Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
When size matters: transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 channel as a volume‐sensor rather than an osmo‐sensor

Mammalian cells are frequently exposed to stressors causing volume changes. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel translates osmotic stress into ion flux. The molecular mechanism coupling osmolarity to TRPV4 activation remains elusive. TRPV4 responds to isosmolar cell swelling and osmolarity translated via different aquaporins. TRPV4 functions as a volume‐sensing ion channel irrespective of the origin of the cell swelling.
How Initial Conditions Can Have Permanent Effects: The Case of the Affordable Care Act

We document that states that experienced website glitches in the ACA’s first year faced higher average costs that persisted into future years. These dynamics are inconsistent with the standard strategic-pricing model, which requires non-localized common knowledge about market conditions, but are consistent with price-taking. Initial conditions can have a permanent effect—including convergence to a Pareto-dominated, stable equilibrium—under conditions that we show are plausible in this setting. Changing the fine from a fixed amount to a fraction of equilibrium prices increases the likelihood of reaching a Pareto-efficient equilibrium without increasing the equilibrium fine collected. (JEL H51, H75, I13, I18)
Machine Learning-Based Calibration of Low-Cost Air Temperature Sensors Using Environmental Data

The measurement of air temperature is strongly influenced by environmental factors such as solar radiation, humidity, wind speed and rainfall. This is problematic in low-cost air temperature sensors, which lack a radiation shield or a forced aspiration system, exposing them to direct sunlight and condensation. In this study, we developed a machine learning-based calibration method for air temperature measurement by a low-cost sensor. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to balance the effect of multiple environmental factors on the measurements. Data were collected over 305 days, at three different locations in Japan, and used to evaluate the performance of the approach. Data collected at the same location and at different locations were used for training and testing, and the former was also used for k-fold cross-validation, demonstrating an average improvement in mean absolute error (MAE) from 1.62 to 0.67 by applying our method. Some calibration failures were noted, due to abrupt changes in environmental conditions such as solar radiation or rainfall. The MAE was shown to decrease even when the data collected in different nearby locations were used for training and testing. However, the results also showed that negative effects arose when data obtained from widely-separated locations were used, because of the significant environmental differences between them.
MYCOTOXINS IN FOODS AND FEEDS 1-AFLATOXINS

: Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites synthesized by some naturally occurring fungi under suitable physical, chemical and biological factors. High temperature stress, humidity stress and insect damage of the product are major determining factors in mold infestation and toxin production. Mycotoxins contaminated food and feed supplies could increase the economic and health risks to humans and animals. The aflatoxins constitute a group of fungal metabolites that have varied toxic and carcinogenic properties, depending on dose and duration of exposure. The adverse effects of aflatoxins in humans ranged from acute hepatic toxicity to chronic disease such as liver cancer. In animals, the aflatoxins cause liver damage, decreased milk production, reduced reproductively and suppressed immunity in animals consuming low dietary concentrations. In acute toxicity the clinical signs include gastrointestinal dysfunctions, decreased feed intake and efficiency, weight loss, jaundice, drop in milk production, nervous signs, bleeding and death. All species of animals are susceptible to aflatoxicosis. The susceptibility of individual animals to aflatoxicosis varies considerably depending on dose, duration of exposure, species, age, sex and nutrition.
Apache Calcite: A Foundational Framework for Optimized Query Processing Over Heterogeneous Data Sources

Apache Calcite is a foundational software framework that provides query processing, optimization, and query language support to many popular open-source data processing systems such as Apache Hive, Apache Storm, Apache Flink, Druid, and MapD. The goal of this paper is to formally introduce Calcite to the broader research community, brie y present its history, and describe its architecture, features, functionality, and patterns for adoption. Calcite's architecture consists of a modular and extensible query optimizer with hundreds of built-in optimization rules, a query processor capable of processing a variety of query languages, an adapter architecture designed for extensibility, and support for heterogeneous data models and stores (relational, semi-structured, streaming, and geospatial). This exible, embeddable, and extensible architecture is what makes Calcite an attractive choice for adoption in big-data frameworks. It is an active project that continues to introduce support for the new types of data sources, query languages, and approaches to query processing and optimization.
Sound settlement: noise surpasses land cover in explaining breeding habitat selection of secondary cavity-nesting birds.

