Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Degradation of Lignin-Related Compounds by Actinomycetes

Evidence for activity against the lignin fraction of straw was produced for a range of actinomycete strains. Decolorization of the polymeric dye Poly R and oxidation of veratryl alcohol, indicators of ligninolytic activity in white rot fungi, and utilization of fractionated Kraft lignin and low-molecular-weight methoxylated aromatic compounds were the criteria used. The relationships between these activities and the solubilization of native lignin are discussed.
New risk factors of heart failure?

We appreciate very much Siirila-Waris et al. 1 for their excellent work on risk factors of heart failure. Progression of heart failure may be due to an initial cardiac injury, or mutation of the genetic programme, in association with activation of neurohormones and proinflammatory cytokines, resulting into immune activation, which worsens heart failure. Therefore, it may be proposed that any factor which can block neuroendocrine activation would be protective, whereas other factors that can enhance neurohormonal activity would be the risk factors of heart failure. Decreased heart rate variability, increased blood pressure variability, dyslipidemia, increased IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha, C-reactive protein, and adhesion molecules are other important determinants of mortality in patients of heart failure.2–4 Presence of coronary artery disease is also an important risk factor of mortality, which becomes worst if there is coexisting cardiac cachexia or obesity among these patients. Apart from above risk factors, …
Early evidence of ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk: cross sectional comparison of British South Asian and white children

Abstract Objectives: To examine whether British South Asian children differ in insulin resistance, adiposity, and cardiovascular risk profile from white children. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Primary schools in 10 British towns. Participants: British children aged 8 to 11 years (227 South Asian and 3415 white); 73 South Asian and 1287 white children aged 10 and 11 years provided blood samples (half fasting, half after glucose load). Main outcome measures: Insulin concentrations, anthropometric measures, established cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Mean ponderal index was lower in South Asian children than in white children (mean difference −0.43 kg/m3, 95% confidence interval −0.13 kg/m3 to −0.73 kg/m3). Mean waist circumferences and waist:hip ratios were similar. Mean insulin concentrations were higher in South Asian children (percentage difference was 53%, 14% to 106%, after fasting and 54%, 19% to 99%, after glucose load), though glucose concentrations were similar. Mean heart rate and triglyceride and fibrinogen concentrations were higher among South Asian children; serum total, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were similar in the two groups. Differences in insulin concentrations remained after adjustment for adiposity and other potential confounders. However, the relations between adiposity and insulin concentrations (particularly fasting insulin) were much stronger among South Asian children than among white children. Conclusions: The tendency to insulin resistance observed in British South Asian adults is apparent in children, in whom it may reflect an increased sensitivity to adiposity. Action to prevent non-insulin dependent diabetes in South Asian adults may need to begin during childhood. What is already known on this topic Compared with white people British South Asians are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and non-insulin dependent diabetes There is evidence that these conditions originate in early life What this study adds British South Asian children show higher average levels of insulin and insulin resistance than white children These ethnic differences in insulin resistance in childhood are not associated with corresponding differences in adiposity, particularly central adiposity Insulin metabolism seems to be more sensitive to a given degree of adiposity among the South Asian children compared with white children The prevention of insulin resistance and its consequences may need to begin during childhood, particularly in South Asians
Thrombin Attenuates Neuronal Cell Death and Modulates Astrocyte Reactivity Induced by β‐Amyloid In Vitro

