Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanism of pharmacological activation of BK channels

Large-conductance voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ (Slo1 BK) channels serve numerous cellular functions, and their dysregulation is implicated in various diseases. Drugs activating BK channels therefore bear substantial therapeutic potential, but their deployment has been hindered in part because the mode of action remains obscure. Here we provide mechanistic insight into how the dehydroabietic acid derivative Cym04 activates BK channels. As a representative of NS1619-like BK openers, Cym04 reversibly left-shifts the half-activation voltage of Slo1 BK channels. Using an established allosteric BK gating model, the Cym04 effect can be simulated by a shift of the voltage sensor and the ion conduction gate equilibria toward the activated and open state, respectively. BK activation by Cym04 occurs in a splice variant-specific manner; it does not occur in such Slo1 BK channels using an alternative neuronal exon 9, which codes for the linker connecting the transmembrane segment S6 and the cytosolic RCK1 domain—the S6/RCK linker. In addition, Cym04 does not affect Slo1 BK channels with a two-residue deletion within this linker. Mutagenesis and model-based gating analysis revealed that BK openers, such as Cym04 and NS1619 but not mallotoxin, activate BK channels by functionally interacting with the S6/RCK linker, mimicking site-specific shortening of this purported passive spring, which transmits force from the cytosolic gating ring structure to open the channel's gate.
What do we know about gliotransmitter release from astrocytes?

Astrocytes participate in information processing by actively modulating synaptic properties via gliotransmitter release. Various mechanisms of astrocytic release have been reported, including release from storage organelles via exocytosis and release from the cytosol via plasma membrane ion channels and pumps. It is still not fully clear which mechanisms operate under which conditions, but some of them, being Ca2+-regulated, may be physiologically relevant. The properties of Ca2+-dependent transmitter release via exocytosis or via ion channels are different and expected to produce different extracellular transmitter concentrations over time and to have distinct functional consequences. The molecular aspects of these two release pathways are still under active investigation. Here, we discuss the existing morphological and functional evidence in support of either of them. Transgenic mouse models, specific antagonists and localization studies have provided insight into regulated exocytosis, albeit not in a systematic fashion. Even more remains to be uncovered about the details of channel-mediated release. Better functional tools and improved ultrastructural approaches are needed in order fully to define specific modalities and effects of astrocytic gliotransmitter release pathways.
Structural and Electronic Properties of Selected Rutile and Anatase TiO2 Surfaces:  An ab Initio Investigation.

Five low-index stoichiometric TiO2 rutile and anatase surfaces, i.e., rutile (110), (100), and (001) as well as anatase (101) and (100), have been investigated using different Hamiltonians with all-electron Gaussian basis sets, within a periodic approach. Full-relaxations of the aforementioned surfaces have been essentially carried out at the Hartree-Fock (HF) level, but selected surfaces were treated also using pure and hybrid Density Functional Theory (DFT) models. Mulliken charges, band structures, and total and projected-densities of states have been computed both at the HF and the hybrid DFT (B3LYP and PBE0) levels. As regards DFT, the local density (LDA) and generalized gradient approximations (GGA) have been used. No matter which Hamiltonian is considered, as long as sufficiently thick slabs are taken into account, computed atomic relaxations show an overall excellent agreement with the most recent experimental reports. This is especially true when using hybrid functionals which enable the clarification of some conflicting results. Moreover, both at the LDA and HF levels, we were able to classify the surface relative energies in the following sequence: anatase (101) < rutile (110) < anatase (100) < rutile (100) ≪ rutile (001). Instead, when using PBE, B3LYP, or PBE0, the two most stable surfaces are reversed.
Elastic filaments in skeletal muscle revealed by selective removal of thin filaments with plasma gelsolin

Muscle needs an elastic framework to maintain its mechanical stability. Removal of thin filaments in rabbit skeletal muscle with plasma gelsolin has revealed the essential features of elastic filaments. The selective removal of thin filaments was confirmed by staining with phalloidin-rhodamine for fluorescence microscopy, examination of arrowhead formation with myosin subfragment 1 by electron microscopy, and analysis by SDS-PAGE. Thin section electron microscopy revealed the elastic fine filaments (approximately 4 nm in diameter) connecting thick filaments and the Z line. After removal of thin filaments, both rigor stiffness and active tension generation were lost, but the resting tension remained. These observations indicate that the thin filament-free fibers maintain a framework composed of the serial connections of thick filaments, the elastic filaments, and the Z line, which gives passive elasticity to the contractile system of skeletal muscle. The resting tension that remained in the thin filament-free fibers was decreased by mild trypsin treatment. The only protein component that was digested in parallel with the decrease in the resting tension and the disappearance of the elastic filaments was alpha-connectin (also called titin 1), which was transformed from the alpha to the beta form (from titin 1 to 2, respectively). Thus, we conclude that the main protein component of the elastic filaments is alpha-connectin (titin 1).
Response of lacustrine glacier dynamics to atmospheric forcing in the Cordillera Darwin

