Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of apoA- and apoB-containing lipoprotein particles in a variant of familial apoA-I deficiency with planar xanthoma: the metabolic significance of LP-A-II particles.

This study describes a variant of familial apoA-I deficiency associated with a moderate risk for premature coronary artery disease. The proband, a 25-year-old man of Philippine origin, and his 62-year-old maternal aunt had peripheral corneal opacification, xanthelasma, and planar xanthoma; the aunt had coronary artery bypass surgery at 61 years of age. Proband's parents and three brothers were asymptomatic and apparently healthy. The characteristic apolipoprotein features of affected patients were the immunochemically and chemically undetectable apoA-I, reduced levels of apoA-II, apoC-II, apoC-III, and apoD, and normal levels of apoB and apoE; except for negligible levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (2-3 mg/dl), their plasma lipid profile was normal. The apoA-I levels in all five unaffected relatives were more than one SD below the normal mean values for their age and sex; the HDL-cholesterol levels of proband's unaffected brothers were below the 10th percentile of normal control values. Patient's very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and HDL contained 1.4, 80.4, and 18.1%, whereas those of control subjects contained 2.7, 28.8, and 68.1% of the total apolipoprotein mass, respectively. In unaffected relatives, the levels of LP-A-I, but not LP-A-I:A-II, were significantly lower than in controls. Neither of the two patients had detectable concentrations of LP-A-I or LP-A-I:A-II. Their HDL only consisted of LP-A-II particles, the levels of which (7-13 mg/dl) were similar to those of unaffected relatives or controls. There was no difference in the lipid composition of LP-A-II between patients and their relatives. However, LP-A-II from patients contained substantial amounts of apoC-peptides and apoE (0.40-0.98 mg/mg apoA-II), whereas those from unaffected relatives were free of these minor apolipoproteins. In patients, among all four major apoB-containing lipoproteins, only the levels of LP-B and LP-B:C were slightly higher than those in controls. Results of this study suggest a genetic cause for this variant of apoA-I deficiency characterized most probably by autosomal recessive inheritance. It appears that patients are likely to be homozygous for a gene present in single dose in the parents and brothers of the affected proband. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Estimating expected lifetime of revolving credit facilities in an IFRS 9 framework

This paper sets out to estimate expected lifetime of revolving credit facilities (e.g. credit card products) and is motivated by the introduction of the International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9) and its requirements for loan impairments. The reporting entity is required to estimate lifetime expected credit losses for certain nancial instruments. In practice, maximum contractual period for revolving credit facilities cannot be used in dening lifetime for the facility and credit risk mitigation actions need to be considered. A data set for a retail credit card portfolio was provided by a Nordic bank and for the lifetime denition derived, a model based on a conditional Markov chain was selected. Expected lifetime was estimated and an analytical expression for expected lifetime of revolving credit facilities was derived and validated.
Effects of inorganic nanofillers and combinations of them on the complex permittivity of epoxy-based composites

In this paper, we investigate the influence of nanofiller material and its concentration on dielectric properties of epoxy-based composite systems. A comparative study is performed between the unfilled base epoxy, the systems containing one type of nanoparticles (silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide or aluminum nitride) and composites containing a combination of two different fillers inside the host polymer.
Wave-kinetic formulation of incoherent linear mode conversion.

We incorporate linear mode conversion in wave-kinetic theory when the incoming waves are incoherent, as occurs when the wave sources are turbulent processes or thermal emission. Mode conversion takes place when the rays of either wave mode cross the {ital mode} {ital conversion} {ital manifold} in the ray phase space. Jump conditions are derived which match the incoming and outgoing wave actions across the mode-conversion manifold, leading to a pair of coupled wave-kinetic equations. We also discuss how incoherent linear mode conversion acts as a source of wave entropy.
Nascent flavivirus RNA colocalized in situ with double-stranded RNA in stable replication complexes.

Incorporation of bromouridine (BrU) into viral RNA in Kunjin virus-infected Vero cells treated with actinomycin D was monitored in situ by immunofluorescence using antibodies reactive with Br-RNA. The results showed unequivocally that nascent viral RNA was located focally in the same subcellular site as dsRNA, the putative template for flavivirus RNA synthesis. When cells were labeled with BrU for 15 min, the estimated cycle period for RNA synthesis, the nascent Br-RNA was not digested in permeabilized cells by RNase A under high-salt conditions, in accord with our original model of flavivirus RNA synthesis (Chu, P. W. G., and Westaway, E. G., Virology 140, 68-79, 1985). The model assumes that there is on average only one nascent strand per template, which remains bound until displaced during the next cycle of RNA synthesis. The replicase complex located by BrU incorporation in the identified foci was stable, remaining active in incorporating BrU or [32P]orthophosphate in viral RNA after complete inhibition of protein synthesis in cycloheximide-treated cells. These results are in accord with our proposal that dsRNA detected in foci previously located by immunofluorescence or by immunogold labeling of induced vesicle packets is functioning as the true replicative intermediate (Westaway et al., J. Virol. 71, 6650-6661, 1997; Mackenzie et al., Virology 245, 203-215, 1998). Implications are that the replicase complex is able to recycle in the same membrane site in the absence of continuing protein synthesis and that possibly apart from uncleaved NS3-NS4A, it has no requirement for a polyprotein precursor late in infection.
Comparative Investigation of Parameters for Determining the Dewaterability of Activated Sludge

