Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and analysis of ripple current reduction in fuel cell generating systems

Fuel cells are being increasingly used in wide range of applications for stand-alone and grid connected systems due to their high efficiency and low emissions. A power conditioning unit, consisting of DC-DC converter and an inverter, is invariably used as an interface between the fuel cell and the load in a typical fuel cell system for ac applications because of unregulated nature of fuel cell voltage. In this research, a comparative analysis of different input ripple reduction methods, input current ripples, the output voltage ripples, and the size of passive components with high efficiency compared with the other topologies is done. The different dc/dc converter topologies is compared such as conventional Boost Converter (BC), Multi Device Boost Converter (MDBC), and Two-Phase Interleaved Boost Converter (IBC), Multi Device Interleaved Boost Converter(MDIBC) to verify its dynamic performance. The DC-DC converter topologies are designed and investigated by using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation and experimental results have signified that interleaved converter topology is more efficient than other dc-dc converter topologies in achieving high performance and reliability for high-power dc-dc converters.
Awareness of Expressivity Deficits in Non-Demented Parkinson Disease

A masked facial expression, one of the hallmark features of Parkinson disease (PD), can form the basis for misattributions by others about a patient's mood or interest levels. Reports of preserved intensity of internal emotional experience in PD participants raise the question of whether patients are aware of their outward expressivity levels. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PD participants exhibit deficits in overall emotional expressivity, and if so, whether they are aware of these deficits. We evaluated 37 non-demented PD participants and 21 comparison participants using the Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire (BEQ). To examine awareness of emotional expressivity, we compared participant self-ratings of their own expressivity to ratings made by family members or close friends. Participants also completed questionnaires regarding depression and apathy and underwent motor examination and cognitive screening. PD participants’ self-ratings of emotional expressivity were significantly lower than comparison participants’ self-ratings. Even so, the PD participants viewed themselves as experiencing equivalent levels of emotional intensity to comparison participants, based on analysis of the BEQ subscales. Informant and PD participant self-ratings did not differ, indicating that PD participants accurately appraise the extent of their reduced expressivity. These findings suggest that anosognosia for emotional expressivity is not a prominent feature of nondemented Parkinson disease. Importantly, PD participants are aware of their reduced expressivity and report experiencing emotions as intensely as comparison participants. These findings highlight the view that diminished emotional expressivity in PD should not be mistaken for decreased subjective emotional experience.
Cooperative Action of SLR 1 and SLR 2 Is Required for Lateral Root-Specific Cell Elongation in Maize 1

Lateral roots play an important role in water and nutrient uptake largely by increasing the root surface area. In an effort to characterize lateral root development in maize (Zea mays), we have isolated from Mutator (Mu) transposon stocks and characterized two nonallelic monogenic recessive mutants: slr1 and slr2 (short lateral roots1 and 2), which display short lateral roots as a result of impaired root cell elongation. The defects in both mutants act specifically during early postembryonic root development, affecting only the lateral roots emerging from the embryonic primary and seminal roots but not from the postembryonic nodal roots. These mutations have no major influence on the aboveground performance of the affected plants. The double mutant slr1; slr2 displays a strikingly different phenotype than the single mutants. The defect in slr1; slr2 does not only influence lateral root specific cell elongation, but also leads to disarranged cellular patterns in the primary and seminal roots. However, the phase-specific nature of the single mutants is retained in the double mutant, indicating that the two loci cooperate in the wild type to maintain the lateral root specificity during a short time of early root development.
Taurodontism; Clinical Considerations

Taurodontism is characterized by teeth with enlarged and elongated pulp chambers and apical displacement of the bifurcation or trifurcation of roots. This anomaly occurs either as an isolated, singular trait or in association with syndromes and with some ectodermal anomalies. The aim of this review is to address the etiology, radiographic features and clinical considerations in the treatment of such teeth. It can be seen that taurodontism has until now received insufficient attention from clinicians.
A Secure and Stable Multicast Overlay Network with Load Balancing for Scalable IPTV Services

