Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of the microflora on gastrointestinal pH in the chick.

The pH of the contents at 10 positions along the gut of germ‐free and conventional chicks was measured in situ. Similar measurements were made on groups of conventional birds either fasted for 18 h or fully fed. The buffering capacity of caecal contents from germ‐free and conventional birds was also measured by titrating with hydrochloric acid. The pH of the germ‐free gut contents were generally slightly higher than those of their conventional counterparts. These differences were greatest at the midintestine area and caeca. No differences were found between contents of either the proventriculus and gizzard of each group. Starvation increased slightly the pH of intestine and lowered that of crop, proventriculus and rectum. More acid had to be added to conventionalthan germ‐free caecal contents to attain pH 4 both when expressed in relation to the complete contents and per g of dry matter. It was concluded that the microbial flora, by its secretion of acidic metabolites in general had greatest effect on pH .
Persistencia de prácticas indígenas durante la colonia en el altiplano Cundiboyacense

La historia del altiplano Cundiboyacense muestra en su reconstruccion una ruptura en las fuentes de informacion aportada por las diferentes disciplinas, como la arqueologia, la etnohistoria y la historia social. Parece estar implicito que esta ruptura se origina con la introduccion de la escritura: la arqueologia orienta sus investigaciones hacia el pasado prehispanico carente de escritura, la etnohistoria somete los objetos arqueologicos a los hechos escritos y la historia social parte de los documentos de la conquista, colonia y republica.
Factors associated with hearing impairment in patients with congenital hypothyroidism treated since the neonatal period: a national population-based study.

CONTEXT Untreated hypothyroidism is known to impair hearing, but little is known about the long-term hearing of patients treated for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) since the neonatal period. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess hearing and its determinants in a population-based registry of young adult patients with CH. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Self-declared hearing loss was evaluated in 1202 of the 1748 eligible patients with CH who completed a questionnaire on health status at a median age of 23.4 years. Audiograms were obtained for one third of the patients declaring hearing loss (37 of 107). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-declared hearing loss and audiogram characteristics for patients reporting hearing impairment were measured. RESULTS These patients had a risk of self-declared hearing loss more than 3 times higher than that for the reference population (relative risk [RR] = 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-4.7). Hearing impairment was diagnosed at a median age of 7.0 (25th-75th percentiles, 3.4-19.0) years, and 17% of affected patients required hearing support in early adulthood. Hearing loss was associated with the type of CH (patients with athyreosis and gland in situ were more frequently affected than those with an ectopic gland [RR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.77-3.88]), with disease severity, as assessed by bone maturation delay at the time of diagnosis, with at least one knee epiphyseal ossification center absent in the most severe form (RR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.39-3.79), and with other associated chronic diseases (RR = 3.64; 95% CI, 2.35-5.62). A trend for association with serum free T4 concentration at diagnosis was also observed (RR = 1.47; 95% CI, 0.96-2.23). Hearing loss was mostly bilateral (90%), mild to moderate (96%), of the sensorineural type (76%), and concerned high or very high frequencies. CONCLUSION Despite major improvements in prognosis, hearing loss remains a significant problem, particularly in patients with severe CH. Parents and primary care providers should be aware of this risk, because early diagnosis and intervention could improve the long-term prognosis in these patients.
Dopaminergic Regulation of Cone Retinomotor Movement in Isolated Teleost Retinas: I. Induction of Cone Contraction Is Mediated by D2 Receptors

