Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive criteria of beef bulls during and after exposure to increased ambient temperature.

Sixteen yearling Angus bulls were randomly assigned to one of two temperature-controlled chambers to determine the effects of elevated ambient temperature on body functions and semen characteristics. After 8 wk adjustment at 23 C, eight heat-stressed bulls were exposed to 35 +/- 1 C for 8 h and 31 +/- 1 C for 16 h during each 24-h period, and eight control bulls were maintained at 23 +/- 1 C for 8 wk. Then all bulls were exposed to 23 C for 8 wk. Bulls were fed so that both control and stressed bulls gained at similar rates (.58 kg/d). Semen was collected with an artificial vagina twice weekly before, during and after heat stress. During treatment, the respiratory rate of stressed bulls was greater (P less than .001) than that of control bulls (54.2 +/- 1.5, 29.9 +/- 1.5 breaths/min, respectively). Rectal temperatures were increased (P less than .01) from 38.2 +/- . 1 to 38.7 +/- . 1 C and water consumption was increased by 35% in stressed bulls when compared with controls. Semen volume was not altered by treatment, but percentage of motile sperm decreased (P less than .01) in stressed bulls by 2 wk after the start of heat treatment. Sperm motility of stressed bulls returned to normal values 8 wk after the end of heat treatment. Similarly, the percentage of aged acrosomes on sperm from stressed bulls increased (P less than .01) by the second week of treatment and remained greater than that of controls throughout the stress period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Multicentre surveillance of prevalence of the 23S rRNA A2058G and A2059G point mutations and molecular subtypes of Treponema pallidum in Taiwan, 2009-2013.

Resistance mutations A2058G and A2059G, within the 23S rRNA gene of Treponema pallidum, have been reported to cause treatment failures in patients receiving azithromycin for syphilis. Genotyping of T. pallidum strains sequentially isolated from patients with recurrent syphilis is rarely performed. From September 2009 to August 2013, we collected 658 clinical specimens from 375 patients who presented with syphilis for genotyping to examine the number of 60-bp repeats in the acidic repeat protein (arp) gene, T. pallidum repeat (tpr) polymorphism, and tp0548 gene, and to detect A2058G and A2059G point mutations by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Treponemal DNA was identified in 45.2% (n = 298) of the specimens that were collected from 216 (57.6%) patients; 268 (40.7%) specimens tested positive for the 23S rRNA gene, and were examined for macrolide resistance. Two isolates (0.7%) harboured the A2058G mutation, and no A2059G mutation was identified. A total of 14 strains of T. pallidum were identified, with 14f/f (57.5%) and 14b/c (10.0%) being the two predominant strains. Forty patients who presented with recurrent episodes of syphilis had T. pallidum DNA identified from the initial and subsequent episodes, with five cases showing strain discrepancies. One patient had two strains identified from different clinical specimens collected in the same episode. Our findings show that 14f/f is the most common T. pallidum strain in Taiwan, where the prevalence of T. pallidum strains that show A2058G or A2059G mutation remains low. Different genotypes of T. pallidum can be identified in patients with recurrent episodes of syphilis.
Study of eddy-current loss reduction by slit in Reactor core

Air-gapped iron-cores are widely used for power reactors. Eddy currents are induced in silicon steel sheets due to fringing flux, and this causes local overheating. In order to avoid local heating and to design reactors with high efficiency, the analysis and experiments for evaluating local losses in the core block of the reactor are necessary. In this paper, the modeling of laminated core for practical and accurate analysis is investigated. The number of elements can be reduced by classifying the analyzed region in terms of the amount of fringing flux penetration. The eddy-current losses due to fringing flux are examined using three-dimensional finite-element method and experiments. New concepts for optimal designing of slits are shown.
Substance P suppresses GABAA receptor function via protein kinase C in primary sensory neurones of bullfrogs.

