Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the electromagnetic near-field absorption in layered biological tissue in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 6000 MHz

Currently, standards for the compliance testing of wireless devices are being extended to cover a wider frequency band and different usage patterns of mobile phones as well as of novel body-worn and handheld devices. As a consequence, not only the head but also strongly varying tissue distributions of the body are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Several authors have reported changes in the SAR absorption of body tissue due to the presence of a low permittivity fat layer. This paper identifies two different effects which can lead to increased SAR in layered tissue in comparison to the SAR assessed using homogeneous tissue simulating liquid: (1) for larger distances between the tissue and the antenna, standing wave effects occur depending on the frequency and fat layer thickness. (2) In the very close near-field (distances approximately λ/40), reactive E-field components lead to high local absorption in the skin. The latter effect occurs at lower frequencies and depends on the antenna type. Modification of the parameters of the homogeneous liquids cannot compensate for these effects. However, a conservative exposure estimate can be obtained by applying a multiplication factor between 1 and 3 to the values assessed using current experimental dosimetric techniques.
Characterization of the Rv3378c Gene Product, a New Diterpene Synthase for Producing Tuberculosinol and (13R, S)-Isotuberculosinol (Nosyberkol), from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv Genome

The Rv3377c and Rv3378c genes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are specifically found in the virulent Mycobacterium species, but not in the avirulent species. The Rv3378c-encoded enzyme produced tuberculosinol 2 (5(6), 13(14)-halimadiene-15-ol), 13R-5a and 13S-isotuberculosinol 5b (5(6), 14(15)-halimadiene-13-ol) as its enzymatic products from tuberculosinyl diphosphate 3, indicating that the Rv3378c enzyme catalyzed the nucleophilic addition of a water molecule after the release of a diphosphate moiety. The three enzymatic products 2, 5a, and 5b were produced irrespective of the N- and C-terminal His-tagged Rv3378c enzymes, and of the maltose-binding protein fusion enzyme; the product distribution ratio was identical between the enzymes as 1:1 for 2:5, and 1:3 for 5a:5b. The successful separation of 5a and 5b by a chiral HPLC column provided the first complete assignments of 1H- and 13C-NMR data for 5a and 5b. The enzymatic mechanism for producing 2, 5a, and 5b is proposed here, and the optimal catalytic conditions and kinetic parameters, in addition to the divalent metal effects, are described. Site-directed mutagenesis of Asp into Asn, targeted at the DDXXD motif, resulted in significantly decreased enzymatic activity.
No increase in human cases of Mycobacterium bovis disease despite resurgence of infections in cattle in the United Kingdom

A resurgence of Mycobacterium bovis infections in cattle in the United Kingdom since the 1980s has raised concern about risks to human health. Enhanced surveillance data for England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1993 and 2003 of culture-positive human M. bovis cases identified 315 M. bovis infections; the mean annual number of cases was 28 (range 12–41). The most frequently reported exposures were consumption of unpasteurized dairy products 41/83 (49%) and exposure to cattle 45/123 (37%). Of all cases, 249 (83%) were born before 1960. Of 50 cases born after 1960, only 14 were born in the United Kingdom. Over the same time period the annual number of new herd infections increased from 332 to 1749 as derived from the UK State Veterinary Service database. In conclusion, despite a more than fivefold increase in cattle herd infections during the 1990s, there was no increase in reported human cases.
An In Vivo Zebrafish Screen Identifies Organophosphate Antidotes with Diverse Mechanisms of Action

