the organization of the human Ndc80 complex, we reconstituted it using recombinant methods. The hydrodynamic properties of the recombinant Ndc80 complex are identical to those of the endogenous HeLa cell complex and are consistent with a 1:1:1:1 stoichiometry of the four subunits and a very elongated shape. Two tight Hec1-Nuf2 and Spc24-Spc25 subcomplexes, each stabilized by a parallel heterodimeric coiled coil, maintain this organization. These subcomplexes tetramerize via an interaction of the C- and N-terminal portions of the Hec1-Nuf2 and Spc24-Spc25 coiled coils, respectively. The recombinant complex displays normal kinetochore localization upon injection in HeLa cells and is therefore a faithful copy of the endogenous Ndc80 complex.
Serum chitotriosidase activity in acute coronary syndrome.

AIM Inflammation is a critical participant in mediating all stages of cardiovascular disease. Studies related with chitotriosidase that was recently found to be relevant to arterial inflammation. In this study we evaluated activity of serum chitotriosidase in acute coronary syndrome patients and its relationship with cardiovascular events, cardiac enzymes and inflammatory indicators. METHODS We prospectively analyzed consecutive 30 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 30 patients with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 30 patients with unstable angina pectroris who were admitted to our intensive care unit and 30 healthy people (average age 56.86±10.44 years, 81 male) between Jaunary and June 2010. Details of baseline clinical characteristics, biochemical values, receiving treatment and basal ECG findings were recorded. Data of patients with coronary angiography were evaluated. RESULTS Cut off value of chitotriosidase was calculated 82.00 mmol·ml-1·h-1, with 83 percent sensitivity and 72 percent spesificity. The activity of chitotriosidase in acute coronary syndrome group was 88.85±23.08 mmol·ml-1 ·h-1, where as the control group was 68.47±28.44 mmol·ml-1·h-1, respectively p=0.001). The highest activity of chitotriosidase (96.11±19.77 mmol·ml-1·h-1) was found in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction group and the minimal activity of chitotriosidase was in the control group (68.47±28.44 mmol·ml-1·h-1) (p= 0.001). The activity of chitotriosidase in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction groups were significantly higher than control group (p=0.001 and p=0.045). When acute coronary syndrome groups compared to control; a positive correlation was found between chitotriosidase activity and hs-CRP (r=0.21, p= 0.046), troponin T (r=0.25, p=0.016), creatine kinase-MB (r=0.20, p=0.059). CONCLUSION The activity of chitotriosidase is increased in acute coronary syndrome patients. Chitotriosidase is higher in ST-segment elevation myocardial infaction group than non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina pectoris group.
Varicella-zoster virus infection under administration of ganciclovir after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Among the herpes viruses, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of the most important, as it can cause diseases such as herpes zoster after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) [1,2]. Acyclovir or valaciclovir, a prodrug of acyclovir, is an effective anti-VZV agent which remains the primary treatment choice for VZV infections. In addition to VZV, cytomegalovirus (CMV) frequently reactivates and causes diseases after HSCT, and ganciclovir is routinely used for the management of CMV reactivation in HSCT recipients [3]. Since ganciclovir exhibits excellent antiviral activity against VZV similar to that of acyclovir, it is unlikely that VZV could reactivate under the administration of ganciclovir [3,4]. We here report a case history of a patient who developed herpes zoster during treatment with a therapeutic dose of ganciclovir after allogeneic HSCT.
Significance of ulnar styloid fractures in childhood

Ulnar styloid fractures make up a common component of wrist fractures. In children, fractures of the distal radius often can be subtle. Our retrospective study of 222 children with wrist fractures showed that ulnar styloid fractures seldom occur as isolated injuries. Therefore, they serve as an extremely useful signal for the presence of an associated radial fracture. It was noted that some ulnar styloid fractures remain ununited, giving the appearance of a secondary ossification center of the ulnar styloid process.
A Narrative Review of Meaningful Use and Anesthesia Information Management Systems

The US federal government has enacted legislation for a federal incentive program for health care providers and hospitals to implement electronic health records. The primary goal of the Meaningful Use (MU) program is to drive adoption of electronic health records nationwide and set the stage to monitor and guide efforts to improve population health and outcomes. The MU program provides incentives for the adoption and use of electronic health record technology and, in some cases, penalties for hospitals or providers not using the technology. The MU program is administrated by the Department of Health and Human Services and is divided into 3 stages that include specific reporting and compliance metrics. The rationale is that increased use of electronic health records will improve the process of delivering care at the individual level by improving the communication and allow for tracking population health and quality improvement metrics at a national level in the long run. The goal of this narrative review is to describe the MU program as it applies to anesthesiologists in the United States. This narrative review will discuss how anesthesiologists can meet the eligible provider reporting criteria of MU by applying anesthesia information management systems (AIMS) in various contexts in the United States. Subsequently, AIMS will be described in the context of MU criteria. This narrative literature review also will evaluate the evidence supporting the electronic health record technology in the operating room, including AIMS, independent of certification requirements for the electronic health record technology under MU in the United States.
Perspectives of Health Care Providers on US South Asians’ Attitudes Toward Pain Management at End of Life