1. The effects of substance P (SP) and related tachykinins on the function of gamma‐aminobutyric acid‐A (GABAA) receptors were examined in acutely dissociated neurones of bullfrog dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by using whole‐cell voltage‐clamp techniques. 2. Application of SP (10 nM to 1 microM) depressed inward currents produced by GABAA receptor activation (IGABA). Neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB) also depressed IGABA; the rank order of agonist potency was SP > NKA > NKB. Spantide ([D‐Arg1, D‐Trp7,9,Leu11]SP) and L‐703,606, NK1 receptor antagonists, blocked the SP‐induced depression of IGABA. 3. SP irreversibly depressed IGABA, when neurones were intracellularly dialysed with GTP gamma S. Intracellular application of GDP beta S prevented the SP‐induced depression of IGABA. Pertussis toxin (PTX) did not block the inhibitory effect of SP on IGABA. 4. The depression of IGABA produced by SP was inhibited by H‐7 and PKC(19‐36), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, but not by H‐9 and HA‐1004, protein kinase A inhibitors. IGABA was suppressed by application of sn‐1,2‐dioctanoyl glycerol (DOG), a PKC activator. 5. It is concluded that activation of neurokinin‐1 (NK1) receptors downregulates the function of the GABAA receptor of primary sensory neurones through a PTX‐insensitive G‐protein. PKC may be involved in the transduction pathway of the tachykinin‐induced inhibition of the GABAA receptor.
Efficacy of Oseltamivir Therapy in Ferrets Inoculated with Different Clades of H5N1 Influenza Virus

ABSTRACT Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses have infected an increasing number of humans in Asia, with high mortality rates and the emergence of multiple distinguishable clades. It is not known whether antiviral drugs that are effective against contemporary human influenza viruses will be effective against systemically replicating viruses, such as these pathogens. Therefore, we evaluated the use of the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor oseltamivir for early postexposure prophylaxis and for treatment in ferrets exposed to representatives of two clades of H5N1 virus with markedly different pathogenicities in ferrets. Ferrets were protected from lethal infection with the A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) virus by oseltamivir (5 mg/kg of body weight/day) given 4 h after virus inoculation, but higher daily doses (25 mg/kg) were required for treatment when it was initiated 24 h after virus inoculation. For the treatment of ferrets inoculated with the less pathogenic A/Turkey/15/06 (H5N1) virus, 10 mg/kg/day of oseltamivir was sufficient to reduce the lethargy of the animals, significantly inhibit inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, and block virus spread to the internal organs. Importantly, all ferrets that survived the initial infection were rechallenged with homologous virus after 21 days and were completely protected from infection. Direct sequencing of the NA or HA1 gene segments in viruses isolated from ferret after treatment showed no amino acid substitutions known to cause drug resistance in conserved residues. Thus, early oseltamivir treatment is crucial for protection against highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses and the higher dose may be needed for the treatment of more virulent viruses.
Physiological Role for the GlnK Protein of Enteric Bacteria: Relief of NifL Inhibition under Nitrogen-Limiting Conditions

ABSTRACT In Klebsiella pneumoniae, NifA-dependent transcription of nitrogen fixation (nif) genes is inhibited by a flavoprotein, NifL, in the presence of molecular oxygen and/or combined nitrogen. We recently demonstrated that the general nitrogen regulator NtrC is required to relieve NifL inhibition under nitrogen (N)-limiting conditions. We provide evidence that the sole basis for the NtrC requirement is its role as an activator of transcription for glnK, which encodes a PII-like allosteric effector. Relief of NifL inhibition is a unique physiological function for GlnK in that the structurally related GlnB protein of enteric bacteria—apparently a paralogue of GlnK—cannot substitute. Unexpectedly, although covalent modification of GlnK by uridylylation normally occurs under N-limiting conditions, several lines of evidence indicate that uridylylation is not required for relief of NifL inhibition. When GlnK was synthesized constitutively from non-NtrC-dependent promoters, it was able to relieve NifL inhibition in the absence of uridylyltransferase, the product of theglnD gene, and under N excess conditions. Moreover, an altered form of GlnK, GlnKY51N, which cannot be uridylylated due to the absence of the requisite tyrosine, was still able to relieve NifL inhibition.
Fifteen-year mortality after radical prostatectomy: Which factors are available for patient counselling?

