Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of surface charge and Gibbs surface energy on the settlement behaviour of barnacle cyprids (Balanus amphitrite)

Gibbs surface energy has long been considered to be an important parameter in the design of fouling-resistant surfaces for marine applications. Rigorous testing of the hypothesis that settlement is related to Gibbs surface energy however has never been accomplished, due mainly to practical limitations imposed by the necessary combination of surface engineering and biological evaluation methods. In this article, the effects of surface charge and Gibbs surface energy on the settlement of cyprids of an important fouling barnacle, Balanus amphitrite, were evaluated. Settlement assays were conducted on a range of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) (CH3-, OH-, COOH-, N(CH3)3 +-, NH2-terminated), presented in gold-coated polystyrene well plates, varying in terms of their surface charge and Gibbs surface energy. Contrary to contemporary theory, settlement was not increased by high-energy surfaces, rather the opposite was found to be the case with cyprids settling in greater numbers on a low-energy CH3- SAM compared to a high-energy OH- SAM. Settlement was also greater on negatively-charged SAMs, compared to neutral and positively-charged SAMs. These findings are discussed in the context of data drawn from surfaces that varied in multiple characteristics simultaneously, as have been used previously for such experiments. The finding that surface charge, rather than total surface energy, may be responsible for surface selection by cyprids, will have significant implications for the design of future fouling-resistant materials.
Distributed consensus of multi-agent systems with external disturbances

This paper addresses the distributed leaderless and leader-following consensus problems for multi-agent systems with general linear dynamics and unknown external disturbances. With the aid of extended state observer technique, both the local states and disturbance are estimated simultaneously, then the distributed consensus protocols are proposed based on information of relative estimated states of neighbor agents and the estimated disturbance. It has been shown that, with the proposed consensus protocols, all agents can reach consensus under undirected and connected communication graphs. Finally, simulation examples are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocols.
Pebbling Dynamic Graphs in Minimal Space

On etudie un jeu sur les graphes dynamiques qui constitue un modele theorique de calcul incremental. Une explosion considerable de la complexite temporelle a lieu pour de faibles modifications du graphe sur lequel on calcule. Ainsi on construit une classe de graphes acycliques {G n } de taille n que l'on peut traiter avec une complexite en espace en O (n 1/3 ) et qui necessite un temps superpolynomial en n si l'espace minimal est utilise. De plus, en supprimant simplement un arc dans {G n } une nouvelle classe est obtenue pour laquelle le jeu demande simplement un temps polynomial meme si l'on utilise un espace minimal
Nose detection and face extraction from 3D raw facial surface based on mesh quality assessment

We propose a novel approach for nose tip detection and extraction of frontal face area from raw 3D triangular mesh facial surfaces. Our approach is inspired from the observation that the region around some facial landmarks are characterized by low mesh quality. To measure and assess the quality of the mesh surface, we present an original framework using which we extract a group of candidate triangular facets. In the second stage of our algorithm, we find the single facet that corresponds to the nose tip from the group of candidate triangle facets using a series of filtering steps. In addition to exploring the performance of our model, we also show how the mesh quality assessment framework can be generalized to extract the frontal face area from any raw face scan data. Tests conducted on a group of 240 raw facial scans prove the robustness of our method, and do not show cases of failure.
CONTROL OF TRANSFORMERLESS UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY FOR UNITY POWER FACTOR AND SINUSOIDAL INDUCTOR CURRENTS

This paper discusses the design of controller for t ransformerless uninterruptible power supply (UPS), with simultaneous ac and dc loading. The objective of th e design is to maintain good regulation of the ac a nd dc voltages and sinusoidal inductor currents simultane ously. The volt-second balance across the output fi lter inductor is used to maintain the current in sinusoi dal form which is the unique contribution of this p aper. Complete analytical design solution is provided for both rectifier and inverter simultaneously. Implementation of the controller requires simple an alog circuits. The proposed solution is validated t hrough simulation and experimentation.
Electromyographic Findings in Focal Laryngeal Dystonia (Spastic Dysphonia)

