Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EH-impedance tuner with dielectric-based backshorts for millimetre wave diode testing

In this paper, we present a waveguide EH-impedance tuner utilizing dielectric-based backshorts. The tuner is directly machined and the used design can be easily integrated in a waveguide block with other waveguide components. The tuner offers low losses, excellent input impedance coverage and accurate tuning over the frequency range of 140 – 190 GHz, where the maximum measured reflection coefficient is 0.92 (VSWR = 24) at 148 GHz. Our tuner is designed to be a part of a millimetre wave diode testing platform, but it can also be used as a normal stand-alone tuning device in many millimetre wave applications. Design is validated with G-band (140 – 220 GHz) measurement results.
Climate and ecosystem linkages explain widespread declines in North American Atlantic salmon populations

North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations experienced substantial declines in the early 1990s, and many populations have persisted at low abundances in recent years. Abundance and productivity declined in a coherent manner across major regions of North America, and this coherence points toward a potential shift in marine survivorship, rather than local, river‐specific factors. The major declines in Atlantic salmon populations occurred against a backdrop of physical and biological shifts in Northwest Atlantic ecosystems. Analyses of changes in climate, physical, and lower trophic level biological factors provide substantial evidence that climate conditions directly and indirectly influence the abundance and productivity of North American Atlantic salmon populations. A major decline in salmon abundance after 1990 was preceded by a series of changes across multiple levels of the ecosystem, and a subsequent population change in 1997, primarily related to salmon productivity, followed an unusually low NAO event. Pairwise correlations further demonstrate that climate and physical conditions are associated with changes in plankton communities and prey availability, which are ultimately linked to Atlantic salmon populations. Results suggest that poor trophic conditions, likely due to climate‐driven environmental factors, and warmer ocean temperatures throughout their marine habitat area are constraining the productivity and recovery of North American Atlantic salmon populations.
Associations between Food Variety and Body Fatness in Hong Kong Chinese Adults

Background: Food variety is reported to be closely associated with body fatness in Caucasians. The association has not been examined in a Chinese population. Objective: To examine the association between food variety and body fatness in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Design: One hundred and twenty Hong Kong Chinese adults (aged 18–50 y). Usual dietary intake over a one-week period of all subjects was assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric parameters were measured using standardized methods. Results: Varieties of grain and meat were negatively correlated with obesity indices (grain vs. BMI/body fat/waist/hip circumferences: partial r = −47/−0.43/−0.46/−0.42, p < 0.001; meat vs. BMI/body fat/waist/hip circumferences: partial r = −0.31/−0.24/−0.25/−0.29, p < 0.01). In contrast, there was a positive relationship between variety of snack and obesity indices (snack vs. BMI/body fat/waist/hip circumferences: partial r = 0.35/0.42/0.42/0.36, p < 0.001). A food variety ratio derived from varieties of snack, grain and meat, was a stronger predictor of body fat compared with dietary fat in a regression model. Conclusion: Food variety may contribute to the local escalation in the prevalence of obesity. The variety of snack is the promoting factor for obesity while the variety of grains and meats may counteract its development. The findings of this study may have implications for treatment of obesity and the prevention of further weight gain.
Glutathione sulfotransferase inhibition activity of a self-fermented beverage, Kanji

Abstract Context: Kanji, a liquid preparation of roots of Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang. var. vavilovii Mazk. (Apiaceae), may inhibit glutathione sulfotransferase (GST) activity due to ferulic acid content. Objectives: GST inhibition activity and characterization of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots, and oral absorption pattern of ferulic acid from Kanji in rats. Materials and methods: GST inhibition activity of Kanji and methanol extract of D. carota roots in concentration range 0.001–100.00 mg/mL was determined using Sprague Dawley rat liver cytosolic fraction. Methanol extract upon column chromatography gave ferulic acid, which was used to characterize Kanji and determine its oral absorption pattern in Wistar rats. Results: The GST inhibition activity of Kanji (100.00 μg/mL), methanol extract of D. carota roots (100.00 μg/mL) and tannic acid (10.00 μg/mL, positive control) was found to be 0.162 ± 0.016, 0.106 ± 0.013 and 0.073 ± 0.004 μM/min/mg, respectively. Different Kanji samples and methanol extract contained ferulic acid (0.222–0.316 mg/g) and 0.77 mg/g, respectively. Ferulic acid did not appear in plasma after oral administration of Kanji. Discussion: Kanji having solid contents 80.0 μg/mL, equivalent to 0.0025 μg/mL ferulic acid, does not inhibit the activity of GST. The oral administration of Kanji, in human equivalent dose (528 mg/kg, 16.67 μg ferulic acid), to rats indicated poor absorption of ferulic acid. Conclusion: Kanji having solid contents 14–36 mg/mL does not inhibit GST activity, hence may not interfere with drugs that are the substrates of GST, if taken concomitantly.
Endotoxin stimulates hepatocyte interleukin-6 production.

