Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental study on the effects of pre-heating a battery in a low-temperature environment

The performance of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or an electric vehicle (EV) is closely related to the performance of its high-voltage battery pack. This is why, among the various means of maintaining a battery's peak performance, the importance of thermal management is emphasized. Since the early stages of the development of Li-ion batteries, much emphasis has been placed on battery cooling in order to secure stability, while less attention has been given to battery heating. However, in a low-temperature environment, using a battery without heating it severely undermines the battery's performance and life expectancy. A PHEV or an EV operates with energy that is stored by charging the battery, which can then be heated by an external source in a low-temperature environment prior to driving. In this study, a battery HILS and an environment simulation system are used to verify that pre-heating a battery in a low-temperature environment, using an external source, such as a charging stand, improves the battery's performance as compared to circumstances in which this is neglected.
Transformer Paper Expected Life Estimation Using ANFIS Based on Oil Characteristics and Dissolved Gases (Case Study: Indonesian Transformers)

This article presents an algorithm for modelling an Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for power transformer paper conditions in order to estimate the transformer’s expected life. The dielectric characteristics, dissolved gasses, and furfural of 108 running transformers were collected, which were divided into 76 training datasets and another 32 testing datasets. The degree of polymerization (DP) of the transformer paper was predicted using the ANFIS model based on using the dielectric characteristics and dissolved gases as input. These inputs were analyzed, and the best combination was selected, whereas CO + CO2, acidity, interfacial tension, and color were correlated with the paper’s deterioration condition and were chosen as the input variables. The best combination of input variables and membership function was selected to build the optimal ANFIS model, which was then compared and evaluated. The proposed ANFIS model has 89.07% training accuracy and 85.75% testing accuracy and was applied to a transformer paper insulation assessment and an estimation of the expected life of four Indonesian transformers for which furfural data is unavailable. This proposed algorithm can be used as a furfural alternative for the general assessment of transformer paper conditions and the estimation of expected life and provides a helpful assistance for experts in transformer condition assessment.
Association of Campylobacter jejuni serotype with antiganglioside antibody in Guillain‐Barré syndrome and Fisher's syndrome

Using Penner's method and Lior's scheme, we serotyped 31 isolates from patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome, 7 isolates from those with Fisher's syndrome, and isolates from patients with sporadic enteritis. PEN 19 of Campylobacter jejuni was isolated more frequently from the Guillain‐Barré syndrome patients (16/31 isolates, 52%) than from the sporadic enteritis patients (5%). LIO 7 of C. jejuni also was isolated more frequently from the Gillain‐Barré syndrome patients (14/31 isolates, 45%) than from the enteritis patients (3%). One reason why Guillain‐Barré syndrome is rare, despite the high incidence of C. jejuni enteritis, may be the low frequencies of PEN 19 and LIO 7. The frequency of positive anti‐GM 1 antibody titers in the Guillain‐Barré syndrome patients with PEN 19 isolates was higher than that in the Guillain‐Barré syndrome and Fisher's syndrome patients without PEN 19 isolates. We speculate that the serotypic determinant of PEN 19 aids in the production of anti‐GM 1 antibody by a GM 1−like lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, 5 of the 7 isolates from the Fisher's syndrome patients belonged to PEN 2:LIO 4. The IgG anti‐GQ 1b antibody was associated with PEN 2 and LIO 4. These serotypic determinants may aid in the production of IgG anti‐GQ 1b antibody by a GQ 1b−like lipopolysaccharide.
Type of Tobacco Product Used: Are There Differences between University and Community College Students?

