Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond MIDI : Theoretical foundations for the Voice-Instrument Digital Interface for Byzantine Music

The quantitative differences lie in the intervals used in Western and Byzantine music. Byzantine chants contain certain intervals, accidentals, and tonal attractions which result in pitches that do not exist on the equally tempered keyboard, the standard for pitch relationships in contemporary Western compositions. These subtle differences add a unique beauty to BM melodies. Although there was a tendency to consider these differences of minor significance for transcription to the CMN corpus (Wellesz, 1958) recent advances in computer music reproduction schemes pose the need for a detailed and documented incorporation of these attributes to the digital interfaces of contemporary instrumentation.
Value of prostate-specific antigen and prostate-specific antigen density in detection of prostate cancer in an Iranian population of men.

INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 330 consecutive patients suspected of having prostate cancer due to either abnormal digital rectal examination or elevated serum PSA levels underwent transrectal ultrasonography-guided sextant biopsy of the prostate. The PSA and PSAD values were assessed based on the biopsy results. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-one patients (36.7%) had prostate cancer. In this group, the mean PSA was 31.60 +/- 30.85 ng/mL (range, 1.9 ng/mL to 166.0 ng/mL) and the mean PSAD was 0.83 +/- 1.01 (range, 0.04 ng/mL/cm3 to 6.38 ng/mL/cm3). In those without prostate cancer the mean PSA and PSAD levels were 13.80 +/- 18.72 ng/mL (range, 0.4 ng/mL to 130.0 ng/mL; P < .001) and 0.24 +/- 0.32 (range of 0.01 ng/mL/cm3 to 2.29 ng/mL/cm3; P < .001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the discriminating power of serum PSA for detecting prostate cancer, as estimated by the area under the curve, was 0.74 while that for PSAD was 0.81 (P < .001). For the PSA range of 3.5 ng/mL to 41 ng/mL (gray zone) the areas under the curve was 0.68 for PSA, while it was 0.78 for PSAD (P < .001). CONCLUSION The use of PSAD instead of PSA in the diagnosis of prostatic cancer improves the diagnostic accuracy.
Extravascular Component of Oxygen Transport in Normal and Hypertrophied Hearts with Special Reference to Oxygen Therapy

Intercapillary distance (ICD) was measured by direct in vivo microscopy in beating rat hearts in situ. Arterial pO2 was adjusted by varying pIO2. At normal paO2 ICD was 16.7 ± 0.38 μ, and the calculated normal capillary density was 2,300/mm2. Maximum capillary density observed in prolonged anoxia was 4,400/mm2 corresponding to a minimum ICD of 11.0 μ. The normal coronary capillary reserve in rat heart is therefore 2,100/mm2. Because capillaries are normally so closely spaced, if the entire capillary reserve were utilized, ICD would fall by only 5.7 μ. Calculations are presented which demonstrate that this small change in distance is absolutely essential for successful adaptation to common stresses. The effect of hypertrophy to reduce the coronary capillary reserve is discussed. Calculated O2, profiles indicate that areas of ischemia would exist throughout the hypertrophied rat heart and especially in subendocardium, even if coronary blood flow/100 g of left ventricle were normal. Measured ICD decreased if paO2 was less than 100 mm Hg or greater than 300 mm Hg. Between 100 and 300, however, ICD was greater than normal. Calculations indicate that in this range the increase in diffusion distance outweighs the increase in paO2, and tissue pO2 falls. Suggestions for oxygen therapy are offered, based on the assumption the human coronary circulation behaves like that of rat.
Cogging Torque Modeling and Analyzing for Surface-Mounted Permanent Magnet Machines With Auxiliary Slots

Cogging torque is one of the emphases and difficulties of research on permanent magnet (PM) machines. In this paper, an improved analytical model, based on an exact subdomain model idea and Maxwell stress tensor, is applied for calculating a cogging torque of surface-mounted PM machines with auxiliary slots. It can accurately take account of the interactions between slots and the influence of finite slot depth and can be widely applied to internal/external rotor topology and radial/parallel/segmented-Halbach magnetized machines. The finite-element (FE) method is adopted to validate the proposed model. The results show good agreement in both flux density and cogging torque waveforms. Furthermore, the effects of auxiliary slot parameters on cogging torque are investigated. Conclusions are derived from the analysis and indicate that the analytical model provides a useful tool for PM motor design.
Bovine Immune Response to Inoculation with Neospora caninum Surface Antigen SRS2 Lipopeptides Mimics Immune Response to Infection with Live Parasites

