Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of the terrestrial biotic ligand model for predicting nickel toxicity to barley (Hordeum Vulgare): Ion effects at low pH

The focus of the present study was to investigate the potential for Al3+,Mg2+, and H+ to influence Ni2+ toxicity for barley seedlings grown in acidic aqueous solutions and to assess the capacity of a two‐site terrestrial biotic ligand model (tBLM) to accurately predict 50% effect activities (EA50s). To accomplish these objectives, 48‐h EA50Ni2+ values were obtained for three sets of exposures in which the pH and activity of Al3+ and Mg2+ were varied. Exposures contained both Al alone and in combination with Mg so that compound ion effects could be investigated. A tBLM was then constructed to predict EA50Ni2+ values from the exposure solution chemistry. The results show a slight protective effect of H+ against Ni2+ toxicity and a strong protective effect of Mg2+, as indicated by a 4.6‐and 8.0‐fold increase in the measured EA50Ni2+ values corresponding to changes in pH from 6.0 to 4.5 and {Mg2+} from 0 to 1.40 mM, respectively. Increasing solution {Al3+} from 0 to 0.5 μM had no effect on Ni2+ toxicity, although Al itself negatively affected root elongation. Comparison of EA50 values calculated as both Ni2+ and measured concentration of total Ni in the root ([Root‐Ni]T) showed [Root‐Ni]T to be a more normalized measure of Ni bioavailability. The strong correlation between root growth inhibition and tBLM‐predicted root‐Ni accumulation suggests that toxicity was influenced by Ni2+ binding to low‐affinity ligands within the cell wall, in addition to Ni2+ uptake through Mg2+ transporters. Predicted EA50Ni2+ values generated with the model were all within a factor of ± 1.5 from measured values‐a result that emphasizes the advantage of using the tBLM for risk assessment.
Kinetics of the Ceramide Kinase Inhibitor K1, a Suppressor of Mast-Cell Activation

In a previous study, we synthesized a novel inhibitor of ceramide kinase, K1. In this study, we determined that inhibition by K1 is non-competitive and that four intact six-membered rings are important to the inhibitory activity. Furthermore, we identified an effective in vivo concentration for K1, at which it did not influence any cellular lipid synthesis other than that of ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) using RBL-2H3 cells, and found that K1 suppressed the activation of mast cells.
Supervised sparse neighbourhood preserving embedding

Both neighbourhood preserving embedding (NPE) and sparsity preserving projection (SPP) are unsupervised learning methods, where NPE can preserve the local neighbourhood information of a given dataset and SPP can preserve the sparsely reconstructive relationship of the dataset. However, it is not satisfactory when applying the two methods to classification tasks. First, a modified SPP is presented here. Then this study proposes a supervised sparse neighbourhood preserving embedded algorithm (SSNPE) based on NPE, the modified SPP and the label information of a given task. SSNPE inherits the merits of NPE and SPP, which can preserve not only the local neighbourhood information but also the sparsely reconstructive relationship. The connection between SSNPE and both NPE and SPP is discussed. Experimental results on the datasets of UCI, ORL and MNIST indicate that the proposed method is effective.
Theoretical and experimental analysis of a chromatic dispersion compensating module using a dual concentric core fiber

New designs of optical fibers are widely used in dispersion compensating module (DCM) inserted in optical links to improve the bit rate. Dual concentric core fibers (DCCFs) can exhibit a very large negative dispersion coefficient and a large figure of merit well suited for DCM applications. However, these fibers intrinsically propagate two supermodes. So a selective injection of the mode of the central elementary guide of DCCF can be realized by the input connection with a single-mode fiber to obtain a negative dispersion. In this paper, we demonstrate theoretically and confirm experimentally the impact of this particular injection. The complete association of a DCCF connected on each end with single-mode fibers, corresponding at a DCM, is studied. A new definition of the chromatic dispersion (CD) for a DCM based on the phase delay method is established. The corresponding curve presents two symmetric maxima and becomes null at the phase matching wavelength. Experimental verification is presented and the influence of the optogeometrical parameters on the evolution of the CD is also discussed.
Compartmental organization of the olfactory bulb glomerulus