Birds breeding in heterogeneous landscapes select nest sites by cueing in on a variety of factors from landscape features and social information to the presence of natural enemies. We focus on determining the relative impact of anthropogenic noise on nest site occupancy, compared to amount of forest cover, which is known to strongly influence the selection process. We examine chronic, industrial noise from natural gas wells directly measured at the nest box as well as site-averaged noise, using a well-established field experimental system in northwestern New Mexico. We hypothesized that high levels of noise, both at the nest site and in the environment, would decrease nest box occupancy. We set up nest boxes using a geospatially paired control and experimental site design and analyzed four years of occupancy data from four secondary cavity-nesting birds common to the Colorado Plateau. We found different effects of noise and landscape features depending on species, with strong effects of noise observed in breeding habitat selection of Myiarchus cinerascens, the Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Sialia currucoides, the Mountain Bluebird. In contrast, the amount of forest cover less frequently explained habitat selection for those species or had a smaller standardized effect than the acoustic environment. Although forest cover characterization and management is commonly employed by natural resource managers, our results show that characterizing and managing the acoustic environment should be an important tool in protected area management.
Variable directionality of gene expression changes across generations does not constitute negative evidence of epigenetic inheritance

Abstract Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in mammals has been controversial due to inherent difficulties in its experimental demonstration. A recent report has, however, opened a new front in the ongoing debate by claiming that endocrine disrupting chemicals, contrary to previous findings, do not cause effects across generations. This claim is based on the observation that gene expression changes induced by these chemicals in the exposed and unexposed generations are mainly in the opposite direction. This analysis shows that the pattern of gene expression reported in the two generations is not expected by chance and is suggestive of transmission across generations. A meta-analysis of diverse data sets related to endocrine disruptor-induced transgenerational gene expression alterations, including the data provided in the said report, further suggests that effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals persist in unexposed generations. Based on the prior evidence of phenotypic variability and gene expression alterations in opposite direction between generations, it is argued here that calling evidence of mismatched directionality in gene expression in experiments testing potential of environmental agents in inducing epigenetic inheritance of phenotypic traits as negative is untenable. This is expected to settle the newly raised doubts over epigenetic inheritance in mammals.
Fault localization using value replacement

We present a value profile based approach for ranking program statements according to their likelihood of being faulty. The key idea is to see which program statements exercised during a failing run use values that can be altered so that the execution instead produces correct output. Our approach is effective in locating statements that are either faulty or directly linked to a faulty statement. We present experimental results showing the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach. Our approach outperforms Tarantula which, to our knowledge, is the most effective prior approach for statement ranking based fault localization using the benchmark programs we studied.
Determination of silodosin and its active glucuronide metabolite KMD-3213G in human plasma by LC-MS/MS for a bioequivalence study.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is described for the simultaneous determination of silodosin (SLD) and its active metabolite silodosin β-d-glucuronide (KMD-3213G) in human plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction of plasma samples was carried out with ethyl acetate and methyl tert-butyl ether solvent mixture using deuterated analogs as internal standards. The extraction recoveries of SLD and KMD-3213G were in the ranges 90.8-93.4 and 87.6-89.9%, respectively. The extracts were analyzed on a Symmetry C18 (50 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column under gradient conditions using 10 mm ammonium formate in water and methanol-acetonitrile (40:60, v/v), within 6.0 min. For MS/MS measurements, ionization of the analytes was carried out in the positive ionization mode and the transitions monitored were m/z 496.1 → 261.2 for SLD and m/z 670.2 → 494.1 for KMD-3213G. The method showed good linearity, accuracy, precision and stability in the range 0.10-80.0 ng/mL for SLD and KMD-3213G. The IS-normalized matrix factors obtained were highly consistent, ranging from 0.962 to 1.023 for both analytes. The method was used to support a bioequivalence study of SLD and its metabolite in healthy volunteers after oral administration of 8 mg silodosin capsules.
The Social Ecological Model and Physical Activity Interventions for Hispanic Women With Type 2 Diabetes: A Review

Hispanic women are less physically active and have higher rates of type 2 diabetes (DM2) when compared with other population groups. This review uses the social ecological model as a framework to identify the individual and social environmental factors associated with successful physical activity (PA) interventions for Hispanic women with DM2. Research questions include (a) Which social ecological levels have been applied to PA interventions? (b) Which individual and social environmental intervention strategies are associated with successful PA outcomes? Database searches using CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus for the years 2000 to 2015 identified 10 studies; with 6 using quasi-experimental study designs and 4 using randomized controlled designs. Inclusion criteria were Hispanic/Latina women with DM2, ≥70% women, PA interventions, measures of PA, and quantitative designs. Future research should focus on a combination of intervention levels, and DM2 programs should place a greater emphasis on PA intervention strategies.
Toward Intuitive Prosthetic Control: Solving Common Issues Using Force Myography, Surface Electromyography, and Pattern Recognition in a Pilot Case Study

