Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of two Pt(IV) complexes on viability, apoptosis and cell cycle of B16 mouse melanoma tumors.

UNLABELLED Several platinum(IV) complexes are showing considerable promise in initial trials, producing reactive intermediates that then interact with DNA. AIM To perform in vitro study of two new platinum(IV) complexes cytotoxic effect on B16 mouse melanoma cells. METHODS PtCl(4)(dbtp)(2) and PtCl(2)(6mp)(2) complexes were prepared. PtCl(4)(dbtp)(2) was created as modification of PtCl(4)(dmtp) test previously. Apoptosis and necrosis were examined using flow cytometry, upon Annexin V/PI staining. RESULTS LC(10), LC(50) and LC(90) parameters established for PtCl(4)(dbtp)(2) were as following: 2.6, 17.0, 58.0 mumol/L. However LC(10) and LC(50) established for PtCl(2)(6mp)(2) were 1.2 and 14.0 micromol/l respectively. The both complexes induced apoptosis. PtCl(2)(6mp)(2) induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, while PtCl(4)(dbtp)(2) - in S-phase. CONCLUSIONS PtCl(4)(dbtp)(2) appeared to be more cytotoxic against B16 cells than PtCl(2)(6mp)(2). Apoptosis was the main mechanism of cell loss in cultures incubated with both tested complexes.
Expression of the Male Determining Gene dmrt1bY and Its Autosomal Coorthologue dmrt1a in Medaka

Dmrt1bY (aka dmy) has been identified as the master male sex-determining gene of medaka by positional cloning and genetic evidence. How this gene on the molecular level determines the differentiation of the gonad primordium towards a testis, however, is unknown. To better understand the roles of dmrt1bY and its autosomal counterpart dmrt1a in the process of sex determination, a detailed expression analysis by quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed showing non-organ-specific expression of dmrt1bY during embryogenesis and low expression in adult testes. Surprisingly a high expression of dmrt1bY was noted in the spleen of males. Dmrt1a is exclusively expressed in adult testes, 50 times higher than dmrt1bY. Dmrt1bY mRNA and protein have short half-lives and the GFP fusion protein products of both dmrt1 genes are localized to the nucleus. These features are consistent with the suggestion that Dmrt1 proteins might function as DNA-binding transcription factors.
Perceptual quality assessment of 3D synthesized images

Multiview video plus depth (MVD) is the most popular 3D video format where the texture images contain the color information and the depth maps represent the geometry of the scene. The depth maps are exploited to obtain intermediate views to enable 3D-TV and free-viewpoint applications using the depth image based rendering (DIBR) techniques. DIBR is used to get an estimate of the intermediate views but has to cope with depth errors, occlusions, imprecise camera parameters, re-interpolation, to mention a few issues. Therefore, being able to evaluate the true perceptual quality of synthesized images is of paramount importance for a high quality 3D experience. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm to assess the quality of the synthesized images in the absence of the corresponding references. The algorithm uses the original views from which the virtual image is generated to estimate the distortion induced by the DIBR process. In particular, a block-based perceptual feature matching based on signal phase congruency metric is devised to estimate the synthesis distortion. The experiments worked out on standard DIBR synthesized database show that the proposed algorithm achieves high correlation with the subjective ratings and outperforms the existing 3D quality assessment algorithms.
Do cerebrovascular risk factors confer risk for suicide in later life? A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE Cerebrovascular pathologies have been implicated as a cause of depressive disorders. This study aims to examine the role of cerebrovascular risk factors in late-life suicide. METHODS The authors calculated cerebrovascular risk factor (CVRF) score, based on the American Heart Association Criteria, for each case and comparison subject from a psychological autopsy study of suicide among community-dwelling adults over age 50 years. RESULTS CVRF scores were significantly higher in suicide cases than community-dwelling comparison subjects after accounting for age, sex, depression diagnosis, and functional status. CONCLUSION Cerebrovascular disease may predispose to suicide in older adults by a variety of psychopathological means.
Using Visualizations to Explore Network Dynamics

Abstract Network analysis has become a popular tool to examine data from online social networks to politics to ecological systems. As more computing power has become available, new technology-driven methods and tools are being developed that can support larger and richer network data, including dynamic network analysis. This timely merger of abundant data and cutting edge techniques affords researchers the ability to better understand networks over time, accurately show how they evolve, find patterns of growth, or study models such as the diffusion of innovation. We combine traditional methods in social network analysis with new innovative visualizations and methods in dynamic network studies to explore an online tobacco-control community called GLOBALink, using almost twenty years of longitudinal data. We describe the methods used for the study, and perform an exploratory network study that links empirical results to real-world events.
Assessment of Relationships Between Precipitation and Satellite Derived Vegetation Condition Within South Australia

