Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The −521 C/T variant in the dopamine‐4‐receptor gene (DRD4) is associated with skiing and snowboarding behavior

Sensation seeking is the tendency to seek out new and thrilling experiences and to take risks for the sake of such experiences. A single‐nucleotide polymorphism, −521 C/T (rs1800955) in the promoter region of the dopamine‐4‐receptor gene (DRD4), is associated with approach‐related traits including novelty seeking and extraversion, in some, but not all studies. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted on the genetics of risk‐taking behavior in sports. Using a joint‐analysis approach, we measured sensation seeking in two cohorts of experienced male and female skiers and snowboarders (n = 503) using a sports‐specific tool developed for this study, the Contextual Sensation Seeking Questionnaire for Skiing and Snowboarding (CSSQ‐S), and a more general trait measure, the Zuckerman–Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire impulsive sensation‐seeking subscale. We detected, and then replicated a significant association between the DRD4 −521CC genotype and sports‐specific sensation seeking as measured using the CSSQ‐S (P < 0.001). These data suggest that the DRD4 −521 C/T polymorphism contributes to a “risk‐taking phenotype” in skiers and snowboarders, but the variant was not associated with impulsive sensation seeking (P = 0.9).
Diversity of biocrust-forming cyanobacteria in a semiarid gypsiferous site from Central Spain

Cyanobacteria are an important constituent of biocrusts, communities dominated by lichens, mosses and associated microorganisms, which are prevalent in drylands worldwide and that largely determine their functioning. Despite their importance, there are large gaps in our knowledge of cyanobacteria associated to biocrusts, particularly in areas such as the Mediterranean Basin. We studied the diversity of these cyanobacteria in a gypsiferous grassland from Central Spain using both morphological identification after cultivation and genetic analyses with the 16S rRNA gene. Eight different morphotypes were observed, most of them corresponding to filamentous and one of them to unicellular cyanobacteria. We found cyanobacterial genera typical of biocrust communities, such as Microcoleus, Schizothrix or Tolypothrix, and N-fixing cyanobacteria as Scytonema or Nostoc. Genetic information allowed us to identify cultures belonging to recently described genera such as Roholtiella, Nodosilinea and Mojavia. In this study we describe two new phylotypes of Microcoleus and Scytonema, which are key genera contributing to ecosystem functioning in biocrust-dominated ecosystems worldwide.
Negative impact of systemic catecholamine administration on hepatic blood perfusion after porcine liver transplantation

Catecholamines are often administered during and after liver transplantation (LTx) to support systemic perfusion and to increase organ oxygen supply. Some vasoactive agents can compromise visceral organ perfusion. We followed the hypothesis that the vasculature of transplanted livers presents with a higher sensitivity, which leads to an increased vulnerability for flow derangement after application of epinephrine (Epi) or norepinephrine (NorEpi). Hepatic macroperfusion and microperfusion during systemic Epi or NorEpi infusion were measured by Doppler flow and thermodiffusion probes in porcine native, denervated, and transplanted livers (n = 16 in each group). Epi or NorEpi were infused (n = 8 in each subgroup) in predefined dosages (low dose = 5 μg/kg/minute and high dose = 10 μg/kg/minute) over 240 minutes. Systemic cardiocirculatory parameters were monitored continuously. Hepatic perfusion data were compared between all groups at comparable time points and dosages. In all native, denervated, and transplanted liver groups, Epi and NorEpi induced an inconsistent rise of mean arterial pressure and heart rate shortly after onset of infusion in both dosages compared with baseline. No significant differences of cardiovascular parameters at comparable time points were observed. In native livers, Epi and NorEpi induced only temporary alterations of hepatic macrocirculation and microcirculation, which returned to baseline 2 hours after onset of infusion. No significant alterations of hepatic blood flow were detected after isolated surgical denervation of the liver. By contrast, transplanted livers showed a progressive decline of hepatic macrocirculation (33–75% reduction) and microcirculation (39–58% reduction) during catecholamine infusions in a dose‐dependent fashion. Characteristics of liver blood flow impairment were comparable for both vasoactive agents. In conclusion, pronounced disturbances of hepatic macrocirculation and microcirculation were observed during systemic Epi and NorEpi infusion after LTx compared with native and denervated livers. Microcirculation disturbances after LTx might be explained by impairment of hepatic blood flow regulation caused by an increased sensitivity of hepatic vasculature after ischemia‐reperfusion and by lengthening of vasopressor effects caused by reduced hepatocyte metabolism. Clinicians should be aware of this potentially hazardous effect. Therefore, application of catecholamines after clinical LTx should be indicated carefully. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:174–187.)
Probing the Intergalactic Magnetic Field with the Anisotropy of the Extragalactic Gamma-Ray Background