BACKGROUND Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which mediates many aspects of the acute phase response. Although known to be produced by macrophages and other proinflammatory cells, IL-6 is also released by many types of epithelial cells. The present studies were performed to determine if endotoxin and proinflammatory cytokines stimulate the release of IL-6 from native murine hepatocytes. METHODS Cultured hepatocytes were treated with various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1 (IL-1), or tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in the presence or absence of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA), an anti-TNF antibody, or dexamethasone. Culture supernatants were assayed for murine IL-6 using an ELISA. The cellular source of IL-6 was investigated using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Hepatocyte IL-6 production was significantly increased following treatment with LPS, IL-1, and TNF. Combinations of LPS and these cytokines were synergistic in stimulating IL-6 release. Dexamethasone, but not IL-1 RA or an anti-TNF antibody, inhibited hepatocyte production of IL-6 in response to LPS. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the hepatocytes, and not contaminating nonparenchymal cells, were the principal source of the IL-6 produced in these cultures. CONCLUSIONS Murine hepatocytes release significant amounts of IL-6 when exposed to endotoxin or proinflammatory cytokines. LPS appears to stimulate hepatocyte IL-6 production directly, and this effect does not appear to be mediated by IL-1 or TNF.
In Silico Investigation into Cellular Mechanisms of Cardiac Alternans in Myocardial Ischemia

Myocardial ischemia is associated with pathophysiological conditions such as hyperkalemia, acidosis, and hypoxia. These physiological disorders may lead to changes on the functions of ionic channels, which in turn form the basis for cardiac alternans. In this paper, we investigated the roles of hyperkalemia and calcium handling components played in the genesis of alternans in ischemia at the cellular level by using computational simulations. The results show that hyperkalemic reduced cell excitability and delayed recovery from inactivation of depolarization currents. The inactivation time constant τ f of L-type calcium current (I CaL) increased obviously in hyperkalemia. One cycle length was not enough for I CaL to recover completely. Alternans developed as a result of I CaL responding to stimulation every other beat. Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA2a) function decreased in ischemia. This change resulted in intracellular Ca (Cai) alternans of small magnitude. A strong Na+-Ca2+ exchange current (I NCX) increased the magnitude of Cai alternans, leading to APD alternans through excitation-contraction coupling. Some alternated repolarization currents contributed to this repolarization alternans.
Acute brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging in relation to neurological outcome after cardiac arrest

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain including diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) is reported to have high prognostic accuracy in unconscious post‐cardiac arrest (CA) patients. We documented acute MRI findings in the brain in both conscious and unconscious post‐CA patients treated with target temperature management (TTM) at 32–34°C for 24 h as well as the relation to patients’ neurological outcome after 6 months.
A 41 amino acid motif in importin‐alpha confers binding to importin‐beta and hence transit into the nucleus.

The complex of importin‐alpha and ‐beta is essential for nuclear protein import. It binds the import substrate in the cytosol, and the resulting trimeric complex moves through the nuclear pores, probably as a single entity. Importin‐alpha provides the nuclear localization signal binding site, importin‐beta the site of initial docking to the pore. Here we show that the conserved, basic N‐terminus of importin‐alpha is sufficient for importin‐beta binding and essential for protein import. The fusion product of this 41 amino acid domain to a heterologous protein if transported into the nucleus in the same way as full‐length importin‐alpha itself. Transport is dependent on importin‐beta but competed by importin‐alpha. As no additional part of importin‐alpha is needed for translocation, the movement which drives the import substrate complex into the nucleus appears to be generated between importin‐beta and structures of the nuclear pore. The domain that binds to importin‐beta appears to confer import only, but not re‐export out of the nucleus, suggesting that the return of importin‐alpha into the cytoplasm is not a simple reversal of its entry.
Mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein H suppress cell fusion by a syncytial strain

We have developed a complementation assay, using transiently transfected COS cells, to facilitate a molecular analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein gH. When infected by a gH-null syncytial virus, COS cells expressing wild-type gH generate infectious progeny virions and form a syncytium with neighboring cells. By deletion and point mutagenesis, we have found particular residues in the gH cytoplasmic tail to be essential for generation of a syncytium but apparently dispensable for production of infectious virions. This study emphasizes the different requirements for cell-cell and cell-envelope fusion and demonstrates that changes in the non-syn locus UL22-gH can reverse the syncytial phenotype.
Overhead line rating forecasting for the integration of wind power in electricity markets