This article describes and compares smoking prevalence, types of tobacco products used, and motivation to quit among college students at universities and community colleges. Data were collected using the Florida Annual College Tobacco Survey (FACTS). Nine universities and eight community colleges participated in the study (n = 4973). Most students (69%) experimented with tobacco. Cigarettes were used more often (57.4%), followed by Black ‘N Mild (31.8%), cigars (30.1%), kreteks/bidis (24.1%), smokeless tobacco (13.9%), and pipe (8.9%). University students were more likely than community college students to have tried kreteks/bidis and cigars (p < .05). University students experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigarettes and pipes while community college experimented at a significantly earlier age with cigars and kreteks/bidis (p < .05). The majority of cigarette smokers (62%) were not interested in quitting. The implications for college tobacco education programs are discussed.
Dual properties of Nigella Sativa: anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant

Nigella sativa [NS] or Black seed has been used for the treatment of various disorders for centuries. Experimentally, seed extract or thymoquinone [TQ] which is the main constituent of its oil has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic and anticancer properties. Interestingly, the published data demonstrates that NS acts as anti-oxidant in various diseases simultaneously it behaves like a pro-oxidant for cancer cells. Here, we have summarized the dual properties of this medicinal plant. Current review is systematic, based on search from PubMed. Pubmed data indicated that NS has both anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant properties in different cell types hence should be used carefully because it acts as a cytoprotective or cytotoxic agent in inflammatory and malignant conditions respectively.
Differentiation and behavior of human neural progenitors on micropatterned substrates and in the developing retina

In this study we investigated the differentiation of human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) in vitro to evaluate their differentiation potential and in vivo to explore their viability and behavior following transplantation. Progenitors were maintained as neurospheres in media containing basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor. Micropatterned polystyrene substrates were fabricated and coated with ECL (entactin, collagen, and laminin) to provide physical and chemical guidance during the differentiation of the hNPCs. The hNPCs growing on the micropatterned substrates showed no differences in proliferation or differentiation potential compared with those hNPCs growing on the nonpatterned substrates. However, hNPCs cultured on the micropatterned substrates were aligned in the direction of the micropattern compared with those cells growing on the nonpatterned substrates. Furthermore, hNPC migration was directed in alignment with the micropatterned substrates. Transplantation of the hNPCs into the developing retina was used to evaluate their behavior in vivo. Cells displayed extensive survival, differentiation, and morphological integration following xenotransplant into the retina, even in the absence of immunosuppression. Taken together, our results show that these multipotent hNPCs are a neurogenic progenitor population that can be maintained in culture for extended periods. Although the micropatterned substrates have no major effect on the proliferation or differentiation of the hNPCs, they clearly promoted alignment and directed neurite outgrowth along the pattern as well as directing migration of the cells. These approaches may provide important strategies to guide the growth and differentiation of NPCs in vitro and in vivo. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Mouthrinses with Triclosan, Zinc Ions, Copolymer, and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate Combined with Fluoride on Acid Formation by Dental Plaque in vivo

Bacteriological tests demonstrated a slight synergistic effect of triclosan and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) on the growth of Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10556 in vitro. A single mouthrinse with SLS (17.4 mM) or SLS plus triclosan (3.5 mM) significantly decreased the number of salivary mutans streptococci in a group of 12 subjects up to 90 min after rinsing. The effect on plaque pH of a mouthrinse with either 12.0 mM NaF, NaF plus 10.0 mM zinc acetate, NaF plus 17.4 mM SLS, or NaF plus SLS plus 3.5 mM triclosan with or without the addition of zinc ions or 0.65% w/v of a polyvinylmethyl ether/maleic acid copolymer was investigated. The plaque pH responses to a 10% w/v sucrose mouthrinse were measured in 2-day-old plaque with microtouch pH electrodes in six groups of 10 subjects 90 min after a single mouthrinse with test solution. There was no significant difference in plaque pH between the various mouthrinses. In conclusion, triclosan enhanced the growth-inhibitory activity of SLS against oral streptococci in vitro but not against salivary mutans streptococci in vivo. Neither triclosan incorporated into a mouthrinse containing SLS plus fluoride, nor the addition of zinc ions or copolymer affected acid formation by dental plaque in vivo.
Content-based image retrieval system based on self organizing map, fuzzy color histogram and subtractive fuzzy clustering

