Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects Of Microwave Irradiation And Heat On T 4 Bacteriophage Inactivation

Two theories have been previously described that potentially explain how T4 bacteriophage are inactivated using microwave sterilization: thermal and non-thermal effects. In order to investigate the mechanism of inactivation following microwave irradiation, purified T4 bacteriophage were subjected to microwave irradiation for 10, 15, and 20 seconds (thermal effect) and for 10, 20, 30 and 40 seconds while on ice (nonthermal effect). In addition, T4 bacteriophage samples were heated to 65C, 80C and 95C for 10 minutes to determine the effect of heat alone. The treated samples were subsequently analyzed via standard bacteriophage plaque assays to determine survival. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis was performed to identify samples with ruptured versus intact capsid and to identify any possible phage DNA mutagenesis due to the treatments. Non-thermal microwave irradiation of T4 phage resulted in minor killing while thermal microwave irradiation showed significant killing, likely due to capsid rupture. External heat showed notable killing as well, though it was likely that the DNA itself was denatured. Although the data presented in this study support the thermal theory of inactivation, the exact mechanism of bacteriophage inactivation following microwave irradiation remains inconclusive. ______________________________________________________________________
Imported malaria is falling in Netherlands and Europe

The increase in falciparum malaria in the UK reported by Smith et al1 does not correspond with our own observations on imported malaria in the Netherlands during recent years. We examined all consecutive malaria cases in the Harbour Hospital and Institute for Tropical Diseases in Rotterdam between 1 January 1999 and 1 January 2008. The number of falciparum cases fell from 40 patients …
Origins of solidification when a simple molecular fluid is confined between two plates

A simple globular-shaped liquid (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, OMCTS) was placed between two rigid mica plates at variable spacings comparable to the size of this molecule and the linear shear viscoelasticity of the confined interfacial film was measured. Strong monotonic increase of the shear relaxation time, elastic modulus, and effective viscosity were observed as the spacing was decreased below about 10 molecular dimensions. The frequency dependence of the viscoelastic spectra measured at different film thicknesses appeared to scale with reduced variables. The data are inconsistent with the abrupt first-order transition, from bulk fluid to solid with decreasing film thickness, whose possibility has been hypothesized, and suggest a glasslike transition instead.
Lifetime socioeconomic inequalities in physical and cognitive aging.

OBJECTIVES We examined the relationship between childhood and adult socioeconomic position (SEP) and objectively assessed, later-life functioning. METHODS We used the Medical Research Council's National Survey of Health and Development data to examine performance at 60 to 64 years (obtained in 2006-2011) for a representative UK sample. We compared 9 physical and cognitive performance measures (forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, handgrip strength, chair rise time, standing balance time, timed get up and go speed, verbal memory score, processing speed, and simple reaction time) over the SEP distribution. RESULTS Each performance measure was socially graded. Those at the top of the childhood SEP distribution had between 7% and 20% better performance than those at the bottom. Inequalities generally persisted after adjustment for adult SEP. When we combined the 9 performance measures, the relative difference was 66% (95% confidence interval = 53%, 78%). CONCLUSIONS Public health practice should monitor and target inequalities in functional performance, as well as risk of disease and death. Effective strategies will need to affect the social determinants of health in early life to influence inequalities into old age.
Ontology-Based e-Learning System for Personalized

Ontology has recently gained popularity in building knowledge base because the description, localization and effective reuse of software patterns and systems of patterns can be approached through an ontology-based formalism. This paper designs ontology in the mobile phone domain for the construction of knowledge base, and presents a new method for knowledge assessment in which quizzing questions are drawn using the mobile phone ontology-based knowledge base to assess the sufficiency of professional knowledge of mobile phone salespersons. An automated learning service is then provided to offer users personalized learning contents subject to their knowledge deficiencies.
Neogenin regulates sonic hedgehog pathway activity during digit patterning