Abstract: β‐Amyloid protein has been implicated as a potential causative agent in the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease. This possibility is supported by observations that β‐amyloid induces neuronal degeneration and astrocyte reactivity in vitro by as yet undefined mechanism(s). In this report, we present data demonstrating that the pathological effects of β‐amyloid on cultured cells are modulated by activation of the thrombin receptor. At concentrations between 50 and 500 nM, thrombin pretreatment significantly attenuates neurotoxicity mediated by fibrillar aggregates of β1–42 and β25–35 peptides. In cultured astrocytes, the stellate morphology induced by β1–42 and β25–35 aggregates can be prevented and reversed by thrombin exposures between 10 pM and 1 µM. In contrast, thrombin potentiates rather than attenuates the β‐amyloid‐induced increased expression of basic fibroblast growth factor, suggesting that thrombin differentially modulates the effects of β‐amyloid on astrocytes. Thrombin's effects on both neurons and astrocytes are mimicked by thrombin receptor‐activating peptide and inhibited by two potent thrombin inhibitors, hirudin and protease nexin‐1. These data provide both new insight into the signaling pathways underlying the cellular effects of β‐amyloid and additional support for the role of thrombin as an important mediator of neuropathological events.
Late Maturation of Visual Hyperacuity

We used a visual evoked-potential measure to study the development of two components of pattern vision, vernier acuity and grating acuity, in humans from early infancy through adolescence. These two visual functions develop at similar rates and have nearly the same absolute values between 1 month and 6 years of age. After age 6, grating acuity is constant at the adult level, but vernier acuity continues to improve, becoming a hyperacuity. Vernier acuity reaches asymptotic levels around age 14 years. These results suggest that adultlike vernier hyperacuity is not limited by spatial resolution or sensitivity of small receptive fields, but rather that the limitation is imposed by higher-level processing. Sensitivity, connections in visual cortical areas, or both therefore retain plasticity throughout childhood and into adolescence.
Examining the Relationship Between Physical Vulnerability and Public Perceptions of Global Climate Change in the United States

Although there is a growing body of research examining public perceptions of global climate change, little work has focused on the role of place and proximity in shaping these perceptions. This study extends previous conceptual models explaining risk perception associated with global climate change by adding a spatial dimension. Specifically, Geographic Information Systems and spatial analytical techniques are used to map and measure survey respondents' physical risk associated with expected climate change. Using existing spatial data, multiple measures of climate change vulnerability are analyzed along with demographic, attitudinal, and social contextual variables derived from a representative national survey to predict variation in risk perception. Bivariate correlation and multivariate regression analyses are used to identify and explain the most important indicators shaping individual risk perception. Analysis of the data suggests that the relationship between actual and perceived risk is driven by specific types of physical conditions and experiences.
Closely stacked oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s: effect of π-stacking on the electronic properties of conjugated chromophores.

In this work, a bicyclo[4.4. 1]undecane scaffold is used to hold oligo(phenylene ethynylene) units in a cofacially stacked arrangement along the entire length of the conjugated units. We study the impact that the resulting strong interchain interactions have on the photophysical properties. The length of the individual oligomer branches was varied from three to five rings to investigate the effect of conjugation on the electronic properties of the stacked segments. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded and compared to those of the corresponding unstacked analogues. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were carried out and helped to rationalize the low-energy features present in the fluorescence spectra of the stacked systems. The calculations indicate that the low-energy emissions are due to the presence of excimer-like states. The stronger intensity of the low-energy fluorescence band observed in the five-ring stacked system compared to the three-ring analogue is attributed to the smaller activation barrier that separates the local intrachain state and the excimer-like state in the former compound.
Selective depletion of neutrophils by a monoclonal antibody, RP‐3, suppresses dextran sulphate sodium‐induced colitis in rats

