Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted expression of the signaling molecule decapentaplegic induces pattern duplications and growth alterations in Drosophila wings.

In the wing imaginal disc, the decapentaplegic (dpp) gene is expressed in a stripe of anterior cells near the anterior‐posterior compartment boundary, and it is required solely in these cells for the entire disc to develop. In some viable segment polarity mutants, alterations in dpp expression have been demonstrated that correlate with changes in wing morphology. To test the hypothesis that the abnormal patterns of dpp expression are responsible directly for the mutant phenotypes, we have expressed dpp in ectopic places in wing imaginal discs, and we have found that dpp is able to cause overgrowth and pattern duplications in both anterior and posterior compartments of the wing disc. The alterations of the anterior compartment are strikingly similar to those observed in some viable segment polarity mutants. Thus, ectopic dpp alone can account for the phenotype of these mutants. We also show that ectopic expression of the segment polarity gene hedgehog (hh) gives similar morphological changes and activates dpp expression in the anterior compartment. This strongly suggests that the organizating activity of hh is mediated by dpp. We propose that the expression of dpp near the anterior‐posterior compartment boundary is directed by the interaction between patched and hh, and that dpp itself could act as a general organizer of the patterning in the wing imaginal disc.
Hepatitis B Virus Inhibits Apoptosis of Hepatoma Cells by Sponging the MicroRNA 15a/16 Cluster

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes chronic hepatitis in hundreds of millions of people worldwide, which can eventually lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The molecular mechanisms underlying HBV persistence are not well understood. In this study, we found that HBV inhibited the chemotherapy drug etoposide-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Further analysis revealed that HBV mRNAs possess a microRNA 15a/16 (miR-15a/16)-complementary site (HBV nucleotides [nt] 1362 to 1383) that acts as a sponge to bind and sequester endogenous miR-15a/16. Consequently, Bcl-2, known as the target of miR-15a/16, was upregulated in HBV-infected cells. The data from HBV-transgenic mice further confirmed that HBV transcripts cause the reduction of miR-15a/16 and increase of Bcl-2. More importantly, we examined the levels of HBV transcripts and miR-15a/16 in HBV-infected HCC from patients and found that the amount of HBV mRNA and the level of miR-15a/16 were negatively correlated. Consistently, the level of Bcl-2 mRNA was upregulated in HBV-infected patients. In conclusion, we identified a novel HBV mRNA–miR-15a/16–Bcl-2 regulatory pathway that is involved in inhibiting etoposide-induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells, which may contribute to facilitating chronic HBV infection and hepatoma development.
ESTUDO DAS CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICO-QUÍMICAS DO FRUTO DO MANDACARU (Cereus jamacaru P.DC.) CULTIVADO NO SERTÃO PERNAMBUCANO

O mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru P.DC.) e uma especie nativa da vegetacao da caatinga e seus frutos podemconstituir uma agradavel fonte de alimento, embora ainda nao sejam explorados intensamente. Este trabalhoteve por objetivo fornecer dados sobre as caracteristicas fisicas e fisico-quimicas dos frutos de mandacaruobtidos na cidade de Petrolina-PE. E de fundamental importância estudar a sua composicao quimica,considerando a possibilidade tanto de uso na industria de alimentos, como a elaboracao de novos produtos. Osucesso no desenvolvimento de novos produtos e melhoria da qualidade pode levar ao crescimento nademanda do fruto e tambem o aumento no valor agregado do produto. Foram analisados os teores deumidade, ferro, minerais totais (soluveis e insoluveis), pectina, fibras, gordura, acucares redutores em glicosee nao-redutores em sacarose, proteina e tambem realizadas medidas fisicas (pesagem, densidade, diâmetro,largura e teor de solidos soluveis). A polpa apresentou peso medio de 89,45g, comprimento e largura mediade 72,62 e 47,71 mm, respectivamente, 14,32°Brix, 4,6 de pH, 83,29% de umidade, 0,6375% de ferro,0,4814% de cinzas totais, sendo 0,4605% de cinzas soluveis e 0,0209% de cinzas insoluveis, 43,6% depectina, 0,88% de fibra, 12,433% de gordura, 2,866% de acucares redutores em glicose e 2,935% deacucares nao-redutores em sacarose. Por apresentar alto teor de pectina e solidos soluveis, a polpa do mesmopode ser utilizada como materia-prima na fabricacao de doces e geleias.
Prosodic Domains of External Sandhi Rules

