Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Backscattering in an optical passive ring-resonator gyro: experiment.

We report the experimental results of the resonance characteristics of the backscattering in an optical passive ring-resonator gyro (OPRG). This resonance has two peaks with a separation equal to the Sagnac phase shift when rotation is given. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory that we have already presented. This phenomenon degrades the gyro linearity almost 10% in a high sensitivity OPRG with the frequency output. A method to eliminate this noise is proposed.
CYP1A1, GSTs and mEH polymorphisms and susceptibility to esophageal carcinoma: study of population from a high- incidence area in north China.

AIM To characterize cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) polymorphisms in Chinese esophageal cancer patients. METHODS Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) were used to detect polymorphism changes of CYP, GSTs and mEH on esophageal cancerous and precancerous lesions as well as in case control group. All the examination samples were obtained from Linzhou (formerly Linxian), Henan Province, the highest incidence area for esophageal cancer. RESULTS The frequency of CYP1A1 3' polymorphism in case control group (26/38, 68 %) was significantly higher than in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma group (ESCC) (29/62, 47 %) (P<0.05). A significant difference in the incidence of mEH slow allele variant was observed between case control group (15/38, 39 %) and esophageal dysplasia group (22/32, 69 %) or ESCC group (39/62, 63 %) (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed among different groups in the polymorphisms of CYP1A1 exon 7, GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and mEH fast allele. CONCLUSION The present results suggest that CYP1A1 3' polymorphism may be one of the promising protective factors and its wild gene type may be an indicator for higher susceptibility to esophageal cancer. mEH slow allele variant, associated with the progression of esophageal precancerous lesions, may contribute to the high susceptibility to esophageal carcinoma.
Fas ligand and Bax gene transcription contributes to Ro60 ribonucleoprotein redistribution in UV-A irradiated human keratinocytes.

OBJECTIVES Ro ribonucleoproteins are of particular interest because they are serologic markers of photosensitive variants of lupus such as the subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), in which the polycyclic skin lesions are triggered by exposure to the sun. We study the role of apoptosis in the expression of Ro antigen. METHODS We used UV-A irradiated keratinocytes. RESULTS We demonstrate in cultured human UVA-irradiated keratinocytes that the enhanced expression of Ro60 ribonucleoprotein is caused by antigenic redistribution consecutive to Fas-L and Bax gene activation.
Hydroxyurea‐related toxicity in 3,411 patients with Ph'‐negative MPN

Hydroxyurea (Hydroxycarbamide; HU) is commonly used for the long-term treatment of patients with Philadelphia-chromosome negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). It is considered a first-choice agent for the treatment of these disorders as underlined by the European Leukemia Net Consensus Conference [1], although it is formally approved for this indication in some countries only. The drug is reportedly well tolerated in the large majority of subjects, although systemic and/or localized toxicities have been reported. Consensus criteria for definition of "intolerance" to HU have been described;patients who develop intolerance are candidate for second-line therapy and, more recently, for investigational drugs. However, no epidemiologic information about the occurrence of the most clinically significant HU-associated adverse events is yet available. In this study, the authors report on a multicenter series of 3,411 patients who were treated with HU among which 184, accounting for 5% of total, developed significant drug-related toxicities. These data provide an estimate of the frequency and a detailed characterization of clinically significant HU-related toxicities; these information have relevance for the management of MPN patients who require second-line therapy after developing HU-related intolerance.
Homogeneity of lipopolysaccharides from Acholeplasma

Five methods were employed to determine the heterogeneity or homogeneity of lipopolysaccharides from four acholeplasmal species, Acholeplasma axanthum, A. granularum, A. laidlawii, and A. modicum. A axanthum lipopolysaccharide behaved as a single component in all tests. A. granularum exhibited two components of identical composition and antigenic specificity. A. modicum lipopolysaccharide behaved as three components in two tests, but all three were similar in composition and identical serologically. The separable components of lipopolysaccharides from A. granularum and A. modicum probably represent size differences only. A. laidlwii lipopolysaccharide contained two distinct components by all methods. One was identified as the previously reported amino sugar polymer, whereas the other was a lipopolysaccharide containing both neutral and amino sugars.
A Single Amino Acid Mutation in the PA Subunit of the Influenza Virus RNA Polymerase Promotes the Generation of Defective Interfering RNAs

