Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated system of phytodepuration and water reclamation: A comparative evaluation of four municipal wastewater treatment plants

ABSTRACT In dry regions, water resources have become increasingly limited, and the use of alternative sources is considered one of the main strategies in sustainable water management. A highly viable alternative to commonly used water resources is treated municipal wastewater, which could strongly benefit from advanced and low-cost techniques for depuration, such as the integrated system of phytodepuration (ISP). The current manuscript investigates four Italian case studies with different sizes and characteristics. The raw wastewaters and final effluents were sampled on a monthly basis over a period of up to five years, allowing the quantification of the ISP performances. The results obtained show that the investigated plants are characterized by an average efficiency value of approximately 83% for chemical oxygen demand removal, 84% for biochemical oxygen demand, 89% for total nitrogen, 91% for total phosphorus, and 85% for total suspended solids. Moreover, for three of the case studies, the ISP final effluent is suitable for irrigation, and in the fourth case study, the final effluent can be released in surface water.
Privacy is the Boring Bit: User Perceptions and Behaviour in the Internet-of-Things

In opinion polls, the public frequently claim to value their privacy. However, individuals often seem to overlook the principle, contributing to a disparity labelled the 'Privacy Paradox'. The growth of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) is frequently claimed to place privacy at risk. However, the Paradox remains underexplored in the IoT. In addressing this, we first conduct an online survey (N = 170) to compare public opinions of IoT and less-novel devices. Although we find users perceive privacy risks, many still decide to purchase smart devices. With the IoT rated less usable/familiar, we assert that it constrains protective behaviour. To explore this hypothesis, we perform contextualised interviews (N = 40) with the public. In these dialogues, owners discuss their opinions and actions with a personal device. We find the Paradox is significantly more prevalent in the IoT, frequently justified by a lack of awareness. We finish by highlighting the qualitative comments of users, and suggesting practical solutions to their issues. This is the first work, to our knowledge, to evaluate the Privacy Paradox over a broad range of technologies.
Direct Exchange of Electrons Within Aggregates of an Evolved Syntrophic Coculture of Anaerobic Bacteria

Wired for Life Syntrophic bacteria live on the metabolic by-products of a partner species. The exchange of the by-products accompanies a flow of electrons in the opposite direction that helps some species grow in conditions that would otherwise be unfavorable. In mixed anaerobic cultures of two related Geobacter species, Summers et al. (p. 1413) observed that one species evolved to promote the transfer of electrons directly to the other, in large aggregated cell clusters, without coupling to common anaerobic by-products such as hydrogen or formate. Selection pressures in nine parallel populations all resulted in a point mutation that truncated a protein involved in the production of small hairlike projections involved in intercellular communication—pili—and indirectly increased the expression of a c-type multiheme cytochrome responsible for extracellular electron transfer. The evolved aggregates were conductive, suggesting that the direct exchange of electrons between partner species is a possible alternative route to anaerobic syntrophy rather than interspecies hydrogen transfer; indeed, deleting a gene that encodes a hydrogenase involved in hydrogen transfer conferred a growth advantage in the cocultures. Direct cell-to-cell electron transfer occurs between two related species of bacteria. Microbial consortia that cooperatively exchange electrons play a key role in the anaerobic processing of organic matter. Interspecies hydrogen transfer is a well-documented strategy for electron exchange in dispersed laboratory cultures, but cooperative partners in natural environments often form multispecies aggregates. We found that laboratory evolution of a coculture of Geobacter metallireducens and Geobacter sulfurreducens metabolizing ethanol favored the formation of aggregates that were electrically conductive. Sequencing aggregate DNA revealed selection for a mutation that enhances the production of a c-type cytochrome involved in extracellular electron transfer and accelerates the formation of aggregates. Aggregate formation was also much faster in mutants that were deficient in interspecies hydrogen transfer, further suggesting direct interspecies electron transfer.
THE INFLUENCE OF SMOKING ON PANCREATIC FUNCTION IN MAN