Background: Digit patterning integrates signaling by the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways. GLI3, a component of the SHH pathway, is a major regulator of digit number and identity. Neogenin (encoded by Neo1) is a cell surface protein that serves to transduce signals from several ligands, including BMPs, in various developmental contexts. Although neogenin is implicated in BMP signaling, it has not been linked to SHH signaling and its role in digit patterning is unknown. Results: We report that Neo1 mutant mice have preaxial polydactyly with low penetrance. Expression of SHH target genes, but not BMP target genes, is altered in Neo1 mutant limb buds. Analysis of mice carrying mutations in both Neo1 and Gli3 reveals that, although neogenin plays a role in constraint of digit numbers, suppressing polydactyly, it is also required for the severe polydactyly caused by loss of GLI3. Furthermore, embryo fibroblasts from Neo1 mutant mice are sensitized to SHH pathway activation in vitro. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that neogenin regulates SHH signaling in the limb bud to achieve proper digit patterning. Developmental Dynamics 241:627–637, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
The Anesthetic Implications of Alcoholism

Alcohol abuse or dependence is found in over 8% of the North American adult population. In Europe, it is the third highest risk factor for death and disability. Numerous studies have shown an increase in postoperative morbidity and a higher rate of readmission to the intensive care unit in patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Thus, anesthesiologists should be aware of issues unique to these patients during the perioperative period.
High levels of IL‐10 secreting cells are present in blood in cerebrovascular diseases

Ischemic stroke is associated with altered systemic immune responses both early after the onset and in the recovery phase. Interleukin (IL)‐10, a Th2 related cytokine, has multiple effects on different cell types, including T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophis and mast cells. IL‐4 is another Th2 cytokine that inhibits the synthesis of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by Th1 clones. We used enzyme‐linked immunospot assays to detect and enumerate blood mononuclear cells (MNC) secreting IL‐10 and IL‐4 spontaneously as well as after stimulation with myelin basic protein (MBP), considered to be an autoantigen of possible pathogenic importance in, for example, multiple sclerosis, to evaluate the involvement of anti‐inflammatory cytokines in ischemic stroke. All patients with ischemic stroke and cerebral hemorghage had strongly elevated numbers of IL‐10 secreting blood MNC compared with healthy individuals. Numbers of MBP‐reactive IL‐10 secreting blood MNC were also elevated in a proportion of the patients with stroke and hemorrhage. Levels of IL‐4 secreting blood MNC did not differ in ischemic stroke versus healthy individuals. The anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 could play a pivotal role in ischemic stroke as well as cerebral hemorrhage.
Psychometric testing of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index Version 6.2.

The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index Version 6.2 (SCHFI v.6.2) is widely used, but its psychometric profile is still questioned. In a sample of 659 heart failure patients from Italy, we performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the original construct of the SCHFI v.6.2 scales (Self-Care Maintenance, Self-Care Management, and Self-Care Confidence), with limited success. We then used exploratory factor analysis to determine the presence of separate scale dimensions, followed by CFA in a separate sub-sample. Construct validity of individual scales showed excellent fit indices: CFI = . 92, RMSEA = . 05 for the Self-Care Maintenance Scale; CFI = . 95, RMSEA = . 07 for the Self-Care Management Scale; CFI = . 99, RMSEA = . 02 for the Self-Care Confidence scale. Contrasting groups validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were supported as well. This evidence provides a new understanding of the structure of the SCHFI v.6.2 and supports its use in clinical practice and research.
Apixaban Inhibits Cerebral Microembolic Signals Derived from Carotid Arterial Thrombosis in Rabbits

