Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of the fermentation with immobilized yeast and different cherry varieties on the quality of cherry brandy.

The aim of this research was to investigate influence of different fermentation processes (by immobilized yeast cells and classical fermentation) and different cherry varieties (Maraska, Montmorencys and Kelleris) on the chemical and sensorial characteristics of cherry brandies. Cherry brandies were analyzed to determine chemical composition, aroma profile and sensory properties. Cherry brandies produced by immobilized yeast cells had a higher content of aldehydes, but lower content of total acids, total extract, higher alcohols and esters compared to the samples produced by classical fermentation process. Furfural was not detected in cherry distillates produced by immobilized yeast cells, while distillates produced by classical fermentation process had very low content. Cherry brandies produced by classical fermentation process had significantly higher content of benzaldehyde which has great influence on aroma of cherry brandies. Ethyl octanoate which is considered one of the most important contributors to the aroma of alcoholic distillates was found in the highest concentrations in Maraska distillates. The best evaluated sample was brandy produced from Maraska cherry variety fermented by immobilized yeast cells followed by brandy produced also from Maraska cherry variety, but by classical fermentation process.
Overexpression of B cell-specific activator protein (BSAP/Pax-5) in a late B cell is sufficient to suppress differentiation to an Ig high producer cell with plasma cell phenotype.

The B cell-specific activator protein (BSAP) is a DNA-binding transcription factor expressed in pro-B, pre-B, and mature B cells but not in plasma cells. We explored the role of BSAP in B cell function by creating clones in a late B cell and a plasma cell line transfected with a BSAP expression plasmid. We found that the plasma cell line MPC11, which does not produce BSAP, is still permissive to BSAP production driven by heterologous promoter. Overexpression of BSAP in a late B cell line (CH12.LX.A2) and a plasma cell line augmented cell proliferation and led to greater suppression of Ig synthesis in a late B cell line than in the plasma cell line. The reduction was seen mostly in synthesis of a secretory form of Ig. Overexpression of BSAP reduced Blimp-1 expression in CH12.LX. A2 clones but not in MPC11 clones. In addition, overexpression of BSAP in CH12.LX. A2 cells suppressed spontaneous appearance of cells with high Syndecan-1 expression and high amounts of intracytosolic as well as secreted Ig synthesis. To corroborate the above findings, we cloned nontransfected CH12.LX. A2 cells and found reduced BSAP mRNA expression in the high Ig-secreting clones, which produced more Blimp-1 mRNA with greater Syndecan-1 expression than the low Ig-secreting clones. Taken together, these results indicate that BSAP expression is sufficient to reduce Ig production in late B cells; this effect is mediated in part by suppression of differentiation to cells of plasma-cell phenotype.
Neural stem cell transplantation in the stomach rescues gastric function in neuronal nitric oxide synthase-deficient mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Nitric oxide is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system. Loss or dysfunction of nitrinergic neurons is associated with serious disruptions of motility, intractable symptoms, and long-term suffering. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intrapyloric transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) on gastric emptying and pyloric function in nNOS-/- mice, a well-established genetic model of gastroparesis. METHODS NSCs were isolated from embryonic mice transgenically engineered to express green fluorescent protein and transplanted into the pylorus of nNOS-/- mice. Grafted cells were visualized in pyloric sections and further characterized by immunofluorescence staining. One week posttransplantation, gastric emptying to a non-nutrient meal was measured using the phenol red method and pyloric function was assessed by measuring the relaxation of pyloric strips in an organ bath in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) under nonadrenergic, noncholinergic conditions. RESULTS One week following implantation, grafted NSCs differentiated into neurons and expressed neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Gastric emptying was significantly increased in mice that received NSCs as compared with vehicle-injected controls (49.67% vs 35.09%; P < .01 by Student t test). EFS-induced relaxation of pyloric strips was also significantly increased (P < .01 by 2-way analysis of variance). The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and the neuronal blocker tetrodotoxin blocked the EFS-induced relaxation, indicating that the observed effect is NO mediated and neuronally derived. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the potential of NSC transplantation as a viable therapeutic option for neuroenteric disorders.
The migration from the internal coatings of food cans; summary of the findings and call for more effective regulation of polymers in contact with foods: a review.

