Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of thermotolerance on the interaction between hyperthermia and radiation in a solid tumour in vivo.

The influence of thermotolerance (i.e. a temporary resistance to a subsequent heat treatment induced by prior heating) on the response of a C3H mouse mammary carcinoma to combined water-bath hyperthermia and radiation was investigated. Prior heating at 43.5 C for 30 min induced thermotolerance which was at a maximum 16 h later and had completely disappeared after 120 h. Prior heating reduced tumour response to simultaneous heat and radiation given 16 h later, as evidenced by a reduction from 5.1 to 3.3 in the thermal enhancement ratio (TER). The effect was lost by 120 h. This indicates that development of thermotolerance reduces the degree of thermal radiosensitisation. However, although the time course was the same, the prior heating effect on the combined treatment was smaller than on the resistance to heat alone. With sequential treatment, the tumours were treated with X rays (28 Gy) followed four hours later by a two-dose heat treatment at 43.5 degrees C, the first for 30 min and the second after an interval of 0, 16 or 120 h. With this treatment thermotolerance fully manifested itself. It was necessary to increase the duration of heating when applied 16 h after prior heating by a factor of 5.4 to cause a TER of 2.0, a value not significantly different from the expected value of 5.2, i.e., the thermotolerance ratio for heat alone.
DYNAMICS AND SPATIAL BEHAVIOR OF LIGHT EVOKED POTENTIALS, THEIR MODIFICATION UNDER HYPNOSIS, AND ON‐LINE CORRELATION IN RELATION TO RHYTHMIC COMPONENTS *

The significance of evoked potentials recorded from scalp electrodes in response to stimuli might be made clearer if the relation of the shape and amplitude to the dynamics of the stimulus were known. The question may be asked to what extent evoked potentials represent a dynamic analog of the stimulus information, and how the nature of such analog would vary with the location from which they were recorded. Within the larger question of the coding of the information received by the brain one would like to know the relative parts played by all-or-none coded information patterns and codes using forms of analog representation. The object of the present study is to investigate the code displayed by the evoked potential, particularly with respect to the dynamic analog behaviour and its essential nonlinear coding with respect to rates of change of increasing and decreasing stimulus intensity. The present studies are confined to the spatial and temporal coding of the dynamics of stimulus intensity. In view of the number of clinical and research studies using evoked potentials, it is particularly desirable to obtain a clear understanding of the quantative dynamic nature of these potentials. Such a study can be undertaken irrespective of a definite theory of how these potentials arise from the behaviour of cells and nerve nets. In previous studies we have found unidirectional rate sensitivity to be a dynamic property of single channel biologic information systems. A corollary of these findings was the necessity for a biologic system to have two channels if information about rate of change in both directions was required to be tran~mitted. ~. ~ It appears from the present study that characteristic and different evoked potentials are elicited by increasing and decreasing rates of light intensity respectively which travel along noncongruent paths in the brain and that these two types of potentials are combined in the more complex forms of stimulation. It seems probable that the existence of these two types of potentials are related to the existence of the various on and of receptors in the retina. % * The work involved for this section of the paper was supported in part by Grant H-4170(C1) from the National Heart Institute and Grant B-2470(Cl) from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, Public Health Service, Bethesda, Md. , and Grant G 14327 from the National Science Foundation,
Cosmic magnetic fields and dark energy in extended electromagnetism

We discuss an extended version of electromagnetism in which the usual gauge fixing term is promoted into a physical contribution that introduces a new scalar state in the theory. This new state can be generated from vacuum quantum fluctuations during an inflationary era and, on super-Hubble scales, gives rise to an effective cosmological constant. The value of such a cosmological constant coincides with the one inferred from observations as long as inflation took place at the electroweak scale. On the other hand, the new state also generates an effective electric charge density on sub-Hubble scales that produces both vorticity and magnetic fields with coherent lengths as large as the present Hubble horizon.
Toxic anterior segment syndrome outbreak after vitrectomy and silicone oil injection

