Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyclic nucleotide changes in X-irradiated synchronized Tetrahymena.

Intracellular levels of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP both fluctuate in relation to the division cycle in synchronized Tetrahymena pyriformis (a ciliate protozoan). The amounts of cAMP per cell are highest before the onset of cell division, begin to decrease during the peak of cell division, and reach a minimum level (a twofold decrease) at the end of the division cycle. On the other hand, cGMP levels are lowest in cells prior to division, begin increasing at the onset of cell division, and reach a maximum (100-fold increase) during the peak of cell division. X irradiation (5000 R), when given at the end of the synchronizing treatment, delays cell division approximately 35 min with some decrease in synchrony. Corresponding changes in intracellular levels of cyclic nucleotides reflect somewhat different patterns in irradiated cells than observed for controls. Cyclic GMP levels in irradiated cells are lowest just before the onset of cell division, rising rapidly during the peak of cell division, and reach a maximum (about 175-fold increase) at the end of the division cycle. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity increases after EHS, decreases during cell division and is about one-half of peak levels at the end of the division cycle formore » both control and x-irradiated cells. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity decreases in control cells about 50% during the peak of cell division as compared to the predivision state after EHS. In irradiated cells, cGMP-associated phosphodiesterase activity increases to a maximum prior to the onset of cell division and drops by about two-thirds of peak values at the end of cell division. Radiation studies indicate that phosphodiesterase activity is not altered significantly by x rays. The results on changing levels of cyclic nucleotides indicates, and is consistent with the hypothesis, that marked increases (100-fold) in cGMP signal the initiation of cell division. « less
Robust and imperceptible image watermarking by DC coefficients using singular value decomposition

Main problem frequently encountered in all schemes transform domain watermarking technique is the robustness and imperceptibility. Due to achieved optimal result most algorithms of image watermarking using combination two or more transformation domain. This paper proposed Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to embed binary watermark to color Image. Before the message embedded in the color images, we converting RGB to YCbCr color space. Luminance component will be split into subblock and it has been transformed by DCT to produce DC and AC coefficients. DC coefficients selected as embedding place because it is perceptually usefulness and robust against various attacks. DC coefficients will be collected from every sub-block to create a reference image. Then apply SVD on reference image and embed message in singular values. Various attacks have been implemented and tested due to achieve robustness using Normalized Cross Correlation (NCC) and imperceptibility tested using Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). High values of the measurement results show the feasibility of the proposed method. A highest PSNR value resulted 42.3009 dB, whereas a highest NCC values 0.9993 after JPEG Compression.
The enhancement of understanding through visual representations

It has been argued for a long time that the representation of a problem is of crucial importance to understanding and solving it. Equally accepted is the fact that the human visual system is a powerful system to be used in information processing tasks. However, there, exist few systems which try to take advantage of these insights. We have constructed a variety of system components which automatically generate graphical representations of complex structures. We are pursuing the long-range goal of constructing a software oscilloscope which makes the invisible visible. Our tools are used in a variety of contexts: in programming environments, in intelligent tutoring systems, and in human-computer interaction in general by offering aesthetically pleasing interfaces.
Business Cycle and Macroeconomic Policy Coordination in MERCOSUR

The paper analyzes cyclical comovements in the Mercosur area differentiating idiosyncratic from common shocks. In the Mercosur (or any region for that matter) shocks can be country-specific, affecting only one country or a specific set of countries (for example, a weather-related shock, a domestic policy shock); or they can be common to the entire region (for example, a change in the conditions in international capital markets or a world recession). Propagation mechanisms, in turn, are important because a shock that was initially country-specific, originating in one country, might eventually spillover to others. We build on the unobserved component approach to decompose the Mercosur countries real GDP (seasonally adjusted) fluctuations into these three components and compare them with previous results. The main findings in the paper are: first, common factors originating in impulses stemming from changes in investor’s sentiment are relevant to explaining regional output comovements and the spillover effects between neighbors are significant. Second, volatility matters, and matters especially in the case of recent regional agreements. Supply shocks in Mercosur countries tend to be larger than in the US and European countries. Third, finance matters for both volatility and output/price dynamics. Accelerator effects may be important in explaining some features of the output/price dynamics that the standard models based on vector autoregression techniques are unable to account for.
Measuring Service Quality of the Leisure Winery Industry:A Taiwan Based Study

