Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF DEVELOPMENT: GENETIC CORRELATIONS AMONG AGE‐SPECIFIC TRAIT VALUES AND THE EVOLUTION OF ONTOGENY

It has recently been re-emphasized, by Gould (1977) and others, that evolution of adult forms takes place through the evolution of ontogenies. Direct selection at any age results in a correlated response at all other life history stages. This selection alters growth curves, or causes the evolution of ontogeny. Lande (1982) has presented a quantitative genetic model for the evolution of ontogenetically varying traits which clearly defines the parameters required for an analysis of ontogeny and evolution: (1) the genetic variance/covariance matrix; (2) the phentoypic variance/ covariance matrix; and (3) the vector of selection differentials. Genetic covariances or correlations among age-specific trait values quantitatively describe the genetic link between expressions of the same trait at different points in ontogeny. These genetic links between age-specific trait values are the result of pleiotropy, in this case the effects of one gene on the phenotype as expressed at more than one age, and linkage disequilibrium. The general effects of genetic variation on growth curves may be summarized using two parameters, curve height and curve shape (see Fig. 1). The average height of the curve can be defined as the average value of a trait over the ontogenetic period under consideration or the area under the growth curve divided by the length of the growth period. When there are only height differences between two growthi curves, the two curves will be parallel. Differences in curve shape, or the rate of growth at all ages, can be quantified independent of height, by standardizing the curves so that they have the same average height, or enclose the same area, and then calculating the absolute value of the area remaining between curves and dividing by the length of the growth period (see Fig. 1). This curve shape measure does not specify particular shapes but rather gives a general measure of differences in growth rates to compare with the independent measure of curve height differences. Specific curve shapes are presented without summarization. When heritabilities and phenotypic variances are the same at all ages, one can discern the independent effects of genetic correlations among age-specific trait values on ontogenetic variation and evolution. For example, in Figure 2 the ancestral ontogeny is displayed as a horizontal line (A) for purposes of illustration. Selection on the adult, or any other age, when the genetic correlations between ages are all 1.000, results in the descendant ontogeny, curve B. Note that the average height of the curve has changed but not its shape. When all the genetic correlations are one, the spectral decomposition of the age-specific traits correlation matrix includes only one non-zero eigenvalue equal to 'n,' the number of traits represented in the matrix, and an associated isometric eigenvector with loadings of 1/\Vn for each trait. This vector measures variation in growth curve height independent of variation in curve shape. Any deviation of the correlations
The neuronal calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 and SNARE proteins cooperate to dilate fusion pores

All membrane fusion reactions proceed through an initial fusion pore, including calcium-triggered vesicular release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Expansion of this small pore to release cargo molecules is energetically costly and regulated by cells, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that the neuronal/exocytic calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) promotes expansion of fusion pores induced by SNARE proteins, beyond its established role in coupling calcium influx to fusion pore opening. Our results suggest that fusion pore dilation by Syt1 requires interactions with SNAREs, PI(4,5)P2, and calcium. Pore opening was abolished by a mutation of the tandem C2 domain (C2AB) hydrophobic loops of Syt1, suggesting that their calcium-induced insertion into the membrane is required for pore opening. We propose that loop insertion is also required for pore expansion, but through a distinct mechanism. Mathematical modelling suggests that membrane insertion re-orients the C2 domains bound to the SNARE complex, rotating the SNARE complex so as to exert force on the membranes in a mechanical lever action that increases the intermembrane distance. The increased membrane separation provokes pore dilation to offset a bending energy penalty. We conclude that Syt1 assumes a critical role in calcium-dependent fusion pore dilation during neurotransmitter and hormone release. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Membrane fusion is a fundamental biological process, required for development, infection by enveloped viruses, fertilization, intracellular trafficking, and calcium-triggered release of neurotransmitters and hormones when cargo-laden vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane. All membrane fusion reactions proceed through an initial, nanometer-sized fusion pore which can flicker open-closed multiple times before expanding or resealing. Pore expansion is required for efficient cargo release, but underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a combination of single-pore measurements and quantitative modeling, we suggest that a complex between the neuronal calcium sensor Synaptotagmin-1 and the SNARE proteins together act as a calcium-sensitive mechanical lever to force the membranes apart and enlarge the pore.
Associations between genetic variants of the POU1F1 gene and production traits in Saanen goats