Purpose To report a rare outbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) in 4 patients who underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil injection. Methods Review of the medical charts of all patients who underwent surgery in the operating theater of our department during a 10-day period in May 2011. Results We report on 4 patients who developed TASS after vitrectomy with silicone oil injection. The clinical presentation was typical of TASS, and different from the anterior chamber reaction that may occur after silicone oil injection. All cases were treated effectively with topical steroids, and the outbreak stopped after the silicone oil batch was exchanged. Conclusions We discuss the possible mechanisms for this unusual TASS outbreak, and suggest the silicone oil as its cause.
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus contains G protein-coupled receptor and cyclin D homologs which are expressed in Kaposi's sarcoma and malignant lymphoma

A new human herpesvirus was recently identified in all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus [KSHV] or human herpesvirus 8), as well as in primary effusion (body cavity-based) lymphomas (PELs). A 12.3-kb-long KSHV clone was obtained from a PEL genomic library. Sequencing of this clone revealed extensive homology and colinearity with the right end of the herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) genome and more limited homology to the left end of the Epstein-Barr virus genome. Four open reading frames (ORFs) were sequenced and characterized; these are homologous to the following viral and/or cellular genes: (i) Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen p140 and HVS p160, (ii) HVS and cellular type D cyclins, (iii) HVS and cellular G protein-coupled receptors, and (iv) HVS. Since there is considerable evidence that cyclin D1 and some G protein-coupled receptors contribute to the development of specific cancers, the presence of KSHV homologs of these genes provides support for a role for KSHV in malignant transformation. All ORFs identified are transcribed in PELs and Kaposi's sarcoma tissues, further suggesting an active role for KSHV in these diseases.
Patient preferences for in‐center intense hemodialysis

There is a lack of data on patient preferences for intense hemodialysis (IHD). In this study, we conducted a cross‐sectional survey to identify patient preferences and patient‐centered barriers for IHD. A questionnaire on preferences and anticipated barriers, anticipated benefits, and quality of life for three in‐center IHD schedules (daytime 2 hr six times/week [DHD], nocturnal 8 hr three times/week [ND3], and nocturnal 8 hr six times/week [ND6]) was administered to 100 chronic hemodialysis patients. A majority of patients (68%) were willing to undergo DHD for symptomatic benefits or increase in survival. An increase in energy level (94%) and improvement in sleep (57%) were the most common potential benefits that would justify DHD, but only 19% would undergo DHD for an increase in survival of ≤3 years. Only 20% and 7% would consider ND3 and ND6, respectively. The most common reported barriers were inadequate time for self (50%) and family (53%), followed by transportation difficulties (53%). Most patients would undergo DHD for symptomatic or survival benefits, but not ND3 or ND6. Disruption of personal time, however, is an important consideration. Success of DHD program would depend on arrangements for transportation to dialysis unit.
The day-old chick: a crucial hinge between breeders and broilers

The quality of the day-old broiler chick is foremost in the minds of many poultry managers. From fertilised ovum to the placement at the broiler farm, some factors such as the characteristics of the incubating eggs, the egg holding conditions, the incubation conditions and the conditions that exist between hatching and placement at the farm and their interactions may affect chick quality. It may be questioned if maximal hatchability is the best indicator for chick quality and/or post-hatching viability, even if optimal hatchability is considered a prerequisite for successful incubation. The environmental conditions during incubation (e.g. the temperature, humidity and ventilation rate (carbon dioxide concentration)) are not set independently from each other, although each may have its own optimum for hatchability and chick quality. These optima for each incubation factor may alter differentially according to the characteristics of the incubating egg. It is concluded that more independent control as well as more control of the variability of the classical physical conditions in the incubator are required in order to improve hatchability and chick quality.
Classement d'objets incomplets dans un arbre de décision probabiliste

