Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The determination of an optimal waste management scenario for Kampala, Uganda

The quality of the environment in the city of Kampala is deteriorating. The city needs a novel waste management approach to improve the environmental quality in its heterogeneous settlement patterns. Earlier, an integrated urban waste flow model (IUWFM) was applied to project the future waste flows and their impacts on the environment of Kampala using four waste management scenarios. These scenarios were ‘business-as-usual’, ‘more enforcement’, ‘more collection’ and ‘proper management’. The robustness of the scenario results was determined by using a multi-criteria decision analysis. Twenty-four criteria were identified and grouped as environmental, economic, social, technological and general. Equal weights were assigned to these five sets of criteria. The four scenarios were evaluated against all criteria, and a sensitivity analysis was performed on the role of the equal weights on the choice of the scenarios. The results showed that ‘proper management’ scenario, which integrates diverse technologies and management programs matching with the local context, is the optimal approach to improve Kampala’s environmental quality. Scenarios that emphasized more waste collection, but less resource recovery were ranked in the middle. The scenario of maintaining the status quo performed worst. Application of a mix of diverse technologies and management programs matching the local conditions is the most optimal solution to improve Kampala’s environmental quality.
Population structure of long‐finned pilot whales in the North Atlantic: a correlation with sea surface temperature?

The long‐finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, is a social, pelagic odontocete distributed widely in the cold temperate waters of the North Atlantic. Despite genetic, morphometric, physiological and observational studies, it remains unclear whether any population substructure exists. We have used eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to analyse samples from four disparate sampling sites: USA East Coast (Cape Cod), West Greenland, the Faeroe Islands and the UK. Our results indicate that substructure does exist, and is particularly pronounced between West Greenland and other sites. The magnitudes of the various pairwise comparisons do not support a simple isolation‐by‐distance model. Instead, the patterns of genetic differentiation suggest that population isolation occurs between areas of the ocean which differ in sea surface temperature. Such a mechanism is supported by the observation that temperature is a primary factor determining the relative distributions of two short‐finned pilot whale (G. macrorhynchus) populations off the Pacific coast of Japan.
The interdigestive myo‐electric complex of the stomach and small bowel of dogs.

1. Szurszewski (1969) described a cyclic recurring, caudally migrating band of intense action potential activity, the activity fromt, in the small bowel of dogs fasted 18–21 hr. The finding has been confirmed by Carlson, Bedi & Code (1972) and by Grivel & Ruckebusch (1972). The objectives of the present study were to extend these observations first by indentifying the full sequence of myo‐electric events in the stomach and small bowel of healthy conscious dogs fasted for 24–48 hr and for longer periods and second by determining the effect of ingestion of mild and of saline solution on the complex and the role of gastric distension in their action. 2. Under surgical anaesthesia, silver‐silver chloride electrodes were implanted on the serosal surface of the stomach and small bowel of seven dogs, and recordings of electric activity were started when the dogs had recovered. One hundred and nine interdigestive complexes were studied in detail in five of the dogs during period ranging from 5 to 14 months. All observations were made while the dogs were healthy, conscious, and fasted. 3. The period of intense action potential activity, the activity frot or band, was found to be one phase of a cyclic‐recurring sequence of changes in action potential activity. The entire sequence, composed of four phases, occured almost simultaneously in the stomach and duodenun and then migrated distally in sequence over the entire small bowel. As one cycle terminated in the distal ileum, another had started in the stomach and duodenum, and this cyclic recurrence continued during fasts of 4 and 5 days. 4. The cycles of the interdigestive complex tended to recur at the same time each day in three of the dogs. The mean periods of the cycles ranged from 90 to 114 min, and the mean time of their propagation from stomach to terminal ileim ranged from 105 to 134 min. The mean velocity of the activity fronts (phase III of the cycles) was 5‐7‐11‐7 cm/min in the orad portion of the small bowel and 0‐9‐2‐5 cm/min in the distal half. The mean calculated length of the activity front diminished from a range of 42–62 cm in the duodenum to 5‐10 cm in the ileum. 5. Intragastric instillation of 400 ml. milk always interrupted the complex present in the bowel at the time of instillation and usually suppressed the next, whereas 400 ml. saline solution interrupted the complex present in the bowel only at the time of instillation. Distension of the stomach with a ballon always suppressed the interdigestive complex in the stomach and duodenum but sometimes failed to interrupt its migration along the bowe.
Giα1-Mediated Cardiac Electrophysiological Remodeling and Arrhythmia in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background— Cardiac hypertrophy is a major risk factor for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, the underlying signaling mechanisms involved in the induction of arrhythmia and electrophysiological remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy are unclear. Methods and Results— Using an inducible gene-switch approach, we achieved tissue-specific and temporally regulated induction of a well-established hypertrophic pathway, the Ras-Raf–mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway, in adult mouse heart. On Ras activation, the transgenic animal developed ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmias. The development of ventricular arrhythmias was temporally correlated with electrophysiological remodeling in isolated ventricular myocytes, including action potential prolongation, increased sodium-calcium exchanger activity, reduced outward potassium currents, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ defects, and loss of protein kinase A–dependent phospholamban phosphorylation. From genome-wide expression profiling, we discovered a selective induction of Gα inhibiting subunit 1 (Giα1) expression in the Ras transgenic heart. Treatment of transgenic animals with the Gi/o inhibitor pertussis toxin normalized the phospholamban phosphorylation by protein kinase A, reversed the action potential prolongation, and significantly reduced the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in Ras transgenic animals. Conclusions— These data suggest that selective induction of Gα inhibiting subunit 1 expression and activity is a novel downstream event in hypertrophic signaling that may be a critical factor leading to cellular electrophysiological remodeling and cardiac arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
L-band microware signature variation with sea surface temperature and its implication on aquarius sea surface salinity retrieval

