Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding mechanisms for the end-Permian mass extinction and the protracted Early Triassic aftermath and recovery

Modern study of the end-Permian mass extinction in the marine realm has involved intensive documentation of the fossil content, sedimentology, and chemostratigraphy of individual stratigraphic sections where the mass extinction interval is well preserved. These studies, coupled with innovative modeling of environmental conditions, have produced specific hypotheses for the mechanisms that caused the mass extinction and associated environmental stress. New paleobiological studies on the environmental distribution and ecological importance of brachiopods, benthic molluscs, and bryozoans support the hypothesis that stressful ocean conditions—primarily elevated H2S levels (euxinia) but also heightened CO2 concentrations—were the prime causes of the end-Permian mass extinction. These studies also further demonstrate that both the Late Permian interval preceding this mass extinction and the Early Triassic interval that followed were times of similar elevated environmental stress. In the low-diversity Early Triassic biosphere, huge numbers of benthic molluscs, in particular four cosmopolitan genera of bivalves, typically covered the seafloor. That a few marine genera thrived during this time indicates a greater than usual tolerance to some combination of marine anoxia, as well as elevated CO2 and/or increased H2S concentrations. Research focusing on experiments with modern organisms similar to those that died, as well as those that thrived, in microcosms where levels of O2, CO2, and H2S can be experimentally manipulated will enable an even more detailed understanding of the nature of this greatest Phanerozoic biotic crisis.
Epigenetic Advances in Behavioral and Brain Sciences Have Relevance for Public Policy

Nature and nurture work together to drive development, behavior, and health. Behavioral epigenetics research has uncovered underlying mechanisms for how this happens. Children’s early years in development may offer the greatest opportunity for environmental and experiential factors to influence the epigenome (chemical compounds telling our genes what to do), but evidence suggests it is never too late. The policy implications of this research are vast, including relevance for child development, health, and disease intervention and prevention.
Do hospitals practice cream skimming?

‘Cream skimming’ refers to choosing patients for some characteristic(s) other than their need for care, which enhances the profitability or reputation of the provider. Under capitation or other fixed payment schemes, this often means choosing less ill patients. We present a new methodology to measure cream skimming by hospitals. Our approach also provides a measure of a hospital's gain in productive efficiency by caring for patients with lower illness severity. Using a panel of Washington state hospitals, we find evidence that hospitals do practice cream skimming. However, we find little evidence to suggest that cream skimming varies by hospital size, profit status or time.
Value Analysis of Battery Energy Storage Applications in Power Systems

Stressed and less secure power system operating conditions have encouraged both power utilities and large power consumers to look for bulk energy storage systems. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have excellent records and are used for decades in power systems. This paper describes a methodology for a monetary value analysis of the BESS for load leveling, control power and peak shaving applications. The purpose of this value analysis is to highlight the application with the highest financial benefit for the owner of the BESS. To determine the overall economic viability, revenue of each application has been compared with capital and operating costs over the BESS lifetime. The results of the value analysis show that primary control power is the application that most likely will be asked for by utilities during next 3-5 years
Descriptions of adverse drug events should be standardised

EDITOR—A news item on pharmacogenomics mistakenly asserted that about two million Americans are hospitalised annually as a result of drug interactions instead of asserting that they were hospitalised as a result of adverse drug reactions. 1 2 The category of adverse drug reactions may include drug interactions as one of many causes of the reaction but …
Wilhelm Dilthey Und Die Entwicklung Des Geschichtlichen Denkens in Deutschland Im Ausgehenden 19. Jahrhundert, by Joachim Thielen

prophets, such as Ezekiel, to develop the idea of responsibility, Derrida draws on the religious philosophers and the exponents of negative theology, such as Maimonides. But this study of difference leads to appreciation of the legitimate differences between people, and hence to the need to create at least a minimal community, an acknowledgement of the just claims of other people. It thus seems, on this interpretation, that for both Levinas and Derrida we find ourselves with the task of understanding the world, whether or not it is a world mediated through sacred or revelatory texts, and of doing our duty in it, and with the discovery that both these tasks are unending and impossible to complete. Levinas proposes that we deal with the gap between ideal and real by accepting infinite responsibility; Derrida proposes that we deal with it by understanding what a gap really is. Both strategies bring us up against the reality of other people, with standpoints as valid as our own, and hence the need to work for community, justice and friendship, as an ongoing project, needing constant revision. Whether we call this Judaism or humanism hardly seems to matter! Harry Lesser University of Manchester
Seroprevalence of Blood Borne Pathogens among Health Care Workers and Their Hepatitis B Vaccination Status in Tertiary Care Hospitals in India.