Résumé. Nous présentons une approche probabiliste pour déterminer les valeurs manquantes des objets incomplets pendant leur classement dans les arbres de décision. Cette approche est dérivée de la méthode d’apprentissage supervisé appelée Arbres d’Attributs Ordonnés proposée par Lobo et Numao en 2000, qui construit un arbre de décision pour chacun des attributs, selon un ordre croissant en fonction de l’information mutuelle entre chaque attribut et la classe. Notre approche étend la méthode de Lobo et Numao d’une part en prenant en compte les dépendances entre les attributs pour la construction des arbres d’attributs, et d’autre part en fournissant un résultat de classement d’un objet incomplet sous la forme d’une distribution de probabilités (au lieu de la classe la plus probable).
Peptidomic Analysis of Maternal Serum to Identify Biomarker Candidates for Prenatal Diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. To identify endogenous peptides possibly involved in the progression of TOF, we performed comparative peptidomic profiling of maternal serum between normal fetuses and fetuses suffering from TOF. A total of 278 differentially expressed peptides, including 94 over‐expressed peptides and 184 under‐expressed peptides, originating from 227 protein precursors were identified by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in maternal serum of fetuses with TOF compared to normal controls. Further, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was used to identify putative roles for these peptides in cardiovascular development. Two peptides were derived from functional domains of proteins involved in heart development and associated with TOF; these may represent candidate bioactive peptides involved in TOF. These peptides may be related to the pathologic changes in the heart associated with TOF, and may be useful as novel biomarkers for prenatal diagnosis of TOF. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 468–477, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Um contraste entre as teorias cognitivas da consciência de Baars e Dennett: o espaço de trabalho global seria um teatro cartesiano?

This work has as its main goal a contrast of two renowned cognitive theories of consciousness, Bernard Baars’ (1988) Global Workspace Theory and Daniel Dennett’s (1991) Multiple Drafts. Although Dennett shows some appreciation to the Global Workspace Theory, his own Multiple Drafts Model does not seem very compatible with it. The specific goal of this work is to verify such compatibility by asking if the Global Workspace Theory suffers from Daniel Dennett ́s criticism of the Cartesian Theater. The first chapter exposes Dennett ́s perspective on the evolution of consciousness, in contrast to the view based on The Global Workspace Theory. The former understands that language and culture play a central role in the origin of consciousness; the latter understands consciousness has mainly a biological origin. In the second chapter, both theories of consciousness are exposed and reviewed. The third chapter focuses on a contrast of the two theories and some implications of the Cartesian Theater. Also, we noted that the concept of a Cartesian Theater is vague, and through a rigorous analysis, 10 requisites for a theory to evade the Cartesian Theater, following Dennett’s words, were identified. The Global Workspace Theory was shown to meet a few of these requisites. Finally, making use of Todd ́s (2009) analyses, we concluded that Dennett ́s main critics to some aspects of the Cartesian Theater are weak. So it follows that the criticism to the Cartesian Theater does not pose serious problems for the Global Workspace Theory. Key-words: Consciousness; Cartesian Theater; Multiple Drafts; Global Workspace Theory.
Labor (Term and Preterm) Is Associated With Changes in the Placental mRNA Expression of Corticotrophin-Releasing Factor

Because maternal plasma corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) levels increase during the last weeks of pregnancy and at parturition, the present study evaluated whether placental mRNA expression of CRF and CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP) are modified in preterm delivery. A group of 30 women with singleton pregnancies were enrolled in the study. A placental tissue specimen was collected from pregnant women (1) at term after cesarean delivery (39.3 ± 0.1 gestational weeks; n = 10), (2) at term after spontaneous vaginal delivery (40.1 ± 0.2 gestational weeks; n = 10), or (3) at preterm delivery (32.4 ± 0.4 gestational weeks; n = 10). Changes of placental mRNA expression were evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Placental CRF mRNA expression at term (P < .001) and preterm delivery (P < .001) was significantly higher than in cesarean delivery and highest in preterm placentas. With respect to CRF-BP, no significant difference in placental mRNA expression was observed among samples collected after term or preterm delivery and cesarean delivery. The present study showed for the first time that both term and preterm labor are associated with increased expression of placental CRF but not CRF-BP mRNA.
Stabilization of Rotary Double Inverted Pendulum using robust gain-scheduling control

Development and application of linear parameter varying (LPV) controller for stabilization of upright position on rotary double inverted pendulum (RDIP) is presented. A robust gain scheduling approach is used for LPV controller synthesis. The stabilization problem of RDIP should handle three parameter uncertainties and one external disturbance. Lime-response evaluation shows that LPV controller outperform the LQR especially in terms of control performance and RMSE analysis.
Balance dinámico de carga en procesamiento paralelo sobre clusters no-homogéneos

