Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lymphocyte transformation induced by chemical modification of membrane components. I. Characteristics of the direct and indirect restimulation responses of rat lymph node cells to periodate.

Reliable culture conditions and a valid 3H-thymidine labeling procedure were established for studies on the in vitro response of rat lymph node cells to treatment with the mitogen, sodium periodate. Six days after an initial periodate stimulation of rat lymph node cells (by which time all blasts have reverted to “secondary” lymphocytes and 3H-thymidine incorporation has declined to near background levels) the surviving cells were restimulated either directly, i.e., by retreatment of all the cells with periodate, or indirectly, i.e., in mixed cultures composed half of cells treated against with periodate, but blocked with mitomycin C (stimulator cells) and half of cells that received no retreatment (responder cells). Both the direct and indirect restimulation responses were faster and of greater magnitude than the corresponding initial responses. The magnitude of indirect restimulation was about 36% of that of direct restimulation. Reduction of the periodate-induced aldehyde groups with sodium borohydride abolished both the direct and indirect restimulation responses. The greater magnitude of the indirect restimulation response as compared with the initial indirect response was due to an enhanced ability of the secondary lymphocytes to respond rather than to an enhanced ability to stimulate. The responding cells in periodate-restimulated cultures were the progeny of the cells that had responded initially. Concanavalin A also restimulated at least some of the periodate progeny cells, and in addition stimulated some cells that had not responded to periodate initially. Cells from cultures initially stimulated by periodate were able to serve as indirect restimulators of cells initially stimulated by either periodate or concanavalin A. In contrast, cells initially stimulated by concanavalin A (and then treated with mitomycin C and periodate) could restimulate neither type of responder.
Annual performance comparison between tracking and fixed photovoltaic arrays

In this paper a performance comparison is conducted between a new grid-tied PV tracking system and a fixed mounting grid-tied PV system with identical solar panels as well as the same rated powers in one-year period. These systems were installed at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton, Florida, started operating in August 2014. First, an overview of the entire system is presented followed by the description of system architecture design. A detailed statistical comparison is done for four months in four seasons. At the end, the annual energy output of tracker and non-tracker units is extracted and analyzed. Two important performance factors such as annual power production of each array and the amount of system CO2 emission reduction are calculated. It is concluded from final results that the single axis tracker, which continuously tracks the sun from east to west during daytime, works moderately in south Florida region and therefore it requires more thorough researches to improve the system efficiency.
Dendritic cells in viral pathogenesis: protective or defective?

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent antigen‐presenting cells that are critical in the initiation of immune responses to control and/or eliminate viral infections. Recent studies have investigated the effects of virus infection on the biology of DC. This review summarizes these changes, focusing on both the DC parameters affected and the viral factors involved. In addition, the central role of DC biology in the pathogenesis of several viral families, including herpesviruses, paramyxoviruses and retroviruses, is explored. The field of pathogen recognition by DC is addressed, focusing on its role in protecting the host from viral infection, as well as the ability of viruses to exploit such host receptor ligation and signalling to their replicative advantage. The hypothesis is proposed that virus and host have evolved a symbiotic relationship to ensure both viral transmission and host survival.
Difference between actual vs. pathology prostate weight in TURP and radical robotic-assisted prostatectomy specimen.

INTRODUCTION To investigate and highlight the effect of formaldehyde induced weight reduction in transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and radical robotically-assisted prostatectomy (RALP) specimen as a result of standard chemical fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS 51 patients were recruited from January 2013 to June 2013 who either underwent a TURP (n=26) or RALP (n=25). Data was collected prospectively by the operating surgeon who measured the native, unfixed histology specimen directly after operation. The specimens were fixed in 10% Formaldehyde Solution BP and sent to the pathology laboratory where after sufficient fixation period was re-weighed. RESULTS Overall mean age 64.78 years, TURP mean age 68.31 years RALP mean age 61.12 years. We found that the overall prostatic specimen (n=51) weight loss after fixation was a mean of 11.20% (3.78 grams) (p ≤ 0.0001). Subgroup analysis of the native TURP chips mean weight was 16.15 grams and formalin treated mean weight was 14.00 grams (p ≤ 0.0001). Therefore, TURP chips had a mean of 13.32 % (2.15 grams) weight loss during chemical fixation. RALP subgroup unfixed specimen mean weight was 52.08 grams and formalin treated mean weight was 42.60 grams (p ≤ 0.0001), a 19.32 % (9.48 grams) mean weight reduction. CONCLUSION It has not been known that prostatic chips and whole human radical prostatectomy specimen undergo a significant weight reduction. The practical significance of the accurate prostate weight in patient management may be limited, however, it is agreed that this should be recorded correctly, as data is potential interest for research purposes and vital for precise documentation.
A lexicon of perception for the identification of synaesthetic metaphors in corpora