Spastic dysphonia is a clinical speech disorder characterized by spasms of the laryngeal muscles during phonation, producing a broken pattern of speech sometimes termed laryngeal stuttering. Fourteen patients with the diagnosis of spastic dysphonia based on voice quality were referred for evaluation; detailed clinical and electrophysiologic evaluations were performed. Laryngeal electromyographic (EMG) testing failed to demonstrate any spontaneous activity in the 14 patients tested. Seven patients (50 %) had normal number and amplitude of motor unit potentials. Four of these had disparate amplitudes when compared with the other side, and two had complex motor unit potentials. The other seven patients (50 %) had abnormal findings, including three patients with abnormally increased amplitude. Two patients had asynchronous activity characteristic of a tremor disorder. One patient had synchronous bursts of activity also affecting the diaphragm, later diagnosed as pyramidal and extrapyramidal disease. One patient had bursts of activity, and later presented with diffuse myoclonus. Laryngeal EMG therefore seemed to be a more precise way of evaluating patients presenting with a tremulous voice pattern termed spastic dysphonia. Clinical observation and EMG data demonstrated that spastic dysphonia is not a “spastic” disease. We identified patients with tremor (2), pyramidal and extrapyramidal disease (1), and myoclonic disorders (1). The remainder of the patients had clinical and EMG findings consistent with dystonia, a neurologic disorder characterized by abnormal, often action-induced, involuntary movements or uncontrolled spasms. We classify these patients as having “focal laryngeal dystonia” when the disorder occurs in isolation. It may also present as a component of a generalized dystonic syndrome.
Alzheimer's Disease with Widespread Presence of Lewy Bodies

Abstract: Progressive mental deterioration associated with parkinsonism was observed in a 68‐year‐old patient in the senile period. Pathologically, evidence of senile changes was obtained consisting of degeneration of the neurons and numerous senile plaques with classical and perivascular types. Further, neuronal degeneration in the form of Lewy bodies was evidently observed in the hypothalamus, substantianigra et innominata, locus caeruleus of the vagus nerve, some nuclei in the reticular formation of the brainstem and neurons in the cerebral cortex. The clinical and pathological manifestations were those of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. It is suggested that some common etiological factors may cause those lesions as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Redox molecular machines involved in tumor progression.

SIGNIFICANCE We herein review recent advances on the role exerted by protein redox machines engaged in tumor progression, focusing on cell adhesion and migration, regulation of transcriptional response, and tumor metabolic reprogramming, all features belonging to the new hallmarks of cancer. RECENT ADVANCES Several recent insights have reported that oxidative stress, either due to intracellular sources of oxidants, which are frequently deregulated in cancers or to microenvironment factors as hypoxia or stromal cell contact, plays a key role in tumor malignancy, as well as in metabolic pathways control. Indeed, many proteins behave as sensors of intracellular oxidative stress, including protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases, transcription factors as p53, forkhead box class-Os, nuclear respiratory factor-2, nuclear factor-kB, hypoxia inducible factor, enzymes involved in glycolysis or penthose phosphate pathway as pyruvate kinase-M2 and adenylate monophosphate kinase, or DNA repair enzymes as Ataxia Teleangectasia Mutated. All these proteins have been reported to play essential roles during cancer progression and their sensitivity to oxidative stress has added new levels of complexity to the cancer field. CRITICAL ISSUES Main significant issues that need to be addressed in redox cancer biology are (i) sensitivity to a different level of oxidative stress of sensors, that is, they can respond to different oxidative insults/signals, and (ii) the real susceptibility of cancer cells to redox-based therapies due to the acknowledged plasticity of cancer cells to develop adoptive strategies. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Definitely, redox machines have the potentiality to develop into novel biomarkers and related target therapies should attain the goal of personalized medicine in the fight against cancer.
Normalized Analysis and Design of LCC Resonant Converters

