Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short‐ and long‐term enzymatic regulation secondary to metabolic insult in the rat retina

Changes in oxygen and/or glucose availability may result in altered levels of ATP production and amino acid levels, and alteration in lactic acid production. However, under certain metabolic insults, the retina demonstrates considerable resilience and maintains ATP production, and/or retinal function. We wanted to investigate whether this resilience would be reflected in alterations in the activity of key enzymes of retinal metabolism, or enzymes associated with amino acid production that may supply their carbon skeleton for energy production. Enzymatic assays were conducted to determine the activity of key retinal metabolic enzymes total ATPase and Na+/K+‐ATPase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. In vitro anoxia led to an increase in retinal lactate dehydrogenase activity and to a decrease in retinal aspartate aminotransferase activity, without significant changes in Na+/K+‐ATPase activity. In vivo inhibition of glutamine synthetase resulted in a short‐term significant decrease in retinal aspartate aminotransferase activity. An increase in retinal aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities was accompanied by altered levels of amino acids in neurons and glia after partial inhibition of glial metabolism, implying that short‐ and long‐term up‐ and down‐regulation of key metabolic enzymes occurs to supply carbon skeletons for retinal metabolism. ATPase activity does not appear to fluctuate under the metabolic stresses employed in our experimental procedures.
Feasibility of a primary care intervention to decrease oral antibiotics for acute upper respiratory tract infections: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance in common respiratory tract pathogens is a growing public health threat, especially in the southeastern United States. The excessive use of antibiotics for common infections is a major contributing factor in the emergence of antibiotic resistance. We report results from a multi-site outpatient pilot project in North Carolina to reduce antibiotic prescriptions for acute nonbacterial upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). METHODS Primary care practices were provided education and symptom therapy kits for patients with URIs, as an alternative to antibiotics, in a project to reduce the overuse of antimicrobial therapy The feasibility of this approach was evaluated with interviews and surveys. A methodology for claims-based evaluation of intervention efficacy in reduction of antibiotics use was developed as part of this project. RESULTS Of eight contacted practices, four agreed to participate and three participated fully. Physicians reported that symptom therapy kits were useful for patients with URIs and resulted in a meaningful change in antibiotic prescribing behaviors. A claims-based approach is a feasible and promising method to evaluate efficacy in subsequent post-pilot large-scale implementations. LIMITATIONS Due to the small number of outpatient practices and the lack of controls in this pilot study, the efficacy of the intervention in reducing antibiotic use could not be determined. CONCLUSIONS Education combined with symptom therapy kits as an alternative to oral antibiotics is a feasible intervention that warrants additional studies to evaluate the efficacy of this approach in the reduction of antibiotic use for URIs.
EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF D-[1′-13C]-RIBONUCLEOSIDES FOR INCORPORATION INTO OLIGO-RNA

Syntheses of the monomer building blocks used for the solid-phase synthesis of specifically 1′-13C-labeled oligoribonucleotides from the D-[1-13C]ribose is presented. Procedure has been used for the selective formation of 2′-O-silylated ribonucleosides. After 5′-O-dimethoxytritylation, the synthesis of D-[1′-13C] ribonucleoside phosphoramidites has been achieved.
Forward and backward visual masking in schizophrenia: influence of age

Background. Visual masking tasks assess the earliest stages of visual processing. This study was conducted to address: (1) whether schizophrenia patients show masking deficits after controlling for sensory input factors; (2) whether patients have relatively intact forward masking (when the mask precedes the target) compared with backward masking (when the mask follows the target); and (3) whether the masking deficits in schizophrenia reflect an accelerated age-related decline in performance. Method. A staircase method was used to ensure that the unmasked target identification was equivalent across subjects to eliminate any confounding due to differences in discrimination of simple perceptual inputs. Three computerized visual masking tasks were administered to 120 schizophrenia patients (ages 18–56) and 55 normal comparison subjects (ages 19–54) under both forward and backward masking conditions. The tasks included: (1) locating a target; (2) identifying a target with a high-energy mask; and (3) identifying a target with a low-energy mask. Results. Patients showed deficits across all three masking tasks. Interactions of group by forward versus backward masking were not significant, suggesting that deficits in forward and backward masking were comparable. All three conditions showed an age-related decline in performance and rates of decline were comparable between patients and controls. Two of the masking conditions showed increased rates of decline in backward, compared to forward, masking. Conclusions. We found age-related decline in performance that was comparable for the two groups. In addition, we failed to find evidence of a relative sparing of forward masking in schizophrenia. These results suggest that: (1) early visual processing deficits in schizophrenia are not due to a simple perceptual input problem; (2) sustained channels are involved in the masking deficit (in addition to transient channels); and (3) for the age range in this study, these deficits in schizophrenia are not age-related.
WETICE 2005 ECE Workshop - Final Report

