Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Successful Intra- and Interspecific Male Germ Cell Transplantation in the Rat1

Abstract The lumen of the seminiferous tubules has hitherto been regarded as an immunologically privileged site. We report here the birth of young following transplantation of stem spermatogonia from Long-Evans rats to the seminiferous tubules of Sprague-Dawley rats after treatment with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin. Follicle-stimulating hormone was also given to stimulate Sertoli cell proliferation, and testosterone to stimulate the recovery of spermatogenesis. Donor germ cells underwent normal spermatogenesis, and progeny were repeatedly produced from the donor germ cells as demonstrated by microsatellite paternity analysis. In addition, donor germ cells from the cryptorchid testes of LacZ mice were also able to colonize the seminiferous tubules of Sprague-Dawley rats using this protocol. Morphologically normal rat and mouse spermatozoa were present in the epididymis and vas deferens of the recipient rats. This highlights the potential for transplantation of male germ cells between different species.
Gene regulation by phosphate in enteric bacteria

The Escherichia coli phosphate (PHO) regulon includes 31 (or more) genes arranged in eight separate operons. All are coregulated by environmental (extra‐cellular) phosphate and are probably involved in phosphorus assimilation. Pi control of these genes requires the sensor PhoR, the response regulator PhoB, the binding protein‐dependent Pi‐specific transporter Pst, and the accessory protein PhoU. During Pi limitation, PhoR turns on genes of the PHO regulon by phosphorylating PhoB that in turn activates transcription by binding to promoters that share an 18‐base consensus PHO Box. When Pi is in excess, PhoR, Pst, and PhoU together turn off the PHO regulon, presumably by dephosphorylating PhoB. In addition, two Pi‐independent controls that may be forms of cross regulation turn on the PHO regulon in the absence of PhoR. The sensor CreC, formerly called PhoM, phosphorylates PhoB in response to some (unknown) catabolite, while acetyl phosphate may directly phosphorylate PhoB. Cross regulation of the PHO regulon by CreC and acetyl phosphate may be examples of underlying control mechanisms important for the general (global) control of cell growth and metabolism. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transforming Cooling Optimization for Green Data Center via Deep Reinforcement Learning

Data center (DC) plays an important role to support services, such as e-commerce and cloud computing. The resulting energy consumption from this growing market has drawn significant attention, and noticeably almost half of the energy cost is used to cool the DC to a particular temperature. It is thus an critical operational challenge to curb the cooling energy cost without sacrificing the thermal safety of a DC. The existing solutions typically follow a two-step approach, in which the system is first modeled based on expert knowledge and, thus, the operational actions are determined with heuristics and/or best practices. These approaches are often hard to generalize and might result in suboptimal performances due to intrinsic model errors for large-scale systems. In this paper, we propose optimizing the DC cooling control via the emerging deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework. Compared to the existing approaches, our solution lends itself an end-to-end cooling control algorithm (CCA) via an off-policy offline version of the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm, in which an evaluation network is trained to predict the DC energy cost along with resulting cooling effects, and a policy network is trained to gauge optimized control settings. Moreover, we introduce a de-underestimation (DUE) validation mechanism for the critic network to reduce the potential underestimation of the risk caused by neural approximation. Our proposed algorithm is evaluated on an EnergyPlus simulation platform and on a real data trace collected from the National Super Computing Centre (NSCC) of Singapore. The resulting numerical results show that the proposed CCA can achieve up to 11% cooling cost reduction on the simulation platform compared with a manually configured baseline control algorithm. In the trace-based study of conservative nature, the proposed algorithm can achieve about 15% cooling energy savings on the NSCC data trace. Our pioneering approach can shed new light on the application of DRL to optimize and automate DC operations and management, potentially revolutionizing digital infrastructure management with intelligence.
Membrane‐Assisted Extractive Butanol Fermentation