ABSTRACT The intergalactic magnetic field (IG:YIF) may leave an imprint on the anisotropy prop­erties of the extragalactic gamma-ray background, through its effect on electromag­netic cascades triggered by interactions between very high energy photons and the extragalactic background light. A strong IGMF will deflect secondary particles pro­duced in these cascades and will thus tend to isotropize lower energy cascade photons, thus inducing a modulation in the anisotropy energy spectrum of the gamma-ray back­ground. Here we present a simple, proof-of-concept calculation of the magnitude of this effect and demonstrate that the two extreme cases (zero IGMF and IGMF strong enough to completely isotropize cascade photons) would be separable by ten years of Fermi observations and reasonable model parameters for the gamma-ray background. The anisotropy energy spectrum of the Fermi gamma-ray background could thus be used as a probe of the IGMF strength. Key words: magnetic fields - gamma rays: diffuse background -gamma rays: galaxies galaxies: star formation galaxies: active - BL Lacertae objects: general
Convergence of Distributed Flooding and Its Application for Distributed Bayesian Filtering

Distributed flooding is a fundamental information sharing method to obtaining network consensus via peer-to-peer communication. However, a unified consensus-oriented formulation of the algorithm and its convergence performance are not explicitly available in the literature. To fill this void in this paper, set-theoretic flooding rules are defined by encapsulating the information of interest in finite sets (one set per node), namely distributed set-theoretic information flooding (DSIF). This leads to a new type of consensus called “collecting consensus,” which aims to ensure that all nodes get the same information. Convergence and optimality analyses are provided based on a consistent measure of the degree of consensus of the network. Compared with the prevailing averaging consensus, the proposed DSIF protocol benefits from avoiding repeated use of any information and offering the highest converging efficiency for network consensus while being exposed to increasing node-storage requirements against communication iterations and higher communication load. The protocol has been advocated for distributed nonlinear Bayesian filtering, where each node operates a separate particle filter, and the collecting consensus is sought on the sensor data alone or jointly with intermediate local filter estimates. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the theoretical findings.
Solution Processed Organic Thin-Film Transistors With Hybrid Low/High Voltage Operation

Solution processed bottom-gate bottom-contact organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) being able to sustain hybrid low/high voltage operation were realized with the maximum processing temperature not exceeding 100 °C. In the devices, a channel engineering approach is used to achieve low voltage operation, by inducing phase separation with the blend of 6, 13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-pentacene and polystyrene to form an ultra-thin high crystalline channel. Since the approach doesn't rely on enlarging the gate dielectric capacitance, the low voltage OTFT with a relatively thick dielectric layer was shown to be able to sustain high voltage operation. Moreover, the ultra-small dielectric capacitance can help to reduce the parasitic capacitance in the data and scan lines of the display panel. The device technology is shown to be promising for developing flexible/rollable display systems on plastic substrates, where a relatively high voltage is required for the pixel driving circuits, and a low voltage is preferred for the logic circuits in the peripheral drivers.
What is the ideal crystalloid?