This paper compared four parameters evaluating the dewaterability of sludge—capillary suction time (CST), specific resistance to filtration (SRF), bound water content, and dry solids content in the centrifuged sludge cake of the different sludge flocs from seven full‐scale wastewater treatment plants. The dry solids content correlated with the normalized CST (R2 = 0.7112, p = 0.003), SRF (R2 = 0.6043, p = 0.011), and the bound water content (R2 = 0.8106, p = 0.001). The normalized CST was correlated significantly with SRF (R2 = 0.9450, p = 0.000) and correlated with the bound water (R2 = 0.5110, p = 0.0417). However, SRF correlated very weakly with the bound water (R2 = 0.3929, p = 0.0448). It is not necessary to use both CST and SRF at the same time to estimate the sludge dewaterability. The normalized CST is feasible because of its affordability, simple equipment, and measurement procedure. However, another parameter indicating the dewatering extent, such as dry solids content in sludge cake, should be applied together to evaluate the dewatering efficiency of the activated sludge.
A Single Administration of Recombinant Human Interleukin‐12 Is Associated With Increased Expression Levels of Interferon‐gamma and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription in Healthy Subjects

The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and tolerability of single doses of 1, 4, and 8 μg of recombinant human interleukin‐12 (rhIL‐12) administered subcutaneously to healthy subjects. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics of rhIL‐12 were evaluated. Recombinant human IL‐12 was well tolerated in these healthy male and female subjects. The most frequently reported adverse events were flu‐like symptoms, which exhibited a dose‐response relationship. Pharmacokinetic analysis suggested that serum IL‐12 levels increased with dose. Analysis of serum levels indicated that interferon‐γ increased with the dose of rhIL‐12, whereas IL‐6 levels showed no changes with rhIL‐12 treatment. The messenger ribonucleic acid expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription was significantly increased 24 hours after the administration of rhIL‐12 for all dose groups versus placebo, and results indicated that the magnitude of increase may be dose dependent. This study suggests that interferon‐γ and signal transducer and activator of transcription are biomarkers of rhIL‐12 activity.
Fidelity Management

This qualitative study examined how adolescents conceptualize sexual behavior. Open-ended interviews about sex were conducted with a sample of 21 male and 18 female African- American adolescents. Topics related to health risk virtually never emerged in their responses. The topic of partner infidelity and concerns about control of infidelity, on the other hand, were mentioned extensively. Informants described a cycle in which commitment to a partner often leads to suspicion of infidelity and jealousy. The jealous partner then performs acts of surveillance which can lead either to reassurance or to discovery of infidelity. The article concludes by discussing the degree of uniqueness of fidelity management to African- American adolescents and possible relevance to design of AIDS risk-reduction interventions.
Microstructure, biocorrosion and cytotoxicity evaluations of rapid solidified Mg–3Ca alloy ribbons as a biodegradable material

Rapidly solidified (RS) Mg–3Ca alloy ribbons were prepared by the melt-spinning technique at different wheel rotating speeds (15 m s−1, 30 m s−1 and 45 m s−1) with the as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy ingot as a raw material. The RS45 Mg–3Ca alloy ribbon showed a much more fine grain size feature (approximately 200–500 nm) in comparison to the coarse grain size (50–100 µm) of the original as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy ingot. The corrosion electrochemical tests in simulated body fluid indicated that the corrosion rate of the as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy was strongly reduced by the RS procedure and tended to be further decreased with increasing wheel rotating speeds (1.43 mm yr−1 for RS15, 0.94 mm yr−1 for RS30 and 0.36 mm yr−1 for RS45). The RS Mg–3Ca alloy ribbons showed more uniform corrosion morphology compared with the as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy after polarization. The cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that the three experimental as-spun Mg–3Ca alloy ribbon extracts did not induce toxicity to the L-929 cells, whereas the as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy ingot extract did. The L-929 cells showed more improved adhesion on the surfaces of the three as-spun Mg–3Ca alloy ribbons than that of the as-cast Mg–3Ca alloy ingot.
The congenital long QT syndromes from genotype to phenotype: clinical implications