A novel system with high level of retrieval accuracy has been presented in this paper. Color as one of the most important discriminators in CBIR (contentbased image retrieval) is utilized through calculating some of the primitive color features. The indexing of image database is performed with SOM (selforganizing map) which identified the BMU's (best matching units). Subsequently, Fuzzy Color Histogram (FCH) and subtractive fuzzy clustering algorithms have been utilized to identify the cluster for which the query image is belonging. Furthermore, the paper presents an enhanced edge detection algorithm to remove unwanted pixels and to solidify objects within images which ease similarity measures based on extracted shape features. The proposed approach overcomes the computational complexity of applying bintobin comparison as a multi dimensional feature vectors in the original color histogram approach and improves the retrieval accuracy based on shape as compared with the most dominant approaches in this filed of study.
HMDB: the Human Metabolome Database

The Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) is currently the most complete and comprehensive curated collection of human metabolite and human metabolism data in the world. It contains records for more than 2180 endogenous metabolites with information gathered from thousands of books, journal articles and electronic databases. In addition to its comprehensive literature-derived data, the HMDB also contains an extensive collection of experimental metabolite concentration data compiled from hundreds of mass spectra (MS) and Nuclear Magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomic analyses performed on urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples. This is further supplemented with thousands of NMR and MS spectra collected on purified, reference metabolites. Each metabolite entry in the HMDB contains an average of 90 separate data fields including a comprehensive compound description, names and synonyms, structural information, physico-chemical data, reference NMR and MS spectra, biofluid concentrations, disease associations, pathway information, enzyme data, gene sequence data, SNP and mutation data as well as extensive links to images, references and other public databases. Extensive searching, relational querying and data browsing tools are also provided. The HMDB is designed to address the broad needs of biochemists, clinical chemists, physicians, medical geneticists, nutritionists and members of the metabolomics community. The HMDB is available at:
Covalent antithrombin-heparin effect on thrombin-thrombomodulin and activated protein C reaction with factor V/Va

Summary Thrombomodulin (TM), which variably contains a chondroitin sulfate (±CS), forms an anticoagulant complex with thrombin (IIa). IIaTM(±CS) converts protein C (PC) into activated PC (APC), which then inactivates activated factors V (FVa) and VIII (FVIIIa). This reduces prothrombinase and tenase complexes that generate IIa. Heparin (H) increases the rate of IIa-TM inhibition by antithrombin (AT) and enhances FV cleavage by APC. Our novel covalent AT-H (ATH) product, has superior anticoagulant activity compared to AT + unfractionated H (UFH). We studied mechanisms by which ATH versus AT + UFH inhibits IIaTM(±CS), and ATH influences on APC cleavage of FV/FVa compared to UFH. Findings would determine how these reactions moderate ATH’s overall effects as an anticoagulant. Discontinuous second order rate inhibition assays of IIa-TM(±CS) inhibition by AT + UFH or ATH were performed in presence or absence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). FV/FVa cleavage by APC in the presence of UFH or ATH was analysed by Western blots. ATH increased IIa-TM(±CS) inhibition to a greater degree than AT + UFH, both on plastic and HUVEC surfaces. Unlike UFH, ATH did not accelerate FV cleavage by APC, but ATH did enhance FVa cleavage relative to UFH. Increased IIa-TM inhibition by ATH downregulates PC activation. However, ATH does accelerate downstream inactivation of FVa, which increases its potency for IIa generation inhibition compared to UFH. This trend holds true in the presence of APC’s cofactor, protein S. Overall, ATH may have a balanced function towards inhibiting or accelerating PC pathway activities.
European Integration: From Nation-States to Member States

Preface and Acknowledgements List of Acronyms List of Figures and Tables Introduction PART I 1. Europe's Compromising Union 2. The Member State Paradigm 3. From Nation-States to Member States: A Brief History PART II 4. European Economic Integration and State Transformation 5. From Nation-States to Member States in European Foreign Policy Conclusion Bibliography Index
HIV antigen and antibody detection: variable responses to infection in the Edinburgh haemophiliac cohort

