Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cell-penetrating peptides for drug delivery across membrane barriers

During the last decade, cell-penetrating peptides have been investigated for their ability to overcome the plasma membrane barrier of mammalian cells for the intracellular or transcellular delivery of cargoes as diverse as low molecular weight drugs, imaging agents, oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins and colloidal carriers such as liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles. Their ability to cross biological membranes in a non-disruptive way without apparent toxicity is highly desired for increasing drug bioavailability. This review provides an overview of the application of cell-penetrating peptides as transmembrane drug delivery agents, according to the recent literature, and discusses critical issues and future challenges in relation to fully understanding the fundamental principles of the cell-penetrating peptide-mediated membrane translocation of cargoes and the exploitation of their therapeutic potential.
Design for manufacturability for fabless manufactuers

When a company designs and sells ICs but outsources their manufacture, design for manufacturability poses special challenges. It is clear that these DfM solutions are very complex and require a series of fundamental new physical models and design practices. Practical deployment of DfM solutions requires development of an entire incremental infrastructure on both the process and design sides of the technology integration spectrum. Optimizing the various DfM methods involves complex, multi-faceted tradeoffs that are ultimately dependent on target technology and various product attributes. DfM is definitely not a one-size-fits-all panacea for all of the process manufacturability and variability challenges. Complete and successful DfM deployment is a true ecosystem that requires multiple tools using multiple models, potentially calibrated to multiple levels of accuracy, inserted at multiple points in the design flow.
Measurement of Evaporation from Bare Soil and its Estimation Using Surface Resistance

Evaporation from soil, Es, is important to land surface energy balance and has been estimated in many studies using a surface resistance approach. We investigate the accuracy of this approach using detailed measurement and simulation. Hourly evaporation rates were measured using microlysimeters and load cells at two semiarid sites with bare soil. A numerical model of water (liquid and vapor) and heat fluxes in a soil profile (the soil water, energy, and transpiration (SWEAT) model) provided an accurate simulation of measured evaporation rates. Using output from SWEAT, relationships between soil resistance rs and soil surface water content θs (0–20 and 0–50 mm) are determined and are then used to estimate Es. These rs-based models performed well over a period of several days but provided poor estimates of Es on an hourly or even a daily basis. A characteristic divergence between measured Es rates and potential evaporation rates at a time during the early daylight hours was not well simulated by rs-based models. Anrs(θs) function for a similar soil at a different location underestimated Es by about 60%, Our work suggests that rs calculated from both evaporative demand and near-surface soil water content θs is likely to be more accurate.
DECISÕES ESTRATÉGICAS DE LOCALIZAÇÃO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO PARA REDES DE SUPERMERCADOS DE JUIZ DE FORA (MG)

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as decisoes estrategicas de localizacao das principais redes de supermercados em Juiz de Fora (MG). Para tanto, foram definidos tres mercados geograficos e, posteriormente, inferiu-se sobre as parcelas de mercado utilizando a logica do modelo da cidade linear com entradas sequenciais. Os resultados indicam que ha um posicionamento geografico estrategico como padrao de entrada: nos tres grupos, sempre ha duas empresas de uma mesma rede na area geografica em questao, confrontando uma rival (mecanismo de abertura de filiais proximas entre si). No caso do Grupo que envolve duas filiais da rede Bahamas e o Carrefour, os numeros referentes as parcelas de mercado parecem nao condizer com percentuais de mercado e lucros que se espera para uma empresa de âmbito nacional confrontando uma rede regional. Este resultado nao se altera em termos de ordenamento quando comparados com os resultados sem a inclusao da area de influencia, mas a desvantagem relativa da parcela de mercado do Carrefour se intensifica. A inclusao da area de influencia no Grupo B resultou em configuracao de acordo com o principio de diferenciacao minima, com um acrescimo de parcela de mercado da empresa que confrontou duas rivais.
Particulate nature of inhaled zinc oxide nanoparticles determines systemic effects and mechanisms of pulmonary inflammation in mice