The primary goal of this workshop is to provide a forum, in which researchers and practitioners can share approaches to the evaluation of collaborative enterprises, lessons learned from deployment of collaborative systems in organisations or educational institutions, and ideas for directions the area of evaluation must move toward in order to facilitate the progress of distributed virtual collaboration. At the SixthWorkshop on Evaluation of Collaborative Information Systems and Support for Virtual Enterprises (ECE), papers were presented in two sessions with the following themes: "Evaluation in practice" for papers describing the results of finished evaluations and "Methodological Issues" for papers which dealt with work dedicated to improving the theoretical body of knowledge associated with evaluation. One paper presented crossed these themes describing ongoing evaluation driving evolution of an awareness system. From the work presented, it is clear that evaluation is being practised and that the theory of evaluation is being advanced resulting in more rigorous practice, though there is much still to be done.
Loss of &ggr;-Catenin Expression in Squamous Differentiation in Endometrial Carcinomas

Squamous differentiation occurs in 25 to 50% of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinomas. In this study, we analyzed the immunohistochemical expression and localization of &bgr;- and &ggr;-catenin, molecular changes in the &bgr;-catenin gene, and the subcellular localization of the desmosomal component protein, desmoplakin, by laser scanning microscopy in 35 endometrial carcinomas with squamous differentiation. In the glandular component, &bgr;-catenin showed nuclear localization in 10 of 35 (28.5%) samples, whereas in the squamous component, nuclear localization was found in 15 of 35 (42.9%). Of the 15 samples that showed nuclear localization of &bgr;-catenin in the squamous component, seven samples (46.7%) did not express &ggr;-catenin. The phenomenon was not correlated with mutation in exon 3 region of &bgr;-catenin gene. Furthermore, in these samples, there was diffuse cytoplasmic staining for desmoplakin. These observations have not been reported in other tumors. Our results suggest that unique molecular events, i.e., stimulation of &bgr;-catenin and suppression of &ggr;-catenin expression, occur within endometrial carcinomas with squamous differentiation.
Single frame selection for phoneme classification

Our former study [1] has shown that maximum likelihood (ML) based frame selection, which selects reliable frames from a high resolution along the time axis, helps to improve the discrimination between phonemes. In this paper, we present our recent research on single frame selection for a phoneme classification task. A new single selection, which only selects one frame for one state in an Hidden Markov Model (HMM), is proposed. The new technique takes likelihoods of frames and their positions in a phoneme segment into account at the same time, and selects very few frames to represent the spectral evolution of the phoneme. Furthermore, we also show that for a low model complexity, a phoneme model trained by selected frames is more discriminative than a model using all frames.
Vasculitis in the autoinflammatory diseases

Purpose of review This article addresses the prevalence and relationship between autoinflammatory diseases and vasculitis. Recent findings Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are a group of syndromes characterized by episodes of unprovoked inflammation due to dysregulation of the innate immune system. Despite the common occurrence of rashes and other skin lesions in these diseases, vasculitis is reported in only a few. On the other hand, neutrophilic dermatoses are more prevalent. Large vessel vasculitis is reported in patients with Behcet's and Blau's syndromes. Small and medium size vasculitides are reported in familial Mediterranean fever mainly as Henoch-Schonlein purpura and polyarteritis nodosa, respectively. It is rarely described in hyper IgD with periodic fever syndrome, cryopyrin associated periodic syndromes, TNF receptor-associated periodic syndrome, deficiency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and pyoderma gangrenosum and acne syndrome. In most AID where bones and skin are mainly involved (CRMO, Majeed syndrome, Cherubism and DITRA) – vasculitis has not been described at all. In AID small vessel vasculitis affects mainly the skin with no involvement of internal organs. Summary In AID, neutrophilic dermatoses are more common and prominent than vasculitis. This may reflect a minor role for interleukin-1 in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. The rarity of vasculitis in AID suggests that in most reported cases its occurrence has been probably coincidental rather than being an integral feature of the disease.
Nova superfície paramétrica e algoritmo de renderização

