Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tight coupling of rubidium conductance and inactivation in human KCNQ1 potassium channels

KCNQ1 K+ channels in humans are important for repolarization of cardiac action potentials and for K+ secretion in the inner ear. The pore‐forming channel subunits form heteromeric complexes with small regulatory subunits of the KCNE family, in particular with KCNE1 to form channels that conduct a slow delayed rectifier K+ current, Iks. This association leads to alteration of biophysical properties, including a slowing of activation, a suppression of inactivation and an increase of the apparent single‐channel conductance. In addition, inward Rb+ currents conducted by homomeric KCNQ1 channels are about threefold larger than K+ currents, whereas heteromeric KCNQ1‐KCNE1 channels have smaller inward Rb+ currents compared to K+ currents. We determined inactivation properties and compared K+vs. Rb+ inward currents for channels formed by co‐assembly of KCNQ1 with KCNE1, KCNE3 and KCNE5, and for homomeric KCNQ1 channels with point mutations in the pore helix S5 or S6 transmembrane domains. Several of the channels with point mutations eliminated the apparent inactivation of KCNQ1, as described previously ( Seebohm et al. 2001 ). We found that the extent of inactivation and the ratio of Rb+/K+ currents were positively correlated. Since the effect of Rb+ on the current size has been shown previously to be related to a fast ‘flickery’ process, our results suggest that inactivation of KCNQ1 channels is related to a fast flicker of the open channel. A kinetic model incorporating two open states, no explicit inactivated state and a fast flicker that is different for the two open states is able to account for the apparent inactivation and the correlation of inactivation and large Rb+ currents. We conclude that an association between KCNQ1 and KCNE subunits or removal of inactivation by mutation of KCNQ1 stabilizes the open conformation of the pore principally by altering an interaction between the pore helix and the selectivity filter and with S5/S6 domains.
Mixed-Integer and Constraint Programming Techniques for Mobile Robot Task Planning

We investigate the use of optimization-based techniques to model and solve two real-world single robot task planning problems. In the first problem, a robot must plan a set of tasks, each with different temporal constraints. In the second problem, a socially interacting robot must plan a set of tasks while considering the schedules of multiple human users, as well as physical constraints including battery level. We apply existing mixed-integer programming and constraint programming techniques, yielding two exact methods for each problem. Numerical experiments show that both approaches produce better solutions in less time compared to techniques previously proposed for these problems. In order to confirm their physical utility, we implement the plans for the second problem in both simulated and real environments on Tangy, a socially interacting robot. We conclude that both mixed-integer programming and constraint programming are promising general approaches to robot task planning that should be considered when solving these problems.
ABO Blood Group Incompatibility among the Bengali Muslims of Cachar District, Assam

Abstract Present study is an attempt to investigate the fertility performance with reference to ABO incompatibility among 89 Bengali Muslim fertile couples of Cachar District, Assam. The findings of the present study reveal that mean conception and mean live birth are more among the compatible couples but mean pregnancy wastage, particularly miscarriage, is high among the incompatible couples.
Molecular Subtyping and Characterization of Bovine and Human Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates

ABSTRACT Streptococcus agalactiae causes severe invasive disease in humans and mastitis in cattle. Temporally matched bovine milk isolates and clinical human invasive isolates (52 each) collected in New York State over 18 months were characterized by molecular subtyping and phenotypic methods to probe the interspecies transmission potential of this species. EcoRI ribotyping differentiated 17 ribotypes, and DNA sequencing of the housekeeping gene sodA and the putative virulence gene hylB differentiated 7 and 17 allelic types, respectively. Human and bovine isolates were not randomly distributed between ribotypes or hylB and sodA clusters. The combined analysis of all subtyping data allowed the differentiation of 39 clonal groups; 26 groups contained only bovine isolates, and 2 groups contained both human and bovine isolates. The EcoRI ribotype diversity among bovine isolates (Simpson's numerical index of discrimination [mean ± standard deviation], 0.90 ± 0.05) being significantly higher than that among human isolates (0.42 ± 0.15) further supports that these isolates represent distinct populations. Eight human isolates, but no bovine isolates, showed an IS1548 transposon insertion in hylB, which encodes a hyaluronidase. Based on data for 43 representative isolates, human isolates, on average, showed lower hyaluronidase activities than bovine isolates. Isolates with the IS1548 insertion in hylB showed no hyaluronidase activity. Human and bovine isolates did not differ in their abilities to invade HeLa human epithelial cells. Our data show that (i) EcoRI ribotyping, combined with hylB and sodA sequencing, provides a discriminatory subtype analysis of S. agalactiae; (ii) most human invasive and bovine S. agalactiae isolates represent distinct subtypes, suggesting limited interspecies transmission; and (iii) hyaluronidase activity is not required for all human infections.
Advice Complexity of the Online Induced Subgraph Problem