Olfactory receptor cell (ORC) axons terminate in the olfactory bulb glomerular neuropil, where they synapse with dendrites of mitral, tufted, and periglomerular neurons. We investigated the organization of the glomerular neuropil by using antibodies to both single‐ and double‐label constituents for analyses with confocal microscopy. Electron microscopy (EM) was employed to assess the distribution of synaptic appositions within the glomerulus. Adult Sprague‐Dawley rats were processed for immunocytochemistry with olfactory marker protein (OMP), synaptophysin, synapsin 1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and/or microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP2). Equivalent rats were processed for transmission EM. Double labeling for OMP and MAP2 revealed two distinctive subcompartments within glomeruli: an axonal compartment containing predominately primary afferent axons with individual dendritic inserts and a complementary dendritic compartment that excluded primary afferent axons. Areas not occupied by OMP or MAP2 immunoreactivity were either immunoreactive for GFAP, indicating a glial process, or were blood vessels. Synaptophysin and synapsin 1 also showed differential labeling within the glomerulus. Synaptophysin strongly colocalized with OMP, whereas synapsin 1 was associated most strongly with MAP2. Reconstructions of glomeruli from EM montages revealed interdigitating axonal and dendritic subcompartments. The axonal subcompartments were composed primarily of ORC processes with individual or small groups of dendrites interspersed. Dendritic subcompartments were composed predominately of dendritic processes. Primary afferent axodendritic and local‐circuit dendrodendritic synapses segregated within the glomerulus into the axonal and dendritic subcompartments, respectively. The results support the hypothesis of subcompartmental organization within olfactory bulb glomeruli. J. Comp. Neurol. 407:261–274, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anti‐realism, Theism and the Conditional Fallacy*

Plantinga demonstrates, with modest modal resources, that AR entails that necessarily, ideal epistemic circumstances obtain. It is a contingent matter whether ideal epistemic circumstances obtain for worldly agents and communities. Hence, the lesson, according to Plantinga, is that an anti-realist should be a theist. In the present paper we evaluate whether anti-realism entails that necessarily ideal epistemic circumstances obtain. A more careful analysis of Plantinga’s argument appears in section 1. We notice that Plantinga’s interpretation of anti-realism harbors an ambiguity of quantifier scope and that only on the less plausible placement of the quantifiers does AR obviously entail that necessarily ideal epistemic circumstances obtain. In section 2 we evaluate an alternative version of Plantinga’s argument developed by Michael Rea. Rea’s argument gets the quantifiers straight, but depends on logical resources that the anti-realist has independent reason to reject. After evaluating Rea’s argument we conclude that an anti-realist need not be a theist and is not committed to the necessary existence of
Technology Diffusion, Hospital Variation, and Racial Disparities Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries: 1989–2000

Background:Low rates of technology utilization in hospitals with high proportions of black inpatients may be a remediable cause of healthcare disparities. Objectives:Our objective was to determine how differences in technology utilization among hospitals contributed to racial disparity and if temporal reduction in hospital procedure rate variation resulted in decreased racial disparity for these technologies. Methods:We identified 2,348,952 elderly Medicare beneficiaries potentially eligible for 1 of 5 emerging medical technologies from 1989–2000 and determined if these patients had received the indicated procedure within 90 days of their qualifying hospital admission. Initial multivariate regression models adjusted for age, race, sex, admission year, clinical comorbidity, community levels of education and income, and academic/urban hospital admission. The inpatient racial composition of each patient's admitting hospital and time–race interactions were added as covariates to subsequent models. Results:Blacks had significantly lower adjusted rates (P < 0.001) compared with whites for tissue replacement of the aortic valve, internal mammary artery coronary bypass grafting, dual-chambered pacemaker implantation, and lumbar spinal fusion. Hospitals with > 20% black inpatients were less likely to perform these procedures on both white and black patients than hospitals with < 9% black inpatients, and racial disparity was greater in hospitals with larger black populations. There were no temporal reductions in racial disparities. Conclusions:Blacks may be disadvantaged in access to new procedures by receiving care at hospitals that have both lower procedure rates and greater racial disparity. Policies designed to ameliorate racial disparities in health care must address hospital variation in the provision of care.
Evolution of the Role of the Transplant Pharmacist on the Multidisciplinary Transplant Team