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the polymorphisms of the POU1F1 gene and their relationships with milk yield and components, litter size, birth weight, and weaning weight in goats. For this purpose, a total of 108 Saanen goats from two different farms (Bornova and Manisa) were used as animal materials. Polymorphisms at the exon 6 and the 3′ flanking region of the POU1F1 gene were determined by using PCR-RFLP with PstI and AluI restriction enzymes and DNA sequencing analyses. Two alleles and three genotypes were identified by AluI or PstI digestions of the POU1F1 gene. The genotypes frequencies of TT, TC, and CC were 64.8 %, 31.5 % and 3.7 % for the PstI locus; 54.6 %, 31.5 % and 13.9 % for the AluI locus, respectively. T allele frequencies (0.56 and 0.88 for the AluI locus, 0.80 and 0.81 for the PstI locus, respectively) were predominant in both loci at the Bornova and Manisa farms. In terms of POU1F1-AluI and POU1F1-PstI loci, two populations were found to be in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. In the POU1F1-AluI locus, significant associations were found between genotypes and lactation milk yield and litter size. Similarly, a significant relationship between genotypes and birth weight in the POU1F1-PstI locus (p<0.05) was determined. The TC and CC genotypes were observed to be higher than the TT genotype for lactation milk yield and litter size at the POU1F1-AluI locus. Birth weight was found to be higher in animals that have the CC genotype at the POU1F1-PstI locus. In conclusion, the POU1F1 gene can be used as a molecular marker for economic features like reproduction, growth, milk content and yield in Saanen goats.
Mechanism of Group IVA Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Activation by Phosphorylation*

Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has been shown to play a critical role in the agonist-induced release of arachidonic acid. To understand the mechanism by which phosphorylation of Ser505 and Ser727 activates cPLA2, we systematically analyzed the effects of S505A, S505E, S727A, S727E, S505A/S727A, S505A/S727E, and S505E/S727E mutations on its enzyme activity and membrane affinity. In vitro membrane binding measurements showed that S505A has lower affinity than the wild type or S505E for phosphatidylcholine membranes, which is exclusively due to faster desorption of the membrane-bound S505A. In contrast, neither S727A nor S727E mutation had a significant effect on the phosphatidylcholine vesicle binding affinity of cPLA2. The difference in in vitro membrane affinity between wild type (or S505E) and S505A increased with the decrease in Ca2+ concentration, reaching >60-fold at 2.5 μm Ca2+. When HEK293 cells transfected with cPLA2 and mutants were stimulated with ionomycin, the wild type and S505E translocated to the perinuclear region and caused the arachidonic acid release at 0.4 μm Ca2+, whereas S505A showed no membrane translocation and little activity to release arachidonic acid. Further mutational analysis of hydrophobic residues in the active site rim (Ile399, Leu400, and Leu552) indicate that a main role of the Ser505 phosphorylation is to promote membrane penetration of these residues, presumably by inducing a conformational change of the protein. These enhanced hydrophobic interactions allow the sustained membrane interaction of cPLA2 in response to transient calcium increases. On the basis of these results, we propose a mechanism for cPLA2 activation by calcium and phosphorylation.
Intertask comparison of frontal plane knee position and moment in female athletes during three distinct movement tasks

