Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The autoepitope of the 74-kD mitochondrial autoantigen of primary biliary cirrhosis corresponds to the functional site of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase

Autoantibodies to mitochondrial antigens are characteristic of the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), but the precise antigenic determinants recognized by these antibodies have not been defined. Recently, our laboratory identified a 1,370-bp rat liver cDNA clone that coded for a polypeptide recognized specifically by sera from patients with PBC but not by sera from patients with other forms of liver disease. This recombinant protein was identified as the 74-kD M2 mitochondrial inner membrane autoantigen, now known to be dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase. In the present study, we have identified a 603-bp fragment that codes for a polypeptide containing all of the autoreactivity of the original clone. In addition, based on hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity plots of the amino acid sequence of this polypeptide segment, several peptides were synthesized and tested for reactivity by an inhibition assay using sera from patients with PBC. One peptide, defined by the amino acids AEIETDKATIGFEVQEEGYL, absorbed serum reactivity to the protein product of the original clone. Of particular interest was the finding that this peptide contains the lipoic acid binding site KATIGF of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase found in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Thus, it appears that for this autoantigen, the target of the autoantibodies corresponds to a functional site of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase.
Atomistic Insights into the Effects of Residual Stress during Nanoindentation

The influence of in-plane residual stress on Hertzian nanoindentation for single-crystal copper thin film is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations (MD). It is found that: (i) the yield strength of incipient plasticity increases with compressive residual stress, but decreases with tensile residual stress; (ii) the hardness decreases with tensile residual stress, and increases with compressive residual stress, but abruptly drops down at a higher compressive residual stress level, because of the deterioration of the surface; (iii) the indentation modulus reduces linearly with decreasing compressive residual stress (and with increasing tensile residual stress). It can be concluded from the MD simulations that the residual stress not only strongly influences the dislocation evolution of the plastic deformation process, but also significantly affects the size of the plastic zone.
Ossification Pattern of Estuarine Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) Forelimbs, from the Coast of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

The estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, is one of the most abundant cetacean species in Brazil. Determination of age and of aspects associated with the development of this species is significant new studies. Counts of growth layer groups in dentin are used to estimate age of these animals, though other ways to evaluate development are also adopted, like the measurement of total length (TL). This study presents a procedure to evaluate the development of the estuarine dolphin based on the ossification pattern of forelimbs. Thirty-seven estuarine dolphins found in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were examined. Age was estimated, TL was measured and ossification of epiphyses was examined by radiography. We analyzed results using the Spearman correlation. Inspection of radiographs allowed evaluation of the significance of the correlation between age and development of the proximal (r = 0.9109) and distal (r = 0.9092) radial epiphyses, and of the distal ulnar epiphyses (r = 0.9055). Radiographic analysis of forelimbs proved to be an appropriate method to evaluate physical maturity, and may be a helpful tool to estimate age of these animals in ecological and population studies.
Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin

Psychedelic drugs have a long history of use in healing ceremonies, but despite renewed interest in their therapeutic potential, we continue to know very little about how they work in the brain. Here we used psilocybin, a classic psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, and a task-free functional MRI (fMRI) protocol designed to capture the transition from normal waking consciousness to the psychedelic state. Arterial spin labeling perfusion and blood-oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI were used to map cerebral blood flow and changes in venous oxygenation before and after intravenous infusions of placebo and psilocybin. Fifteen healthy volunteers were scanned with arterial spin labeling and a separate 15 with BOLD. As predicted, profound changes in consciousness were observed after psilocybin, but surprisingly, only decreases in cerebral blood flow and BOLD signal were seen, and these were maximal in hub regions, such as the thalamus and anterior and posterior cingulate cortex (ACC and PCC). Decreased activity in the ACC/medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was a consistent finding and the magnitude of this decrease predicted the intensity of the subjective effects. Based on these results, a seed-based pharmaco-physiological interaction/functional connectivity analysis was performed using a medial prefrontal seed. Psilocybin caused a significant decrease in the positive coupling between the mPFC and PCC. These results strongly imply that the subjective effects of psychedelic drugs are caused by decreased activity and connectivity in the brain's key connector hubs, enabling a state of unconstrained cognition.
Effect of sludge retention time and phosphorus to carbon ratio on biological phosphorus removal in HS-SBR process