Transplant pharmacists have been recognized as an essential part of the transplant team by their colleagues along with several governing and professional organizations. The specific education, training and responsibilities of the transplant pharmacist have not been clearly delineated in the literature. Various pharmacists across the country have been called upon to serve on the transplant team necessitating standardization of their fundamental and desirable activities. Therefore, the purpose of this manuscript is to describe the training and role of a transplant pharmacist on the patient care team and provide a roadmap to implementation of novel transplant pharmacy services.
Typical absence seizures and related epileptic syndromes: Assessment of current state and directions for future research

This commentary outlines clinical and electroencephalography (EEG) aspects of typical absence seizures (TAS) and related epileptic syndromes in order to identify areas of consensus as well as areas of uncertainty that may indicate directions for future research. This may also assist the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission, which is currently working on establishing scientifically rigorous criteria for the identification of specific epileptic seizures and syndromes using an evidence-based approach (Engel, 2006). Relevant ILAE definitions and classifications are shown in Table 1. TAS and related epileptic syndromes were thoroughly assessed by leading clinicians and researchers in this area during a 3-day symposium in 1994 in London (Duncan & Panayiotopoulos, 1995). Consensus was achieved in the definition and semiology of TAS and controversies in their syndromic classification comprehensively debated (Reynolds et al., 1995). The report by Sadleir and colleagues (Sadleir et al., 2008) and its related predecessor on childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) (Sadleir et al., 2006) is assessed in the context of this debate.
Passive leg movement and nitric oxide-mediated vascular function: the impact of age.

UNLABELLED In young healthy men, passive leg movement (PLM) elicits a robust nitric oxide (NO)-dependent increase in leg blood flow (LBF), thus providing a novel approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function. While the magnitude of the LBF response to PLM is markedly reduced with age, the role of NO in this attenuated response in the elderly is unknown. Therefore, this study sought to determine the contribution of NO in the PLM-induced LBF with age. Fourteen male subjects (7 young, 24 ± 1 yr; and 7 old, 75 ± 3 yr) underwent PLM with and without NO synthase (NOS) inhibition achieved by intra-arterial infusion of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). LBF was determined second-by-second by Doppler ultrasound, and central hemodynamics were measured by finger photoplethysmography. NOS inhibition blunted the PLM-induced peak increase in LBF in the young (control: 668 ± 106; L-NMMA 431 ± 95 Δml/min; P = 0.03) but had no effect in the old (control: 266 ± 98; L-NMMA 251 ± 92 Δml/min; P = 0.59). Likewise, the magnitude of the reduction in the overall (i.e., area under the curve) PLM-induced LBF response to NOS inhibition was less in the old (LBF: -31 ± 18 ml) than the young (LBF: -129 ± 21 ml; P < 0.01). These findings suggest that the age-associated reduction in PLM-induced LBF in the elderly is primarily due to a reduced contribution to vasodilation from NO and therefore support the use of PLM as a novel approach to assess NO-mediated vascular function across the lifespan.
Community-associated MRSA--resistance and virulence converge.

Laypeople and health care professionals alike recognize Staphylococcus aureus as an important cause of disease and understand that antibiotic-resistant strains pose a threat to the community. Before the availability of antibiotics, invasive staphylococcal disease was often fatal, and the introduction of penicillin in the 1940s dramatically improved survival. Although penicillinase-producing strains soon emerged, methicillin and other penicillinase-stable β-lactam agents filled the breach. However, methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus (MRSA), which are resistant to the entire class of β-lactam agents, were identified almost immediately and are now found in hospitals worldwide. Despite the growing prevalence of MRSA in hospitals, these strains .
Influence of nonionic surfactants on bioavailability and biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The presence of the synthetic nonionic surfactants Triton X-100, Tergitol NPX, Brij 35, and Igepal CA-720 resulted not only in increased apparent solubilities but also in increased maximal rates of dissolution of crystalline naphthalene and phenanthrene. A model based on the assumption that surfactant micelles are formed and act as a separate phase underestimated the dissolution rates; this led to the conclusion that surfactants present at concentrations higher than the critical micelle concentration affect the dissolution process. This conclusion was confirmed by the results of batch growth experiments, which showed that the rates of biodegradation of naphthalene and phenanthrene in the dissolution-limited growth phase were increased by the addition of surfactant, indicating that the dissolution rates were higher than the rates in the absence of surfactant. In activity and growth experiments, no toxic effects of the surfactants at concentrations up to 10 g liter(sup-1) were observed. Substrate present in the micellar phase was shown to be not readily available for degradation by the microorganisms. This finding has important consequences for the application of (bio)surfactants in biological soil remediation.
Shorter (≤6 months) versus longer (≥12 months) duration dual antiplatelet therapy after drug eluting stents: A meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials

Optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), defined as use of both aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor, after implantation of drug eluting stents (DES) is still subject of ongoing debate. We systematically review efficacy and safety of ≤6 months versus ≥12 months DAPT after implantation of DES.
Dynamic modeling and experimental validation of biomimetic robotic fish

This paper presents a dynamic model of robotic fish which synthesizes both the carangiform and anguilliform swimming modes. The designed robotic fish is divided into three parts: stiff anterior body, flexible rear body, and an oscillating lunate caudal fin. We use unsteady flow theory to analyze the motion of the anterior part and the links, and adopt basic airfoil theory for the caudal fin. By summing up the longitudinal force, lateral force and yaw moment on each propulsive component, the kinematic and dynamic equations of the swimming robotic fish can be derived. The desired propulsive characteristics including forward velocity, sway velocity, angular speed, motion trajectory as well as propulsive efficiency can then be obtained via solving ordinary differential equation. Comparisons between simulation results and real experiments are then conducted and discussed. A good agreement on dynamic characteristics demonstrates the validity of the proposed model
High Power Cascaded Erbium Doped Fluoride Fiber Laser at Room Temperature

We demonstrate a high power diode-cladding-pumped cascaded erbium doped fluoride fiber laser at room temperature with <sup>4</sup>I<sub>11/2</sub> →<sup>4</sup>I<sub>13/2</sub> transition at ~2.8 μm and <sup>4</sup>I<sub>13/2</sub> →<sup>4</sup>I<sub>15/2</sub> transition at ~1.6 μm. By simultaneously theoretically optimizing erbium ions dopant concentration and fiber length, maximum output power of 15.2 W centered at 2.885 μm at a slope efficiency of 26.7% was achieved experimentally after the onset of cascaded transition centered at 1.613 μm. Maximum output power and slope efficiency of 1.613 μm cascaded laser were 3.2 W and 7.1%, respectively. In our case, no cooling designs were employed on the fiber owing to the use of lowly erbium doped fiber and cascaded laser cavity that weakened the cascaded multiphonon relaxation processes while improving the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first 10-W level fiber laser at 3-μm waveband without any special active or passive cooling designs.
Effects of Extra Mass on the Pelagic Behavior of a Seabird

ABSTRACT. Satellite transmitters and geographic-positioning-system devices often add substantial mass to birds to which they are attached. Studies on the effects of such instruments have focused on indirect measures, whereas the direct influence of extra mass on pelagic behavior is poorly known. We used 2.5-g geolocators to investigate the effect of extra mass on the pelagic behavior of Cory's Shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) by comparing the traits of a single foraging trip among a group carrying 30-g weights, a group carrying 60-g weights, and a control group. The weights were attached to the birds' backs using typical techniques for attaching satellite transmitters to seabirds. The extra mass increased the duration of the birds' trips and decreased their foraging efficiency and mass gained at sea. These indirect effects may be related to foraging traits: weighted birds showed a greater search effort than control birds, traveled greater distances, covered a greater foraging area, and increased the maximum foraging range. Furthermore, the time spent on the sea surface at night was greater for weighted than for control groups, which showed that the extra mass also affected activity patterns. Our results underline the need to quantify the effects of monitoring equipment commonly used to study the pelagic behavior of seabirds. We suggest that geolocators can be used to obtain control data on foraging-trip movements and activity patterns.
Development and modelling of arterial applanation tonometry: a review.