Despite the appearance of advanced multi-degrees of freedom (DoF) robotic hands during the past decade, prosthetic control lacks a powerful interface to facilitate all its functionalities in a manner that is acceptable for a majority of users [1]. In this article, we explore the feasibility of using a sensing technique called force myography (FMG) as an alternative or synergist to the traditional surface electromyography (sEMG) technique as a human-machine interface (HMI) for the control of a multi-DoF prosthetic hand, bebionic 3 by Ottobock, Austin, Texas. In this article, we present a prosthetic prototype developed for the Cybathlon 2016, a championship for racing pilots with disabilities using assistive robotic devices. The design of the prototype is discussed and the effect of two factors on its control is analyzed. These factors are 1) the impact of a multisensory approach and 2) the placement of FMG sensor strips within the prosthetic inner socket. Analysis is performed by comparing resulting pattern recognition accuracies. Results show that the use of both sensing modalities (FMG and EMG) together produced the highest pattern recognition accuracy (81.1%) for ten classes of motion (four wrist movements and six grip patterns). We demonstrated that FMG has the potential to be an HMI for control of upper-limb-powered prostheses. FMG also illustrates the potential for intuitive control through the use of pattern recognition. A multisensory approach could assist in increasing robustness of the HMI for prosthetic control.
Lack of interaction between metoclopramide and morphine in vitro and in mice

1. This study examined interactions via common metabolism or via common pharmacodynamic pathways between frequently co-prescribed metoclopramide (a prokinetic) and morphine (an opioid analgesic). 2. In human liver microsomes, morphine 3-glucuronide and morphine 6-glucuronide formation had Vmax estimates of 6.2 ± 0.07 and 0.75 ± 0.01 (nmole min−1 mg−1 protein) and Km estimates of 1080 ± 37 and 665 ± 55 (µM), respectively. The in vitro Ki for morphine 3-glucuronide formation in the presence of metoclopramide in human liver microsomes or recombinant uridine diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase 2B7 predicted a lack of in vivo interaction. 3. Morphine (2 mg kg−1 subcutaneously) delayed gastrointestinal meal transit in mice, metoclopramide (10 mg kg−1 subcutaneously) had no effect on meal transit, and metoclopramide did not alter this effect of morphine. 4. Morphine (2 or 5 mg kg−1 subcutaneously) was antinociceptive in mice (hot plate test) and metoclopramide (10 mg kg−1 subcutaneously) did not alter the antinociceptive effects of morphine. 5. Together, the data suggest a lack of interaction between morphine and metoclopramide.
Role of Diffusion-weighted and Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Differentiating Activity of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Background: Previous studies showed that combining apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value with the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) index value might provide a reliable evaluation of the activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and that contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is unnecessary. However, the results were based on confirming only a small random sample. This study aimed to assess the role of CE-MRI in differentiating the disease activity of AS by comparing ADC value with a large sample. Methods: A total of 115 patients with AS were enrolled in accordance with Bath AS Disease Activity Index and laboratory indices, and 115 patients were divided into two groups, including active group (n = 69) and inactive group (n = 46). SPARCC, &Dgr;SI, and ADC values were obtained from the short tau inversion recovery (STIR), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and CE-MRI, respectively. One-way analysis of variance and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed for all parameters. Results: The optimal cutoff values (with sensitivity, specificity, respective area under the curve, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio) for the differentiation between active and inactive groups are as follows: SPARCC = 6 (72.06%, 82.61%, 0.836, 4.14, 0.34); &Dgr;SI (%) = 153 (80.6%, 84.78%, 0.819, 5.3, 0.23); ADC value = 1.15 × 10−3 mm2/s (72.73%, 81.82%, 0.786, 4, 0.33). No statistical differences were found among the predictive values of SPARCC, &Dgr;SI, and ADC. Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference between the combination of SPARCC and ADC values with and without &Dgr;SI. Conclusions: Using large sample, we concluded that the combination of STIR and DWI would play significant roles in assessing the disease activity, and CE-MRI sequence is not routinely used in imaging of AS to avoid renal fibrosis and aggravation of kidney disease.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Related to Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Objectives Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are often used to diagnose laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and monitor treatment outcomes in clinical and research settings. The present systematic review was designed to identify currently available LPR-related PRO measures and to evaluate each measure’s instrument development, validation, and applicability. Data Sources MEDLINE via PubMed interface, CINAHL, and Health and Psychosocial Instrument databases were searched with relevant vocabulary and key terms related to PRO measures and LPR. Review Methods Three investigators independently performed abstract review and full text review, applying a previously developed checklist to critically assess measurement properties of each study meeting inclusion criteria. Results Of 4947 studies reviewed, 7 LPR-related PRO measures (publication years, 1991-2010) met criteria for extraction and analysis. Two focused on globus and throat symptoms. Remaining measures were designed to assess LPR symptoms and monitor treatment outcomes in patients. None met all checklist criteria. Only 2 of 7 used patient input to devise item content, and 2 of 7 assessed responsiveness to change. Thematic deficiencies in current LPR-related measures are inadequately demonstrated: content validity, construct validity, plan for interpretation, and literacy level assessment. Conclusion Laryngopharyngeal reflux is often diagnosed according to symptoms. Currently available LPR-related PRO measures used to symptomatically identify suspected LPR patients have disparate developmental rigor and important methodological deficiencies. Care should be exercised to understand the measurement characteristics and contextual relevance before applying these PRO measures for clinical, research, or quality initiatives.
Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Somatosensory Recovery After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary somatosensory cortex on the recovery of somatosensation, motor function, and the activities of daily living in patients with subacute stroke. Design This study was a prospective, randomized sham controlled, double-blinded study. Patients with subacute stroke having somatosensory deficits (N = 24) were enrolled and assigned randomly to the anodal and sham stimulation groups. Patients received 10 consecutive anodal or sham transcranial direct current stimulations over the primary somatosensory cortex on the side of the stroke lesion. Before and after each stimulation session, Nottingham sensory assessments, Semmes Weinstein monofilaments examination, and manual function tests were performed, and modified Brunnstrom classification, modified Barthel index, and functional ambulation categories were assessed. Results Although there was no clear significant difference between the two groups, when the changes from baseline to posttreatment evaluation were compared between the groups, a partially significant improvement was observed in the anodal stimulation group compared with the sham stimulation group. Interestingly, the tactile sensation of the unaffected side also improved. Moreover, the greater improvement in activities of daily living function was observed in the anodal stimulation group too. Conclusion Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary somatosensory cortex may be a useful adjuvant therapy for the recovery of somatosensation and activities of daily living function in patients with sensory deficits after stroke.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization House price responses to a national property tax reform (cid:2)