Product inhibition is one of the inherent problems associated with the acetonebutanol fermentation. In situ extractive fermentation is a logical approach toward alleviating this problem. The conventional extractive fermentation, however, poses problems of a different nature: (1) the extractant can be toxic to the microorganisms; (2) an appreciable amount of the extractant can be lost as microemulsified droplets during the extraction process; and (3) the unrecovered fraction of the products left in the broth after extraction-and therefore, the loss of the products due to incomplete separation-is significant. The latter two factors can especially be detrimental to the process economics. Conceptually, though, the first two problems can be solved if a proper membrane is inserted between the broth and the extractant. One of the requirements for the membrane is that it be permeable to the products, but not permeable to the extractant. This investigation was undertaken to test the potential benefits of utilizing membrane-comparted extraction in the acetone-butanol fermentation. Therefore, the experimental scheme in this work included acetone-butanol fermentation and in situ product separation by membrane-assisted extraction. In order to deal with the third problem listed above, a fed-batch operation was incorporated into the present scheme. The purpose of a fed-batch operation was to enhance the separation efficiency by minimizing the unrecovered fraction of the products in the broth.
Age and marital status at first birth and the pace of subsequent fertility

Taking care to minimize the truncation bias inherent in cross-sectional data and controlling for other variables, this paper demonstrates the strong effects of both age and marital status at first birth on the pace of subsequent fertility. These effects are particularly strong in the interval immediately following the first birth but persist even into the fourth interval. Important differences are found with respect to the experience of rapid fertility, rather than in the mean lengths of intervals. These results add to the growing attention to the social dimensions of age as a variable in fertility processes.
mtDNA sequences suggest a recent evolutionary divergence for Beringian and northern North American populations.

Conventional descriptions of the pattern and process of human entry into the New World from Asia are incomplete and controversial. In order to gain an evolutionary insight into this process, we have sequenced the control region of mtDNA in samples of contemporary tribal populations of eastern Siberia, Alaska, and Greenland and have compared them with those of Amerind speakers of the Pacific Northwest and with those of the Altai of central Siberia. Specifically, we have analyzed sequence diversity in 33 mitochondrial lineages identified in 90 individuals belonging to five Circumpolar populations of Beringia, North America, and Greenland: Chukchi from Siberia, Inupiaq Eskimos and Athapaskans from Alaska, Eskimos from West Greenland, and Haida from Canada. Hereafter, we refer to these five populations as "Circumarctic peoples. " These data were then compared with the sequence diversity in 47 mitochondrial lineages identified in a sample of 145 individuals from three Amerind-speaking tribes (Bella Coola, Nuu-Chah-Nulth, and Yakima) of the Pacific Northwest, plus 16 mitochondrial lineages identified in a sample of 17 Altai from central Siberia. Sequence diversity within and among Circumarctic populations is considerably less than the sequence diversity observed within and among the three Amerind tribes. The similarity of sequences found among the geographically dispersed Circumarctic groups, plus the small values of mean pairwise sequence differences within Circumarctic populations, suggest a recent and rapid evolutionary radiation of these populations. In addition, Circumarctic populations lack the 9-bp deletion which has been used to trace various migrations out of Asia, while populations of southeastern Siberia possess this deletion. On the basis of these observations, while the evolutionary affinities of Native Americans extend west to the Circumarctic populations of eastern Siberia, they do not include the Altai of central Siberia.
Dynamic contour tonometry in comparison to intracameral IOP measurements.

PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal curvature, astigmatism, axial length (AL), and age on measurements with the Pascal Dynamic Contour Tonometer (DCT). METHODS In a prospective clinical trial 75 eyes of 75 patients undergoing phacoemulsification were examined. Before phacoemulsification, the anterior chamber was cannulated at the temporal corneal limbus. In a closed system the IOP was directly set to 15, 20, or 35 mm Hg with a manometric water column. IOP measurements taken by DCT were compared to intracameral measurements with a precision reference pressure sensor. RESULTS Measurements from 60 patients were suitable for statistical analysis. At IOP of 15 mm Hg, the mean difference between IOP measured by DCT and intracameral IOP was -0.02 +/- 1.32 mm Hg; at 20 mm Hg it was -0.2 +/- 1.44 mm Hg and at 35 mm Hg, -0.84 +/- 1.90 mm Hg. The concordance coefficient according to Lin was 0.9763, showing good agreement between DCT- and intracamerally measured IOP. There was a statistically significant correlation between the difference in IOP measured by DCT minus intracameral IOP and CCT (P = 0.0291, R2 = 0.00012). All other parameters had no statistically significant effect on the difference between DCT and intracameral IOP (corneal curvature, P = 0.6094, R2 = 0.00367; age, P = 0.9198, R2 = 0.000003; astigmatism, P = 0.1564, R2 = 0.08497; and axial length, P = 0.9484, R2 = 0.00008). CONCLUSIONS Measurements with the DCT showed good concordance with intracameral IOP. CCT exerted a statistically significant but clinically irrelevant effect on measurements with the DCT.
Respiratory and cardiac motion correction for cardiac PET based on 2D-MRI image navigator and novel dynamic reconstruction technique

In this work we proposed a new respiratory and cardiac motion correction method for cardiac PET/MR imaging by using 2D-MRI image navigator technique and novel dynamic MRI reconstruction method. In the PET/MR acquisition, ECG trigger is used. After trigger starts, 2D-MRI image navigator and golden angle cardiac imaging sequence are applied. After acquisition, cardiac MRI data and PET data are binned to different motion phases according to 2D-MRI image navigator and ECG trigger. We use the high down sampling acquisition and novel reconstruction method based on Low-rank and Sparsity decomposition to reduce MRI acquisition time and improve the time resolution. Finally, we estimate the motion field with both cardiac and respiratory motion based on the reconstructed MRI image series. And PET images are reconstructed by OSEM algorithm based on the binned data. After reconstruction, the PET images are deformed to the same motion phase by accurate motion field from MRI. Finally, sum up all the deformed images to get corrected PET image. PET data is simulated via analytical projection method using segmented MRI images. The results of the proposed method are compared to methods with only respiratory and without motion correction. The simulation shows that the proposed method could improve the image quality and the accuracy of lesion estimation especially on the ventricular wall with cardiac motion. In conclusion, the simulation result demonstrated the feasibility and improvement of the new method.
GSM phone signal does not produce subjective symptoms

The influence of pulsed radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields of digital GSM mobile phones (902 MHz, 217 Hz pulse modulation) on subjective symptoms or sensations in healthy subjects were studied in two single‐blind experiments. The duration of the RF exposure was about 60 min in Experiment 1 and 30 min in Experiment 2. Each subject rated symptoms or sensations in the beginning of the experimental session and at the end of both the exposure and the nonexposure conditions. The symptoms rated were headache, dizziness, fatigue, itching or tingling of the skin, redness on the skin, and sensations of warmth on the skin. The results did not reveal any differences between exposure and non‐exposure conditions, suggesting that a 30–60 min exposure to this RF field does not produce subjective symptoms in humans. Bioelectromagnetics 22:212–215, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genomics approaches to study musical aptitude

Although music and other forms of art can develop in diverse directions, they are linked to the genetic profiles of populations. Hearing music is a strong environmental trigger that serves as an excellent model to study the crosstalk between genes and the environment. We propose that the ability to enjoy and practice music requires musical aptitude, which is a common and innate trait facilitating the enjoyment and practice of music. The innate drive for music can only have arisen by exposure to music, and it develops with motivation and training in musically rich environments. Recent genomic approaches have shown that the genes responsible for inner ear development, auditory pathways and neurocognitive processes may underlay musical aptitude. It is expected that genomic approaches can be applied to musical traits and will reveal new biological mechanisms that affect human evolution, brain function, and civilisation.
Phase II study on pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer not responding to prior palliative chemotherapy.