The analysis of migrates from the internal coatings of food cans showed that the present regulation is not sufficient to ensure safety of food contact polymers. The migrates often consist of complex mixtures of reaction products and impurities, and their harmlessness cannot be deduced from the use of non-toxic starting substances compiled in positive lists. The regulation proposed herein asks producers to analyse the composition of the migrates. It includes an upper limit for the molecular weight (e.g. 1000 Da) and thresholds defining concentrations in the foods down to which components must be identified and evaluated. Primarily considering feasibility at reasonable costs, thresholds of 30 micrograms/kg for individual components and 300 micrograms/kg for the sum of the unidentified materials are proposed. Producers must be able to demonstrate that the individual components or mixtures exceeding this limit, including reaction products with food components, have no toxic effect.
Beyond Infection: Device Utilization Ratio as a Performance Measure for Urinary Catheter Harm

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is considered a reasonably preventable event in the hospital setting, and it has been included in the US Department of Health and Human Services National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections. While multiple definitions for measuring CAUTI exist, each has important limitations, and understanding these limitations is important to both clinical practice and policy decisions. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance definition, the most frequently used outcome measure for CAUTI prevention efforts, has limited clinical correlation and does not necessarily reflect noninfectious harms related to the catheter. We advocate use of the device utilization ratio (DUR) as an additional performance measure for potential urinary catheter harm. The DUR is patient-centered and objective and is currently captured as part of NHSN reporting. Furthermore, these data are readily obtainable from electronic medical records. The DUR also provides a more direct reflection of improvement efforts focused on reducing inappropriate urinary catheter use. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(3):327–333
Organic carbon isotope values from the Late Permian Seis/Siusi succession (Dolomites, Italy): Implications for palaeoenvironmental changes

Abstract. The Permian-Triassic boundary is marked by a globally prominent negative carbon isotope excursion traceable in marine carbonates and organic matter. In the shallow marine carbonate succession at Seis/Siusi (Dolomites, Italy), the δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg signatures follow the general Permian-Triassic boundary carbon isotope trend, but the δ13Corg values are slightly less depleted in 13C in two episodes representing restricted lagoonal environments and in the period around the Tesero Oolite Horizon. This isotopically less depleted organic matter in the lagoons is interpreted to be most likely caused by poor oxygen ventilation and/or slightly modified salinity which may have led to restricted bioproductivity and increased hence the relative amounts of continental-sourced organic matter. In addition, elevated riverine influx and supply of terrestrial organic matter, perhaps triggered by a wet period, might be the cause for the relatively less depleted 13C in the organic matter around the Tesero Oolite Horizon and in overlying sediments. doi: 10.1002/mmng.201100008
Role of type 1 fimbriae in the pathogenesis of ascending urinary tract infection induced by escherichia coli in mice

Escherichia coli mutants defective in the ability to agglutinate guinea pig erythrocytes (HA-) were isolated from a nalidixic acid-resistant derivative, 31-B, of E. coli TN 675 that produces type 1 fimbriae and induces urinary tract infection in mice fed a 5% glucose solution. All nine HA- mutants were defective not only in their ability to agglutinate Candida albicans cells and erythrocytes from various species, but also in their capacity to adhere to mouse bladder epithelial cells. None of the mutants were agglutinated by anti-type 1 fimbriae antiserum. Although most of the mutants were fimbriated when examined by electron microscopy, their fimbriae differed serologically from type 1 fimbriae. All of the mutants showed 100 to 1,000 times lower bacterial recovery from the bladder walls of mice 3 h after inoculation into the bladder and lacked urinary tract infectivity in mice. These results suggest that all of the HA- mutants are defective in type 1 fimbriae production and that type 1 fimbriae facilitate the development of urinary tract infection in mice, probably by mediating bacterial adherence to the bladder epithelial cells.
Passivity-based stability in explicit force control of robots

Direct force control of robots is challenging, particularly since the interaction with the environment can render the robot unstable. This paper presents the results of novel approaches for passivity-based stability for a particular direct force control method, namely explicit force control. A step-by-step procedure to passivate and stabilise the control loop is presented and it explains how Time Domain Passivity Approach, a passivity-based tool widely used in teleoperation and haptics has been extended and applied in explicit force control. The electrical circuit and network-port representations derived in the process allows the analytical evaluation of the system and can be applied in other control architectures as well. The stability methods are presented both qualitatively and quantitatively with simulations and hardware experiments. A discussion about the results obtained and the energy behavior is also provided. Results are promising and suggest that these methods can be used for stable and high-bandwidth force control of robotic manipulators.
Aldose Reductase Inhibition Suppresses the Expression of Th2 Cytokines and Airway Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Mice1

Airway inflammation induced by reactive oxygen species-mediated activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors is the hallmark of asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory disease. In various cellular and animal models, we have recently demonstrated that, in response to multiple stimuli, aldose reductase (AR) regulates the inflammatory signals mediated by NF-κB. Because NF-κB-mediated inflammation is a major characteristic of asthma pathogenesis, we have investigated the effect of AR inhibition on NF-κB and various inflammatory markers in cellular and animal models of asthma using primary human small airway epithelial cells and OVA-sensitized/challenged C57BL/6 mice, respectively. We observed that pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of AR by small interfering RNA prevented TNF-α- as well as LPS-induced apoptosis; reactive oxygen species generation; synthesis of inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2; and activation of NF-κB and AP-1 in small airway epithelial cells. In OVA-challenged mice, we observed that administration of an AR inhibitor markedly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, IgE levels, eisonophils infiltration, and release of Th2 type cytokines in the airway. Our results indicate that AR inhibitors may offer a novel therapeutic approach to treat inflammatory airway diseases such as asthma.
Channel Allocation Algorithms for Coexistence of LR-WPAN with WLAN

