Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Harmful Effects of Increased LDLR Expression in Mice With Human APOE*4 But Not APOE*3

Objective—Increased expression of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is generally considered beneficial for reducing plasma cholesterol and atherosclerosis, and its downregulation has been thought to explain the association between apolipoprotein (apo) E4 and increased risk of coronary heart disease in humans. Methods and Results—Contrary to this hypothesis, doubling Ldlr expression caused severe atherosclerosis with marked accumulation of cholesterol-rich, apoE-poor remnants in mice with human apoE4, but not apoE3, when the animals were fed a Western-type diet. The increased Ldlr expression enhanced in vivo clearance of exogenously introduced remnants in mice with apoE4 only when the remnants were already enriched with apoE4. The rates of nascent lipoprotein production were the same. The adverse effects of increased LDLR suggest a possibility that the receptor can trap apoE4, reducing its availability for the transfer to nascent lipoproteins needed for their rapid clearance, thereby increasing the production of apoE-poor remnants that are slowly cleared. The lower affinity for the LDLR of apoE3 compared with apoE4 could then explain why increased receptor expression had no adverse effects with apoE3. Conclusions—Our results emphasize the occurrence of important and unexpected interactions between APOE genotype, LDLR expression, and diet.
Sensitivity invariant sums of high-order

In this paper, a new class of invariant sensitivity sums of higher-order sensitivities for nonlinear circuits is introduced. Sensitivity sums considered are relevant to branch currents and branch voltages of a general class of nonlinear dynamic circuits containing passive and active elements and arbitrary number of excitations. It is assumed that the circuit consists of one-port elements and two-port elements only. The invariant sensitivity sums introduced herein are based on invariant sensitivity sums of first order derived by the means of Tellegen theorem. Mathematical induction lets us prove validity of the sums for sensitivities of arbitrary high order. Derivations are illustrated by an example of direct-current nonlinear bridge for which second order sensitivities of all branch currents and voltages are numerically computed and validity of proved invariant sensitivity sums is checked.
How many times per day should peak expiratory flow rates be assessed when investigating occupational asthma?

BACKGROUND--Serial peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) recording has been advocated as a sensitive and specific means of confirming work related asthma. The optimum number of recordings per day to achieve the best between-reader and within-reader reproducibility and sensitivity/specificity ratio compared with the final diagnosis determined by specific inhalation challenges is unknown. METHODS--PEF recording was carried out every two hours in 74 subjects referred for possible occupational asthma. Specific inhalation challenges performed in a hospital laboratory or at the workplace (positive in 33 subjects and negative in 41) were considered the gold standard. The duration of monitoring at work and away from work was at least two weeks each. Graphs of PEF recordings were generated in four different ways: every two hours, four times/day, three times/day, and every morning and evening. The graphs were assessed by three readers in three different centres in a blind manner. Furthermore, one third of each type of graph was read blind by the same reader one week after the initial interpretation. RESULTS--Agreement between the three readers was a little more frequent (82%) in the case of the every two hour readings than for the other types of readings (70% v 77%). Agreement between at least two of the three readers occurred in 73% of positive challenges (sensitivity) and in 78% of negative challenges (specificity) for every two hour readings. The figures varied from 61% to 70% for positive challenges and from 78% to 88% for negative challenges for the other types of readings. Within-subject reproducibility from one reading to the next (one week apart) was excellent (83% to 100%). CONCLUSIONS--Recording PEF every two hours results in a slightly more satisfactory agreement between readers and in concordance in terms of sensitivity/specificity than less frequent PEF readings, although the four times a day assessment is almost as satisfactory.
Transoral laser surgery of supraglottic cancer: follow-up of 141 patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine the role of transoral laser resection of supraglottic carcinomas. DESIGN Retrospective unicenter study of the oncologic results of transoral carbon dioxide laser microsurgery for supraglottic carcinomas performed between February 1979 and December 1993. Median follow-up was 37 months. SETTING University hospital academic tertiary referral center. PATIENTS We reviewed the medical records of 141 patients (a consecutive sample of 131 men and 10 women; mean age, 60 years) with histologically proven supraglottic carcinomas undergoing transoral laser surgery, possibly in combination with neck dissection or radiotherapy. Stage distribution of patients was as follows: stage I, 23.4%; stage II, 25.5%; stage III, 16.3%; and stage IV, 34.8% (according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer staging system). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Recurrence-free survival rates and local and regional recurrence rates. RESULTS Five-year recurrence-free survival rates were as follows: the whole case load, 65.7%; stage I, 85.0%; stage II, 62.6%; stage III, 74.2%; and stage IV, 45.3%, according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer staging system. The local and regional recurrence rates were 16.3% and 9.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The oncologic results of transoral carbon dioxide laser surgery are satisfying if clean surgical margins (R0 resection) can be reached. In patients in whom tumor-free margins are not achieved (R1 and R2 resection) and transoral revision is not possible, transcervical procedures (partial or total laryngectomy) should be performed. The indication for transoral supraglottic laryngectomy in T3 lesions should be considered with restraint.
Analysis of internet backbone traffic and header anomalies observed

