Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunochromatographic strip-test detection of anti-K39 antibody in Indian visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract Stored sera from 429 Indian subjects were assayed to extend the analysis of the accuracy of immunochromatographic strip-test detection of anti-K39 antibody in the non-invasive diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). All 225 samples from patients with proven Leishmania infection tested positive [estimated sensitivity=100%; 95% confidence interval (CI)=98%-100%]. Sera from 99 of the 100 symptomatic patients with other diseases were non-reactive (estimated specificity=99%; CI=94%-100%). However, samples from 13 of the 104 apparently healthy controls showed positive strip-test results (estimated specificity=88%; CI=79%-93%), yielding an overall specificity of 93% (190/204; CI=88%-96%). If applied in a practical clinical setting (on symptomatic patients in whom active VL is suspected and other common infections have been excluded), strip testing of serum for anti-K39 antibody should be both sensitive and specific for diagnosing VL in India.
White dwarfs, black holes and the philosophical incommensurability thesis

Incommensurability has been for about forty years one of the most discussed topics on the contemporary philosophy of science. In order to tackle this issue I assume Howard Sankey’s (1997: 425) characterization of incommensurability as “the thesis that the content of some alternative scientific theories is incomparable due to translation failure between the vocabulary the theories employ”. This kind of incomparability should pre- vent for instance the derivation of Newtonian mechanics from relativity theory, as Thomas Kuhn (1970a and 1970b) maintains. Since I have myself been concerned with the comparison of Newtonian and Einsteinian mass concepts in Rivadulla (2004), I focus in this short paper on the comparability of theories of contemporary theoretical physics.Thus, instead of dealing with the question of whether the theories of contemporary physics are definitely incommensurable with each other, the main aim of this paper is to provide an answer to the question of whether it makes any sense to think about the in- commensurability between contemporary physical theories, due to their obvious comparability.
Inhibitory effect of chlorophyllin on the frequency of micronuclei induced by sodium nitrite in mice

In this report the potency of chlorophyllin (CHL) was evaluated to prevent two types of damage produced by nitrite in mice: the increase of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPE) and the bone marrow toxicity, measured as the index of polychromatic erythrocytes/normochromatic erythrocytes (PE/NE). The study was done in eight groups of male mice. The first three groups were administered orally for 4 days with sodium nitrite (10, 15 and 20 mg/kg), the daily administration with nitrite was followed by an intraperitoneal administration of CHL (4 mg/kg), three more groups were administered with the same amounts of nitrite, a seventh group of mice was treated with distilled water while another was treated with CHL (4 mg/kg). Our study produced two main results: (a) no bone marrow injury was induced by any of the tested chemicals, as indicated with the PE/NE index, and (b) CHL protected (as high as 44%) the MNPE produced in nitrite treated mice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Virtual reconstruction of the Neanderthal Amud 1 cranium.

OBJECTIVES We describe a new computer reconstruction to obtain complete anatomical information of the ecto- and endocranium from the imperfectly preserved skull of the Neanderthal Amud 1. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were obtained from computed tomography scans of the fossil cranium. Adhesive and plaster were then virtually removed from the original specimen, and the fragments comprising the fossil cranium were separated. These fragments were then mathematically reassembled based on the smoothness of the joints. Both sides of the cranium were reassembled separately, and then aligned based on bilateral symmetry and the distance between the mandibular fossae obtained from the associated mandible. The position of the isolated maxilla was determined based on the position of the mandible that was anatomically articulated to the mandibular fossae. To restore missing basicranial and damaged endocranial regions, the cranium of Forbes' Quarry 1 was warped onto that of La Chapelle-aux-Saints 1, and the resulting composite Neanderthal cranium was then warped onto the reconstructed Amud 1 by an iterative thin-plate spline deformation. RESULTS Comparison of the computer reconstruction with the original indicated that the newly reconstructed Amud 1 cranium was slightly shorter and wider in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions, respectively, suggesting that it was relatively more brachycephalic. The endocranial volume was estimated to be 1,736 cm3 , which was quite similar to the original estimated value of 1,740 cm3 . DISCUSSION This new computer reconstruction enables not only measurement of new cranial metrics, but also inclusion of the Amud 1 specimen in three-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses that were previously difficult due to its incompleteness. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:185-197, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cooperative transport system with regrasping car-like mobile robots