A normalization of the LCC voltage-output resonant converter performance characteristics, in terms of the tank gain at resonance and the parallel-to-series-capacitor ratio, is presented. The resulting description is subsequently used for the derivation of a design procedure that incorporates the effects of diode losses and the finite charge/discharge time of the parallel capacitor. Unlike previously reported techniques, the resulting normalized behavior of the converter is used to identify design regions to facilitate a reduction in component electrical stresses, and the use of harmonics to transfer real power. Consideration of the use of preferred component values is also given. The underlying methodology is ultimately suitable for incorporation into a software suite for use as part of a rapid interactive design tool. Both simulation results and experimental measurements from a prototype converter are included to demonstrate the attributes of the proposed analysis and design methodologies.
Oxytocin, Functions, Uses and Abuses: A Brief Review

Oxytocin a peptide hormone has the distinction of being the first among the peptide hormones to be sequenced and biochemically synthesized. Oxytocin is secreted from neural as well as non-neural sources inside the body. Among the neural sources supra-optic and paraventricular nuclei of the brain are major sources of secretion, the arcuate nucleus being a minor source. There are many non-neural sources from which synthesis of Oxytocin has been reported. The important ones include interstitial cells of Leydig in testis, epididymis, prostate glands, corpus luteum inside ovary, uterus, oviduct, placenta and adrenal glands. Oxytocin directly acts on the smooth muscle cells and causes muscle contraction. Indirectly it stimulates synthesis of PGF2α inside the female genital tract. As such the Oxytocin is involved in a wide spectrum of activities from milk letdown, parturition, penile erection and ejaculation to social, sexual and maternal behavior. Because of the spectrum of its functions it has since been used therapeutically for conditions like facilitating parturition in uterine inertia, prevent bleeding after parturition and abortion, management of incomplete abortion, milk letdown, retention of placenta etc., although the success has not been predictable. However, Oxytocin is also being misused under the false impression that its use in dairy animals increases the milk yield. Oxytocin abuse is also rampant in fruits and vegetables. This article is an attempt to explore the body of knowledge with respect to functions, uses and most importantly the abuses of this wonderful hormone.
New Sphingolipids from Abutilon pakistanicum

Pakistamides A and B (1and 2, respectively), two new sphingolipids, have been isolated from the AcOEt-soluble sub-fraction of the MeOH extract of the whole plant of Abutilon pakistanicum. Their structures were assigned by 1H and 13C NMR spectra, and by DEPT and COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC, EI-MS, and FAB-MS experiments. Graphical Abstract New Sphingolipids from Abutilon pakistanicum
All-Normal-Dispersion Dissipative Soliton Ytterbium Fiber Laser Without Dispersion Compensation and Additional Filter

We report on the generation of mode-locked dissipative soliton pulse from an all-fiber ytterbium-doped fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation without dispersion compensation or an additional filter. The formation of the dissipative soliton pulse is a self-consistent result of various effects in the laser cavity, including positive fiber dispersion, nonlinearity, cavity transmission, and gain saturation and narrowing over one cavity round trip. Stable mode-locked pulses with pulse energy of 1.1 nJ have been achieved, which is restricted by the available pump power. For comparison, an all-normal-dispersion fiber laser with filter is also constructed by simply incorporating a section of polarization-maintaining fiber. The results indicate that the dissipative laser without a filter has a simpler configuration but better performance such as broader spectral bandwidth and resistance to the multiple pulse state. The operation of the dissipative soliton lasers without an additional filter has been numerically simulated, which confirms the experimental results.
Testing Methods for Measuring the Effects of Stray Capacitances on High-Voltage Current Transformers

This paper evaluates different measuring systems to estimate the effect of stray capacitances between primary and secondary windings on current transformers (CTs) used in high-voltage power networks. All windings are at nearly ground potential during laboratory calibration because this is the typical configuration for almost all CT's calibration systems. However, in service, the primary winding is at high potential, so that additional currents flow through the load due to stray capacitances between primary and secondary windings, even if the CT has an electrostatic shield for reducing these capacitances. This effect changes the CT errors determined at no potential. Experimental determination of the variation of ratio and phase displacement errors between both working conditions is evaluated for a set of different CTs using different measuring systems. These systems include from the simplest low-voltage bridge capacitance measurement to the most complex one that simultaneously applies current and voltage.
68Ga- and 177Lu-Labeled PSMA I&T: Optimization of a PSMA-Targeted Theranostic Concept and First Proof-of-Concept Human Studies