Abstract Inhalation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) has potential health impact. Because zinc ion may involve in the toxicity of ZnONP, we compared adverse effects of inhaled aerosolized ZnONP and zinc nitrate in mice. Aerosolized ZnONP and zinc nitrate were well-dispersed in the inhalation chamber. Inhalation of 0.86 mg/m3 ZnONP or 1.98 mg/m3 zinc nitrate for 5 h caused acute inflammation mainly at bronchioloalveolar junctions of lungs at 24-h post-exposure. Inhalation of ZnONP or zinc nitrate increased metallothionein expression in the epithelial cells of brochioloalveolar junction. While the effects on cytokines secretion in bronchoalveolar lavage were similar between ZnONP and zinc nitrate, only ZnONP increased lactate dehydrogenase activity. However, repeated exposure to 0.86 mg/m3 ZnONP 5 h/day for 5 days failed to cause a similar adverse effect. Either single or repeated exposure to 0.86 mg/m3 ZnONP increased activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase and creatine phosphokinase in blood. In contrast, exposure to zinc nitrate had no similar systemic effects. In human bronchial epithelial cells, ZnONP-induced interleukin-8 secretion was partially prevented by co-treatment with the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor. Furthermore, ZnONP-induced pulmonary inflammation was greater in wild-type mice than in TLR4-deficent mice. It appears that ZnONP-induced acute pulmonary inflammation partially depended on TLR4. In summary, we demonstrated the dose-responsive effects for inhalation of ZnONP and zinc nitrate in mice. The threshold of cytokines induction for inhalation of ZnONP for 5 h was 0.43 mg/m3. The particulate characters of ZnONP might contribute to the systemic adverse effects and shall be evaluated for assessing its health impact in humans.
Deutsch-französische Beziehungen seit der Wiedervereinigung : das Tandem fasst wieder Tritt

Bilateralismus in den 90er Jahren - Dissonanzen im Prozess der deutschen Wiedervereinigung - Europapolitische Konzeptionen Deutschlands und Frankreichs - Die Wirtschafts- und Wahrungspolitik - Die Sicherheitspolitik - Aktiver Bilateralismus als Voraussetzung von Integrationsfortschritten
Survival with congenital heart disease and need for follow up in adult life

OBJECTIVE To predict the growth in demand for long term follow up of adults with congenital heart disease. DESIGN Observed diagnoses of congenital heart disease in infancy and childhood were adjusted for observed infant survival, predicted further survival to age 16 years, underascertainment in older childhood, and predicted need for long term follow up. SETTING The resident population of one health region in the UK. PATIENTS All confirmed cardiovascular malformations diagnosed in 1985 to 1999 in children born in 1985 to 1994. RESULTS 1942 cases of congenital heart disease were diagnosed in infancy in a population of 377 310 live births (5.2/1000). 1588 (82%) survived to 1 year and 1514 were predicted to survive to age 16. 605 further diagnoses were made in childhood—678 when adjusted for underascertainment. Thus, 2192 children were predicted to reach age 16, of whom 784 would require long term follow up in adult life. The adult population would comprise 28% complex, 54% significant, and 18% minor congenital heart disease. These figures predict the need for adult follow up of congenital heart disease of over 200 extra cases per 100 000 live births each year or over 1600 extra cases a year every year in the UK. CONCLUSIONS The need for follow up of congenital heart disease in adult life is likely to grow linearly, with increasing complexity and increasing need for reinvestigation and reintervention with time. Appropriate provision should be made for adequate manpower, resources, and facilities for care of these patients.
One-dimensional kinetic models of granular flows

We introduce and discuss a one-dimensional kinetic model of the Boltzmann equation with dissipative collisions and variable coefficient of restitution. Then, the behavior of the Boltzmann equation in the quasi elastic limit is investigated for a wide range of the rate function. By this limit procedure we obtain a class of nonlinear equations classified as nonlinear friction equations. The analysis of the cooling process shows that the nonlinearity on the relative velocity is of paramount importance for the finite time extinction of the solution.
Effects of different sewage sludge applications on heavy metal accumulation, growth and yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