Purpose of reviewWe discuss the importance of the composition of intravenous crystalloid solutions. On the basis of current physiologic principles, evidence from basic science and clinical experiments, recent observational studies, and clinical trials, we conclude that the ‘ideal crystalloid’ depends on clinical context. We make recommendations on solutions that may be used during critical illness, major surgery, and certain clinical situations. Recent findingsThe routine use of solutions with a supraphysiologic chloride content and a low strong ion difference (SID), such as isotonic saline solution, may be associated with adverse outcomes, especially among critically ill patients. On the contrary, solutions with a physiologic chloride content and a ‘balanced’ electrolyte composition (SID closer to plasma) may improve the likelihood of survival. The distribution of different types of crystalloids across traditional ‘body compartments’ is a function of osmolality of the fluid infused relative to plasma, integrity of the glycocalyx, and the hemodynamic/‘volume’ state of the patient. During critical illness, the routine administration of colloids may offer no clinical benefits compared with the use of crystalloids. SummaryCrystalloids, like other types of intravenous fluids, are drugs with important effects on clinical outcomes that may be mediated by osmolality, chloride content, and SID.
Immunopathogenesis of infection in SPF chicks and commercial broiler chickens of a variant infectious bronchitis virus of economic importance.

The immunopathogenesis of an economically important variant of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) has been studied in day-old specific pathogen-free and 6-week-old broiler chickens. Experimental infection caused very mild respiratory disease and no mortalities. Diarrhoea was seen in the broilers. Virus distribution and titre in respiratory, urinary and enteric tissues were assessed. In SPF chicks, maximum virus isolations were from oesophagus, followed by trachea, kidney, lung and rectum. In contrast, in the broilers, maximum isolations were from ileum, followed by caecal tonsils, rectum, bursa of Fabricius and harderian gland, but virus was recovered less frequently from trachea, lung and kidney. In both groups virus replication was demonstrated in the epithelium of the trachea, kidneys and tissues of the lower gut by immunofluorescence. Immunostaining for CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets in trachea, lung and kidney showed earlier and increased recruitment of CD8 cells over CD4 cells. From the kidneys of SPF chicks, no virus was isolated on days 10 or 14 p.i. , but was recovered to high titre on day 21. Immunostaining showed the presence of IgM deposits in the glomeruli on those days when virus could not be recovered. In the broilers, gross muscle changes were produced which were less severe than reported in the field and without histopathological changes or increased creatine kinase levels in serum. There was no evidence of virus-induced immunosuppression. The spread of infection and rate of seroconversion to this IBV were similar to other IBV strains. The possible pathogenesis of the muscle changes is discussed.
Application of Open Source Coding Technologies in the Production of Land Surface Temperature (LST) Maps from Landsat: A PyQGIS Plugin

This paper presents a Python QGIS (PyQGIS) plugin, which has been developed for the purpose of producing Land Surface Temperature (LST) maps from Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 TIRS, Thermal Infrared (TIR) imagery. The plugin has been developed purposely to ease the process of LST extraction from Landsat Visible, Near Infrared (VNIR) and TIR imagery. It has the ability to estimate Land Surface Emissivity (LSE), calculating at-sensor radiance, calculating brightness temperature and performing correction of brightness temperature against atmospheric interference though the Plank function, Mono Window Algorithm (MWA), Single Channel Algorithm (SCA) and the Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE). Using the plugin, LST maps of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada have been produced for Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 TIRS. The study put much more emphasis on the examination of LST derived from the different algorithms of LST extraction from VNIR and TIR satellite imagery. In this study, the best LST values derived from Landsat 5 TM were obtained from the RTE and the Planck function with RMSE of 2.64 °C and 1.58 °C, respectively. While the RTE and the Planck function produced the best results for Landsat 7 ETM+ with RMSE of 3.75 °C and 3.58 °C respectively and for Landsat 8 TIRS LST retrieval, the best results were obtained from the Planck function and the SCA with RMSE of 2.07 °C and 3.06 °C, respectively.
Immunodominant antigen of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 in high-responder patients