Organophosphates are a class of highly toxic chemicals that includes many pesticides and chemical weapons. Exposure to organophosphates, either through accidents or acts of terrorism, poses a significant risk to human health and safety. Existing antidotes, in use for over 50 years, have modest efficacy and undesirable toxicities. Therefore, discovering new organophosphate antidotes is a high priority. Early life stage zebrafish exposed to organophosphates exhibit several phenotypes that parallel the human response to organophosphates, including behavioral deficits, paralysis, and eventual death. Here, we have developed a high-throughput zebrafish screen in a 96-well plate format to find new antidotes that counteract organophosphate-induced lethality. In a pilot screen of 1200 known drugs, we identified 16 compounds that suppress organophosphate toxicity in zebrafish. Several in vitro assays coupled with liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry–based metabolite profiling enabled determination of mechanisms of action for several of the antidotes, including reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibition, cholinergic receptor antagonism, and inhibition of bioactivation. Therefore, the in vivo screen is capable of discovering organophosphate antidotes that intervene in distinct pathways. These findings suggest that zebrafish screens might be a broadly applicable approach for discovering compounds that counteract the toxic effects of accidental or malicious poisonous exposures.
Advances in Brief CD 44 Is a Metastasis Suppressor Gene for Prostatic Cancer Located on Human Chromosome 11 p 13 '

We have used microcell fusion-mediated chromosomal transfer to in troduce normal human chromosomes into highly metastatic rodent pros tatic cancer cells to map the location of a metastasis suppressor gene(s). Using this approach, several chromosomal regions have been identified that harbor such metastatic suppressor genes, including human chromo some 11 between p11. 2â€”13 (T. Ichikawa etaL, Cancer Res., 52: 3486â€”3490, 1992,54: 2299â€”2302, 1994; N. Nihei et aL, Genes Chromosomes & Cancer, 14: 112â€”119, 1995; C. W. Rinker-Schaeffer et aL, Cancer Res., 54: 6249â€” 6256, 1994). Using positional cloning, a metastatic suppressor gene, termed KAIJ, was identified, which is located at human chromosome lip1'. 2 (5). Overexpression of KAI1 results in metastasis suppression in certain highly metastatic Dunning R-3327 rat prostatic cancer sublines, such as AT6.1, without metastasis suppression in other highly metastatic sublines, such as AT3.1. This suggests that an additional metastasis sup pressor gene is located within the human chromosome Ilpll. 2â€”l3 region. The CD44 gene is located on human chromosome llpl3 and encodes an integral membrane glycoprotein that participates in specific cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Down-regulation of CD44 expres sion both at the mRNA and protein levels correlates with metastatic potential within the Dunning system of rat prostatic cancer sublines. Transfection-induced enhanced expression of the Mr 85,000 standard form of CD44 in the highly metastatic AT3.1 rat prostatic cells greatly suppresses their metastatic ability to the lungs without suppression of their in vivo growth rate or tumorigenicity. These results suggest that CD44 is a metastasis suppressor for prostatic cancer and that decreased expression of the standard form of CD44 is involved in the progression of prostatic cancer to a metastatic state.
VALVULAR AND STRUCTURAL HEART DISEASES Original Studies Impact of CMS Coverage Decision on Access to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Objectives: To assess the impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) national coverage determination (NCD) on access for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in a tertiary care center. Background: TAVR has given hope to patients with AS who are deemed inoperable. The effects of the NCD on access to patients with AS has not been evaluated. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 inoperable AS patients were evaluated and treated from December 2011 through June of 2012 with TAVR. Patients who underwent transfemoral (TF) vs. non-TF access were compared. The CMS NCD was released on May 1, 2012 and on July 1, 2012, the nontransfemoral access program was put on hold due to lack of reimbursement. Results: Patients in the TF (n 5 33) and non-TF access (n 5 61) groups were similar in age (85.2 6 6.3 vs. 84.8 6 6.6 P 5 0.74) and STS mortality (9.38 6 5.33 vs. 7.91 6 3.69, P 5 0.074). The iliofemoral arteries were larger diameter in the TF group (7.72 6 1.49 vs. 6.21 6 1.78, P < 0.001) and males (7.39 6 1.81 vs. 6.1 6 1.61 P < 0.001). More women underwent valve implantation via non-TF access (73 vs. 23%, P 5 0.03). After the NCD, 21 patients who previously qualified for non-TF TAVR would not be reimbursed by CMS. Four died soon after. Conclusions: After the NCD, the proportion of inoperable patients with severe AS that can be treated with TAVR was greatly reduced due the lack of reimbursement for TAVR via non-TF access. This effect is particularly pronounced in women. VC 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The widespread expression of angiogenin in different human cells suggests a biological function not only related to angiogenesis.