ABSTRACT In this study, we present the response of spinach to different amendment rates of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g kg−1) in a greenhouse pot experiment, where plant growth, biomass and heavy metal uptake were measured. The results showed that sewage sludge application increased soil electric conductivity (EC), organic matter, chromium and zinc concentrations and decreased soil pH. All heavy metal concentrations of the sewage sludge were below the permissible limits for land application of sewage sludge recommended by the Council of the European Communities. Biomass and all growth parameters (except the shoot/root ratio) of spinach showed a positive response to sewage sludge applications up to 40 g kg−1 compared to the control soil. Increasing the sewage sludge amendment rate caused an increase in all heavy metal concentrations (except lead) in spinach root and shoot. However, all heavy metal concentrations (except chromium and iron) were in the normal range and did not reach the phytotoxic levels. The spinach was characterized by a bioaccumulation factor <1.0 for all heavy metals. The translocation factor (TF) varied among the heavy metals as well as among the sewage sludge amendment rates. Spinach translocation mechanisms clearly restricted heavy metal transport to the edible parts (shoot) because the TFs for all heavy metals (except zinc) were <1.0. In conclusion, sewage sludge used in the present study can be considered for use as a fertilizer in spinach production systems in Saudi Arabia, and the results can serve as a management method for sewage sludge.
Crossed Aphasia in Early Childhood

A four‐year‐old child was admitted to hospital with an infarct of the right middle cerebral artery involving the frontoparietal area. His symptoms included left hemiplegia and aphasia. After two weeks, he had hemiparesis, word‐finding and naming problems and enuresis. A year later he demonstrated elective mutism at school, had attention and short‐term memory impairments, occasional enuresis and an average IQ. He was shy and withdrawn; this is interesting, since depression is usually associated with left‐hemispheric lesions. It is suggested that an early period of mutism should be included among the criteria for the study of crossed aphasia in children, as this is a common occurrence in such cases. Even after recovery of speech, impairments in attention and academic skills may persist.
Factors affecting patellar tracking after total knee arthroplasty.

This study examined factors that influence patellar tracking after total knee arthroplasty. A total of 62 knees were evaluated radiographically for postoperative patellar tracking. Six factors were examined regarding their influence on postoperative patellar tracking. This study showed the effects of patellar component position, patellar resection angle, and lateral retinacular release on postoperative patellar tracking. There was no significant effect of the remaining 3 factors: the thickness of the patellar resection, preoperative patellar tilt, and rotational alignment of the femoral component. A medialized patellar component and obliquity of resection of the patella are effective for obtaining proper patellar tracking, whereas the evaluation of the influence of the external rotation of the femoral component requires more clinical studies.
An Updated Validation of Promega’s PowerPlex® 16 System: High Throughput Databasing Under Reduced PCR Volume Conditions on Applied Biosystem’s 96 Capillary 3730xl DNA Analyzer *

Abstract: The PowerPlex® 16 System from Promega Corporation allows single tube multiplex amplification of sixteen short tandem repeat (STR) loci including all 13 core combined DNA index system STRs. This report presents an updated validation of the PowerPlex® 16 System on Applied Biosystem’s 96 capillary 3730xl DNA Analyzer. The validation protocol developed in our laboratory allows for the analysis of 1536 loci (96 × 16) in c. 50 min. We have further optimized the assay by decreasing the reaction volume to one‐quarter that recommended by the manufacturer thereby substantially reducing the total cost per sample without compromising reproducibility or specificity. This reduction in reaction volume has the ancillary benefit of dramatically increasing the sensitivity of the assay allowing for accurate analysis of lower quantities of DNA. Due to its substantially increased throughput capability, this extended validation of the PowerPlex® 16 System should be useful in reducing the backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples currently facing public DNA forensic laboratories.
CCL2/Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Mediates Enhanced Transmigration of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Leukocytes across the Blood–Brain Barrier: A Potential Mechanism of HIV–CNS Invasion and NeuroAIDS

