Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of nNOS in Regulation of Renal Function in Angiotensin II—Induced Hypertension

Abstract—Previous studies have indicated that in normotensive rats, NO produced by neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) plays an important role in modulating tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF)–mediated afferent arteriolar constriction. It has also been shown that in angiotensin (Ang) II–infused hypertensive rats, there is a reduced ability of nNOS-derived NO to counteract this vasoconstriction. The present study was performed to (1) assess in vivo renal functional responses to intrarenal nNOS inhibition in control and Ang II–infused rats and (2) determine whether changes in renal function following nNOS inhibition are mediated by unopposed stimulation of Ang II receptor subtype 1 (AT1). Wistar rats were infused with either saline (SAL) or Ang II (80 ng/min) by osmotic minipumps implanted subcutaneously. Mean arterial blood pressure of SAL- and Ang II–infused rats on day 13 after implantation averaged 121±4 (n=28) and 151±5 (n=30), respectively (P <0.05). There were no differences in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (0.68±0.09 versus 0.59±0.09 mL · min−1 · g−1), renal plasma flow (RPF) (2.66±0.31 versus 2.34±0.39 mL · min−1 · g−1), and absolute sodium excretion (0.37±0.07 versus 0.42±0.09 &mgr;mol · min−1 · g−1). Intrarenal infusion of SAL did not change GFR, RPF, and sodium excretion in either SAL-infused (n=7) or Ang II–infused rats (n=8). Acute intrarenal administration of the nNOS inhibitor S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (L-SMTC; 0.3 mg/h) decreased GFR, RPF, and sodium excretion in SAL-infused rats (n=9) by 29±4%, 38±4%, and 70±4% compared with control values (P <0.05). The pretreatment by the AT1 receptor antagonist candesartan (750 ng IR) in SAL-infused rats (n=7) effectively prevented the decrease in RPF (−3±3%) elicited by nNOS inhibition and resulted in an increase in GFR (+25±12, P <0.05) and a concomitant greater increase in sodium excretion (84±12%, P <0.05) compared with control values. In contrast, in Ang II–infused rats (n=10) intrarenal inhibition of nNOS by L-SMTC did not cause significant decreases in GFR, RPF and sodium excretion (−2±2%, −15±10%, and −14±10%, respectively). These results suggest that in normotensive rats nNOS-derived NO counteracts Ang II–mediated vasoconstriction in the pre- and postglomerular microcirculation. Furthermore, Ang II–infused rats exhibit an impaired ability to release NO by nNOS. Decreased nNOS activity is likely to account at least partially for the enhanced TGF responsiveness in Ang II–infused rats and thus may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension in this model.
Space-Vector-Based Hybrid Pulsewidth Modulation Techniques for a Three-Level Inverter

Novel switching sequences have been proposed recently for a neutral-point-clamped three-level inverter, controlled effectively as an equivalent two-level inverter. It is shown that the four novel sequences can be grouped into two pairs of sequences. Using each pair of sequences, a hybrid pulsewidth modulation (PWM) technique is proposed, which deploys the two sequences in appropriate spatial regions to reduce the current ripple. Further, a third hybrid PWM technique is proposed which uses all the five sequences (including the conventional sequence) in appropriate spatial regions. Each proposed hybrid PWM is shown, both analytically and experimentally, to outperform its constituent PWM methods in terms of harmonic distortion. In particular, the third proposed hybrid PWM reduces the total harmonic distortion considerably at low- and high-speed ranges of a constant volts-per-hertz induction motor drive, compared to centered space vector PWM.
A neuropsychiatric review of pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder: etiology and efficacious treatments

Pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric condition associated with broad impairments in functioning. This paper outlines current etiological theories of OCD, providing a review of neuroanatomical, neurochemical, neuroimmunological, and cognitive–behavioral explanations. Subsequently, first-line treatment modalities are discussed (serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SRIs] and cognitive–behavioral therapy [CBT] with exposure and response prevention [E/RP]) in the context of recent pharmacological, CBT, and combined trials.
Target Mediated Drug Disposition Model of CPHPC in Patients with Systemic Amyloidosis