ABSTRACT Infection of cattle with Neospora caninum protozoa, the causative agent of bovine protozoal abortion, results in robust cellular and humoral immune responses, particularly CD4+ T-lymphocyte activation and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion. In the present study, N. caninum SRS2 (NcSRS2) T-lymphocyte-epitope-bearing subunits were incorporated into DNA and peptide preparations to assess CD4+ cell proliferation and IFN-γ T-lymphocyte-secretion immune responses in cattle with predetermined major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes. In order to optimize dendritic-cell processing, NcSRS2 DNA vaccine was delivered with granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and Flt3 ligand adjuvant. The synthesized NcSRS2 peptides were coupled with a palmitic acid molecule (lipopeptide) and delivered with Freund's adjuvant. Cattle vaccinated with NcSRS2 DNA vaccine alone did not induce T-lymphocyte activation or IFN-γ secretion, whereas subsequent booster inoculation with NcSRS2-lipopeptides induced robust NcSRS2-specific immune responses. Compared to the response in control animals, NcSRS2-lipopeptide-immunized cattle had significantly increased NcSRS2-specific T-lymphocyte proliferation, numbers of IFN-γ-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2a antibody levels. The findings show that N. caninum NcSRS2 subunits bearing T-lymphocyte epitopes induced cell-mediated immune responses similar to the protective immune responses previously described against live parasite infection, namely T-lymphocyte activation and IFN-γ secretion. The findings support the investigation of NcSRS2 immunogens for protection against N. caninum-induced fetal infection and abortion in cattle.
PREMIS 3 . 0 Ontology : Improving Semantic Interoperability of Preservation Metadata

The PREMIS 3.0 Ontology Working Group is a community interested in using Semantic Web Technology to leverage systems managing the long-term preservation of digital archives. The version 3 of the PREMIS Data Dictionary has stimulated the community to revise the current PREMIS OWL Ontology. The revision process aims not only to integrate the conceptual model with the changes defined by the new data model of the PREMIS version 3.0, but also to ease the implementation of Semantic Web Technology in the digital preservation community.
[Growth substances].

Flower abscission responses to hormonal treatment in NP 46-A and Pusa Jwala cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. were investigated under pot and field conditions. Synthetic auxin (NAA). cytokinin (BA) and morphactin (CME) reduced the flower drop while gibberellic acid (GA), ethephon (ETH), abscisic acid (ABA) and ascorbic acid (AA) promoted flower drop in the cultivars. The growth substances were effective when applied at preflowering stage. Auxin in combination with cytokinin and morphactin additively retarded flower abscission. Ethephon and abscisic acid showed additive interaction in promoting flower drop. Responses to combinations of abscission retardants and accelerants varied according to the stage of growth of plants at the time of treatment.
Ammonia Removal from Wastewaters Using Natural Australian Zeolite. II. Pilot-Scale Study Using Continuous Packed Column Process

A pilot-scale process was designed and operated to investigate the continuous removal of ammonia from sewage using natural zeolite from Australia. The process consisted of a fixed-bed ion-exchange system operated in the downflow mode. Evaluation of the pilot process was initially undertaken for ammonia removal from tap water spiked with ammonium chloride to provide performance data in the absence of competing cations. The performance of the pilot process was then assessed using sewage as feed. Breakthrough curves were constructed for a range of treatment flow rates. Existing models for packed bed performance were shown to be able to predict the breakthrough behavior of the process. The results of a study are presented that show that Australian natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, may be successfully employed in a fixed-bed ion-exchange process to achieve high ammonia removal efficiencies from aqueous solutions at rates commensurate with sand filtration. The rate of uptake of ammonium by the zeolite is sufficient to support a continuous high rate process.
The secretion of citrate into milk.