Administration of dextran sulphate sodium to animals induces acute colitis characterized by infiltration of large numbers of neutrophils into the colonic mucosa, which histologically resembles human active ulcerative colitis. It has been reported that neutrophils and the reactive oxygen metabolites produced by them are involved in the progress of ulcerative colitis. This study was intended to clarify their roles by using this animal model. First, possible sources and species of reactive oxygen metabolites were determined using luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence with addition of enzyme inhibitors and reactive oxygen metabolite scavengers. Next, to examine whether neutrophils and hypochlorous acid derived from them contribute to tissue injury, we administered RP‐3, a monoclonal antibody capable of selectively depleting neutrophils, and taurine, a hypochlorous acid scavenger, to rats treated with dextran sulphate sodium. Addition of azide, taurine, catalase, superoxide dismutase and dimethyl sulphoxide into colonic mucosal scrapings significantly inhibited chemiluminescence production, but allopurinol and indomethacin had no effects. These results suggest that excessive hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical are generated by the inflamed colonic mucosa. Intraperitoneal injections of RP‐3 significantly suppressed bleeding, tissue myeloperoxidase activity, chemiluminescence production and erosion formation. On the other hand, administration of taurine tended to inhibit bleeding and erosion formation to some extent, although it could not significantly suppress them. These data suggest that neutrophils play an important role in the development of this colitis and that hypochlorous acid might be one of the causes of tissue injury induced by neutrophils.
68–73 GHz common-base HBT amplifier in 55 nm SiGe technology

The design of a common-base (CB), power-combined, SiGe BiCMOS amplifier is reported. Wilkinson couplers are used for power splitting and combining at the input and output of the amplifier. The HBTs have three emitter fingers and each finger has a length of 2.7 μm and a width of 0.18 μm. The gain of the amplifier can be externally varied by biasing the HBTs from a 1.3-1.5 V dc supply applied to their collectors through on-chip bias tees and applying 850-900mV to the bases. Measurements on the fabricated amplifier reveal that the maximum gain can be varied between 10.91 and 15.75 dB, it has a 3-dB bandwidth from 68 to 73 GHz and an OP1dB of -1.8 dBm at 71 GHz. The chip area is 0.8 mm2 and it draws a dc power between 5.2 and 18.7 mW.
Random numbers from metastability and thermal noise

Pseudorandom number generators are algorithmic and thus, predictable. Ideally cryptography, simulation and modelling applications require a source of true random numbers. Presented is a true random number generator that exploits metastablity and thermal noise. The novelty is that the low-cost design can be fully integrated with standard CMOS technology.
Child-Computer Interaction SIG: Ethics and Values

This SIG will provide child-computer interaction researchers and practitioners an opportunity to discuss topics related to ethical challenges in the design, and use of interactive technologies for children. Topics include the role of big data, the impact of technology in children's social and physical ecosystem, and the consideration of ethics in children's participation in the design of technologies, and in the conceptualization of technologies for children.
Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea syndrome.

The association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), which are both frequent diseases, is likely to occur in a number of patients. We have prospectively investigated a large series (n = 265) of patients who were selected solely on the basis of a confirmed diagnosis of SAS (apnea + hypopnea index > 20/hr). An obstructive spirographic pattern, defined by an FEV1/VC ratio < or = 60%, was observed in 30 of 265 patients (11%). These patients (subgroup "overlap") were older (58 +/- 9) versus 53 +/- 10 yr, p = 0.01) than the remainder of the study population, and all were male patients. Body mass index (BMI) was identical in overlap patients to that in the remainder. Vital capacity and FEV1 were lower, by definition, in the overlap group. PaO2 was lower (66 +/- 10 versus 74 +/- 10 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and PaCO2 higher (42 +/- 6 versus 38 +/- 4 mm Hg, p < 0.001) in the overlap group. Hypoxemia (Pao2, < or = 65 mm Hg) was observed in 17 of 30 overlap patients and in 54 of 235 of the remainder. Hypercapnia (Paco2 > or = 45 mm Hg) was observed in 8 of 30 overlap patients and in 19 of 235 of the remainder. The pulmonary artery mean pressure (PAP) was higher in overlap patients both at rest (20 +/- 6 versus 15 +/- 5 mm Hg, p < 0.01) and during steady-state exercise (37 +/- 12 versus 29 +/- 10 mm Hg, p = 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Articulatory Correlates of Prosodic Control: Emotion and Emphasis