This study was undertaken to look for characteristics of the immunodominant antigen(s) of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 that might help explain the high antibody titers in periodontitis patients. Radioimmunoassays (RIA) were performed on sera from 481 patients; sera from the 32 patients with the highest anti-Y4 titers (above 128,000 RIA U/ml) were further analyzed. Y4 antigen was boiled for 45 min or treated with papain, and antibody responses were analyzed by RIA and Western blotting (immunoblotting). In addition, carbohydrate was purified from Y4 and examined by Western blotting. The results indicated that the immunodominant antigen of Y4 in high responders was stable after papain treatment or boiling for 45 min. Papain or boiling eliminated protein bands but a large diffuse band persisted on Western blots. With increasing dilutions of sera, bands on Western blots corresponding to protein antigens disappeared, while the large diffuse band resembling that of carbohydrate persisted. Partially purified Y4 carbohydrate contained the large diffuse band. Double-immunodiffusion analysis indicated that rabbit serotype b-specific antiserum and patient sera recognized the same antigen. When the carbohydrate extract was passed over a lipid A-binding column to remove lipopolysaccharide, the smear corresponding to the immunodominant antigen was still present on Western blots. The immunodominant antigen of Y4 in high-responder individuals appears to be a carbohydrate and is possibly the capsular polysaccharide.
Sur-réaction sur le marché français des actions au règlement mensuel

Les strategies de sur-reaction sont fondees sur la dependance negative des rentabilites. La duree optimale de sur-reaction se situe entre 3 et 4 ans. Une premiere application pratique de ce phenomene consiste a mettre en place une strategie consistant a acheter en achetant les titres ayant eu des performances negatives depuis 3 ou 4 ans et a vendre ceux ayant ete les plus performants et inverser ces positions au bout de trois ans ou quatre ans. La rentabilite de la strategie classique provient des quinze a vingt titres ayant eu de performances passees extremes, la capitalisation et le risque; ces facteurs explicatifs permettent de definir de nouvelles strategies. La rentabilite de ces nouvelles strategies de sur-reaction est superieure a celle de la strategie de sur-reaction classique. La strategie composee, tenant compte a la fois de la performance passee et de la capitalisation sur une duree de detention de 36 mois est elle-meme superieure a la strategie composee avec le risque: 14.44% pour la capitalisation, 13.11% pour le risque contre 7.11% pour la strategie classique de sur-reaction par quintiles et 10% par division en 9 sous-groupes equiprobables. Cette strategie est realisable. En effet, la mise en place d'une telle strategie necessite des achats, mais egalement des ventes a decouvert. Or celles-ci sont possibles sur le marche RM. Les couts de transaction et le biais du aux ecarts de fourchette representent environ 2% en moyenne pour la duree optimale de 36 mois.
Drinking mineral waters: biochemical effects and health implications - the state-of-the-art

Spring mineral water might have the properties favourable to health, which should be assessed by clinical and pharmacological analyses. Efforts have recently been made to approach the study of the validity of spring mineral water curative therapies by advanced biochemical research on both animal models and humans. Owing to the paramount interest and the growing recent use of drinking mineral waters, a need for a rigorous scientific approach arises. The therapeutic action of drinking mineral waters has been demonstrated to have important biochemical implications. However, some adverse events during health resorts cure must be considered and investigated. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art on the biochemical studies related to the effects of drinking mineral water. In the light of the review of the literature on the matter, we conclude that further studies are necessary to avoid any possible implication for public health connected with mineral water misuse.
Age differences and similarities in the improvement of controlled search.

An age-related slowing of performance has been previously reported for tasks that require controlled search, an attention-demanding stimulus comparison procedure. In contrast, older adults have been found to resemble the young in the ability to improve search performance through the development of automatic detection, a comparison procedure that does not depend on attentional control. The present experiments examined the ability of young and older adults to improve controlled search performance under conditions designed to vary the attentional demands of search, but prevent the use of automatic detection. In both a pure memory-search task (Experiment 1) and a hybrid memory-search/visual-search task (Experiment 2), the overall rate of search was slower for the older subjects than for the young. The two age groups were similar, however, in their ability to use a familiar stimulus dimension (e.g., letter/digit) as a means of improving the rate of controlled search. The opportunity for reducing the attentional demands of the search task, rather than the use of automatic detection per se, thus appears to be a critical variable in determining older individuals' level of performance.
Differential pharmacology and function of two 5-HT1 receptors modulating transmitter release in rat cerebellum.