The dominating Internet protocols, IP and TCP, allow some flexibility in implementation, including a variety of optional features. To support research and further development of these protocols, it is crucial to know about current deployment of protocol specific features and accompanying anomalies. This work is intended to reflect the current characteristics of Internet backbone traffic and point out misbehaviors and potential problems. On 20 consecutive days in April 2006 bidirectional traffic was collected on an OC-192 backbone link. The analysis of the data provides a comprehensive summary about current protocol usage including comparisons to prior studies. Furthermore, header misbehaviors and anomalies were found within almost every aspect analyzed and are discussed in detail. These observations are important information for designers of network protocols, network application and network attack detection systems.1.
An Algorithm Combining Discrete and Continuous Methods for Optical Mapping

Optical mapping is a novel technique for generating the restriction map of a DNA molecule by observing many single, partially digested, copies of it, using fluorescence microscopy. The real-life problem is complicated by numerous factors: false positive and false negative cut observations, inaccurate location measurements, unknown orientations and faulty molecules. We present an algorithm for solving the real-life problem. The algorithm combines continuous optimization and combinatorial algorithms, applied to a non-uniform discretization of the data. We present encouraging results on real experimental data.
Supporting ontology driven document enrichment within communities of practice

Formative work by Lave and Wenger has articulated how practices emerge through the interplay of informal processes with symbolic codifications and artifacts. In this paper, we describe how ontologies can serve as symbolic tools within a community of practice supporting communication and knowledge sharing. We show that when a community's perspective on an issue is stable, it opens the possibility for introducing knowledge services, based on an ontology co-constructed by knowledge engineers with stakeholders. Using a case study we describe our approach, ontology driven document enrichment, looking at how ontology construction and population can be supported by web based technologies.
High-Definition Sounding System (HDSS) for Atmospheric Profiling

AbstractThe High-Definition Sounding System (HDSS) is an automated system deploying the expendable digital dropsonde (XDD) designed to measure wind and pressure–temperature–humidity (PTH) profiles, and skin sea surface temperature (SST) within and around tropical cyclones (TCs) and other high-impact weather events needing high sampling density. Three experiments were conducted to validate the XDD.On two successive days off the California coast, 10 XDDs and 14 Vaisala RD-94s were deployed from the navy’s Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) Twin Otter aircraft over offshore buoys. The Twin Otter made spiral descents from 4 km to 60 m at the same descent rate as the sondes. Differences between successive XDD and RD-94 profiles due to true meteorological variability were on the same order as the profile differences between the spirals, XDDs, and RD-94s. XDD SST measured via infrared microradiometer, referred to as infrared skin SST (SSTir), and surface wind measurements wer.
Space-division multiplexing: the next frontier in optical communication

Space-division multiplexing (SDM) uses multiplicity of space channels to increase capacity for optical communication. It is applicable for optical communication in both free space and guided waves. This paper focuses on SDM for fiber-optic communication using few-mode fibers or multimode fibers, in particular on the critical challenge of mode crosstalk. Multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) equalization methods developed for wireless communication can be applied as an electronic method to equalize mode crosstalk. Optical approaches, including differential modal group delay management, strong mode coupling, and multicore fibers, are necessary to bring the computational complexity for MIMO mode crosstalk equalization to practical levels. Progress in passive devices, such as (de)multiplexers, and active devices, such as amplifiers and switches, which are considered straightforward challenges in comparison with mode crosstalk, are reviewed. Finally, we present the prospects for SDM in optical transmission and networking.
First Spaceborne GNSS‐Reflectometry Observations of Hurricanes From the UK TechDemoSat‐1 Mission

We present the first examples of Global Navigation Satellite Systems‐Reflectometry (GNSS‐R) observations of hurricanes using spaceborne data from the UK TechDemoSat‐1 (TDS‐1) mission. We confirm that GNSS‐R signals can detect ocean condition changes in very high near‐surface ocean wind associated with hurricanes. TDS‐1 GNSS‐R reflections were collocated with International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS) hurricane data, MetOp ASCAT A/B scatterometer winds, and two reanalysis products. Clear variations of GNSS‐R reflected power (σ0) are observed as reflections travel through hurricanes, in some cases up to and through the eye wall. The GNSS‐R reflected power is tentatively inverted to estimate wind speed using the TDS‐1 baseline wind retrieval algorithm developed for low to moderate winds. Despite this, TDS‐1 GNSS‐R winds through the hurricanes show closer agreement with IBTrACS estimates than winds provided by scatterometers and reanalyses. GNSS‐R wind profiles show realistic spatial patterns and sharp gradients that are consistent with expected structures around the eye of tropical cyclones.
Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion in the Transcription Factor 4 (TCF4) Gene Leads to Widespread mRNA Splicing Changes in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

