Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maternal and child health nurses: A vital link to the community for primiparae over the age of 35

Abstract Australia, like other developed countries, is exhibiting a trend towards later childbearing and this trend has been particularly evident in the last three decades. Social trends of declining birthrates and small nuclear families mean that the contemporary adult has far less exposure to children than adults of former generations. Increasing female trends of employment and participation in higher education have also contributed to a postponement of childbearing, and more women than ever before are having a first baby over the age of 35 years. Mothering experiences for this group of women often occur in a situation of limited family or social support, geographical distance from family and with few links to the community. Together these factors make new mothering an isolating experience for some women. This paper reports on findings from a longitudinal qualitative study, outlining the importance of maternal & child health nurses in providing support and in facilitating links to the community for primiparae over the age of 35 years.
Untangling Natural Seascape Variation from Marine Reserve Effects Using a Landscape Approach

Distinguishing management effects from the inherent variability in a system is a key consideration in assessing reserve efficacy. Here, we demonstrate how seascape heterogeneity, defined as the spatial configuration and composition of coral reef habitats, can mask our ability to discern reserve effects. We then test the application of a landscape approach, utilizing advances in benthic habitat mapping and GIS techniques, to quantify this heterogeneity and alleviate the confounding influence during reserve assessment. Seascape metrics were quantified at multiple spatial scales using a combination of spatial image analysis and in situ surveys at 87 patch reef sites in Glover's Reef Lagoon, Belize, within and outside a marine reserve enforced since 1998. Patch reef sites were then clustered into classes sharing similar seascape attributes using metrics that correlated significantly to observed variations in both fish and coral communities. When the efficacy of the marine reserve was assessed without including landscape attributes, no reserve effects were detected in the diversity and abundance of fish and coral communities, despite 10 years of management protection. However, grouping sites based on landscape attributes revealed significant reserve effects between site classes. Fish had higher total biomass (1.5×) and commercially important biomass (1.75×) inside the reserve and coral cover was 1.8 times greater inside the reserve, though direction and degree of response varied by seascape class. Our findings show that the application of a landscape classification approach vastly improves our ability to evaluate the efficacy of marine reserves by controlling for confounding effects of seascape heterogeneity and suggests that landscape heterogeneity should be considered in future reserve design.
Molecular mechanisms in genetic recombination.

Genetic recombination is the set of processes that results in new linkage relationships of genes or parts of genes (l), Three subclasses of recombination are currently recognized: (a) General recombination describes exchanges that occur between homologous genophores, more or less anywhere along their length. (b) Site-specific recombination describes exchanges that occur at a limited number of specific sites, as seen for example in the integration of some viral genomes into the host genome (2, 3). (c) Illegitimate or nonhomologous recombi­ nation are terms used for exchanges between genophores that are largely nonhomologous. Examples include the generation of specialized transducing particles (4) and the random chromosomal insertion of the bacteriophage Mu genome (5, 6). Although most of this review will deal with general recombina­ tion, the other classes of recombination are no less important (7). The macromolecular metabolism of DNA includes the partially overlapping areas of replication, repair, and recombination. The recent recognition of the role of transcription in replication and the possible implication of transcription in recombination indicate even greater complexity in these overlaps. Moreover, the degree of overlapping varies from one organism to another (8). As examples, the replication and recombination of phage T4 are extensively overlapping (9-11). The genes required for recombination are those required for replication. By contrast, the genes that govern recombination in bacteriophage A can be deleted without eliminating replication (12), although there are important relationships between replication and recombination in A as well (see below). Figure I illustrates the probable role of the heteroduplex joint in producing variations in the genetic output from an exchange. New DNA synthesis in the joint or asymmetry in the formation of joints may be the source of unequal recoveries of genetic information from the respective parents. In organisms like
Functional expression of the organic cation/carnitine transporter 2 in rat astrocytes