Encephalitis and dementia associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are characterized by leukocyte infiltration into the CNS, microglia activation, aberrant chemokine expression, blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and eventual loss of neurons. Little is known about whether human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection of leukocytes affects their ability to transmigrate in response to chemokines and to alter BBB integrity. We now demonstrate that HIV infection of human leukocytes results in their increased transmigration across our tissue culture model of the human BBB in response to the chemokine CCL2, as well as in disruption of the BBB, as evidenced by enhanced permeability, reduction of tight junction proteins, and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. HIV-infected cells added to our model did not transmigrate in the absence of CCL2, nor did this condition alter BBB integrity. The chemokines CXCL10/interferon-gamma-inducible protein of 10 kDa, CCL3/macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, or CCL5/RANTES (regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted) did not enhance HIV-infected leukocyte transmigration or BBB permeability. The increased capacity of HIV-infected leukocytes to transmigrate in response to CCL2 correlated with their increased expression of CCR2, the chemokine receptor for CCL2. These data suggest that CCL2, but not other chemokines, plays a key role in infiltration of HIV-infected leukocytes into the CNS and the subsequent pathology characteristic of NeuroAIDS.
Conditional symbolic analysis detects nonlinear influences of respiration on cardiovascular control in humans

We propose a symbolic analysis framework for the quantitative characterization of complex dynamical systems. It allows the description of the time course of a single variable, the assessment of joint interactions and an analysis triggered by a conditioning input. The framework was applied to spontaneous variability of heart period (HP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and integrated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) with the aim of characterizing cardiovascular control and nonlinear influences of respiration at rest in supine position, during orthostatic challenge induced by 80° head-up tilt (TILT) and about 3 min before evoked pre-syncope signs (PRESY). The approach detected (i) the exaggerated sympathetic modulation and vagal withdrawal from HP variability and the increased presence of fast MSNA variability components during PRESY compared with TILT; (ii) the increase of the SAP–HP coordination occurring at slow temporal scales and a decrease of that occurring at faster time scales during PRESY compared with TILT; (iii) the reduction of the coordination between fast MSNA and SAP patterns during TILT and PRESY; (iv) the nonlinear influences of respiration leading to an increased likelihood to observe the abovementioned findings during expiration compared with inspiration one. The framework provided simple, quantitative indexes able to distinguish experimental conditions characterized by different states of the autonomic nervous system and to detect the early signs of a life threatening situation such as postural syncope.
Weak photonic band gap effect on the fluorescence lifetime in three-dimensional colloidal photonic crystals

The photonic band gap ~PBG! effect on the fluorescence lifetime of molecules in three–dimensional colloidal photonic crystals is studied theoretically by means of a full vectorial quantum electrodynamics. In these colloidal systems where the refractive index contrast is as low as below 1.2, the PBG-induced lifetime variation is found to be below 5%. Our theoretical simulations can help to distinguish the pure PBG effect on the observed fluorescence lifetime variation from other effects such as complex electronic and chemical interactions that can occur in condensed-matter materials.
3D Ordered Macroporous MoS2@C Nanostructure for Flexible Li‐Ion Batteries

A flexible and robust electrode is demonstrated by assembling the 3D ordered macroporous MoS2 @C nanostructure on carbon cloth with ultrasmall few-layered MoS2 nanosheets homogenously embedded into the interconnected carbon wall. Such unique nanostructures are favorable for enhancing lithium storage capacity, directly applied as a flexible electrode, demonstrating a very high electrochemical performance and superior cycling stability for lithium-ion batteries.
The Synchrony Phenotype Persists after Elimination of Multiple GATC Sites from the dnaA Promoter of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT To examine whether methylation of the GATC sites present in the dnaA promoter region is responsible for the strict temporal coordination of initiation events at oriC as measured by the synchrony of initiation, we introduced point mutations eliminating three (TGW1) and five (TGW2) of the six GATC sites present in the dnaA promoter region. All of the strains containing these mutations, including the one with five GATC sites eliminated, initiated chromosomal replication synchronously.
Rotavirus Vaccination in Germany: Analysis of Nationwide Surveillance Data 2006 to 2010