The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) has evolved as a primary tool for monitoring continental-scale vegetation changes and interpreting the impact of short to long-term climatic events on the biosphere. The objective of this research was to assess the nature of relationships between precipitation and vegetation condition, as measured by the satellite-derived NDVI within South Australia. The correlation, timing and magnitude of the NDVI response to precipitation were examined for different vegetation formations within the State (forest, scrubland, shrubland, woodland and grassland). Results from this study indicate that there are strong relationships between precipitation and NDVI both spatially and temporally within South Australia. Differences in the timing of the NDVI response to precipitation were evident among the five vegetation formations. The most significant relationship between rainfall and NDVI was within the forest formation. Negative correlations between NDVI and precipitation events indicated that vegetation green-up is a result of seasonal patterns in precipitation. Spatial patterns in the average NDVI over the study period closely resembled the boundaries of the five classified vegetation formations within South Australia. Spatial variability within the NDVI data set over the study period differed greatly between and within the vegetation formations examined depending on the location within the state. ACRONYMS AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ENVSAEnvironments of South Australia EOS Terra-Earth Observing System EVIEnhanced Vegetation Index MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer MVC Maximum Value Composite NDVINormalised Difference Vegetation Index NIRNear Infra-Red NOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration SPOT Systeme Pour l’Observation de la Terre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Coordination of Soccer Players During Preseason Training

Tessitore, A, Perroni, F, Cortis, C, Meeusen, R, Lupo, C, and Capranica, L. Coordination of soccer players during preseason training. J Strength Cond Res 25(11): 3059–3069, 2011—This study aimed to verify whether coordination improves as a result of a preseason soccer training. During 5 experimental sessions (days 1, 6, 11, 15, and 19), 16 semiprofessional male soccer players (22.0 ± 3.6 years) were administered 3 specific soccer tests (speed dribbling, shooting a dead ball, and shooting from a pass) and an interlimb coordination test (total duration of a trial: 60 seconds), consisting of isodirectional and nonisodirectional synchronized (1:1 ratio) hand and foot flexions and extensions at an increasing velocity of execution (80, 120, and 180 b·min−1). Furthermore, subjective ratings were monitored to assess the recovery state (RestQ) of the players, their perceived exertion (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) for the whole body, and the perceived muscle pain (rating of muscle pain [RMP]) for the lower limbs and the internal training load by means of the session-RPE method. The ratios between post and pretraining RPE and RMP increased only during the first 2 experimental sessions and decreased after the second week of the training camp (p = 0.001). The Rest-Q showed increases (p < 0.05) for general stress, conflict/pressure, social recovery, and being in shape dimensions. Conversely, decreases (p < 0.05) were observed for social stress, fatigue, physical complaints dimensions. Throughout the preseason, the players improved their speed dribbling (p = 0.03), Shooting from a Pass (p = 0.02), and interlimb coordination (p < 0.0001) performances. These coordination tests succeeded in discriminating coordination in soccer players and could integrate field test batteries during the whole soccer season, because they were easily and inexpensively administrable by coaches.
The Association of Prenatal Exposure to Perfluorinated Chemicals with Maternal Essential and Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids during Pregnancy and the Birth Weight of Their Offspring: The Hokkaido Study

Background Fatty acids (FAs) are essential for fetal growth. Exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) may disrupt FA homeostasis, but there are no epidemiological data regarding associations of PFCs and FA concentrations. Objectives We estimated associations between perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)/perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) concentrations and maternal levels of FAs and triglyceride (TG) and birth size of the offspring. Methods We analyzed 306 mother–child pairs in this birth cohort between 2002 and 2005 in Japan. The prenatal PFOS and PFOA levels were measured in maternal serum samples by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Maternal blood levels of nine FAs and TG were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and TG E-Test Wako kits, respectively. Information on infants’ birth size was obtained from participant medical records. Results The median PFOS and PFOA levels were 5.6 and 1.4 ng/mL, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, including maternal age, parity, annual household income, blood sampling period, alcohol consumption, and smoking during pregnancy, PFOS but not PFOA had a negative association with the levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, and arachidonic acids (p < 0.005) and TG (p-value = 0.016). Female infants weighed 186.6 g less with mothers whose PFOS levels were in the fourth quartile compared with the first quartile (95% CI: –363.4, –9.8). We observed no significant association between maternal levels of PFOS and birth weight of male infants. Conclusions Our data suggest an inverse association between PFOS exposure and polyunsaturated FA levels in pregnant women. We also found a negative association between maternal PFOS levels and female birth weight. Citation Kishi R, Nakajima T, Goudarzi H, Kobayashi S, Sasaki S, Okada E, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Araki A, Ikeno T, Iwasaki Y, Nakazawa H. 2015. The association of prenatal exposure to perfluorinated chemicals with maternal essential and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and the birth weight of their offspring: the Hokkaido Study. Environ Health Perspect 123:1038–1045; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1408834
Eocene climate record of a high southern latitude continental shelf: Seymour Island, Antarctica

