Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Histidine availability is decisive in ROS-mediated cytotoxicity of copper complexes of Aβ1–16 peptide

Abstract The binding of metal ions to Aβ peptide plays an important role in the etiology of AD. Copper coordinates chiefly to His residues and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon redox cycling. ROS builds enormous burden on the normal functioning of neuronal cells and results into deleterious effects. Recently, two structurally distinct copper binding sites with contrasting redox properties were characterized. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the effect of binding of two equivalents of Cu2+ on redox properties and cytotoxicity of Aβ peptide. Our electrochemical data and ascorbate consumption assay suggest that in the presence of two equivalents of copper; Aβ peptide has higher propensity of H2O2 generation. The oxidation of Aβ1–16 peptide due to both gamma radiolysis and metal catalyzed oxidation in the presence of two equivalents of copper is inhibited confirming the binding of both equivalents of copper to peptide. The electrochemical and cytotoxicity study shows that negative shift in the reduction potential is reflected as slightly higher cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cell lines for Aβ1–16–Cu2+ (1:2) complex.
Aperture coupled waveguide feeds for microstrip antennas and microstrip couplers

While it is often desirable to select planar antennas and circuitry for their advantages in terms of cost, low-profile, and compatibility with microwave integrated circuits, there are still many applications where it is necessary to combine such components with rectangular waveguides. This is especially true at millimeter wave frequencies, where waveguide circuitry must often be connected to planar antennas, or planar circuitry must be combined with waveguide feeds. Traditional waveguide-to-microstrip transitions have used either wire probe coupling, machined matching step sections, or fin-line type transitions, but each of these suffers from several disadvantages in terms of manufacturing or fabrication complexity, cost, or an inconvenient physical configuration. This paper describes and discusses several broadwall and endwall waveguide-to-microstrip transitions that rely on aperture coupling techniques, and are thus well-suited for low-cost high-volume production for commercial millimeter wave applications. Five different waveguide-to-microstrip transitions have been analyzed using a full-wave moment method procedure, with experimental results for the more interesting designs.
Fire Disturbance, Forest Structure, and Stand Dynamics in Montane Forests of the Southern Cascades, Thousand Lakes Wilderness, California, USA

Abstract: We examined tree diameter, age structure, and successional trends in 100 montane forest plots to identify the effects of variation in the return interval, severity, and extent of fires on forest structure and dynamics in the southern Cascade Range, California. We classified 100 forest plots into 8 groups based on stand structural characteristics. Median point fire return intervals were shortest in lower montane mixed conifer and Jeffrey pine—white fir stands (13–25 y) and upper montane red fir—white fir stands (14.5–19.5 y), intermediate in lodgepole pine stands (50–76.5 y), and longest in high-elevation red fir—mountain hemlock stands (100 y). Fire severity was mainly moderate to high in all forest structural groups except red fir—mountain hemlock. In the late 19th century, large, mostly high-severity fires burned through all forests. Fire extent varied among structural groups, burning from 13% to 85% of plots in a group on average. Stands differed in composition, but size and age structures were similar across structural groups, with few trees > 100 y old and peaks of establishment between 1895 and 1955 for all groups except red fir—mountain hemlock. Distinct pulses of tree recruitment followed the most recent (1883, 1885, 1889, 1918) large and mainly high-severity fires. Suppression of fire since 1905 has increased understory density of shade-tolerant, fire-intolerant species and caused forest compositional shifts, particularly in lower-elevation Jeffrey pine—white fir and mixed conifer stands, and lodgepole pine stands on well-drained sites. Structural or compositional change is less pronounced in upper montane red fir—white fir and red fir—mountain hemlock forests. The combination of gently sloping terrain with few fire breaks, extensive, moderate- to high-severity fires in all forest types and gradient positions and fire suppression has promoted homogenization of forest structure that may lead to large and severe fires in the future. Nomenclature: Hickman, 1993.
The Structural Invisibility of Outsiders: The Role of Migrant Labour in the Meat-Processing Industry