Sludge retention time (SRT) and phosphorus to carbon ratio (P/C) in the feed are important control parameters in biological phosphorus removal. In this study, humus soil sequencing batch reactor (HS-SBR) process was operated with different SRTs (five, 10 and 15 days) and P/C feeding (0.0125 and 0.1) to evaluate their phosphorus removal efficiencies. The HS-SBR was composed of a humus soil reactor (HSR) and a conventional SBR (designated as hsSBR to differentiate from the conventional SBR used as a control). The results showed that the phosphorus removal efficiency was 82.7%, 97.3% and 97.3% at SRTs of five, 10 and 15 days respectively and acetate utilization efficiency for phosphorus release with SRTs of 10 and 15 days was much higher than that with an SRT of five days. In addition, a high P/C feeding (0.1) could promote the growth of the phosphate accumulating organisms in the hsSBR; however, the efficiency of phosphorus removal was lower than a low P/C feeding (0.0125) at an SRT of 15 days. All these observations suggested that a relatively long SRT and low P/C feeding exert a useful effect on the phosphorus removal in the hsSBR.
Temperature dependence, spatial scale, and tree species diversity in eastern Asia and North America

The increase of biodiversity from poles to equator is one of the most pervasive features of nature. For 2 centuries since von Humboldt, Wallace, and Darwin, biogeographers and ecologists have investigated the environmental and historical factors that determine the latitudinal gradient of species diversity, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The recently proposed metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) aims to explain ecological patterns and processes, including geographical patterns of species richness, in terms of the effects of temperature and body size on the metabolism of organisms. Here we use 2 comparable databases of tree distributions in eastern Asia and North America to investigate the roles of environmental temperature and spatial scale in shaping geographical patterns of species diversity. We find that number of species increases exponentially with environmental temperature as predicted by the MTE, and so does the rate of spatial turnover in species composition (slope of the species-area relationship). The magnitude of temperature dependence of species richness increases with spatial scale. Moreover, the relationship between species richness and temperature is much steeper in eastern Asia than in North America: in cold climates at high latitudes there are more tree species in North America, but the reverse is true in warmer climates at lower latitudes. These patterns provide evidence that the kinetics of ecological and evolutionary processes play a major role in the latitudinal pattern of biodiversity.
The complex genetics of multiple sclerosis: pitfalls and prospects

The genetics of complex disease is entering a new and exciting era. The exponentially growing knowledge and technological capabilities emerging from the human genome project have finally reached the point where relevant genes can be readily and affordably identified. As a result, the last 12 months has seen a virtual explosion in new knowledge with reports of unequivocal association to relevant genes appearing almost weekly. The impact of these new discoveries in Neuroscience is incalculable at this stage but potentially revolutionary. In this review, an attempt is made to illuminate some of the mysteries surrounding complex genetics. Although focused almost exclusively on multiple sclerosis all the points made are essentially generic and apply equally well, with relatively minor addendums, to any other complex trait, neurological or otherwise.
Pediatric Constipation in the Emergency Department: Evaluation, Treatment, and Outcomes

Objectives: Limited knowledge exists surrounding the pharmacologic management of pediatric constipation in the emergency department (ED) setting and the success of interventions. Our primary objective was to determine whether enema administration is associated with 7-day ED revisits for persistent symptoms. Secondary objectives focused on assessing other predictors of ED revisits. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children <18 years old, diagnosed as having constipation (International Classification of Diseases-10 codes F98.1 nonorganic encopresis, K59.0 constipation) in a pediatric ED in Toronto, Canada, between November 2008 and October 2010. Results: A total of 3592 visits were included; 6% (n = 225) were associated with a revisit. Children with revisits more frequently had vomiting (28% vs 17%, P = 0.001), more pain (5.7 ± 3.6 vs 4.6–3.6 of 10, P = 0.01), and underwent more blood tests (19% 05, 11%, 95% confidence interval [CI] of the difference 3%–14%] and diagnostic imaging (62% vs 47%, 95% CI of the difference 9%–22%). Children administered an enema were 1.54 times more likely to revisit the ED than those who did not receive an enema (8.6% vs 5.5%, 95% CI of the difference 1.1%–5.2%, P = 0.001). Type of enema administered varied by age (P < 0.001). Regression analysis identified the following independent predictors of revisits: diagnostic imaging (odds ratio [OR] 1.54, 95% CI 1.15–2.06), vomiting (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.07–1.98), enema administration (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.05–1.88), and significant medical history (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.04–1.53). Conclusions: Enema administration and diagnostic imaging are associated with revisits in children diagnosed with constipation. Their role in the ED management of pediatric constipation requires further evaluation.
Changes in attribution and expressed emotion among the relatives of patients with schizophrenia

Synopsis The study investigated whether reductions in hostility and criticism in the relatives of psychiatric patients would be associated with changes in their beliefs about the causes of the patients' symptoms and negative behaviours. Twenty-six relatives of patients with schizophrenia were assessed both before and after taking part in interventions designed to reduce levels of expressed emotion. Over the course of the interventions there was a general reduction in relatives' criticism and hostility, a shift towards making more universal attributions for patients' negative behaviours and more use of attributions to illness. Reductions in criticism were not related to attributional change, but reductions in hostility were associated with shifts towards more universal and uncontrollable attributions.
A humanized monoclonal antibody to carcinoembryonic antigen, labetuzumab, inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes human medullary thyroid cancer xenografts to dacarbazine chemotherapy.