On the basis of the high and consistent expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) in metastatic prostate cancer (PC), the goal of this study was the development, preclinical evaluation, and first proof-of-concept investigation of a PSMA inhibitor for imaging and therapy (PSMA I&T) for 68Ga-based PET and 177Lu-based endoradiotherapeutic treatment in patients with metastatic and castration-resistant disease. Methods: PSMA I&T was synthesized in a combined solid phase and solution chemistry strategy. The PSMA affinity of natGa-/natLu-PSMA I&T was determined in a competitive binding assay using LNCaP cells. Internalization kinetics of 68Ga- and 177Lu-PSMA I&T were investigated using the same cell line, and biodistribution studies were performed in LNCaP tumor–bearing CD-1 nu/nu mice. Initial human PET imaging studies using 68Ga-PSMA I&T, as well as endoradiotherapeutic treatment of 2 patients with metastatic PC using 177Lu-PSMA I&T, were performed. Results: PSMA I&T and its cold gallium and lutetium analog revealed nanomolar affinity toward PSMA. The DOTAGA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-(glutamic acid)-4,7,10-triacetic acid) conjugate PSMA I&T allowed fast and high-yield labeling with 68GaIII and 177LuIII. Uptake of 68Ga-/177Lu-PSMA I&T in LNCaP tumor cells is highly efficient and PSMA-specific, as demonstrated by competition studies both in vitro and in vivo. Tumor targeting and tracer kinetics in vivo were fast, with the highest uptake in tumor xenografts and kidneys (both PSMA-specific). First-in-human 68Ga-PSMA I&T PET imaging allowed high-contrast detection of bone lesions, lymph node, and liver metastases. Endoradiotherapy with 177Lu-PSMA I&T in 2 patients was found to be effective and safe with no detectable side effects. Conclusion: 68Ga-PSMA I&T shows potential for high-contrast PET imaging of metastatic PC, whereas its 177Lu-labeled counterpart exhibits suitable targeting and retention characteristics for successful endoradiotherapeutic treatment. Prospective studies on larger cohorts of patients are warranted and planned.
[Comparison of intraocular pressure reducing effects of three prostaglandin eyedrops in open-angle glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost given in the evening on the 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) curve in open-angle glaucoma patients. METHODS It was a case-control study. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were selected for the present study. Twenty-one, 22 and 20 patients were treated once daily with latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost for 4 weeks, respectively. Before and four weeks after the treatment, IOP was measured by masked evaluators at 8AM, 10AM, noon, 2PM, 4PM, 6PM, 8PM, 10PM, midnight, 2AM, 4AM and 6AM. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to compare the IOP responses to the drug regimens for the entire circadian curve. Analysis of variance was used to compare the circadian variations of intraocular pressure. RESULTS The IOPs of all patients in these 3 groups decreased markedly after 4 weeks. The daily average IOP (mean ± standard deviation) in the latanoprost group decreased from (18.9 ± 2.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (15.3 ± 2.7) mm Hg, and the extent of the decrease was 19.0%. IOP in the travoprost group decreased from (19.1 ± 3.1) mm Hg to (15.3 ± 2.1) mm Hg, with a decrease of 19.4%. IOP in the bimatoprost group decreased from (18.6 ± 1.9) mm Hg to (14.9 ± 1.9) mm Hg, with a decrease of 19.9%. The effectiveness of the treatments did not differ significantly between these three groups (F = 1.501, P = 0.110). The descending percentage compared with circadian variation ranges before treatment in patients with latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost was 31.0%, 31.1% and 31.9%, respectively. In comparison of these three groups, the circadian variations of intraocular pressure did not differ significantly (F = 0.286, P = 0.752). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost are all effective in reducing IOP over the 24-hour curve in primary open-angle glaucoma. On the basis of our data, there was no statistically significant difference in the IOP reduction between these three drugs.
In vivo determination of mu opioid receptor turnover in rhesus monkeys after irreversible blockade with clocinnamox.