Gender differences in dynamic frontal plane knee posture during functional tasks contribute to increased anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in female athletes. Many tasks have been used to assess frontal plane movement patterns, but few studies compare patterns across tasks or evaluate the influence of static alignment on dynamic postures. The purpose of our study was to (1) establish the intertask differences in frontal plane knee posture during step down, single leg land, and drop vertical jump tasks; (2) determine intra‐athlete correlations in knee posture across tasks; and (3) investigate the intra‐athlete correlations between frontal plane knee posture while standing and during movement. Thirty‐seven female athletes from high demand sports participated in a motion analysis assessment. Substantial differences in the frontal plane knee angles and moments occurred between tasks. However, there were strong relationships in frontal plane knee angles (r=0.72–0.76) and moderate to good relationships in knee moments across tasks (r=0.426–0.627). No relationship existed between the standing and dynamic knee abduction angles (r<0.06). Female athletes who demonstrate at‐risk knee position and loading are likely to do so across tasks. The lack of relationship between static and dynamic frontal plane knee posture suggests that neuromuscular mechanisms contribute to the consistency in movement patterns across tasks.
EXTRA-ARTICULAR TRANSVERSE FRACTURES OF THE BASE OF THE DISTAL PHALANX (SEYMOUR’S FRACTURE) IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS

A series of 25 extra-articular transverse fractures of the base of the distal phalanx (Seymour’s fracture) in children, adolescents and adults are presented. Prior to closure of the distal phalangeal epiphysis, the fracture line is usually entirely through the metaphyses, 1 to 2 mm distal to the growth plate. In adults, the fracture line is just distal to the insertion of the extensor tendon. Eighteen of these fractures were treated by closed reduction and splinting and one of these developed an infection and three had mild residual flexion deformities of the finger. Five fractures were treated by K-wire fixation and all healed without complications. Two adult patients presented 4 to 5 weeks after injury with malunion, and of these one underwent refracturing and K-wire fixation with an excellent result.
Increasingly stable or more stressful? Children and union dissolution across four decades Evidence from Norway

This study describes the association between having children and the risk of union disruption, and whether this association has changed over time. We expand upon previous research by including data on cohabiting as well as married couples, and by studying change over four decades. We use data from the Norwegian Gender and Generation Study (2007) (N = 14 892). Combining self-reported union histories with register data on fertility histories, we construct a data set of person months for all individuals at risk of union dissolution in the period 1970-2007. Results from the event history analysis confirm that couples with children have lower union dissolution risk. Union dissolution risk is lowest when children are young, and also varies by number of children. There is little change over historical time in the correlation between having children and the risk of union dissolution. However, the monthly risk of dissolving unions increases substantially over time among childless as well as among parental couples.
The Determinants of the Attractiveness of National Higher Education System

In this paper we revealed the factors determining the attractiveness of national higher education systems and then estimated their influence on the foreign students’ flows between 129 countries for period 1998-2005. We found that among the education policy-making determinants “Number of national higher educational institutions in the Academic Ranking of World Universities” in host country and “R&D expenditure” in source and host countries the most impact foreign students’ flows. The presences of “Common border”, “Common language”, “Colonial ties in the past” seem to be important predictors of the expanding foreign students’ flows. “Distance” negatively influences on the foreign students’ mobility. As well our results indicate that there is no presence of close relationship between previous migration flows and foreign students’ flows.
Spiking neural network learning algorithms: Using learning rates adaptation of gradient and momentum steps

In this paper we propose two learning algorithms for a spiking neural network which encodes information in the timing of spike trains. These algorithms are based on dynamic self adaptation for adapting the gradient learning rates (DS-η) and dynamic self adaptation for adapting the gradient learning rates and momentum (DS-ηα) algorithms. In our proposed algorithm, the optimum value for η was obtained from a parabolic function of error in both of these two algorithms and optimum value for α was obtained from our proposed adaptive algorithm. We performed a selection of benchmark problems to investigate the efficiency of our proposed algorithm. Compared to previously proposed algorithms such as SpikeProp and DS-ηα our algorithms, mod-DS-η and mod-DS-ηα, are faster than other methods in learning of the spiking neural networks.
Open Source Test Bed and Test Case Development for Power System Research

v LIST OF TABLES . viii LIST OF FIGURES . ix CHAPTER 1: AN 8-ZONE TEST SYSTEM BASED ON ISO NEW ENGLAND DATA: DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION . 1 Abstract . 1 1.
The PGH-Synthase System and Isozyme-selective Inhibition