O principal foco da Computacao Grafica e o armazenamento e renderizacao de objetos tridimensionais computacionalmente. Objetos reais sao modelados e apresentados visualmente para os usuarios. Esse processo de geracao da imagem a ser exibida para o usuario e chamado de renderizacao. Existem varios modelos que podem ser utilizados, com suas vantagens e desvantagens, e varios metodos para renderizar tais modelos. No trabalho atual um novo modelo de superficies curvas parametricas e introduzido juntamente com um algoritmo de renderizacao que, diferentemente dos algoritmos para os modelos de superficies curvas parametricas atuais, nao depende de metodos numericos e aproximacoes, sendo capaz de identificar interseccoes entre um raio e a superficie com um numero constante de operacoes. Durante o desenvolvimento do modelo proposto foram utilizadas a funcao de interpolacao de Hermite e uma funcao de interpolacao quadratica em partes muito pouco explorada na literatura, com comparacoes entre ambas. A funcao quadratica em partes possibilitou que o algoritmo proposto fosse executado em tempo constante ao reduzir a ordem das equacoes envolvidas no problema, o que nao foi possivel com a interpolacao de Hermite. Por fim, restricoes do algoritmo proposto foram analisadas e possiveis novas linhas de pesquisa foram levantadas para tentar elimina-las. Um programa que implementa o algoritmo proposto tambem foi codificado, e alguns objetos foram modelados usando a superficie proposta. Abstract
The Effect of Calorie Labels on Caloric Intake and Restaurant Revenue: Evidence from Two Full-Service Restaurants

Field experiment data were used to study the effect of numeric calorie labels in two full-service restaurants. Ultimately, both field experiments, despite using different experimental designs, reached the same conclusion: the numeric calorie label had no significant effect on total caloric intake. However, results revealed the addition of a traffic light symbol to the numeric label led to a 67.8-kcal reduction in average calories ordered. Furthermore, results showed restaurant revenue is unlikely to be affected by the addition of calorie labels on menus. The results have implications for restaurant labeling laws that are being considered around the world.
The zebrafish bHLH PAS transcriptional regulator, single‐minded 1 (sim1), is required for isotocin cell development

A wide range of physiological and behavioral processes, such as social, sexual, and maternal behaviors, learning and memory, and osmotic homeostasis are influenced by the neurohypophysial peptides oxytocin and vasopressin. Disruptions of these hormone systems have been linked to several neurobehavioral disorders, including autism, Prader‐Willi syndrome, affective disorders, and obsessive‐compulsive disorder. Studies in zebrafish promise to reveal the complex network of regulatory genes and signaling pathways that direct the development of oxytocin‐ and vasopressin‐like neurons, and provide insight into factors involved in brain disorders associated with disruption of these systems. Isotocin, which is homologous to oxytocin, is expressed early, in a simple pattern in the developing zebrafish brain. Single‐minded 1 (sim1), a member of the bHLH‐PAS family of transcriptional regulatory genes, is required for terminal differentiation of mammalian oxytocin cells and is a master regulator of neurogenesis in Drosophila. Here we show that sim1 is expressed in the zebrafish forebrain and is required for isotocin cell development. The expression pattern of sim1 mRNA in the embryonic forebrain is dynamic and complex, and overlaps with isotocin expression in the preoptic area. We provide evidence that the role of sim1 in zebrafish neuroendocrine cell development is evolutionarily conserved with that of mammals. Developmental Dynamics 235:2071–2082, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A minimal biophysical model of phase precession

Place cells are excitable pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. These neurons fire preferentially to a rat’s location in the environment, which is referred to as the place field. Place cells also fire preferentially to a particular phase of the theta rhythm, which is an electroencephalograph recording of the hippocampus observed in rats during exploratory movement. As the rat moves through a place field, the particular phase of the theta rhythm at which the place cell fires has been observed to systematically precess, i.e. firing occurs at progressively earlier phases of the theta rhythm. The underlying neural mechanism of phase precession might be the basis of a temporal code utilized for further information processing in the hippocampus. We construct a network model of connected neurons in order to generate phase precession. Each neuron is modeled by considering a conductance based cell model.
Alterations in chandelier neuron axon terminals in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic subjects.

OBJECTIVE Abnormalities in prefrontal cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. The density of chandelier neuron axon terminals (cartridges) immunoreactive for the GABA membrane transporter (GAT-1) has been reported to be reduced in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic subjects. Because cartridges regulate the output of pyramidal cells, this study analyzed the laminar distribution of GAT-1-immunoreactive cartridges to determine whether certain subpopulations of pyramidal cells are preferentially affected. METHOD Measurements were made of the density of GAT-1 -immunoreactive cartridges in layers 2-3a, 3b-4, and 6 of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex area 46 in 30 subjects with schizophrenia, each of whom was matched to one normal and one psychiatric comparison subject. GAT-1-immunoreactive cartridge density was also examined in monkeys chronically treated with haloperidol. RESULTS Relative to both comparison groups, the schizophrenic subjects had significantly lower GAT-1-immunoreactive cartridge density in layers 2-3a and 3b-4. The decrease was most common and most marked in layers 3b-4, where 80% of the schizophrenic subjects exhibited an average 50.1% decrease in cartridge density in comparison with the matched normal subjects. In contrast, GAT-1-immunoreactive cartridge density was unchanged in the haloperidol-treated monkeys. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that the density of GAT-1-immunoreactive cartridges is reduced in the majority of schizophrenic subjects and that this alteration may most prominently affect the function of pyramidal cells located in the middle cortical layers. This abnormality may reflect a number of underlying deficits, including a primary defect in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex circuitry or a secondary response to altered thalamic input to this region.
Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Bacterial Strains on Orobanche crenata Forsk, on Faba Bean