A high-resolution record of Eocene paleotemperature variation is preserved within the high southern latitude, marine shelf succession of the La Meseta Formation on Seymour Island, off the NE side of the Antarctic Peninsula. 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of bivalve shell carbonate indicate that the La Meseta Formation spans virtually the entire Eocene, and suggest the presence of an early middle Eocene unconformity. Paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic inferences are based on the stable oxygen and carbon isotope values of two genera of bivalves collected with a high degree of stratigraphic resolution within the formation, and with multiple replicate samples from each horizon. δ 18 O data indicate roughly 10 °C of cooling from the early Eocene climatic optimum (~15 °C) through the end of the Eocene (minimum ~5 °C), much of which took place in two comparatively short intervals at ca. 52 and ca. 41 Ma. Many features of the isotope curves generated from this Eocene shelf section are apparent in δ 18 O and δ 13 C data from the Southern and global oceans, including warm intervals that likely correspond to the early and middle Eocene climatic optima (EECO and MECO). A rapid middle Eocene shift to much more positive values is the most signifi cant in the section and refl ects a drop to universally cooler temperatures in the late middle and late Eocene that might also be associated with a short-lived glacial advance. However, even using a somewhat depleted value for δ 18 O of seawater in the Antarctic peninsular region, average Seymour Island shelf-water paleotemperatures did not reach freezing before the end of the Eocene. δ 13 C data similarly refl ect the documented middle Eocene surface ocean enrichment followed by more negative values, but depletion is much more pronounced on Seymour Island and persists for the remainder of the Eocene, suggesting a combination of upwelling, metabolic effects, and/or atypical carbon cycling on the shelf in this region. Isotope data capture information about changes in the paleoenvironment that also had consequences for the biota, as published paleontological records document marked change in the nature of terrestrial and marine biota at this time. The fact that middle Eocene cooling and biotic turnover in the Peninsular region correspond well in time to the proposed initial opening of Drake Passage suggests that the formation of gateways, in addition to changes in pCO 2 , had signifi cant consequences for the Earth’s climate system during the Paleogene.
Generalized differentiation of parameter-dependent sets and mappings

This article concerns new aspects of generalized differentiation theory that plays a crucial role in many areas of modern variational analysis, optimization and their applications. In contrast to the majority of previous developments, we focus here on generalized differentiation of parameter-dependent objects (sets, set-valued mappings and nonsmooth functions), which naturally appear, e.g. in parametric optimization and related topics. The basic generalized differential constructions needed in this case are different for those known in parameter-independent settings, while they still enjoy comprehensive calculus rules developed in this article. †Dedicated to Bert Jongen in honor of his 60th birthday.
Aquaporin 4 Antibodies in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Are Helpful in Diagnosing Chinese Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica

Objective: It was the aim of this study to compare the diagnostic efficiency of anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody detection between serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples in Chinese patients with central nervous system demyelinating diseases. Methods: Anti-AQP4 antibodies were detected by a cell-based assay. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and coherence in 118 patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO, n = 39), multiple sclerosis (n = 34), longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM, n = 22), optic neuritis (ON, n = 6), opticospinal multiple sclerosis (n = 8) and acute partial transverse myelitis (n = 9). Results: Forty-four serum samples (33.8%) were positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies. Anti-AQP4 antibody seropositivity was 76.9, 59.1 and 16.7% in patients with NMO, LETM and ON, respectively. Sixty-five CSF samples (50%) were positive for anti-AQP4 antibodies. Anti-AQP4 antibody positivity was 87.1, 81.8, 83.3, 62.5 and 11.8% in patients with NMO, LETM, ON, opticospinal multiple sclerosis and multiple sclerosis, respectively. The ĸ value of the coherence test was 0.585 (p < 0.0001) between the two types of samples. The antibody positivity rate was significantly different between the two body fluids (p = 0.0008, McNemar test). The sensitivity and specificity were 74.3 and 100% in serum, 85.7 and 88.2% in CSF, and 94.3 and 88.2% for serum and CSF combined, respectively. Conclusion: The sensitivity of anti-AQP4 antibodies in the CSF was higher than that in the serum, and their combined use is helpful in diagnosing Chinese patients with NMO.
Slip rates on the Chelungpu and Chushiang thrust faults inferred from a deformed strath terrace along the Dungpuna river, west central Taiwan