Cerebral microembolic signal (MES) is an independent predictor of stroke risk and prognosis. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of apixaban, as a representative of the novel oral anticoagulant class, on a rabbit model of cerebral MES. A clinical transcranial Doppler ultrasound instrument was used to assess MESs in the middle cerebral artery in a 30% FeCl3-induced carotid arterial thrombosis model in male New Zealand White rabbits. Ascending doses of apixaban were evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with aspirin on both arterial thrombosis and MES. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses were also evaluated. The effective dose for 50% inhibition (ED50) of thrombus formation for monotherapy was 0.04 mg/kg per hour apixaban, i.v. (0.03 μM plasma exposure) for the integrated blood flow, 0.13 mg/kg per hour apixaban (0.10 μM plasma exposure) for thrombus weight, and 0.03 mg/kg per hour apixaban (0.02 μM plasma exposure) for MES. Dual treatment with aspirin (5 mg/kg, PO) and apixaban (0.015 mg/kg per hour, i.v.) resulted in a significant reduction in cerebral MES (P < 0.05) compared with monotherapy with either agent. Pharmacokinetic analysis of apixaban and pharmacodynamic assays using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) for apixaban- and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation for aspirin were used to confirm the exposure-response relationships. In summary, our study demonstrates that apixaban in a concentration-dependent manner inhibits both arterial thrombosis and MES, suggesting a potential association between factor Xa (FXa) blockade and the reduction in MES in patients at risk of ischemic stroke.
Predicting malignancy from mammography findings and image-guided core biopsies

The main goal of this work is to produce machine learning models that predict the outcome of a mammography from a reduced set of annotated mammography findings. In the study we used a dataset consisting of 348 consecutive breast masses that underwent image guided core biopsy performed between October 2005 and December 2007 on 328 female subjects. We applied various algorithms with parameter variation to learn from the data. The tasks were to predict mass density and to predict malignancy. The best classifier that predicts mass density is based on a support vector machine and has accuracy of 81.3%. The expert correctly annotated 70% of the mass densities. The best classifier that predicts malignancy is also based on a support vector machine and has accuracy of 85.6%, with a positive predictive value of 85%. One important contribution of this work is that our model can predict malignancy in the absence of the mass density attribute, since we can fill up this attribute using our mass density predictor.
Experimental results for a robust position and force controller implemented on a direct drive robot

In this paper we present the results obtained from the implementation of a robust position/force controller on a two-degree-of-freedom direct drive robot. The controller is based on the theoretical work presented by McClamroch et al. (1988) and Grabbe et al. (1993), which guarantees globally uniformly ultimately bounded (GUUB) position tracking error and bounded force tracking error. The controller accomplishes this stability result in spite of robot model uncertainty and only requires: joint position and velocity measurements, end-effector force measurements, and bounds on the model parameters. Experimental results described in this paper serve to verify the theoretical claims. <<ETX>>
A matrix approach to identify and choose efficient strategies to develop the Smart Campus

The management of a large number of students, activities and services is one of the biggest challenges for modern campuses. A good solution to face these issues is the application of the Smart concept to university campuses, creating the new idea of Smart Campus. This idea is based on the deep knowledge of the area and the consequent choice of suitable actions and strategies. The proposed approach develops two aspects: the recognition of the mutual influences among the Smart fields; the prioritization process weighted on several factors, such as production times, integration degree, feasibility, stakeholders' opinion, etc. The aim of this paper is to define a methodology for the conscious and coherent choice of strategies to develop the Smart Campus, evaluating them on the basis of the level of integration, feasibility and obtained benefits.
Microstrip branch-line coupler with optimized spurious suppression based on cascaded PI-type equivalent transmission lines

A microstrip branch-line coupler (BLC) has been design and implemented with optimized spurious suppression. Taking advantage of the PI-type network composed of a uniform transmission line (TL) loaded by two shunt open-ended stubs, a nature transmission line can be equivalent to the cascade of N sections of PI-type networks. A convenient design chart is provided to facilitate the TL equivalent. The coupler constructed by replacing the nature TLs with the equivalent ones possesses multiple structure-inherent transmission zeros which significantly improve the out-of-band rejection. Specifically, a coupler with center frequency f0 at 1.53GHz has its stopband extended up to 8.33 f0 with rejection level better than 20dB.
Calcium currents elicited by voltage steps and steady voltages in myocytes isolated from the rat basilar artery.

