Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the polyphosphate-accumulating microflora in phosphorus-eliminating, anaerobic-aerobic activated sludge systems by using diaminopropane as a biomarker for rapid estimation of Acinetobacter spp

Polyphosphate-accumulating gram-negative bacteria were isolated from different anaerobic-aerobic activated sludge systems with diverse processes for enhanced biological phosphorus (P) elimination. Of 22 isolates, 10 were allocated to the genus Acinetobacter by using multiple-test systems and soluble protein and polyamine patterns. As diaminopropane (DAP) appears to be the characteristic main polyamine compound produced by Acinetobacter spp. , it was used as a biomarker for the genus. The high DAP contents of representative samples from municipal wastes with enhanced biological P elimination indicated that Acinetobacter spp. can be dominant organisms in sewage treatment plants with low organic loading and nitrification and denitrification steps. Contrary to accepted opinion, sludge from treatment plants with efficient P removal and high organic loading had a low DAP content, indicating that bacteria other than Acinetobacter spp. are responsible for enhanced biological P elimination in these plants.
Dietary protein as a factor affecting vitamin B6 requirement.

Rats were fed 20 or 70% casein diets with varying amounts of vitamin B6 (B6), and the B6 content and B6-dependent enzymatic activity in their tissues were examined to determine the minimum requirement of B6 for animals subjected to different levels of dietary protein (i.e., 20%: 0, 1.45, 2.90, 5.80 mg pyridoxine (PN)/kg diet; 70%: 0, 2.90, 5.80, 8.70 mg PN/kg diet). B6 requirements for the rats were almost met in the 1.45 mg PN/kg 20% casein diet and the 2.90 mg PN/kg 70% casein diet when judged from the hepatic B6 content. However, almost twice the PN was required in both 20 and 70% casein diets when judged from PLP-enzymatic activity. The content of B6 vitamers in plasma appeared to be most sensitive to B6 status, though the satisfactory level is not known. It was confirmed that, in any case tested, a high-protein diet increased the requirement of B6.
Early recognition of smoke in digital video

This paper presents a method for direct smoke detection from video without enhancement pre-processing steps. Smoke is characterized by transparency, gray color and irregularities in motion, which are hard to describe with the basic image features. A method for robust smoke description using a color balancing algorithm and turbulence calculation is presented in this work. Background extraction is used as a first step in processing. All moving objects are candidates for smoke. We make use of Gray World algorithm and compare the results with the original video sequence in order to extract image features within some particular gray scale interval. As a last step we calculate shape complexity of turbulent phenomena and apply it to the incoming video stream. As a result we extract only smoke from the video. Features such shadows, illumination changes and people will not be mistaken for smoke by the algorithm. This method gives an early indication of smoke in the observed scene.
The I Domain of Integrin Leukocyte Function-associated Antigen-1 Is Involved in a Conformational Change Leading to High Affinity Binding to Ligand Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1)*

On T cells the leukocyte integrin leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18) can be induced to bind its ligand intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) (CD54) either by increasing the affinity of the receptor with Mg2+ and EGTA or by receptor clustering following activation with phorbol ester. The existence of these two adhesion-inducing pathways implies that alternative mechanisms might exist by which LFA-1 engages ICAM-1. The LFA-1 α subunit I domain contains a major binding site for ICAM-1. In this study we show that soluble LFA-1 I domain blocks ICAM-1 binding of the high affinity Mg2+-induced form of LFA-1 but not the phorbol ester-induced form. Under conditions of Mg2+-activation, the soluble I domain also prevents expression of an activation dependent epitope on LFA-1, implying that it inhibits a conformational change necessary for conversion to the high affinity form of this integrin. In addition, the binding of Mg2+-activated LFA-1 to ICAM-1 is blocked by peptides covering the α4-β3 loop, the β3-α5 loop, and the α5 helix of the I domain, whereas none of the peptides tested blocks phorbol ester-mediated adhesion. The blocking peptides localize to the same face of the crystal structure of the LFA-1 I domain and define an area that, during activation, may be involved in association of the I domain with another region of LFA-1, potentially the β-propeller domain. This is the first evidence linking a structural domain of an integrin, in this case the I domain, with a particular activation mechanism.
Normal levels of tryptophan hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the dorsal raphe of depressed suicide victims