In the recent years, the Taiwanese farmers have been looking for ways to transform their agriculture businesses into money making and to find new relevance in a market, which was altered by Taiwan’s entry in the World Trade Organization. In spite of the vast growth and potent potential of the Wine Tourism in Taiwan, presently there is only a modicum of published researches, not to mention that there are no related service quality expectations topics. Thus, the goals of this research are to uncover the diverse levels of tourists’ satisfaction on the service quality that was provided in the selected Winery. In addition, to reveal the focal attributes of the Winery which influence the tourists’ satisfaction, and investigate the discrepancy between customer’s expectation and perception towards the quality of services. This study was using the SERVQUAL instrument in measuring the service quality of the Wine Tourism Industry in Taiwan. The results indicate that the reliability dimension of tourists’ perceptions of service quality having the largest gap and the tangibles dimension have the smallest gap. This implies that the tourists place more emphasis on the professional and courteous attitude from the staff of the Winery compared to the tangible visually appealing materials.
Rickettsia parkeri infection and other spotted fevers in the United States.

To the Editor: Extensive cross-reactivity exists among antigens of various spotted-fever–group rickettsiae, and routine serologic assays are generally insufficient to identify conclusively the specific rickettsial agent responsible for the infection. Since 1989 one of us (Dr. Raoult) has investigated the reactivity of serum specimens from patients with various rickettsioses to define the serologic criteria for several of these infections in the Eastern Hemisphere.1,2 Rickettsia parkeri, a spotted-fever–group rickettsia first identified in 1939 in Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) collected from Texas, has only recently been shown to be a cause of the disease in the United States.
Salt Weathering of Brick Walls

Human made buildings and constructions are very dependent upon various weathering phenomena, resulting in complex appearances and patterns that vary with time and environment. Handling such complexity is important in computer graphics in order to improve the realism of images. This difficult work is usually done by hand by designers and can lead to non-plausible results. Another way to tackle this problem is to provide new aging algorithms. Among a large number of weathering, salt weathering results in important visual changes affecting widely used materials: bricks and mortars. In this paper, we present a method to generate the texture of deformed and eroded masonry face by efflorescence. To avoid complex and unintuitive formulations while keeping plausible results, we chose a physically-inspired model. Moreover, in order to keep an important artistic control, it is possible for the user to create weathered textures in preferential masonry zones, leading to a great variety of different patterns. First, we synthesize a masonry (brick/mortar) solid texture. Next, we add the effects of efflorescence and sub-florescence using a specific algorithm accounting for regular crystallized or eroded surface masonry by displacement mapping. In addition, to model very strong weathering effects on building walls, we apply a simple geometry modification method to modify the surface before its rendering.
Increased Expression of the Normal Cellular Isoform of Prion Protein in Inclusion‐Body Myositis, Inflammatory Myopathies and Denervation Atrophy

The cellular isoform of the prion protein (PrPc) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored glycoprotein, normally expressed in neural and non‐neural tissues, including skeletal muscle. In transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases, PrPc, which is soluble in nondenaturing detergent and sensitive to proteinase K (PK)‐treatment, represents the molecular substrate for the production of a detergent‐insoluble and PK‐resistant isoform, termed PrPSc.
Current directions in IS security research: towards socio‐organizational perspectives

Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to map the current territory of information systems and security research. It uses the Burrell and Morgan framework as an intellectual map to analyse the socio‐philosophical concerns in various information systems and security approaches. The paper's contributions are in its analysis of trends in information systems and security research, the former in stressing the socio‐organizational perspectives and the latter in criticizing the preponderance of technical solutions. The paper also sets an agenda for a future research emphasis.
Mora or Phoneme? Further Evidence for Language-Specific Listening