Calving glaciers respond quickly to atmospheric variability through ice dynamic adjustment. Particularly, single weather extremes may cause changes in ice-flow velocity and terminus position. Occasionally, this can lead to substantial event-driven mass loss at the ice front. We examine changes in terminus position, ice-flow velocity, and calving flux at the grounded lacustrine Schiaparelli Glacier in the Cordillera Darwin using geo-referenced time-lapse camera images and remote sensing data (Sentinel-1) from 2015 to 2022. Lake-level records, lake discharge measurements, and a coupled energy and mass balance model provide insight into the subglacial water discharge. We use downscaled reanalysis data (ERA-5) to identify climate extremes and track land-falling atmospheric rivers to investigate the ice-dynamic response on possible atmospheric drivers.
Prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders among consecutive new patient referrals to a gastroenterology clinic

Objective Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in the community. Many patients will consult a physician in primary care, but the burden that these diseases represent to secondary care has not been studied for many years. We therefore examined this subject. Design Unselected consecutive new adult patient referrals were recruited during a 3-year period from January 2010 until December 2012. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively and the following data were recorded: age and sex of the patient, symptoms reported or signs noted at the first consultation, all investigations requested and ultimate diagnosis after investigation to the level deemed appropriate by the consulting physician. Setting A luminal gastroenterology clinic at a teaching hospital. Results There were a total of 613 new patient referrals (mean age 54.2 years, 357 (58.2%) female). In total, 214 (34.9%) patients were diagnosed as having an FGID. Among the 214 patients diagnosed with an FGID, 65.9% were female, compared with 54.1% without an FGID (p=0.005). Mean age of those with an FGID was 47.9 years, compared with 57.5 years among those without (p<0.001). The total number of symptoms reported was significantly higher among patients with an FGID, but the total number of investigations did not differ. Conclusions More than one-third of new patient referrals to a luminal gastroenterology clinic were diagnosed with an FGID. These conditions form a large part of the workload in secondary care gastroenterology, and primary care commissioning needs to reflect this.
Advanced visibility improvement based on polarization filtered images

Recent studies have shown that major visibility degradation effects caused by haze can be corrected for by analyzing polarization-filtered images. The analysis is based on the fact that the path-radiance in the atmosphere (airlight) is often partially polarized. Thus, associating polarization with path-radiance enables its removal, as well as compensation for atmospheric attenuation. However, prior implementations of this method suffered from several problems. First, they were based on mechanical polarizers, which are slow and rely on moving part. Second, the method had failed in image areas corresponding to specular objects, such as water bodies (lakes) and shiny construction materials (e.g., windows). The reason for this stems from the fact that specular objects reflect partially polarized light, confusing a naive association of polarization solely with path-radiance. Finally, prior implementations derived necessary polarization parameters by manually selecting reference points in the field of view. This human intervention is a drawback, since we would rather automate the process. In this paper, we report our most recent progress in the development of our visibility-improvement method. We show directions by which those problems can be overcome. Specifically, we added algorithmic steps which automatically extract the polarization parameters needed, and make visibility recovery more robust to polarization effects originating from specular objects. In addition, we now test an electrically-switchable polarizer based on a liquid crystal device for improving acquisition speed.
Intentional electromagnetic interference for fault analysis on AES block cipher IC

This paper presents a new type of intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) which causes information leakage from cryptographic ICs (Integrated Circuits). As a recent threat, it is known that faults in cryptographic ICs such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) have significant influence on leakage of sensitive information. AES is a block cipher standardized by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology of the United States) that is a de-facto standard of smart card ICs and used for many security devices. In order to guarantee the tamper-resistance of AES hardware, this paper discusses the potential vulnerability against faults induced by IEMI via power cables. The contribution of the paper is twofold. (1) We find that, different from previous work of fault analysis, the electromagnetic (EM) faults from power cables are remotely-controllable and lead to the leakage of the secret key. (2) We show that the random EM faults can be managed with reasonable amount of measurements and its risk to the key leakage is high enough to be a real-life threat.
Duration, Score, and Timing: Factors Influencing the Success of Offensive Transitions in Top, Marginal, and Emerging Football Leagues Original Investigation