The emerging multimedia Internet application IPTV over P2P network preserves significant advantages in scalability. IPTV media content delivered in P2P networks over public Internet still preserves the issues of privacy and intellectual property rights. In this paper, we use SIP protocol to construct a secure application-layer multicast overlay network for IPTV, called SIPTVMON. SIPTVMON can secure all the IPTV media delivery paths against eavesdroppers via elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) key exchange on SIP signaling and AES encryption. Its load-balancing overlay tree is also optimized from peer heterogeneity and churn of peer joining and leaving to minimize both service degradation and latency. The performance results from large-scale simulations and experiments on different optimization criteria demonstrate SIPTVMON's cost effectiveness in quality of privacy protection, stability from user churn, and good perceptual quality of objective PSNR values for scalable IPTV services over Internet.
The toxicology of aflatoxins as a basis for public health decisions.

Aflatoxins have been extensively studied with respect to their mechanisms of toxicity. An understanding of metabolism, DNA adduct induction, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity has been paralleled by the development of biomarkers of aflatoxin exposure and biological effects (e.g. mutations) applied to human populations. The improvements in exposure assessment and their application in prospective epidemiological studies and the demonstration of a specific mutation in the TP53 gene in hepatocellular carcinomas from areas of high aflatoxin exposure have contributed significantly to the classification of aflatoxins as human carcinogens. In addition to establishing the carcinogenicity of aflatoxins in humans, understanding molecular mechanisms of action has provided the scientific rationale for prevention strategies, including primary and chemoprevention approaches. Overall, integrated, multidisciplinary research on aflatoxins has provided the platform on which to base decisions regarding acceptable exposures and priorities for interventions to reduce human risk in a public health context.
Reverse-phase separation method for determining pollutant binding to Aldrich humic acid and dissolved organic carbon of natural waters.

A reverse-phase separation technique was used to determine the binding of /sup 14/C-radiolabeled organic pollutants (benzo(a)pyrene, anthracene, biphenyl, p,p'-DDT, 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, 2,5,2',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) to humic materials in aqueous solution. The humic-bound pollutant was separated from the ''freely dissolved'' pollutant passed through, while the unbound pollutants were retained by the column. The partition coefficient (grams of pollutant bound/gram of organic carbon)/(grams of pollutant freely dissolved/milliliter) did not depend on pollutant concentration but was inversely proportional to the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in solution. At low DOC (1-2 mg of Aldrich humic acids L/sup -1/), the partition coefficient was approximately equal to the octanol-water partition coefficient and inversely proportional to water solubility. The partition coefficient for natural waters was approximately 1 order of magnitude lower than that determined for the Aldrich humics at similar DOC concentrations. The reverse-phase separation was simple and rapid and gave results similar to dialysis techniques. 33 references.
Role of Cl(-) channels in alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in the anesthetized rat.

In vitro studies have provided evidence that Cl(-) ion currents are important for activation of vascular smooth muscle contraction. The stilbene, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), disrupts Cl(-) metabolism by blocking Cl(-) channels and by inhibiting Cl(-) bicarbonate exchange. The aims of this study were to: (i) characterize the hemodynamic responses produced by DIDS in pentobarbital anesthetized rats, and (ii) examine vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine before and after administration of DIDS. DIDS (2.5-50 micromol/kg, 92.5 micromol/kg total dose, i.v.) produced dose-dependent but transient reductions in mean arterial blood pressure and in hindquarter, renal and mesenteric vascular resistances. Prior to the administration of DIDS, norepinephrine (1. 0-5.0 microgram/kg, i.v.) produced dose-dependent increases in mean arterial pressure, renal resistance and mesenteric resistance, but decreases in hindquarter resistance that were inversely related to dose. After administration of DIDS, the peak pressor responses produced by norepinephrine were either slightly diminished (1.0, 2.5 microgram/kg) or unchanged (5.0 microgram/kg). Peak norepinephrine-induced changes in hindquarter and renal vascular resistance were unaffected by DIDS, while increases in mesenteric resistance were augmented. The total norepinephrine-induced increases in mean arterial pressure (mm Hgxs) were markedly reduced by DIDS. These effects of DIDS on norepinephrine-induced responses were similar, but not identical to those of the voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channel blocker, nifedipine (500 nmol/kg, i.v.). These findings suggest that DIDS may interfere with norepinephrine-induced depolarization of resistance arteries, thereby preventing activation of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels.
Redox‐regulation of Erk1/2‐directed phosphatase by reactive oxygen species: Role in signaling TPA‐induced growth arrest in ML‐1 cells

Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 activity signals myeloid cell differentiation induced by 12‐O‐tetradecanoyl‐phorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA). Previously, we reported that Erk1/2 activation (phosphorylation) induced by TPA required reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a second messenger. Here, we hypothesized that ROS generated in response to TPA inhibit Erk1/2‐directed phosphatase activity, which leads to an increase phosphorylation of Erk1/2 to signal p21WAF1/Cip1‐mediated growth arrest in ML‐1 cells. Incubation of ML‐1 cells with TPA resulted in a marked accumulation of phosphorylated Erk1/2, and is subsequent to H2O2 generation. Interestingly, post‐TPA‐treatment with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) stimulated a marked and a rapid dephosphorylation of Erk1/2, suggesting a regeneration of Erk1/2‐directed phospahatase activity by NAC. ROS generation in ML‐1 cells induced by TPA was suggested to occur in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) based on the following observations: (i) undifferentiated ML‐1 cells not only lack p67‐phox and but also express a low level of p47‐phox key components required for NADPH oxidase enzymatic activity, (ii) pretreatment with DPI, an inhibitor of NADH‐ and NADPH‐dependent enzymes, or rhein, an inhibitor of complex I, blocked the ROS generation, and (iii) examination of the microarray analysis data and Western blot analysis data revealed an induction of MnSOD expression at both mRNA and protein levels in response to TPA. MnSOD is a key member of the mitochondrial defense system against mitochondrial‐derived superoxide. Together, this study suggested that TPA stimulated ROS generation as a second messenger to activate Erk1/2 via a redox‐mediated inhibition of Erk1/2‐directed phosphatase in ML‐1 cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 276–285, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multisensor cooperation of assistance to driving

We will present in this article the principles of data-processing put into operation within the framework of a research project on the improvement of automobile safety. This project is based on the simultaneous use of two systems of exteroceptive perception: a system of omnidirectional vision with spherical reflector and a telemetric laser. We limit our study to the identification of objects discovered both in panoramic images and in clusters of points stemming from telemetric measures, and this obtained in outside motorway-type environment. After reiterating the mechanisms of creation of the omnidirectional images and clusters of points, we shall detail the various processes which we set up. Finally, we shall dedicate the last part to the experimental results.
Influence of a Suggestive Placebo Intervention on Psychobiological Responses to Social Stress

We tested the hypothesis that a suggestive placebo intervention can reduce the subjective and neurobiological stress response to psychosocial stress. Fifty-four healthy male subjects with elevated levels of trait anxiety were randomly assigned in a 4:4:1 fashion to receive either no treatment (n = 24), a placebo pill (n = 24), or a herbal drug (n = 6) before undergoing a stress test. We repeatedly measured psychological variables as well as salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and heart rate variability prior to and following the stress test. The stressor increased subjective stress and anxiety, salivary cortisol, and alpha-amylase, and decreased heart rate variability (all P < .001). However, no significant differences between subjects receiving placebo or no treatment were found. Subjects receiving placebo showed increased wakefulness during the stress test compared with no-treatment controls (P < .001). Thus, the suggestive placebo intervention increased alertness, but modulated neither subjective stress and anxiety nor the physiological response to psychosocial stress.
An Initiator Element Is Required for Maximal Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin Gene Promoter and Enhancer Function (*)

