Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light-limitation on predator-prey interactions: consequences for metabolism and locomotion of deep-sea cephalopods.

The present study attempts to correlate the metabolism and locomotory behavior of 25 species of midwater Cephalopoda from California and Hawaii with the maximal activities of key metabolic enzymes in various locomotory muscle tissues. Citrate synthase (CS) and octopine dehydrogenase (ODH) activities were used as indicators of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic potential respectively. CS activity in mantle muscle is highly correlated with whole-animal rates of oxygen consumption, whereas ODH activity in mantle muscle is significantly correlated with a species' ability to buffer the acidic end-products of anaerobic metabolism. Both CS and ODH activities in mantle muscle declined strongly with a species' habitat depth. For example, CS and ODH activities ranged respectively from 0.04 units g(-1) and 0.03 units g(-1) in the deep-living squid Joubiniteuthis portieri, to 8.13 units g(-1) and 420 units g(-1) in the epipelagic squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis. The relationships between enzymatic activities and depth are consistent with similar patterns observed for whole-animal oxygen consumption. This pattern is believed to result from a relaxation, among deep-living species, in the need for strong locomotory abilities for visual predator/prey interactions; the relaxation is due to light-limitation in the deep sea. Intraspecific scaling patterns for ODH activities may, for species that migrate ontogenetically to great depths, reflect the counteracting effects of body size and light on predator-prey detection distances. When scaled allometrically, enzymatic activities for the giant squid, Architeuthis sp. , suggest a fairly active aerobic metabolism but little burst swimming capacity. Interspecific differences in the relative distributions of enzymatic activities in fin, mantle, and arm tissue suggest an increased reliance on fin and arm muscle for locomotion among deep-living species. We suggest that, where high-speed locomotion is not required, more efficient means of locomotion, such as fin swimming or medusoid arm propulsion, are more prevalent.
heading A rare case of hepatic cysticercosis

Hepatic cysticercosis is extremely rare and thus it is of clinical importance for us to report it. A 25-year-old male presented with headache and vomiting for 2 months. Physical examination showed that there were no remarkable symptoms except for hepatomegaly (liver span 16 cm) and neck stiffness. Laboratory examination revealed high ESR (57 mm at the end of one hour) and peripheral eosinophilia (800 cells/cumm). Renal function tests were normal and liver function tests showed elevated alkaline phosphatase (244 IU). CSF analysis showed elevated protein (229 mg/ dL) and reduced glucose (35 mg/dL) with lymphocytosis and high CSF adenosine deaminase (ADA). A diagnosis of tubercular meningitis was firstly considered and antitubercular therapy was carried out. In view of high alkaline phosphatase, a right upper quadrant ultrasound was performed, which incidentally revealed multiple cystic lesions with scolices inside the cysts (Figure 1 and 2). IgG of cysticercosis detected by ELISA was strongly positive, which also supported the diagnosis of hepatic cysticercosis. This patient was then managed with albendazole therapy.
A novel plant protein undergoing light-induced phosphorylation and release from the photosynthetic thylakoid membranes

The characteristics of a phosphoprotein with a relative electrophoretic mobility of 12 kDa have been unknown during two decades of studies on redox-dependent protein phosphorylation in plant photosynthetic membranes. Digestion of this protein from spinach thylakoid membranes with trypsin and subsequent tandem nanospray-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry of the peptides revealed a protein sequence that did not correspond to any previously known protein. Sequencing of the corresponding cDNA uncovered a gene for a precursor protein with a transit peptide followed by a strongly basic mature protein with a molecular mass of 8,640 Da. Genes encoding homologous proteins were found on chromosome 3 of Arabidopsis and rice as well as in ESTs from 20 different plant species, but not from any other organisms. The protein can be released from the membrane with high salt and is also partially released in response to light-induced phosphorylation of thylakoids, in contrast to all other known thylakoid phosphoproteins, which are integral to the membrane. On the basis of its properties, this plant-specific protein is named thylakoid soluble phosphoprotein of 9 kDa (TSP9). Mass spectrometric analyses revealed the existence of non-, mono-, di-, and triphosphorylated forms of TSP9 and phosphorylation of three distinct threonine residues in the central part of the protein. The phosphorylation and release of TSP9 from the photosynthetic membrane on illumination favor participation of this basic protein in cell signaling and regulation of plant gene expression in response to changing light conditions.
Effect of Microcrystalline Cellulose Grade and Process Variables on Pellets Prepared by Extrusion–Spheronization

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of spheronizer load and speed on the size, circularity, microporosity, compressibility, and friability of pellets prepared by extrusion–spheronization of wet microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) masses with a water content shown by mixer torque rheometry to ensure maximum consistency. Two MCC grades with different mean particle size were used. Both gave pellets with good particle size, sphericity, and compressibility, under a wide range of spheronization conditions. Modification of pellet properties of interest (including size and porosity) was possible by adjustment of spheronization conditions and MCC grade; in particular, pellet porosity was greater with MCC of larger particle size. *These results were presented in part at the 8th International Conference on Pharmaceutical Technology, Paris, 1998.
What Is Known About Outcomes of Patients With Low Back Pain?