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of sea surface temperature (SST) on L-band microwave measurements and its implication on sea surface salinity (SSS) retrieval. Of particular interest is in the cold & fresh water where large SSS retrieval errors exist in comparison with Argo data. We found systematic SST dependence in Aquarius radar backscatter σ<inf>o</inf> and radiometer excess emissivity Δe, with the emissivity of specular surface estimated using collocated HYCOM SSS and NCEP or SSMI/S wind. In the cold water under medium to high wind, σ<inf>o</inf> and Δe show opposite trend on SST: σ<inf>o</inf> reduces while Δe enhances by more than 10% relative to their corresponding values at the reference SST (15°C). The geographical distribution of matchups with SST<5°C & wind speed between 5–20 m s<sup>−1</sup>show that data collected under these conditions are coincident with the area where dSSS (=SSS-S<inf>Argo</inf>) is largely positive. This is consistent with the SST trend observed in σ<inf>o</inf>, which would result in overestimation in roughness if the SST effect not considered. However, the enhanced Δe in cold water is puzzling because it would cause even higher value for SSS retrieval if modeled as roughness. SSS retrieved with SST correction reduces bias but results on error improvement is mixed. We hypothesis there is an unknown defect in the dielectric constant model for cold water and propose an empirical correction for the Aquarius SSS retrieval.
Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in China: a neonatal units-based prospective study.

PURPOSE To analyze the incidence and severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in China, and to explore the workload implications of applying different criteria. METHODS A prospective, neonatal units-based study undertaken in two tertiary level hospitals in Shanghai, China, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. All infants with birth weight (BW) of 2000 g or less and/or gestational age (GA) of 34 weeks or less were screened for ROP. Retinopathy of prematurity was classified using the international classification, and was treated in accordance with the recommendations of the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. RESULTS A total of 2825 (93.7%) of 3014 eligible infants were screened, and ROP was diagnosed in 503 infants (17.8%). One hundred ninety-one infants (6.8%) had type 1 or worse ROP and were treated with laser or vitrectomy. The mean GA of ROP patients was 29.9 ± 2.1 weeks and their mean BW was 1425 ± 266 g. Infants who needed treatment for ROP had a mean GA of 29.3 ± 2.1 weeks and mean BW of 1331 ± 330 g. Among these treated infants, 18 infants (9.4%) exceeded the United Kingdom's (UK) screening criteria, and 28 (14.7%) exceeded the criteria used in the United States (US). If narrower criteria, as in GA less than or equal to 33 weeks and/or BW less than or equal to 1750 g were adopted, almost 16.9% fewer infants would not have been examined, with no infant missing treatment. CONCLUSIONS Larger, older infants are at risk in China and screening criteria used in the US and UK may not be suitable for China. Further population-based studies are recommended to determine the necessity of modifying the current ROP screening protocol.
Complex Interplay Among Regulators of Drug Resistance Genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae*