A combination secretin‐Lundh test was performed on 14 healthy established smokers to determine if smoking inhibited pancreatic secretion and therefore might contribute to the production of a duodenal ulcer. Seven of the patients studied smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day and were classified “heavy smokers”. The remaining seven patients smoked less than 20 cigarettes per day and were classified “light to moderate smokers”. The volume and bicarbonate output of the pancreas were lowered in both groups of patients after smoking one cigarette. This apparent side effect of nicotine may possibly play an important role in the production of duodenal ulcers in smokers by producing an acid milieu in the duodenum. Tryptic activity was unaffected by smoking.
Análisis técnico en estado estable del sistema de transmisión nacional al año 2013

14 INTRODUCCIÓN . 15 1. CONTEXTUALIZACIÓN SISTEMA DE TRANSMISIÓN COLOMBIANO . 17 1.1 GENERALIDADES . 17 1.2 MATPOWER . 22 1.3 ESTADO DEL ARTE . 26 2. CONSTRUCIÓN DEL MODELO . 29 2.1 MODELADO DE ELEMENTOS . 29 2.1.1. MODELO DE LÍNEAS . 29 2.1.2 MODELADO DE GENERADORES . 33 2.1.3 MODELO DE CARGAS . 35 2.1. 4 MODELADO DE TRANSFORMADORES DE DOS DEVANADOS . 39 2.1. 5 MODELADO DE TRANSFORMADORES DE TRES DEVANADOS . 40 2.1. 6 MODELO DE COMPENSACIONES . 44 2.1. 7 COEFICIENTES DE COSTOS . 45 3. SIMULACIONES Y RESULTADOS . 48 3.1. FLUJO DE CARGA AC . 48 3.1.1. PROCEDIMIENTO EN MATLAB. 48 3.1.2 NORMATIVIDAD . 49 3.1.3 BASE DE DATOS DEL SISTEMA . 49 3.1. 4 MODELO DEL SISTEMA . 49 3.1. 5 ANÁLISIS DE ESTADO ESTABLE DEL STN. 50 3.1. 6 RESULTADOS FLUJO DE CARGA AC . 50 3.2 FLUJO DE CARGA DC . 56 3.3 ANÁLISIS DE CONTINGENCIAS . 59 3.4. FLUJO DE CARGA ÓPTIMO . 64 3.4. 1 CONSIDERACIONES GENERALES . 64 3.4. 2. CRITERIOS DE ESTUDIO . 64 3.4. 3 MODELO DEL SISTEMA . 64 3.4. 4 RESULTADOS FLUJO ÓPTIMO DEL STN . 66 4. CONCLUSIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES . 71 5. REFERENCIAS BIBLIOGRÁFICAS . 74
Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-Kinase-1β Is Essential for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-mediated Endocytosis*

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is known to play an important role in signal transduction and membrane trafficking. We show that one enzyme responsible for PIP2 production, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type 1β (PIPKβ), is essential for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated endocytosis. Expression of murine PIPKβ in NR6 cells expressing EGFR strikingly increased receptor internalization. Moreover, the kinase was shown to form an immunoprecipitable complex with EGFR. Expression of either a truncated kinase or a kinase dead mutant inhibited EGFR endocytosis and also blocked the membrane recruitment of PIPKβ and both clathrin light chain and dynamin. Our results delineate a novel mechanism by which PIPKβ regulates receptor-mediated endocytosis and receptor tyrosine kinase membrane traffic.
The effect of controlled release copper sulphate and tributyltin fluoride on the mortality and infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae

ABSTRACT Mortality and infectivity or Schistosoma mansoni cercariae were tested against various concentrations of controlled release copper sulphate (EC-8) and tributyltin fluoride (CBL-9B). The results indicate that survival of cercariae varied with concentrations of molluscicide and times of exposures. Statistical analysis reveals that LC50 and LC90 for EC-8 were 1·8mg/1/hour and 1·82 mg/1/hour while LC50 and LC90 for CBL-9B were 16·8 μg/1/hour and 21·7 μg/1/hour respectively. Sublethal concentration of both molluscicides reduced cercarial infectivity considerably. The doses of 0·25 to 0·5 mg/1/hour for EC-8 and 2·0 to 6·0 μg/1/hour for CBL-9B were found to be sufficient to inhabit cercarial penetration of the host skin.
Influence of femB on methicillin resistance and peptidoglycan metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus

The inactivation of FemB by insertion of Tn551 in the central part of the femB open reading frame was shown to increase susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains toward beta-lactam antibiotics to the same extent as did inactivation of femA. Strains carrying the methicillin resistance determinant (mec) and expressing PBP 2' were affected to the same extent as were strains selected for in vitro resistance, which did not express PBP 2'. Both femA and femB, which form an operon, are involved in a yet unknown manner in the glycine interpeptide bridge formation of the S. aureus peptidoglycan. FemB inactivation was shown to reduce the glycine content of peptidoglycan by approximately 40%, depending on the S. aureus strain. The reduction of the interpeptide bridge glycine content led to significant reduction in peptidoglycan cross-linking, as measured by gel permeation high-pressure liquid chromatography of muramidase-digested cell walls. Maximum peptide chain length was reduced by approximately 40%. It is shown that the complete pentaglycine interpeptide bridge is important for the sensitivity against beta-lactam antibiotics and for the undisturbed activity of the staphylococcal cell wall-synthesizing and hydrolyzing enzymes, as was also apparent from electron microscopic examinations, which revealed aberrant placement of cross walls and retarded cell separation, leading to a pseudomulticellular phenotype of the cells for both femA and femB mutants.
Spinal motoneurone distress during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

The main pathophysiological feature characterizing multiple sclerosis (MS) is demyelination. However, the possibility of neural damage has recently been proposed as a mechanism in chronic disease. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most widely used experimental model for MS. We investigated occurrences of microglial activation and astrocytosis in the spinal cord, choline acetyl‐transferase (ChAT) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) mRNA regulation in spinal motoneurones during EAE. EAE was induced in female Lewis rats by injecting guinea pig spinal cord tissue in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to which heat‐inactivated Mycobacterium had been added. Rats injected with CFA and uninjected rats were used as controls. ChAT and CGRP mRNAs were studied by in situ hybridization in the lumbar spinal cord and a computerized grain counting procedure was used for quantification. No differences in ChAT mRNA level were found between control and CFA‐injected rats. ChAT mRNA level was strongly reduced in EAE 14 days after immunization and then recovered (29 days after immunization). CGRP mRNA increased 14 days after immunization, and then recovered to control level. Extensive long‐lasting gliosis developed in the spinal cord and around motoneurones and a transient expression of p75LNGFR in motoneurones was also found. These data suggest that during EAE, gliosis induces distress in spinal cord neurones involving the synthesis enzyme for the main transmitter.
A Data Structure for Artificial Terrain Generation

This paper addresses the problems of maintaining the consistency of spatial data under recursive subdivision algorithms for artificial terrain generation. Fractal modelling techniques are outlined, with particular reference to those based on fractional Brownian motion, and included is a brief history of recursive subdivision techniques. Existing polyhedral data structures are reviewed and shown to be inadequate for maintenance of consistency as polygons are subdivided. A new edge‐based data structure is presented which provides for the efficient use and consistent storage of spatial data under these conditions. The data structure is applicable to polygons of any order and allows neighbouring polygons of different order to be stored and subdivided. Artificial terrain is demonstrated from subdivision of the hexagon, of the quadrilateral and of a combination of hexagons, quadrilaterals and triangles.
On the requirements analysis process for Domain-Specific Languages in the realm of multi-perspective hospital modelling

The analysis of requirements for Domain-Specific Modelling Languages (DSMLs) can be very challenging, since prospective users often do not have a clear idea of a DSML. This is especially the case if prospective users lack a technical background. This paper reports on the use of a dedicated method to support the analysis of requirements for DSMLs in hospitals. Apart from an elaborate process model, the method recommends developing a specific kind of use scenarios that serve as a medium to get users involved. The presented work was part of a larger project that is aimed at developing multi-perspective hospital models.
Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis is an increasingly recognized entity. This article reviews the cognitive impairment of multiple sclerosis, its prevalence, its relationship to different types of multiple sclerosis, and its contribution to long-term functional prognosis. The discussion also focuses on the key elements of cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis which distinguish it from other forms of cognitive impairment. Therapeutic interventions potentially effective for the cognitive impairment of multiple sclerosis are reviewed including the effects of disease modifying therapies and the use of physical and cognitive interventions.
Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Scheme for Chlamydia felis Genotyping: Comparison with Multilocus Sequence Typing