This paper presents a coexistence model of IEEE 802.15. 4 with IEEE 802.11b interference in fading channels and proposes two adaptive channel allocation schemes. The first avoids the IEEE 802.15. 4 interference only and the second avoids both of the IEEE 802.15. 4 and IEEE 802.11b interferences. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithms are effective for avoiding interferences and for maximizing network capacity since they select a channel which gives the maximum signal to noise ratio to the system.
Safety and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple intravenous bolus doses of diclofenac sodium compared with oral diclofenac potassium 50 mg: A randomized, parallel‐group, single‐center study in healthy subjects

In a randomized, parallel‐group, single‐center study in 42 healthy adults, the safety and pharmacokinetic parameters of an intravenous formulation of 18.75 and 37.5 mg diclofenac sodium (DFP‐08) following single‐ and multiple‐dose bolus administration were compared with diclofenac potassium 50 mg oral tablets. Mean AUC0–inf values for a 50‐mg oral tablet and an 18.75‐mg intravenous formulation were similar (1308.9 [393.0]) vs 1232.4 [147.6]). As measured by the AUC, DFP‐08 18.75 mg and 37.5 mg demonstrated dose proportionality for extent of exposure. One subject in each of the placebo and DFP‐08 18.75‐mg groups and 2 subjects in the DFP‐08 37.5‐mg group reported adverse events that were considered by the investigator to be related to the study drug. All were mild in intensity and did not require treatment. Two subjects in the placebo group and 1 subject in the DFP‐08 18.75‐mg group reported grade 1 thrombophlebitis; no subjects reported higher than grade 1 thrombophlebitis after receiving a single intravenous dose. The 18.75‐ and 37.5‐mg doses of intravenous diclofenac (single and multiple) were well tolerated for 7 days. Additional efficacy and safety studies are required to fully characterize the product.
Odorant detection via Solidly Mounted Resonator biosensor

In this paper, a biosensors for vapour phase detection of odorant molecules based on Solidly Mounted Resonators (SMRs) is presented. The SMRs were coated with a wild-type bovine odorant-binding protein (wtbOBP), used as sensing layer, and consisted of a piezoelectric aluminium nitride (AlN) film sandwiched between two metal electrodes. An acoustic Bragg reflector was fabricated on the silicon substrate to ensure the acoustic insulation. The wtbOBPs were deposited on the top electrode of resonators by means of the droplet method. The SMR biosensor was tested in nitrogen upon exposure to R-(-)-1octen-3-ol (octenol) vapours in the range of concentrations between 7 and 27 ppm. An uncoated device was used to compensate the responses due to variations in environmental parameters. The differential response curve showed a linear behaviour in the tested range of concentrations and the obtained sensitivity was of 600 Hz/ppm.
1 Is Body Surface Area the Appropriate Index for Glomerular Filtration Rate ?

Indexing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for body surface area (BSA) is routine practice, but criticism has been raised on indexing GFR for BSA in children, obese and anorectic patients. Over the years other ways of indexing GFR have been proposed, including height, lean body mass, body weight, ideal weight, plasma volume, total body water and especially extracellular volume (ECV). Based on a literature review and on statistical analyses of GFR data of children, we consider the following main questions: Why do we normalize GFR for BSA? Is it really necessary to index GFR? And if so, are there other or better ways to normalize GFR?
Delay-Dependent H/spl infin/ filtering for Uncertain Time Delay Nonlinear Systems: An LMI Approach

This paper considers the problem of designing a delay-dependent robust Hinfin filter for time delay Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models. The purpose of this paper is to design delay-dependent Hinfin filters ensuring a prescribed Hinfin performance level for the estimation error, irrespective of the uncertainties and the time delays. Sufficient conditions for the existence of a delay-dependent Hinfin filter are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Membership functions' (MFs) structural information is incorporated into the delay dependent filter design to reduces the conservativeness of neglecting this information. Both full and reduced order delay dependent Hinfin filters are presented
Link between low frequency noise and reliability of compound semiconductor HEMTs and HBTs