Wind power has a significant impact on the operation of electricity markets in areas with high penetration of wind power. As the electricity market is planned some hours in advance, it is necessary to forecast the wind power. Besides, wind power forecasting techniques can be adapted for the overhead line rating forecasting. This can be useful for defining advanced strategies for grid operation and improve the wind power integration. This paper analyzes the similarities and differences between the wind power forecasting and the overhead line rating forecasting. Some overhead line rating forecasting experiences are described and the preliminary results of a pilot project are shown.
Expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 is increased in astrocytes after kainate‐induced epileptic seizures

In the CNS there is a differential distribution of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in neurons and glia. Hippocampal nerve cells contain large amounts of the receptor transcript and protein that are expressed at very low levels in astrocytes. This is unexpected, as mGluR‐induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis is substantial in cultured astrocytes and is mediated only by mGluR5 in these cells. In order to detect mGluR5 in astrocytes in vivo, we destroyed in a circumscribed part of the hippocampus nerve cells that have high level of receptor expression. Unilateral injection of kainate into the right amygdala produced epileptic seizures, as well as selective degeneration of nerve cells restricted to the ipsilateral CA3 and CA4 regions of the hippocampus, followed by the development of gliosis. In the affected fields only, mGluR5 immunoreactivity was severely reduced 3 days after kainate injection, followed by a progressive reappearance and lasting presence of the receptor protein. Receptor mRNA virtually disappeared from the pyramidal cell layer of the lesioned CA3/4 region. On the other hand, the message level increased persistently in the CA3 stratum lucidum and radiatum, the site of massive astrogliosis. In these sites, mGluR5 mRNA became detectable in double labeling studies in glial fibrillary acidic protein‐positive astrocytes. We showed previously that growth factors induce a pronounced elevation of mGluR5 expression in cultured astrocytes (Miller et al. J Neurosci 15:–6109, 1995). The well‐documented increase in the level of growth factors in the damaged brain may underlie the induction of the receptor expression in astrocytes in vivo, which may also be involved in repair processes in the injured nervous tissue. GLIA 30:352–361, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SUBJECTIVE PSYCHIC EXPERIENCES AND DISSOCIATIVE EXPERIENCES

A variety ofsubjective "psychic"experiences, such as telepathy, clair­ vayance, andout-ofbodyexperiences, are often reportedin conjunction with dissociative experiences. This study looked at the relationship between the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and a variety of psychic experiences in a non-clinical adult population with a high levelofpsychicexperiences. TheDESwas correlatedmoderately (Pearson's r from.3 to .4) with most but not all ofthe experiences. The mean DES score was 17.2 (SD = 12.5), and the median was 14.1, sub­ stantially above the normfor adults. The correlations with a mea­ sure ofaffect, the Positive and NegativeAffect Schedules (PANAS), were low for both positive and negative affect, and the means for affect were similar to the meansfor the general population. Eighty­ one point five percent of the subjects felt that their psychic experi­ ences had had a positive or inspirationaleffect on their lives. When taken in conjunction with other surveys ofthe generalpopulation, this study confirms that psychic experiences are a common occur­ rence in non-clinicalpopulations, and that, although they are cor­ related with dissociation, they are not necessarily associated with pathology.
Adaptive control of airway tone in sheep that have asthma-like responses

A model reference, direct adaptive control model has been identified and is able to track airway tone from sheep that have asthma-like responses. This closed loop control model uses the MIT adaptation rule to drive the controller gain that accounted for the decreases in lung conductance seen in allergen-challenged sheep. A single compartment viscoelastic closed loop model was used with the output being the tidal volume. Observations revealed that there are two distinct airway tone timescales: a slow time scale governing lung dynamic changes that was used to established the baseline; and a fast timescale related to the more transient response during allergen induced bronchoconstriction. The baseline provided the coefficients for the model and these were adjusted by the controller gains. The controller gains for saline-challenge sheep which were used as experimental controls, were within random error determined for spontaneous breathing. The experiments indicate that the dynamics of diseased lungs can be captured by an adaptively controlled model.
Molecular Anatomy of Palate Development

The NIH FACEBASE consortium was established in part to create a central resource for craniofacial researchers. One purpose is to provide a molecular anatomy of craniofacial development. To this end we have used a combination of laser capture microdissection and RNA-Seq to define the gene expression programs driving development of the murine palate. We focused on the E14.5 palate, soon after medial fusion of the two palatal shelves. The palate was divided into multiple compartments, including both medial and lateral, as well as oral and nasal, for both the anterior and posterior domains. A total of 25 RNA-Seq datasets were generated. The results provide a comprehensive view of the region specific expression of all transcription factors, growth factors and receptors. Paracrine interactions can be inferred from flanking compartment growth factor/receptor expression patterns. The results are validated primarily through very high concordance with extensive previously published gene expression data for the developing palate. In addition selected immunostain validations were carried out. In conclusion, this report provides an RNA-Seq based atlas of gene expression patterns driving palate development at microanatomic resolution. This FACEBASE resource is designed to promote discovery by the craniofacial research community.
The (North) American English Mandative Subjunctive in the 21st Century: Revival or Remnant?