This article examines the role of migrant workers in meat-processing factories in the UK. Drawing on materials from mixed methods research in a number of case study towns across Wales, we explore the structural and spatial processes that position migrant workers as outsiders. While state policy and immigration controls are often presented as a way of protecting migrant workers from work-based exploitation and ensuring jobs for British workers, our research highlights that the situation ‘on the ground’ is more complex. We argue that ‘self-exploitation’ among the migrant workforce is linked to the strategies of employers and the organisation of work, and that hyper-flexible work patterns have reinforced the spatial and social invisibilities of migrant workers in this sector. While this creates problems for migrant workers, we conclude that it is beneficial to supermarkets looking to supply consumers with the regular supply of cheap food to which they have become accustomed.
Influences on nurses' scoring of children's post-operative pain

There is a lack of clarity as to why some nurses are not delivering optimal pain management to children post-operatively. This retrospective chart review study examined nurses' pain scoring on 175 children during the first 24 hours post-operatively. Data were analysed on the amount of assessments made, assessment scores recorded, as well as the age, gender and type of surgery performed. One-quarter of children had no assessment record of their pain in the first 24 hours post-operatively. When the pain tool was part of an observation chart, nurses recorded more pain scores. Nurses' scoring of children's pain is influenced positively by children under five years of age and those who undergo abdominal surgery. Nurses who had access to one document for recording vital signs as well as pain scores were more likely to assess and record a child's pain score than nurses who had to use a separate chart.
Uma experiência da Cavalaria Mecanizada no Complexo da Maré

O emprego do Exercito Brasileiro (EB) em operacoes de garantia da lei e da ordem (GLO) tem sido uma constante na historia da nossa nacao [1]. Embora o emprego desse recurso para a manutencao da seguranca publica seja controverso, a atuacao das forcas armadas nessas situacoes, em especial no Rio de Janeiro, tem trazido importantes consideracoes e ensinamentos validos para o aprimoramento da doutrina militar terrestre. Este artigo aborda algumas experiencias e aprendizados colhidos durante o periodo em que o autor participou da Operacao Sao Francisco II no Complexo da Mare, a partir do mes de junho de 2014, tendo como foco especifico o emprego do esquadrao de cavalaria mecanizado (Esqd C Mec) oriundo 1a Brigada de Cavalaria Mecanizada (1a Bda C Mec) [2]. As conclusoes indicam que o sucesso na aplicacao do poder militar terrestre, em uma operacao de apoio a orgaos governamentais como essa, impoe que a tropa seja capaz de rapidamente adaptar-se ao modus operandi dos agentes perturbadores da ordem publica (APOP) em presenca. Nesse mister, o destaque recai sobre a capacidade de rapido processamento das observacoes e informacoes coletadas durante a operacao – atividades inerentes ao emprego de tropa de cavalaria.
Validating the Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test for screening Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Episodic memory tasks are one of the most sensitive tools to discriminate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to validate a shorter version verbal memory test that will efficiently assess Chinese elderly with memory complaints. One hundred and eighty-five elderly with normal cognition (NC) and 217 AD patients were evaluated. Each participant received the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test (CVVLT) consisting of 9 two-character nouns with 4 learning trials, 2 delayed recalls in 30 seconds and 10 minutes, and a word recognition test. In the NC elderly, age and sex had significant effects on recall scores in CVVLT, while education level showed an inverse correlation with 3 different patterns of errors made during the learning, recall, and recognition trials. AD patients had lower scores across all recall tests. In those with lower educational level, NC elderly had higher perseveration errors than AD patients. The cutoff value between the AD and NC groups in the 10-minute recall was 4/5 for those aged >75 years and 5/6 for those aged <75 years. This study has good validity in discriminating AD participants and the data here can help in diagnosing AD and mild cognitive impairment using the CVVLT. (JINS, 2010, 16, 244–251.)
Development of predicting evaluation platform of advanced driver safety assist systems using integrated virtual traffic environments