This study examines mandibular correlates of prosodic control in nonread dialog exchanges, in which the subject is asked to repeat the same correction of one digit in a three-digit sequence consisting of “five” or “nine” followed by “Pine Street. ” Articulatory and acoustic data were collected for four speakers of American English at the X-ray Microbeam Facilities at the University of Wisconsin. Jaw opening was measured as vertical jaw position at the time of maximum opening. Middle digits perceived by independent listeners as emphasized generally show jaw opening which is larger than the average jaw opening for the utterances in which they occur. As the speaker repeatedly makes the same correction, not only does jaw opening increase significantly on the corrected digit but also the overall amount of jaw opening on all digits in the corrected exchanges increases. Independent separate perception tests show that listeners also perceive the speakers' answers to be more irritated as the speaker repeats the same correction. The findings suggest a local and global use of the jaw opening gesture to produce both linguistic or paralinguistic and extralinguistic information, that is, word emphasis and the emotional tenor of the dialog itself.
Antiviral and hemolytic activities of surfactin isoforms and their methyl ester derivatives.

Inactivation of enveloped viruses (VSV, SFV, and SHV-1) by surfactin lipopeptides was dependent on the hydrophobicity, i.e. the number of carbon atoms of the fatty acid, and on the charge of the peptide moiety as well as on the virus species. Surfactins with fatty acid chains of 13 carbon atoms showed very low antiviral activity in comparison to C14 and C15 isoforms. C15 surfactin monomethyl ester also inactivated SFV which was resistant to the mixture of surfactin isoforms as produced by Bacillus subtilis. In contrast, the dimethyl ester showed no virus-inactivation capacity. Disintegration of viral structures as determined by electron microscopy after inactivation of VSV and SFV was comparable to the titer reduction. The effect of the surfactin isoforms and methyl esters on erythrocyte hemolysis correlated with the virus-inactivation capacity. Surfactins with a fatty acid chain moiety of 15 carbon atoms and one negative charge showed the highest antiviral activity.
Participation of Cbfa1 in regulation of chondrocyte maturation.

OBJECTIVE Cbfa1 is a transcription factor, which is classified into the runt family. The mice lacking this gene display complete loss of bone formation, indicating that Cbfa1 is an essential factor for osteoblast differentiation. The Cbfa1-deficient mice also show an abnormality in cartilage development. Although cartilage anlagens are well formed in these mice, endochondral ossification is blocked, and most of chondrocytes fail to differentiate into their maturation form as characterized by the absence of type X collagen and low levels of alkaline phosphatase activity. It is suggested that Cbfa1 may participate in chondrocyte differentiation. In this study, we have investigated the role of Cbfa1 in chondrocytes during their cytodifferentiation in vitro. DESIGN To investigate the role of Cbfa1 in regulation of chondrocyte differentiation, we over-expressed Cbfa1 or its dominant negative form in cultured chick chondrocytes using a retrovirus (RCAS)system and examined changes in chondrocyte behaviour induced by the introduced genes. RESULTS Mature chondrocytes isolated form the cephalic portion of sterna seemed to express Cbfa1 more prominently than immature chondrocytes isolated from the one-third caudal portion of sterna. Over-expression of Cbfa1 in immature chondrocytes strongly stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix calcification. In contrast, expression of a dominant negative form of Cbfa1, which lacks the C-terminal PST domain, severely inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix calcification in mature chondrocytes. CONCLUSION Taken together with the observation that Cbfa1 transcripts dominantly localized in hypertrophic chondrocytes as well as in osteoblasts, it is suggested that Cbfa1 plays an important role in the progression of chondrocyte maturation.
Why are antibiotics prescribed for asymptomatic bacteriuria in institutionalized elderly people? A qualitative study of physicians' and nurses' perceptions.