In a warm-water tail withdrawal antinociception assay performed at 45, 50 and 55 degrees C in the rhesus monkey, the irreversible opioid antagonist clocinnamox at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg s.c. produced an acute rightward shift of the dose-response curves of the selective mu opioid agonists alfentanil and morphine at all tested temperatures. In addition, clocinnamox depressed the maxima of the dose-response curves for both agonists at 50 and 55 degrees C. Analysis of these data according to Furchgott as modified by Black and Leff showed that clocinnamox acutely decreased mu opioid receptors available for alfentanil by 88%; receptor numbers returned to control levels with a half-life of 6.3 days. Assessment of receptor population changes after clocinnamox administration with either alfentanil or morphine gave essentially identical results: 2 to 4 weeks after clocinnamox, the receptor population not only returned to preclocinnamox levels, but actually showed an overshoot. In contrast, apparent values of alfentanil affinity; its efficacy, e; the theoretically obtainable maximum effect of the mu opioid antinociceptive system, Em; and the stimulus-response transducing factor, n; did not change significantly over time. Alfentanil showed a 29-fold higher affinity than morphine, the respective KA values being 0.84 mg/kg for alfentanil and 24 mg/kg for morphine. The efficacy of alfentanil was always 2- to 3-fold higher than that of morphine for any temperature tested, the efficacies of both mu opioid agonists being higher at lower temperatures. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Biochar amendment greatly reduces rice Cd uptake in a contaminated paddy soil: A two-year field experiment

A field experiment was conducted on the effect of biochar (BC) amendment on Cd uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.) in a contaminated paddy in 2009 and 2010. BC was applied as a basal soil amendment before rice transplantation in 2009 at rates of 0, 10, 20, 40t ha-1, and rice yield and Cd uptake were monitored in both 2009 and 2010. The BC amendment significantly increased soil pH by 0.15-0.33 units in 2009 and 0.24-0.38 units in 2010, and decreased CaCl2 extracted Cd in soil by 32.0%-52.5% in 2009 and 5.5%-43.4% in 2010, respectively. Under BC amendment at 10, 20, 40 t ha-1, rice grain Cd concentration was observed to be reduced by 16.8%, 37.1%, and 45.0% in 2009 and by 42.7%, 39.9%, and 61.9% in 2010, while the total plant Cd uptake was found to decrease by 28.1%, 45.7%, and 54.2% in 2009 and by 14.4%, 35.9%, and 45.9% in 2010, respectively. Such effect of BC amendment on reducing Cd plant uptake has profound implications among those using bioresources for field application. Finally, BC amendment in combination with low Cd cultivars may offer a basic option to reduce Cd levels in rice as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice agriculture in contaminated paddies.
Uterine endometrial carcinoma associated with dystocia in a captive scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah)

THE scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah ) belongs to the Hippotragini subfamily of the Bovidae family ([Devillers and Devillers-Terschuren 2006][1]). It was once abundant and widespread, inhabiting the vast sub-desert lands that border the Sahara ([Bertram 1988][2], [Newby 1988][3], [Gordon and Gill
Age‐related changes in regional brain mitochondria from Fischer 344 rats

Brain mitochondrial function has been posited to decline with aging. In order to test this hypothesis, cortical and striatal mitochondria were isolated from Fischer 344 rats at 2, 5, 11, 24 and 33 months of age. Mitochondrial membrane potential remained stable through 24 months, declining slightly in mitochondria from both brain regions at 33 months. The ability of calcium to induce mitochondrial swelling and depolarization, characteristics of the permeability transition, was remarkably stable through 24 months of age and increased at advanced ages only for cortical, but not striatal, mitochondria. Striatal mitochondria were more sensitive to calcium than were cortical mitochondria throughout the first 2 years of life. A two‐fold increased resistance to calcium was observed in striatal mitochondria between 5 and 11 months. Although these measurements do demonstrate changes in mitochondrial function with aging, the changes in polarization are relatively small and the increased cortical susceptibility to the permeability transition only occurred at very advanced ages. Thus mitochondrial decline with advanced age depends upon brain region.