Synaesthesia is a type of metaphor associating linguistic expressions that refer to two different sensory modalities. Previous studies, based on the analysis of poetic texts, have shown that synaesthetic transfers tend to go from the lower toward the higher senses (e.g., sweet music vs. musical sweetness). In non-literary language synaesthesia is rare, and finding a sufficient number of examples manually would be too time-consuming. In order to verify whether the directionality also holds for conventional synaesthesia found in non-literary texts, an automatic procedure for the identification of instances of synaesthesia is therefore highly desirable. In this paper, we first focus on the preliminary step of this procedure, that is, the creation of a controlled lexicon of perception. Next, we present the results of a small pilot study that applies the extraction procedure to English and Italian corpus data.
Quantitative Analysis of the Mechanism of Endocytic Actin Patch Assembly and Disassembly in Fission Yeast

We report time courses of the accumulation and loss of 16 fluorescent fusion proteins at sites of clathrin-mediated endocytosis in fission yeast. Mathematical modeling shows that dendritic nucleation hypothesis can account for the kinetics of actin assembly in vivo and disassembly requires actin filament severing along with depolymerization.
Observations on the act of eating in cattle

In any consideration of normal reticulo-ruminal function the act of eating is likely to play a highly important part. When food is eaten, or shortly afterwards, critical events occur in the reticulo-rumen such as the maximum daily inflow of saliva and water inducing the minimum concentration of micro-organisms, the sudden change from the least to the greatest weight and volume of the contents and the greatest daily change in the composition of the contents. The primary object of this paper is to present relevant information on these matters obtained, sometimes incidentally, in a number of experiments. Observations have been grouped under four headings : saliva production, the rate of movement of the jaw, the rate of contraction of the reticulum and the change in the amount of digesta present in the reticulo-rumen. As a secondary object the findings have been examined to see whether they throw light on the mechanism determining the point at which a cow stops eating food which has been offered ad lib.
Predicting and preventing acute drug-induced liver injury: what's new in 2010?

Importance of the field: The field of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) continues to expand in terms of global registries and with new agents added every year. Given the need to improve on our current methods of preclinical testing and monitoring for DILI during both clinical trials and in the post-approval setting, there is increasing research aimed at better understanding why injury occurs and who is most susceptible. To this end, the active pursuit of biomarkers that will predict injury prior to its occurrence and genetic testing that can identify individuals at risk of DILI continue to be at the forefront. Areas covered in this review: While alanine aminotransferase (ALT) testing remains the workhorse of biochemical monitoring, it only detects hepatic injury after it has occurred and, therefore, is not a true predictor. The utility and shortcomings of ALT and other liver tests are reviewed along with a synopsis of several other candidate biomarkers that are being studied. In addition, we review the recent data supporting testing for genetic predisposition to DILI and how identifying clinical risk factors may translate into better means for preventing DILI. What the reader will gain: We update the basis on which age and gender are considered risk factors for DILI, and review the latest reports detailing the association of several candidate genes and the development of DILI in a susceptible patient. Human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 is closely linked to the hypersensitivity reaction seen with abacavir, and such screening has been successfully incorporated into HIV treatment around the globe and offers the promise that testing for other genetic markers will soon become a routine part of clinical practice. At present, candidate genes conferring specific susceptibility to DILI have been identified for a relatively few agents (e.g., flucloxacillin, amoxicillin–clavulanate, ximelagatran and isoniazid), but many more are under study. Preventing DILI often comes down to avoiding the use of potentially hepatotoxic drugs in certain situations, and we review the clinical scenarios in which this is most relevant. Take home message: Given the number and range of studies aimed at identifying predictors of DILI, the focus of this review is to summarize what we consider to be the most relevant new information published on the topics of clinical and genetic factors that predispose to DILI, the use of biomarkers as predictors of acute DILI, along with advances in prevention strategies.
Kinetic energy recovery on railway systems with feedback to the grid