The release of endogenous glutamate (GLU) elicited by depolarization of rat cerebellum synaptosomes was inhibited potently (pEC30 = 9.77) by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). The 5-HT action was antagonized by methiothepin (pA2 = 10.37); ketanserin, methysergide, cinanserin and spiperone were ineffective. Exogenous 5-HT also inhibited the release of [3H]-5-HT from cerebellar synaptosomes (pEC30 = 8.73). Methiothepin, but not ketanserin, methysergide, cinanserin or spiperone counteracted the inhibition (pA2 = 9.28). The receptors involved (presynaptic 5-HT heteroreceptors and autoreceptors) were activated by the 5-HT1 agonist RU 24969 (5-methoxy-3-[1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl]-1H-indole) which showed comparable activity at the two receptor systems. (-)-Propranolol, used as a 5-HT1 antagonist, shifted to the right (pA2 = 8.05) the dose-response curve of 5-HT at the autoreceptors, but was ineffective at the receptors regulating GLU release. On the contrary, the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-di-N-propylamino)tetralin activated the presynaptic heteroreceptors (pEC30 = 7.98), but was ineffective as a 5-HT autoreceptor agonist. The results allow the following major conclusions: 5-HT receptors are located on GLU terminals in rat cerebellum where they may modulate in an inhibitory way the release of GLU; 5-HT autoreceptors possibly involved in a negative feedback regulation of 5-HT release are present on cerebellar 5-HT nerve endings; 5-HT autoreceptors and heteroreceptors can be pharmacologically differentiated and appear to represent subtypes of the 5-HT1 receptor. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Amylase activities of some thermophilic fungi isolated from municipal solid wastes and palm-kernel stack

Thermophilic fungi are fungi species that have a mi ni um temperature of growth at or above 20 C and a maximum temperature of growth extending up to 60 to 62 C. A total of 7 species of thermophilic fungi were isolated an identified from 3 locations viz:two refuse-dump sites and palm-kernel stack in Ibadan, Nigeria. These were Absidia corymbifera, Gilmaniella humicola, Talaromyces helicus , Chaetomium elatum , Chaetomium sp. , Humicola sp. and Rhizomucor pusillus respectively. All the fungi were screened for possible antimicrobial activities usin g different media sources. However, none of the screened organisms showed sign of antim icrobial activity by having no clear zone of inhibition against the test organisms. The test organisms used were Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus . Amylase production was determined in relation to incubation period. The conditions necessary for the production of extracellular amylase enzyme of thermophilic fungi isolated were determin ed using a stationary liquid medium of starch-yeast extract. Amylases were produced by all the thermophilic fungi. The amylase activities of all the fungi used were deter mined at pH 6.9 . The peak activities for the enzyme (amylase) were shown to be at 45 C. The possible use of extracellular enzymes from these fungi for various purposes is di scussed.
Social Identities and State Collapse: A Diachronic Study of Tiwanaku Burials in the Moquegua Valley, Peru

Taking the disintegration of the Tiwanaku state (ca. AD 1000) as an example, this thesis investigates how local communities respond to state collapse. Archaeological research on collapse has largely focused on its economic and political implications. However, states also act as sources of identity and the fragmentation of a state can radically alter how its members and their descendents view themselves. Utilizing the argument that funerals are important moments for the construction, maintenance and negotiation of identities, this study examines changes in funerary practice in the Moquegua Valley, Peru to explore how community members defined themselves as groups and individuals when the Tiwanaku state fragmented. Drawing on biological and cultural data from burials at Chen Chen (a site dating to the height of Tiwanaku state presence in Moquegua) and from Tumilaca la Chimba (a smaller site established after the state disintegrated), this research indicates the complex ways in which collapse phase mourners both maintained a community identity rooted in their Tiwanaku ancestry and also redefined salient intra-community identities.