Angiogenin is a secreted polypeptide that induces neovascularization in vivo. The expression of angiogenin by human cells in culture was investigated by using a specific radioimmunoassay and by cDNA hybridization. Angiogenin immunoreactivity was widely but differentially produced by anchorage-dependent growing cells including vascular endothelial cells from saphenous and umbilical veins, aortic smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts (from embryos, new-borns and adults), and tumour cells. Endothelial cells from saphenous veins and the endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cell line released immunoreactivity whatever the stage of the culture, including release at the lag phase, during exponential growth and at the confluent phase. However, the rate of accumulation of angiogenin varied as a function of EA.hy926 cell density. As compared to anchored cells, normal peripheral blood cells and tumour cells of myelomonocytic and megakaryocytic origin did not noticeably secrete angiogenin except at low levels. A myeloma cell line supernatant contained as much angiogenin cross-reactivity as did anchored cells, while four tumour T-cell lines expressed the cross-reactivity at different levels, i.e. from undetectable levels to a high level. A 0.9-kb angiogenin messenger RNA was detected by Northern-blot analyses in a variety of representative cells correlating with the presence of immunoreactivity in the cell-culture media. The widespread expression pattern of angiogenin suggests a physiological function that is not restricted to the neovascularization process.
Microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons: an environmental perspective

INTRODUCTION 180 CHEMISTRY OF PETROLEUM BIODEGRADATION . 180 Degradation of Individual Hydrocarbons . 180 Degradation of Hydrocarbons Within Petroleum Mixtures . 182 TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS OF HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING MICROORGANISMS . 184 DISTRIBUTION OF HYDROCARBON-UTILIZING MICROORGANISMS . 186 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING BIODEGRADATION OF PETCROLEUM HYDROCARBONS . 189 PHYSICAL STATE OF OIL POLLUTANTS . 189 TEMPERATURE . 190 NUTRIENTlS . 192. 192 OXYGEN . 194 SALINITY AND PRESSURE . 195 CASE HISTORIES . 196 CONCLUSIONS . 198 LITERATURE CITED . 199
Definability and simplicity

In the following pages we wish to clarify some questions concerning definitions of relations in terms of other relations. A study is made of how a definition of a relation R1 in terms of another relation R2 works in a given specified universe U. The definition is regarded as a correlation rule between the “possible extensions” of R1 and R2. There are no difficulties in formulating necessary, and in a certain sense also sufficient, formal conditions for the existence of a definition relation between R1 and R2. In particular, we are concerned with questions such as: “Is every relation of the form s1 definable in terms of some relation of the form s2? ” (§ IV) A related question concerns the criterion used by Goodman1 for degrees of complexity, namely, whether for every relation R2 of the form s1 there is some relation R2 of the form s2 such that R1 and R2 are mutually definable (§ V). Some concrete results concerning this condition are stated in the theorems 22–24. The “complexity function” which is defined (definition 17) and which very naturally suggests itself from the discussion of the definability conditions, seems to furnish an adequate measure of the sort of complexity discussed by Goodman.
Neuropsychological performance in the unaffected twin.

To the Editor. — I was impressed with the article by Goldberg et al 1 in which the authors conducted neuropsychological assessments with monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. This method provides a particularly effective means of separating genetic and nongenetic factors. The article raised several questions that deserve further attention. In addition to comparisons between affected and the unaffected twins, normal monozygotic twins were compared with both sets of twins. The authors emphasize that "perhaps the most striking feature of these data were the lack of significant differences between the group of normal monozygotic twin pairs and the group of unaffected discordant twins on any neuropsychological task. " On the surface, such a negative finding seems inconsistent with the notion that certain cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are vulnerability indicators because these indicators would be expected to occur disproportionately in unaffected relatives. However, the reported negative findings require a closer look. The
A prospective longitudinal study of attachment disorganization/disorientation.