Several proposals for using of power derived from regenerative braking in railway systems are available. We present an energy recovery system with feedback to the distribution grid based on a new converter topology; the dimensioning methodology of the system is based on real data intake and validated simulations. The new converter topology presented is based on the connection in cascade of a DC/DC elevator to a 3-phase inverter. This way, the system is freed from the limitations imposed by voltage fluctuations in the grid, allowing maximum recovery at minimum catenary's voltages. For more information please visit
TC10 controls human myofibril organization and is activated by the sarcomeric RhoGEF obscurin

The contractile activity of striated muscle depends on myofibrils that are highly ordered macromolecular complexes. The protein components of myofibrils are well characterized, but it remains largely unclear how signaling at the molecular level within the sarcomere and the control of assembly are coordinated. We show that the Rho GTPase TC10 appears during differentiation of human primary skeletal myoblasts and it is active in differentiated myotubes. We identify obscurin, a sarcomere-associated protein, as a specific activator of TC10. Indeed, TC10 binds directly to obscurin via its predicted RhoGEF motif. Importantly, we demonstrate that obscurin is a specific activator of TC10 but not the Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42. Finally, we show that inhibition of TC10 activity by expression of a dominant-negative mutant or its knockdown by expression of specific shRNA block myofibril assembly. Our findings reveal a novel signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle that involves obscurin and the Rho GTPase TC10 and implicate this pathway in new sarcomere formation.
Antagonistic Action of Strigolactone and Cytokinin in Bud Outgrowth Control1[W]

Cytokinin (CK) has long been implicated as a promoter of bud outgrowth in plants, but exactly how this is achieved in coordination with other plant hormones is unclear. The recent discovery of strigolactones (SLs) as the long-sought branch-inhibiting hormone allowed us to test how CK and SL coordinately regulate bud outgrowth in pea (Pisum sativum). We found that SL-deficient plants are more sensitive to stimulation of bud growth by low concentrations of locally applied CK than wild-type plants. Furthermore, in contrast with SL mutant plants, buds of wild-type plants are almost completely resistant to stimulation by CK supplied to the vasculature. Regardless of whether the exogenous hormones were supplied locally or to the xylem stream, SL and CK acted antagonistically on bud outgrowth. These data suggest that SLs do not affect the delivery of CK to axillary buds and vice versa. Rather, these data combined with dose-response experiments suggest that SLs and CK can act directly in buds to control their outgrowth. These hormones may converge at a common point in the bud outgrowth regulatory pathway. The expression of pea BRANCHED1, a TCP transcription factor expressed strongly in buds and thought to act downstream of SLs in shoot branching, is regulated by CK and SL without a requirement for protein synthesis and in a manner that correlates with observed bud growth responses.
linical usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring of voriconazole n a university hospital

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of voriconazole (VOR) in a university hospital. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on the clinical records of 52 patients treated with VOR and on whom TDM was performed. Steady-state trough plasma VOR concentration was measured at least 5 days after starting treatment. The therapeutic range of plasma VOR concentration was defined as 1–5.5 g/mL. Results: The most frequent underlying conditions in the study population were lung transplant (48.1%) and hematological malignancies (26.9%). At the first TDM in each patient, VOR levels were outside the therapeutic range in 16 (30.7%) cases: <1 g/mL in 10 (19.2%) and >5.5 g/mL in 6 (11.5%). Eleven patients (21.2%) experienced severe muscle weakness and had considerable difficulty walking. All these patients were receiving concomitant treatment with corticosteroids. Age younger than 30 years (p = .005) and cystic fibrosis as the underlying disease (p = .04) were factors associated with low VOR levels. Almost all patients who had VOR concentrations >1 g/mL at the first TDM had a successful outcome (96%). Conclusions: Plasma VOR concentrations were outside the therapeutic range at the first TDM in 30% (16/52) of patients. Age younger than 30 years and cystic fibrosis were factors associated with low VOR levels. The potential interactions between corticosteroids and VOR should be highlighted, as they could be responsible for a high rate of muscle weakness observed in our patients. Prospective trials are needed to investigate VOR TDM and corticosteroid pharmacokinetics. © 2014 Elsevier España, S.L. U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved. Utilidad clínica de la determinación de concentraciones plasmáticas de voriconazol en un hospital universitario
Psychosocial and psychological interventions for treating postpartum depression.

