Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consequences of insecticide use on nontarget organisms.

The existence of some excellent reviews dealing with the effects of pes­ ticides on nontarget organisms (5, 31, 40, 49, 62, 68, 71, 85, 95, 125, 128. 131, 137, 150, 168, 169), permits concentration On areas of special signifi­ cance. Space limitations preclude consideration of many important subjects in this complex field. The chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides only will be considered. They have been used more widely and longer, analytical tech­ niques for identification of their residues are more efficient, and their ten­ dency for persistence and concentration in biological systems is greater than is the case for other pesticides. BACKGROUND Adverse effects of insecticides on nontarget organisms have been gen­ erally recognized by biol ogists. However, man has been forced to rely in­ creasingly upon the use of chemicals for pest control by the demands for more high quality food and fiber and better protec tion from pests that affect his health and comfort. Use of insecticides has increased tremendously during the last two decades under the pressures of these demands. However. benefits that have accrued to mankind from their use have been attended by some grave problems. That nontarget o rgani sms have been seriously affected in many situations has become increa singly apparent. Appre hension over the side effects of insecticide use increased duri ng the late 1950's as "eradication" programs (146) were expanded. Applications of DDT and heptachlor to relatively large, contiguous areas for control of gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar, and the imported fire ant, Solenopsis saevis­ sima richteri, resp ectivel y, resulted in o bviously drastic effects on nontarget organisms. Publication of Silent Spring (50), biased, emotional, and subjec­ tive though it is, served the purpose of focusing attention of the general public on this serious problem. Soil, air, water, and sunlight are the four basic ingredients of life on Earth. Of these, all except sunlight are polluted with one or more chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in measurable amounts. The consequences of expo­ sure of many forms of life to this relatively new environmental factor are now beginning to be partially elucidated. Knowledge of the extent of occur­ rence of such a factor is basic to an understanding of its effects. It appears to be ubi quit ous.
Information-theoretic considerations for symmetric, cellular, multiple-access fading channels - Part II

For pt.I see ibid., vol.43, no.6, p.1877-94 (1997). A simple idealized linear (and planar) uplink, cellular, multiple-access communication model, where only adjacent cell interference is present and all signals may experience fading is considered. Shannon theoretic arguments are invoked to gain insight into the implications on performance of the main system parameters and multiple-access techniques. The model treated in Part I (Shamai, 1997) is extended here to account for cell-site receivers that may process also the received signal at an adjacent cell site, compromising thus between the advantage of incorporating additional information from other cell sites on one hand and the associated excess processing complexity on the other. Various settings which include fading, time-division multiple access (TDMA), wideband (WB), and (optimized) fractional inter-cell time sharing (ICTS) protocols are investigated and compared. In this case and for the WB approach and a large number of users per cell it is found, surprisingly, that fading may enhance performance in terms of Shannon theoretic achievable rates. The linear model is extended to account for general linear and planar configurations. The effect of a random number of users per cell is investigated and it is demonstrated that randomization is beneficial. Certain aspects of diversity as well as some features of TDMA and orthogonal code-division multiple access (CDMA) techniques in the presence of fading are studied in an isolated cell scenario.
Topographic reorganization of the hand representation in cortical area 3b owl monkeys trained in a frequency-discrimination task.

1. Adult owl monkeys were trained to detect differences in the frequency of a tactile flutter-vibration stimulus above a 20-Hz standard. All stimuli were delivered to a constant skin site restricted to a small part of a segment of one finger. The frequency-difference discrimination performance of all but one of these monkeys improved progressively with training. 2. The distributed responses of cortical neurons ("maps") of the hand surfaces were defined in detail in somatosensory cortical area 3b. Representations of trained hands were compared with those of the opposite, untrained hand, and to the area 3b representations of hands in a second set of monkeys that were stimulated tactually in the same manner while these monkeys were attending to auditory stimuli (passive stimulation controls). 3. The cortical representations of the trained hands were substantially more complex in topographic detail than the representations of unstimulated hands or of passively stimulated control hands. 4. In all well-trained monkeys the representations of the restricted skin location trained in the behavioral task were significantly (1.5 to greater than 3 times) greater in area than were the representations of equivalent skin locations on control digits. However, the overall extents of the representations of behaviorally stimulated fingers were not larger than those of control fingers in the same hemisphere, or in opposite hemisphere controls. 5. The receptive fields representing the trained skin were significantly larger than receptive fields representing control digits in all but one trained monkey. The largest receptive fields were centered in the zone of representation of the behaviorally engaged skin, but they were not limited to it. Large receptive fields were recorded in a 1- to 2-mm-wide zone in the area 3b maps of trained hands. 6. Receptive-field sizes were also statistically significantly larger on at least one adjacent, untrained digit when compared with the receptive fields recorded on the homologous digit of the opposite hand. 7. There was an increase in the percent overlaps of receptive fields in the cortical zone of representation of the trained skin. A significant number of receptive fields were centered on the behaviorally trained skin site. 8. The effects of increased topographic complexity, increased representation of the trained skin location, increased receptive-field size, and increased receptive-field overlap were not observed in the representations of the untrained hands in these same monkeys. Only modest increases in topographic complexity were recorded in the representations of passively stimulated hands, and no effects on receptive-field size or overlap were noted. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Determinación del perfil de competencias del docente universitario, desde la mirada del académico, en el marco de un modelo orientado al desarrollo de competencias de los estudiantes en la Universidad Santo Tomas (Chile)