A variety of evidence suggests that serotonin neurotransmission is altered in the brain of suicide victims and depressed patients. While numerous post‐mortem studies have investigated serotonin transporters and receptors, few studies have examined the biosynthetic integrity of the rate‐limiting enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), in post‐mortem specimens of depressed suicide subjects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the levels of TPH immunoreactivity (IR) are altered in specific subnuclei of the dorsal raphe (DR) in depressed suicide victims. Suicide victims with a confirmed diagnosis of major depression were matched with non‐psychiatric controls based on age, gender and post‐mortem interval. Frozen tissue sections containing the DR were selected from two anatomical levels and processed for TPH radioimmunocytochemistry. The optical density corresponding to the regional levels of TPH‐IR was quantified in specific subnuclei of the DR from the film autoradiographic images. No significant differences in the levels of TPH‐IR were found in any DR subnuclei between depressed suicide victims and control subjects. The lack of change in TPH‐IR levels does not necessarily imply that serotonin synthesis or neurotransmission is not altered in the brain of depressed subjects. Many factors influence and regulate serotonin synthesis, and it is conceivable that alterations exist at other levels of regulation of serotonin biosynthesis in depression. Our findings indicate that TPH biosynthesis, at least at the protein level, is not significantly altered in the DR of depressed suicide victims.
A Research on the Matching of Firm Capability with Customer Value

The potential to create value for customers stems from firm capabilities. More and more managerial practices have made it clear that supplier’s capability is the key factor of evaluating its potential of value creation and is a major indicator for industry customers to select suppliers. The paper discusses the effects of firm capability on customer value separately from supplier and customer perspectives, and constructs the matching framework of capability to customer value based on analyzing the characteristics of different types of customer value. The matching framework that the paper describtion is of important implications for firms how to create customer value through developing and using capabilities.
ESTROUS CYCLE DISRUPTION IN RATS BY FLUORANTHENE

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds containing prominent benzene rings in them. They are commonly found pollutants in the atmosphere. Many of them are known to be carcinogenic or teratogenic in nature. Fluoranthene (FLA) is one among the 16 priority PAHs listed by the US EPA. It is the most abundant PAH found in vehicle exhaust and often generated as a product of incomplete combustion, burning of woods and cooking at high temperatures. The toxicity of PAHs has been checked in aquatic organisms and less explored in other organisms. Humans are exposed to PAHs on daily basis, both indoors and outdoors. The toxicity assessment in rats may help to corroborate their effect in humans. Particularly the reproductive toxicity of FLA is not yet reported. This study was designed to study the effect of FLA in disrupting the regular estrous cycle (reproductive cycle) in rats. The results revealed a significant reduction in the number of normal cycles in FLA administered rats compared to that of intact. The oxidative stress imposed in the ovary and uterus by FLA administration was confirmed through histological examination. This study makes it clear that FLA has a significant influence on the reproductive organs thereby affecting the estrous cycle.
Leptin and its receptor in normal human gastric mucosa and in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis.

BACKGROUND Leptin, a newly discovered weight-reducing hormone, is mainly produced in fat cells. Recently, this hormone has been reported to be produced in rat gastric mucosa cells. In the present study we analyzed the localization and expression of leptin and its receptors in normal human gastric mucosa and in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. METHODS Plasma leptin levels and gastric mucosa leptin content were determined in 39 patients with dyspepsia. Cellular localization of leptin and of the signaling receptor (Ob-RL) were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for leptin receptor isoforms was performed on gastric epithelial cells isolated by laser-capture-microdissection. RESULTS Leptin content of the corpus gastric mucosa in H. pylori-positive patients was significantly increased (4.6+/-1.2. n = 15) as compared with the H. pylori-negative group (27.5+/-0.5 pg/mg, n = 24, P = 0.006). The presence of leptin immunoreactivity was shown in the lower half of corpus epithelial glands. By RT-PCR no leptin mRNA was detectable in human gastric tissue. In contrast, expression of both Ob-R(L) and the leptin receptor isoforms could be detected in gastric epithelial cells. Leptin receptor protein was detected throughout the mucosa. CONCLUSIONS Leptin itself is stored and secreted but not produced in human gastric mucosa. The functional receptor and all isoforms are present in human gastric mucosa. H. pylori-associated gastritis leads to significant increases in local leptin concentration in the gastric corpus.
A Compendium of Practices for Central Bank Digital Currencies for Multinational Financial Infrastructures

Over five thousand digital currencies have been issued by private sector actors since the release of the Bitcoin digital currency in 2009. Private sector issuance of distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and other altcoins threaten the stability of financial market infrastructures and preservation of monetary policy. Consequently, many central banks and monetary authorities have begun research and experimentation on central bank-issued digital currencies (CBDCs) to mitigate this threat. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of publicly available DLT-based CBDC experiments with completed proof-of-concept prototypes from across the world to enable an understanding of the motivations and best practice approaches for undertaking CBDC experiments. We provide a classification and generic framework for CBDCs and highlight existing DLT platform limitations and use cases in the financial services industry. Overall, our paper organizes in one place, all the relevant, publicly available DLT-based CBDC experiments with completed proof-of-concept prototypes to serve as a reference point for central banks, monetary authorities and researchers desiring to undertake research on DLT-based CBDCs. Ultimately, we present a survey on the technical feasibility and challenges of leveraging DLT to issue the selected CBDC experiments surveyed in this paper.
All-inside meniscal repair devices and techniques