Abstract Objective. The aims of this study were to establish 15-year postprostatectomy prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM), explore the time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse and identify clinically available prognostic factors. Material and methods. From 1987 to 2004, 309 men (median age 62 years, range 40–74 years) were prostatectomized for localized prostate cancer at a tertiary referral cancer centre. Slightly modified D'Amico risk groups were identified. PSA relapse was defined as PSA ≥ 4 μg/l before 2000, and thereafter as PSA > 0.2 μg/l. Radical prostatectomy (RP) 3–12 months after diagnosis represented “deferred” RP. PCSM was assessed with competing risk modelling. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. After a median of 12 years, 41 men were dead from prostate cancer and 68 due to other causes [15-year PCSM 15%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 10–19%], with no significant difference in PCSM between the low- and intermediate-risk groups, and the “conventional” high-risk group having 24% PCSM (95% CI 16–32%). PCSM was 33% (95% CI 20–46%) for men with two high-risk factors. The median time to PSA relapse (n = 152) was 5 (range 0–17) years, with a median of 7 (range 0–17) years' survival thereafter. Deferral of RP for up to 1 year had no impact on PCSM for all patients combined. Conclusions. Approximately one in seven men with localized prostate cancer, prostatectomized before the PSA era, will die from the disease within the 15 years post-RP. Men with two high-risk criteria have a particularly poor prognosis. After PSA relapse the median survival is 7 years. The data on deferral of RP need confirmation, taking into account risk group allocation.
Coordinating Inventory and Pricing Decisions with General Price‐Dependent Demands

We consider a periodic review, joint inventory and pricing control problem for a firm that faces general random price‐dependent demands. Any unsatisfied demand can be either backordered or lost immediately. The objective is to maximize the expected profit over a finite selling horizon by coordinating the inventory and pricing decisions in each period. For both the backorder model and the lost sales model, we derive some quite general sufficient conditions to ensure the optimality of a base‐stock list price (BSLP) policy based on the strict monotonicity of demand functions in the realizations of random noises. We are among the first to utilize the strict monotonicity of demand functions in the realizations of random noises for deriving the sufficient conditions. We derive the sufficient conditions in both the backorder model and the lost‐sales model by utilizing the new concept of upper‐set and lower‐set decreasing properties (USDP/LSDP), which is a generalized version of the first‐order stochastic dominance. This study reveals that the optimality of a BSLP policy is robust to more general business environments than what we previously thought. Finally, we also apply the USDP/LSDP in other inventory management problems.
Maternal clinical factors influencing HIV‐1 transmission

The complex puzzle of maternal factors involved in mother‐to‐child human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) transmission is being put together. The risk of perinatal infection increases with mother's disease progression, but it remains stable in women seroconverting to HIV‐1 during pregnancy and in consecutive pregnancies. Thus, transmission correlates with the HIV‐1 progression rather than the duration of infection in the mother. Nutritional alterations such as vitamin A deficiency may also have a significant impact, whereas geographic origin and mode of maternal infection are of no influence. Placenta membrane inflammation and concurrent sexually transmitted diseases are other significant covariates. The rate of transmission appears directly correlated with maternal age and inversely with length of gestation. A protective effect of caesarean section has been reported in some observational studies but, being controversial, these results need to be corroborated by randomized trials.
Photochemical Properties of the Flavin Mononucleotide-Binding Domains of the Phototropins from Arabidopsis, Rice, andChlamydomonas reinhardtii 1