Questo articolo contiene la prima proposta di Nespor e Vogel riguardo alla fonologia prosodica della frase, una delle prime proposte teoriche sull'interfaccia tra sintassi e fonologia. I costituenti cui viene dato particolare rilievo sono il sintagma fonologico e il sintagma intonativo, ambedue motivati in base a fenomeni della fonologia frasale dell'italiano: il raddoppiamento sintattico, la ritrazione d'accento e la gorgia toscana. Questi fenomeni sono usati per definire il dominio dei costituenti prosodici. Vengono inoltre proposte delle regole per definire le prominenze relative al loro interno. Le proposte elaborate in questo articolo sono poi state in riprese nel principale lavoro delle autrici: il libro Prosodic Phonology del 1986, che verra a breve ripubblicato.
Mucosal lesions in the small intestine of the cat during low flow.

The mucosal changes, produced at the villous tips of the cat small intestine during a mimicked shock situation (regional hypotension at 30 mm Hg during nervous vasoconstrictor fibre activation), were examined macro-and microscopically. Macroscopically, petechial bleedings and ulcerations were regularly seen in the mucosa after a 2 h hypotensive period. The microscopic findings were characterized by epithelial lifting of various degrees at the tips of the villi and in some cases by a complete denudation of the villous tips. Intraluminal perfusion of a segment with oxygenated saline during the hypotension prevented or greatly reduced the mucosal lesions compared to control segments. On the other hand, intraluminal perfusion with nitrogenated saline did not change the mucosal lesions as compared with control. This strongly indicates that hypoxia per se plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the mucosal lesions, while the intestinal content (e.g. energy substrates or enzymes) does not appear to be of any great importance. It is suggested that the hypoxia is caused by an extravascular shunting of oxygen in the intestinal countercurrent exchanger.
Service Quality Gap and Customers' Satisfactions of Commercial Banks in Malaysia

Commercial banks play a significant role in the economy, making up one of the biggest provider of services in the Malaysian economy. Hence, providing better service quality is vital as banks have to compete for customers. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of service quality of commercial banks in Malaysia from the perspective of bank customers and assessing the satisfactions towards the services provided by the commercial banks. A questionnaire used in this study is limited to a sample of 300 respondents in the East Coast region of Malaysia. The measurements used were based on widely accepted SERVQUAL model (Parasuraman et. al. 1985, 1988, 1991). A descriptive statistics analysis (mean and paired t-test) was used to evaluate the level of service quality of Malaysia’s commercial banks from the customers’ perspective. This study examined the service quality gap by comparing customers’ expectations and their actual perceptions. In addition, this study focused on their satisfactions towards the service provided by commercial banks. The results of the study indicated that the overall service quality provided by the commercial banks was below customers’ expectations. Responsiveness was rated as the most important dimension followed by reliability, tangibility, assurance, and empathy. Further, the findings also found that customers were slightly satisfied with the overall service quality of the banks.
AlGaN/GaN HEMT High Power Densities on $\hbox{SiC/} \hbox{SiO}_{2}$/poly-SiC Substrates

In this letter, successful operation at 10 GHz of T-gate HEMTs on epitaxial structures grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) or MBE on composite substrates is demonstrated. The used device fabrication process is very similar to the process used on monocrystalline SiC substrate. High power density was measured on both epimaterials at 10 GHz. The best value is an output power density of 5.06 W/mm associated to a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 34.7% and a linear gain of 11.8 dB at VDS = 30 V for the components based on MOCVD-grown material. The output power density is 3.58 W/mm with a maximum PAE of 25% and a linear gain around 15 dB at VDS = 40 V for the MBE-grown material.
Emergencia de resistencia a vancomicina en Staphylococcus aureusComentario editorial. Nueva resistencia en Staphylococcus aureusLa amenaza de la resistencia a la vancomicinaStreptococcus pneumoniae resistente a fármacos: elecciones racionales de antibióticosUn nuevo agente antimicrobiano se une a la