PURPOSE This study was to determine the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer who failed to respond to first and (or) second line chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Metastatic gastric cancer patients who failed first and (or) second line chemotherapy, were enrolled. All patients were recruited from Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, and were treated with pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 (intravenous; on day 1), and a platinum (or irinotecan) every 3 weeks until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Evaluation on efficacy was conducted after two cycles of chemotherapy using the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicity was recorded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. RESULTS From Jun 2011 to May 2013, 23 patients were enrolled. All eligible 23 patients completed at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy with pemetrexed based chemotherapy, and were evaluable. Their median age was 55 years (range 40 to 78 years). Seventeen patients were male and 6 female. Three patients (13%) achieved partial response, five patients (22%) stable, 15 patients (65%) with disease progression, and none with complete response. Grade 2 neutrophil suppression occurred in 4.3%, grade 3 in 13% of patients, and no grade 4 was reported. Thrombocytopenia was encountered as follows: 4.3% grade 2, 4.3% grade 3 and 4.3% grade 4. Incidence of anemia was 34.8% in grade 2, 8.7% grade 3 and 0% grade 4. Only 4.3% of patients required packed red blood cell infusion. Elevated transaminase were 4.3% in grade 2 and 0% in grade 3 or 4. Other toxicity included oral mucositis. CONCLUSIONS Pemetrexed based chemotherapy is mildly effective in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer with tolerable toxicity.
Modelling electroluminescence in insulating polymers under sinusoidal stress: Effect of applied voltage, frequency and offset

Recently, a charge transport model allowing the description of electroluminescence in polyethylene films under AC stress has been developed. The fluid model incorporates bipolar charge injection/extraction, transport and recombination. The model has been very successful in explaining the time-dependence of EL under 50 Hz sinusoidal, triangular and square voltage waveforms. In this work we discuss experimental measurements and simulations using different frequencies of the sinusoidal stress, voltage amplitude and offset.
Breast-feeding and the working mother in Nairobi

Abstract Objective: In the fast growing city of Nairobi, women often combine the roles of mother and worker in trying to achieve better standards of living. The objective of this study was to document the effect of returning to work on breast-feeding by mothers in Kenya. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: Outpatient clinics of two major hospitals in Nairobi, one government hospital in an economically deprived area and one high-fee private hospital. Subjects: Four hundred and forty-four working mothers from low and higher socio-economic areas in Nairobi. All working mothers with infants aged 4 to 12 months attending during the survey period were invited to participate. Results: The prevalence of breast-feeding at the time of interview was found to be 94.1%. The lower socio-economic group exhibited a higher prevalence of breast-feeding (99%), 10% greater than the higher socio-economic group. The mean number of hours the mothers were away from home due to work was 46.2 hours each week. The majority (54.4%) of the mothers employed a ‘house-girl’ to care for their infant while they were at work, while 28.4% were able to take their infants to work. Most of the breast-feeding mothers (95%) breast-fed their infants at least three times a day and only 23 mothers reported not being able to breast-feed their infants during the day. The lower socio-economic group had a mean of 5.09 breast-feeding times per day while the higher socio-economic group had a mean of 3 times a day. In a logistic regression analysis the mode of work (fixed working hours vs. shift working hours) was associated with exclusive breast-feeding at one month (odds ratio (OR) = 0.45) and two months (OR = 0.39). Conclusion: In Western countries ‘return to work’ is often cited as the reason that breast-feeding is discontinued prematurely. In this study we have shown how mothers in Kenya are able to successfully continue breast-feeding after they have returned to work, often for very long hours.
Is kidney size a useful predictor of renal function in the elderly?