1. The time course of changes in specific activities of citrate, lactose and fatty acids in milk during frequent milking, following the I.V. administration of labelled glucose, acetate and chylomicrons in goats has been studied. Peak specific activities of lactose and citrate in milk were reached at 2‐3 hr, while peak specific activites of fatty acids were reached at 5‐7 hr. 2. Following short I.A. infusions of 24Na, 36Cl, and 42K, peak specific activities in milk were reached in 1 hr or less. 3. The mammary epithelium of lactating goats was found to be virtually impermeable to labelled citrate in both directions. 4. Labelled citrate had an apparent volume of distribution in lactating guinea‐pigs mammary slices in vitro similar to that of extracellular space markers. 5. Treatment of goats with large doses of oxytocin markedly increased the permeability of the secretory epithelium to labelled citrate. 6. In the goat mammary gland, citrate, protein and calcium failed to enter milk which had been diluted with isosmotic lactose by intraductal injection, whereas Na, K and Cl did enter, thus tending to restore the concentrations of these ions to normal. 7. It is suggested that citrate, which is formed within the sucretory cell, enters milk not by passage across the apical cell membrane but, in common with lactose and milk protein, by exocytosis of Golgi vesicles. It appears that citrate is held at high concentrations in milk by virtue of the impermeability of the mammary epithelium to the forms in which it occurs in milk.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Escapes from Interleukin-2-Producing CD4+ T-Cell Responses without High-Frequency Fixation of Mutations

ABSTRACT The presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-producing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD4+ T-cell responses has been associated with the immunological control of HIV-1 replication; however, the causal relationship between these factors remains unclear. Here we show that IL-2-producing HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells can be cloned from acutely HIV-1-infected individuals. Despite the early presence of these cells, each of the individuals in the present study exhibited progressive disease, with one individual showing rapid progression. In this rapid progressor, three IL-2-producing HIV-1 Gag-specific CD4+ T-cell responses were identified and mapped to the following optimal epitopes: HIVWASRELER, REPRGSDIAGT, and FRDYVDRFYKT. Responses to these epitopes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were monitored longitudinally to >1 year postinfection, and contemporaneous circulating plasma viruses were sequenced. A variant of the FRDYVDRFYKT epitope sequence, FRDYVDQFYKT, was observed in 1/21 plasma viruses sequenced at 5 months postinfection and 1/10 viruses at 7 months postinfection. This variant failed to stimulate the corresponding CD4+ T-cell clone and thus constitutes an escape mutant. Responses to each of the three Gag epitopes were rapidly lost, and this loss was accompanied by a loss of antigen-specific cells in the periphery as measured by using an FRDYVDRFYKT-presenting major histocompatibility complex class II tetramer. Highly active antiretroviral therapy was associated with the reemergence of FRDYVDRFYKT-specific cells by tetramer. Thus, our data support that IL-2-producing HIV-1-specific CD4+ T-cell responses can exert immune pressure during early HIV-1 infection but that the inability of these responses to enforce enduring control of viral replication is related to the deletion and/or dysfunction of HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells rather than to the fixation of escape mutations at high frequencies.
Processing in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Generates an Epitope on the Insulin A Chain that Stimulates Diabetogenic CD8 T Cell Responses1

RIP-B7.1 mice express the costimulator molecule B7.1 (CD80) on pancreatic β cells and are a well-established model for studying de novo induction of diabetogenic CD8 T cells. Immunization of RIP-B7.1 mice with preproinsulin (ppins)-encoding plasmid DNA efficiently induces experimental autoimmune diabetes (EAD). EAD is associated with an influx of CD8 T cells specific for the Kb/A12–21 epitope into the pancreatic islets and the subsequent destruction of β cells. In this study, we used this model to investigate how ppins-derived Ags are expressed and processed to prime diabetogenic, Kb/A12–21-specific CD8 T cells. Targeting the Kb/A12–21 epitope, the insulin A chain, or the ppins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (but not to the cytosol and/or nucleus) efficiently elicited Kb/A12–21-specific CD8 T cell responses. The Kb/A12–21 epitope represents the COOH terminus of the ppins molecule and, hence, did not require COOH-terminal processing before binding its restriction element in the ER. However, Kb/A12–21-specific CD8 T cells were also induced by COOH-terminally extended ppins-specific polypeptides expressed in the ER, indicating that the epitope position at the COOH terminus is less important for its diabetogenicity than is targeting the Ag to the ER. The Kb/A12–21 epitope had a low avidity for Kb molecules. When epitopes of unrelated Ags were coprimed at the same site of Ag delivery, “strong” Kb-restricted (but not Db-restricted) CD8 T cell responses led to the suppression of Kb/A12–21-specific CD8 T cell priming and reduced EAD. Thus, direct expression and processing of the “weak” Kb/A12–21 epitope in the ER favor priming of autoreactive CD8 T cells.
Pseudostress-Based Mixed Finite Element Methods for the Stokes Problem in ℝ n with Dirichlet Boundary Conditions. I: A Priori Error Analysis