Several well-studied graph problems aim to select a largest (or smallest) induced subgraph with a given property of the input graph. Examples of such problems include maximum independent set, maximum planar graph, and many others. We consider these problems, where the vertices are presented online. With each vertex, the online algorithm must decide whether to include it into the constructed subgraph, based only on the subgraph induced by the vertices presented so far. We study the properties that are common to all these problems by investigating the generalized problem: for a hereditary property \pty, find some maximal induced subgraph having \pty. We study this problem from the point of view of advice complexity. Using a result from Boyar et al. [STACS 2015], we give a tight trade-off relationship stating that for inputs of length n roughly n/c bits of advice are both needed and sufficient to obtain a solution with competitive ratio c, regardless of the choice of \pty, for any c (possibly a function of n). Surprisingly, a similar result cannot be obtained for the symmetric problem: for a given cohereditary property \pty, find a minimum subgraph having \pty. We show that the advice complexity of this problem varies significantly with the choice of \pty. We also consider preemptive online model, where the decision of the algorithm is not completely irreversible. In particular, the algorithm may discard some vertices previously assigned to the constructed set, but discarded vertices cannot be reinserted into the set again. We show that, for the maximum induced subgraph problem, preemption cannot help much, giving a lower bound of $\Omega(n/(c^2\log c))$ bits of advice needed to obtain competitive ratio $c$, where $c$ is any increasing function bounded by \sqrt{n/log n}. We also give a linear lower bound for c close to 1.
Infants Prefer Female Body Phenotypes; Infant Girls Prefer They Have an Hourglass Shape

Adolescents and adults show preferences for male and female body shapes consistent with evolutionary theories of reproductive fitness and mate selection. However, when these preferences for females with narrow waists (i.e., 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio) and men with broad shoulders (i.e., mesomorphic body shape) emerge during the lifespan is largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, eye-movements were tracked in 146 infants (3–18 months of age) during computer presentation of three-dimensional human figures varying in body features thought relevant for reproductive success (e.g., secondary sex characteristics, waist-to-hip ratio). When presented with pairs of figures differing in apparent sex, male and female infants looked significantly longer at the female figure compared to the male figure, a new finding that extends previous research showing preferences for female faces in infancy. When presented with same-sex figures differing in characteristics associated with mate value, male and female infants looked longer at a low mate value male (i.e., an endomorphic body type) compared to a high mate value male (i.e., a mesomorphic body type), a finding that replicates the results of previous research. In addition, the novel use of high and low mate value female figures showed a sex difference in visual attention, such that female infants looked longer at the high mate value female figure compared to the low mate female figure whereas male infants showed the opposite pattern of results. In sum, these findings suggest that infants generally do not possess preferences for adult-defined attractive male body shapes. However, infant girls’ greater attention to a female figure with an adult-preferred waist-to-hip ratio raises the possibility that evolved preferences for 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio influence girls’ later preference for toys representing females with an hourglass shape, perhaps supporting elaboration of adult social behaviors that enhance reproductive success (e.g., cooperative breeding).
Adequacy of information transferred at resident sign-out (inhospital handover of care): a prospective survey

Background: During sign-out (handover of care), information and responsibility about patients is transferred from one set of caregivers to another. Few residency training programmes formally teach resident physicians how to sign out or assess their ability to sign out, and little research has examined the sign-out process. Objective: To characterise the effectiveness of the sign-out process between resident physicians on an acute care ward. Design/methods: Resident physicians rotating on a paediatric acute care ward participated in a prospective study. Immediately after an on-call night, they completed a confidential survey characterising their night on call, the adequacy of the sign-out they received, and where they went to get information they had not received during sign-out. Results: 158 of 196 (81%) potential surveys were collected. On 49/158 surveys (31%), residents indicated something happened while on call they were not adequately prepared for. In 40/49 instances residents did not receive information during sign-out that would have been helpful, and in 33/40 the situation could have been anticipated and discussed during sign-out. The quality of sign-out (assessed using a five-point Likert scale from 1 = inadequate to answer call questions to 5 = adequate to answer call questions) on the nights when something happened the resident was not adequately prepared for were significantly different than the nights they felt adequately prepared (mean (SD) score 3.58 (0.92) and 4.48 (0.70); p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in: how busy the nights were; numbers of patients on service at the beginning of the call shift; numbers of admissions during a call shift; numbers of transfers to an intensive care unit; whether residents were “cross-covering” or were members of the general ward team; or whether the resident had cared for the patient previously. Conclusion: Although sign-out between resident physicians is a frequent activity, there are many times when important information is not transmitted. Analysis of these “missed opportunities” can be used to help develop an educational programme for resident physicians on how to sign out more effectively.
Obesity and the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking have all been directly related to CHD. Obesity is on the rise in the United States and has also been associated with CHD. This review clearly establishes obesity as an independent risk factor for CHD as demonstrated by the Framingham Heart Study, Nurses Health Study, Buffalo Health Study, and the Cancer Prevention Study II. Morbid obesity was found to correlate with a significant risk of mortality from CHD, especially in young men. Prevention of obesity, and therefore reduction in risk from cardiovascular disease, is paramount in the management of obesity. New approaches to behavioral, medical, and surgical management of obesity are reviewed, including thalidomide, an antiangiogenic agent. A primary and secondary prevention model details a multidisciplinary approach to reducing risk in obesity.
The Value of Routine Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Intraocular Fluid Specimens in the Diagnosis of Infectious Posterior Uveitis