This paper deals with motion planning of cooperative transfer with regrasping by a group of car-like mobile robots. In order to realize this transfer task by actual car-like robots, three aspects should be considered: the nonholonomic characteristic of car-like robots, how to control the force and avoid too large a force by position-controlled robots, and control cycle of the system. Based on algorithms from previous works, the authors propose the following approach: 1) designing robot hand mechanism; 2) constructing hybrid planning architecture composed of centralized and decentralized system including an object motion observer. A simple transport experiment by an actual robot system is made to show the effectiveness of this mechanism. Validity of the proposed method is verified by a transport simulation.
40 years of boxplots

John Tukey has been credited with introducing the box and whiskers plot 1 in his book Exploratory Data Analysis [15]. Over time, the box and whiskers plot has been shortened to the boxplot, but despite the name simplification the boxplot is still the same five-number summary including: • the median, • two hinges, which are typically the first and third quartiles, • the upper and lower extremes. These are simply the minimum and maximum of a batch of data unless outliers exist. In the case that outliers exist, the extremes are 1.5 times the inter-quartile range (3rd quartile 1st quartile). • two whiskers that connect the quartile to the extreme value on each side, and • outliers. An outlier is a point that is greater than or less than 1.5 times the inter-quartile range.
Long-term effects of consumption of low-copper diets with or without supplemental molybdenum on copper status, performance, and carcass characteristics of cattle.

We used 42 Angus bull calves (7 mo of age) to determine long-term effects of low Cu diets with or without supplemental Mo on performance, carcass characteristics, and Cu status. Twenty-two bulls were injected with 90 mg of Cu 28 d before weaning. After weaning, injected steers were fed a diet supplemented with 7.5 mg of Cu/kg of DM; control steers received no supplemental Cu. At the end of the 40-d receiving phase, supplemental Cu was reduced to 5 mg/kg of DM. One half of the steers in each group were fed 5 mg of supplemental Mo/kg of DM following the receiving phase. The growing phase lasted 196 d. Steers were then switched to a high concentrate finishing diet for 49 d. Copper injection increased (P < .01) plasma Cu concentrations at weaning, and Cu-supplemented steers had greater (P < .05) plasma Cu, ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and liver Cu at the beginning of the growing phase. Supplemental Mo depressed plasma Cu, ceruloplasmin, and SOD during the growing and finishing phases in non-Cu-supplemented but not in Cu-supplemented steers. Copper supplementation increased DMI during the receiving (P < .05) and growing (P < .08) phases and increased (P < .08) ADG and gain:feed ratios during the finishing phase. Steers fed supplemental Cu produced carcasses with less (P < .06) backfat and slightly larger (P < .09) rib eye areas. The results of this experiment suggest that dietary Cu concentrations may alter cattle performance and carcass characteristics.
Capacity analysis of macro and microcell layout in W-CDMA cellular system

This paper proposes the capacity analysis of macro and microcellular layouts in W-CDMA systems. The cell model consists of seven macrocells and a microcell. Interference factors of the systems will be investigated. The important factor on the interference is the radius of the microcell as well as the distance between the macrocell and the microcell. In addition, the Eb/I o is calculated to show whether the design can provide the best capacity of the system.
Echinacea for upper respiratory infection.