On the basis of papers published on the fundamental and excess LF noise sources in compound semiconductor transistors, two main issues are addressed in this paper: i) the characterization of LF noise sources linked to parasitic effects induced by innovative component architecture in emerging technologies such as GaN-based HEMTs and GaAsSb HBTs. ii) the identification of LF noise sources linked to degradation mechanisms in compound semiconductor devices issued from mature technologies. Examples of experimental correlation between LF noise and parasitic effects (i.e. potential electrical performance penalization) or failure mechanisms in III-V HEMTs and HBTs are described with data related to recent technological developments.
Distribution and partial characterization of FMRFamide‐like peptides in the stomatogastric nervous systems of the rock crab, Cancer borealis, and the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus

The distribution of FMRFamide‐like peptides was studied in the complete Stomatogastric nervous system [the paired commissural ganglia, single oesophageal ganglion, and the single Stomatogastric ganglion (STG)] of two decapod crustacean species, the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus and the rock crab Cancer borealis, by using immunocytochemical techniques. Antiserum 231 from the O'Donohue laboratory and antiserum 671C (described here) gave essentially the same staining patterns.
Mechanism of Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase B/Akt by a Constitutively Active 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent Protein Kinase-1*

Phosphorylation of Thr308 in the activation loop and Ser473 at the carboxyl terminus is essential for protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) activation. However, the biochemical mechanism of the phosphorylation remains to be characterized. Here we show that expression of a constitutively active mutant of mouse 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1A280V) in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the insulin receptor was sufficient to induce PKB phosphorylation at Thr308 to approximately the same extent as insulin stimulation. Phosphorylation of PKB by PDK1A280Vwas not affected by treatment of cells with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or by deletion of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PKB. C2-ceramide, a cell-permeable, indirect inhibitor of PKB phosphorylation, did not inhibit PDK1A280V-catalyzed PKB phosphorylation in cells and had no effect on PDK1 activity in vitro. On the other hand, co-expression of full-length protein kinase C-related kinase-1 (PRK1/PKN) or 2 (PRK2) inhibited PDK1A280V-mediated PKB phosphorylation. Replacing alanine at position 280 with valine or deletion of the PH domain enhanced PDK1 autophosphorylation in vitro. However, deletion of the PH domain of PDK1A280V significantly reduced PDK1A280V-mediated phosphorylation of PKB in cells. In resting cells, PDK1A280V localized in the cytosol and at the plasma membrane. However, PDK1A280V lacking the PH domain localized predominantly in the cytosol. Taken together, our findings suggest that the wild-type PDK1 may not be constitutively active in cells. In addition, activation of PDK1 is sufficient to phosphorylate PKB at Thr308 in the cytosol. Furthermore, the PH domain of PDK1 may play both positive and negative roles in regulating the in vivo function of the enzyme. Finally, unlike the carboxyl-terminal fragment of PRK2, which has been shown to bind PDK1 and allow the enzyme to phosphorylate PKB at both Thr308 and Ser473, full-length PRK2 and its related kinase PRK1/PKN may both play negative roles in PKB-mediated downstream biological events.
Relative peripheral refraction among children in Kuala Lumpur

This study describes the baseline data of peripheral refraction among Chinese schoolchildren in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 130 Chinese schoolchildren aged between 7 to 12 years were recruited. Peripheral refraction was conducted under cycloplegic condition using the Grand Seiko WR5100-k. An eye rotation method to view eccentric target was used. The mean age of the subjects was 9.46 ± 1.59 years. There were 32 (24.6%) schoolchildren with moderate myopia, 40 (30.8%) with low myopia, 17 (13.1%) with emmetropia and 41 (31.5%) with low hyperopia. The M component and Relative Peripheral Refractive Error (RPRE) for moderate and low myopes exhibited a hyperopic defocus; emmetropes showed a flat to slightly myopic profile and low hyperopes had a myopic shift at both eccentricities. A comparison between refractive groups showed a significant difference in M component at all eccentricities. A symmetrical pattern was observed for M component for all refractive groups except for low hyperopes at 30° eccentricity. Our study was able to provide a baseline peripheral profile pattern across the horizontal meridian among Chinese schoolchildren in Kuala Lumpur. Keywords—Peripheral refraction, relative peripheral refractive error, myopia, Chinese children, schoolchildren, hyperopic defocus.
A Geographic Analysis of Public-Private School Choice in South Carolina, USA

Despite years of research and debate, household choice between public and private schools is not well understood. This article investigates factors associated with parental choice between public and private schools using unique census-based school enrollment data for school districts in South Carolina and for neighborhoods in the Columbia Metropolitan Area. This study extends the existing literature by examining patterns of public-private school choice for whites and blacks separately in order to control racial disparities in school choice. Results of multiple regression analyses for the whole population and subdivided racial groups generally support the assumption that public-private school enrollment rate is subject to socioeconomic status, racial proportion, and public school quality. Findings of this study not only suggests the reconciliation of the market-based theory and the racial preference theory, but also provides insights into education policies in terms of stemming white enrollment losses and fostering public school education in the United States.