ABSTRACT Chlamydia felis is an important ocular pathogen in cats worldwide. A multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) system for the detection of tandem repeats across the whole genome of C. felis strain Fe/C-56 was developed. Nine selected genetic loci were tested by MLVA in 17 C. felis isolates, including the C. felis Baker vaccine strain, and 122 clinical samples from different geographic origins. Analysis of the results identified 25 distinct C. felis MLVA patterns. In parallel, a recently described multilocus sequence typing scheme for the typing of Chlamydia was applied to 13 clinical samples with 12 different C. felis MLVA patterns. Rare sequence differences were observed. Thus, the newly developed MLVA system provides a highly sensitive high-resolution test for the differentiation of C. felis isolates from different origins that is suitable for molecular epidemiological studies.
A reorganization framework of the object-oriented class hierarchy

In recent years there has been renewal of interest in the reorganization and transformation of classes for object-oriented design and programming. Numerous attempts have been made by researchers to find algorithms and heuristics to produce "good" and "reusable" class organizations based on the inheritance hierarchy. However, little attention has been given to the reorganization of the aggregation hierarchy which forms the part-of relationship between classes. We are concerned with the inheritance and aggregation hierarchies, and define the object semi-equivalence relation between the class hierarchies by extending the object-equivalence relation. We also present a minimal set of transformations which forms a foundation for reorganization between class hierarchies based on the object semi-equivalence. This set is proven to be correct, complete, and minimal.
The Role of the Pharmacist in the Anticoagulant Clinic

an anticoagulant clinic managed jointly by pharmacists and physicians was started in the North Staffordshire Hospital Centre in September 1979. This article describes the management and organisation of such a clinic (the 'combined clinic') and retrospectively compares the results achieved with those obtained by other physicians who retained the supervision of anticoagulant therapy entirely in the hands of medical staff (the 'standard
Protection and rescue from 2',3'-dideoxypyrimidine nucleoside analog toxicity by hemin in human bone marrow progenitor cells

Long-term therapy of AIDS patients with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) remains of concern because of resulting hematopoietic toxicity. While the mechanism(s) of this toxicity remains elusive, alternative strategies are being developed to reduce these toxic effects, including combination therapy with nonmyelotoxic antihuman immunodeficiency virus drugs and/or administration of protective or rescue agents, including cytokines and growth factors. By using a particularly relevant human CD34+ liquid culture system, the unique profiles of dideoxynucleoside (ddN) toxicities to both proliferation and differentiation were demonstrated, with decreased potencies in the order of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT) = 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine (AMT) = 2',3'-dideoxycytidine > AZT for inhibition of proliferation and in the order of FLT = AMT > AZT > 2',3'-dideoxycytidine for inhibition of hemoglobin synthesis. Hemin selectively protected erythroid-lineage human burst-forming unit-erythroid cells from AZT- and AMT-induced inhibition but had no effect on FLT toxicity under similar conditions. Myeloid-lineage human CFU-granulocyte-macrophages were also not protected by hemin against all three ddN analogs. The simultaneous exposure of cells to hemin and AZT resulted in a complete protection of both cell proliferation and hemoglobin synthesis. In contrast, in reversal studies only the inhibition of the percentage of hemoglobin-synthesizing cells returned to control levels, but the inhibition of proliferation of cells previously exposed to AZT was not reversed by hemin. These studies further define the unique and multifactorial mechanism(s) of ddN-induced toxic effects during hematopoietic development of pluripotent stem cells and suggest that the use of hemin could be beneficial in alleviating the toxicity of certain ddN analogs.
Liver, heart and adrenal weights of broilers reared under constant temperatures.