In this study, we sought to identify the transporters that mediate the uptake of l‐carnitine and acetyl‐l‐carnitine in cultured rat cortical astrocytes. l‐[3H]carnitine and acetyl‐l‐[3H]carnitine uptake were both saturable, and mediated by a single Na+‐dependent transport system. Uptake of both was inhibited by l‐carnitine, d‐carnitine, acetyl‐l‐carnitine and various organic cations. Acylcarnitines (acetyl‐, butyryl‐, hexanoyl‐, octanoyl‐ and palmitoyl‐l‐carnitine) also interacted with l‐[3H]carnitine and acetyl‐l‐[3H]carnitine transport. 2‐Amino‐2‐norbornane carboxylic acid, a known inhibitor of amino acid transporter B0,+ (ATB0,+), did not cause any significant inhibition. A highly significant correlation was found between the potencies of acylcarnitines in the inhibition of l‐[3H]carnitine and acetyl‐l‐[3H]carnitine uptake and the acyl chain length of acylcarnitines. The expression of mRNA for organic cation/carnitine transporters (OCTNs), carnitine transporter 2 (CT2) and ATB0,+ in astrocytes was investigated by reverse transcription (RT)–PCR. OCTN2 mRNA was expressed in astrocytes, whereas the expression of OCTN1, OCTN3 and CT2 mRNA could not be detected. ATB0,+ mRNA was expressed at very low levels in astrocytes. Western blotting analysis indicated that anti‐OCTN2 polyclonal antibody recognized a band of 70 kDa in both kidney and astrocyte preparations. OCTN2 immunoreactivity was detected in rat astrocytes by immunocytochemical staining. Inhibition of OCTN2 expression by RNA interference significantly inhibited l‐[3H]carnitine and acetyl‐l‐[3H]carnitine uptake into astrocytes. These results suggest that OCTN2 is functionally expressed in rat astrocytes, and is responsible for l‐carnitine and acetyl‐l‐carnitine uptake in these cells.
Effect of modified atmosphere packaging on the growth/survival of Yersinia enterocolitica and natural flora on fresh poultry sausage

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is increasingly used to extend shelf-life of fresh produce. In the present work, we determine the survival and growth of Yersinia enterocolitica and aerobic mesophiles on fresh poultry sausage under MAP. Samples were divided in two lots, half inoculated with 10 5 cfu g -1 of Y. enterocolitica ATCC 9610, and half uninoculated control samples. The inoculated and control samples were packaged in different CO2 concentrations and storage at 4￻1￻C, during 19 days. Parameters of microbial growth (lag and log phase) were determined by Baranyi and Roberts’s equation. Aerobic mesophiles counts presented similar log and lag phase in all samples, except for the ones packaged with 20% CO2. In the inoculated samples Y. enterocolitica showed negative log phase in 100% CO2, 80% CO2, and 40% CO2, 2.1 days in 20% CO2, and approximately 0.3 day in air and 100% N2. The lag phase varied from 0.9 to 12.0 days (air and 100% CO2, respectively). Results show that MAP slowed the growth of Y. enterocolitica due to the bacteriostatic effect of CO2 on the development of this pathogen in the samples, but MAP itself was not able to eliminate this pathogen.
Stalk-dependent and Stalk-independent Signaling by the Adhesion G Protein-coupled Receptors GPR56 (ADGRG1) and BAI1 (ADGRB1)*

The adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are a large yet poorly understood family of seven-transmembrane proteins. A defining characteristic of the aGPCR family is the conserved GAIN domain, which has autoproteolytic activity and can cleave the receptors near the first transmembrane domain. Several aGPCRs, including ADGRB1 (BAI1 or B1) and ADGRG1 (GPR56 or G1), have been found to exhibit significantly increased constitutive activity when truncated to mimic GAIN domain cleavage (ΔNT). Recent reports have suggested that the new N-terminal stalk, which is revealed by GAIN domain cleavage, can directly activate aGPCRs as a tethered agonist. We tested this hypothesis in studies on two distinct aGPCRs, B1 and G1, by engineering mutant receptors lacking the entire NT including the stalk (B1- and G1-SL, with “SL” indicating “stalkless”). These receptors were evaluated in a battery of signaling assays and compared with full-length wild-type and cleavage-mimicking (ΔNT) forms of the two receptors. We found that B1-SL, in multiple assays, exhibited robust signaling activity, suggesting that the membrane-proximal stalk region is not necessary for its activation. For G1, however, the results were mixed, with the SL mutant exhibiting robust activity in several signaling assays (including TGFα shedding, activation of NFAT luciferase, and β-arrestin recruitment) but reduced activity relative to ΔNT in a distinct assay (activation of SRF luciferase). These data support a model in which the activation of certain pathways downstream of aGPCRs is stalk-dependent, whereas signaling to other pathways is stalk-independent.
Agreements between Indirect Calorimetry and Prediction Equations of Resting Energy Expenditure in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Purpose Equations are frequently used to estimate resting energy expenditure (REE) in a clinical setting. However, few studies have examined their accuracy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Materials and Methods To investigate agreement between indirect calorimetry and several REE estimating equations in 38 ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis, we performed indirect calorimetry and compared the results with REEs estimated using 5 equations [Harris-Benedict (HBE), Mifflin, WHO, Schofield, and Cunningham]. Results Measured REE was 1393.2 ± 238.7 kcal/day. There were no significant differences between measured and estimated REEs except Mifflin (1264.9 ± 224.8 kcal/day). Root mean square errors were smallest for HBE, followed by Schofield, Cunningham, and WHO, and largest for Mifflin (171.3, 171.9, 174.6, 175.3, and 224.6, respectively). In Bland-Altman plot, correlation coefficients between mean values and differences were significant for HBE (r = 0.412, p = 0.012) and tended to be significant for Cunningham (r = 0.283, p = 0.086). In DM patients and patients with overhydration, HBE showed significant underestimation when REE increased. Conclusion In ESRD patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), REE-estimating equations have no significant differences from indirect calorimetry, except Mifflin. However, HBE showed greater bias than others when REE was high.
Protective effects of intermittent hypoxia on brain and memory in a mouse model of apnea of prematurity

Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is considered a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in children based on epidemiological studies. This idea is supported by studies in newborn rodents in which exposure to intermittent hypoxia (IH) as a model of AOP significantly impairs development. However, the severe IH used in these studies may not fully reflect the broad spectrum of AOP severity. Considering that hypoxia appears neuroprotective under various conditions, we hypothesized that moderate IH would protect the neonatal mouse brain against behavioral stressors and brain damage. On P6, each pup in each litter was randomly assigned to one of three groups: a group exposed to IH while separated from the mother (IH group), a control group exposed to normoxia while separated from the mother (AIR group), and a group of untreated unmanipulated pups left continuously with their mother until weaning (UNT group). Exposure to moderate IH (8% O2) consisted of 20 hypoxic events/hour, 6 h per day from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P10. The stress generated by maternal separation in newborn rodents is known to impair brain development, and we expected this effect to be smaller in the IH group compared to the AIR group. In a separate experiment, we combined maternal separation with excitotoxic brain lesions mimicking those seen in preterm infants. We analyzed memory, angiogenesis, neurogenesis and brain lesion size. In non-lesioned mice, IH stimulated hippocampal angiogenesis and neurogenesis and improved short-term memory indices. In brain-lesioned mice, IH decreased lesion size and prevented memory impairments. Contrary to common perception, IH mimicking moderate apnea may offer neuroprotection, at least in part, against brain lesions and cognitive dysfunctions related to prematurity. AOP may therefore have beneficial effects in some preterm infants. These results support the need for stratification based on AOP severity in clinical trials of treatments for AOP, to determine whether in patients with moderate AOP, these treatments are beneficial or deleterious.
High-Performance Field-Effect-Transistors on Monolayer WSe