Abstract: In the retinas of lower vertebrates, retinal photoreceptors and melanin pigment granules of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) undergo characteristic movements in response to changes in light intensity and to signals from an endogenous circadian clock. To identify agents responsible for mediating light and/or circadian regulation of these retinomotor movements, we investigated the effects of hormones and neurotransmitters on cone, rod, and RPE movements in the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus. We report here that 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) mimics the effect of light by inducing light‐adaptive retinomotor movements in all three cell types. In isolated dark‐cultured retinas, dopamine induced light‐adaptive cone contraction with a halfmaximal effect at 10−8M. This effect of dopamine was inhibited by antagonists with a potency order characteristic of D2 receptor mediation. The dopamine uptake blocker benztropine also induced light‐adaptive cone contraction in isolated dark‐cultured retinas, suggesting that there is continuous dopamine release in the dark but that concomitant uptake normally prevents activation of cone contraction. That dopamine plays a role in light regulation of cone movement is further suggested by the observation that light‐induced cone contraction was partially inhibited by sulpiride, a selective D2 dopamine antagonist, or by Co2+, a blocker of synaptic transmission. Sulpiride also promoted dark‐adaptive cone elongation in isolated light adapted retinas, suggesting that continuous dopamine action is required in the light to maintain the light‐adapted cone position. Dopamine can act directly on D2 receptors located on rod and cone inner/outer segments: dopamine induced light‐adaptive retinomotor movements in isolated distal fragments of dark‐adapted photoreceptors cultured in the dark. Together our results indicate that dopamine induces light‐adaptive retinomotor movements in cones, rods, and RPE cells by activating D2 receptors. We suggest that, in vivo, dopamine plays a role in both light and circadian regulation of retinomotor movements.
The effects of propranolol on myocardial perfusion and metabolism during acute regional ischaemia

The unique physical properties of the short‐lived inert and freely diffusing isotope 81mkrypton allow a continuous observation to be made of regional myocardial perfusion. Eighteen dogs were anaesthetised and a reversible snare placed on the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). 81mKrypton was used to study regional myocardial perfusion, and myocardial metabolism was assessed using the epicardial ECG and release of creatine kinase activity (CK). Six dogs did not undergo LAD occlusion (“sham operated”); in six other dogs the LAD was occluded (controls), and another six dogs were given propranolol, 0.5 mg/kg, 20 min after LAD occlusion. All the parameters were measured before and for 5 h after LAD occlusion. When compared to controls, dogs treated with propranolol showed significant improvement (p<0.01) in regional myocardial perfusion; smaller loss of electrically active myocardium for any given degree of early ST‐segment elevation; and a delay in the release of CK activity from a local coronary vein. These results suggest that propranolol exerts a beneficial effect following the development of acute myocardial infarction.
Easily testable data path allocation using input/output registers

Most existing behavioral synthesis systems concentrate on area and performance optimization, while ignoring other design qualities such as testability. In this paper/sup /spl Dagger//, we present three algorithms for register, module, and interconnection allocation of behavioral synthesis respectively to improve testability in data path allocation without assuming any specific test strategy. By using primary input/output registers effectively, the proposed algorithms produce RTL designs with better testability, while incur low or even no hardware overhead. Four benchmarks are synthesized using the proposed approaches and the results are compared with the best results of similar works in the literature. It shows that our approaches give both higher fault coverage and lower hardware overhead.
Functional Roles of Cav1.3(α1D) Calcium Channels in Atria: Insights Gained From Gene-Targeted Null Mutant Mice

Background—Previous data suggest that L-type Ca2+ channels containing the Cav1.3(α1D) subunit are expressed mainly in neurons and neuroendocrine cells, whereas those containing the Cav1.2(α1C) subunit are found in the brain, vascular smooth muscle, and cardiac tissue. However, our previous report as well as others have shown that Cav1.3 Ca2+ channel–deficient mice (Cav1.3−/−) demonstrate sinus bradycardia with a prolonged PR interval. In the present study, we extended our study to examine the role of the Cav1.3(α1D) Ca2+ channel in the atria of Cav1.3−/− mice. Methods and Results—We obtained new evidence to demonstrate that there is significant expression of Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels predominantly in the atria compared with ventricular tissues. Whole-cell L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa,L) recorded from single, isolated atrial myocytes from Cav1.3−/− mice showed a significant depolarizing shift in voltage-dependent activation. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the ICa,L recorded from ventricular myocytes from wild-type and null mutant mice. We previously documented the hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependent activation of Cav1.3 compared with Cav1.2 Ca2+ channel subunits in a heterologous expression system. The lack of Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels in null mutant mice would result in a depolarizing shift in the voltage-dependent activation of ICa,L in atrial myocytes. In addition, the Cav1.3-null mutant mice showed evidence of atrial arrhythmias, with inducible atrial flutter and fibrillation. We further confirmed the isoform-specific differential expression of Cav1.3 versus Cav1.2 by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Conclusions—Using gene-targeted deletion of the Cav1.3 Ca2+ channel, we established the differential distribution of Cav1.3 Ca2+ channels in atrial myocytes compared with ventricles. Our data represent the first report demonstrating important functional roles for Cav1.3 Ca2+ channel in atrial tissues.
The Material Stock–Flow–Service Nexus: A New Approach for Tackling the Decoupling Conundrum

