Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of pregnancy and lactation on the absorption of zinc and lysine by the rat duodenum in situ

1. The absorption of zinc by the duodenum of the rat was greatly enhanced at late stages of pregnancy and during lactation. 2. During pregnancy no increase in lysine uptake could be demonstrated, but during lactation, when further increases in Zn absorption occurred, uptake of lysine was increased. 3. The increased absorption of Zn at different stages of pregnancy and lactation appeared to be related to the demand made by the developing foetuses and post-natal offspring.
POLITECNICO DI TORINO Repository ISTITUZIONALE service dynamicity with a DevOps approach: demonstrating zero-touch deployment & operations

—Next generation network services will be realized by NFV-based microservices to enable greater dynamics in deployment and operations. Here, we present a demonstrator that realizes this concept using the NFV platform built in the EU FP7 project UNIFY. Using the example of an Elastic Router service, we show automated deployment and conﬁguration of service components as well as corresponding monitoring components facilitating automated scaling of the entire service. We also demonstrate automatic execution of troubleshooting and debug- ging actions. Operations of the service are inspired by DevOps principles, enabling quick detection of operational conditions and fast corrective actions. This demo conveys essential insights on how the life-cycle of an NFV-based network service may be realized in future NFV platforms.
Novel trypanocide from an extract of Pleurotus sajor-caju against Trypanosoma congolense

Abstract Context: Control of African trypanosomiasis relies on chemotherapy, but the development of resistance and the problem of drug residues require research for alternatives. Triterpenes and phenolics, the major constituents of Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer (Pleurotaceae), are reported to be effective against trypanosomiasis. Objective: Trypanocidal effect of whole Pleurotus sajor-caju aqueous extract was investigated in vivo against Trypanosoma congolense. Materials and methods: Mice (25–32 g) were divided into seven groups of six animals. Mice in groups A–F received 2.5 × 104 trypanosomes, while group G was uninfected. Extracts (100–250 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally for 5 days to groups A–D while diminazine aceturate (group E) and normal saline (group F) served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Parasitemia, survival time, body weight and haematological parameters were monitored for 60 days post-treatment. Results: Parasitemia decreased significantly (p < 0.01) post-treatment with 200 and 250 mg/kg of the extract and became undetectable by day 16 and 12 post-infection, respectively; the ED50 was 221.5 mg/kg. The packed cell volume (PCV) and the weight of mice treated with 250 mg/kg extract were 46.20 ± 2.6% and 32.05 ± 3.63 g, respectively, which is higher than the group treated with diminazine aceturate. The mean survival time of animals in groups D and E was >60 days, while that of group F was <4 days. Differential leucocyte count on day 68 post-infection in groups C, D and E were not significantly different. Conclusion: Pleurotus sajor-caju therefore could be a potential source of new trypanocidal drugs.
Periodic domain inversion and generation of blue light in lithium tantalate waveguides

Generation of blue light from small solid-state light sources is a technological challenge with applications in many areas, among others optical data storage. The authors report frequency doubling using third-order quasi-phase matching in periodically domain-inverted lithium tantalate waveguides. Periodic proton exchange followed by heat treatment caused periodic domain inversion and waveguide formation in a single step. Infrared radiation from a dye laser was coupled through the waveguides and second-harmonic generation corresponding to third-order quasi-phase-matching was observed. <<ETX>>
Short Assessment of Health Literacy-Spanish and English: a comparable test of health literacy for Spanish and English speakers.

OBJECTIVE The intent of the study was to develop and validate a comparable health literacy test for Spanish-speaking and English-speaking populations. STUDY DESIGN The design of the instrument, named the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-Spanish and English (SAHL-S&E), combined a word recognition test, as appearing in the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), and a comprehension test using multiple-choice questions designed by an expert panel. We used the item response theory (IRT) in developing and validating the instrument. DATA COLLECTION Validation of SAHL-S&E involved testing and comparing the instrument with other health literacy instruments in a sample of 201 Spanish-speaking and 202 English-speaking subjects recruited from the Ambulatory Care Center at the University of North Carolina Healthcare System. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Based on IRT analysis, 18 items were retained in the comparable test. The Spanish version of the test, SAHL-S, was highly correlated with other Spanish health literacy instruments, Short Assessment of Health Literacy for Spanish-Speaking Adults (r=0.88, p<.05) and the Spanish Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA) (r=0.62, p<.05). The English version, SAHL-E, had high correlations with REALM (r=0.94, p<.05) and the English TOFHLA (r=0.68, p<.05). Significant correlations were found between SAHL-S&E and years of schooling in both Spanish- and English-speaking samples (r=0.15 and 0.39, respectively). SAHL-S&E displayed satisfactory reliability of 0.80 and 0.89 in the Spanish- and English-speaking samples, respectively. IRT analysis indicated that the SAHL-S&E score was highly reliable for individuals with a low level of health literacy. CONCLUSIONS The new instrument, SAHL-S&E, has good reliability and validity. It is particularly useful for identifying individuals with low health literacy and could be used to screen for low health literacy among Spanish and English speakers.
Towards a re‐definition of ‘cardiac hypertrophy’ through a rational characterization of left ventricular phenotypes: a position paper of the Working Group ‘Myocardial Function’ of the ESC