The research explores the antecedents and consequences of attachment disorganization from a prospective longitudinal perspective. The relations of attachment disorganization/disorientation to endogenous (e.g., maternal medical history, infant temperament) and environmental (e.g., maternal caregiving quality, infant history of abuse) antecedents and to behavioral consequences from 24 months to 19 years are examined. For the 157 participants in the longitudinal study, attachment disorganization was correlated significantly with environmental antecedents (e.g., maternal relationship and risk status, caregiving quality, and infant history of maltreatment), but not with available endogenous antecedents. Infant history of attachment disorganization was correlated with consequent variables related to mother-child relationship quality at 24 and 42 months, child behavior problems in preschool, elementary school and high school, and psychopathology and dissociation in adolescence. Structural models suggest that disorganization may mediate the relations between early experience and later psychopathology and dissociation. The findings are considered within a developmental view of psychopathology, that is, pathology defined in terms of process, as a pattern of adaptation constructed by individuals in their environments.
Statistics of polarization-dependent loss, insertion loss, and signal power in optical communication systems

We present analytical solutions to describe the statistics of signal power and insertion loss due to polarization-dependent loss (PDL) concatenation in communication systems. Using the methods of stochastic differential equations, we show that a system with a large number of low-PDL elements yields a Gaussian distribution for the signal power when it is expressed in units of decibels.
The pattern of function-related regional cerebral blood flow investigated by single photon emission tomography with 99mTc-HMPAO in patients with presenile Alzheimer's disease and Korsakoff's psychosis

SYNOPSIS Single photon emission tomography (SPET) with the lipophilic blood flow marker 99mTc-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) has been used to determine regional uptake of radiolabel into brain regions of patients with presenile Alzheimer's disease and Korsakoff's psychosis, and age-matched controls. Using occipital cortical uptake as reference area, the pattern of relative regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was determined in other cortical areas and basal ganglia. In Alzheimer's disease, reduction in rCBF occurred most strikingly in posterior temporal and parietal areas. By contrast, in Korsakoff's psychosis, posterior temporal rCBF was maintained, although there was a trend to reduced tracer uptake in other cortical areas. These impairments of flow were correlated with impairments of neuropsychological function. In Alzheimer's disease, left posterior temporal and left parietal regions in particular showed rCBF to be strongly correlated with most aspects of cognitive function. In Korsakoff's psychosis, however, impaired flow in frontal regions was correlated with impaired performance on tests of memory and orientation. The findings in Alzheimer's disease show quantitative parallels with those from studies using Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and extend our understanding of the relationship between cognition and regional brain function in dementia. The findings in Korsakoff's psychosis offer the first direct evidence linking frontal lobe dysfunction with the cognitive impairment seen in the disorder.
Molecular cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the fimbrial subunit protein of Bacteroides gingivalis

The gene encoding the fimbrial subunit protein of Bacteroides gingivalis 381, fimbrilin, has been cloned and sequenced. The gene was present as a single copy on the bacterial chromosome, and the codon usage in the gene conformed closely to that expected for an abundant protein. The predicted size of the mature protein was 35,924 daltons, and the secretory form may have had a 10-amino-acid, hydrophilic leader sequence similar to the leader sequences of the MePhe fimbriae family. The protein sequence had no marked similarity to known fimbrial sequences, and no homologous sequences could be found in other black-pigmented Bacteroides species, suggesting that fimbrillin represents a class of fimbrial subunit protein of limited distribution.
Late Respiratory Complications of Mustard Gas Poisoning in Iranian Veterans