Monolayer Tungsten Diselenide (WSe 2) exhibits tremendous advantages as a channel material for next-generation field-effecttransistors (FETs). This paper reviews the relevant physics and properties of WSe 2 and highlights the excellent scalability of monolayer WSe 2 for ultra-short channel (sub-5 nm) FETs. The crucial role of metal-WSe 2 contacts in determining the performance of monolayer WSe 2 FETs is also emphasized using experiments guided by ab-initio density functional theory (DFT). With a suitably chosen contact, a back-gated monolayer WSe 2 FET on Al2O3 substrate is shown to exhibit both high mobility and high ON-current.
Neurons and Astrocytes Respond to Prion Infection by Inducing Microglia Recruitment

The accumulation and activation of microglial cells at sites of amyloid prion deposits or plaques have been documented extensively. Here, we investigate the in vivo recruitment of microglial cells soon after intraocular injection of scrapie-infected cell homogenate (hgtsc+) using immunohistochemistry on retinal sections. A population of CD11b/CD45-positive microglia was specifically detected within the ganglion and internal plexiform retinal cell layers by 2 d after intravitreal injection of hgtsc+. Whereas no chemotactism properties were ascribed to hgtsc+ alone, a massive migration of microglial cells was observed by incubating primary cultured neurons and astrocytes with hgtsc+ in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. hgtsc+ triggered the recruitment of microglial cells by interacting with both neurons and astrocytes by upregulation of the expression levels of a broad spectrum of neuronal and glial chemokines. We show that, in vitro and in vivo, the microglia migration is at least partly under the control of chemokine receptor-5 (CCR-5) activation, because highly specific CCR-5 antagonist TAK-779 significantly reduced the migration rate of microglia. Activated microglia recruited in the vicinity of prion may, in turn, cause neuronal cell damage by inducing apoptosis. These findings provide insight into the understanding of the cell-cell communication that takes place during the development of prion diseases.
Survey and evaluation of tone mapping operators for HDR video

This work presents a survey and a user evaluation of tone mapping operators (TMOs) for high dynamic range (HDR) video, i.e. TMOs that explicitly include a temporal model for processing of variations in the input HDR images in the time domain. The main motivations behind this work is that: robust tone mapping is one of the key aspects of HDR imaging [Reinhard et al. 2006]; recent developments in sensor and computing technologies have now made it possible to capture HDR-video, e.g. [Unger and Gustavson 2007; Tocci et al. 2011]; and, as shown by our survey, tone mapping for HDR video poses a set of completely new challenges compared to tone mapping for still HDR images. Furthermore, video tone mapping, though less studied, is highly important for a multitude of applications including gaming, cameras in mobile devices, adaptive display devices and movie post-processing.
RiceXPro: a platform for monitoring gene expression in japonica rice grown under natural field conditions