La presente investigacion pretende determinar las competencias que debe poseer y poner en accion un docente universitario que se constituye en el agente de cambio educativo para mejorar la calidad de la formacion en la Educacion Superior. Competencias para ensenar a las nuevas generaciones y que seran validadas desde la importancia asignada por ellos mismos, ademas del dominio que estos docentes asumen poseer, en relacion a este perfil de competencias docentes propuesto Lo anterior, con la finalidad de construir un de perfil docente basado en competencias, asi como el proceso metodologico que permitio identificar las competencia especifica y genericas asociadas a ese perfil. El estudio se realizo con un colectivo de docentes, de planta y a honorarios que se desempenan en las distintas Facultades y carreras, las que se encuentran distribuidas en 14 sedes regionales que conforman la Institucion Universidad Santo Tomas, Chile. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, que aborda una metodologia cuantitativa con rasgos cualitativos, para la recogida de informacion se aplico una encuesta de opinion, asimismo, se aplico a estos docentes una segunda encuesta para realizar una triangulacion, respecto del nivel de dominio asumido por estos docentes para cada una de las competencias definidas. Se levantaron 9 competencias, las que se desagregaron en 74 funciones. Cinco competencias fueron clasificadas como especificas y cuatro como genericas o transversales. Entre los principales hallazgos se puede senalar que los docentes universitarios consultados validan como importante todas las competencias levantadas, aun cuando asumen diferentes niveles de dominio de ellas, existiendo diferencias en relacion a las variables independientes definidas en este estudio. Otro hallazgo importante, desde la importancia asignada por los docentes, es que entre las tres primeras competencias consideradas mas importantes para ellos, ocupa el primer lugar una competencia clasificada como especifica, pero la dos siguientes son genericas transversales, la referida a la comunicacion efectiva y la que alude a las relaciones interpersonales y resolucion de problemas. Asimismo, este perfil validado desde los mismos actores docentes, se constituye en una propuesta para la institucion que le permita disponer de un perfil docente para hacer frente a uno de los criterios de la dimension “Personal Docente” de los procesos de la acreditacion institucional y de carrera, a los que debe comprometerse la institucion en el marco del aseguramiento de calidad de la formacion universitaria.
Il raddoppio conoscitivo

I molteplici movimenti e le varie modalita percettive sono realizzate da un circuito con due componenti: la componente sensoriale di input e la componente mnestica di output. Se guardiamo una penna, la componente sensitiva raccoglie ed ordina le informazioni sensoriali; quella mnestica, istante per istante, anticipa l’informazione sensoriale determinando un processo: ipotesi – sensazione – verifica. E come se la penna fosse costruita due volte (sensazione + memoria). Questo duplice procedere puo essere indicato come “raddoppio conoscitivo”, termine coniato da Ceccato per spiegare l’errore in cui cadevano i filosofi antichi nel tentativo di spiegare la percezione cosciente. Per far capire la complessita di questo duplice processo abbiamo sintetizzato i primi due capitoli del testo So quel che fai di G. Rizzolatti e Corrado Sinigaglia (2005) in cui sono illustrate le conoscenze attuali sul processo di raggiungimento ed afferramento degli oggetti. E stata infine proposta una interpretazione del processo di afferramento sulla base del “raddoppio conoscitivo”.
Audiovisual temporal sensitivity in typical and dyslexic adult readers

Reading is an audiovisual process that requires the learning of systematic links between graphemes and phonemes. It is thus possible that reading impairments reflect an audiovisual processing deficit. In this study, we compared audiovisual processing in adults with developmental dyslexia and adults without reading difficulties. We focused on differences in cross-modal temporal sensitivity both for speech and for non-speech events. When compared to adults without reading difficulties, adults with developmental dyslexia presented a wider temporal window in which unsynchronized speech events were perceived as synchronized. No differences were found between groups for the non-speech events. These results suggests a deficit in dyslexia in the perception of cross-modal temporal synchrony for speech events.
The Relationship Between Skinfold Thickness and Leptin, Ghrelin, Adiponectin, and Resistin Levels in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the relationship between skinfold thickness and serum leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, and resistin levels in infants of diabetic mothers. Biochemical parameters were also similar for the two groups (infants of diabetic mothers and controls) (p > 0.05). We confirmed that there was a negative correlation between birth weight and serum ghrelin level (p < 0.05) in the two groups. When it was evaluated for control newborns, a positive correlation between abdominal circumference and serum resistin level was found in the controls (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that gestational diabetes by appropriate diet or insulin treatment may be effective in the protection of fetuses of diabetic mothers from the negative effects of gestational diabetes. Ghrelin alone was negatively correlated with birth weight. This negative correlation could be potentially advantageous to infants, because a reduction in appetite might prevent excessive food intake and postnatal weight gain.
Mammal-specific, ERK-dependent, Caldesmon Phosphorylation in Smooth Muscle