BACKGROUND Postpartum depression is a major health issue for many women from diverse cultures. While pharmacological interventions are an effective treatment for depression, mothers are often reluctant to take antidepressant medication due to concerns about breast milk transmission or potential side-effects. It is important that non-pharmacologic interventions be evaluated for use with postpartum women experiencing depressive symptomatology. OBJECTIVES Primary: to assess the effects of all psychosocial and psychological interventions compared with usual postpartum care in the reduction of depressive symptomatology.Secondary: to examine (1) the effectiveness of specific types of psychosocial interventions; (2) the effectiveness of specific types of psychological interventions; (3) the effectiveness of specific types of psychosocial interventions versus psychological interventions; (4) the effects of intervention mode (e.g., individual versus group-based interventions); and (5) the effects of sample selection criteria (e.g., targeting women with clinically diagnosed depression versus self-reported depressive symptomatology). SEARCH STRATEGY CCDANCTR-Studies and CCDANCTR-References were searched on 1/8/2007, the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Review Group trials register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1980 to 2006) and CINAHL (1982 to 2006) using various combinations of the terms 'postpartum/postnatal depression. ' Secondary references and experts in the field were used to identify other published or unpublished trials. SELECTION CRITERIA All published, unpublished, and ongoing randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials of psychosocial or psychological interventions where the primary or secondary aim was a reduction in depressive symptomatology. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Both review authors participated in the evaluation of methodological quality and data extraction. Additional information was sought from several trial researchers. Results are presented using relative risk for categorical data and weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS Ten trials met the inclusion criteria, of which nine trials reported outcomes for 956 women. Any psychosocial or psychological intervention, compared to usual postpartum care, was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of continued depression, however measured, at the final assessment within the first year postpartum. Both psychosocial and psychological interventions were effective in reducing depressive symptomatology. Trials selecting participants based on a clinical diagnosis of depression were just as effective in decreasing depressive symptomatology as those that enrolled women who met inclusion criteria based on self-reported depressive symptomatology. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Although the methodological quality of the majority of trials was, in general, not strong, the meta-analysis results suggest that psychosocial and psychological interventions are an effective treatment option for women suffering from postpartum depression. The long-term effectiveness remains unclear.
Modeling and Analysis of Biological Populations

Asymptotic and transient dynamics are both important when considering the future population trajectory of a species. Asymptotic dynamics are often used to determine whether the long-term trend results in a stable, declining or increasing population and even provide possible directions for management actions. Transient dynamics are important for estimating invasion speed of non-indigenous species, population establishment after releasing biocontrol agents, or population management after a disturbance like fire. We briefly describe here the results in this thesis. (1) We consider asymptotic dynamics using discrete time linear population models of the form n(t + 1) = An(t) where A is a population projection matrix or integral projection operator, and n(t) represents a structured population at time t. Within the model are the underlying parameters. Some of these parameters are of more interest to us: either ones which have a large confidence interval or are the easiest to manage from a conservation managers point of view. Using these parameters of interest, we next divide the parameter space into two parts: on one side the population grows and on the other side the population declines. We call this dividing hypersurface the growth-decline boundary and use this as a tool to show how senescence affects the prediction of a matrix model for the Serengeti cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). We next analyze an integral projection model for thistles (Onopordum illyricum) again using this growth-decline boundary. (2) We consider how temperature effects the transient (short term) dynamics for an ectothermal species such at the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). We define " transient amplification " and develop two different models to explore the effect of temperature on this concept. We estimate model parameters (survivorship and fe-cundity) at two different temperatures, and then scrutinize both model predictions by comparing observed and predicted transient population growth rates and the projection of population size over 20 days. Both models predict that temperature affects the short term transient amplification. The degree day model predicts no effect of temperature on the asymptotic transient amplification while the results of the ordinal day model were inconclusive. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first like to thank my husband, Tim, since without his support and patience, achieving my Ph.D. would not have been possible. Many thanks go to my two co-advisors, Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhum-berg, for their constant encouragement and belief in me. I also thank my other two committee members Drew Tyre and David Logan for …
Bi-direction ICP: Fast registration method of point clouds

Iterative Closest Point is a vital method in registration of point clouds. It runs slowly in case of large point clouds. In this article, we propose the Bi-Direction ICP in a 2D plane. The rotation model is used to complete Bi-Direction ICP in 3D space. Bi-Direction ICP decreases the iteration times by expanding each step angle width. This method concentrates on shortening the running time of ICP without losing the accuracy. Applied Bi-Direction ICP into Stanford 3D Scanning Repository and Mian's datasets, the registration running speed is 2.7 times at most of that in ICP. A subtle improvement occurs in the aspect of accuracy, compared to ICP.