The amyloid deposits that cause disease in systemic amyloidosis always contain the normal plasma protein, serum amyloid P (SAP) component. SAP is the target of a novel immunotherapy approach now being developed to eliminate amyloid deposits. The treatment is enabled by, and critically depends on, the use of the drug (R)‐1‐[6‐[(R)‐2‐carboxy‐pyrrolidin‐1‐yl]‐6‐oxo‐hexanoyl]pyrrolidine‐2‐carboxylic acid (CPHPC, GSK2315698, Ro 63‐8695), which depletes circulating SAP almost completely but leaves some SAP in amyloid deposits for specific recognition by subsequently administered therapeutic anti‐SAP antibodies. Herein, we report a mechanistic model that predicts, with clinically acceptable precision, the exposure‐response relationship for CPHPC, both in healthy individuals and in patients with systemic amyloidosis. The model covariates are gender, renal function, total amyloid load, and presence of hepatic amyloid, all of which are known at baseline. The model is being used to predict individualized dosing regimens in an ongoing, first‐in‐human study with anti‐SAP antibodies.
GHCLNet: A generalized hierarchically tuned contact lens detection network

Iris serves as one of the best biometrie modality owing to its complex, unique and stable structure. However, it can still be spoofed using fabricated eyeballs and contact lens. Accurate identification of contact lens is must for reliable performance of any biometric authentication system based on this modality. In this paper, we present a novel approach for detecting contact lens using a Generalized Hierarchically tuned Contact Lens detection Network (GHCLNet). We have proposed hierarchical architecture for three class oculus classification namely: no lens, soft lens and cosmetic lens. Our network architecture is inspired by ResNet-50 model. This network works on raw input iris images without any pre-processing and segmentation requirement and this is one of its prodigious strength. We have performed extensive experimentation on two publicly available data-sets namely: 1)IIIT-D 2)ND and on IIT-K data-set (not publicly available) to ensure the generalizability of our network. The proposed architecture results are quite promising and outperforms the available state-of-the-art lens detection algorithms.
Making link-state routing scale for ad hoc networks

In this paper, we introduce a class of approaches that attempt to scale link-state routing by limiting the scope of link state update dissemination in space and over time. We present the first fundamental analysis of this generic class, which we call "Fuzzy Sighted Link State routing". Using a novel perspective on the "overhead"of a protocol that includes not only the overhead due to control messages but also due to route sub-optimality, we formulate an analytical model whose solution automatically leads to the best algorithm in this class. This algorithm is shown to have nearly the best possible asymptotic overhead for any routing algorithm -proactive or reactive. Simulation results are presented that compare the performance or several algorithms in this class
Structure of (dG)n.(dC)n under superhelical stress and acid pH.

We have recently shown that a (GA)n. (TC)n tract undergoes a sharp structural transition under superhelical stress (V.I. Lyamichev, S.M. Mirkin and M.D. Frank-Kamenetskii, J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2,327 (1985]. Unlike the well studied transitions to the cruciform and to the Z form, this novel transition was strongly pH-dependent. We have found the (dG)n. (dC)n insert to undergo a pH-dependent structural transition similar to that of the (GA)n. (TC)n tract. These new data meet our earlier expectations and disagree with the data of D.E. Pulleyblank, D.B. Haniford and A.R. Morgan, Cell 42, 271 (1985). We conclude that a novel DNA structure (the H-form) is typical of homopurine-homopyrimidine mirror repeats (the H palindromes) under superhelical stress and/or acid pH. In the H-form the homopyrimidine strand forms a hairpin while half of the homopurine strand interacts with the hairpin forming a triplex, the other half of the homopurine strand being unstructured (V.I. Lyamichev, S.M. Mirkin and M.D. Frank-Kamenetskii, J. Biomol. Struct. Dyn. 2, 3, 667 (1986].
Reduced Translocation Is Associated with Tolerance of Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) to Glyphosate