Many primary or secondary diseases of the myocardium are accompanied with complex remodelling of the cardiac tissue that results in increased heart mass, often identified as cardiac ‘hypertrophy’. Although there have been numerous attempts at defining such ‘hypertrophy’, the present paper delineates the reasons as to why current definitions of cardiac hypertrophy remain unsatisfying. Based on a brief review of the underlying pathophysiology and tissue and cellular events driving myocardial remodelling with or without changes in heart dimensions, as well as current techniques to detect such changes, we propose to restrict the use of the currently popular term ‘hypertrophy’ to cardiac myocytes that may or may not accompany the more complex tissue rearrangements leading to changes in shape or size of the ventricles, more broadly referred to as ‘remodelling’. We also discuss the great potential of genetically modified (mouse) models as tools to define the molecular pathways leading to the different forms of left ventricle remodelling. Finally, we present an algorithm for the stepwise assessment of myocardial phenotypes applicable to animal models using well‐established imaging techniques and propose a list of parameters most suited for a critical evaluation of such pathophysiological phenomena in mouse models. We believe that this effort is the first step towards a much auspicated unification of the terminology between the experimental and the clinical cardiologists.
Time‐related Changes in Basal Phosphoinositide Turnover after Induction of Long‐term Potentiation in the Dentate Gyrus are Blocked by Commissural Stimulation

We have examined basal phosphoinositide turnover in synaptosomes obtained from the dentate gyrus of anaesthetized rats in which long‐term potentiation was induced unilaterally in perforant path‐granule cell synapses. Relative to the unpotentiated side. [3H]myo‐inositol labelling of inositol phosphates was significantly enhanced 45 min and 3 h after induction of long‐term potentiation, but reduced after 2.5 min. Similarly, [14C]arachidonic acid labelling of 1,2‐diacylglycerol was increased 45 min and 3 h after induction of long‐term potentiation, but reduced after 2.5 min. In a second series of experiments, induction of long‐term potentiation was blocked by stimulation of the commissural projection to granule cells. In synaptosomes prepared from this tissue, there was no difference in phosphoinositide turnover between tetanized and control sides at any of the three post‐tetanic intervals. We conclude that in the dentate gyrus, long‐term potentiation is associated with an increase in phosphoinositide turnover which is established between 2.5 min and 45 min post‐tetanus and which persists for at least 3 h.
Single‐Domain Antibodies and Their Utility

Engineered monoclonal antibody fragments have gained market attention due to their versatility and tailor‐made potential and are now considered to be an important part of future immunobiotherapeutics. Single‐domain antibodies (sdAbs), also known as nanobodies, are derived from VHHs [variable domains (V) of heavy‐chain‐only antibodies (HCAb)] of camelid heavy‐chain antibodies. These nature‐made sdAbs are well suited for various applications due to their favorable characteristics such as small size, ease of genetic manipulation, high affinity and solubility, overall stability, resistance to harsh conditions (e.g., low pH, high temperature), and low immunogenicity. Most importantly, sdAbs have the feature of penetrating into cavities and recognizing hidden epitopes normally inaccessible to conventional antibodies, mainly due to their protruding CDR3/H3 loops. In this unit, we will present and discuss comprehensive and step‐by‐step protocols routinely practiced in our laboratory for isolating sdAbs from immunized llamas (or other members of the Camelidae family) against target antigens using phage‐display technology. Expression, purification, and characterization of the isolated sdAbs will then be described, followed by presentation of several examples of applications of sdAbs previously characterized in our laboratory and elsewhere. Curr. Protoc. Immunol. 103:2.17. 1‐2.17. 57. ©2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Growth in Full- Term Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants: From Birth to Final Height