Advanced driver safety assist systems are expected as the useful tools to decrease the traffic accidents, and are under developments in many automobile manufacturers. From the political points of view, predicting the effects of each advanced driver safety assist system on driver-vehicle safety improvement quantitatively, in the early stage of the system development activities, is important to define the priority of development of the systems. Also the prediction method will give further technical knowledge of new driver assist system concepts to the automobile manufacturers. This paper proposes the integrated evaluation methodology of advanced safety driver assist systems. Proposed evaluation platform is composed by integrated virtual traffic environments, including micro integrated driver models, macro car traffic simulation models, networked driving simulators and probe cars.
Burden of Stroke in France

France is a country of more than 60 million inhabitants, where indicators of health quality are favourable, with one of the longest life expectancies in the world, and one of the lowest rates of neonatal mortality. The burden of vascular diseases is smaller than in surrounding European countries of similar size (United Kingdom and Germany), even for stroke. However, the direct cost of health care provided to stroke patients is estimated between 2 and 2·5 billion Euros per year.
Adaptive Responses to Low-Dose/Low-Dose-Rate γ Rays in Normal Human Fibroblasts: The Role of Growth Architecture and Oxidative Metabolism

Abstract de Toledo, S. M. , Asaad, N. , Venkatachalam, P., Li, L. , Howell, R. W. , Spitz, D. R. and Azzam, E. I. Adaptive Responses to Low-Dose/Low-Dose-Rate γ Rays in Normal Human Fibroblasts: The Role of Growth Architecture and Oxidative Metabolism. Radiat. Res. 166, 849–857 (2006). To investigate low-dose/low-dose-rate effects of low-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation, we used γ-irradiated cells adapted to grow in a three-dimensional architecture that mimics cell growth in vivo. We determined the cellular, molecular and biochemical changes in these cells. Quiescent normal human fibroblasts were irradiated with single acute or chronic doses (1–10 cGy) of 137Cs γ rays. Whereas exposure to an acute dose of 10 cGy increased micronucleus formation, protraction of the dose over 48 h reduced micronucleus frequency to a level similar to or lower than what occurs spontaneously. The protracted treatment also up-regulated the cellular content of the antioxidant glutathione. These changes correlated with modulation of phospho-TP53 (serine 15), a stress marker that was regulated by doses as low as 1 cGy. The DNA damage that occurred after exposure to an acute dose of 10 cGy was protected against in two ways: (1) up-regulation of cellular antioxidant enzyme activity by ectopic overexpression of MnSOD, catalase or glutathione peroxidase, and (2) inhibition of superoxide anion generation by flavin-containing oxidases. These results support a significant role for oxidative metabolism in mediating low-dose radiation effects and demonstrate that cell culture in three dimensions is ideal to investigate radiation-induced adaptive responses. Expression of connexin 43, a constitutive protein of gap junctions, and the G1 checkpoint were more sensitive to regulation by γ rays in cells maintained in a three-dimensional than in a two-dimensional configuration.
Efficacy of different insole designs on fall prevention of the elderly

Purpose Between 28 to 35% of people aged over 65 fall in a year; for those aged over 70 the falling rate is as high as 32 to 42%. Many factors may lead to a fall, and these risk factors can be categorized as either endogenous or exogenous. Propriocepton biofeedback and ankle strategy are one of the basic control mechanism to keep posture balance and prevent falling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate different hardness and arch support designs in controlling the posture stability. Method A group of fifteen ‘fallers’, i.e fall-experienced elderly, (average age 67.7±2.4 years) and eighteen non-faller elderly (average age 68.7±3.1 years) were recruited for this study. The elderly were subjected to an exhaustive examination which included collecting demographic data, a proprioceptive test, a functional balance test, a Berg-balance test, as well as a dynamic balance assessment system tested with the eye open or closed (Biodex Medical System, Inc., USA) with a pressure mat (Xsensor X3, Canada) on top of the platform. Four types of orthotic insoles (Performace, Proactive, and Hardboot from Footdisc®, and Power step from Dr. Kong). The insoles each had different arch support hardness used to support ankle stability during ankle rocker motion, and cushions at metatarsal heel regions used to protect sensitive foot structure against strain and proprioception. During each test, foot pressure and the center of pressure (CoP) were recorded and analyzed. Statistical analysis was performance using SPSS v17.0 software. Results & Discussion The faller group showed significant larger CoP excursion particularly in the medial-lateral direction, as well as the anterior-posterior mean CoP velocity with the eye opened. In the test with eye closed, the CoP trajectory increased profoundly, although the faller group was larger than the non-fallers, but this was not significant. The increased of media-lateral (ML) sway implies an increased fall risk; poor vision elevated the falling rate. With orthotics, the sway trajectory reduced, among that the Proactive insole (arch height 1.75cm) showed the best posture stability control. It reduced the ML-excursion with an average of 29% for non-fallers and 35% for fallers, respectively.
Semantics and Execution Time of New Timed Statecharts