ABSTRACT An R638A mutation of the polymerase acidic protein (PA) subunit of the RNA polymerase of influenza A/WSN/33 virus results in severe attenuation of viral growth in cell culture by promoting the synthesis of defective interfering RNAs. We propose that R638A is an “elongation” mutant that destabilizes PA-RNA template interactions during elongation. A C453R mutation in PA can compensate for this defect, suggesting that amino acids C453 and R638 form part of the same domain.
Two Targets Are Better than One: A New Strategy to Increase the Specificity of Anti-Epileptic Drugs

Commentary The neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA provide the majority of excitation and inhibition, respectively, in the mammalian brain. Epilepsy is often characterized as a disease of excitatory–inhibitory imbalance. Although this characterization may be complicated and not well understood at the mechanistic level, at the macro level it has strong support. Some of the most straightforward evidence for the importance of the excitatory–inhibitory imbalance in epilepsy is the observation that many antiepileptic drugs work by modulating GABA receptors to increase their activity. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until recently that the first inhibitor of glutamate receptors (perampanel, Fycompa) was approved for treatment of epilepsy by the FDA. However, like many of the GABA receptor modulators before it, perampanel is associated with side effects that can limit its utility (1). At least one of the reasons for the side effects caused by drugs that modulate glutamate and GABA receptors is that these two receptor classes form the building blocks of nearly every circuit in the brain. Even though existing drugs mostly target the GABAA and AMPA-type classes of receptors, neurons from the forebrain to the brainstem and spinal cord all express these receptors; thus, they are all subject to modulation by the antiepileptic drugs that target them. However, for most types of epilepsy, cortical, thalamic, and hippocampal circuits are thought to be the most vulnerable, meaning that modulation of other circuits by these drugs may bring about the risk of side effects without contributing any therapeutic benefit. For these reasons, the authors of a recent paper in Nature Medicine set out to find an AMPA-type glutamate receptor modulator that could be targeted to forebrain circuits while sparing others such as cerebellar circuits that may underlie perampanel’s side effects of dizziness and motor impairments (2). To achieve this selectivity, they took advantage of the fact that AMPA receptors bind to auxiliary proteins called transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) (3). Although TARPs are not absolutely necessary for AMPA receptor function, they traffic the receptors to the membrane, alter the kinetics of the receptors, and increase current flow through the receptors (4). More importantly, there are several different TARPs, each with its own unique expression pattern. The class of TARPs that seems to play the major role in trafficking AMPA receptors consists of γ-2 (also known as stargazin), γ-3, γ-4, and γ-8 (5). γ-8 is highly expressed in the hippocampus, as well as in the cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb, but not in the cerebellum. The authors reasoned that if they could identify a compound that selectively inhibited AMPA receptors that were associated with γ-8, then they could use it to block seizures without causing motor impairments. Forebrain-Selective AMPA-Receptor Antagonism Guided by TARP γ-8 as an Antiepileptic Mechanism.
Antidiabetic PPAR gamma-activator rosiglitazone reduces MMP-9 serum levels in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are critically involved in the development of unstable plaques. Although arteriosclerotic lesions in patients with diabetes mellitus are more unstable than those of nondiabetic subjects, nothing is known about serum levels of MMPs in these patients or about mechanisms to modulate MMP levels. We investigated MMP levels in diabetic and nondiabetic coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and performed a clinical trial to assess the effect of the PPARgamma-activating, antidiabetic thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone on MMP levels in diabetic CAD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS In CAD patients, MMP-2, -8, and -9 serum levels were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic subjects compared with age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched nondiabetics. Thirty-nine diabetic patients with CAD were randomized to receive rosiglitazone 4 mg (twice daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. Rosiglitazone treatment, but not placebo, significantly reduced MMP-9 levels already after 2 weeks by -19.6% (-38.3% to 8.6%, P<0.05), and levels remained suppressed until the end of the study. In addition, rosiglitazone significantly decreased serum amyloid A (SAA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. CONCLUSION MMP-9 levels are increased in type 2 diabetic patients with CAD, and treatment of these patients with the antidiabetic PPARgamma-activator rosiglitazone significantly reduces MMP-9, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and SAA serum levels. These data support anti-inflammatory and potential antiatherogenic effects of thiazolidinediones.
Thoracic anesthesia in the elderly