Fundamental changes in the societal use of biophysical resources are required for a sustainability transformation. Current socioeconomic metabolism research traces flows of energy, materials or substances to capture resource use: input of raw materials or energy, their fate in production and consumption, and the discharge of wastes and emissions. This approach has yielded important insights into eco-efficiency and long-term drivers of resource use. But socio-metabolic research has not yet fully incorporated material stocks or their services, hence not completely exploiting the analytic power of the metabolism concept. This commentary argues for a material stock–flow–service nexus approach focused on the analysis of interrelations between material and energy flows, socioeconomic material stocks (“in-use stocks of materials”) and the services provided by specific stock/flow combinations. Analyzing the interrelations between stocks, flows and services will allow researchers to develop highly innovative indicators of eco-efficiency and open new research directions that will help to better understand biophysical foundations of transformations towards sustainability.
Calciphylaxis with normal renal and parathyroid function: not as rare as previously believed.

BACKGROUND Calciphylaxis is a life-threatening form of metastatic calcification-induced microvascular occlusion syndrome. Although traditionally observed in patients with end-stage renal disease and/or hyperparathyroidism, the development of calciphylaxis in "nontraditional" patients having both normal renal and parathyroid function has been reported. However, to date there has been no collective analysis identifying common patient characteristics potentially predisposing to the development of calciphylaxis in nontraditional patients. OBSERVATIONS A 58-year-old woman with endometrial carcinoma developed extensive calciphylaxis despite the presence of normal renal and parathyroid function. The disease resolved with rapid diagnosis, supportive therapy, and medical management. Analysis of this case and the 13 previously reported cases of nontraditional calciphylaxis identified the following patient characteristics that highlight clinical situations potentially predisposing to calciphylaxis: hypoalbuminemia, malignant neoplasm, systemic corticosteroid use, anticoagulation with warfarin sodium or phenprocoumon, chemotherapy, systemic inflammation, hepatic cirrhosis, protein C or S deficiency, obesity, rapid weight loss, and infection. CONCLUSIONS Calciphylaxis is becoming increasingly common in patients with normal renal and parathyroid function. The observations from this study may assist dermatologists in the rapid diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy for this devastating disease.
Time-domain filtering to reduce signal-spontaneous beat noise for a pulse-type multiwavelength light source

A novel time-domain noise filtering scheme improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) after an optical amplifier in pulse-type multiwavelength light sources. A reduction of signal-spontaneous beat noise is possible by using a synchronous time gate, which is not possible by conventional frequency domain filtering. Investigation of the amplifier noise reveals that this scheme significantly reduces minimum power required for a low SNR in amplifier output.
Constructing perceptual categories

It is shown how a parameterization of the structure of the observed object (interpretable as the space of dimensions of generative operations which brought the object into existence) entails a lattice that enumerates all the allowable categories and subcategories for the class of object, along with an inferential preference hierarchy among them. Each model is constrained to be generic in its parameterization, so that each node in the lattice stands in for an entire class of objects that, all being parameterized the same way, can all be treated as equivalent to one another: the observed object's natural category. <<ETX>>
La réduction de l’incertitude dans les organisations industrielles – Le projet d’entreprise : le leviathan réinventé