BACKGROUND & AIM Occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens, mainly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV), poses a serious risk to healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in developing countries, due to the high prevalence of these pathogens and fewer safety precautions. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections and to measure the vaccination practices in HCWs at three tertiary care hospitals in Delhi, India. METHOD In a descriptive (cross-sectional) study, the HCWs of three tertiary hospitals were selected by simple random sampling and divided into four different groups (nurses, laboratory and operational theater technicians, doctors and housekeeping workers). The participants were screened for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti HBs), antibody to hepatitis C (anti HCV), and antibody to HIV (anti HIV). From June 2010 to April 2012, a structured questionnaire was administered to 850 HCWs after obtaining consent. RESULTS Among 850 HCWs, 51.8% were nurses and 50.6% were female with a mean (SD) age of 34(8.7) years. The overall seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV was 1.1%, 0.3%, and 0.1%, respectively. There was a high proportion of HBsAg positivity among housekeeping workers (4.9%) followed by nurses (3.3%). Out of 9 positive cases of HBsAg, 66% (6) were never vaccinated and out of a total of 11 positive subjects, 72 % (8) had previous exposure in the workplace. Complete HBV vaccination was done in 78.2% (605) of the HCWs and 11.3% (75) were partially vaccinated. Only 20.1% had checked their anti-HBs. Protective (>10 IU/mL) anti-HBs was seen in 70.6% (600) of the participants, indicating that nearly one third of HCWs were not protected against HBV infection. The majority of the study subjects (63.6%) believed that they were immunized against hepatitis B and did not need to check the immunity titer. CONCLUSION Not all HCWs were vaccinated and the majority of vaccinated subjects did not know their immunity level. Housekeeping workers had a high seropositivity rate of infections and a low rate of vaccination against HBV. Institutional policy and training were found to be of paramount importance to improve the quality of health in HCWs.
Child Labor and Trade Liberalization in Indonesia

We examine the effects of trade liberalization on child work in Indonesia, identifying geographical differences in the effects of trade policy through district level exposure to reduction in import tariff barriers, from 1993 to 2002. The results suggest that increased exposure to trade liberalization is associated with a decrease in child work among the 10–15 year olds. The effects of tariff reductions are strongest for children from low-skill backgrounds, older siblings, and in rural areas. Favorable income effects for the poor, induced by trade liberalization, are likely to be the dominating effects underlying these results.
Développement de capteurs logiciels de position pour la commande de la machine synchrone à aimants permanents

Le travail de recherche presente dans ce memoire concerne le developpement de capteurs logiciels de position pour la commande de la machine synchrone a aimants permanents. La commande vectorielle de la MSAP necessite une connaissance precise de la position rotorique. Traditionnellement, cette position est obtenue a partir de l’utilisation d’un capteur mecanique.Depuis des annees, l’attention de la communaute scientifique s’est portee sur la limitation du nombre de capteurs vu que leur presence, non seulement augmente le cout et la complexite materielle totale, mais aussi reduit sa fiabilite avec une sensibilite additionnelle aux perturbations exterieures. Dans une premiere partie, nous presentons plusieurs types de capteurs logiciels deposition pour la MSAP. En fonction du regime de fonctionnement de la machine, nous proposons le capteur, selon nous, le mieux adapte pour une application automobile. Ce capteur est base sur le couplage intelligent entre un observateur et un capteur logiciel base sur la technique d’injection de signaux. Dans une deuxieme partie, nous proposons une methode simple et rapidepermettant l’estimation de la resistance et des inductances statoriques a l’arret. La methode proposee, basee sur la technique d’injection de signaux de haute frequence, exploite la mise en oeuvre des filtres a variable d’etat afin d’obtenir un modele lineaire par rapport aux parametres. La combinaison de l’identification a l’arret et du capteur logiciel permet une bonne estimationde la position de la MSAP sur une large plage de vitesse y compris les basses vitesses et a l’arret. Nous abordons egalement certains aspects de commande de robustesse vis-a-vis de l’ensemble des parametres incertains de la machine, mais ce de maniere plus prospective.
Early changes in Achilles tendon behaviour in vivo following downhill backwards walking