Objective. To assess the value of routine polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on intraocular fluid from patients presenting with a first episode of suspected active infectious posterior uveitis in a population with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Design. Retrospective, interventional case series. Participants. 159 consecutive patients presenting at a tertiary care hospital over a five-year period. Methods. PCR analysis was performed for cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, Toxoplasma gondii, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results. PCR analysis confirmed the initial clinical diagnosis in 55 patients (35%) and altered the initial clinical diagnosis in 36 patients (23%). The clinical diagnosis prior to PCR testing was nonspecific (uncertain) in 51 patients (32%), with PCR providing a definitive final diagnosis in 20 of these patients (39%); necrotizing herpetic retinopathy and ocular toxoplasmosis were particularly difficult to diagnose correctly without the use of PCR analysis. Conclusion. The clinical phenotype alone was unreliable in diagnosing the underlying infectious cause in a quarter of patients in this study. Since the outcome of incorrectly treated infective uveitis can be blinding, PCR analysis of ocular fluids is recommended early in the disease even in resource poor settings.
Association of Birth Order with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Young Adulthood: A Study of One Million Swedish Men

Background Birth order has been suggested to be linked to several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but the evidence is still inconsistent. We aim to determine the associations of birth order with body mass index (BMI), muscle strength and blood pressure. Further we will analyse whether these relationships are affected by family characteristics. Methods BMI, elbow flexion, hand grip and knee extension strength and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured at conscription examination in 1 065 710 Swedish young men born between 1951 and 1975. The data were analysed using linear multivariate and fixed effects regression models; the latter compare siblings and account for genetic and social factors shared by brothers. Results Fixed effect regression analysis showed that birth order was inversely associated with BMI: second and third born had 0.8% and 1.1% (p<0.001) lower BMI than first-born, respectively. The association pattern differed among muscle strengths. After adjustment for BMI, first-born presented lower elbow flexion and hand grip strength than second-born (−5.9 N and −3.8 N, respectively, p<0.001). Knee extension strength was inversely related to birth order though not always significantly. The association between birth order and blood pressure was not significant. Conclusions Birth order is negatively associated with BMI and knee extension strength, positively with elbow flexion and hand grip strength, and is not associated with blood pressure among young men. Although the effects are small, the link between birth order and some CVD risk factors is already detectable in young adulthood.
Leptin and adiponectin in pancreatic cancer: connection with diabetes mellitus.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of serum leptin as well as adiponectin and the manifestation of pancreatic cancer (PC). Serum leptin, adiponectin, glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance (expressed as HOMA-IR) were investigated in 64 patients with newly diagnosed PC and compared with 64 healthy controls (CON group) and 75 patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2). Seventy percent of newly diagnosed PC patients had DM2. The levels of leptin were lower, whilst adiponectin/leptin ratio was higher in PC patients (both with and without DM2), in comparison with CON and DM2 groups (P < 0.001) independently of age, BMI and waist circumference. Newly diagnosed PC is characterized with lower leptin concentrations and higher adiponectin/leptin ratio in comparison with CON or DM2 individuals. Analysis of these parameters could help in the screening of persons in high risk for PC, especially in those with DM2. KEYWORDS adiponectin, leptin, pancreatic cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Digital slot-scan charge-coupled device radiography versus AMBER and Bucky screen-film radiography: comparison of image quality in a phantom study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the image quality and performance of a chest digital radiography system and to compare this with the image quality and performance of advanced multiple-beam equalization radiography (AMBER) and Bucky screen-film radiography systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS The chest digital radiography system is a digital charge-coupled device (CCD) chest imaging unit that uses slot-scan technology. A contrast-detail test object was used in combination with a phantom that simulates the primary and scatter transmission for the lungs and mediastinum. Twelve phantom images were obtained with each modality (ie, CCD digital radiography and AMBER and Bucky screen-film radiography) and were judged by six observers. CCD digital radiography soft-copy reading was compared with AMBER hard-copy reading. To measure image quality, contrast-detail curves were constructed from the observer data. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS For the lung configuration, contrast-detail curves showed lower threshold depth for hard-copy images obtained with CCD digital radiography than for those obtained with Bucky screen-film radiography. For hard-copy images, the difference between contrast-detail curves for CCD digital radiography and those for Bucky screen-film radiography was statistically significant (P < .006). No significant difference was found between CCD digital radiography and AMBER for hard-copy images obtained in either the lung or mediastinum configuration. For the lung configuration, a lower threshold depth was observed for CCD digital radiography soft-copy reading than for AMBER hard-copy reading, with significantly different contrast-detail curves for CCD digital radiography soft copy and AMBER hard copy (P < .006). No significant difference was found between either system for the mediastinum configuration. CONCLUSION Contrast-detail curves indicate that image quality for the CCD chest system provides a digital alternative to AMBER and Bucky screen-film radiography.
BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON AN EPIZOOTIC OF INTESTINAL DISEASE IN SUCKLING AND NEWLY WEANED MICE