ABSTRACT: Intrauterine growth retardation, or being small for gestational age (SGA), has a life-long impact on a fetus's potential for development and survival. The incidence and relative risk of short stature in children born SGA were studied using a Swedish healthy full-term (37–43 wk of gestation) singleton birth cohort (n = 3650) from Göteborg, followed from birth to final height at about 18 y of age. Most infants, defined as SGA on the basis of a birth length less than –2 standard deviation scores (SDS) below the mean (SGAL infants), showed catch-up growth during the first 6 mo after birth, and by 1 y only 13.4% of the SGAL infants were below –2 SDS in height. This percentage decreased further during childhood to reach a value of 7.9% at 18 y of age. Although most SGAL infants have catch-up growth in early life, those who do not constitute 21% of short, prepubertal children. At 18 y of age, 22% of the total short population were short at birth (< – 2 SDS), whereas when birth weight was used to define SGA, only 14% of the 18-y-old short population were light at birth. SGAL infants were found to have a 7-fold higher risk for short final stature (relative risk, 7.1; 95% confidence interval, 3.7–13.6) in comparison with the non-SGAL group. In a multiple linear regression analysis, both birth length and mid-parental height were found to be significantly related to the magnitude of catch-up growth from birth to 18 y of age. Neither the length of gestation nor birth weight showed such a relationship. It is concluded that the vast majority (>86%) of "healthy‘’ full-term singleton SGAL infants will achieve catch-up in height during the first 6–12 mo of life, and that this is almost independent of whether birth weight or birth length is used to define SGA. Of the remaining, non-catch-up SGA infants, about 50% remain short in final height, and thus constitute a high risk group for persistent short stature.
The heat resistance of tubercle bacilli in the lungs of infected mice.

1 From the Medical Research Council Unit for Research on Drug Sensitivity in Tuberculosis, Postgraduate Medical School of London, London, W. 12, England. 2 Present address: Public Health Laboratory, Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, England. Rees and D'Arcy Hart's hypothesis of a static bacillary population, using heat resistance as a criterion of the state of the bacilli. It was first necessary to show that multiplying and nonmultiplying tubercle bacilli differed in their resistance to heat. The technique was then applied to investigate the bacilli in the lungs of chronically infected mice; these mice were among those employed in the work of Rees and D'Arcy Hart (7). In addition, mice with acute progressive tuberculosis were included in the experiments; in such animals a proportion of the bacilli should be multiplying, and it was hoped that the comparison of the two groups of mice would add further weight to any conclusion reached.
Structure-activity relationships of some arylglycine analogues and catechol isosteres of BRL 36650, a 6 alpha-formamido penicillin.

The catecholic acylureido derivative BRL 36650 was the most potent, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. We now report on analogues of 1 which either retain a catechol or dihydroxyphenyl unit or contain various catechol isosteres.
Microsurgical Reconstruction for Canalicular Laceration Using Monostent® and Mini-Monoka®

Many surgical techniques are available for repairing a lacerated canaliculus, such as, Worst pigtail probing, and monocanalicular or bicanalicular procedures involving silicone intubation. Despite this, controversy still exists regarding the best surgical method in terms of subjective and objective outcomes. We report the experience of microscopic canalicular repair using monocanalicular stents; Monostent (Eagle Vision Inc., Memphis, TN) and Mini-Monoka stents (FCI Ophthalmics, Marshfield Hills, MA) and compare these 2 products. Seventeen cases of canalicular lacerations in 15 consecutive patients underwent microscopic canalicular repair using a monocanalicular procedure with either a Monostent (Eagle Vision Inc.) (5 cases) or a Mini-Monoka stent (FCI Ophthalmics) (12 cases). Microscopic anastomosis of the canalicular mucosa was performed following the placement of a juxta canalicular suture to reduce tension. Subjective and objective flows of repaired lacrimal drainage systems were checked by saline injection using a Healon needle (Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Ana, CA) and dacryocystogram. Patent lacrimal drainage systems were achieved in 16 of the 17 cases, and mild epiphora was acceptable in 14 patients during follow-up. No cases of spontaneous punctal plug migration, stent displacement, eyeball irritation or inflammation, or granuloma formation were encountered. However, in one case, a Mini-Monoka stent (FCI Ophthalmics) was repeatedly extruded or clogged internally and replaced by Monostent (Eagle Vision Inc.). Although the latter had a larger conduit diameter, it was more flexible and had potentially folded on itself in the lacrimal sac, thus, obstructing flow in this case. Microscopic canalicular reconstruction using a Monostent (Eagle Vision Inc.) or Mini-Monoka stent (FCI Ophthalmics) offers a safe, effective, and straightforward means of acute lacrimal system injury treatment.
Genome‐Wide Analysis of Tar Spot Complex Resistance in Maize Using Genotyping‐by‐Sequencing SNPs and Whole‐Genome Prediction

Association and linkage mapping are effective for dissecting genetic architecture of complex traits in maize. TSC resistance in maize is controlled by a major QTL and several minor QTL. Major QTL on bin 8.03 confirmed by association and linkage mapping. TSC resistance in tropical maize could be improved by MAS and GS individually or stepwise.
Analysis and synthesis of feedforward neural networks using discrete affine wavelet transformations