A variety of observations have shown that carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is associated with growth and metastasis of cancers, including correlation of CEA serum levels with poor clinical outcome, mediation of cell-cell adhesion by CEA, and involvement of CEA in the immune recognition of tumors and apoptotic pathways. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that an anti-CEA monoclonal antibody (MAb) may have on the growth of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), a CEA-expressing tumor, alone and in combination with chemotherapy. Antitumor effects were evaluated in a nude mouse-human MTC xenograft model. Using the TT MTC cell line grown s.c. , we compared tumor growth in untreated mice with that of mice given the humanized anti-CEA MAb labetuzumab or an isotype-matched control MAb. The effects of time of administration post-tumor injection, MAb dose response, specificity of response, and combination with dacarbazine (DTIC) chemotherapy were studied. The humanized anti-CEA MAb, labetuzumab, has direct, specific, antitumor effects in this model, without conjugation to a cytotoxic agent. In addition, labetuzumab sensitizes these tumor cells to chemotherapy with an effective drug in this model, DTIC, without increased toxicity. Significant delays in tumor growth were caused by the MAb therapy or chemotherapy alone; however, the combination of these agents was significantly more effective than either agent given as a monotherapy or use of an irrelevant MAb in this model. The superiority of the combined modality treatment argues for the integration of CEA MAb therapy into chemotherapeutic regimens for MTC management and possibly other CEA-expressing neoplasms.
Sketch-Based Image Retrieval: Benchmark and Bag-of-Features Descriptors

We introduce a benchmark for evaluating the performance of large-scale sketch-based image retrieval systems. The necessary data are acquired in a controlled user study where subjects rate how well given sketch/image pairs match. We suggest how to use the data for evaluating the performance of sketch-based image retrieval systems. The benchmark data as well as the large image database are made publicly available for further studies of this type. Furthermore, we develop new descriptors based on the bag-of-features approach and use the benchmark to demonstrate that they significantly outperform other descriptors in the literature.
Pituitary responsiveness to GnRH in mares following deslorelin acetate implantation to hasten ovulation.

The present experiment characterized the pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH in the first 10 d after ovulation following commercially available deslorelin acetate implantation at the normal dosage for hastening ovulation in mares. Twelve mature, cyclic mares were assessed daily for estrus and three times weekly for ovarian activity starting May 1. Mares achieving a follicle at least 25 mm in diameter or showing signs of estrus were checked daily thereafter for ovarian characteristics. When a follicle >30 mm was detected, mares were administered either a single deslorelin acetate implant or a sham injection and then assessed daily for ovulation. On d 1, 4, 7, and 10 following ovulation, each mare was challenged i.v. with 50 microg GnRH, and blood samples were collected to characterize the LH and FSH responses. The size of the largest follicle on the day of treatment did not differ (P = 0.89) between groups. The number of days from treatment to ovulation was shorter (P < 0.001) by 2.0 d for the treated mares indicating a hastening of ovulation. The size of the largest follicle present on the days of GnRH challenge was larger in the treated mares on d 1 (P = 0.007) but smaller on d 10 (P = 0.02). In addition, the interovulatory interval was longer (P = 0.036) in the treated mares relative to controls by 4.4 d. Concentrations of FSH in plasma of the treated mares were lower (P < 0.05) than control concentrations from d 3 to 12; LH concentrations in the treated mares were lower (P < 0.05) relative to controls on d 0 to 5, d 7, and again on d 20 to 23. Progesterone values were the same (P = 0.99) for both groups from 2 d before ovulation though d 23. There was an interaction of treatment, day, and time of sampling (P < 0.001) for LH and FSH concentrations after injection of GnRH. Both the LH and FSH responses were suppressed (P < 0.009) in the treated mares relative to controls on d 1, 4, and 7; by d 10, the responses of the two groups were equivalent. In conclusion, deslorelin administration in this manner increased the interovulatory interval, consistently suppressed plasma LH and FSH concentrations, and resulted in a complete lack of responsiveness of LH and FSH to GnRH stimulation at the dose used during the first 7 d after the induced ovulation. Together, these results are consistent with a temporary down-regulation of the pituitary gland in response to deslorelin administered in this manner.
Substrate bias considerations for low leakage 16nm p-channel carbon nanotube transistors