Abstract Japanese listeners detect speech sound targets which correspond precisely to a mora (a phonological unit which is the unit of rhythm in Japanese) more easily than targets which do not. English listeners detect medial vowel targets more slowly than consonants. Six phoneme detection experiments investigated these effects in both subject populations, presented with native- and foreign-language input. Japanese listeners produced faster and more accurate responses to moraic than to nonmoraic targets both in Japanese and, where possible, in English; English listeners responded differently. The detection disadvantage for medial vowels appeared with English listeners both in English and in Japanese; again, Japanese listeners responded differently. Some processing operations which listeners apply to speech input are language-specific; these language-specific procedures, appropriate for listening to input in the native language, may be applied to foreign-language input irrespective of whether they remain appropriate.
Serum thyrotropin levels of natives in Sarawak, Borneo Island.

ABSTRACT A survey of endemic goiter was carried out on natives of Borneo Island, where dietary iodine was deficient. The prevalence of goiter and size of goiter were positively correlated to the age of the subjects. The increase in cumulative prevalence (vide infra) was highest between age 10 and 30, with annual increment approximately 0.5%. Serum TSH was not elevated in all subjects without goiter (less than 5 μU/ml). Mild elevation of TSH up to 20 μU/ml was found in 18% of goitrous subjects, while PBI, T3 resin sponge uptake and free T4 index were not different between goitrous and non-goitrous subjects. When a comparison was made among goitrous subjects, TSH was not significantly elevated in the younger age group in which goiter development was considered active. TSH levels do not correlate with degree of goiter. High 24-hr thyroidal 131I uptake, over 50%, was observed in 71% (15/21 cases) in the face of normal TSH levels. Hence, our findings suggest that TSH seems to be responding to iodine deficiency.
The influence of U.S. Army Basic Initial Entry Training on the muscular strength of men and women.

The influence of U.S. Army Basic Initial Entry Training on the maximum voluntary isometric strength (MVIS) and anthropometric parameters of men and women was investigated. Significant increases in weight and lean body mass (LBM) and decreases in percent body fat were found for both sexes during training. Significant increases in the MVIS of the upper torso (UT), leg extensors (LE), and trunk extensors (TE) were also found for both sexes. Females and males improved about the same amount on the LE (12.4% and 9.7%, respectively) but females improved significantly more than males on the UT (9.3% and 4.2%, respectively) and TE (15.9% and 8.1%, respectively). The greater gains in the females were presumably due to their lower initial strength levels and the consequently greater relative training stimulus. When strength was expressed relative to LBM, both sexes were able to exert similar amounts of strength on the LE and TE, suggesting that differences in strength between the sexes may primarily be a function of muscle mass.
Effects of tetracycline on antibiotic resistance and removal of fecal indicator bacteria in aerated and unaerated leachfield mesocosms

Antibiotics can be present in low concentrations in domestic wastewater, but little is known about their effect on bacteria in onsite wastewater treatment systems. Mesocosms, consisting of soil-filled lysimeters representing the leachfield of a septic system under aerated (AIR) and unaerated (LEACH) conditions, were used to study the effects of tetracycline addition (5 mg L− 1) to septic tank effluent on tetracycline resistance in the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli and fecal streptococci, and on their removal. The mesocosms were dosed with antibiotic for 10 days, and effects monitored for 52 days. The fraction of resistant bacteria in mesocosm drainage water relative to that in septic tank effluent, ΓRes, for E. coli ranged from 0 to 0.66 in the AIR treatment and from 0 to 3.32 in the LEACH treatment. For fecal streptococci, ΓRes ranged from 0 to 0.41 and from 0.63 to 1.06 in the AIR and LEACH treatments, respectively. No significant differences in antibiotic resistance of fecal indicator bacteria were observed among sampling dates in soil or water from either treatment. Tetracycline had no significant effect on removal of fecal indicator bacteria, which ranged from 99.9 to 100% for E. coli and from 95.9 to 100% for fecal streptococci. Our results suggest that short-term addition of tetracycline at environmentally-relevant concentrations is likely to have minimal consequences on pathogen removal from wastewater and development of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria in leachfield soil.
High PSRR and high-order curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference

Based on the principle of piecewise compensation, a new high-order curvature compensated method of bandgap reference is presented in this paper. This method focuses on forming multiple local extrema of the curve of reference voltage instead of single valley or peak in the entire operating temperature range, which improves the temperature independence significantly. It has a temperature coefficient in the −40°C to 135°C range of 0.58 ppm/°C simulated in 0.5 μm CMOS process. Adopting the error amplifier with improved PSRR, the PSRR is −95.4dB at dc and −56dB at 100KHz with 5V power supply.
Caspases Mediate 6‐Hydroxydopamine‐Induced Apoptosis but Not Necrosis in PC12 Cells

Abstract: The neurotoxin 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) induces apoptosis in the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line PC12. 6‐OHDA‐induced apoptosis is morphologically indistinguishable from serum deprivation‐induced apoptosis. Exposure of PC12 cells to a low concentration of 6‐OHDA (25 µM) results in apoptosis, whereas an increased concentration (50 µM) results in a mixture of apoptosis and necrosis. We investigated the involvement of caspases in the apoptotic death of PC12 cells induced by 6‐OHDA, using a general caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl‐Val‐Ala‐Asp‐fluoromethyl ketone (zVAD‐fmk), and compared this with serum deprivation‐induced apoptosis, which is known to involve caspases. We show that zVAD‐fmk (100 µM) completely prevented the apoptotic morphology of chromatin condensation induced by exposure to either 6‐OHDA (25 and 50 µM) or serum deprivation. Furthermore, cell lysates from 6‐OHDA‐treated cultures showed cleavage of a fluorogenic substrate for caspase‐3‐like proteases (caspase‐2, 3, and 7), acetyl‐Asp‐Glu‐Val‐Asp‐aminomethylcoumarin, and this was inhibited by zVAD‐fmk. However, although zVAD‐fmk restored total cell viability to serum‐deprived cells or cells exposed to 25 µM 6‐OHDA, the inhibitor did not restore viability to cells exposed to 50 µM 6‐OHDA. These data show the involvement of a caspase‐3‐like protease in 6‐OHDA‐induced apoptosis and that caspase inhibition is sufficient to rescue PC12 cells from the apoptotic but not the necrotic component of 6‐OHDA neurotoxicity.
Impact of CHAMP Radio Occultation Observations on Global Analysis and Forecasts in the Absence of AMSU Radiance Data

Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) radio occultation (RO) observations during a two-week period are assimilated into global analyses using the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) three-dimensional variational (3D-Var) system with a recently improved observation operator for assimilating GPS bending angle data. The NCEP 3D-Var system used in this research is suboptimal since Advanced Microwave Unit (AMSU) radiances are not included in our experiments. Analyses with and without CHAMP observations are compared with each other and with collocated conventional radiosonde and dropsonde data, which are excluded from both experiments. Zonal mean temperature, humidity and surface pressure differences between the GPS analyses and NO-GPS analyses are examined. The GPS analyses in the Southern Hemisphere show higher temperatures than the NO-GPS analyses, particularly in the mid- and high latitudes. The GPS analyses show drier air in the lower troposphere and more moist air in the middle troposphere compared to the NO-GPS analyses. The surface pressure is slightly increased (maximum 0.8 hPa) in the Southern Hemisphere and decreased (maximum 0.25 hPa) in the Northern Hemisphere due to the inclusion of GPS observations. Compared with the collocated independent soundings, the large cold bias (as large as 2.5 K) in the NCEP Southern Hemisphere analyses produced without CHAMP observations is significantly reduced. On average, a 20% mean error reduction in the temperature analysis is obtained in the Southern Hemisphere when CHAMP data are included. Degradations in the surface pressure analysis found from previous the GPS/Meteorology data assimilation studies are greatly reduced. The differences between the surface pressure analysis errors with and without CHAMP data are less than 0.8±1.5 hPa. Comparisons of numerical forecasts initialized with analyses produced with and without CHAMP occultations display a small improvement in the forecasts in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere associated with the use of the CHAMP observations.
Immunomodulatory role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