Purpose of review The mean age of patients presenting for thoracic surgery is rising steadily, associated with an increased demand for thoracic surgical treatments by geriatric patients. With increasing age, physiologic changes and comorbidities have to be considered. Thoracic anesthesia for elderly patients requires greater specific knowledge. Recent findings Respiratory mechanics change progressively during aging, and the pharmacology of different drugs is also altered with increasing age. This has implications for the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management of elderly patients scheduled for thoracic surgery. Special focus has to be placed on preoperative evaluation, the ventilation regime and general intraoperative management. Effective postoperative pain treatment after geriatric thoracic surgery requires careful pain assessment and drug titration. Summary Considering key points of physiology and pharmacology can help to provide best possible care for the increasing number of elderly patients in thoracic surgery. Management of geriatric patients in thoracic surgery offer opportunities for anaesthetic interventions including protective ventilation, use of different anesthetics, anaesthesia monitoring, fluid management and pain therapy.
Interface control and islanding protection of grid-connected inverters based on unified constant-frequency integration control

In this paper, a new control approach based on unified constant-frequency integration control (UCI) for current tracing is presented for photovoltaic grid-connected inverters. The working theory is analyzed and the control equation is deduced, and also the islanding protection is studied. The control approach is realized by a digital controller DSP. Different from the normal SPWM and PLL(phase locked loop) control approach in grid-connected inverters interface control, this control approach has the merit of automatic phase tracking capability, simplified control and high output power factor. And it can regulate the output in accordance with the dc voltage and grid voltage automatically.
Lipase Catalyzed Production of Biodiesel

Lipase catalyzed of biodiesel is expensive which restricted industrial enzymatic biodiesel production. In this paper, the industrial lipase made in China was used as catalyst to catalyze the transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. The way of methanol feeding, the amount of lipase, the reaction temperature, the reaction time, the molar ratio of methanol to oil, the organic solvent content were investigated respectively. The results indicated that under this condition ,the reaction temperature 45°C and lipase amount 3% (by the weight of the oil), the molar ratio of methanol to oil 2:1, the molar ratio of n-Hexane to rapeseed oil 1:1, and methanol was continuously added, after 40 hours' reaction, the maximum methyl esters yield was over 72.5%.
MECHANISMS OF AMIODARONE AND DESETHYLAMIODARONE CYTOTOXICITY IN HUMAN LUNG CELLS