ABSTRACT Downhill backwards walking causes repeated, cyclical loading of the muscle–tendon unit. The effect this type of repeated loading has on the mechanical behaviour of the Achilles tendon is presently unknown. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical response of the Achilles tendon aponeurosis complex following a downhill backwards walking protocol. Twenty active males (age: 22.3 ± 3.0 years; mass: 74.7 ± 5.6 kg; height: 1.8 ± 0.7 m) performed 60 min of downhill (8.5°), backwards walking on a treadmill at −0.67 m · s−1. Data were collected before, immediately post, and 24-, 48- and 168-h post-downhill backwards walking. Achilles tendon aponeurosis elongation, strain and stiffness were measured using ultrasonography. Muscle force decreased immediately post-downhill backward walking (P = 0.019). There were increases in Achilles tendon aponeurosis stiffness at 24-h post-downhill backward walking (307 ± 179.6 N · mm−1, P = 0.004), and decreases in Achilles tendon aponeurosis strain during maximum voluntary contraction at 24 (3.8 ± 1.7%, P = 0.008) and 48 h (3.9 ± 1.8%, P = 0.002) post. Repeated cyclical loading of downhill backwards walking affects the behaviour of the muscle–tendon unit, most likely by altering muscle compliance, and these changes result in tendon stiffness increases.
Interaction of neurotrophin signaling with Bcl‐2 localized to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum on spiral ganglion neuron survival and neurite growth

Enhanced spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) survival and regeneration of peripheral axons following deafness will likely enhance the efficacy of cochlear implants. Overexpression of Bcl‐2 prevents SGN death but inhibits neurite growth. Here we assessed the consequences of Bcl‐2 targeted to either the mitochondria (GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Maob) or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER, GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Cb5) on cultured SGN survival and neurite growth. Transfection of wild‐type GFP‐Bcl‐2, GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Cb5, or GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Maob increased SGN survival, with GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Cb5 providing the most robust response. Paradoxically, expression of GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Maob results in SGN death in the presence of neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophins that independently promote SGN survival via Trk receptors. This loss of SGNs is associated with cleavage of caspase 3 and appears to be specific for neurotrophin signaling, insofar as coexpression of constitutively active mitogen‐activated kinase kinase (MEKΔEE) or phosphatidyl inositol‐3 kinase (P110), but not other prosurvival stimuli (e.g., membrane depolarization), also results in the loss of SGNs expressing GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Maob. MEKΔEE and P110 promote SGN survival, whereas P110 promotes neurite growth to a greater extent than NT‐3 or MEKΔEE. However, wild‐type GFP‐Bcl‐2, GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Cb5, and GFP‐Bcl‐2‐Maob inhibit neurite growth even in the presence of neurotrophins, MEKΔEE, or P110. Historically, Bcl‐2 has been thought to act primarily at the mitochondria to prevent neuronal apoptosis. Nevertheless, our data show that Bcl‐2 targeted to the ER is more effective at rescuing SGNs in the absence of trophic factors. Additionally, Bcl‐2 targeted to the mitochondria results in SGN death in the presence of neurotrophins. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of surfactants on crystal form of mefenamic acid