Purpose To identify RNA missplicing events in human corneal endothelial tissue isolated from Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Methods Total RNA was isolated and sequenced from corneal endothelial tissue obtained during keratoplasty from 12 patients with FECD and 4 patients undergoing keratoplasty or enucleation for other indications. The length of the trinucleotide repeat (TNR) CTG in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene was determined using leukocyte-derived DNA analyzed by a combination of Southern blotting and Genescan analysis. Commercial statistical software was used to quantify expression of alternatively spliced genes. Validation of selected alternative splicing events was performed by using RT-PCR. Gene sets identified were analyzed for overrepresentation using Web-based analysis system. Results Corneal endothelial tissue from FECD patients containing a CTG TNR expansion sequence in the TCF4 gene revealed widespread changes in mRNA splicing, including a novel splicing event involving FGFR2. Differential splicing of NUMA1, PPFIBP1, MBNL1, and MBNL2 transcripts were identified in all FECD samples containing a TNR expansion. The differentially spliced genes were enriched for products that localize to the cell cortex and bind cytoskeletal and cell adhesion proteins. Conclusions Corneal endothelium from FECD patients harbors a unique signature of mis-splicing events due to CTG TNR expansion in the TCF4 gene, consistent with the hypothesis that RNA toxicity contributes to the pathogenesis of FECD. Changes to the endothelial barrier function, a known event in the development of FECD, was identified as a key biological process influenced by the missplicing events.
Maternal adjustment or constraint: differential effects of food availability on maternal deposition of macro‐nutrients, steroids and thyroid hormones in rock pigeon eggs

Abstract In oviparous species like birds, eggs provide the direct environment in which embryos are developing. Mothers may adjust different egg components in different ways in reaction to environmental cues either to adjust offspring development or because of constraints. In this study, we investigated the effects of food quality and quantity before and during egg laying on three different aspects of egg quality: macro‐nutrients (egg and yolk mass), androgens (testosterone and androstenedione), and thyroid hormones (3,5,3′‐triiodothyronine, T3 and l‐thyroxine, T4), using the rock pigeon (Columba livia). As expected, egg and yolk mass were significantly reduced for the eggs laid under the poor‐food condition, indicating a maternal trade‐off between offspring and self in allocating important resources. We did not find any significant change in yolk testosterone or their within‐clutch pattern over the laying sequence. This is consistent with the fact that, in contrast with nutrients, these hormones are not costly to produce, but does not support the hypothesis that they play a role in adjusting brood size to food conditions. In contrast, we found that T3 levels were higher in the egg yolks under the poor‐food condition whereas the total T4 content was lower. This change could be related to the fact that iodine, the critical constituent of thyroid hormones, might be a limiting factor in the production of this hormone. Given the knowledge that food restriction usually lead to reduction of circulating T3 levels, our results suggested that avian mothers can independently regulate its concentrations in their eggs from their own circulation. The study demonstrates that environmentally induced maternal effects via the egg can be a result of a combination of constrained resources and unconstrained signals and that thyroid hormones might be an interesting case of both. Therefore, this hormone and the interplay of different maternal effects on the offspring phenotype deserve much more attention.
Five-Item Score for Obstructed Defecation Syndrome

The use of a dedicated score represents an essential tool for the clinical staging of obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS), for subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic options, and for the evaluation of the results. This study was designed to develop and validate a new, simple, and disease-specific scoring system for ODS. The questionnaire consists of 5 items: excessive straining, incomplete rectal evacuation, use of enemas and/or laxatives, vaginal-anal-perineal digitations, and abdominal discomfort and/or pain. Each item was graded from 0 to 5 with a score ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 20 (very severe symptoms). A specific statistical analysis identifies the new score as a valuable and concise instrument, which demonstrates, overall, excellent concurrent validity, reproducibility, internal consistency, and discriminant validity for the diagnosis and grading of ODS. The use of this questionnaire may improve uniformity in clinical research and may allow a more precise evaluation of symptom severity and treatment effectiveness in ODS.
Net degrees of freedom of decomposition schemes for the MIMO IC with delayed CSIT

Most techniques designed for the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Interference Channel (IC) require accurate current channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) which is not a realistic assumption because of feedback delay. We evaluate the net degrees of freedom (DoF) that different schemes can be expected to reach in a realistic system by taking into account the time and the cost of CSIT acquisition (training and feedback). A recent variant of ergodic interference alignment (IA) clearly outperforms the other schemes as its robustness to feedback delays proves to be advantageous in terms of net DoF.
An Ochered Fossil Marine Shell From the Mousterian of Fumane Cave, Italy