The Gal4p family of yeast zinc cluster proteins comprises regulators of multidrug resistance genes. For example, Pdr1p and Pdr3p bind as homo- or heterodimers to pleiotropic drug response elements (PDREs) found in promoters of target genes. Other zinc cluster activators of multidrug resistance genes include Stb5p and Yrr1p. To better understand the interplay among these activators, we have performed native co-immunoprecipitation experiments using strains expressing tagged zinc cluster proteins from their natural chromosomal locations. Interestingly, Stb5p is found predominantly as a Pdr1p heterodimer and shows little homodimerization. No interactions of Stb5p with Pdr3p or Yrr1p could be detected in our assays. In contrast to Stb5p, Yrr1p is only detected as a homodimer. Similar results were obtained using glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays. Importantly, the purified DNA binding domains of Stb5p and Pdr1p bound to a PDRE as heterodimers in vitro. These results suggest that the DNA binding domains of Pdr1p and Stb5p are sufficient for heterodimerization. Our data demonstrate a complex interplay among these activators and suggest that Pdr1p is a master drug regulator involved in recruiting other zinc cluster proteins to fine tune the regulation of multidrug resistance genes.
GDP-mannose transporter paralogues play distinct roles in polarized growth of Aspergillus nidulans

GDP-mannose transporters (GMT) carry GDP-mannose nucleotide sugars from the cytosol across the Golgi apparatus membrane for use as substrates in protein glycosylation in plants, animals and fungi. Genomes of some fungal species, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, contain only one gene encoding a GMT, while others, including Aspergillus nidulans, contain two (gmtA and gmtB). We previously showed that cell wall integrity and normal hyphal morphogenesis in A. nidulans depend upon the function of GmtA and that GmtA localizes to a Golgi-like compartment. Cells bearing the calI11 mutation in gmtA also have reduced cell surface mannosylation. Here we show that GmtB colocalizes with GmtA, suggesting that the role of GmtB is similar to that of GmtA, although the respective transcript levels differ during spore germination and early development. Transcript levels of gmtB are high in ungerminated spores and remain so throughout the first 16 h of germination. In contrast, transcript levels of gmtA are negligible in ungerminated spores but increase to levels comparable to those of gmtB during germination. These observations suggest that although GmtA and GmtB reside within the same subcellular compartments, they nevertheless perform distinct functions at different stages of development.
Design and Computational Optimization of a Decoupled 2-DOF Monolithic Mechanism

This paper presents the mechanical design, computational optimization, and experimentation of a decoupled 2-DOF monolithic mechanism. In the mechanical design, statically indeterminate leaf parallelograms provide the decoupling effect, and the displacement of the piezoelectric actuator (PEA) is amplified with a statically indeterminate lever mechanism. In a piezo-driven mechanism, the contact interface between the PEA and the mechanism is a major cause of the discrepancies between the estimated and measured characteristics. However, no explicit and reliable model is available to estimate the contact stiffness. In this paper, a computational optimization based on the response surface methodology is performed and the influence of the contact interface is taken into consideration by adding adequate safety margin to the design objectives. Ultimately, a prototype is manufactured and experimentally investigated for its characteristics and performances. Experimental results show that the developed mechanism has a workspace range in excess of 82 μm × 82 μm with a first natural frequency of 423 Hz (with a 53.4-g load mass). The cross-axis coupling ratio is experimentally measured to be below 1%, indicating excellent decoupling performances.
Cloning and genetic analysis of the Vibrio vulnificus fur gene and construction of a fur mutant by in vivo marker exchange