UNLABELLED Despite its widespread use, the diagnostic yield of ultrasonography to detect early stages of reduced renal function in the elderly remains doubtful. METHOD Sixty-two patients (age: 74.8 +/- 6.7 years, 30 females) attending a geriatric ward were examined. Non-insulin-dependent diabetes was present in 28 patients and 32 were hypertensive. Exclusion criteria were previously known renal failure, an elevated serum creatinine above 2 mg/dl at admission or apparent cognitive impairment. Inulin clearance (C(IN)), Cockcroft estimation and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were determined. Renal parenchymal volume, renal volume and mean renal length were calculated using data obtained by ultrasonography. RESULTS A multiple regression analysis identified C(IN) as the main determining factor on renal parenchymal volume (beta = 0.360; p = 0.004). Body height showed additional influence (beta = 0.295; p = 0.018), but age, gender, diabetes, UAER and hypertension did not. Cockcroft estimation, ultrasonographic markers of renal size and further confounding variables were evaluated in a subsequent multiple regression analysis. Cockcroft estimation explained the major part of the variance (beta = 0.783; p < 0.001) and the occurrence of diabetes showed a borderline additional effect. But there was no supplementary influence of any ultrasonographic parameter. In 11 patients, C(IN) was reduced to < or = 60 ml/min. ROC analysis revealed poor diagnostic efficacy of all ultrasonographic parameters (AUC < 0.7336) compared to Cockcroft estimation (AUC = 0.8718). CONCLUSION Although a linear relation between C(IN) and renal parenchymal volume could be shown, ultrasonography cannot replace or complement Cockcroft estimation in order to detect early reduced renal function in the elderly. Nevertheless, reduced renal parenchymal volume may occur prior to elevation of serum creatinine in the elderly and should be noted carefully on routine ultrasonographic examinations.
Real time inverse kinematics for general 6R manipulators

The authors present a real-time algorithm for the inverse kinematics of general 6R robot manipulators. The algorithm involves symbolic preprocessing, matrix computation and a variety of numerical techniques. The numerical accuracy of these operations is well understood and for most cases it is possible to compute accurate solutions using 64-b IEEE floating point arithmetic available on most workstations. The average running time of the algorithm, for most cases, is 11 ms on an IBM RS/6000 workstation. <<ETX>>
Lipid raft‐mediated Fas/CD95 apoptotic signaling in leukemic cells and normal leukocytes and therapeutic implications

Plasma membrane is now recognized to contain tightly packed cholesterol/sphingolipid‐rich domains, known as lipid or membrane rafts, which are more ordered than the surrounding lipid bilayer. Lipid rafts are crucial for the compartmentalization of signaling processes in the membrane, mostly involved in cell survival and immune response. However, in the last 15 years, a large body of evidence has also identified raft platforms as scaffolds for the recruitment and clustering of death receptor Fas/CD95 and downstream signaling molecules, leading to the concept of death‐promoting lipid rafts. This raft‐Fas/CD95 coclustering was first described at the early 2000s as the underlying mechanism for the proapoptotic action of the alkylphospholipid analog edelfosine in leukemic cells, hence facilitating protein–protein interactions and conveying apoptotic signals independently of Fas/CD95 ligand. Edelfosine induces apoptosis in hematologic cancer cells and activated T‐lymphocytes. Fas/CD95 raft coclustering is also promoted by Fas/CD95 ligand, agonistic Fas/CD95 antibodies, and additional antitumor drugs. Thus, death receptor recruitment in rafts is a physiologic process leading to cell demise that can be pharmacologically modulated. This redistribution and local accumulation of apoptotic molecules in membrane rafts, which are usually accompanied by displacement of survival signaling molecules, highlight how alterations in the apoptosis/survival signaling balance in specialized membrane regions modulate cell fate. Membrane rafts might also modulate apoptotic and nonapoptotic death receptor signaling. Here, we discuss the role of lipid rafts in Fas/CD95‐mediated apoptotic cell signaling in hematologic cancer cells and normal leukocytes, with a special emphasis on their involvement as putative therapeutic targets in cancer and autoimmune diseases.