Abstract Common lambsquarters tolerance to glyphosate is problematic because of the species' widespread distribution, competitive ability with many crop species, the widespread use of glyphosate in agriculture, and the weed's potential to develop decreased sensitivity to multiple herbicide sites of action. The mechanism that confers common lambsquarters tolerance to glyphosate is not known. Therefore, we conducted experiments to determine the mechanism of tolerance to glyphosate in an accession of common lambsquarters from Indiana relative to a sensitive accession from Wisconsin. The ED50 (the effective dose that reduced shoot mass 50% relative to nontreated plants) value for the tolerant accession (1.6 kg ae ha−1 ± 0.4 standard error of the mean [SEM]) was eightfold greater than the ED50 for the sensitive accession (0.2 kg ae ha−1 ± 0.2 SEM) 28 d after treatment. The glyphosate target-site (EPSPS) DNA sequence at proline 106, shikimate accumulation as an estimate of EPSPS sensitivity, and EPSPS protein abundance did not differ between accessions. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate was slightly greater in the tolerant accession than it was in the sensitive accession at 48 and 72 h after treatment (HAT). However, the tolerant accession translocated a smaller percentage of absorbed 14C-glyphosate to the tissue above the treated leaf, which included the shoot apical meristem, at 24, 48, and 72 HAT (P ≤ 0.05, 0.01, and 0.10, respectively). These results suggest an important role of reduced translocation in conferring tolerance of common lambsquarters to glyphosate. Nomenclature: EPSPS, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase; glyphosate; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. CHEAL.
Cohesive zone fracture modelling of asphalt pavements with applications to design of high-performance asphalt overlays

Abstract Mechanism of fracture in a viscoelastic heterogeneous composite with thermo-rheological properties such as, asphalt mixture is quite involved and cannot be correctly simulated with simpler linear elastic fracture mechanics constitutive laws. Over the last decade and half, a number of researchers have adopted use of cohesive zone (CZ) fracture models for simulation of fracture in asphalt mixtures. CZ interface elements are utilised in finite element (FE) models for representation of crack path, these elements follow traction–displacement relationships that allow for gradually degrading traction capabilities along the crack path with increasing level of crack opening. This paper presents a review of CZ modelling approach for simulation of asphalt pavement and overlay cracking performances. Suitability of CZ modelling approach for capturing discrete fracture in asphalt mixtures at low temperatures is presented through simulation of lab scale test. An example is also presented to demonstrate applicability of CZ-based modelling effort in capturing the crack initiation and propagation in asphalt mixtures at low temperatures. Thereafter, an FE-based pavement simulation approach is discussed that can be utilised in design of asphalt overlays to lower the propensity of reflective cracking. A case study of designing asphalt overlay systems for four real-life pavements in Minnesota is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the CZ-based modelling approach in conducting mechanistic design of asphalt overlays.
Pliocene palaeoceanography of the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas

The Pliocene is important in the geological evolution of the high northern latitudes. It marks the transition from restricted local- to extensive regional-scale glaciations on the circum-Arctic continents between 3.6 and 2.4 Ma. Since the Arctic Ocean is an almost land-locked basin, tectonic activity and sea-level fluctuations controlled the geometry of ocean gateways and continental drainage systems, and exerted a major influence on the formation of continental ice sheets, the distribution of river run-off, and the circulation and water mass characteristics in the Arctic Ocean. The effect of a water mass exchange restricted to the Bering and Fram Straits on the oceanography is unknown, but modelling experiments suggest that this must have influenced the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. Cold conditions associated with perennial sea-ice cover might have prevailed in the central Arctic Ocean throughout the Pliocene, whereas colder periods alternated with warmer seasonally ice-free periods in the marginal areas. The most pronounced oceanographic change occurred in the Mid-Pliocene when the circulation through the Bering Strait reversed and low-salinity waters increasingly flowed from the North Pacific into the Arctic Ocean. The excess freshwater supply might have facilitated sea-ice formation and contributed to a decrease in the Atlantic overturning circulation.
Acoustic Correlates of Stress in English Adjective–Noun Compounds