Mustard gas or sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating chemical warfare agent that was widely used during the World War I and in the Iran-Iraq conflict. We aimed to study late toxic effects of SM on the respiratory system of severely intoxicated Iranian veterans. Respiratory examination, spirometry, arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, and high resolution computed tomograpghy (HRCT) of the chest were performed on all severely SM-poisoned veterans in the province of Khorasan, Iran. HRCT abnormalities were classified into four grades based on the number of lung lobes involved. ABG and spirometric results were compared with each other, as well as, with the severity grades of HRCT abnormalities, using Spearman's rank correlation test. Forty male subjects with confirmed SM poisoning 16 to 20 years ago, were studied. Main respiratory complications were diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (35%), bronchiectasis (32.5%), asthma (25%), large airway narrowing (15%), pulmonary fibrosis (7.5%), and simple chronic bronchitis (5%) patients. While there was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between ABG and spirometric results, the severity grades of HRCT abnormalities revealed a significant correlation (p<0.05) only with PaO2. We concluded that SM-induced respiratory complications tend to progress over the years. While spirometry is a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluation of pulmonary impairment during regular follow-ups, ABG and HRCT are more objective and should be more considered for evaluation of the severity and for diagnosis of the respiratory complications.
Evolutionary ecology of complex life cycle parasites : from genotypes to species assemblages

Louhi, Katja-Riikka Evolutionary ecology of complex life cycle parasites from genotypes to species assemblages Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2012, 42 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Biological and Environmental Science ISSN 1456-9701; 240) ISBN 978-951-39-4747-7 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-4748-4 (PDF) Yhteenveto: Imumatoloisten evolutiivinen ekologia – genotyypeistä lajiyhteisöihin Diss. Among the main aims in evolutionary ecology is to understand the organization of biological diversity in space and time as well as to explain why organisms vary in their life-history traits. Studying these aspects of biology in parasites furthers our understanding of between-species interactions and evolution of transmission strategies. In this thesis, I examined the genetic structure and community organization of Diplostomum (Trematoda: Digenea) parasites as well as variation in their transmission traits. These parasites have a complex life cycle (CLC) that includes snail, fish and bird hosts. I found that the species D. pseudospathaceum has no population genetic structure and exhibited high levels of neutral genetic diversity and gene flow among populations of its snail hosts, suggesting effective dissemination of parasite genotypes by the final bird hosts. Multiple genotype infections (MGI) of D. pseudospathaceum were common and aggregated in snail populations and their frequencies correlated with infection prevalence. Similar pattern of genotype distribution was true also in other aquatic snail-trematode systems that I reviewed from the literature. Multiple Diplostomum-species infections were common in the eye lenses of five freshwater fish species as revealed by pyrosequencing of pooled DNA samples. The fish species also harbored significantly different Diplostomum-species assemblages. Furthermore, I found genotypic and phenotypic variation in transmission traits of clonal stages of D. pseudospathaceum indicating either an adaptive ‘bet hedging’ –strategy or phenotypic plasticity in trait expression over time. These findings suggest that populations of CLC parasites maintain high levels of neutral genetic variation and probably also genetic variation in life-history traits, which may be a benefit in unpredictable environments. The novel analytical methods described in this thesis broaden our understanding of the causes and consequences of multiple genotype and multiple species infections for the evolutionary ecology of CLC parasites.
Using semantics in INES, an Intelligent Educational System

INES (INtelligent Educational System) is a functional prototype of an online learning platform, which combines three essential capabilities related to e-learning activities. These capabilities are those related to Learning Management Systems, Learning Content Management Systems, and Intelligent Tutoring Systems. To carry out all these functionalities, our system, as a whole, comprises a set of different tools and technologies, as follows: an intelligent chatterbot which is able to communicate with students in natural language, an intelligent agent based on BDI (Believes, Desires, Intentions) technology which acts as the brain of the system, an inference engine based on JESS (a rule engine for the Java platform), and an ontology. At the present paper we will focus on this ontology, which is used in the platform to provide semantic support for system users (administrators, teachers, and students), their activities, and the learning contents. We will specifically address the architecture and performance of the ontology, and their contribution to INES.