Amiodarone (AM) is a potent antidysrhythmic agent which can cause potentially lifethreatening pulmonary fibrosis, and N-desethylamiodarone (DEA) is a metabolite of AM that may contribute to the toxicity of AM in vivo. Recent evidence has implicated the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the initiation and progression of amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity. In cultured HPL1A human peripheral lung epithelial cells, we found AM to be converted to DEA minimally (< 2%) after 24 h of incubation, indicating that the HPL1A cell culture model can be used to study the effects of AM and DEA independently. Apoptotic cell death was assessed by annexin-V-FITC (ann-V) staining and by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated 2’-deoxyuridine 5’-triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL), while necrotic cell death was determined by propidium iodide (PI) staining. The percentage of PI positive cells increased over six-fold after 24 h treatment with 20 μM AM (80.8%) compared to control (12.0%), and doubled after 24 h treatment with 3.5 μM DEA (20.4%) compared to control (10.8%). The percentage of ann-V positive cells decreased from 8.26% (control) to 1.56% following 24 h treatment with 10 μM AM and more than doubled after 24 h incubation with 3.5 μM DEA (22.0%) compared to control (9.86%) (p<0.05). Treatment for 24 h with 5.0 μM DEA caused the percentage of TUNEL positive cells to increase from 4.21% (control) to 26.7% (p<0.05). Vitamin E (5 – 20 μM) did not protect against AM or DEA cytotoxicity, as determined by ann-V and PI dual staining. Angiotensin II (100 pM – 1 μM) alone or in combination with AM or DEA did not alter cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril did not protect against AM or DEA cytotoxicity. In conclusion, in vitro, AM activates primarily necrotic pathways, whereas DEA activates both necrotic and apoptotic pathways, and the RAS does not seem to be involved in AM or DEA cytotoxicity in HPL1A cells. Multiple mechanisms may
Validation of a computerized assessment (PROQSY) of minor psychological morbidity by Relative Operating Characteristic analysis using a single GP's assessments as criterion measures

Synopsis This is a study of the criterion validity of a newly developed computerized assessment (PROQSY) of minor psychological morbidity based on the Clinical Interview Schedule, employing a single GP's assessments as criterion measures of such morbidity and Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Two-stage screening was carried out with a consecutive sample of 256 patients aged 15 69 consulting an experienced GP in a semi-rural setting over a six-week period. The GP made a standardized assessment of the reason for consultation and the degree of psychological disorder present. A 40% random sub-sample was then assessed using PROQSY. The area under the ROC curve using a GP criterion of minor psychological disorder (‘degree of psychological problem - mild or greater’) was 081 (s.D. = 006). However, the kappa coefficient obtained between this criterion assessment and the PROQSY assessment of minor psychological problem at the observed optimal cut-off score was only 0·28 (S.E. = 0–1; z = 2.83). It is concluded that PROQSY may be recommended for further development as a research tool providing a valid measure of minor psychological morbidity as assessed by GPs in primary care settings.
Dissipative Dynamical Systems

Dissipative systems provide a strong link between physics, system theory, and control engineering. Dissipativity is first explained in the classical setting of input/state/output systems. In the context of linear systems with quadratic supply rates, the construction of a storage leads to a linear matrix inequality (LMI). It is in this context that LMI's first emerged in the field. Next, we phrase dissipativity in the setting of behavioral systems, and present the construction of two canonical storages, the available storage and the required supply. This leads to a new notion of dissipativity, purely in terms of boundedness of the free supply that can be extracted from a system. The storage is then introduced as a latent variable associated with the supply rate as the manifest variable. The equivalence of dissipativity with the existence of a non-negative storage is proven. Finally, we deal with supply rates that are given as quadratic differential forms and state several results that relate the existence of a (non-negative) storage to the two-variable polynomial matrix that defines the quadratic differential form. In the ECC presentation, we mainly discuss distributed dissipative systems described by constant coefficient linear PDE's. In this setting, the construction of storage functions leads to Hilbert's 17-th problem on the representation of non-negative polynomials as a sum of squares.
Technology Enhanced Integration of Hospital and Primary Care in the M'boi Mirim Neighborhood of São Paulo City

Lack of coordination between primary and secondary care can have adverse effects for patients. Our research project consists of a multi-strategy intervention to connect the healthcare professionals of one hospital and 18 primary care units (PCUs) in the southern neighborhood of M'boi Mirim, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The focus of this paper is a privacy-oriented and feature-rich online collaboration network, set up for professionals to provide more continuous care to patients as they cycle between PCUs and hospital care. Besides the network, a capacity building online course is being offered and a telemedicine service made available. Results will follow from outcomes of patients with conditions sensitive to primary care, from gains in efficiency of procedures, and from exchange patterns between professionals plus their overall condition at work.
Cometabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls: enhanced transformation of Aroclor 1254 by growing bacterial cells