Objective: The study aimed to increase our understanding of offensive transitions in football, focusing on the time spent executing them and how it is influenced by the period in which they occur and the instant score. The objective is to understand its temporal variables and how they influence the unfolding of the scoreline during a match. Methodology: This study analyzes 1649 goals resulting from offensive transitions in 1151 games across three leagues categories: Top, Marginal, and Emerging leagues. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to understand associations and predictors between the variables: “duration of a transition”, “Time of offensive transition occur” and the “score at the moment”. Results: The research reveals that, across all league categories, the last 15 minutes of the first and second halves, have the highest frequency of successful offensive transitions, particularly on the last 15 minutes of matches. In Top leagues, 69% of offensive transitions last for 9 seconds or more, with slower transitions more prevalent towards the end of games. In Marginal leagues, 41% of successful transitions took 13 seconds or longer, while in Emerging leagues, 53% of successful offensive transitions occurred when the game was not in a 0-0 state. The results show associations between all variables in Top Leagues. No associations were found in Marginal leagues. Associations between duration of the transition and the time of the game they occur were found on Emerging Leagues. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of tailored strategic plans for offensive transitions, to optimize scoring opportunities and performances.
A Multi Hop Concept for HiperLAN/2: Capacity and Interference

In this paper the cellular aspects of a concept will be investigated that introduces a new element called forwarding mobile terminal (FMT) to the HiperLAN/2 (H/2) world. The FMT is designed to extend the area of an H/2 access point and provide users in uncovered areas with access to the fixed Internet by providing an intermediate hop. The FMT is a modified H/2 mobile terminal which only needs different software, but no additional transceiver. The contribution shows the behaviour of the above concept in different cellular environments regarding the interference situation and the effects onto the users. The concept is especially advantageous for environments where high attenuation by walls is expected. In city scenarios the forwarding concept allows a fast system roll-out while limiting the cabling cost and providing a reasonable user service in a large service area.
Kinematic Quality of Reaching Movements in Preterm Infants

Many preterm infants may experience so-called minor developmental disorders; however, in general, the problems in motor behavior are not detected until school age. To introduce therapies aimed at the prevention of these problems, we need to increase our knowledge of motor function and dysfunction at early age. The present study focused on the organization of reaching movements in full-term and preterm infants without cerebral palsy. The reaching behavior of premature infants (n = 63) was assessed longitudinally at the corrected ages of 4 and 6 mo. Clinical assessments were made at 6 and 12 mo of age. On the basis of the infant's morbidity during the early stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, the preterm infants were allocated into a high-risk and a low-risk group. Results from a previous study in full-term infants (n = 13) were included. Kinematics of reaching movements in supine position were measured, and the analysis focused on movement velocity and movement units. A compound parameter of kinematic variables was created, reflecting the quality of reaching movements. The present study showed that at the age of 4 mo, low-risk preterm infants showed more often optimal reaching behavior than full-term and preterm high-risk infants. This better reaching performance was related to a better general motor and behavioral development during the first year of life. At the age of 6 mo, the advantage of the low-risk group in reaching behavior had disappeared and a disadvantage in the form of nonoptimal reaching behavior of the high-risk group emerged.
Experimental Investigation of CO2 Buoyant Flow Saturation: The Impact of Realistic Bedforms and Heterogeneous Wettability.

We produce realistic sedimentary formations consisting of ripple deposits with varying grain size contrast and wettability in a meter-scale slab chamber. Then, we conduct multiphase ﬂow experiments through these structures and measure the inﬁltration patterns, capillary heterogeneity trapping, and overall trapping performance. When we alter the ripple bedform architecture, variations in trapped saturation and capillary heterogeneity trapping (10% to 20% increment) are exhibited. Similar growth in trapping performance is also observed when grain size contrast increases. Finally, wettability changes (water-to oil-wet) can increase nonwetting saturation and capillary heterogeneity trapping up to 5% and 10-20%, respectively. These results emphasize the importance of correctly characterizing the impact of small-scale heterogeneities and wettability changes.
Energy-Based Approach to Adaptive Pulse Shaping for Control of RF-MEMS DC-Contact Switches