The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic disorder responsible for many sudden deaths before age 20. The identification of several LQTS genes, all encoding cardiac ion channels, has had a major impact on the management strategy for both patients and family members. Genotype‐guided therapy allows more effective individually tailored therapy. Therapeutic options, including β‐blockers, left cardiac sympathetic denervation, and implantable defibrillators are discussed for patients of known and of unknown genotype. The recent identification of modifier genes which amplify the effect of an LQTS mutation may change the approach to risk stratification.
Cognitive rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury

The last twenty years have seen a rapid expansion in the provision of post-acute rehabilitation services for patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in North America, although such provision remains limited in Britain. These developments have been precipitated by a growing appreciation by health purchasers and providers of the neuropsychological and social sequelae of TBI and demands by patients and their families for effective treatment. Most investigations have found that the majority of TBI survivors are young males under the age of thirty and that by far the most common cause of TBI is road traffic accidents. Typically the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain suffer the greatest impact and survivors subsequently present with deficits affecting memory and new learning, attentional dysfunction and impaired planning and organizational skills.
Specific Interactions between F1 Adhesin of Streptococcus pyogenes and N-terminal Modules of Fibronectin*

Protein F1 is a surface protein ofStreptococcus pyogenes that mediates high affinity binding to fibronectin (Fn) and facilitates S. pyogenes adherence and penetration into cells. The smallest portion of F1 known to retain the full binding potential of the intact protein is a stretch of 49 amino acids known as the functional upstream domain (FUD). Synthetic and recombinant versions of FUD were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and used in fluorescence anisotropy experiments. These probes bound to Fn or the 70-kDa fragment of Fn with dissociation constants of 8–30 nm. Removal of the N-terminal seven residues of FUD did not cause a change in binding affinity. Further N- or C-terminal truncations resulted in complete loss of binding activity. Analysis of recombinant versions of the 70-kDa fragment that lacked one or several type I modules indicates that residues 1–7 of the 49-mer bind to type I modules I1 and I2 of the 27-kDa subfragment and the C-terminal residues bind to modules I4 and I5. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled 49-mer also bound with lower affinity to large Fn fragments that lack the five type I modules of the 27-kDa fragment but contain the other seven type 1 modules of Fn. These results indicate that, although FUD has a general affinity for type I modules, high affinity binding of FUD to Fn is mediated by specific interactions with N-terminal type I modules.
Synthesis and Application of Fluorescein-Labeled Pluronic Block Copolymers to the Study of Polymer−Surface Interactions

We present a novel methodology for the conjugation of Pluronic poly(ethylene oxide)−poly(propylene oxide)−poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers with a fluorescein derivative, 5-(4,6-dichlorotriazinyl) aminofluorescein (5-DTAF), at room temperature under aqueous conditions. Two Pluronic block copolymers, F68 with molecular weight (MW) 8400 and P105 with MW 6500, were examined. The labeled block copolymers exhibited maximum absorbance at 498 nm, peak fluorescence at 516 nm, and a marked reduction in both absorbance and fluorescence at acidic pH below 7. Flow cytometry was employed to quantify the real-time adsorption kinetics of labeled block copolymers to two types of surfaces: polystyrene microspheres and blood cells, specifically platelets. This methodology allowed detection of Pluronics at low solution concentrations down to 1 μM. In the case of labeled Pluronic F68 and P105 binding to polystyrene beads, a rapid time-dependent adsorption kinetics was observed with 80% adsorption occurring within 30 s a.
Fibronectin fragments stimulate tumor necrosis factor secretion by human monocytes

Fibronectin (Fn) is a high molecular‐weight glycoprotein that can influence many aspects of monocyte function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Fn could stimulate monocyte tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion. Monocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers by density gradient centrifugation and adherence to plastic (2 h). Plasma Fn was purified from the blood by gelatin‐Sepharose affinity chromatography. Monocytes were stimulated with Fn for 18 h and the supernatants were assayed for TNF activity using the L929 bioassay. Intact Fn stimulated the secretion of TNF in a dose‐dependent manner. Intact Fn–induced TNF secretion by monocytes was inhibited (50%) but not eliminated by the addition of the R‐G‐D–containing peptide GRGDSP. Limited proteolysis of the Fn molecule using insoluble chymotrypsin resulted in a fragment preparation that was dramatically more stimulatory than the intact Fn preparation. High‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) purification of the fragments demonstrated that at least two fragments were capable of stimulating TNF secretion. Further purification by affinity chromatography and HPLC localized the stimulatory activity to the 120‐kd cell‐binding fragment. The possibility that the stimulatory activity was the result of endotoxin contamination was ruled out using macrophages from C3H/Hej mice. These results suggest that Fn fragments are potentially important molecules for activation of monocytes and may stimulate monocyte cytotoxic activity.
Example of a Hybrid Life-Cycle Assessment of Construction Processes