Acinetobacter sp. strain P6 and a soil isolate, Arthrobacter sp. strain B1B, were tested for their ability to transform Aroclor 1254 as washed resting cells and as growing cells with biphenyl as the substrate. Growing cells were far superior to resting-cell suspensions in terms of total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) transformation, transformation of specific PCB congeners, and diversity of congeners that were attacked. Growing cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain P6 and Arthrobacter sp. strain B1B transformed 32 and 23% of the [14C]Aroclor 1254, respectively, whereas resting cells of the same respective cultures transformed only 17 and 8%. Transformation was significantly greater with resting cells in only 2 of 39 cases in which congeners were transformed by both growing and resting cells of both cultures. The components of 19 and 12 capillary gas-chromatographic peaks of Aroclor 1254 were transformed by biphenyl-grown resting cells of Acinetobacter sp. strain P6 and Arthrobacter sp. strain B1B, respectively, whereas the components of an additional 6 and 7 peaks were attacked by growing cells of the same respective cultures. Biphenyl oxidation by resting cells of both cultures decreased with time to less than 8% in 28 h. In addition to the normal 2,3-dioxygenase attack on PCBs, Acinetobacter sp. strain P6 also attacked congeners lacking an open 2,3-position. The ability of Acinetobacter sp. strain P6 to transform the components of 25 of the 40 largest peaks of Aroclor 1254 makes it one of the most versatile PCB-transforming organisms yet reported.
Sticking Points: Common-Agency Problems and Contracting in the U.S. Healthcare System

We propose a “common‐agency” model for explaining inefficient contracting in the US healthcare system. Common‐agency problems arise when multiple payers seek to motivate a provider to invest in improved care coordination. We highlight the possibility of “sticking points,” that is, Pareto‐dominated equilibria in which payers coordinate around contracts which give weak incentives to the provider. Sticking points rationalize three hard‐to‐explain features of the US healthcare system: widespread fee‐for‐service arrangements; problematic care coordination; and the historical reliance on single‐specialty practices to deliver care. The model also analyzes the effects of policies promoting more efficient contracting between payers and providers.
Water infiltration behaviours in carbon nanotubes under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions

The mechanisms of pressure-driven water infiltration into single walled carbon nanotubes are explored using molecular dynamics simulations. Both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions are investigated, and the influence of tube size is examined. Under quasi-static loading, the water molecules flow into the tube via surface diffusion at a low pressure and when the external pressure reaches a critical value, the infiltrated water flux can sharply increase to a steady state. Upon dynamic loading, the nominal infiltration length per unit external work is employed to measure the comprehensive effect of the loading rate. It is found that such factor is larger (i.e. infiltration is easier) at a lower loading rate and a larger tube size, which is closely related with the interactions between water molecules and nanotube wall atoms.
Bootstrap Based Bilateral Smoothing of Point Sets

Boostrap is a statistical method widely used in applications such as model averaging and noise estimation. In this paper, we propose a bilateral smoothing algorithm based on bootstrap noise estimates for denoising 3D point sets. Following a classic denoising technique, for a given neighbourhood of the point set, we first fit a polynomial surface and then update the position of each point of the neighbourhood by moving it towards its projection on the fitted surface. However, in the proposed algorithm, the amount by which we move each vertex towards its projection depends on the bootstrap error estimate of the polynomial fitting. As a result, low quality polynomial fittings with high bootstrap error estimates tend have smaller effect on the denoising process and do not degrade the final result. We also propose a multi-pass, density adaptive variant of the proposed bilateral smoothing and experimentally show that it can further improve the results.