This paper presents a closed-form analysis to design a pre-shaped open-loop driving actuation waveform to reduce the bouncing effect while maintaining fast switching of a microelectromechanical system contact switch. A single-degree-of-freedom model and the principle of energy conservation were utilized to design a shaped voltage waveform to close the switch with low impact speed. The method can easily adapt the voltage waveform to the variance of pull-in voltages due to imperfect manufacturing and to observed pull-in voltage drift during operation. The analytical calculation of the actuation pulse and the closure time of the switch with near zero velocity agree with simulation and are validated experimentally on the set of cantilever switches. It is shown that the analysis is also applicable for electrostatically actuated devices with more general geometries.
A Review Of Mercury in Lake Victoria, East Africa: Implications for Human and Ecosystem Health

Lake Victoria, East Africa, has been the site of many recent studies measuring mercury (Hg) concentrations in water, fish, sediment, soil, and humans. Most of these studies were motivated by concerns about Hg contamination from processing of gold ore on the southern shores. Total Hg (THg) concentrations in fish were usually below permissible World Health Organization (WHO) concentrations and international marketing limits and do not threaten the lucrative export industry. Nile perch 3-10 kg and most >10 kg had THg concentrations above the WHO threshold concentrations for at-risk groups (200 ng/g). Elevated THg concentrations in large Nile perch are not of major concern because Nile perch are rarely consumed by the people living on Lake Victoria and very large Nile perch are becoming increasingly rare in catches. Water THg concentrations were below Canadian drinking water guidelines but were elevated relative to those in the northern Great Lakes. Sediment and soil THg concentrations were within inter-national guidelines and are comparable to those in northern latitudes but are lower than those in the Amazon basin. Biomass burnings and soil erosion are estimated to be the major sources of THg for the lake and probably constitute a larger source of THg than gold mining in Tanzania.THg concentrations in urine and hair from human volunteers indicate that while gold miners and frequent skin-bleaching cream users are at risk of inorganic mercury poisoning, the rest of the population, including fishermen, is not. Human exposure assessments demonstrated that fish consumption and soil geophagy constitute major sources of THg for humans, but the total estimated daily intake of THg was below the Health Canada tolerable daily intake (TDI) limits. The use of beauty creams containing high inorganic Hg concentrations, however, caused the estimated THg exposure to exceed the TDI. The high THg content in the hair of regular cream users supports this assessment. The nutritional benefits of fish and soil geophagy outweigh the risk of THg poisoning. Still, due to the importance of those natural items as a THg source to humans, as well as the changing nature of Lake Victoria, regular monitoring and risk assessments need to be carried out in the Lake Victoria catchment.
Derivation of the viscous Moore-Greitzer equation for aeroengine flow

The viscous Moore-Greitzer equation modeling the airflow through the compression system in turbomachines, such as a jet engine, is derived using a scaled Navier-Stokes equation. The method utilizes a separation of scale argument based on the different spatial scales in the engine and the different time scales in the flow. The pitch and size of the rotor-stator pair of blades provides a small parameter, which is the size of the local cell. The motion of the stator and rotor blades in the compressor produces a very turbulent flow on a fast time scale. The leading order equation, for the fast time and local scales, describes this turbulent flow. The next order equations produce an axisymmetric swirl and a flow pattern analogous to Rayleigh-Benard convection rolls in Rayleigh-Benard convection. On a much larger spatial scale and a slower time scale, there exist modulations of the flow including instabilities called surge and stall. A higher order equation, in the small parameter, describes these global flow m.
The Social Network, Support and Neurosis

Summary The psychological function of the social network is considered in terms of attachment theory. Social bonds are proposed as essential for obtaining a commodity commonly but unsatisfactorily referred to as support. Requirements for this complex commodity can be discerned in a wide range of contexts. Examples considered are the evolutionary origin of the social network itself, the concept of psychosocial supplies, the distribution of neurosis in Western and non-Western populations, the use of medical consultations, psychotherapy and habitual responses to adversity or disaster. In these and other contexts, it is apparent that individuals have, quite simply, a requirement for affectively positive interaction with others. Under stressful conditions this interaction is called ‘support’. When support is lacking there is evidence that psychiatric and perhaps medical morbidity rates increase. For research, the objective must now be to determine whether depleted primary group interaction is causally related to morbidity, or whether it is only an associated or a secondary factor in aetiology, or indeed wholly unrelated. Elucidating more precisely why people need people constitutes an important new task for social psychiatry. ‘Thank you for your support; I shall wear it at all times. ’ Neddy Seagoon in The Goon Show (Spike Milligan, 1959)