Design and construction industries, along with owners, have an increasing interest in and responsibility for the environmental impacts of buildings. Since the environmental impacts of a building’s life cycle are considerable, quantification of all phases is important, especially the construction phase, which is often glossed over. This research focuses on the construction phase of a building project. Generally, the life-cycle inventory created in performing a life-cycle assessment (LCA) is developed using either a process or input–output approach; however, both techniques have distinct advantages and disadvantages. A hybrid approach combining both methods’ advantages has been proposed and will be demonstrated. Existing hybrid models are reviewed, along with a recommendation of a hybrid model for construction. A preliminary case study of a precast concrete parking garage’s construction using hybrid LCA methodology is presented. Preliminary investigations indicate transportation, equipment activity, and sup.
Scrum-DR: An extension of the scrum framework adherent to the capability maturity model using design rationale techniques

Agile software development methods introduced a new approach for software development compared to traditional methods and they have become increasingly popular. While traditional methods focus on disciplined processes and rigid practices, agile methods emphasizes on individuals, communication and product. Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) was introduced as a process improvement model in traditional methods and many organizations rely on process maturity models to improve their own processes and their product quality. The main objective of this paper is to define an agile software development framework adherent to the Support category of CMMI.
The Production of Staphylococcal Alpha-Hemolysin: The Rôle of Agar

For the production of high titer staphylococcus toxin,2 the addition of agar (Burnet 1930) to the medium, and incubation under an atmosphere containing added carbon dioxide (Parker, Hopkins and Gunther, 1925-1926) have been found to be essential in most instances. Shallow layers of semi-solid nutrient agar (0.3 to 0.5 per cent) are inoculated with the staphylococcus and incubated under an atmosphere containing measured amounts of carbon dioxide in oxygen or air. Incubation is continued as a rule for 48 to 72 hours and the toxin is obtained after removal of the agar and organisms by filtration. Toxin produced by this procedure has been of much greater potency than that formed in fluid media. Walbum (1922), studying the formation of a "hot-cold" hemolysin for goat cells in a fluid medium, noted that for optimum "hemolysin" production the best results were obtained when the medium contained magnesium, from 0.1 to 0.3 per cent peptone and a diminished amount of meat extractives and sodium chloride. The speed of production and deterioration of toxin was greater with the smaller amounts of peptone than with the larger. McLean (1937) found that by immersing a cellophane bag containing saline, in broth, for 24 hours and then inoculating the contents of the bag with a toxin-producing strain of staphylococcus (Wood 46), he could obtain a toxin of a titer (Lh 0.1) which compared favorably with that produced by the semi-solid agar technique (Lh 0.08). He attributed the increase in toxin
WIRELESS ENERGY TRANSFER AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FOR IN-BODY SENSORS

Wireless communications in itself is a never-ending growing technology. One growing field of research relates to the implantable biomedical devices which have found applications in a wide range of areas. Some implants use traditional batteries to supply power for the electronic circuits within the sensor. However, any battery has a limited energy storage and life span, and percutaneous links are susceptible to infection and reliability problems. Wireless power transfer (WPT) offer the opportunity to provide power for longer periods without the risk of infection from a percutaneous lead. Inductive power transfer is the most common method of wireless power transfer to the implantable sensors which consist of a primary external power circuit and a secondary implantable power pick-up unit. A common characteristic associated with biomedical applications is loose coupling between the primary and secondary coils. Compensation for loose coupling can be achieved through the use of resonance circuits which enables the voltage or current at the secondary to boost up to useful levels even in the presence of low coupling coefficients. The ability to achieve power transfer is dependent on the match between the resonant frequency of the primary with the resonant frequency of the secondary. Resonance-based wireless power delivery is investigated for improved energy transfer efficiency and reduced dependence on the distance between the primary and secondary coils. However, in practice the resonant frequency of the secondary pick-up circuit is often mismatched with the operating frequency of the primary because of the variations in load, coupling and other circuit parameters. When mismatching occurs, the voltage magnitude control approach can only respond by operating at a high magnitude to attempt to maintain the power flow to the load. One of the main constraints of the system is to achieve the minimum power required by the application by still keeping the implant size small enough for the living subject’s body. This report also focuses on the design issues associated with the wireless exchange of data between the implant and the external world and also with the telemetry of power through the inductive link.
Decentralized open-loop MPC of nonlinear systems: An Input-to-State Stability Approach

This paper presents a stabilizing decentralized MPC algorithm for discrete time nonlinear systems. The overall system under control is composed by a number of subsystems, each one locally controlled with an MPC algorithm guaranteeing the Input-to-State Stability (ISS) property. Then, the main stability result is derived by considering the effect of interconnections as perturbation terms and by showing that also the overall system is ISS. An open-loop formulation of robust MPC is considered.