Previous studies have indicated that cell-specific expression of the human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) gene may be mediated by a placental-specific enhancer (CSEn). In the current studies, we have analyzed the promoter elements that are required for enhancer and promoter function in choriocarcinoma cells (BeWo). Mutation of both hCS GHF1 sites had no effect on promoter or enhancer activity. In contrast, mutation of the Sp1 site diminished basal and CSEn-stimulated transcription by ≈75% and ≈56%, respectively, indicating that Sp1 was necessary but not sufficient for maximal basal and enhancer-mediated transcription. Deletion and site-specific mutation of the proximal promoter region indicated that the TATA box and an initiator site (InrE) located between nucleotides −15/+1 of the hCS promoter were required for maximal promoter and enhancer function. Mutations of the InrE were associated with reduced basal and enhancer-stimulated activities and altered transcription initiation sites. A protein of 70-kDa mass, that was preferentially expressed in human choriocarcinoma cells (BeWo and JEG-3), bound specifically to the InrE. The data suggest that an initiator present in high concentrations in placental cells contributes to the control of cell-specific hCS gene expression at the promoter level and is required for maximal enhancer function.
Spectrum Sensing Based On the Cyclostationarity of PU Signals in High Traffic Environments

—In cognitive radio (CR) systems, the primary user (PU) signal would randomly depart or arrive during the sensing period of a CR user, which is referred to as the high trafﬁc environment. In this paper, we propose a novel spectrum sensing scheme based on the cyclostationarity of PU signals in high trafﬁc environments. Speciﬁcally, we obtain a test statistic by applying an estimate of spectral autocoherence function of the PU signal to the generalized likelihood ratio. From numerical results, it is conﬁrmed that the proposed scheme provides a better spectrum sensing performance compared with the conventional spectrum sensing scheme based on the energy of the PU signals in high trafﬁc environments.
Log-correlation Distance And Fourier Transform With Kullback-Leibler Divergence Distance For Construction Of Vertebrate Phylogeny Using Complete Mitochondrial Genomes

For vertebrate mitochondrial genomes, some phylogenies have been built by various methods with or without sequence alignment. These methods are important for the problem of classification and evolution. In this paper, we propose two approaches to analyze the phylogenetic relationship of 64 vertebrates using complete mitochondrial genomes without sequence alignment. The first approach combines discrete Fourier transform (DFT) with Kullback-Leibler divergence (KLD) distance. The second one directly uses a log-correlation distance. Both methods are based on compositional vectors of DNA sequences or protein sequences from the complete genome. The phylogenetic trees show that the mitochondrial genomes are separated into three major groups. One group corresponds to mammals; one group corresponds to fish; and the other one is Archosauria (including birds and reptiles). In particular, the structure of the tree based on log-correlation distance are roughly in agreement in topology with the current known phylogenies of vertebrates.
Sepsis stimulates release of myofilaments in skeletal muscle by a calcium‐dependent mechanism

Sepsis is associated with a pronounced catabolic response in skeletal muscle, mainly reflecting degradation of the myofibrillar proteins actin and myosin. Recent studies suggest that sepsis‐induced muscle proteolysis may reflect ubiquitin‐proteasome‐dependent protein breakdown. An apparently conflicting observation is that the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway does not degrade intact myofibrils. Thus, it is possible that actin and myosin need to be released from the myofibrils before they can be ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. We tested the hypothesis that sepsis results in disruption of Z‐bands, increased expression of calpains, and calcium‐dependent release of myofilaments in skeletal muscle. Sepsis induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture resulted in increased gene expression of μ‐calpain, m‐calpain, and p94 and in Z‐band disintegration in the extensor digitorum longus muscle. The release of myofilaments from myofibrillar proteins was increased in septic muscle. This response to sepsis was blocked by treating the rats with dantrolene, a substance that inhibits the release of calcium from intracellular stores to the cytoplasm. The present results provide evidence that sepsis is associated with Z‐band disintegration and a calcium‐dependent release of myofilaments in skeletal muscle. Release of myofilaments may be an initial and perhaps rate‐limiting component of sepsis‐induced muscle breakdown. —Williams, A. B. , deCourten‐Myers, G. M. , Fischer, J. E. , Luo, G. , Sun, X. , Hasselgren, P.‐O. Sepsis stimulates release of myofilaments in skeletal muscle by a calcium‐dependent mechanism. FASEB J. 13, 1435–1443 (1999)
Frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with infectious diseases using three different ELISA methods