Antecedentes: desde la emergencia de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina, el glucopéptido vancomicina ha sido el único tratamiento uniformemente efectivo para las infecciones estafilocócicas. En 1997, se identificaron en Estados Unidos dos infecciones debidas a S. aureus con reducida susceptibilidad a vancomicina. Métodos: investigamos a dos pacientes con infecciones debidas a S. aureus con resistencia intermedia a glucopéptidos, definida por una concentración inhibitoria mínima de 8 a 16 μg/mL. Para valorar el estado de portador y la transmisión de estas cepas de S. aureus, cultivamos muestras de los pacientes y sus contactos y evaluamos los aislamientos. Resultados: el primer paciente era un hombre de 59 años de edad, en Michigan con diabetes mellitus e insuficiencia renal crónica. El paciente padeció peritonitis debida a S. aureus con resistencia intermedia a glucopéptidos después de 18 semanas de tratamiento con vancomicina para peritonitis recurrente por S. aureus resistente a meticilina relacionada con diálisis. La remoción del catéter peritoneal más tratamiento con rifampicina y trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol erradicaron la infección. El segundo paciente era un hombre de 66 años de edad con diabetes, en Nueva Jersey. Ocurrió una infección del torrente sanguíneo debida a S. aureus con resistencia intermedia a glucopéptidos después de 18 semanas de tratamiento con vancomicina para bacteremia recurrente por S. aureus resistente a meticilina. Esta infección se erradicó con vancomicina, gentamicina y rifampicina. Ambos pacientes murieron. Los aislamientos de S. aureus intermedios a glucopéptidos difirieron por dos bandas en la electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado. En el microscopio de electrones, los aislamientos de los pacientes infectados tenían matrices extracelulares más anchos que los aislamientos control de S. aureus resistente a meticilina. No se documentó estado de portador entre los 177 contactos de los dos pacientes. Conclusiones: la emergencia de S. aureus con resistencia intermedia a glucopéptidos hace énfasis en la importancia del uso prudente de los antibióticos, de la capacidad de laboratorio para identificar cepas resistentes y de las precauciones en el control de infecciones para prevenir su transmisión. Emergencia de resistencia a vancomicina en Staphylococcus aureus
Calculating a linear-time solution to the densest-segment problem

Abstract The problem of finding a densest segment of a list is similar to the well-known maximum segment sum problem, but its solution is surprisingly challenging. We give a general specification of such problems, and formally develop a linear-time online solution, using a sliding-window style algorithm. The development highlights some elegant properties of densities, involving partitions that are decreasing and all right-skew.
Brisure de gouttes dans une jonction en T à faible nombre capillaire

Nous presentons des resultats experimentaux de brisure de gouttes dans une jonction en T pour des nombres Capillaires variant de 4.10-4 a 2 10-1 et pour deux rapports de viscosites entre les 2 phases. La gamme de nombres capillaires est de 2 ordres de grandeur superieurs a celui de la litterature. Nous obtenons 2 regimes de brisure. Dans le premier, un tunnel se forme entre la goutte et la paroi du microcanal avant que la goutte ne se brise. Dans le second, la goutte obstrue la jonction de facon permanente avant de se briser.
Interrater reliability of 2 sedation scales in a medical intensive care unit: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND Critical care nurses must assess the effectiveness of sedatives and analgesic agents in order to titrate doses. OBJECTIVES To measure the interrater reliability of 2 sedation scales used to assess patients in medical intensive care units. METHODS The interrater reliabilities of the Motor Activity Assessment Scale and the Luer sedation scale were compared prospectively in 31 patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an 18-bed medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care institution. Three registered nurses, 1 clinical pharmacist, and 1 physician simultaneously and independently followed a standardized procedure to rate each patient by using the 2 scales. Scales were randomly ordered to counteract ordering effect. Analysis of variance with post hoc Duncan multiple range tests was used to detect bias; a correlation coefficient matrix was used to examine degree of association among raters; and the intraclass correlation coefficient was measured to control for multiple raters. RESULTS No significant bias was detected with either scale. The Motor Activity Assessment Scale had less variation (Pearson r = 0.75-0.92) than did the Luer scale (Pearson r = 0.37-0.94) and had a stronger intraclass correlation coefficient (0.81 vs 0.79). CONCLUSIONS The Motor Activity Assessment Scale showed the highest consistency among raters.
Controlling "shout" expression in a Japanese POP singing performance: analysis and suppression study