En este trabajo se discute el balance de carga estatico y dinamico sobre arquitecturas de cluster nohomogeneo, analizando al mismo tiempo el Speedup paralelo teorico y el obtenido experimentalmente. Se ha utilizado una combinacion de 3 clusters interconectados, donde las maquinas dentro de cada cluster poseen procesadores homogeneos, pero diferentes entre clusters. De este modo el conjunto puede verse como un cluster heterogeneo de 25 procesadores o como un esquema multicluster con subconjuntos de procesadores homogeneos. Se eligio una aplicacion clasica (Parallel N-Queens) con un algoritmo de solucion paralela en la que predomina el procesamiento sobre la comunicacion, de modo de profundizar en los aspectos del balance de carga (estatico o dinamico) sin una distorsion de los resultados producido por el overhead de comunicaciones. Al mismo tiempo, se analizan tres formas de distribucion de la carga en los procesadores (Estatica Directa, Estatica Predictiva y Dinamica por Demanda), estudiando en cada caso el Speedup paralelo y el desbalance de carga en funcion del tamano del problema y los procesadores utilizados.
Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus: genetic basis

INTRODUCTION . 89 Emergence of Multiresistant S. aureus . 89 Genetic Nature of Antimicrobial Resistance . 90 TRANSFER OF RESISTANCE GENES IN STAPHYLOCOCCI. 91 Staphylococcal Bacteriophages and Transduction . 92 Transformation. 92 Mixed-Culture Transfer and Phage-Mediated Conjugation . 93 Plasmid-Mediated Conjugational Transfer . 93 RESISTANCE TO P-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS . 94 ,-Lactamase-Mediated Resistance to ,B-Lactam Antibiotics . 94 P-Lactamase Plasmids . 94 Evidence for a P-Lactamase Transposon . 96 RESISTANCE TO INORGANIC IONS . 98 Cadmium Resistance . 98 Mercury Resistance . 99 Resistance to Arsenate, Arsenite, and Antimony(III). 99 RESISTANCE TO METHICILLIN AND OTHER P-LACTAMASE-RESISTANT PENICILLINS.100 Role of PBPs in Methicillin Resistance . 100 Genetics of Methicillin Resistance . 101 Is Methicillin Resistance Transposable? 102 RESISTANCE TO MACROLIDES, LINCOSAMIDES, AND STREPTOGRAMINS . 102 Mechanisms of MLS Resistance. 102 Plasmid-Encoded Inducible MLSr. 102 Chromosomally Encoded Inducible MLSr: Role of Tn554 . 103 Constitutive MLSr: Role of Tn551 . 104 RESISTANCE TO CHLORAMPHENICOL. 104 Chloramphenicol Resistance Plasmids . 104 Induction of Chloramphenicol Resistance . 105 RESISTANCE TO THE TETRACYCLINES . 106 Tetracycline Resistance Plasmids . 106 Chromosomal Tetracycline Resistance Determinants . 106 RESISTANCE TO THE AMINOGLYCOSIDES . 107 Mechanisms of Aminoglycoside Resistance . 107 Streptomycin Resistance . 107 Resistance to Neomycin and Kanamycin. 108 Gentamicin Resistance. 109 RESISTANCE TO ACRIFLAVINE, ETHIDIUM BROMIDE, AND QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS . 112 Genetics of Quaternary Ammonium Resistance.112 RESISTANCE TO THE SULFONAMIDES AND TRIMETHOPRIM . 113 Sulfonamide Resistance . 113 Trimethoprim Resistance . 113 RESISTANCE TO FUSIDIC ACID, RIFAMPIN, AND VANCOMYCIN . 115 Fusidic Acid Resistance . 115 Rifampin Resistance . 115 Vancomycin Resistance. 115 ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF S. AUREUS RESISTANCE DETERMINANTS . 115 Intergeneric Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes . 115 Interspecific Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes . 117 Evolution of S. aureus Resistance Plasmids and the Multiresistant Chromosome.117 CONCLUDING REMARKS . 120 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 120 LITERATURE CITED . 120
Identification of Infectious Bursal Disease Viruses from RNA Extracted from Paraffin-Embedded Tissue