The Chelungpu fault produced the September 1999 M_w = 7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake, central Taiwan. The shortening rate accommodated by this structure, integrated over several seismic cycles, and its contribution to crustal shortening across the Taiwanese range have remained unresolved. To address the issues, we focus our study on the Chelungpu and Chushiang thrust faults within the southernmost portion of the Chi-Chi rupture area. Structural measurements and available seismic profiles are used to infer the subsurface geometry of structures. The Chushiang and Chelungpu faults appear as two splay faults branching onto a common ramp that further north connects only to the Chelungpu surface trace. We survey a deformed strath terrace along the Dungpuna river, buried under a 11,540 ± 309 years old fill deposit. Given this age, the dip angles of the faults, and the vertical throw determined from the offset of the strath terrace across the surface fault traces, we estimate slip rates of 12.9 ± 4.8 and 2.9 ± 1.6 mm/yr on the Chelungpu and Chushiang faults, respectively. These yield a total shortening rate of 15.8 ± 5.1 mm/yr to be absorbed on their common decollement at depth. This total value is an upper bound for the slip rate on the Chelungpu fault further north, where the Chushiang fault disappears and transfers shortening to adjacent faults. Combining these results with the recently constrained shortening rate on the Changhua blind thrust reveals that all these frontal faults presently absorb most of the long-term horizontal shortening across the Taiwanese range. They thus stand as the major sources of seismic hazards in this heavily populated area. The return period of earthquakes similar to the Chi-Chi event over a ∼80 km long stretch of the Western Foothills is estimated to be ~64 years. This value is an underestimate because it assumes that all the faults locked during the interseismic period slip only during such large events. Comparison with historical seismicity suggests that episodic aseismic deformation might also play a major role in accommodating shortening.
Costs associated with infant bronchiolitis in the Baffin region of Nunavut

Abstract Objective. Although infants living in the north of Canada have been reported to have one of the highest rates of hospital admission for bronchiolitis in the world, the economic effects of this condition have not been reported. Passive immunization against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, the most common causative agent of infant bronchiolitis, is available. Methods. We tabulated transportation, in-hospital care and family accommodation costs for infants of less than 12 months of age residing in the Baffin Region of Nunavut aged who were admitted to Baffin Regional Hospital in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Ontario, with a primary diagnosis of bronchiolitis or viral pneumonia, over a 36-month period, between April 1999 and March 2002. Results. One hundred fifty-nine infants were admitted a total of 210 times, with 196 admissions to Baffin Regional Hospital, and 14 to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, during the study period. The overall, annual, population-based admission rate for the Baffin Region of Nunavut was 197 admissions per thousand infants per year. Total costs were $2,997,373 ($2,357,747 for Baffin Regional Hospital, $639,625 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario). Overall average costs were $14,273 per admission, $12,029 for infants admitted to Baffin Regional Hospital and $45,688 for infants admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Conclusions. Infant bronchiolitis in the Baffin Region of Nunavut represents a significant burden on the territorial health care system. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2005; 64(1):38–45)
The Timing of Emotional Discrimination in Human Amygdala and Ventral Visual Cortex

Models of visual emotional perception suggest a reentrant organization of the ventral visual system with the amygdala. Using focused functional magnetic resonance imaging in humans with a sampling rate of 100 ms, here we determine the relative timing of emotional discrimination in amygdala and ventral visual cortical structures during emotional perception. Results show that amygdala and inferotemporal visual cortex differentiate emotional from nonemotional scenes ∼1 s before extrastriate occipital cortex, whereas primary occipital cortex shows consistent activity across all scenes. This pattern of discrimination is consistent with a reentrant organization of emotional perception in visual processing, in which transaction between rostral ventral visual cortex and amygdala originates the identification of emotional relevance.
Effects of wildfire and logging on streamwater chemistry and cation exports of small forested catchments in Southeastern New South Wales, Australia

In January 1979 four experimental catchments in forests of southeastern New South Wales were burnt by wildfire. Logging before the fire had no detectable effect on concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cl, NO3, nor on pH of stream waters. In all burnt catchments mean K concentrations increased by from 20 per cent to 60 per cent for a 12 month period and nitrate concentrations increased by factors of about ten in severely burnt catchments. In one of the catchments (unlogged) Ca also increased. From one year to four years after the fire, concentrations of all ions were either close to or less than levels predicted from the control but, during the fifth and sixth years, concentrations of Mg and Na were higher by 20 per cent to 60 per cent. In all burnt catchments, cation exports increased considerably during the first three years after the fire but major components of these increases were elevated levels of runoff. Exports of Mg and Na were higher than those of the control during the fifth and sixth years after the fire, although runoff had returned to pre-fire levels in the two unlogged catchments and was 10 per cent to 20 per cent greater than the control in the two logged catchments. During this final period, increased ion concentrations were the main factors which contributed to the elevated exports. Post-fire logging in one catchment had no detectable effects on streamwater parameters measured in the study but was associated with a further increase in runoff.