This study investigates the phonetic implementation of stress in American English compounds by measuring the interaction of stress cues with different intonation patterns. Participants in an experiment produced compounds and phrases such as greenhouse and green house in different prosodic positions and sentence types to elicit the contrast in a variety of intonational environments. Intonation patterns were labeled and carefully controlled for, and measurements of vowel duration, intensity (dB) and pitch (in semitones) were compared. The results of the experiment reveal clear patterns that distinguish compounds from phrases, and provide acoustic evidence of the characteristic prominence pattern for adjective + noun compounds. Intensity is a significant cue for compound stress in all but the rising intonation environments, such as questions. Duration differences are a reliable cue in exactly this intonational environment, and also in certain clause-final intonation patterns, which similarly contain a high boundary tone. Distinctive pitch patterns were also found. The results suggest that interactions with the intonational and prosodic environment determine which phonetic cues will signal the stress pattern of a compound in a given utterance.
Bayesian state-space modelling of the De Lury depletion model: strengths and limitations of the method, and application to the Moroccan octopus fishery

The strengths and limitations of a Bayesian state-space modelling framework are investigated for a De Lury depletion model that accommodates two recruitment pulses per year. The framework was applied to the Moroccan fishery for common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) between 1982 and 2002. To allow identifiability, natural mortality (M) and the recruitment rhythm were fixed, and the variance of both process and observation errors were assumed to be equal. A simulation– estimation (SE) approach was derived to test the performance of the method. If the data showed responses to harvest, the estimates of the most important figures, i.e. the initial abundance and the second recruitment pulse, were accurate, with relatively small bias. Results confirm that greater depletion yields smaller bias and uncertainty and that inferences are sensitive to the mis-specification of M. The 21 depletion series in the Moroccan dataset were jointly treated in a hierarchical model including random walk to capture the systematic fluctuations in estimates of catchability and initial abundance. The model provides estimates of the annual recruitment and monthly octopus population size. The recruitment estimates could be used to investigate the link between recruitment variability and the coastal North African upwelling regime to improve understanding of the dynamics and management of octopus stocks.
Effect of the Vegetation Fire on Backscattering: An Investigation Based on Sentinel-1 Observations

This paper aims at investigating the potential of Sentinel-1 C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations for detecting fire scars in vegetated areas at regional scale. A comprehensive analysis of the backscattering coefficients is carried out. The experimental analysis is conducted by analyzing the scenario of the Sardinia Island, which is one of the Italian regions most affected by fire events over the summer season. The detection capability of fire scars in such an environment is demonstrated by exploiting information extracted from dual-polarized SAR data. Our results reveal a significant decrease of the VH response over the fire-disturbed forests, thus, highlighting the effectiveness of such cross-polarized observations. In order to prove the validity of the proposed approach for the detection of fire scars in the vegetation layer, the results of the conducted experiments have been suitably compared with burned areas identified by using an existing fuzzy-based algorithm, which has been applied to multispectral Landsat-8 operational land imager data. This investigation opens the way to systematic methods for monitoring fire scars in heterogeneous environments, and in particular in fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems.
Heterochronically early decline of Hox expression prior to cartilage formation in the avian hindlimb zeugopod