Background: Efficacy of rotavirus (RV) vaccination is difficult to assess outside of controlled clinical trials. In countries with low-to-moderate RV vaccination coverage, annual variation in RV outbreak might have a stronger influence on morbidity than RV vaccination. Methods: We analyzed German RV surveillance data from 2006 to 2010 in the 16 federal states of Germany. To overcome the bias of annual variation of RV infections, we analyzed the effects of RV vaccination in Germany by comparing vaccination rate with morbidity as indicated by notification data. Results: RV vaccination coverage in 0- to 1-year-old children in Germany increased from 3% in 2007 to 26% in 2010. The vaccination coverage varied highly between different federal states of Germany (2007, 1%–14%; 2008, 4%–35%, 2009, 8%–52%; and 2010, 17%–64%). There was a significant correlation between RV vaccination coverage and reduction in morbidity (r = −0.66, P = 0.0054) in 0- to <2-year-old children. The proportion of children vaccinated by one of the 2 vaccines, Rotarix and RotaTeq, was similar. Although we found a temporal delay of the epidemic RV seasons 2008 to 2010, those changes remained within the naturally occurring range. Conclusions: The overall RV vaccination coverage in Germany is still low as compared with other countries with vaccination-supporting policies. Initial data suggest an efficacy of the vaccination.
Mobile Phone Use Across Cultures: A Comparison Between the United Kingdom and Sudan

Recently, the ubiquitous use of mobile phones by people from different cultures has grown enormously. For example, mobile phones are used to perform both private and business conversations. In many cases, mobile phone conversations take place in public places. In this article, we attempt to understand if cultural differences influence the way people use their mobile phones in public places. The material considered here draws on the existing literature of mobile phones, and quantitative and qualitative work carried out in the UK (as a mature mobile phone market) and the Sudan (that is part of Africa and the Middle East culture with its emerging mobile phone market). Results indicate that people in the Sudan are less likely to use their mobile phones on public transport or whilst walking down the street, in comparison to their UK counterparts. In addition, the Sudanese are more willing to switch off their mobile phones in places of worship, classes, and meetings. Implications are drawn from the study for the design of mobile phones for different cultures.
Performance evaluation of denoising based approximate message passing (D-AMP) algorithm from noisy under-sampled CT images

Image segmentation from noisy CT image has a number of applications in different clinical diagnosis. In order to automatically perform this task from an under-sampled noisy CT image, we have merged compressed sensing reconstruction technique and hierarchical clustering algorithm together in this paper. Denoising based approximate message passing (D-AMP) algorithm is used as a compressed sensing reconstruction technique. Then the unlabeled local feature points from the reconstructed image are classified into two segments using hierarchical clustering algorithm. We have evaluated the performance of both these techniques by using a number of metrics. The research knowledge from this project might be extended in future works such as reconstruction of CT image from raw medical data and 3D segmentation of medical images.
Menstrual migraine: a review of hormonal causes, prophylaxis and treatment

Migraine in some women is associated with changes in sex hormone levels. Many women suffer from increased frequency of migraine around the time of menses. Menstrual migraine (MM) may be more severe than migraine that occurs at other times of the cycle. The pathogenesis of MM is probably related to declining estrogen levels after exposure to high levels of the hormone for several days. The acute treatment of MM is similar to that of non-menstrually-related attacks. 5-HT1B/1D agonists (triptans), ergots, NSAIDs, or combination analgesics may be used, although the response to some drugs may not be as robust as that of non-menstrual attacks. Women who suffer from frequent or debilitating MM attacks may benefit from perimenstrual prophylaxis that can be either hormonal or non-hormonal.
A dual-band planar quasi-Yagi antenna with double-dipole driver

A quasi-Yagi antenna with dual-band performance is presented. The proposed antenna consists of a printed double-dipole driver element fed by a 50 ohm coaxial line, two co-planar dipole directors and two reflectors. Different from the other quasi-Yagi antennas, this design employs a new driver element, which helps to obtain a dual-band functionality. The proposed antenna operates at 2.4-, 5.2-, and 5.8 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. It is printed on a dielectric substrate of thickness 0.8 mm and relative permittivity 4.4. The size of the antenna is 33×52 mm2.