It is now quite generally conceded that the presence in animals of bacteria of Salmonella type is indicative of an active, or potentially active, pathogenic agent (26). In the present instance bacteriological studies of the organs of acutely ill infant mice revealed the presence of one of the Salmonella group. It showed itself to be such by an absence of fermentation of lactose and saccharose, by other cultural reactions, and by cross-agglutination with certain members of the Salmonella group in very low dilutions of their antisera.6 However, the bacterium cannot be included in any of the known species of the group because of its indol-forming properties, differences in carbohydrate reactions, and specific serological reactions. Its presence in affected mice, growth on artificial media, ability to cause the disease following enteral and parenteral inoculations, and the fact that it can be recovered from artificially infected mice fulfill the postulates of Koch. Furthermore, agglutinins are present in the blood of recovered mice and not in that of normal animals, and recovery of mice from natural infection evokes an apparent resistance against the special recovered Salmonella bacterium. The organism would appear to fall in the Asiaticusdivision of the genus, as designated by Castellani and Chalmers (27).
Proof of the local REM conjecture for number partitioning. II. Growing energy scales

We continue our analysis of the number partitioning problem with n weights chosen i.i. d. from some fixed probability distribution with density ρ. In Part I of this work, we established the so‐called local REM conjecture of Bauke, Franz and Mertens. Namely, we showed that, as n → ∞, the suitably rescaled energy spectrum above some fixed scale α tends to a Poisson process with density one, and the partitions corresponding to these energies become asymptotically uncorrelated. In this part, we analyze the number partitioning problem for energy scales αn that grow with n, and show that the local REM conjecture holds as long as n‐1/4αn → 0, and fails if αn grows like κn1/4 with κ > 0.
Inflammation of Atrium After Cardiac Surgery Is Associated With Inhomogeneity of Atrial Conduction and Atrial Fibrillation

Background—Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common after cardiac surgery. Abnormal conduction is an important substrate for AF. We hypothesized that atrial inflammation alters atrial conduction properties. Methods and Results—Normal mongrel canines (n=24) were divided into 4 groups consisting of anesthesia alone (control group); pericardiotomy (pericardiotomy group); lateral right atriotomy (atriotomy group); and lateral right atriotomy with antiinflammatory therapy (methylprednisolone 2 mg/kg per day) (antiinflammatory group). Right atrial activation was examined 3 days after surgery. Inhomogeneity of conduction was quantified by the variation of maximum local activation phase difference. To initiate AF, burst pacing was performed. Myeloperoxidase activity and neutrophil cell infiltration in the atrial myocardium were measured to quantify the degree of inflammation. The inhomogeneity of atrial conduction of the atriotomy and pericardiotomy groups was higher than that of the control group (2.02±0.10, 1.51±0.03 versus 0.96±0.08, respectively; P<0.005). Antiinflammatory therapy decreased the inhomogeneity of atrial conduction after atriotomy (1.16±0.10; P<0.001). AF duration was longer in the atriotomy and pericardiotomy groups than in the control and antiinflammatory groups (P=0.012). There also were significant differences in myeloperoxidase activity between the atriotomy and pericardiotomy groups and the control group (0.72±0.09, 0.41±0.08 versus 0.18±0.03 &Dgr;OD/min per milligram protein, respectively; P<0.001). Myeloperoxidase activity of the antiinflammatory group was lower than that of the atriotomy group (0.17±0.02; P<0.001). Inhomogeneity of conduction correlated with myeloperoxidase activity (r=0.851, P<0.001). Conclusions—The degree of atrial inflammation was associated with a proportional increase in the inhomogeneity of atrial conduction and AF duration. This may be a factor in the pathogenesis of early postoperative AF. Antiinflammatory therapy has the potential to decrease the incidence of AF after cardiac surgery.