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) phosphorylate the high molecular mass isoform of the actin-binding protein caldesmon (h-CaD) at two sites (Ser759 and Ser789) during smooth muscle stimulation. To investigate the role of phosphorylation at these sites, antibodies were generated against phosphopeptides analogous to the sequences around Ser759 and Ser789. Affinity-purified antibodies were phosho- and sequence-specific. The major site of phosphorylation in h-CaD in porcine carotid arterial muscle strips was at Ser789; however, the amount of phosphate did not vary appreciably with either KCl or phorbol ester stimulation. Phosphorylation at Ser759 of h-CaD was almost undetectable (<0.005 mol of phosphate/mol of protein). Moreover, phosphorylation of the low molecular mass isoform of the protein (l-CaD) at the site analogous to Ser789 was greater in serum-stimulated cultured smooth muscle cells than in serum-starved cells. Serum-stimulated l-CaD phosphorylation was attenuated by the protein kinase inhibitor PD98059. These data 1) identify Ser789 of h-CaD as the major site of ERK-dependent phosphorylation in carotid arteries; 2) show that the level of phosphorylation at Ser789 is relatively constant following carotid arterial muscle stimulation, despite an increase in total protein phosphate content; and 3) suggest a functional role for ERK-dependent l-CaD phosphorylation in cell division.
[Temporal epilepsy: clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects].

INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is a common neurological disease with significant public health impact. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most frequent and complex epilepsies. AIM To review the most important aspects of clinical diagnosis, the use of diagnostic tests, and medical and surgical treatment of TLE. DEVELOPMENT TLE is a well described type of epilepsy. Approximately 40% of patients with TLE develop drug resistant epilepsy. Nowadays, new diagnosis tools have been added for the assessment of patients with TLE that could be candidates for epilepsy surgery. However semiology remains the starting point for the disease understanding and every localizing and lateralizing sign is relevant to understand the potential onset and dissemination of seizures. The combination of tests and semiology is important to decide which cases require intracranial electrodes. The prognosis of epilepsy surgery in TLE is very good and between 60 to 70% of patients rendered seizure free after surgery. CONCLUSIONS The approach to patients with TLE is complex and requires a multidisciplinary team of trained specialists.
Prevalence of dry eye disease among US men: estimates from the Physicians' Health Studies.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for dry eye disease (DED) among US men. METHODS Cross-sectional prevalence survey among male participants 50 years and older in the Physicians' Health Studies I (N = 18,596) and II (N = 6848). We defined DED as the presence of clinically diagnosed dry eye or severe symptoms (both dryness and irritation constantly or often). We calculated the age-standardized prevalence of DED adjusted to the age distribution of US men in 2004 and projected estimates forward to 2030. We compared DED prevalence with a similar cohort of women and examined associations with possible risk factors. RESULTS The prevalence of DED increased with age, from 3.90% among men aged 50 to 54 years to 7.67% among men 80 years and older (P for trend <.001). High blood pressure (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.45) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.44) were associated with a higher risk of DED. Use of antidepressants, antihypertensives, and medications to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia were also associated with increased risk of DED. The age-standardized prevalence of DED was 4.34%, or 1.68 million men 50 years and older, and is expected to affect more than 2.79 million US men by 2030. CONCLUSIONS Dry eye disease is prevalent and increases with age, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and antidepressant use.
Giant Impact Induced Atmospheric Blow-Off

Previous calculations indicate that the Earth suffered impacts from objects up to Mars size. Such a giant impact may have produced a temporary ejecta‐based ring that accreted to form the Moon. To simulate the surface waves from such events we approximated the cratering source as a buried pressurized sphere. For a 1027 J impactor we calculated the resulting surface wave using the mode summation method of Sato et al. For such an impact, the solid Earth free‐surface velocity above, and antipodal to, the source achieves 2.6 and 1.9 km/s. Such large ground motions pump the atmosphere and result in upward particle motions which cause the atmosphere to be accelerated to excess of the escape velocity (11.2 km/s) at high altitudes. For a 1.3 × 1032 J Moon‐forming impact we calculate that ∼50% of the Earth’s atmosphere is accelerated to escape.
Physical stabilization of amorphous itraconazole in solid dispersions for improved dissolution profile