Review of recent evidence with translation to practice for the role of advanced practice registered nurses is presented using a case study module for the following: “What is known about Outcomes of Patients with Low Back Pain? The study results showed that patients with low back pain may have substantial continuing pain and functional limitations. The implications and clinical relevance of these findings for advanced practice nurses are discussed highlighting best evidence.
Fecal microbiota transplantation: in perspective

There has been increasing interest in understanding the role of the human gut microbiome to elucidate the therapeutic potential of its manipulation. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the administration of a solution of fecal matter from a donor into the intestinal tract of a recipient in order to directly change the recipient’s gut microbial composition and confer a health benefit. FMT has been used to successfully treat recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. There are preliminary indications to suggest that it may also carry therapeutic potential for other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Mutant Prevention Concentration as a Measure of Antibiotic Potency: Studies with Clinical Isolates ofMycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The mutant prevention concentration (MPC) of a C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolone exhibited a narrow distribution for 14 genetically diverse clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, indicating that results from single-isolate studies are likely to be representative. When one isolate was challenged with a variety of antituberculosis agents, C-8-methoxy fluoroquinolones were exceptional in having MPCs below the maximum concentration attained in serum by use of commonly recommended doses.
Designing a global name service

A name service maps a name of an individual, organization or facility into a set of labeled properties, each of which is a string. It is the basis for resource location, mail addressing, and authentication in a distributed computing system. The global name service described here is meant to do this for billions of names distributed throughout the world. It addresses the problems of high availability, large size, continuing evolution, fault isolation and lack of global trust. The non-deterministic behavior of the service is specified rather precisely to allow a wide range of client and server implementations.
Artificial Pancreas: Hypoglycemia prevention via constraints in the glycemia rate of change

In this paper a proposal is made in order to avoid hypoglycemic events in glycemic closed-loop control. Within the development of closed-loop glucose controllers (referred to as “Artificial Pancreas”), one of the major risks is the insulin induced hypoglycemia that can be produced due to controller overreaction. Here, a supervisory methodology on a main controller is proposed to avoid excessive rates of change in the glucose concentration. When the glycemic level estimated by a model is decreasing and its decay rate falls below a certain predefined threshold, the input of the controller is modified accordingly. This modulates the input of the controller so that the insulin infusion decreases until a given glycemic rate of change is not exceeded. The results are promising, since the proposed methodology allows obtaining glucose levels within euglycemia in the late postprandial period even when using aggressive main controllers.
Rapid and Accurate Timing Modeling for SRAM Compiler

Static random access memory is usually used in the ASIC design. The performances of memory always play major role in the overall circuit. In this paper, we propose an efficient extrapolation-based timing modeling method for SRAM complier. We build the timing equation of access and cycle time of SRAM. Our proposed method only needs to simulate a small number of memory configurations with relatively small sizes. The obtained results are extrapolated to any other configurations. In order toobtain the SRAM macros, we develop the SRAM compiler. Ourproposed method is approximately 5% average error.
Critical role for protein kinase A in the acquisition of gregarious behavior in the desert locust

The mechanisms that integrate genetic and environmental information to coordinate the expression of complex phenotypes are little understood. We investigated the role of two protein kinases (PKs) in the population density-dependent transition to gregarious behavior that underlies swarm formation in desert locusts: the foraging gene product, a cGMP-dependent PK (PKG) implicated in switching between alternative group-related behaviors in several animal species; and cAMP-dependent PK (PKA), a signal transduction protein with a preeminent role in different forms of learning. Solitarious locusts acquire key behavioral characters of the swarming gregarious phase within just 1 to 4 h of forced crowding. Injecting the PKA inhibitor KT5720 before crowding prevented this transition, whereas injecting KT5823, an inhibitor of PKG, did not. Neither drug altered the behavior of long-term gregarious locusts. RNAi against foraging effectively reduced its expression in the central nervous system, but this did not prevent gregarization upon crowding. By contrast, solitarious locusts with an RNAi-induced reduction in PKA catalytic subunit C1 expression behaved less gregariously after crowding, and RNAi against the inhibitory R1 subunit promoted more extensive gregarization following a brief crowding period. A central role of PKA is congruent with the recent discovery that serotonin mediates gregarization in locusts and with findings in vertebrates that similarly implicate PKA in the capacity to cope with adverse life events. Our results show that PKA has been coopted into effecting the wide-ranging transformation from solitarious to gregarious behavior, with PKA-mediated behavioral plasticity resulting in an environmentally driven reorganization of a complex phenotype.
Laparoscopic and abdominal hysterectomy: a cost comparison