Sequential serum samples from 18 haemophiliac patients exposed simultaneously to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) in early 1984 were tested retrospectively for serological markers of infection. Assay for total antibodies to HIV established that the time to seroconversion might be as long as 110 days after exposure to contaminated factor VIII; serum samples were also tested by Western blotting, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific antibodies to envelope and core proteins, and for p24 antigen by two assay systems during the two years after infection. The studies showed that five of the 12 patients for whom serum samples obtained between exposure and seroconversion were available had transient p24 antigenaemia. Although amounts of total antibody to HIV and of antibodies to envelope proteins rose continuously during the two years of the study, amounts of antibody to the core protein were variable and tended to decline in patients who became symptomatic. Two patients had persistent p24 antigenaemia that began four months after seroconversion; these patients remained asymptomatic. One patient who developed the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) had transient antigenaemia at the time of seroconversion but failed to show any antigen for the rest of the study; progression to AIDS was accompanied by an increase in antibodies to envelope proteins. Much of the variability in the course of infection with HIV must represent the differences in the susceptibility of the patients to infection.
Dynamic Location Information in Attribute-Based Encryption Schemes

Attribute-based encryption (ABE) allows users to encrypt (cloud) data with fine-grained Boolean access control policies. To be able to decrypt the ciphertext, users need to have a private key with the associated attributes. If the attributes satisfy the formula, the plaintext can be recovered. In this paper, ABE is extended with dynamic attributes. This allows attributes to be added to an existing private key. A server component named Attribute Authority is introduced. By using these dynamic attributes, it is now possible to have the decryption depend on data that changes often, such as location information of a mobile device. Two schemes were developed that convert location data into usable ABE attributes. To demonstrate our results, an Android application was implemented and evaluated in a field test.
Toward Biochemical Understanding of a Transcriptionally Silenced Chromosomal Domain in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

Catherine A. Fox and Kristopher H. McConnell From the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI, 53706 Running Title: Silencing the Yeast HMR Domain Address correspondence to: Catherine A. Fox, Associate Professor, Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, 587 MSC, 1300 University Ave., University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53706-1532, Tel. 608 262-9370; Email: cfox@wisc.edu
Etude des lois de commande de la plateforme de simulation de conduite et influence sur le mal de simulateur

La simulation de conduite est fortement utilisee dans la recherche et le developpement pour l'industrie automobile. Les simulateurs de conduite sont utilises pour evaluer les prototypes vehicules pour la dynamique du vehicule et les systemes d'aide a la conduite. Cependant, l'utilisation des simulateurs de conduite induit une problematique scientifique qui peut limiter son developpement. En raison de son principe meme, le simulateur de conduite ne restitue pas des mouvements du vehicule a l'echelle 1. Ce verrou cause des phenomenes de mal du simulateur qu'il est important d'etudier.Cette these propose d'etudier des methodes et outils a mettre en œuvre dans les simulateurs de conduite statique ou dynamique. De cette mise en œuvre, des etudes sur le mal du simulateur sont menees grâce a des mesures objectives (via un capteur de suivi de mouvement, plate-forme de stabilite du corps, electromyographie) et subjectives (par l'intermediaire de questionnaires). Des solutions algorithmiques et materielles sont proposees et evaluees dans le contexte de la simulation de conduite.Les approches proposees dans cette these pour reduire le mal du simulateur sont:- Elaborer et evaluer les algorithmes de controle de la plate-forme mobile hexapode: sept algorithmes differents sont mis en œuvre. - Mesurer les effets lies au mal de simulateur sur les sujets aux niveaux vestibulaire, neuromusculaire et posturale. - Evaluer l'influence de l'implication des sujets sur le mal de simulateur (conducteurs et passagers).
ATP as a mediator of erythrocyte‐dependent regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery in humans