The main objective of the present investigation was to improve dissolution efficiency and stabilize amorphous form of itraconazole (ITR) through formulation of ternary solid dispersion system (SDs) with polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30) and sylysia®350 using spray drying technique. The prepared ternary SD system was characterized for solid state properties, in vitro dissolution efficiency and accelerated stability study at 40 °C/75% RH for the period of 3 months to explore extent of stabilization of amorphous itraconazole (AITR). Surprisingly, AITR was found to have no significant improvement in its dissolution characteristics compared to pure drug. The formation of cohesive supercooled liquid state might be the reason for poor solubility. Hence a combined approach of SD system with an antiplasticizing agent and surface adsorption technique was employed to prevail over functional inabilities of AITR. The binary and ternary SDs of AITR were prepared employing PVP K30 as antiplasticizer and/or sylysia®350 as adsorbent in the ratio 1:1:1 w/w using spray drying technique. The prepared systems have shown significant improvement in dissolution characteristics when compared to pure drug. Accelerated stability studies confirmed the absence of crystallization events over a period of 3 months endorsing excellent stabilization of AITR.
Utility of coronary MR angiography in children with Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVE Although coronary arterial lesions due to Kawasaki disease (KD) should be evaluated as early as possible after the acute phase, conventional X-ray coronary angiography poses high risks for young children with the disease. The use of noninvasive MR coronary angiography is desirable, although it is difficult to produce clear images in young children. We developed a method to improve the quality of MR coronary angiography in young children. MR coronary angiography with vector electrocardiogram gating, real-time navigator-echo, 3D, steady-state free precession was performed in 35 children with KD. Many parameters (i.e., field of view, acquisition delay, turbo-field echo-factor, navigator window, and resolution) were optimized for each patient. CONCLUSION Optimization resulted in the acquisition of high-resolution and highsignal images of the coronary arteries. It remarkably improved not only the quality of the images, but also the detection rate of coronary artery segments. MR coronary angiography is a useful method for evaluating coronary aneurysms from the early stages of KD, even in infants and small children.
Novel Approach To Optimize Synergistic Carbapenem-Aminoglycoside Combinations against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is among the most dangerous pathogens and emergence of resistance is highly problematic. Our objective was to identify and rationally optimize β-lactam-plus-aminoglycoside combinations via novel mechanism-based modeling that synergistically kill and prevent resistance of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii. We studied combinations of 10 β-lactams and three aminoglycosides against four A. baumannii strains, including two imipenem-intermediate (MIC, 4 mg/liter) and one imipenem-resistant (MIC, 32 mg/liter) clinical isolate, using high-inoculum static-concentration time-kill studies. We present the first application of mechanism-based modeling for killing and resistance of A. baumannii using Monte Carlo simulations of human pharmacokinetics to rationally optimize combination dosage regimens for immunocompromised, critically ill patients. All monotherapies achieved limited killing (≤2.3 log10) of A. baumannii ATCC 19606 followed by extensive regrowth for aminoglycosides. Against this strain, imipenem-plus-aminoglycoside combinations yielded more rapid and extensive killing than other β-lactam-plus-aminoglycoside combinations. Imipenem at 8 mg/liter combined with an aminoglycoside yielded synergistic killing (>5 log10) and prevented regrowth of all four strains. Modeling demonstrated that imipenem likely killed the aminoglycoside-resistant population and vice versa and that aminoglycosides enhanced the target site penetration of imipenem. Against carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (MIC, 32 mg/liter), optimized combination regimens (imipenem at 4 g/day as a continuous infusion plus tobramycin at 7 mg/kg of body weight every 24 h) were predicted to achieve >5 log10 killing without regrowth in 98.2% of patients. Bacterial killing and suppression of regrowth were best achieved for combination regimens with unbound imipenem steady-state concentrations of at least 8 mg/liter. Imipenem-plus-aminoglycoside combination regimens are highly promising and warrant further evaluation.
Optimal fixed frame multiplexing in integrated line- and packet-switched communication networks

Recently, emphasis has been placed on integrated communication facilities capable of handling both line-switching and packet-switch-ing digital traffic. The problem of dynamically allocating the bandwidth of a trunk to both types of traffic is formulated as a Markovian decision process. Line switching is modeled as a time division multiplexing loss scheme over a varying portion of a fixed time frame. Packet-switching traffic is served through the remaining portion of the frame and requires queueing at the multiplexer-concentrator. Two different cost criteria are examined involving probability of blocking for line switching and average queueing delay for packets. The corresponding optimization problems are presented under reasonable simplifying assumptions. The movable boundary scheme suggested for commercial implementation of integrated multi-plexers is shown to offer optimal or near-optimal performance.