A scanty but varied ensemble of finds challenges the idea that Neandertal material culture was essentially static and did not include symbolic items. In this study we report on a fragmentary Miocene-Pliocene fossil marine shell, Aspa marginata , discovered in a Discoid Mousterian layer of the Fumane Cave, northern Italy, dated to at least 47.6-45.0 Cal ky BP. The shell was collected by Neandertals at a fossil exposure probably located more than 100 kms from the site. Microscopic analysis of the shell surface identifies clusters of striations on the inner lip. A dark red substance, trapped inside micropits produced by bioeroders, is interpreted as pigment that was homogeneously smeared on the outer shell surface. Dispersive X-ray and Raman analysis identify the pigment as pure hematite. Of the four hypotheses we considered to explain the presence of this object at the site, two (tool, pigment container) are discarded because in contradiction with observations. Although the other two (“manuport”, personal ornament) are both possible, we favor the hypothesis that the object was modified and suspended by a ‘thread’ for visual display as a pendant. Together with contextual and chronometric data, our results support the hypothesis that deliberate transport and coloring of an exotic object, and perhaps its use as pendant, was a component of Neandertal symbolic culture, well before the earliest appearance of the anatomically modern humans in Europe.
Space-time coding and transmission optimization for wireless channels

Space-time codes have been introduced to improve a mobile system's performance in a multipath fading environment. We consider an L-multipath, m mobile-antenna system in which the base station has a phased n-antenna array (i.e. fading at the base station antennas is completely correlated). We show that when the channel has no ISI, then adaptive antennas, in the form of beamforming, can be combined with delay-diversity coding to achieve a diversity gain of mL and a large coding gain, whenever n/spl ges/L. When the channel has ISI, or for a rapid fading channel; beamforming can be used to achieve a coding gain over a SIMO system, although both have the same diversity gain. Novel concepts of beamforming are derived in the process.
Anti-Influenza Activity of Betulinic Acid from Zizyphus jujuba on Influenza A/PR/8 Virus

Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill), has been known for a wide range of biological and medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activities. In the study, we investigated the antiviral activity on influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line and C57BL/6 mice. Betulinic acid showed the anti-influenza viral activity at a concentration of 50 μM without a significant cytotoxicity in influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 cells. Also, betulinic acid significantly attenuated pulmonary pathology including increased necrosis, numbers of inflammatory cells and pulmonary edema induced by influenza A/PR/8 virus infection compared with vehicle- or oseltamivir-treated mice in vivo model. The down-regulation of IFN-γ level, which is critical for innate and adaptive immunity in viral infection, after treating of betulinic acid in mouse lung. Based on the obtained results, it is suggested that betulinic acid can be the potential therapeutic agent for virus infection via anti-inflammatory activity.
Subjective and objective components of resource value additively increase aggression in parasitoid contests

Two major categories of factors are predicted to influence behaviour in dyadic contests; differences in the abilities of the contestants to acquire and retain resources (resource holding potential), and the value of the contested resource (resource value, RV; which comprises objective and subjective components). Recent studies indicate that subjective components affect contest behaviour in several animal taxa but few have simultaneously investigated objective RV components. We find that both an objective (host size) and a subjective (contestant age) component of RV affect contest intensity in the parasitoid wasp Goniozus legneri. These additively influence aggressiveness, with a larger effect from the subjective component than the objective component. The greater influence of subjective RV adds weight to the recent surge of recognition of this RV component's importance in contest behaviour.
Diagnostic Markers for Tuberculosis Ascites: A Preliminary Study

Objective The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) ascites is problematic. Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of TB ascites are considered to be major factors that contribute to the high mortality of TB. This study identifies specific protein markers in ascitic fluid which will be useful in diagnosis of TB ascites. Methods We used Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry, immunoblot analysis and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a comprehensive quantitative proteomic screening system for the diagnosis of TB ascites. Results The screen identified several antigens of interest: a 30-kilodalton (kDa) protein that demonstrated significant homology to the antigen 85B and 85C (Ag 85) complex; a 65-kDa protein that corresponded to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) heat shock protein 65 (65-kDa HSP), Rv0440; a 14-kDa protein and 71-kDa protein that exhibits an amino acid sequence identical to that of MTB heat shock protein 14 (14-kDa HSP), GroES; and MTB heat shock protein 71 (71-kDa HSP), Rv0350 respectively. ELISA confirmed that TB ascites patients were consistently positive for these antigens at higher rates than non-TB ascites patients. Conclusion The 65-kDa HSP, 71-kDa HSP, 14-kDa HSP and Ag 85 complex proteins may serve as very useful diagnostic markers for TB ascites.