1. Whole‐cell patch clamp methods were used to record Ca2+ channel currents from isolated rat basilar arterial myocytes either in response to voltage steps or at steady holding potentials. Inward currents were rapidly and reversibly blocked by 2 mM Co2+, and this solution was routinely used to subtract leakage currents. 2. Peak currents measured in response to voltage steps were ‐85 +/‐ 23 pA (n = 7) in physiological Ca2+ (1.8 mM) and ‐256 +/‐ 39 pA (n = 19) in 10 mM Ba2+. The time course of activation and inactivation were unaffected by changing the holding potential from ‐88 to ‐48 mV, and thus we found no evidence for a component of current flowing through transient Ca2+ channels. 3. Activation curves were constructed by dividing the macroscopic current by the single Ca2+ channel current. The product of the number of functional channels and the open‐state probability (NPo) measured in this way rose to around 2000. Its dependence on voltage was fitted by a Boltzmann function with half‐activation at ‐8.6 mV in physiological Ca2+ concentrations and a steepness factor in the range 6‐8 mV. 4. In physiological solution, block by external Mg2+ reduced peak current through Ca2+ channels by 17%. 5. Steady‐state currents were measured by holding the cell at a fixed voltage and rapidly applying Co2+ to block the current through Ca2+ channels. Steady‐state currents could be detected at voltages as negative as ‐58 mV, and persisted for more than 15 min, suggesting that Ca2+ channels in this artery may provide a steady‐state Ca2+ influx that contributes to resting contractile tone.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN NEWLY ARRESTED PRISONERS

One hundred ninety-nine male prisoners without prior felony convictions were evaluated through a structured personal interview administered within 24 hours of this arrest. While 46 per cent met psychiatric diagnostic criteria, only 5 per cent demonstrated a need for acute treatment for their affective disorder or organic brain syndrome. It is felt that the alcoholics (15 per cent) and drug-abusing prisoners (12 per cent) might benefit from counseling but were not in need of emergency care. The characteristics of men in each diagnostic group are discussed.
Mitigation of the magnetic field produced by low voltage terminals of electric transformer in transformation chambers for hospital buildings

In the present work is analyzed the behavior of the magnetic flow created by the outputs in low voltage of the transformer located in the vicinity of the old hospital buildings, using the method of vortices it is possible to express graphically the dispersion of the magnetic field contemplating a global analysis of affecting the field density generated and not only one point like to study in magneto-static subjects. To mitigate the presence of this physical phenomenon, is simulated the installation of magnetic shielding films of AARONIA company on the walls of the transformation electric center. This mitigation method achieves a shielding efficiency of 57%, this percentage varies depending on the location of the analyzed area.
Lower extremity prosthetic mobility: a comparison of 3 self-report scales.

OBJECTIVE To assess and compare the reliability and validity of the Houghton Scale, the Prosthetic Profile of the Amputee Locomotor Capabilities Index (PPA-LCI), and the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) mobility subscale, 3 disease-specific self-report measures of functional mobility for lower extremity prosthetic mobility. DESIGN Four-week test-retest: 1 sample for reliability analyses, 1 sample for validity analyses. SETTING University-affiliated outpatient amputee clinic, in Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Two outpatient amputee samples (sample 1 [n = 55], for reliability analysis; sample 2 [n = 329], for validity analysis). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Test-retest of reliability and convergent validity of the 3 scales. Convergent validity and discriminative ability were also assessed after setting a priori hypotheses for 2 scales of walking performance, balance confidence, and other indicators of ambulatory ability. RESULTS The reliability of the PPA-LCI (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .88) was slightly higher than the Houghton Scale (ICC = .85) and the PEQ mobility subscale (ICC = .77). The PPA-LCI was prone to high ceiling effects (40%) that would limit its ability to detect improvement. Evidence for convergent validity, when compared with the 2-Minute Walk Test, Timed Up and Go, and the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale, was supported as hypothesized in all the scales. Each of the scales was able to discriminate between different groups for amputation cause, walking distance, mobility device use, and automatism, with each having varying strength related to relative precision. The Houghton Scale was the only scale able to distinguish between amputation levels. CONCLUSIONS Reliability and validity of all the scales are acceptable for group level comparison. None of the scales had clearly superior psychometric properties compared with the others. Further research is required to assess responsiveness.
Statistical shape representation with landmark clustering by solving the assignment problem