Phototropins (phot1 and phot2, formerly designated nph1 and npl1) are blue-light receptors that mediate phototropism, blue light-induced chloroplast relocation, and blue light-induced stomatal opening in Arabidopsis. Phototropins contain two light, oxygen, or voltage (LOV) domains at their N termini (LOV1 and LOV2), each a binding site for the chromophore flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Their C termini contain a serine/threonine protein kinase domain. Here, we examine the kinetic properties of the LOV domains of Arabidopsis phot1 and phot2, rice (Oryza sativa) phot1 and phot2, andChlamydomonas reinhardtii phot. When expressed inEscherichia coli, purified LOV domains from all phototropins examined bind FMN tightly and undergo a self-contained photocycle, characterized by fluorescence and absorption changes induced by blue light (T. Sakai, T. Kagawa, M. Kasahara, T.E. Swartz, J.M. Christie, W.R. Briggs, M. Wada, K. Okada [2001] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98: 6969–6974; M. Salomon, J.M. Christie, E. Knieb, U. Lempert, W.R. Briggs [2000] Biochemistry 39: 9401–9410). The photocycle involves the light-induced formation of a cysteinyl adduct to the C(4a) carbon of the FMN chromophore, which subsequently breaks down in darkness. In each case, the relative quantum efficiencies for the photoreaction and the rate constants for dark recovery of LOV1, LOV2, and peptides containing both LOV domains are presented. Moreover, the data obtained from full-length Arabidopsis phot1 and phot2 expressed in insect cells closely resemble those obtained for the tandem LOV-domain fusion proteins expressed in E. coli. For both Arabidopsis and rice phototropins, the LOV domains of phot1 differ from those of phot2 in their reaction kinetic properties and relative quantum efficiencies. Thus, in addition to differing in amino acid sequence, the phototropins can be distinguished on the basis of the photochemical cycles of their LOV domains. The LOV domains ofC. reinhardtii phot also undergo light-activated spectral changes consistent with cysteinyl adduct formation. Thus, the phototropin family extends over a wide evolutionary range from unicellular algae to higher plants.
Oxidation of carotenoids by heat and tobacco smoke

The stability to autoxidation of the polar carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, was compared to that of the less polar carotenoids, β‐carotene and lycopene at physiologically or pathophysiologically relevant concentrations of 2 and 6 μM, after exposure to heat or cigarette smoke. Three methodological approaches were used: 1) Carotenoids dissolved in solvents with different polarities were incubated at 37 and 80°C for different times. 2) Human plasma samples were subjected to the same temperature conditions. 3) Methanolic carotenoid solutions and plasma were also exposed to whole tobacco smoke from 1–5 unfiltered cigarettes. The concentrations of individual carotenoids in different solvents were determined spectrophotometrically. Carotenoids from plasma were extracted and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Carotenoids were generally more stable at 37 than at 80°C. In methanol and dichloromethane the thermal degradation of β‐carotene and lycopene was faster than that of lutein and zeaxanthin. However, in tetrahydrofuran β‐carotene and zeaxanthin degraded faster than lycopene and lutein. Plasma carotenoid levels at 37°C did not change, but decreased at 80°C. The decrease of β‐carotene and lycopene levels was higher than those for lutein and zeaxanthin. Also in the tobacco smoke experiments the highest autoxidation rates were found for β‐carotene and lycopene at 2 μM, but at 6 μM lutein and zeaxanthin depleted to the same extent as β‐carotene. These data support our previous studies suggesting that oxidative stress degrade β‐carotene and lycopene faster than lutein and zeaxanthin. The only exception was the thermal degradation of carotenoids solubilized in tetrahydrofuran, which favors faster breakdown of β‐carotene and zeaxanthin.
Location of R&D activities by vertical multinationals over asymmetric countries

This paper deals with the location of RD and the direct engagement of industrial workers in R&D spillovers. These aspects are dealt with by presupposing that, in addition to a “technological” externality among researchers, there is an “educational” externality exerted by researchers upon neighbouring industrial workers. When a country loses its laboratories, the inhabitants become intellectually “impoverished” and their labour starts to have a lesser efficiency.
The prone position in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterised by radiographic diffuse bilateral infiltrates, decreased respiratory compliance, small lung volumes, and severe hypoxia.1 Correcting life threatening hypoxia is one of the main goals of treatment, and a range of possible approaches has been suggested, including high airway pressures, jet ventilation, nitric oxide inhalation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, no approach has yet proved definitive. Small case series have shown that the simple expedient of turning a mechanically ventilated patient with life threatening hypoxia to the prone position can bring dramatic improvements in oxygenation.2 This manoeuvre may help to reduce some of the factors believed to damage the lungs of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, such as excessive inspiratory pressure and a high inspired oxygen fraction. Is the prone position really beneficial or just another good idea that cannot be proved? Using the prone position …
Contraction of the Fetal Ductus arteriosus Induced by Diclofenac