The influence of substrate bias voltage on p-type carbon nanotube MOSFET (CN-MOSFET) performance is investigated in this paper. Tradeoffs between subthreshold leakage current and device speed are evaluated with two different substrate bias voltages. P-channel CN-MOSFETs are optimized for achieving the maximum on-state to off-state current ratio (Ion/Ioff) with a higher substrate bias voltage. Connecting the substrate to the power supply is recommended for enhanced overall switch quality in p-channel carbon nanotube transistors.
ANALISIS FAKTOR – FAKTOR YANGMEMPENGARUHI KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIANDENGAN SISTEM PRE ORDER SECARAONLINE(Studi Kasus Pada Online Shop Chopper Jersey)

This research is caused by why consumer want to buy products with a system of pre order online. Even though this system has some risk such as deception by the seller, length of time the goods arrive and else. The aim of this research is to analyze the influence of price, attractiveness post message, trust, reputation and buying interest towards purchase decisions with a system pre order online in online shop Chopper Jersey. The Population used in this research are the consumers of online shop Chopper Jersey. 200 respondents that taken as sample using non probability sampling technique with purposive sampling approach. The analysis technique used in this research is structural equation models with 16.0 Amos program. The results of this research indicate that the price have positive impact on buying interest. Attractiveness of the posting messages impacting positively on buying interest. Trust have positive impact on buying interest. Reputation have positive impact on buying interest and buying interest have positive impact on purchasing decisions online
Sodium and Potassium Shifts Associated with Peripheral Resistance Changes in the Dog

The relation of changes in peripheral vascular resistance to blood sodium and potassium activity was studied in the dog hind limb. Arterial inflow was controlled by a constant output pump in the femoral artery line. Cations were monitored with glass-to-silver cannula electrodes in the venous outflow. Vasoactive drugs were administered intra-arterially in amounts sufficient only to affect the limb vasculature. Vasoconstrietion induced by norepinephrine or epinephrine was associated with a fall in blood (Na+) and often with a rise of (K+). Larger doses tended to produce a biphasic response in (Na+), a transient initial rise preceding the fall. Vasoconstrietion induced by serotonin or angio-tensin was associated with a fall in blood (Na+) unaccompanied by any consistent change in (K+). Vasoconstrietion induced by small amounts of pitressin (small series) produced a larger fall in (Na+) and rise in (K+) than with other agents producing an equal degree of vasoconstrietion. Vasodilatation induced by isoproterenol, acetylcholine, or histamine was accompanied by a rise in blood (Na+) without any consistent change in (K+).
Scalable Coordination for Wireless Sensor Networks: Self-Configuring Localization Systems

Pervasive networks of micro-sensors and actuators offer to revolutionize the ways in which we understand and construct complex physical systems. Sensor networks must be scalable, long-lived and robust systems, overcoming energy limitations and a lack of pre-installed infrastructure. We explore three themes in the design of self-configuring sensor networks: tuning density to trade operational quality against lifetime; using multiple sensor modalities to obtain robust measurements; and exploiting fixed environmental characteristics. We illustrate these themes through the problem of localization, which is a key building block for sensor systems that itself requires coordination.
The Effects of CPAP Treatment on Task Positive and Default Mode Networks in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients: An fMRI Study

Introduction Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies enable the investigation of neural correlates underlying behavioral performance. We investigate the effect of active and sham Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment on working memory function of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) considering Task Positive and Default Mode networks (TPN and DMN). Methods An experiment with 4 levels of visuospatial n-back task was used to investigate the pattern of cortical activation in 17 men with moderate or severe OSAS before and after 2 months of therapeutic (active) or sub-therapeutic (sham) CPAP treatment. Results Patients with untreated OSAS had significantly less deactivation in the temporal regions of the DMN as compared to healthy controls, but activation within TPN regions was comparatively relatively preserved. After 2 months of treatment, active and sham CPAP groups exhibited opposite trends of cerebral activation and deactivation. After treatment, the active CPAP group demonstrated an increase of cerebral activation in the TPN at all task levels and of task-related cerebral deactivation in the anterior midline and medial temporal regions of the DMN at the 3-back level, associated with a significant improvement of behavioral performance, whereas the sham CPAP group exhibited less deactivation in the temporal regions of Default Mode Network and less Task Positive Network activation associated to longer response times at the 3-back. Conclusion OSAS has a significant negative impact primarily on task-related DMN deactivation, particularly in the medial temporal regions, possibly due to nocturnal hypoxemia, as well as TPN activation, particularly in the right ventral fronto-parietal network. After 2 months of active nasal CPAP treatment a positive response was noted in both TPN and DMN but without compete recovery of existing behavioral and neuronal deficits. Initiation of CPAP treatment early in the course of the disease may prevent or slow down the occurrence of irreversible impairment.