Worldwide, preeclampsia is a significant health risk to both pregnant women and their unborn children. Despite scientific advances, the exact pathogenesis of preeclampsia is not yet fully understood. Meanwhile, the incidence of preeclampsia is expected to increase. A series of potential etiologies for preeclampsia has been identified, including endothelial dysfunction, immunological dysregulation and trophoblastic invasion. In this literature review, we have critically reviewed existing literature regarding the research findings that link the role of vitamin D to the pathogenesis and immunoregulation of preeclampsia. The relationship of vitamin D with the suspected etiologies of preeclampsia underscores its clinical potential in the diagnosis and treatment of preeclampsia.
Antiinflammatory and antinociceptive effects of 1,8‐cineole a terpenoid oxide present in many plant essential oils

1,8‐Cineole (cineole), a terpenoid oxide present in many plant essential oils displays an inhibitory effect on some types of experimental inflammation in rats, i.e. paw oedema induced by carrageenan and cotton pellet‐induced granuloma. Cineole also inhibits in mice, the acetic acid‐induced increase in peritoneal capillary permeability and the chemical nociception induced by intraplantar formalin and intraperitoneal acetic acid. Activity was present in these tests, at an oral dose range of 100–400 mg/kg. In the formalin test, the antinociceptive effect of cineole was not reversed by pretreatment of mice with naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.), a µ‐opioid receptor antagonist, suggesting the involvement of a non‐opioid mechanism. Cineole demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on locomotion and also potentiated the pentobarbital sleeping time in mice, indicating a plausible depressant effect on the central nervous system. The present results, when taken together with the recent reports that describe the inhibitory effects of cineole on the formation of prostaglandins and cytokines by stimulated monocytes in vitro, may provide additional evidence for its potential beneficial use in therapy as an antiinflammatory and analgesic agent.
EDRF suppresses chaotic pressure oscillations in isolated resistance artery without influencing intrinsic complexity.

It is now widely recognized that nonlinear oscillatory systems can exhibit simple periodicity, characteristic repetitive patterns of odd and even integral periodicity and specific pathways for the transition to irregular, so-called "chaotic," dynamics. In the present study we have identified such behavior in the highly irregular rhythmic vasomotor activity induced by histamine in isolated rabbit ear resistance arteries, thus suggesting a deterministic rather than random etiology. In this experimental model nonlinearity arises at the level of the vascular smooth muscle cell, since oscillatory behavior was not abolished by endothelial denudation. To quantify the complexity of the responses induced by histamine, we applied the analysis of Grassberger and Proccacia (Physica D 9: 189-208, 1983) to calculate a scaling parameter known as fractal dimension, which estimates the minimum number of control variables participating in the genesis of an irregular time-varying signal. The findings suggest the involvement of at least three such variables, because its average numerical value was generally found to be between 2 and 3. Neither the absolute concentration of histamine employed nor pharmacological manipulation (i.e., stimulation/inhibition) of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activity significantly affected the fractal dimension of the pressure fluctuations, although both influenced their superficial form. Histamine and EDRF consequently do not determine the fundamental interactions responsible for generating the chaotic nature of the responses and may be regarded as permissive and modulatory influences, respectively. The well-known unpredictability of nonlinear systems to perturbation may explain why EDRF can either suppress or enhance rhythmic vasomotor activity in different artery types.