We consider a non-standard mixed method for the Stokes problem in ℝ n , n Є {2,3}, with Dirichlet boundary conditions, in which, after using the incompressibility condition to eliminate the pressure, the pseudostress tensor σ and the velocity vector u become the only unknowns. Then, we apply the Babuska-Brezzi theory to prove the well-posedness of the corresponding continuous and discrete formulations. In particular, we show that Raviart-Thomas elements of order k ≥0 for σ and piecewise polynomials of degree k for u ensure unique solvability and stability of the associated Galerkin scheme. In addition, we introduce and analyze an augmented approach for our pseudostress-velocity formulation. The methodology employed is based on the introduction of the Galerkin least-squares type terms arising from the constitutive and equilibrium equations, and the Dirichlet boundary condition for the velocity, all of them multiplied by suitable stabilization parameters. We show that these parameters can be chosen so that the resulting augmented variational formulation is defined by a strongly coercive bilinear form, whence the associated Galerkin scheme becomes well posed for any choice of finite element subspaces. For instance, Raviart-Thomas elements of order k ≥0 for σ and continuous piecewise polynomials of degree k +1 for u become a feasible choice in this case. Finally, extensive numerical experiments illustrating the good performance of the methods and comparing them with other procedures available in the literature, are provided.
Metabolism of a New Local Anesthetic, Ropivacaine, by Human Hepatic Cytochrome P450

Background Ropivacaine is a local anesthetic with a long duration of action. Although it is less toxic than bupivacaine, local anesthetic toxicity is possible when the plasma concentration is increased. Because ropivacaine is an amide‐type local anesthetic, it is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (P450) in the liver, and its elimination and plasma concentration can be dependent on the level of P450. The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the metabolism of ropivacaine by human hepatic P450. Methods The metabolism of ropivacaine was compared using recombinant human and purified rat hepatic P450 isozymes. An inhibition study using antibodies against rat P450 was performed using hepatic microsomes from human and rat to identify which P450s are involved in ropivacaine metabolism. Results Ropivacaine was metabolized to 2′,6′‐pipecoloxylidide (PPX), 3′‐hydroxyropivacaine (3′‐OH Rop), and 4′‐hydroxyropivacaine (4′‐OH Rop) by hepatic microsomes from human and rat. PPX was a major metabolite of both human and rat hepatic microsomes. In a reconstituted system with rat P450, PPX was produced by CYP2C11 and 3A2, 4′‐OH Rop by CYP1A2, and 3′‐OH Rop by CYP1A2 and 2D1. Formation of PPX in rat hepatic microsomes was inhibited by anti CYP3A2, but not by CYP2C11 antibody, and formation of 3′‐OH Rop was inhibited by CYP1A2 and 2D1 antibodies. Anti CYP3A2 and 1A2 antibodies inhibited the formation of PPX and 3′‐OH Rop in human hepatic microsomes, respectively. Recombinant human P450s expressed in lymphoblast cells were used for further study. CYP3A4 and 1A2 formed the most PPX and 3′‐OH Rop, respectively. Ropivacaine N‐dealkylation and 3′‐hydroxylation activities correlated well with the level of CYP3A4 and 1A2 in human hepatic microsomes, respectively. Conclusions Ropivacaine was metabolized to PPX, 3′‐OH Rop, and 4′‐OH Rop by hepatic P450. PPX was a major metabolite in human hepatic microsomes. CYP3A4 was involved in producing PPX. CYP1A2 was involved in the formation of 3′‐OH Rop in human hepatic microsomes.
Trisomy 20 mosaicism caused by a maternal meiosis II error is associated with normal intellect but multiple congenital anomalies