Degree of “shout” singing performance is effectively controlled by combining global spectral shape equalization, peak cancellation in frequency modulation spectrum of F0 trajectory, and synchronized shape-modulation of voice spectral envelope. This “shout-reduction” processing is based on a symmetry-based F0 extractor with ﬁne temporal resolution, a temporally stable representation of instantaneous frequency of periodic signals, and the TANDEM-STRAIGHT, a speech analysis, modi-ﬁcation and resynthesis framework. The proposed procedure successfully converted an expressive Japanese POP song performance with “shout” into a plain performance without damaging original naturalness. Possibility of adding artiﬁcial “shout” to plain performance is also discussed.
Relationship between shortening load, contractility, and myocardial energetics in intact dog.

A canine model was developed to estimate left ventricular wall stress, volumes, contractility, and high-energy phosphate metabolites without the need for major surgery. A percutaneously inserted catheter-tip manometer was used to record high-fidelity left ventricular pressure while gradient echo cinemagnetic resonance (cine-MR) imaging alternated with in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy during pharmacological maneuvers to increase cardiac work. Left ventricular circumferential wall stress, volumes, maximum rate of pressure development (dP/dtmax), and the ratio of phosphocreatine (PCr) to gamma-ATP (PCr/gamma-ATP) were recorded sequentially during control 1, dobutamine infusion, control 2, angiotensin infusion, and control 3 in five anesthetized, closed-chest dogs. PCr/gamma-ATP did not change significantly during controls 1-3, angiotensin, and dobutamine infusion. Left ventricular peak positive dP/dt (+dP/dtmax) increased significantly during dobutamine (3,338 +/- 831 mmHg/s, P < 0.001) but was unchanged during angiotensin (1,818 +/- 317 mmHg/s) and controls 1-3 (1,915 +/- 434 vs. 1,808 +/- 478 vs. 1,859 +/- 414 mmHg/s). However, dobutamine decreased the total systolic stress integral (area under the wall stress-time relationship) and end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, whereas angiotensin increased these parameters compared with control conditions. The unchanged PCr/gamma-ATP is in accord with the results from other open-chest surface coil 31P-NMR experiments in the normal heart. Our assessment of left ventricular functional parameters provides new information that complements these more invasive studies in which heart rate-pressure product was measured during increases in cardiac work. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A biblical evaluation of avenging spirits (ngozi) among the Shona people of Zimbabwe : a pastoral response

This study is a biblical evaluation of avenging spirits (ngozi) among the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It investigates the Shona understanding of ngozi, the biblical teaching on the spirits that manifest as those of the dead and how the church in Zimbabwe can effectively respond to the ngozi crisis with a pastoral care that is biblically informed and in a practically effective way. The study commences with an evaluation of the biblical teaching on the communication of the living with the dead. This is followed by other related questions to the subject such as the biblical teaching on vengeance for murder and the identity of the spirits that manifest as those of the dead. The Shona traditional understanding of ngozi is examined, giving attention to its types and the way the traditional Shona and the church in Zimbabwe currently address the ngozi crisis. Additionally, the interaction between the belief in ngozi among the Shona and the biblical teaching of spirits that manifest as those of the dead is examined. The outcome of this interaction leads to a proposal on practical guidelines for helping those affected by ngozi crisis and preventing a continuation of the crisis in the present and future Shona generations. [
Histoplasma capsulatum: effects of pH on the yeast and mycelial phases in vitro.

The yeast phase of the A and B phenotype of Histoplasma capsulatum will grow well in shake culture in Modified Sabouraud broth with an initial pH between 5–10. There is minimal growth at pH 4·5 and pH 11 and no growth or survival at pH 3–4. The mycelial phase at 25°C in stationary cultures will grow and sporulate in media with an initial pH 6–12 for the A phenotype and an initial pH 6–8 for the B phenotype. The minima and maxima of growth for both mycelial phenotypes extend from initial pH 5–12. The ecological and isolation implications of these in vitro results are discussed.
In‐vitro antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Sardinian Thymus essential oils