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important grain legume crop in many countries and is severely constrained by infection by the weedy root parasite Orobanche crenata (crenate broomrape). The present work was carried out to evaluate the potential of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and bacterial strains to suppress Orobanche crenata on faba bean. Orobanche infestation was influenced by the bacteria, AM fungi and the time the observation was made. Faba bean inoculated with the combination between bacterial strains (B2) {TAL 1399 plus A. brasilense}, B3 (TAL 1399 plus BMP{ Bacllius megathirium var phosphaticum }) alone or in combination with mycorrhiza fungi (AM) were completely inhibited Orobanche plant emergence. Time at which highest rate of Orobanche emergence occurred on faba bean was significantly delayed with AM fungi incorporated with each of the bacterial strains (B1, B2 and B3). The highest increment of faba bean shoot was obtained when AM fungi was incorporated with bacterial strains B3 as compared to control. Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi plus bacterial B2 root colonization were positively correlated with total dry matter of faba bean. With respect to nodule numbers results displayed that faba bean inoculated with bacterial B2 alone or in combination with AM fungi sustained the highest nodule numbers as compared to both controls. Adoption of an integrated approach encompassing AM fungi and bacteria inoculation may provide a novel, cheap and easy method to apply for O. crenata control under subsistence low-input farming systems.
The Opportunity To Eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly infectious disease of sheep and goats that is caused by PPR virus, a member of the genus Morbillivirus that includes the viruses that cause rinderpest (RP) in cattle. RP was the first animal disease to be globally eradicated in 2011 and is only the second disease, after smallpox, to have ever been eradicated. PPR is one of the principal constraints to small ruminant production in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The epidemiology of PPR and RP as well as the technologies available for their diagnosis and control are similar. The conditions that favored the eradication of RP are also largely present for PPR. In this work, we outline the evolving strategy for eradication in light of current opportunities and challenges, as well as the lessons from other eradication programs in animal and human health. The global PPR situation and technology for its control are summarized. A strategy based on the lessons from previous eradication efforts that integrate epidemiology, social science, and economics as tools to target and motivate vaccination is summarized. Major aspects of the cost and benefit-cost analysis of the indicated program are presented. The overall undiscounted cost of eradication was estimated as $3.1 billion, and the benefit-cost ratio for the most likely scenario was estimated at 33.8. We close with a discussion of the possible next steps.
A Digitally Controlled Power Converter for an Electrostatic Precipitator

Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are devices used in industry to eliminate polluting particles in gases. In order to supply them, an interface must be included between the three-phase main line and the required high DC voltage of tens of kilovolts. This paper describes an 80-kW power supply for such an application. Its structure is based on the series parallel resonant converter with a capacitor as output filter (PRC-LCC), which can adequately cope with the parasitic elements of the step-up transformer involved. The physical implementation of the prototype includes the use of silicon carbide—SiC—semiconductors, which provide better switching capabilities than their traditional silicon—Si—counterparts. As a result, a new control strategy results as a better alternative in which the resonant current is maintained in phase with the first harmonic of the inverter voltage. Although this operation mode imposes hard switching in one of the inverter legs, it minimizes the reactive energy that circulates through the resonant tank, the resonant current amplitude itself and the switching losses. Overall efficiency of the converter benefits from this. These ideas are supported mathematically using the steady state and dynamic models of the topology. They are confirmed with experimental measurements that include waveforms, Bode plots and thermal behavior. The experimental setup delivers 80 kW with an estimated efficiency of 98%.
IOT-Based Information System for Medical Application

Internet connects various smart objects and also provides data interoperability for application using IoT technology. This technology was used in information intensive industrial sectors like healthcare services. Heterogeneity problem caused by the diversity of object in Internet of Things (IoT). Information storage, accessing real time data is more difficult and challenging, but IoT makes it easy to access real time data. The project define semantic data model is used to interpret and store data. For improving the accessibility of IoT data, resource based data method is used to design, process acquire IoT data ubiquitously. By using an example emergency medical services which is based on IoT which can illustrate how to integrate, interoperate and collect data flexibly. Therefore IoT data accessing method based on resource is efficient in distributed heterogeneity data environment which supports to data access ubiquitously and timely. By using ontology in the data storage and accessing it focuses on semantic data and unified data model.