OBJETIVO: O ensaio de enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) para a pesquisa de anticorpos anticardiolipina (aCL) e o mais importante teste para o diagnostico da sindrome antifosfolipidica (SAF). Entretanto esse teste tambem pode ser positivo em algumas doencas infecciosas. Tem sido sugerido que a deteccao de anticorpos para uma mistura de fosfolipides ou para b2-glicoproteina I (b2-GP I) teria uma maior especificidade para a SAF que o teste de ELISA-padrao para aCL. O objetivo do presente estudo e comparar a especificidade de tres testes para anticorpos antifosfolipides (aFL) em pacientes com doencas infecciosas. METODOS: Anticorpos antifosfolipides foram pesquisados por tres tecnicas de ELISA, ou seja, o teste-padrao para aCL, o kit de ELISA APhL® e o teste para anti-b2-GP I em pacientes com doencas infecciosas, tais como sifilis (69), leptospirose (33) e Calazar (30). RESULTADOS: A frequencia de positividade de aFL da classe IgG em pacientes com sifilis, leptospirose e Calazar foi de 13/69 (19%), 9/33 (27%) e 2/30 (6%), respectivamente, com o ELISA-padrao para aCL versus 1/69 (1,4%), 0/33 (0%) e 0/30 (0%) com o kit de ELISA APhL®. A positividade do isotipo IgM foi de 10/69 (14%), 4/33 (12%) e 1/30 (3%), respectivamente, com o ELISA-padrao para aCL, e 1/69 (1,4%), 0/33 (0%) e 0/30 (0%) com o kit de ELISA APhL®. Anticorpos da classe IgG contra b2GPI foram detectados em 14/69 casos de sifilis (20%), 6/33 casos de leptospirose (18%) e 16/30 casos de Calazar (53%). Assim, o kit de ELISA APhL® apresentou uma maior especificidade: 97% (95% CI: 92%-99%) comparado com 81% (95% CI: 74%-87%) para o teste de aCL-padrao e 72% (95% CI: 64%-79%) para o teste de anticorpos anti-b2 GPI. CONCLUSOES: O kit de ELISA APhL® parece ser mais especifico para a SAF que o ELISA-padrao para aCL, assim como o teste para anti-b2GPI. Esse kit pode ser usado para ajudar no diagnostico e na confirmacao da SAF.
Studies on equine herpesviruses. 5. Isolation and characterisation of slowly cytopathic equine herpesviruses in Queensland.

Summary The isolation and characterization of 71 strains of slowly cytopathic herpesviruses (EHV2) from horses in Queensland is described. Specimens from aged horses at slaughter yielded 7 isolates from leucocytes and 4 from tonsils, but EHV2 strains could not be detected in salivary glands, spleen, kidney or intestinal wall. A further EHV2 strain (EK550) was isolated from cell cultures prepared from the kidney of an adult horse. Repeated sampling yielded 39 nasal, ocular and genital EHV2 strains from a group of 16 mares and their young foals, and 20 strains from a group of 6 yearlings. Laboratory examination of these EHV2 strains demonstrated variations in plaque size and growth in non-host cell cultures, and at least two serological groups were detected. EHV2 infection of foals transplacentally was not detected, but neonatal infection of foals from chronically infected mares appeared probable.
Canines on a Fast Track: Canine Distalization by Dentoalveolar Distraction Osteogenesis

Conventional techniques for biological tooth movement is routinely achieved at a slow rate and in high anchorage cases where individual canine retraction is indicated lasts for 6 to 8 months, followed by retraction of the incisors. Hence, the overall treatment time taken is about 18 to 24 months. Rapid canine distalization through dentoalveolar distraction (DAD) technique can be achieved within 2 to 3 weeks with this technique. This clinically efficient method significantly reduces the overall treatment time without causing any serious discomfort or damage to the patient. In this technique osteotomies surrounding the canines are made to achieve rapid movement of the canines within the dentoalveolar segment, in compliance with distraction osteogenesis principles.