Arterial tonometry allows non-invasive and continuous registration of the arterial pressure waveform, by applanating (flattening) a superficial artery supported by bone with an external transducer. Inspired by ocular tonometry used for eye disease diagnosis, G.L. Pressman and P.M. Newgard built the first arterial tonometer in 1963, and derived a discrete, linear mechanical model. Accuracy remained poor until new sensor production techniques (silicon technology) arrived. G.M. Drzewiecki et al. published a second, more elaborate theoretical model for tonometer positioning in 1983. Few years later, the first modern tonometers were commercialised. Although the problems of sensor positioning, motion artefacts and calibration still exist, the tonometer has proven its usefulness in arterial compliance and hypertension studies. Attention should now go to analysis of the arterial pressure waveforms, and the combination with other signals (e.g. flow wave morphology) to allow a complete non-invasive haemodynamical description of the heart and the arterial tree.
A stage‐specific functional role of the leucine zipper transcription factor c‐Maf in lung Th2 cell differentiation

The transcription factor c‐Maf controls IL‐4 gene expression in CD4+ T cells, and its expression is up‐regulated in human asthmatic airways after allergen challenge. In the present study, we addressed the role of c‐Maf in asthma by studying transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing c‐Maf in CD4+ T cells under the control of the CD2 promoter. As shown, lung CD4+ T cells of c‐maf‐Tg mice produced more IL‐5 at the early stage (day 2) of culture in the presence of IL‐4 than wild‐type control cells. Consistently, c‐maf‐Tg mice spontaneously showed increased IL‐5 expression and eosinophils in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and activated IL‐5 signal transduction via Raf‐1 and Ras in lung eosinophils. Finally, IL‐13 was suppressed in the BALF of c‐maf‐Tg mice and in supernatants of Tg lung CD4+ T cells cultured in the presence of IL‐2. Consistently, retroviral overexpression of c‐Maf suppressed IL‐13 production in developing lung Th2 cells. In summary, c‐Maf induces IL‐5 production in lung CD4+ T cells at an early stage, but along with IL‐2 suppresses IL‐13 production in differentiating lung Th2 cells, thereby explaining the finding that overexpression of c‐Maf does not cause airway hyperresponsiveness, a hallmark feature of asthma.
Balancing Emotion and Cognition: a Case for Decision Aiding in Conservation Efforts

Abstract: Despite advances in the quality of participatory decision making for conservation, many current efforts still suffer from an inability to bridge the gap between science and policy. Judgment and decision‐making research suggests this gap may result from a person's reliance on affect‐based shortcuts in complex decision contexts. I examined the results from 3 experiments that demonstrate how affect (i.e., the instantaneous reaction one has to a stimulus) influences individual judgments in these contexts and identified techniques from the decision‐aiding literature that help encourage a balance between affect‐based emotion and cognition in complex decision processes. In the first study, subjects displayed a lack of focus on their stated conservation objectives and made decisions that reflected their initial affective impressions. Value‐focused approaches may help individuals incorporate all the decision‐relevant objectives by making the technical and value‐based objectives more salient. In the second study, subjects displayed a lack of focus on statistical risk and again made affect‐based decisions. Trade‐off techniques may help individuals incorporate relevant technical data, even when it conflicts with their initial affective impressions or other value‐based objectives. In the third study, subjects displayed a lack of trust in decision‐making authorities when the decision involved a negatively affect‐rich outcome (i.e., a loss). Identifying shared salient values and increasing procedural fairness may help build social trust in both decision‐making authorities and the decision process.
Ultra Low Power Narrow Band LNA

Ultra low powers LNAs are very challenging blocks. Shown in this paper is a design approach for less than 2.5 dB noise figure at 2.4 GHz with only 500 muA. On chip inductors in tsmc 0.13 mum technology was used with IV supply. The NQS effect is eliminated by using a capacitance parallel to Cg, in the inductive degeneration method. Low power architecture using transistors in sub-threshold mode. The design achieves fairly high FOM for narrow band LNAs. By this approach the design trade-off is between power consumption and inductors noise.