L’histoire de l’evolution des modeles organisationnels semble etre essentiellement celle de la recherche de moyens pour reduire les zones d’incertitude et particulierement celle qui concerne l’homme. L’incertitude des choix que feront les acteurs au sein de l’organisation nuit au controle de la production et minimise le pouvoir des dirigeants. Il importe donc de reduire la part de libre-arbitre de chaque employe. Maitriser le facteur humain dans le modele taylorien c’est tenter de faire de l’.
Oxygen Insensitivity of the Histochemical Assay of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity for the Discrimination Between Nonmalignant and Malignant Cells

We review here the oxygen insensitivity of the histochemical assay of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity to detect cancer cells. This inexpensive and rapid assay can be performed within half an hour. Discrimination between cancerous and noncancerous cells is based on a combination of elevated G6PDH activity, decreased super-oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and decreased lipid peroxidation in cancer cells. The test discriminates between adenomas and carcinomas of the colon with a certainty of >80% and has a high prognostic value for survival of colon cancer patients. Pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are discriminated with a certainty of 100%. Therefore, the test can be applied by pathologists to provide additional information in difficult cases of diagnosis of cancer and for prognosis.
Ciúme romântico e a sua relação com a violência

Dentre as mais diferenciadas emocoes humanas, o ciume e uma emocao extremamente comum, e dentre todos os tipos de ciume citados na literatura cientifica, o ciume romântico, isto e, aquele que ocorre em relacionamentos amorosos, e um dos que tem despertado maior atencao de psicologos e leigos. O ciume romântico se configura como um conjunto de emocoes desencadeadas por sentimentos de alguma ameaca a estabilidade ou qualidade de um relacionamento intimo valorizado. Contudo, de uma manifestacao normal, algumas pessoas ciumentas permanecem ambivalentes entre o amor e a desconfianca das parcerias afetivo-sexuais que constituem, tomando-se perturbadas, com labilidade afetiva e obcecadas por triangulacoes, muitas vezes imaginarias. Nesse momento instala-se o fenomeno do ciume patologico, foco deste artigo, que frequentemente esta relacionado aos casos de violencia contra os parceiros.
TRB3 Links the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase COP1 to Lipid Metabolism

During fasting, increased concentrations of circulating catecholamines promote the mobilization of lipid stores from adipose tissue in part by phosphorylating and inactivating acetyl–coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), the rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid synthesis. Here, we describe a parallel pathway, in which the pseudokinase Tribbles 3 (TRB3), whose abundance is increased during fasting, stimulates lipolysis by triggering the degradation of ACC in adipose tissue. TRB3 promoted ACC ubiquitination through an association with the E3 ubiquitin ligase constitutive photomorphogenic protein 1 (COP1). Indeed, adipocytes deficient in TRB3 accumulated larger amounts of ACC protein than did wild-type cells. Because transgenic mice expressing TRB3 in adipose tissue are protected from diet-induced obesity due to enhanced fatty acid oxidation, these results demonstrate how phosphorylation and ubiquitination pathways converge on a key regulator of lipid metabolism to maintain energy homeostasis.
Thrombocytopenia in Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

1. The lack of a general agreement on the definition of PE makes the interpretation of laboratory findings in different series of these patients difficult. 2. Thrombocytopenia is the most common hemostatic abnormality in patients with PE and is caused by platelet consumption. 3. There is little concrete evidence that thrombin mediates the thrombocytopenia in most of these patients. 4. Immune mechanisms or severe vasospasm with resultant endothelial damage may contribute to the thrombocytopenia in some patients.
Facilitatory and inhibitory transmitters modulate spontaneous transmitter release at cultured Aplysia sensorimotor synapses.