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost of laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) with that of total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) under casemix. DESIGN: Retrospective comparison of the costs, operating time and length of hospital stay. PATIENTS: The 16 women undergoing consecutive LAVH and 16 age-matched women undergoing TAH between 1 February 1994 and 31 July 1995; all women were public patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease. SETTING: Monash Medical Centre, a large tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia, where casemix is used to determine funding and budget allocation. RESULTS: The difference between the costs of the two procedures was not statistically significant (P = 0.5), despite the cost of laparoscopic hysterectomy including that of disposables. The mean operating time for TAH was 86 minutes (95% CI, 65.5-106.5), compared with 120 minutes (95% CI, 100.8-140.5) for LAVH (P < 0.01). The mean length of stay in the TAH group was 5.75 days, compared with 3.25 days in the LAVH group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In hysterectomy for benign gynaecological disease, the laparoscopic procedure costs the same as the total abdominal procedure. Audit such as this is important in patient management and in guiding hospitals in funding and bed allocation.
Local flap therapy for the treatment of pressure sore wounds

The aim of this study was to analyse the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary cooperation between conservative and surgical disciplines for the treatment of pressure sores (PS). From January 2004 to December 2005, a single‐centre study was performed with paraplegic and tetraplegic patients presenting with PS grades III–V. Outcome measures were defect size, grade, method of reconstruction, complication and recurrence rate as well as average length of hospitalisation. A total of 119 patients aged 22–84 years with totally 170 PS were included. The most common PS were located in the ischial region (47%), followed by the sacral (18%), trochanteric (11%), foot (9%) and the malleolar (8%) regions. Defect sizes ranged between 4 and 255 cm2. Grade IV was the most common PS (68%), followed by grade III (30%) and grade V (2%) PS. For wound closure, fasciocutaneous flaps were used most frequently (71%), followed by skin grafts (10%) and myocutaneous flaps (7%). Postoperative follow‐up ranged between 6 and 38 months. The overall complication and recurrence rate was 26% and 11%, respectively. If no complication occurred, the average duration of hospitalisation stay after the first debridement was 98 ± 62 days. In conclusion, our treatment concept is reliable, effective and results in a low recurrence rate. The complication rate, even though favourable when compared with the literature, still needs to be improved.
Effect of bovine and porcine follicular fluid and granulosa cells on maturation of oocytes in vitro.

Neither bovine follicular fluid nor granulosa cells affected the completion of the first meiotic division in vitro of bovine oocytes. Porcine follicular fluid also had no effect on maturation of bovine oocytes in vitro. Porcine follicular fluid and granulosa cells did not inhibit maturation of porcine oocytes. The results are discussed in relation to current literature on intrafollicular control BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 23, 699-704 (1980)
Interference of Cocal Virus with Friend Leukemia Virus-Induced Splenomegaly in DBA/2J Mice 1

Summary In studying the inhibitory effect of a single infectious or UV-inactivated arbovirus (Cocal) dose on Friend leukemia virus-induced leukemia in DBA/2J mice, the greatest degree of interference (reduction of splenomegaly) occurred when Cocal virus was administered 24-48 hr prior to Friend leukemia virus. The percentage and duration of splenomegaly inhibition was dependent on the dose and state (infectious or inactivated) of the Cocal virus.
A prototype real-time intrusion-detection expert system

The design and implementation of a prototype intrusion-detection expert system (IDES) are described. IDES is based on the concept that an intrusion manifests itself as a departure from expected behavior for a user. The prototype monitors users on a remote system, using audit records that characterize their activities. It adaptively learns the normal behavior of each user and detects and reports anomalous user behavior in real time. <<ETX>>
Application of the Coflex Interlaminar Stabilization in Patients With L5/S1 Degenerative Diseases: Minimum 4-Year Follow-up

The Coflex is one of the representatives of posterior dynamic interspinous process device, but no study with the application of Coflex interlaminar stabilization in L5/S1 level has been performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Coflex interlaminar stabilization in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases on L5/S1 level. A retrospective study was conducted for a consecutive series of 33 patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis or lumbar disc herniation located in L5/S1 between November 2007 and September 2010. Subjects were all received decompressive laminectomy with implantation of Coflex device. Clinical effects were evaluated by visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index. Radiographs were done preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up. The Coflex devices were successfully implanted in all subjects. Fourteen cases completed the operations by inverting the prosthesis on account of too short S1 spinous processes. During the minimum 4-year follow-up period, all patients had obvious improvement in clinical effects (P < 0.05). Radiological evaluation revealed that dorsal intervertebral space height and intervertebral foramen height of target level increased significantly in all cases postoperatively and maintained well to final follow-up. In addition, the sagittal range of motion of operated level was restricted (P < 0.05), and the range of motion of adjacent segment did not change much (P > 0.05). The Coflex is an efficacious dynamic interspinous process device for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases that can apply to L5/S1.
Identity theft, social security numbers, and the Web