Abstract In healthy human beings, blood flow to dynamically contracting skeletal muscle is regulated primarily to match oxygen (O2) delivery closely with utilisation. This occurs across a wide range of exercise intensities, as well as when exercise is combined with conditions that modify blood O2 content. The red blood cells (RBCs), the primary O2 carriers in the blood, contribute to the regulation of the local processes matching O2 supply and demand. This is made possible by the ability of RBCs to release the vasoactive substance adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in response to reductions in erythrocyte and plasma O2, as well as to other adjuvant metabolic and mechanical stimuli. The regulatory role of RBCs in human beings is supported by the observations that, i) exercising skeletal muscle blood flow responds primarily to changes in the amount of O2 bound to the erythrocyte haemoglobin molecules, rather than the amount of O2 in plasma, and ii) exercising muscle blood flow can almost double (from 260 to 460 ml min−1 100 g−1) with alterations in blood O2 content, such that O2 delivery and are kept constant. Besides falling blood O2 content, RBCs release ATP when exposed to increased temperature, reduced pH, hypercapnia, elevated shear stress and augmented mechanical deformation, i.e. conditions that exist in the microcirculation of active skeletal muscle. ATP is an attractive mediator signal for skeletal muscle blood flow regulation, not only because it can act as a potent vasodilator, but also because of its sympatholytic properties in the human limb circulations. These properties are essential to counteract the vasoconstrictor effects of concurrent increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity and circulating vasoconstrictor substances during exercise. Comparison of the relative vasoactive potencies and sympatholytic properties of ATP, other nucleotides, and adenosine in human limbs, suggests that intravascular ATP exerts its vasodilator and sympatholytic effects directly, and not via its degradation compounds. In conclusion, current evidence clearly indicates that RBCs are involved directly in the regulation of O2 supply to human skeletal muscle during dynamic exercise. Further, intravascular ATP might be an important mediator in local metabolic sensing and signal transduction between the RBCs and the endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the vascular beds of skeletal muscle.
Clinical performance of an innovative back surface multifocal contact lens in correcting presbyopia.

PURPOSE This prospective study was designed to subjectively and objectively evaluate the performance of an aspheric multifocal back surface rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens. The multifocal element of this lens design consisted of an aspheric optical zone that varied according to the patient's ametropia, corneal topography, and required reading addition. METHODS We fit 28 presbyopic subjects with an aspheric multifocal back surface RGP contact lens (age range: 45 to 68 years). Reading additions ranged from +0.75 D to +2.50 D. Subjects were assessed initially and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks for ocular changes, visual performance, and subjective responses. RESULTS We required 116 RGP lenses to achieve an acceptable fit and visual acuity in 28 subjects (55 eyes). At the final visit, the distance logMAR acuity with the multifocal contact lens (+0.12 +/- 0.10) was not statistically different (t = -0.623, P = -0.5388) from spectacle acuity at the initial visit (+0.10 +/- 0.12). The near logMAR acuity with the multifocal contact lens at the final visit (0.36 +/- 0.12) was not statistically different from that for near acuity with spectacles at the initial visit (0.33 +/- 0.13). No slit lamp signs worsened during the study. A reduction in myopia of 0.67 D was noted by the final visit. Spectacle blur was noted if the acuity at the initial refraction was compared to the acuity with the same refraction at the final visit (t = -3.287, P = 0.0028) but not when the refractive changes were incorporated (t = 1.058, P = 0.3127). All subjects rated the performance of the lenses very highly: comfort, 86%; distance acuity, 83%; near acuity, 73%; and stability of vision, 74%. Twenty-four subjects (86%) chose the multifocal contact lens as their preference. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that a multifocal design is able to provide acceptable distance and near correction for presbyopic patients. The aspheric geometry required can be optimized for a given patient by considering his/her degree of ametropia, as well as the corneal topography.