BACKGROUND Antibiotic therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria in institutionalized elderly people has not been shown to be of benefit and may in fact be harmful; however, antibiotics are still frequently used to treat asymptomatic bacteriuria in this population. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes and opinions of physicians and nurses involved in the process of prescribing antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria in institutionalized elderly people. METHODS Focus groups were conducted among physicians and nurses who provide care to residents of long-term care facilities in Hamilton, Ont. A total of 22 physicians and 16 nurses participated. The focus group discussions were tape-recorded, and the transcripts of each session were analysed for issues and themes emerging from the text. Content analysis using an open analytic approach was used to explore and understand the experience of the focus group participants. The data from the text were then coded according to the relevant and emergent themes and issues. RESULTS We observed that the ordering of urine cultures and the prescribing of antibiotics for residents with asymptomatic bacteriuria were influenced by a wide range of nonspecific symptoms or signs in residents. The physicians felt that the presence of these signs justified a decision to order antibiotics. Nurses played a central role in both the ordering of urine cultures and the decision to prescribe antibiotics through their awareness of changes in residents' status and communication of this to physicians. Education about asymptomatic bacteriuria was viewed as an important priority for both physicians and nurses. INTERPRETATION The presence of non-urinary symptoms and signs is an important factor in the prescription of antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria in institutionalized elderly people. However, no evidence exists to support this reason for antibiotic treatment. Health care providers at long-term care facilities need more education about antibiotic use and asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Estimating the prevalence of active Helicobacter pylori infection in a rural community with global positioning system technology-assisted sampling

SUMMARY We investigated a possible outbreak of H. pylori in a rural Northern Plains community. In a cross-sectional survey, we randomly sampled 244 households from a geocoded emergency medical system database. We used a complex survey design and global positioning system units to locate houses and randomly selected one eligible household member to administer a questionnaire and a 13C-urea breath test for active H. pylori infection (n = 166). In weighted analyses, active H. pylori infection was detected in 55·0% of the sample. Factors associated with infection on multivariate analysis included using a public drinking-water supply [odds ratio (OR) 12·2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·9–50·7] and current cigarette smoking (OR 4·1, 95% CI 1·7–9·6). People who lived in houses with more rooms, a possible indicator of decreased crowding in the home, were less likely to have active H. pylori infections (OR 0·7, 95% CI 0·5–0·9 for each additional room).
On the coordination of autonomous systems

There is a general trend in designing distributed control systems to give an increasing amount of autonomy to the individual nodes of such systems. Two interrelated system layers must be considered when autonomous systems have to be coordinated under real-time constraints: the distributed programming paradigm and the communication layer. We analyze current trends and options, and give an approach for an integrated architecture.
Crystal Defects in CdZnTe Crystals Grown by the Modified Low-Pressure Bridgman Method

Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) is among the most promising materials for room-temperature X- and gamma-ray detectors. However, crystal defects such as Te inclusions and subgrain boundaries significantly hamper their performances. In this work, we evaluated CZT crystals grown by the modified low-pressure Bridgman technique at the IMEM Institute, Parma. We characterized the crystals by IR microscopy to identify the sizes and concentrations of the Te inclusions, along with high spatial resolution X-ray response mapping to measure the uniformity of their charge-transport properties. In addition, we employed white X-ray beam diffraction topography to analyze their crystalline structure.
Stratégies de commande d'actionneurs synchrones à aimants permanents intégrant la sûreté de fonctionnement

Ce memoire traite de la surete de fonctionnement d'entrainements synchrones a aimants permanents dedies a des applications automobiles embarquees. L'exemple de la direction assistee electrique est tout particulierement considere. Une etude de la fiabilite permet d'abord d'etablir que les defaillances les plus importantes concernent les Mosfets. De nouvelles strategies de commande sont ensuite developpees de maniere a rendre l'actionneur tolerant a ce type de faute. L'onduleur classique a trois demi-ponts permet au mieux (avec une commande vectorielle modifiee) un mode de fonctionnement degrade presentant une forte ondulation de couple. A partir de l'etude des courbes isocouples dans le repere des courants statoriques, il est possible de developper de nouvelles strategies de commande minimisant cette ondulation. Leur mise en oeuvre experimentale avec des onduleurs 3H et a quatre demi-ponts donne des resultats tres satisfaisant, proches du fonctionnement sans defaut.