The fibula, a zeugopod bone in the hindlimb, exhibits various morphologies in tetrapod species. The fibula in some species has a similar length with the other zeugopod element, the tibia, while other species have obvious differences in the sizes of the two elements. In the avian hindlimb, for example, the fibula is extremely short, thin, and truncated. Basic morphology of the fibula is established during development, and cartilage primordium of the bone emerges in a certain region defined by a distinct combination of expression of Hox genes (Hox code). In order to elucidate how the different morphologies are produced from a region that is defined as the fixed Hox code, we examined spatial and temporal patterns of Hoxd11/Hoxd12 expression in the developing limb bud, which defines the region from which the fibula emerges, in comparison with the sites of precartilaginous mesenchymal condensations representing regions for cartilage formation among chick, mouse, and gecko embryos. We found that in the chick hindlimb, expression of Hoxd11/Hoxd12 decreased and disappeared from the presumptive zeugopod region before cartilage formation. This heterochronically early decline of expression of Hox genes is strongly correlated with the peculiar trait of the fibula in the avian hindlimb, since in the other species examined, expression of those genes continued after the onset of cartilage formation. This is morphological phenotype‐related because the early disappearance was not seen in the chick forelimb. Our results suggest that temporal change of the Hox code governs diversification in morphology of homologous structures among related species.
Prognostic impact of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in cytosols and pellet extracts derived from primary breast tumours

Using a previously developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the levels of the receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) were determined in cytosols and corresponding membrane pellets derived from 878 primary breast tumours. The levels of uPAR in the pellet extracts were more than 3-fold higher than those measured in the cytosols (P< 0.001). Moreover, the uPAR levels in the two types of extracts were weakly, though significantly, correlated with each other (rS= 0.20, P< 0.001). In Cox univariate analysis, high cytosolic levels of uPAR were significantly associated with reduced overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). The levels of uPAR in pellet extracts appeared not to be related with patient survival. In multivariate analysis, elevated levels of uPAR measured in cytosols and pellet extracts were found to be independent predictors of poor OS, not RFS. The prediction of poor prognosis on the basis of high uPAR levels emphasizes its important role in plasmin-mediated degradation of extracellular matrix proteins during cancer invasion and metastasis. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer. com
The Differential Contribution of the Innate Immune System to a Good Pathological Response in the Breast and Axillary Lymph Nodes Induced by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Women with Large and Locally Advanced Breast Cancers

The tumour microenvironment consists of malignant cells, stroma, and immune cells. The role of adaptive immunity in inducing a pathological complete response (pCR) in breast cancer with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is well studied. The contribution of innate immunity, however, is poorly documented. Breast tumours and axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) from 33 women with large and locally advanced breast cancers (LLABCs) undergoing NAC were immunohistochemically assessed for tumour-infiltrating macrophages (TIMs: M1 and M2), neutrophils (TINs), and dendritic cells (TIDCs) using labelled antibodies and semiquantitative methods. Patients' blood neutrophils (n = 108), DCs (mDC1 and pDC), and their costimulatory molecules (n = 30) were also studied. Pathological results were classified as pCR, good (GPR) or poor (PRR). In breast and metastatic ALNs, high levels of CD163+ TIMs were significantly associated with a pCR. In blood, high levels of neutrophils were significantly associated with pCR in metastatic ALNs, whilst the % of mDC1 and pDC and expression of HLA-DR, mDC1 CD40, and CD83 were significantly reduced. NAC significantly reduced tumour DCs but increased blood DCs. PPRs to NAC had significantly reduced HLA-DR, CD40, and CD86 expression. Our study demonstrated novel findings documenting the differential but important contributions of innate immunity to pCRs in patients with LLABCs undergoing NAC.
Fracture Properties of Particle Filled Polymer Composites

Fracture behavior of particle filled epoxy and polyester polymer composite (PC) systems was investigated in Mode I fracture using single edge notched beams with varying notch depth. Influence of polymer content and polymer properties on the fracture behavior of polymer composite at room temperature were studied using a uniform sand. The results are analyzed to examine the applicability of fracture parameters such as critical stress intensity factor (KIC ) and critical J-integral (JIC ) to the PC systems. Epoxy PC and polyester PC are notch sensitive materials. At the same polymer content, the epoxy PC has better fracture properties than the polyester PC. The KIC and JIC for epoxy PC and polyester PC increases with increase in polymer content and PC flexural strength. The fracture parameters of PC systems are represented in terms of polymer content, polymer strength and PC strength. Also the relationship between KIC and JIC for the two PC systems has been investigated.