1. The monoamine transmitter 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and the peptide Phe‐Met‐Arg‐Phe‐amide (FMRFa), which appear to contribute to presynaptic facilitation and inhibition of the sensorimotor synapse in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia, can modulate the frequency of spontaneous transmitter release at synapses formed between dissociated Aplysia sensory neurones and motoneurones in vitro. 2. 5‐HT caused a decrease in the mean time interval between consecutive miniature EPSPs (mEPSPs), while FMRFa, applied either by itself or together with 5‐HT, caused an increase in the mean time interval between consecutive mEPSPs. 3. Depolarization of the presynaptic neurone caused a decrease in the mean time interval between consecutive mEPSPs. This modulation required external Ca2+. 4. 5‐HT and FMRFa were able to modulate spontaneous release when applied in saline solutions lacking Ca2+ and containing Ca2(+)‐chelating agents, suggesting that the modulation of spontaneous release by 5‐HT and FMRFa did not require a Ca2+ influx. Similarly, spontaneous release could still be modulated by 5‐HT and FMRFa in saline solutions containing 1 mM‐Cd2+, which blocked both the voltage‐gated Ca2+ channels and the evoked transmitter release. 5. To prevent a rise in intracellular Ca2+, we buffered the concentration of Ca2+ in the presynaptic terminals by injecting into the sensory neurone the Ca2+ chelator 1,2‐bis(o‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N',N'‐tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). The injection of BAPTA blocked evoked transmitter release, suggesting that it acted as an effective buffer of Ca2+ in the terminals. However, spontaneous release could still be observed and was still modulated by 5‐HT and FMRFa. This suggests that the modulation of spontaneous release does not require an elevation of intracellular Ca2+. 6. We propose that 5‐HT and FMRFa can modulate the rate of spontaneous release directly by mechanisms that do not require changes in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. These mechanisms might contribute an additional component to the presynaptic inhibition and facilitation of evoked transmitter release.
OPTICAL AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF LIQUID CRYSTALS AND LIQUID CRYSTAL NANOCOMPOSITES PROJECT REPORT

Composite materials with tunable optical properties are of great interest today because of the possible opto-electronic applications. Combination of two different materials both of which possess tunable properties would be very useful in forming such composites. It is well known that properties of nanoparticles depend on their shape, size and dielectric properties of the surrounding medium. Metal nanoparticles like gold and silver nanoparticles also exhibit the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance which arises due to the collective oscillation of the conduction electrons. This results in a strong absorption band in the visible region. On the other hand liquid crystals possess various interesting temperature dependent physical properties like birefringence and also respond to electric fields. Interaction between nanomaterials and liquid crystals can therefore lead to changes in optical properties which can be tuned. Further liquid crystals which are characterized by order and fluidity also aid in obtaining periodic arrangements of the nanoparticles thus avoiding elaborate fabrication processes. For the present study nanoparticles of different shapes were synthesized. The particles were characterized by absorption spectroscopy and TEM. Various liquid crystals-nanoparticle composites were prepared and characterized by polarising microscopy and dielectric spectroscopy. Finally the changes in the properties of the sample were noted using comparative studies. LIST OF TABLES FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER-II 2.1 List of Chemicals used for synthesis 26 2.2 Comparison of Z-scan results for Gold nanoparticles 39 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO. CHAPTER-I 1.1 Molecular arrangements in substances 3 1.2 Classification of liquid crystals 3 1.3 The optical textures exhibited by 5CB 4 1.4 Molecular arrangements in the Nematic phase 4 1.5 Molecular arrangements in the Smectic A phase 5 1.6 Molecular arrangements in the Smectic C phase 6 1.7 Molecular arrangements in the cholesteric phase 6 1.8 Schematic diagram of the arrangement that can be used to observe 7 birefringence of liquid crystals 1.9 Optical textures exhibited in a nematic liquid crystal 8 1.10 Schematic presentation of interaction of spherical nanoparticles with incidentelectromagnetic wave 10 1.11 Block diagram of Polarising Microscope 15 1.12 Block digaram of Absorbance spectrometer 16 1.13 Schematic diagram of an analytical transmission electron microscope 18 1.14 Schematic representation of open aperture Z-scan 21 1. 15 Block diagram of Novocontrol Alpha A High performance Frequency Analyser 22 1.16 Schematic diagram of Cell Preparation 23 1.17 Alignment of liquid crystals due to the coating 24