Mefenamic acid is an anti inflammatory and poorly water-soluble drug. Since the drug powder can stick to any type of surface, and is not easy to handle in granulation and tabletting process, it is more desirable to recrystallize the mefenamic acid in such that powder exhibits acceptable micromeritic properties, improved solubility and dissolution, to facilitate tabletability for a stable and reproducible dosage form. Mefenamic acid exists in two polymorphic forms (Form I and Form II). Aim of the work was to study the influence of surfactants on crystal forms of mefenamic acid. Crystallization of mefenamic acid was carried out using N, N-dimethylformamide. During crystallization, the cationic, nonionic and anionic surfactants were added. Crystals were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Powder was evaluated for micromeritic, compressional and dissolution characteristics. The FT-IR spectra of mefenamic acid of commercial sample and that of prepared crystals did not show any changes in peaks. Thermogram exhibited single characteristic endothermic peak for all crystals. XRD studies revealed that there was no change in the crystal form of mefenamic acid during the crystallization process. SEM studies indicated that surfactants altered the size and shape of crystals. Prepared crystal of mefenamic acid in presence of benzalkonium chloride exhibited enhanced drug release than other crystals. Crystal growth and crystal size could be controlled by appropriate selection of surfactant and its concentration. In conclusion, use of surfactant during crystallization improved micromeritic, compressional and dissolution properties of mefenamic acid.
The use of dimethylsulfoxide as a vehicle in cell culture experiments using ovarian carcinoma cell lines

Abstract Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is a well-known solvent that is commonly used in the laboratory. We selected DMSO as the vehicle for an experiment designed to determine if several nonsteroidal antiin? ammatory agents inhibit the growth of Caov-3, OVCAR-3, and SK-OV-3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Using the tetrazolium conversion assay, however, we observed some variability in the number of cells present in each ovarian carcinoma cell line with varying concentrations of DMSO (10−6–10−2 M) compared to medium alone. Similarly, when Caov-3, OVCAR-3, and SK-OV-3 cells were treated with 10−4 M DMSO plus medium (Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium with 10% fetal bovine serum) and plated on coverslips, the total number of cells present in 60 random fields increased significantly (P 50.0001) for each ovarian carcinoma cell line treated with DMSO compared to medium alone. Ethanol did not demonstrate such prominent effects on cellular growth. Our observations are important to consider when selecting an appropriate solvent, especially for growth inhibition studies using Caov-3, OVCAR-3, and SK-OV-3 cell lines.
Dual Activation of the Drosophila Toll Pathway by Two Pattern Recognition Receptors

The Toll-dependent defense against Gram-positive bacterial infections in Drosophila is mediated through the peptidoglycan recognition protein SA (PGRP-SA). A mutation termed osiris disrupts the Gram-negative binding protein 1 (GNBP1) gene and leads to compromised survival of mutant flies after Gram-positive infections, but not after fungal or Gram-negative bacterial challenge. Our results demonstrate that GNBP1 and PGRP-SA can jointly activate the Toll pathway. The potential for a combination of distinct proteins to mediate detection of infectious nonself in the fly will refine the concept of pattern recognition in insects.
Characteristics of Hydraulic Jump

— The effect of an abruptly expanding channel on the main characteristics of hydraulic jump is considered experimentally. The present study was made for supercritical flow of Froude number varying between 2 to 9 and approach to expanded channel width ratios 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.8. Physical explanations of the variation of these characteristics under varying flow conditions are discussed based on the observation drawn from experimental results. The analytical equation for the sequent depth ratio in an abruptly expanding channel as given by eminent hydraulic engineers are verified well with the experimental data for all expansion ratios, and the empirical relation was also verified with the present experimental data.
Approche Récursive d'Etiquetage des Chemins Alternatifs au Niveau IP

Un diamant correspond a l'existence de plusieurs chemins alternatifs entre deux points du reseau. Cette notion joue un role important en ingenierie du trafic ou il faut, par exemple, repartir la charge de trafic entre plusieurs chemins. Ces diamants peuvent etre presents au niveau SA ou au niveau IP. Cet article s'interesse au niveau IP et propose une methode recursive d'etiquetage des diamants, RLPA. Nous avons applique RLPA sur un sous-ensemble des donnees skitter. Nous montrons, sur le sous-ensemble observe, que les diamants sont majoritairement composes d'un seul noeud intermediaire, qu'ils sont formes de deux chemins alternatifs, qu'ils sont essentiellement symetriques et qu'ils se situent entre 10 et 15 sauts de la source du traceroute.
Creación de artículos en Wikipedia como herramienta de introducción al concepto de web 2.0 para estudiantes de Comunicación Audiovisual