Essential oils and their components are becoming increasingly popular as naturally occurring antimicrobial agents. In this work the chemical composition and the antimicrobial properties of Thymus essential oils and of their main components were determined. Three essential oils obtained from different species of Thymus growing wild in Sardinia and a commercial sample of Thymus capitatus oil were analysed. The essential oil components were identified by GC/MS analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the oils and components was determined against a panel of standard reference strains and multiple strains of food‐derived spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, using a broth microdilution method. The GC/MS analysis showed that the major constituents of the oils were monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic monoterpenes, but the concentration of these compounds varied greatly among the oils examined. The results of the antimicrobial assay showed that essential oils extracted from Sardinian Thymus species have an antimicrobial activity comparable to the one observed in other thyme oils. It seems also confirmed that the antimicrobial properties of thyme essential oils are mainly related to their high phenolic content. Among the single compounds tested carvacrol and thymol turned out to be the most efficient against both reference strains and food‐derived bacteria. The results of this study confirmed the possibility of using thyme essential oils or some of their components in food systems to prevent the growth of foodborne bacteria and extend the shelf‐life of processed foods.
Análisis y optimización eficiente de agrupaciones de ranuras en guía

La presente tesis desarrolla el diseno optimizado eficiente de grandes agrupaciones de ranuras en guia. Especificamente, se contemplan las antenas RLSA sobre guia radial y las clasicas agrupaciones en guias rectangulares monomodo. Adicionalmente, el funcionamiento estandar de este tipo de antenas es mejorado introduciendo unos dipolos parasitos sobre las ranuras. Esta novedad permite por un lado aliviar los conocidos inconvenientes de las agrupaciones RLSA con polarizacion lineal (LP-RLSA). Por otro lado, los nuevos elementos posibilitan la radiacion de polarizacion circular por parte de las agrupaciones de ranuras en guia rectangular, limitadas conceptualmente a polarizacion lineal. La consecucion de los objetivos planteados se lleva a cabo siguiendo una metodologia secuencial de tres etapas. En primer lugar se implementa un metodo de analisis eficiente y riguroso de cada una de las estructuras bajo estudio. Este aspecto resulta fundamental debido al gran tamano de las antenas consideradas. A continuacion, se conciben y desarrollan algoritmos eficientes de diseno y optimizacion, adecuados para agrupaciones con un elevado numero de elementos. Finalmente, se validan los resultados obtenidos mediante la fabricacion y medida de varios prototipos. Las nuevas topologias de LP-RLSA concebidas en esta tesis proporcionan un ansiado avance en sus limitadas prestaciones, sin abandonar su filosofia original de bajo coste. Este progreso se hace realidad gracias al desarrollo de algoritmos de optimizacion dedicados. Los resultados experimentales obtenidos confirman dicho avance, suponiendo un prometedor acercamiento a las prestaciones ofrecidas por las agrupaciones CP-RLSA. Las agrupaciones en guia rectangular, por su parte, son objeto de un exhaustivo y versatil proceso de optimizacion. Esta tesis tambien incluye un profundo estudio sobre el ancho de banda de este tipo de antenas, incluyendo la conocida tecnica de desintonizacion. Como resultado, se propone un metodo de optimizacion frecuencial, el cual pretende maximizar el cumplimiento de especificaciones en una determinada banda de frecuencias. Todos los algoritmos propuestos son ademas extendidos a agrupaciones con polarizacion circular, gracias a la inclusion de dipolos parasitos. Esta modificacion habilita a estas antenas para cubrir un mayor espectro de aplicaciones. La fabricacion y medida de varios prototipos, concebidos para el despliegue real de diferentes sistemas, confirman las conclusiones del analisis teorico.
Tight Bounds for Ergodic Capacity of Dual-Hop Fixed-Gain Relay Networks under Rayleigh Fading

Since a closed-form expression for the exact ergodic capacity of dual-hop fixed-gain relay networks is not mathematically tractable, thus we will present tight closed-form bounds for the ergodic capacity in Rayleigh fading channels. First we express the exact ergodic capacity in terms of a Lommel function and a single integral and then we apply integral inequalities to present one upper bound and two lower bounds on the ergodic capacity. We also show that our closed-form bounds match perfectly with Monte-Carlo simulations, particularly for moderate and high average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the first hop.