Mosaicism for trisomy 20 is generally ascertained following prenatal sampling and rarely is associated with significant phenotypic abnormalities. Uniparental disomy for chromosome 20 in the euploid lines has been found in several cases, which showed relatively mild clinical features, primarily growth delay. Here we report on a case of mosaic trisomy 20 in a child with normal neurologic development who was ascertained because of multiple physical anomalies including spinal segmentation anomalies and altered skin pigmentation. Trisomic cells were found in buccal epithelial cells and in cultured skin fibroblasts but not in peripheral blood. Molecular analysis of blood cells, fibroblasts, and parental cells gave evidence of a maternal meiosis II error as the cause of the trisomy. Disomic cells presumably arose through trisomy rescue, and no evidence was found for uniparental disomy in these cells. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interactions between the Werner Syndrome Helicase and DNA Polymerase δ Specifically Facilitate Copying of Tetraplex and Hairpin Structures of the d(CGG) n Trinucleotide Repeat Sequence*

Werner syndrome (WS) is an inherited disorder characterized by premature aging and genomic instability. The protein encoded by the WS gene, WRN, possesses intrinsic 3′ → 5′ DNA helicase and 3′ → 5′ DNA exonuclease activities. WRN helicase resolves alternate DNA structures including tetraplex and triplex DNA, and Holliday junctions. Thus, one function of WRN may be to unwind secondary structures that impede cellular DNA transactions. We report here that hairpin and G′2 bimolecular tetraplex structures of the fragile X expanded sequence, d(CGG) n , effectively impede synthesis by three eukaryotic replicative DNA polymerases (pol): pol α, pol δ, and pol ε. The constraints imposed on pol δ-catalyzed synthesis are relieved, however, by WRN; WRN facilitates pol δ to traverse these template secondary structures to synthesize full-length DNA products. The alleviatory effect of WRN is limited to pol δ; neither pol α nor pol ε can traverse template d(CGG) n hairpin and tetraplex structures in the presence of WRN. Alleviation of pausing by pol δ is observed with Escherichia coli RecQ but not with UvrD helicase, suggesting a concerted action of RecQ helicases and pol δ. Our findings suggest a possible role of WRN in rescuing pol δ-mediated replication at forks stalled by unusual DNA secondary structures.
Mechanisms affecting the dissolution of nonaqueous phase liquids into the aqueous phase in slow‐stirring batch systems

Understanding the kinetics of the exchange processes between nonaqueous phase liquids (NALs) and water is important in predicting the fate of anthropogenic compounds such as petroleum hydrocarbons, i.e., benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) as well as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Exchange processes occurring in the environment resemble the experimental setup of the slow‐stirring method (SSM) designed to determine solubilities and octanol‐water partition coefficients. Data obtained from SSM experiments for diesel fuel compounds are interpreted by a linear transfer model that is characterized by an aqueous molecular boundary layer and the water/NAPL equilibrium partition coefficient. For the chosen experimental setup, the boundary layer thickness is 2.42 × 10−2 cm. Typical equilibration times lie between 1 and 2 d. Due to the temperature dependence of the aqueous diffusivity, this time increases with decreasing temperature. Transport within the NAPL phase can slow down the exchange process for the more water‐soluble compounds (e.g., benzene) provided that the stirring rate exceeds a critical value.
A Current Fed Two-Inductor Boost Converter with Lossless Snubbing for Photovoltaic Module Integrated Converter Applications

In this paper, a photovoltaic module integrated converter (MIC) is implemented with a current fed two-inductor boost converter cascaded with a line frequency unfolder. The two-inductor boost cell is fed from a sinusoidally modulated two-phase buck converter with an interphase transformer and operates at a fixed duty cycle. The boost cell features the magnetic integration approach to combine the three cores of the two inductors and the transformer, the lossless snubbers to recover the switching losses and the silicon carbide rectifiers to avoid the reverse recovery losses. The two-inductor boost converter output interfaces with the mains via an unfolding stage, where the MOSFETs are driven by the photovoltaic gate drivers. Experimental results are provided for a 100 W converter developing a single phase 240 V 50 Hz output
Mobile Banking and Payment System: A Conceptual Standpoint

This study conceptualizes and proposes a well-regulated and designated mobile banking and payment system MBPS with the potential to strengthen the banking system, foster the regulatory framework, and to be integrated across various platforms and mobile devices. Unlike other mobile payment systems that lack convenience, scalability, and usability, the proposed MBPS contains several important functionalities and it has the potential to bring together hitherto unconnected industries-banking, Fintech and telecoms-to offer value-added services to their existing and potential customers. The ownership of the MBPS shall remain with the financial services sector including the banking and microfinance institutions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications and limitations of the study and proposes future research directions.