A lack of research on pain management among seriously ill South Asians reveals a critical gap in the knowledge base regarding culturally responsive end-of-life care. This qualitative descriptive study investigated the perspectives of health care providers that have cared for seriously ill older South Asians, on the attitudes of US South Asians toward the management of pain experienced at end of life and the factors that influenced these attitudes. Thematic analysis of interviews and focus group discussions with 57 health care providers indicated that providers perceive South Asian patients and families to be generally reluctant to use medications to treat pain experienced at end of life. Detailed description of patient-related and culturally based reasons for this reluctance is provided along with implications for hospice and palliative care.
Synthesis , Characterization and Sorption Behavior of Some Radionuclides on Zirconium Tungstate Ion Exchanger

Zirconium tungstate as an inorganic ion exchange material has been synthesized at different conditions. The materials were characterized by means infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The stability of the ion exchangers was investigated in acidic and alkaline media. Ion exchange properties of synthesized materials were studied by measuring the distribution coefficient for Cs, Sr, Co, and Eu radionuclides. In acidic medium, zirconium tungstate shows a high affinity for Cs. This result could be helpful for nuclear waste management, for waste water effluents containing Cs, Sr, Co, and Eu. The adsorption isotherm models of sorption process were calculated for Cs.
Absence of the γ Subunit of the Skeletal Muscle Dihydropyridine Receptor Increases L-type Ca2+ Currents and Alters Channel Inactivation Properties*

In skeletal muscle the oligomeric α1S, α2/δ-1 or α2/δ-2, β1, and γ1 L-type Ca2+ channel or dihydropyridine receptor functions as a voltage sensor for excitation contraction coupling and is responsible for the L-type Ca2+ current. The γ1 subunit, which is tightly associated with this Ca2+ channel, is a membrane-spanning protein exclusively expressed in skeletal muscle. Previously, heterologous expression studies revealed that γ1 might modulate Ca2+currents expressed by the pore subunit found in heart, α1C, shifting steady state inactivation, and increasing current amplitude. To determine the role of γ1 assembled with the skeletal subunit composition in vivo, we used gene targeting to establish a mouse model, in which γ1 expression is eliminated. Comparing litter-matched mice with control mice, we found that, in contrast to heterologous expression studies, the loss of γ1 significantly increased the amplitude of peak dihydropyridine-sensitive ICa in isolated myotubes. Whereas the activation kinetics of the current remained unchanged, inactivation of the current was slowed in γ1-deficient myotubes and, correspondingly, steady state inactivation of ICa was shifted to more positive membrane potentials. These results indicate that γ1 decreases the amount of Ca2+ entry during stimulation of skeletal muscle.
Leaderless transcripts of the crenarchaeal hyperthermophile Pyrobaculum aerophilum.

We mapped transcription start sites for ten unrelated protein-encoding Pyrobaculum aerophilum genes by primer extension and S(1) nuclease mapping. All of the mapped transcripts start at the computationally predicted translation start codons, two of which were supported by N-terminal protein sequencing. A whole genome computational analysis of the regions from -50 to +50 nt around the predicted translation starts codons revealed a clear upstream pattern matching the consensus sequence of the archaeal TATA box located unusually close to the translation starts. For genes with the TATA boxes that best matched the consensus sequence, the distance between the TATA box and the translation start codon appears to be shorter than 30 nt. Two other promoter elements distinguished were also found unusually close to the translation start codons: a transcription initiator element with significant elevation of C and T frequencies at the -1 position and a BRE element with more frequent A bases at position -29 to -32 (counting from the translation start site). We also show that one of the mapped genes is transcribed as the first gene of an operon. For a set of genes likely to be internal in operons the upstream signal extracted by computer analysis was a Shine-Dalgarno pattern matching the complementary sequence of P. aerophilum 16 S rRNA. Together these results suggest that the translation of proteins encoded by single genes or genes that are first in operons in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon P. aerophilum proceeds mostly, if not exclusively, through leaderless transcripts. Internal genes in operons are likely to undergo translation via a mechanism that is facilitated by ribosome binding to the Shine-Dalgarno sequence.
Site-specific derivatization of RNA with photocrosslinkable groups.

Derivatization of RNA with heterobifunctional photocrosslinking reagents becomes an increasingly popular method for the analysis of structural properties of ribonucleoprotein complexes. This article describes a simple chemical modification-derivatization strategy used to introduce selected chemical groups at specific internal positions within the RNA ribose backbone. The strategy is based on the coupling of a haloacetyl adduct to a thiol residue in the phosphodiester bond. The use of a number of RNA probes derivatized with several different photoreactive groups can provide invaluable information on the structural distribution of components in complex ribonucleoprotein assemblies.
A method for solving the inverse kinematics problem of 6-DOF space manipulator

The inverse kinematics is an important problem in the automatic control of space manipulator. We formulate the kinematics equations of 6-DOF space manipulator and study a method for solving the inverse kinematics problem in the paper, and the analytic solution of the inverse kinematics problem is also given. The method has avoided a large amount of inverse matrix multiplication, and needn't the coordinate conversion of the end-effector. We use virtual prototyping to model a 6-dof mechanical arm system of free-flying space robot (FFR) and simulate the space manipulator system, it shows the validity of the method