The ductus arteriosus in the fetus may contract after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and aspirin. We report a similar effect observed after a 36-week pregnant women was given diclofenac against flank pains. The ductus of this fetus was vasoconstricted with evidence of right ventricular hypertension. It resolved after cessation of the drug. Diclofenac is a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and thus carries the pharmacodynamic properties of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in vasoconstriction of the ductus arteriosus. We suggest monitoring of the fetal ductus state and velocities by fetal echocardiography in women treated with diclofenac.
Diversity and Leadership: Perceptions and Experiences of the Campus Leadership Opportunity Structure

This study examines the interaction of demographic factors like race, class, firstgeneration status, and gender with perceptions of the availability and accessibility of leadership positions on campus. This case study focuses on F&M specifically and includes two waves of quantitative survey data as well as interviews. Results show that race is a statistically significant predictor of student perceptions, with non-White students being less likely than their White peers to be student leaders, to perceive themselves as leaders, and to have positive perceptions of the leadership opportunity structure. Class, first-generation status, and gender were not statistically significant predictors.
Estimating power losses in Dual Active Bridge DC-DC converter

In this paper, the power losses of the Dual Active Bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter are analyzed based on the converter's mode of operation by using the conventional phase shifting control strategy. The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple power loss model that can be used to calculate and predict power losses easily. With the help of the data sheet of the semiconductor devices, simple methods are used to calculate the switching and conduction losses. The loss model can also be used to evaluate the performance of the DAB at different power transfer levels. Moreover, the paper makes a comparison between the experimental and theoretical analysis to verify the method of power loss calculation in DAB. A 300W prototype controlled by TMS320C2000 DSP is implemented and tested.
Can Multifunctional Landscapes Become Effective Conservation Strategies? Challenges and Opportunities From a Mexican Case Study

Protected Areas (PA) are the main strategy for nature conservation. However, PA are not always efficient for ecological conservation and social wellbeing. A possible alternative for conservation in human-dominated landscapes are Multifunctional Landscapes (ML), which allow the coexistence of multiple objectives, such as nature conservation and resource use. Using the activity system framework, we analyzed whether the ML concept was an operative alternative to PA within an area of interest for conservation in Veracruz, Mexico. Activity systems refer to the set of productive strategies that result from the mobilization of resources and which, within particular environmental governance contexts, shape the landscape. To understand the challenges and opportunities of our case study, we: (1) delimited the landscape according to local conservation interests; and (2) analyzed the role of stakeholders in shaping this landscape. The delimited landscape included areas considered wildlife reservoirs and water provisioning zones. Our results suggested that the existence of local conservation areas (private and communal), combined with shaded-coffee agroforestry practices, made this region an example of ML. Although local conservation initiatives are perceived as more legitimate than top-down approaches, agreements amongst stakeholders are essential to strengthen environmental governance. In specific socio-ecological contexts, ML can be effective strategies for conservation through agroecosystems that maintain a high-quality landscape matrix, allowing nature preservation and delivering economic benefits.
Postgrowth In Situ Chlorine Passivation for Suppressing Surface-Dominant Transport in Silicon Nanowire Devices

We demonstrate a postgrowth in situ chlorine passivation method for suppressing surface-dominant transport in Si nanowires (SiNWs). This scheme helps avoid misorientations and meandering while facilitating the passivation of surface states. The leakage current of bridged SiNWs exhibited close to five orders of magnitude reduction as a result of chlorine passivation. The micro-Raman spectroscopy clearly reveals the nature of the varieties of silicon-chlorine bonds of the passivated devices. The chlorine-passivated SiNW surfaces are found to be stable over a long period of time with high immunity to environmental degradation. The chlorine passivation implies an effective and reliable method that can be tailored for mass manufacturing of nanowire-based devices.