OBJECTIVES To review the evidence regarding the effectiveness of orally ingested Echinacea extracts in reducing the incidence, severity, or duration of acute upper respiratory infections (URIs). SEARCH STRATEGIES Information from a wide range of sources was used as background material. More than 100 articles, books, and book chapters were reviewed for content and further references. Database searches, bibliographic reviews, and conversations with experts were carried out iteratively from January 1997 to February 1999. SELECTION CRITERIA Published or unpublished reports of all blinded placebo-controlled randomized trials of any Echinacea formulation used as a treatment or for the prevention of URIs. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Review considerations included randomization, blinding, power, validity and clinical relevance of outcome measurements, inclusion and exclusion criteria, indistinguishability of treatment and placebo, and appropriateness of conclusions for the data presented. MAIN RESULTS. Nine treatment trials and 4 prevention trials fitting the selection criteria were found. Eight of the treatment trials reported generally positive results, and 3 of the prevention trials reported marginal benefit. Methodologic quality of the majority of the trials was modest. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from published trials suggests that Echinacea may be beneficial for the early treatment of acute URIs. The influence of publication bias on those results is unknown. Echinacea preparations vary widely in composition, and are often found in combination with other potentially active constituents, making specific dose recommendations problematic. There is very little evidence supporting the prolonged use of Echinacea for the prevention of URIs.
Effect of oxygen tension on regulation of arteriolar diameter in skeletal muscle in situ.

Skeletal muscle arterioles are known to constrict upon elevation of ambient PO2. While several studies have shown that the endothelium plays an important role in this response, it is not clear how this response is mediated. We examined the oxygen-induced constriction of arterioles in the rat spinotrapezius muscle. Elevation of superfusion solution PO2 from about 15 to 150 mm Hg caused arteriolar constriction by 25% (+/- 3%, n = 18). Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by superfusion of indomethacin (30 microM) produced vasoconstriction by 28% (+/- 9.5%, n = 5), but left the PO2 response unaffected. Blockade of the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 35 mg/kg i.v.) caused arteriolar constriction by 31% (+/- 8%, n = 8). During application of L-NNA, the constrictor response to PO2 elevation was reduced to 3 +/- 2%. Administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD, 80,000 U/kg i.v.) did not affect the PO2 response. It is concluded that in small arterioles of skeletal muscle both EDRF and prostanoids sustain a significant basal dilatation. The dilatory effects of EDRF but not of prostaglandins are strongly dependent on PO2. The vasoconstriction in response to high ambient PO2 is not due to EDRF breakdown during its diffusion from endothelial to smooth muscle cells.
Detection of proton chemical exchange between metabolites and water in biological tissues.

Metabolites in proton chemical exchange with water were detected via the water proton signal using saturation transfer techniques in model systems and biological tissues. The metabolites were selectively saturated and the resulting decrease in the much larger water proton pool was used to monitor the metabolite. This indirect detection scheme can result in a several orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity for metabolites over direct detection methods. A control irradiation scheme was devised to compensate for macromolecular/water magnetization transfer. Using this approach, significant chemical exchange regions at approximately 1 and 2.5 ppm were detected in kidney medulla. Using a difference imaging technique between a control irradiation above (-1.74 ppm) and below (+1.74 ppm) the water resonance, a chemical exchange image of the kidney was calculated. These data revealed a linear gradient of chemical exchange increasing from the cortex to the medulla. Studies on medullary acid extracts and urine revealed that the exchange observed in the kidney was predominantly with low molecular weight metabolites. Urea (1 ppm) was identified as contributing to the kidney/urine chemical exchange; however, other unidentified metabolites may also contribute to this effect. These studies demonstrate that tissue metabolites can be detected and imaged via the water protons using the signal amplification properties of saturation transfer in the presence of water/macromolecule magnetization transfer.
Designing for balance: Out There and In Here

This paper describes the 'Out There and In Here' project, in which we explore the combined use of mobile technologies and staticindoor technologies to support novel forms of collaborative field trip learning. We are currently developing a system to support balanced collaboration between geology students 'Out There' in the field, and their peers located in a specially designed 'In Here' laboratory. Here we explain the background to the project, and describe data collected on perceptions of field learning in geology that is directing design. In particular, we discuss bringing the 'Out There' experience 'In Here', whilst also enhancing the field experience. This requires the concurrent development of technologies and activities, and balancing the control required for effective learning with scope for user creativity.
Implication du système nerveux central dans la faiblesse musculaire périphérique du patient atteint de broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive

La faiblesse des muscles peripheriques, definie par une diminution de la force maximale volontaire en dehors de tout etat de fatigue neuromusculaire, est une complication frequente de la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO). La force maximale volontaire depend a la fois des proprietes musculaires peripheriques (i.e. volume et architecture musculaire, qualites contractiles) et de la capacite du systeme nerveux a activer le muscle maximalement. Dans la BPCO, plusieurs travaux ont souligne l'existence paradoxale d'une perte de force maximale volontaire sans alterations musculaires peripheriques et sans qu'un deficit d'activation volontaire n'ait clairement ete identifie. Pourtant, les patients atteints de BPCO presentent de nombreuses alterations du systeme nerveux, compatibles avec une capacite d'activation volontaire alteree.L'objectif de ce travail de these etait donc de tester l'implication du systeme nerveux dans la faiblesse musculaire de la BPCO et d'en determiner les mecanismes sous-jacents. Au cours de nos travaux, nous avons mis en evidence une activite corticale diminuee dans la BPCO lors de contractions maximales et sous-maximales volontaires. Nous avons par ailleurs rapporte une perte d'excitabilite du cortex moteur et un deficit d'activation volontaire specifique aux patients atteints de faiblesse musculaire. Ces resultats sont en accord avec une implication des alterations cerebrales dans la faiblesse musculaire peripherique de la BPCO. Nous sommes ensuite parvenus a identifier une origine potentielle des alterations cerebrales : les desaturations en O2 au cours du sommeil avec mouvements non-rapides des yeux (NREM). Cette hypothese a ete corroboree par l'observation d'un niveau d'activation volontaire reduit chez les patients desatureurs en sommeil NREM. En revanche, aucune repercussion significative n'a pu etre observee sur la force maximale volontaire de ces patients, suggerant l'existence d'un mecanisme compensatoire. In fine, nos resultats constituent une avancee importante dans la comprehension du phenomene de faiblesse musculaire, classiquement attribue a la seule perte de masse musculaire. L'implication du systeme nerveux central dans la faiblesse musculaire ouvre notamment la voie a de nouvelles modalites de prise en charge par des approches specifiques, dans l'optique de lutter contre la faiblesse musculaire et ses multiples repercussions negatives dans la vie du patient atteint de BPCO.
Novel aspects regarding mechanisms and consequences of albuminuria

De studies beschreven in dit proefschrift beogen te onderzoeken welke mechanismen een rol spelen bij het ontstaan van microalbuminurie en welke consequenties verbonden zijn aan het hebben van microalbuminurie. Alle studies zijn verricht met gegevens verkregen uit de Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENd-stage Disease (PREVEND) studie. De PREVEND studie is een studie waarin een groep van 8.592 inwoners van de stad Groningen in de tijd vervolgt worden. Zij komen eens per 3 jaar op een polikliniek, waar allerlei metingen worden verricht. Recent is bij hen het vijfde vervolgonderzoek afgerond. De studie beoogt de relatie tussen albuminurie en het optreden van nier-, hart- en vaatziekten te onderzoeken, en loopt in Stad Groningen sinds 1997.
Primary care based clinics for asthma.