Techniques and devices for meniscal repair are evolving, including for all-inside meniscal repair. The first-generation all-inside meniscal repair devices were simplistic in design, but their technical difficulties and risks led to the development of second-generation devices. These devices employed the suture anchor concept for repair and confirmed the safety of use through standard anterior arthroscopic portals. Third-generation devices introduced the idea of rigid, bioabsorbable materials; unfortunately, these demonstrated higher failure and complication rates compared with other repair techniques. They were also limited in their ability to adjust compression and tension across the repair. Now, fourth-generation devices have been developed that are flexible, suture-based, and allow for variable compression and retensioning across the tear. Each device has its own specifications and technical nuances. With a comprehensive understanding of the current devices available, the industry and surgeons may continue in the development of safer, more successful, user-friendly and cost-effective all-inside devices.
National Culture : Symbols and Reality. The Hungarian Case

This paper deals with the formation of Hungarian national culture at the turn of the century, showing how divergent cultural strategies and practices were applied in step with changes in social structure. The peculiarly Hungarian experience results from the dual social structure which divides Hungarian national culture into two independent parts. On the one hand there is the ancient peasant culture with strong ties to oriental tradition. On the other hand there is the urban or bourgeois culture which was associated with modernization. This dual character of Hungarian society and of Hungarian national culture I interpret as the coexistence of symbolic and real dimensions of national culture.
Holocene Dynamics of Temperate Rainforests in West-Central Patagonia

Analysis of long-term ecosystem dynamics offer insights into the conditions that have led to stability versus rapid change in the past and the importance of disturbance in regulating community composition. In this study, we (1) used lithology, pollen and charcoal data from Mallin Casanova (47°S) to reconstruct the wetland, vegetation and fire history of west-central Patagonia; and (2) compared the records with independent paleoenvironmental and archeological information to assess the effects of past climate and human activity on ecosystem dynamics. Pollen data indicate that Nothofagus-Pilgerodendron forests were established by 9000 cal yr BP. Although the biodiversity of the understory increased between 8480 and 5630 cal yr BP, forests remained relatively unchanged from 9000 to 2000 cal yr BP. The charcoal record registers high fire-episode frequency in the early Holocene followed by low biomass burning between 6500 and 2000 cal yr BP. Covarying trends in charcoal, bog development and Neoglacial advances suggest that climate was the primary driver of these changes. After 2000 cal yr BP, the proxy data indicate (a) increased fire-episode frequency; (b) centennial-scale shifts in bog and forest composition; (c) the emergence of vegetation-fire linkages not recorded in previous times; and (d) paludification in the last 500 years possibly associated with forest loss. Our results therefore suggest that Nothofagus-Pilgerodendron dominance was maintained through much of the Holocene despite long-term changes in climate and fire. Unparalleled fluctuations in local ecosystems during the last two millennia were governed by disturbance-vegetation-hydrology feedbacks likely triggered by greater climate variability and deforestation.
Immune Cells Mimic the Morphology of Endothelial Progenitor Colonies In Vitro

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are considered powerful biologic markers for vascular function and cardiovascular risk, predicting events and death from cardiovascular causes. Colony‐forming units of endothelial progenitor cells (CFU‐EC) are used to quantify EPC circulating in human peripheral blood. The mechanisms underlying colony formation and the nature of the contributing cells are not clear. We performed subtractive CFU‐EC analyses to determine the impact of various blood cell types and kinetics of protein and gene expression during colony formation. We found that CFU‐EC mainly comprise T cells and monocytes admixed with B cells and natural killer cells. The combination of purified T cells and monocytes formed CFU‐EC structures. The lack of colonies after depletion or functional ablation of T cells or monocytes was contrasted with effective CFU‐EC formation in the absence of CD34+ cells. Microarray analyses revealed activation of immune function‐related biological processes without changes in angiogenesis‐related processes during colony formation. In concordance with a regenerative function, soluble factors derived from CFU‐EC cultures supported vascular network formation in vitro. Recognizing CFU‐EC formation as the result of a functional cross between T cells and monocytes shifts expectations of vascular regenerative medicine. Our data support the move from a view of circulating EPC toward models that include a role for immune cells in vascular regeneration.
The Analysis of Non-Symmetric Evolutionary Game of Virtual Enterprise Knowledge Transfer