La comprension de los conceptos basicos que gobiernan la llamada Web 2.0 es fundamental para los estudiantes de la titulacion de Comunicacion Audiovisual por lo que comporta de cara a su futuro profesional. La presentacion de estos conceptos se puede realizar de forma intuitiva y practica mediante la elaboracion de una experiencia practica que utiliza como primera herramienta una wiki y, en una segunda etapa, la enciclopedia online Wikipedia. Esta experiencia permite al alumno comprender la sencillez de uso de las aplicaciones 2.0, la capacidad de las mismas para generar contenidos de forma colaborativa y el respeto que exigen las normas establecidas por las comunidades que gobiernan el uso de estas aplicaciones. Un estudio de varias encuestas cumplimentadas por los alumnos antes y despues de la experiencia demuestra el interes surgido entre ellos por las aplicaciones 2.0 gracias a la realizacion de esta experiencia practica. El diseno de la experiencia en dos fases: una con la herramienta software en entorno local y otra con la misma herramienta pero en un entorno global resulta innovadora y facilita la consecucion de los objetivos propuestos.
Current practice in transvenous lead extraction: a European Heart Rhythm Association EP Network Survey.

AIM Current practice with regard to transvenous lead extraction among European implanting centres was analysed by this survey. METHODS AND RESULTS Among all contacted centres, 164, from 30 countries, declared that they perform transvenous lead extraction and answered 58 questions with a compliance rate of 99.9%. Data from the survey show that there seems to be an overall increasing experience of managing various techniques of lead extraction and a widespread involvement of cardiac centres in this treatment. Results and complication rates seem comparable with those of main international registries. CONCLUSION This survey gives an interesting snapshot of lead extraction in Europe today and gives some clues for future research and prospective European registries.
Expression of a Porphyromonas gingivalis lipid A palmitylacyltransferase in Escherichia coli yields a chimeric lipid A with altered ability to stimulate interleukin‐8 secretion

In Escherichia coli the gene htrB codes for an acyltransferase that catalyses the incorporation of laurate into lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a lipid A substituent. We describe the cloning, expression and characterization of a Porphyromonas gingivalis htrB homologue. When the htrB homologue was expressed in wild‐type E. coli or a mutant strain deficient in htrB, a chimeric LPS with altered lipid A structure was produced. Compared with wild‐type E. coli lipid A, the new lipid A species contained a palmitate (C16) in the position normally occupied by laurate (C12) suggesting that the cloned gene performs the same function as E. coli htrB but preferentially transfers the longer‐chain palmitic acid that is known to be present in P. gingivalis LPS. LPS was purified from wild‐type E. coli, the E. coli htrB mutant strain and the htrB mutant strain expressing the P. gingivalis acyltransferase. LPS from the palmitate bearing chimeric LPS as well as the htrB mutant exhibited a reduced ability to activate human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells transfected with TLR4/MD2. LPS from the htrB mutant also had a greatly reduced ability to stimulate interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) secretion in both endothelial cells and monocytes. In contrast, the activity of LPS from the htrB mutant bacteria expressing the P. gingivalis gene displayed wild‐type activity to stimulate IL‐8 production from endothelial cells but a reduced ability to stimulate IL‐8 secretion from monocytes. The intermediate activation observed in monocytes for the chimeric LPS was similar to the pattern seen in HEK293 cells expressing TLR4/MD2 and CD14. Thus, the presence of a longer‐chain fatty acid on E. coli lipid A altered the activity of the LPS in monocytes but not endothelial cell assays and the difference in recognition does not appear to be related to differences in Toll‐like receptor utilization.