We show that house prices in general did not respond to a substantial cut in the national property tax in Sweden. The estimates are based on rich register data covering more than 100,000 sales over a time period of two and a half years. Because the Swedish property tax is national and thus unrelated to local public goods, our setting is ideal for causal identiﬁcation of the property tax on house prices. We observe price increases only in a small segment of the market containing properties with very high tax values. We discuss, but can admittedly not empirically discriminate between, several potential explanations for why we ﬁnd no evidence of capitalization except for the top segment of the market. The cap was binding for roughly half of all properties. The capping of property tax payments implies a disproportionately large decrease in the tax liability for properties above the cap. We utilize this differential treatment in a difference-in-difference (DiD) approach, with uncapped properties in the control group and capped properties in the treatment group. Under the assumption of parallel trends in price developments for houses of different tax values, we estimate the causal effect of the tax cap on house prices. Our data is obtained from the ofﬁcial home ownership register and covers all (roughly 100,000) sales of single-family houses, mediated through a real estate agent connected to Svensk Mäklarstatistik AB (Our translation: Swedish Real Estate Agent Statistics, Inc.) in Sweden during the three years that span the reform period: 2006, 2007 and 2008. with a lower tax burden. This decreases demand in the jurisdiction where the property tax was raised and increases demand in the other jurisdiction, with corresponding price adjustments. When a national property tax is changed, all identical properties are affected by the tax change. With a kinked national property tax schedule, as in the post-reform regime in Sweden, demand for properties with high tax values increases relative to demand for properties with tax values below the kink. However, since two properties with different tax values are arguably not identical, and hence not perfect substitutes, it is possible that the housing demand elasticity with respect to national property tax is lower than for a local property tax. If housing supply is perfectly inelastic, the demand elasticity does not affect capitalization degrees, but with elastic supply the capitalization degree might well be lower for a national property tax than for a local property tax. It should also be noted that while most of the earlier literature has used cross-sectional variation in property taxes and house prices, and hence implicitly compared long-run equilibrium outcomes, our reform evaluation approach makes it possible to study dynamic adjustment to changes in the taxes. Our study contributes to the previous literature estimating capitalization of property taxes in that we make use of a national reform and a large nation wide register based data set to identify price responses.