Abstract GARREN and Shaffner (1952, 1956) exposed New Hampshire chicks to 6.7°C. for periods up to 4 weeks starting at 7 weeks of age and found the adrenals larger and the bursa and spleen smaller than in birds at room temperature. Wolford and Ringer (1962) used Single Comb White Leghorn hens and exposed them to 1.7°C. for short periods and concluded that adrenal weights appear to be unreliable as stress indicators in the mature hens. Francis et al. (1967) reared three strains of Single Comb White Leghorn males at 15, 182 and 2,215 meters above sea level and concluded this significantly affected relative heart weight. A study was conducted to determine the development of broilers reared under various constant temperatures from 1 to 56 days of age as measured by liver, heart, and adrenal weights. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Immediately after hatching, 120 commercial broiler chicks were placed in each of four environmental…
GT-1a or GT-1b Subtype-Specific Resistance Profiles for Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors Telaprevir and HCV-796

ABSTRACT In vitro, telaprevir selects subtype-specific resistance pathways for hepatitis C virus GT-1a and GT-1b, as described to have occurred in patients. In GT-1a, the HCV-796 resistance mutation C316Y has low replication capacity (7%) that can be compensated for by the emergence of the mutation L392F or M414T, resulting in an increase in replication levels of ≥10-fold.
Mixed mode fracture testing of adhesively bonded wood specimens using a dual actuator load frame

Abstract An experimental evaluation of mixed mode fracture tests conducted on adhesively bonded wood specimens using a dual actuator load frame is presented. This unit allows the fracture mode mixity to be easily varied during testing of a given specimen, providing improved consistency, accuracy, and ease of testing over a range of loading modes. Double cantilever beam (DCB) type specimens made of southern yellow pine (Pinus spp.) wood substrates bonded with a commercially available one part polyurethane adhesive were tested over a wide range of mode mixities from pure mode I to pure mode II. The critical strain energy release rate (SERR) values were calculated from the measured load, displacement, and crack length data, in combination with material properties and specimen geometric parameters, and compared on a versus fracture envelope plot. Mean quasi-static fracture energy values were calculated to be 390 J m-2 and 420 J m-2 for mode I and mode II fracture, respectively. For various mixed mode phase angles, the critical SERR values were partitioned into mode I and mode II components. In mixed mode loading conditions the cracks were typically driven along the interface, which resulted in lower total fracture energy values when compared with those measured under pure mode I loading conditions. A drop in measured fracture energy of approximately 45% was observed with mode mixity phase angles as small as 16°, implying that engineering designs based on results from the popular mode I DCB test could be nonconservative in some situations. Fracture surfaces obtained at different mode mixities are also discussed. An improved understanding of fracture behavior of adhesively bonded wood joints under mixed mode loading through generation of fracture envelopes could lead to improved designs of bonded wood structures.
Structure of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains of 22 S outer arm dynein obtained from Tetrahymena cilia.

Here we document the UV-induced, vanadate-dependent cleavage of the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains of 22 S outer arm dynein obtained from Tetrahymena cilia. All three polypeptides have a single site of photocleavage in the presence of Mg2+, ATP, and vanadate (termed V1 cleavage). The alpha-chain yields complementary fragments with masses of 232 and 185 kDa, the beta-chain has complementary fragments with masses of 225 and 195 kDa, and the gamma-chain has complementary fragments with masses of 242 and 161 kDa. In the absence of ATP, only the beta-chain undergoes V1 cleavage. All three polypeptides have one single site of V2 cleavage, which are unaffected by the presence of nucleotide and only require the presence of Mn2+ and vanadate. V2 cleavage always occurs on the larger V1 fragments and is separated from the V1 site by 52, 48, and 57 kDa for the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-heavy chains, respectively. We have also found a third type of UV-induced vanadate-dependent cleavage which we have termed VMT cleavage. VMT cleavage occurs when dynein is bound to microtubules in an ATP-sensitive manner under V1 solution conditions that should only support cleavage of the beta-chain (i.e. vanadate, Mg2+, and absence of ATP). Under these conditions V1 cleavage of the beta-chain and V2 cleavage of all three chains occur. This is the first documented evidence of V2 cleavage occurring under V1 solution conditions and implies a change in dynein structure when it binds to a microtubule. Using a combination of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, we have been able to construct linear polypeptide maps of all three heavy chains. Their relationship to the polypeptide maps previously obtained for heavy chains obtained from the dynein of Chlamydomonas and sea urchin axonemes is discussed.