Statistical shape modeling is considered as a backbone of image analysis, since shapes capture distinguishable geometrical properties of depicted objects and spatial relationships among the objects. In the field of medical image analysis, a shape allows segmentation and registration of complex and/or poorly visible structures, where geometrical information may have a more crucial role than pure intensity information. In this paper, we present a novel statistical shape model based on landmark positions and spatial relationships among landmarks. A given training set of images is first annotated by a set of landmarks, which represents the shape of the object of interest. In contrast to active shape (ASM) and appearance models (AAM), where a shape is a single object characterized by a system of eigenvectors, we describe a shape as a combination of distances and angles between landmarks. Finding a suitable combination of distances and angles is achieved by optimizing the representativeness of the model (i.e. the distances and angles must describe the shape and its plasticity), and complexity of the model (i.e. the number of distances and angles must be acceptable for practical applications). To generate a model that satisfies these conditions, the landmarks are first separated into clusters, which are then optimally connected. The optimal connections between clusters are generated by using the assignment problem. The obtained model combined with the game-theoretic framework was applied to segment lung fields from chest radiographs. The usage of such simplified model results on average in a 0.05 mm deterioration of the segmentation performance in terms of the symmetric mean boundary distance, and in a 3.3-times acceleration of the computational time.
The BSD Syslog Protocol

This document describes the observed behavior of the syslog protocol. This protocol has been used for the transmission of event notification messages across networks for many years. While this protocol was originally developed on the University of California Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) TCP/IP system implementations, its value to operations and management has led it to be ported to many other operating systems as well as being embedded into many other networked devices.
DéFinition et mise en oeuvre d'une Solutiond'éMulation de RéSeaux sans fil

Pour evaluer et tester des applications et des protocoles de transport dans un reseau sans fil, il existe differentes methodes parmi lesquelles l'emulation, un compromis entre le test en environnement reel et la simulation. Dans cette these nous presentons W-NINE une nouvelle solution d'emulation centralisee de niveau IP pour les reseaux sans _l qui s'interesse a trois points : la precision des modeles utilises, la preservation de leur comportement dynamique et la reproduction fidele d'une meme experience plusieurs fois de suite. Pour cela, nous proposons une architecture originale utilisant une phase de simulation prealable a l'emulation et des observateurs au cours de l'emulation pour tenir compte des effets lies au trafic circulant dans le reseau sans fil. Une evaluation experimentale de la plate-forme W-NINE a ete menee pour montrer la concordance des resultats obtenus lors de chaque phase ainsi que l'amelioration du realisme obtenu grâce a l'utilisation d'observateurs de trafic.
Review on Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Extractives in Tissues of Common Beech

Common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most widespread and economically important tree species in Europe and, therefore, represents a potential source of high value added extractives. The aim of this paper was, therefore, to review the existing data regarding the composition of lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives of beech tissues, and the extraction systems and analytical techniques used for their examination. The lipophilic extractable fraction of beech is characterized mainly by saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, fatty alcohols and sterols while the hydrophilic extractives of beech consist of soluble sugars, i.e. monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and sugar acids, as well as of simple phenols and fl avonoids. Chromatography has been recognized as the convenient and most frequently used technique for the chemical analysis of extractives. This overview showed that the information about the composition of low-molecular extractives of beech is satisfactory, but the data on oligomeric extractives are still fragmentary.