Time aspects play an essential role in real-time systems. One of the most often used techniques of designing real-time systems is the timed statecharts (TSCs) technique. In this paper, new timed statecharts based on UML notation are introduced. The main difference between the UML statecharts and the TSCs presented in the paper is the pair of minimal and maximal execution times assigned to states of the TSCs. Additionally, any interaction can be characterized by its minimal and maximal duration time. Moreover, the paper presents semantics for TSCs, emphasizing time aspects rather than variable valuation. The minimal and maximal execution time problem (MMETP) for TSCs is defined and the computational complexity of the MMETP is studied. It is proven in this paper that there is a limit between such TSCs for which there exists a polynomial algorithm for MMETP and such TSCs for which MMETP remains NP-hard. The mentioned limit is located between the AND state with any number of XOR states that are expressed by simple paths without guards and the AND state with two XOR states with no limitations. Since the MMETP is NP-hard, it is reasonable to use structural reductions of TSCs. A Theorem that is the theoretical foundation of a program loop reduction is proven.
Piezotronics and piezo-phototronics—fundamentals and applications

Technology advancement that can provide new solutions and enable augmented capabilities to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based technology, such as active and adaptive interaction between machine and human/ambient, is highly desired. Piezotronic nanodevices and integrated systems exhibit potential in achieving these application goals. Utilizing the gating effect of piezopotential over carrier behaviors in piezoelectric semiconductor materials under externally applied deformation, the piezoelectric and semiconducting properties together with optoelectronic excitation processes can be coupled in these materials for the investigation of novel fundamental physics and the implementation of unprecedented applications. Piezopotential is created by the strain-induced ionic polarization in the piezoelectric semiconducting crystal. Piezotronics deal with the devices fabricated using the piezopotential as a gate voltage to tune/control charge-carrier transport across the metal-semiconductor contact or the p-n junction. Piezo-phototronics is to use the piezopotential for controlling the carrier generation, transport, separation and/or recombination for improving the performance of optoelectronic devices. This review intends to provide an overview of the rapid progress in the emerging fields of piezotronics and piezo-phototronics. The concepts and results presented in this review show promises for implementing novel nano-electromechanical devices and integrating with micro/nano-electromechanical system technology to achieve augmented functionalities to the state-of-the-art CMOS technology that may find applications in the human-machine interfacing, active flexible/stretchable electronics, sensing, energy harvesting, biomedical diagnosis/therapy, and prosthetics.
Serologic evidence of histoplasmosis in sanatoriums in the U.S.

A screening procedure was used to select patients on whom further tests for histoplasmosis were indicated. The tests revealed almost 3,400 (7.5%) positive serologic results in a group of 45,000 patients from more than 80 hospitals. Percentages of positive reactions varied with the histoplasmin sensitivity in the area from which the patients were drawn. Evidence is presented to show that at least one-fourth of these patients with positive serologic tests can be proved by adequate cultural procedures to have histoplasmosis, with or without tuberculosis. The seriousness and frequency of the severe type of histoplasmosis makes this a problem of increasing importance to the general practitioner and chest specialist.
Early Embryonic Lethality in Genetically Engineered Mice: Diagnosis and Phenotypic Analysis