Vibrio vulnificus infections have been associated with iron overload and preexisting liver disease. Iron may play a major role in the pathogenesis of V. vulnificus infections. Many virulence genes, as well as genes involved in the transport of iron by bacteria, are regulated by iron, with increased expression under low-iron conditions. In Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae, transcriptional regulation by iron depends on the fur gene. We utilized Southern hybridization under low- and high-stringency conditions with both E. coli and V. cholerae fur gene probes to demonstrate that there are fur-homologous sequences in the DNAs of V. vulnificus, Vibrio fischeri, and Aeromonas sp. but not in the DNAs of the other bacterial species tested. We developed a restriction map and cloned the fur-homologous sequence from V. vulnificus. The hybridizing clone of V. vulnificus chromosomal DNA complemented a V. cholerae fur mutant. DNA sequence analysis confirmed the presence of a 149-amino-acid open reading frame that was 77% homologous to E. coli Fur and 93% homologous to V. cholerae Fur. Primer extension localized a single promoter for the V. vulnificus fur gene. Northern (RNA) blot analysis and beta-galactosidase assays of an operon fusion to lacZ suggested that there was not significant regulation of transcription of V. vulnificus fur by iron or the E. coli Fur protein. We used marker exchange to construct a V. vulnificus fur deletion mutant and confirmed its phenotype by observing overexpression of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fur deletion mutant of V. vulnificus will be helpful in future studies of the role of iron in V. vulnificus pathogenesis.
Diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

The prognoses of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the ovary are quite poor. However, preoperative diagnosis is difficult due to the rarity of this tumor and its similarity to mature cystic teratoma (MCT). The objective of this study was to assess the value of tumor markers and clinical characteristics in making a differential diagnosis between MCT and squamous cell carcinoma arising from MCT.
A Novel 1.2–V 4.5-ppm/°C Curvature-Compensated CMOS Bandgap Reference

This paper proposes a novel CMOS bandgap reference (BGR) with high-order curvature-compensation by using MOS transistors operating in weak inversion region. The mechanism of the proposed curvature-compensation technique is analyzed thoroughly and the corresponding BGR circuit was implemented in standard CMOS 0.18 μm technology. The experimental results show that the proposed BGR achieves 4.5 ppm/°C over the temperature range of -40°C to 120°C at 1.2 V supply voltage. It consumes only 36 μA. In addition, it achieves line regulation performance of 0.054%/V. It is suitable for low-power applications requiring references with high precision.
Formulation of curcumin delivery with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes: characteristics and anticancer effects in vitro

Abstract Context: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), an important class of artificial nanomaterials with unique physicochemical properties, were used as novel carriers of curcumin. Objective: Formulation and evaluation of curcumin-loaded SWCNTs systems for utilizing the curcumin’s anticancer potential by circumventing conventional limitations of extremely low aqueous solubility and instability under physiological conditions, and combining SWCNTs photothermal therapy enabled by the strong optical absorbance of SWCNTs in the 0.8–1.4 μm resulting in excessive local heating. Methods: After functionalized SWCNTs were confirmed, they were conjugated with curcumin (SWCNT-Cur). Subsequently, the formulation was analyzed for size, zeta-potential and morphology. And the solubility, stability and release of curcumin were assessed using spectrofluorometer, and the solid state of the curcumin was determined using X-ray diffraction and UV spectroscopy. Furthermore, in PC-3 cells, photothermal response was further determined by irradiating laser after the antitumor effect of SWCNT-Cur was evaluated. Results and discussion: SWCNTs were functionalized, and subsequent SWCNT-Cur conjugates were found to possess an average size of 170.4 nm, a zeta potential of −12.5 mV and to significantly enhance the solubility and stability of curcumin, overcoming the barriers to adequate curcumin delivery. Moreover, curcumin in SWCNT-Cur was in an amorphous form and could be rapidly released. In PC-3 cells, improved inhibition efficacy was achieved by SWCNT-Cur compared with native curcumin. Meanwhile, the SWCNTs in SWCNT-Cur served not only as scaffolds but also as thermal ablation agents, further inhibiting PC-3 cell growth. Conclusion: SWCNT-Cur assemblies may provide a promising delivery system for curcumin for use in cancer therapy.
Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) spreads to and replicates in the retina after endotoxin-induced disruption of the blood-retinal barrier of immunosuppressed BALB/c mice