A representation of a class of feedforward neural networks in terms of discrete affine wavelet transforms is developed. It is shown that by appropriate grouping of terms, feedforward neural networks with sigmoidal activation functions can be viewed as architectures which implement affine wavelet decompositions of mappings. It is shown that the wavelet transform formalism provides a mathematical framework within which it is possible to perform both analysis and synthesis of feedforward networks. For the purpose of analysis, the wavelet formulation characterizes a class of mappings which can be implemented by feedforward networks as well as reveals an exact implementation of a given mapping in this class. Spatio-spectral localization properties of wavelets can be exploited in synthesizing a feedforward network to perform a given approximation task. Two synthesis procedures based on spatio-spectral localization that reduce the training problem to one of convex optimization are outlined.
Atomic layer deposition of 1D and 2D nickel nanostructures on graphite

One-dimensional (1D) nanowires (NWs) and two-dimensional (2D) thin films of Ni were deposited on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) by atomic layer deposition (ALD), using NH3 as a counter reactant. Thermal ALD using NH3 gas forms 1D NWs along step edges, while NH3 plasma enables the deposition of a continuous 2D film over the whole surface. The lateral and vertical growth rates of the Ni NWs are numerically modeled as a function of the number of ALD cycles. Pretreatment with NH3 gas promotes selectivity in deposition by the reduction of oxygenated functionalities on the HOPG surface. On the other hand, NH3 plasma pretreatment generates surface nitrogen species, and results in a morphological change in the basal plane of graphite, leading to active nucleation across the surface during ALD. The effects of surface nitrogen species on the nucleation of ALD Ni were theoretically studied by density functional theory calculations. Our results suggest that the properties of Ni NWs, such as their density and width, and the formation of Ni thin films on carbon surfaces can be controlled by appropriate use of NH3.
Surface‐to‐volume ratio mapping of tumor microstructure using oscillating gradient diffusion weighted imaging

To disentangle the free diffusivity (D0) and cellular membrane restrictions, by means of their surface‐to‐volume ratio (S/V), using the frequency‐dependence of the diffusion coefficient D(ω), measured in brain tumors in the short diffusion‐time regime using oscillating gradients (OGSE).
Developing a Model for a ‘Ladder of Incubation’ Linked to Higher and Further Education Institutions in Wales

Business incubators play a critical role in economic regeneration through the development and support of new and sustainable enterprises. Many UK incubator projects are funded by the European Commission through the higher education sector. This study compares and contrasts six business incubation case studies and identifies significant criteria for successful operation and ongoing sustainability. A conceptual framework for a ‘ladder’ of business incubation, supporting new businesses through start-up and growth, is proposed as a guide to good practice. The findings clearly identify the need for key partnerships with public-sector and private-sector stakeholders to ensure incubator longevity.
Conceptual Foundations of Communities of Practice as Organizational Structures

In recent years, the interest in and development of communities of practice (CoPs) has undergone exponential growth. However, this uncontrolled expansion has, to a large extent, led to the name of community of practice being attributed to working groups or communities that are not communities of practice. The aim of this work is to shed a little light on this confusion and identify and characterise communities of practice compared with other types of groups or organizational structures. To achieve this aim, first of all, we are going to introduce an intuitive and agreed definition of community of practice. In a second movement, we will identify and define the principal groups or organizational structures that are used, besides communities of practice, by organizations to improve their strategies when meeting these aims that they are pursuing. We will then present a comparison between these organizational structures or groups and communities of practice. The chapter ends by offering a number of conclusions and providing some guidelines on the future development of communities of practice.
[The molecular genetic and clinical findings in two probands with Stargardt disease].

PURPOSE The aim of our study was to describe the phenotype and to perform molecular genetic investigation in two probands of Czech origin diagnosed with Stargardt disease (STGD). METHODS Both males underwent ocular examination including assessment by high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). DNA was isolated from venous blood. Mutation detection was performed using the ABCA4 genotyping microarray (Asper Ophthalmics, Estonia). RESULTS The best corrected visual acuity in proband 1 (aged 39 years) was 0.1 bilaterally, and 0.05 in proband 2 (aged 26 years). Fundus examination showed typical multiple yellow-white lesions and macular atrophy. Alterations of retinal pigment epithelium, retinal thinning and disruption of the photoreceptor inner segment ellipsoid band were detected with an SD-OCT. Two known disease-causing mutations in ABCA4 were identified in proband 1; c.4234C>T, p.(Gln1412*) in exon 28; and c.5882G>A, p.(Gly1961Glu) in exon 42. Only one pathogenic change was detected in proband 2; c.1988G>A, p.(Trp663*) in exon 14. A second change, anticipated because of the recessive status of the disease, was not identified. CONCLUSION The frequency and full spectrum of ABCA4 mutations in Czech patients with inherited retinal disorders is yet to be established. The inability to detect a second pathogenic change in ABCA4 coding sequences in proband 2 warrants further investigation.