The English mandative subjunctive has had a checkered history, ranging from extensive use in Old English to near extinction by Late Modern English. Then, in a dramatic (if still unexplained) reversal, it was reported to have revived, notably in American English, a scenario which is now widely endorsed. Observing that most references to this revival are based on the written language, we sought to replicate this result in contemporary North American English speech. Finding little evidence of the mandative subjunctive in contexts where revivalist claims would predict it, we next attempted to contextualize the current situation by tracing the trajectory of the mandative subjunctive back to the 16th century via the speech-like portions of two major corpora of English. Adopting a variationist perspective, we carried out systematic quantitative analyses of the morphological form of verbs embedded under large numbers of mandative subjunctive triggers. Results show that selection of the subjunctive was already both sparse in terms of rate and sporadic in terms of triggers as far back as the Early Modern English speech surrogates investigated, and far from reviving over the course of the 20th century, has remained that way ever since. We implicate methodological inconsistencies, in particular violations of the principle of accountability, in the disparities between the findings reported here and the consensus in the literature with respect to the evolution and current status of the mandative subjunctive in North American English. This working paper is available in University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: http://repository.upenn. edu/pwpl/
Soluble Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients with Unipolar or Bipolar Affective Disorders: Results from a Pilot Trial

Background: Immunological and vascular markers may play a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and mood changes. Aim: To test whether the cell adhesion molecule soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) may serve as a biomarker for patients with unipolar or bipolar affective disorders when compared to a healthy control group, and whether sICAM-1 blood levels change during different mood states. Methods: sICAM-1 serum concentrations were compared between 20 healthy controls and 48 patients with affective disorders (unipolar, bipolar II and bipolar I disorder) during different mood states (euthymic mood state, depression or mania). Results: When compared to healthy controls, patients with affective disorders had significantly higher sICAM-1 levels during the euthymic state (p = 0.015). Differences became more pronounced during depression (p = 0.013). When unipolar and bipolar patients were analyzed separately, unipolar patients significantly differed from controls during the euthymic and depressive mood state, while bipolar II patients showed a trend towards higher sICAM-1 levels during depression. Patients with bipolar I disorders had significantly higher sICAM-1 levels during manic states when compared to controls (p = 0.007). Conclusions: sICAM-1 elevation in unipolar and bipolar patients, independent of mood changes, might support the hypothesis of chronic immune activation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with affective disorders.
Exposure to odours improves olfactory function in healthy children.

BACKGROUND Short-term exposure to odours, also called "olfactory training" has been shown to improve olfactory function in healthy people but also in people with olfactory loss. Aim of this single center, prospective, controlled study was to investigate the change of olfactory function following twice-daily, short-term exposure to 4 odours over a period of approximately 12 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHODS We compared odour identification abilities and odour thresholds between an olfactory training group (TR group) and a group that did not perform such training (noTR group). Participants exposed themselves twice daily to 4 odours ("rose", "eucalyptus", "lemon", "clove"). Olfactory testing was performed before and after the training period using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test kit (odour identification plus odour thresholds). RESULTS At baseline the two groups were not significantly different in terms of age and measures of olfactory sensitivity. The TR group performed significantly better for odour thresholds for all 4 odours compared to the noTR group after 12 weeks of olfactory training. Also, with regard to odour identification the TR group outperformed the noTR group. No significant differences were found for diary-based intensity ratings. CONCLUSION Repeated exposure to odours seems to improve general olfactory sensitivity in children.
Epidemiological and Phylogenetic Characteristics of Influenza B Infection in Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Cases in Beijing, 2014 to 2015

AbstractInfluenza B viral infection is of great importance, but the epidemiological and phylogenetic characteristics of influenza B infection in severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases are still unclear.The clinical information of 2816 SARI cases and 467,737 influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in Beijing area from September 2014 to April 2015 were collected and analyzed. Among them, 91 influenza B viruses isolated from SARI cases were sequenced.The overall yield rate of influenza A/B infection was 14.21% and 27.77% in sampled SARI and ILI cases, respectively. Compared with influenza A infection, the frequency of influenza B infection in SARI cases was higher in younger patients. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that most tested hemagglutination genes belonged to Yamagata lineage Clade 3, which were similar with current circulating viruses but different with 2014 to 2015 influenza season vaccine strain (Clade 2). Importantly, HA-Y3/NA-V4 intralineage reassorting was identified in Beijing area for the first time, which can act as a possible risk factor of SARIs.The influenza activity and virus types/subtypes/lineages among SARI patients were well correlated with that of ILI cases. Furthermore, the potential risk of reassorted influenza B virus infection should not be overlooked.