The goal of this study was to determine whether disruption of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) facilitates spread of MCMV to the retina in immunosuppressed (IS) BALB/c mice. IS mice were inoculated intravenously (i.v.) with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) or with macrophages infected with MCMV for 4 days in vitro. The BRB was disrupted by injection of sodium iodate (i.v.) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, i.v. or anterior chamber). Frozen sections of ocular tissue were examined for MCMV antigens. The results showed that MCMV-infected cells were observed only in the choroid and ciliary body in IS mice with an intact BRB. After LPS injection, a few positive cells were observed in the retina of IS mice after i.v. injection of MCMV. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated IS mice, a few PKH-26-positive macrophages or MCMV-positive cells were observed in the retina at 1 or 2 days after injection of macrophages. No PKH-26-positive cells or virus-infected cells were noted in the retina of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated mice. Ten days after injection of virus-infected macrophages, MCMV-infected cells were observed in choroid and ciliary body of both LPS- and PBS-treated mice, but they were observed in the retina only in LPS-treated mice. The results support the idea that disruption of the BRB allows MCMV to spread to the retina of IS mice and that monocytes/macrophages disseminate MCMV to the retina in mice with a disrupted BRB. By extrapolation, damage to the BRB in immunosuppressed patients may facilitate spread of CMV-infected monocytes/macrophages to the retina.
Efficacy and safety of the oral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir in treating acute influenza: a randomized controlled trial. US Oral Neuraminidase Study Group.

CONTEXT Previous studies have shown oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor, to be effective in preventing influenza and treating experimental influenza. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in the treatment of naturally acquired influenza infection. DESIGN Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study conducted January through March 1998. SETTING Sixty primary care and university health centers throughout the United States. PARTICIPANTS A total of 629 healthy nonimmunized adults aged 18 to 65 years with febrile respiratory illness of no more than 36 hours' duration with temperature of 38 degrees C or more plus at least 1 respiratory symptom and 1 constitutional symptom. INTERVENTIONS Individuals were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups with identical appearing pills: oral oseltamivir phosphate, 75 mg twice daily (n = 211) or 150 mg (n = 209) twice daily, or placebo (n = 209). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Duration and severity of illness in individuals infected with influenza. RESULTS Two individuals withdrew before receiving medication and were excluded from further analyses. A total of 374 individuals (59.6%) were infected with influenza. Their duration of illness was reduced by more than 30% with both oseltamivir, 75 mg twice daily (median, 71.5 hours; P < .001), and oseltamivir, 150 mg twice daily (median, 69.9 hours; P = .006), compared with placebo (median, 103.3 hours). Severity of illness was reduced by 38% (median score, 597 score-hours; P < .001) with oseltamivir, 75 mg twice daily, and by 35% (median score, 626 score-hours; P < .001) with oseltamivir, 150 mg twice daily, vs placebo (median score, 963 score-hours). Oseltamivir treatment reduced the duration of fever and oseltamivir recipients returned to usual activities 2 to 3 days earlier than placebo recipients (P < or = .05). Secondary complications such as bronchitis and sinusitis occurred in 15% of placebo recipients compared with 7% of combined oseltamivir recipients (P = .03). Among all 629 subjects, oseltamivir reduced illness duration (76.3 hours and 74.3 hours for 75 mg and 150 mg, respectively, vs 97.0 hours for placebo; P = .004 for both comparisons) and illness severity (686 score-hours and 629 score-hours for 75 mg and 150 mg, respectively, vs 887 score-hours for placebo; P < .001 for both comparisons). Nausea and vomiting occurred more frequently in both oseltamivir groups (combined, 18.0% and 14.1%, respectively; P = .002) than in the placebo group (7.4% and 3.4%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that oral oseltamivir treatment reduces the duration and severity of acute influenza in healthy adults and may decrease the incidence of secondary complications.