BACKGROUND Primary care clinics for asthma have been encouraged and are becoming widespread in some countries, particularly in the UK. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of organised asthma care via primary care based asthma clinics. SEARCH STRATEGY A search of the Cochrane Airways Group register and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register using the following search strategy: clinic* OR general pract* OR family pract* or primary care. Separate and additional searches were also conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE databases. SELECTION CRITERIA Trials had to be performed in primary care and be restricted to patients with asthma. Care could be delivered by doctor or nurse. Two reviewers independently ascertained the relevance of trials from titles and abstracts obtained from the searches. Relevant full text articles were retrieved with two reviewers assessing each study for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently conducted all data abstraction and analysis and all disagreements were resolved by discussion. For the dichotomous variables, odds ratio (OR) or relative risks (RR) with 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) were calculated for individual outcomes. MAIN RESULTS Only one trial met the criteria for inclusion in the review. This trial provided 11 outcome measures of which two showed a significant effect of the intervention. More patients in the intervention group had peak flow meters (RR 1.30; 95%CI 1.05,1.61) and fewer patients in the intervention group were likely to wake up at nights due to their asthma (RR 0.30; 95%CI 0.16, 0.81). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS There is limited evidence of benefit for primary care based asthma clinics, but firm conclusions cannot be formed until more good quality trials have been carried out.
Storage Stability of Orange Juice Concentrate Packaged Aseptically

Orange juice concentrates were packaged aseptically by a “Dole” aseptic canning machine using 6 oz metal cans. The final juice products (11°, 34°, 44°, 58° Brix) were stored between −18° and 36°C and tested periodically for nonenzymatic browning, ascorbic acid destruction, furfural and sensory changes. Nonenzymatic browning, the main deterioration phenomena in these products, was satisfactorily retarded at 12°C or lower. Ascorbic acid destruction rate constant was dependent on temperatures between 5 and 25°C, and was affected by degree of juice concentration. Furfural accumulation in juice was higher than that in 58° Brix concentrate. Orange juice concentrate of 58° Brix did not show flavor changes after storage at 5°C or 12°C for 17 or 10 months, respectively, when evaluated after reconstitution to 11° Brix.
Lung cancers with acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors occasionally harbor BRAF gene mutations but lack mutations in KRAS, NRAS, or MEK1

Acquired resistance to EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is inevitable in metastatic EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Here, we modeled disease progression using EGFR-mutant human tumor cell lines. Although five of six models displayed alterations already found in humans, one harbored an unexpected secondary NRAS Q61K mutation; resistant cells were sensitive to concurrent EGFR and MEK inhibition but to neither alone. Prompted by this finding and because RAS/RAF/MEK mutations are known mediators of acquired resistance in other solid tumors (colon cancers, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and melanomas) responsive to targeted therapies, we analyzed the frequency of secondary KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/MEK1 gene mutations in the largest collection to date of lung cancers with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs. No recurrent NRAS, KRAS, or MEK1 mutations were found in 212, 195, or 146 patient samples, respectively, but 2 of 195 (1%) were found to have mutations in BRAF (G469A and V600E). Ectopic expression of mutant NRAS or BRAF in drug-sensitive EGFR-mutant cells conferred resistance to EGFR TKIs that was overcome by addition of a MEK inhibitor. Collectively, these positive and negative results provide deeper insight into mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs in lung cancer and inform ongoing clinical trials designed to overcome resistance. In the context of emerging knowledge about mechanisms of acquired resistance to targeted therapies in various cancers, our data highlight the notion that, even though solid tumors share common signaling cascades, mediators of acquired resistance must be elucidated for each disease separately in the context of treatment.
A smart pixel-based feedforward neural network

A novel smart pixel-based neural network was realized experimentally. The matrix multiplication is split into positive and negative components and computed optically. The necessary subtraction, binarization, and transmission of the resulting matrices is accomplished via a prototype smart pixel spatial light modulator. The result is a neural network that performs truly parallel computation without requiring the use of an external processor.
On stationarity and ergodicity of the field scattered by Gaussian random slightly rough surfaces

We study the field scattered by a dielectric slightly rough surface illuminated by a monochromatic plane wave. The surface is represented by a random function with a Gaussian probability density with zero mean value. The surface is assumed to be a stochastic stationary and ergodic process. In the mainframe of the small perturbation method, we derive the analytical expressions of the statistical and spatial variances of the field and demonstrate that the field is neither stationary nor ergodic at the second order.