Abstract After histopathologic screening of bursas of Fabricius for the presence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) lesions, the hypervariable region of the VP2 gene for IBDV was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. With real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequencing, IBDV was identified in 227 different blocks. The ability to identify the actual virus strain associated with the lesions observed microscopically in the bursa of Fabricius allowed for direct correlation between viral identity and lesions, which may help in designing vaccination strategies. Several new emerging viruses that do not group with other known IBDVs in phylogenetic tree analysis were identified, as well as a unique variant virus that had 63 nucleotides missing from its hypervariable region.
Pollinator-driven ecological speciation in plants: new evidence and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND The hypothesis that pollinators have been important drivers of angiosperm diversity dates back to Darwin, and remains an important research topic today. Mounting evidence indicates that pollinators have the potential to drive diversification at several different stages of the evolutionary process. Microevolutionary studies have provided evidence for pollinator-mediated floral adaptation, while macroevolutionary evidence supports a general pattern of pollinator-driven diversification of angiosperms. However, the overarching issue of whether, and how, shifts in pollination system drive plant speciation represents a critical gap in knowledge. Bridging this gap is crucial to fully understand whether pollinator-driven microevolution accounts for the observed macroevolutionary patterns. Testable predictions about pollinator-driven speciation can be derived from the theory of ecological speciation, according to which adaptation (microevolution) and speciation (macroevolution) are directly linked. This theory is a particularly suitable framework for evaluating evidence for the processes underlying shifts in pollination systems and their potential consequences for the evolution of reproductive isolation and speciation. SCOPE This Viewpoint paper focuses on evidence for the four components of ecological speciation in the context of plant-pollinator interactions, namely (1) the role of pollinators as selective agents, (2) floral trait divergence, including the evolution of 'pollination ecotypes', (3) the geographical context of selection on floral traits, and (4) the role of pollinators in the evolution of reproductive isolation. This Viewpoint also serves as the introduction to a Special Issue on Pollinator-Driven Speciation in Plants. The 13 papers in this Special Issue range from microevolutionary studies of ecotypes to macroevolutionary studies of historical ecological shifts, and span a wide range of geographical areas and plant families. These studies further illustrate innovative experimental approaches, and they employ modern tools in genetics and floral trait quantification. Future advances to the field require better quantification of selection through male fitness and pollinator isolation, for instance by exploiting next-generation sequencing technologies. By combining these new tools with strategically chosen study systems, and smart experimental design, we predict that examples of pollinator-driven speciation will be among the most widespread and compelling of all cases of ecological speciation.
Small bowel motility in functional chronic constipation

Abstract In functional constipation, three pathophysiological subgroups have been identified: slow‐transit constipation (STC); normal‐transit constipation (NTC) and outlet delay (OD). Extracolonic manifestations, especially disturbed small bowel motility, are well known to occur in STC, but have rarely been studied in NTC and OD. To perform 24‐h‐ambulatory jejunal manometry in a large prospective series of clinical patients with chronic constipation of all subtypes. A total of 61 consecutive patients, referred to our tertiary gastroenterologic centre for chronic constipation (48 female, 13 male; mean age 57 (range 20–87) years), underwent jejunal 24‐h‐ambulatory manometry (standardized meal) after a transit‐time study (radio‐opaque markers), anorectal manometry, defecography and colonoscopy. Computerized and visual analysis by two independent observers was compared with the normal range of manometric variables, defined by data previously obtained in 50 healthy subjects (Gut 1996;38:859). Five patients were excluded from the study because of coexistence of OD and STC. No patient with OD (n = 8), but all patients with STC (n = 32) and 94% of patients with NTC (n = 16) showed small bowel motor abnormalities; both in postprandial response and fasting motility. The abnormal findings ranged from severe disturbances with complete loss of MMC to subtle changes of contraction parameters that could only be assessed by computerized analysis. No significant differences between STC‐ and NTC‐patients were found. Most findings pointed to an underlying enteric neuropathy. Intestinal prolonged‐ambulatory manometry adds valuable information to the pathophysiologic understanding of functional chronic constipation of STC‐ and NTC‐type, however there are no distinct manometric features to differentiate between both.