Embryonic lethality is a common phenotype that occurs in mice that are homozygous for genetically engineered mutations. These phenotypes highlight the time and place that a gene is first required during embryogenesis. Early embryonic lethality (ie, before and up to mid-gestation) can be straightforward to analyze because the stage at which death occurs suggests why an embryo has failed. Here we summarize general strategies for analyzing early embryonic lethal phenotypes in genetically engineered mouse mutants.
2-Amino-5-methylpyridinium 4-methylbenzoate

The 4-methylbenzoate anion of the title salt, C6H9N2 +·C8H7O2 −, is nearly planar, with a dihedral angle of 6.26 (10)° between the benzene ring and the carboxylate group. In the crystal, the protonated N atom and the 2-amino group of the cation are hydrogen bonded to the carboxylate O atoms of the anion via a pair of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with an R 2 2(8) ring motif, forming an approximately planar ion pair with a dihedral angle of 9.63 (4)° between the pyridinium and benzene rings. The ion pairs are further connected via N—H⋯O and weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane.
Self-reported Hypoglycaemic Events in 2 430 Patients with Insulin-treated Diabetes in the German Sub-population of the HAT Study

Abstract Data concerning true hypoglycaemic incidence in insulin-treated patients with diabetes in real-world clinical practice are lacking in Germany. The aim of this analysis was to determine the incidence of hypoglycaemia experienced by the German cohort of patients enrolled in the global Hypoglycaemia Assessment Tool (HAT) study. This was a non-interventional, 6-month retrospective and 4-week prospective study using self-assessment questionnaires and patient diaries assessing patients aged ≥18 years in Germany, with type 1 diabetes (T1D) (n=811) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) (n=1 619) treated with insulin for >12 months. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients experiencing ≥1 hypoglycaemic event during the prospective observational period (4 weeks after baseline). Predictive and continuous factors (such as age, gender, duration of insulin use and HbA1c) contributing to hypoglycaemia risk were explored. During the prospective period, at least one hypoglycaemic event was reported by 81.3% of patients with T1D and 39.7% of patients with T2D, indicating that hypoglycaemia is a common acute complication among patients with insulin-treated diabetes. Severe hypoglycaemia was reported by 9.1% of patients with T1D and 5.4% of patients with T2D. Higher rates of any and severe hypoglycaemia were reported prospectively than retrospectively, regardless of diabetes type, indicating that patients retrospectively under-report hypoglycaemia. Prospective rates (events per patient-year) of any, nocturnal and severe hypoglycaemia were 80.3, 9.9 and 3.0 for T1D and 15.6, 2.4 and 1.1 for T2D, respectively. Given the potential for recall bias in retrospective reporting, this prospective assessment of hypoglycaemia appears more reliable than retrospective assessment. Trial number: NCT01696266
Genome-Wide Identification of Human RNA Editing Sites by Parallel DNA Capturing and Sequencing

Editing Expectations Although genetic information is stored in DNA, and faithfully copied into RNA, the cell can make the odd (and occasionally vitally important) change to the meaning of code during a process known as RNA editing. Thirteen edited genes are known in the nonrepetitive portion of the human genome, but the overall prevalence of RNA editing is unclear. Li et al. (p. 1210), used an unbiased genome-wide approach to identify 239 sites (in 207 target genes), with stringent criteria for editing. The sites identified included 10 of the 13 known edited genes. Fourteen out of 18 randomly chosen sites were validated by sequencing, and these putatively edited genes were enriched for synapse, cell trafficking, and membrane functions. Furthermore, lowering the search stringency suggested that many more human genes may be edited at lower frequencies. Hundreds of new RNA editing sites are identified in the human genome. Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing leads to transcriptome diversity and is important for normal brain function. To date, only a handful of functional sites have been identified in mammals. We developed an unbiased assay to screen more than 36,000 computationally predicted nonrepetitive A-to-I sites using massively parallel target capture and DNA sequencing. A comprehensive set of several hundred human RNA editing sites was detected by comparing genomic DNA with RNAs from seven tissues of a single individual. Specificity of our profiling was supported by observations of enrichment with known features of targets of adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) and validation by means of capillary sequencing. This efficient approach greatly expands the repertoire of RNA editing targets and can be applied to studies involving RNA editing–related human diseases.