In the premise of limited rationality, the varied member enterprises in Virtual Enterprise can carry on Repeated Non-symmetric Games, simulate gradually by choosing advantageous strategy based on different profit and reach a balanced stable evolutionary state by adopting certain strategy finally. According to evolutionary game theory and the basic theory of Virtual Enterprise Knowledge Transfer, we construct the non-symmetric evolutionary Game model of Virtual Enterprise Knowledge Transfer. We carry on model in different income parameters, making an evolutionary analysis of non-symmetric co-competition game and finally find out some different strategies while doing knowledge transfer for the member of Virtual Enterprise. it will help to construct incentive mechanism of knowledge transfer in Virtual Enterprises that the analysis of Non-Symmetric Evolutionary Game of knowledge transfer among the members, Thereby enhancing the competitive advantage of Virtual Enterprises.
Polymorphisms Associated with Resistance and Cross-Resistance to Aminoglycosides and Capreomycin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from South Korean Patients with Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The aminoglycosides streptomycin, amikacin, and kanamycin and the cyclic polypeptide capreomycin are all widely used in second-line therapy for patients who develop multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. We have characterized a set of 106 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) to determine the extent of resistance to each agent and cross-resistance between agents. These results were compared with polymorphisms in the DNA sequences of ribosome-associated genes previously implicated in resistance and with the clinical outcomes of subjects from whom these isolates were obtained. Thirty-six (34%) of these isolates displayed resistance to one or more of these agents, and the majority of these (20 of 36) showed cross-resistance to one or more agents. Most (33 of 36) of the resistant isolates showed polymorphisms in the 16S ribosome components RpsL and rrs. Three resistant strains (3 of 36) were identified that had no known polymorphisms in ribosomal constituents. For kanamycin and streptomycin, molecular DST significantly outperformed phenotypic DST using the absolute concentration method for predicting 4-month sputum conversion (likelihood ratios of 4.0 and 2.0, respectively) and was equivalent to phenotypic DST using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)-approved agar proportion method for estimating MIC (likelihood ratio, 4.0). These results offer insight into mechanisms of resistance and cross-resistance among these agents and suggest that the development of rapid molecular tests to distinguish polymorphisms would significantly enhance clinical utility of this important class of second-line antituberculosis drugs.
Different Patterns of Attentional Bias in Subjects with Spider Phobia: A Dot Probe Task using Virtual Reality Environment

Background: Cognitive theories posit that small animal phobics develop a hypervigilance-avoidance attentional pattern when coping with threat. However, empirical research has failed to obtain consistent results. We aimed at addressing this issue by diminishing the methodological flaws that hinder the internal and ecological validity of previous studies.
[The expression of platelet-derived growth factor-A and its receptor in acute radiation-induced skin ulcer in rats].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the dynamic expression of platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A) and its receptor alpha (PDGFR-alpha) in different acute radiation-induced skin ulcers, and to explore the underlying mechanism involved in retarded healing of the ulcer. METHODS The model of acute radiation-induced skin ulcers in rats was replicated with 50 Gy 60Co gamma rays to the skin (radiation group, R, n = 55), rats with full - thickness skin excision wounds as control group (T, n = 55), and 5 normal rats to serve as normal control (NC) group. The expression of PDGF-A and PDGFR-alpha protein and PDGF-A mRNA was respectively assessed by means of histochemistry and in situ RT-PCR. RESULTS No PDGF-A expression was identified in the rat skin in NC group. The expression of PDGF-A and PDGFR were reduced in R group during inflammatory responsive and granulation formation periods (14 - 28 days after radiation, the IA value of PDGF-A varied from 14.0 +/- 1.2 to 20.3 +/- 1.2 compared with that in T group in which the IA value of PDGF-A at the same period (3 - 9 days after injury) varied from 20.0 +/- 1.6 to 28.3 +/- 1.0, and reduced gradually during scar formation period (55 days after radiation). CONCLUSION The reduction of PDGF-A and PDGFR-expression may be partially involved in the mechanism of retarded healing of acute radiation-induced skin ulcers.
Strong negative effects of simulated heat waves in a tropical butterfly

Climate change poses a significant challenge to all natural systems on Earth. Especially increases in extreme weather events such as heat waves have the potential to strongly affect biodiversity, though their effects are poorly understood because of a lack of empirical data. Therefore, we here explore the sensitivity of a tropical ectotherm, which are in general believed to have a low warming tolerance, to experimentally simulated climate change using ecologically realistic diurnal temperature cycles. Increasing the mean temperature permanently by 3°C had mostly minor effects on developmental traits in the butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Simulated heat waves (strongly elevated temperatures for some time though retaining the same overall temperature mean), in contrast, caused strong negative effects by prolonging development time (by up to 10%) and reducing body mass (−21%), especially when combined with reduced relative humidity. Detrimental effects were carried over into the adult stage, diminishing subsequent performance. Most strikingly, higher temperatures suppressed adult immune function (haemocytes: −54%, lysozyme activity: −32%), which may potentially change the way species interact with antagonists. Heat waves thus reduced fitness parameters by 10–25% for development time and body mass and by up to 54% for immune parameters even in this plastic and widespread butterfly, exemplifying the potentially dramatic impact of extreme weather events on biodiversity.