M A R TI N M A YO When one changes employers, as I have recently, the different institutional and cultural attitudes become obvious. For example, consider salary-benefit packages. From my perspective, as an academic for the past 20plus years, employers seem to consistently bear about the same institutional cost for benefits— about 25% to 30% of one’s salary. This is not to say that everything is equal; different employers emphasize different benefits options—a great group health plan may come at the expense of greater pension contributions, and so forth. But in my world, employer commitment to employee benefits appears to be a constant. What does this have to do with identity theft, social security numbers, and the Web? Well, one of the institutional differences I noticed with my current move was the widespread use of SSNs as primary keys within university administration, municipal and state government, and a good percentage of utility and communication companies. In my effort to explain to sundry administrative folks just how dangerous the practice of using SSNs as primary keys and authenticators in their databases is, how it exposes the employees and citizens to unnecessary risk. I composed what became the first draft of this column. The use of SSNs for purposes other than that for which it was intended is an exceedingly bad idea. This point has been made many times. Add the Web, and we have the makings of a disaster that makes the recent Y2K computer problem pale in comparison.
The use of smartphones for clinical communication on internal medicine wards.

BACKGROUND Communication between clinicians is hampered by the frequent difficulty in reaching the most responsible physician for a patient as well as the use of outdated methods such as numeric paging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of smartphones to improve communication on internal medicine wards. METHOD At the Toronto General Hospital, residents were provided with smartphones. To simplify reaching the most responsible resident for a patient, a smartphone designated as "Team BlackBerry" was also carried by each senior resident and then passed to the resident covering the team at night and on weekends. Nurses were able to send email messages or call smartphones directly. RESULTS There were on average of 9.1 incoming calls, 6.6 outgoing calls, 14.3 received emails, and 2.8 sent emails per day to each Team BlackBerry. Team BlackBerrys received up to 35 calls and 57 emails per day. Residents strongly preferred the smartphones over conventional paging with perceived improvements in all items measured and felt that it improved efficiency and communication. Although nurses perceived a reduction in the time required to contact a physician (27.6 vs. 11 minutes P < 0.001), their overall satisfaction with physician's response time for urgent issues did not improve significantly. DISCUSSION When smartphones were used for clinical communication, residents perceived an improvement in communication with them. Residents strongly preferred emails as opposed to telephone calls as the prime method of communication. Further objective evaluation is necessary to determine if this intervention improves efficiency and more importantly, quality of care.
Evolutionary domain fusion expanded the substrate specificity of the transmembrane electron transporter DsbD

Modular organization of proteins has been postulated as a widely used strategy for protein evolution. The multidomain transmembrane protein DsbD catalyzes the transfer of electrons from the cytoplasm to the periplasm of Escherichia coli. Most bacterial species do not have DsbD, but instead their genomes encode a much smaller protein, CcdA, which resembles the central hydrophobic domain of DsbD. We used reciprocal heterologous complementation assays between E.coli and Rhodobacter capsulatus to show that, despite their differences in size and structure, DsbD and CcdA are functional homologs. While DsbD transfers reducing potential to periplasmic protein disulfide bond isomerases and to the cytochrome c thioreduction pathway, CcdA appears to be involved only in cytochrome c biogenesis. Our findings strongly suggest that, by the acquisition of additional thiol‐redox active domains, DsbD expanded its substrate specificity.
Motion compensation for block-based lossless video coding using lattice-based binning

A block-based lossless video coding scheme using the notion of binning has been proposed in [1]. To further improve the compression and reduce the complexity, in this paper we investigate the impact of two sub-optimal motion search algorithms on the performance of this lattice-based scheme. While one of the algorithm tries avoiding motion vectors, the other tries to reduce complexity. Our experimental results have demonstrated that the loss due to sub-optimal motion search outweighs the gain when motion vectors are avoided. However, experimental results have shown that there is negligible performance loss when low-complexity sub-optimal three step search is used.
MoNoTrac — A mobility trace generator based on OpenStreetMap geo-data

Simulations of mobile networks require the specification of the node movement. The movement is either computed based on mathematical models or given by previously recorded mobility traces. The Mobile Node Trace Generator (MoNoTrac) is a mobility trace generator based on OpenStreetMap data. The simulation area is selected from a real city map and the movement of nodes of different kinds, such as cars and pedestrians, is simulated on this geographical data. We adapt two popular mobility models in a way that they respect the geographical and structural constraints. MoNoTrac produces an XML-based metaformat which may be converted to formats required by popular network simulators such as ns-2/3 and OMNeT++. The goal of the MoNoTrac framework is to ease the development process of more realistic mobility models that are based on real geo data.