Elucidating the function of all predicted genes in rice remains as the ultimate goal in cereal genomics in order to ensure the development of improved varieties that will sustain an expanding world population. We constructed a gene expression database (RiceXPro, URL: http://ricexpro.dna.affrc.go.jp/) to provide an overview of the transcriptional changes throughout the growth of the rice plant in the field. RiceXPro contains two data sets corresponding to spatiotemporal gene expression profiles of various organs and tissues, and continuous gene expression profiles of leaf from transplanting to harvesting. A user-friendly web interface enables the extraction of specific gene expression profiles by keyword and chromosome search, and basic data analysis, thereby providing useful information as to the organ/tissue and developmental stage specificity of expression of a particular gene. Analysis tools such as t-test, calculation of fold change and degree of correlation facilitate the comparison of expression profiles between two random samples and the prediction of function of uncharacterized genes. As a repository of expression data encompassing growth in the field, this database can provide baseline information of genes that underlie various agronomically important traits in rice.
GLP-1-Based Therapies Have No Microvascular Effects in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Acute and 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1-based therapies (ie, GLP-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors) on microvascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. APPROACH AND RESULTS We studied 57 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean±SD age: 62.8±6.9 years; body mass index: 31.8±4.1 kg/m(2); HbA1c [glycated hemoglobin] 7.3±0.6%) in an acute and 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted at the Diabetes Center of the VU University Medical Center. In the acute study, the GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide (therapeutic concentrations) or placebo (saline 0.9%) was administered intravenously. During the 12-week study, patients received the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide (1.8 mg daily), the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin (100 mg daily), or matching placebos. Capillary perfusion was assessed by nailfold skin capillary videomicroscopy and vasomotion by laser Doppler fluxmetry, in the fasting state and after a high-fat mixed meal. In neither study, treatment affected fasting or postprandial capillary perfusion compared with placebo (P>0.05). In the fasting state, acute exenatide infusion increased neurogenic vasomotion domain power, while reducing myogenic domain power (both P<0.05). After the meal, exenatide increased endothelial domain power (P<0.05). In the 12-week study, no effects on vasomotion were observed. CONCLUSIONS Despite modest changes in vasomotion, suggestive of sympathetic nervous system activation and improved endothelial function, acute exenatide infusion does not affect skin capillary perfusion in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Twelve-week treatment with liraglutide or sitagliptin has no effect on capillary perfusion or vasomotion in these patients. Our data suggest that the effects of GLP-1-based therapies on glucose are not mediated through microvascular responses.
Cholinergic Induction of Theta-Frequency Oscillations in Hippocampal Inhibitory Interneurons and Pacing of Pyramidal Cell Firing

Cholinergic and GABAergic medial septal afferents contribute to hippocampal theta activity in part by actions on local interneurons. Interneurons near the border between stratum radiatum and stratum lacunosum-moleculare (LM) display intrinsic membrane potential oscillations at theta frequency when depolarized near threshold. First, whole-cell current-clamp recordings in rat hippocampal slices were used to examine effects of the cholinergic agonist carbachol on biocytin-labeled LM interneurons. At resting membrane potential, cells were depolarized by bath application of 25 μm carbachol, and the depolarization was sufficient to induce membrane potential oscillations (2.4 ± 0.2 mV) that paced cell firing. Carbachol also depolarized LM interneurons in the presence of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, (±)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, and bicuculline, indicating that cholinergic depolarization of LM cells does not depend on ionotropic glutamate or GABAA synaptic transmission in local circuits. Atropine blocked the depolarization, indicating that muscarinic receptors were involved. Minimal stimulation applied to visually identified LM interneurons was then used to determine if spontaneous activity in CA1 pyramidal cells can be paced by rhythmic inhibition generated by LM cells at theta frequency. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials evoked in pyramidal cells by single minimal stimulations were followed by rebound depolarizations and action potentials. When trains of minimal stimulation were delivered, membrane potential oscillations of depolarized pyramidal cells followed the stimulation frequency. Minimal stimulation led pyramidal cell firing with an average phase of 177°. Thus, muscarinic induction of theta-frequency membrane potential oscillations in LM interneurons may contribute to the generation of rhythmic inhibition that paces intrinsically generated theta activity in CA1 pyramidal cells.
Study of clear sky models for Singapore

The estimation of total solar irradiance falling on the earth's surface is important in the field of solar energy generation and forecasting. Several clear-sky solar radiation models have been developed over the last few decades. Most of these models are based on empirical distribution of various geographical parameters; while a few models consider various atmospheric effects in the solar energy estimation. In this paper, we perform a comparative analysis of several popular clear-sky models, in the tropical region of Singapore. This is important in countries like Singapore, where we are primarily focused on reliable and efficient solar energy generation. We analyze and compare three popular clear-sky models that are widely used in the literature. We validate our solar estimation results using actual solar irradiance measurements obtained from collocated weather stations. We finally conclude the most reliable clear sky model for Singapore, based on all clear sky days in a year.