Virtually all human cell types can express both cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 under appropriate circumstances. Both isoforms can subserve physiologic and pathophysiologic roles when coupled with the appropriate stimuli and downstream prostaglandin (PG)H2-isomerases and prostanoid receptors. Although the ratio of maximal biosynthetic capacity of human platelets to the basal rate of production of thromboxane A2 is ∼5000, this ratio is much lower in the case of PGI2, thus dictating quite different requirements for the extent and duration of COX inhibition in human platelets and vascular endothelial cells to detect functional and clinical effects. The development of low-dose aspirin as an antiplatelet agent has been instrumental in characterizing the role of platelet COX-1 in atherothrombosis. Similarly, though quite unexpectedly, the development of coxibs as anti-inflammatory agents has been instrumental in elucidating the role of endothelial COX-2 in vascular occlusion. Because of differential requirements for the inhibition of thromboxane A2 versus PGI2 biosynthesis in vivo, most traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs tend to mimic the effects of coxibs, rather than aspirin, on prostanoid-dependent cardiovascular homeostasis.
Pedestrian Head Impact Conditions Depending on the Vehicle Front Shape and Its Construction--Full Model Simulation

For the evaluation of pedestrian protection, the European Enhanced Vehicle-Safety Committee Working Group 17 report is now commonly used. In the evaluation of head injuries, the report takes into account only the hood area of the vehicle. But recent pedestrian accident data has shown the injury source for head injury changing to the windshield and A-pillar from the hood. The head contact points are considered to fall on a parallel to the front shape of the vehicle along the lateral direction, but the rigidity of the outer side construction is different from the center area. The purpose of this study is to consider the reason for the change in injury source for recent vehicle models. The head contact points and contact conditions, speed and angle, are thought to be influenced not only by the vehicle's geometry, but also its construction (rigidity). In this study, vehicle-pedestrian impact simulations were calculated with a finite element model for several hitting positions, including the outer side areas. Full dummy sled tests were conducted to confirm the simulation results. These results show that, for impacts at the outer sides of the vehicle, the head contact points are more rearward than at the vehicle center. In addition, the speed and angle of the head contact were found to be influenced by the pedestrian height.
Analysis of subbrow upper blepharoplasty by measuring the lid-to-brow distance

As Korea has developed into an aging society with evolving socio­ economic standards, upper blepharoplasty has become one of the most popular rejuvenation procedures. Conventional upper bleph­ aroplasty through a supratarsal incision has been widely accepted, and involves excision of redundant skin and muscle with or with­ out creation of an eyelid fold. However, the drawbacks of this technique, including insufficient removal of redundant lateral skin, a scar beyond the lateral canthus, and an unnatural postoperative appearance, have led to plastic sur­ geons to avoid conventional upper blepharoplasty [1]. Moreover, since Asians tend to have higher eyebrows than Caucasians and more pretarsal and suborbicularis fat, the drawbacks of the conven­ tional procedure have become increasingly apparent [2,3]. The infrabrow excision blepharoplasty technique was used by many Korean surgeons even before it was first reported. This tech­ nique includes elliptical excision of the infrabrow skin and subcu­ taneous tissue with or without the orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) to alleviate lid redundancy [4]. However, only a few reports have described suture fixation of the OOM in the flap inferior to the su­ praorbital rim [5]. Woo Ju Kim, Han Koo Kim, Tae Hui Bae, Woo Seob Kim
NFAR-1 and -2 modulate translation and are required for efficient host defense

We report here that the alternatively spliced nuclear factors associated with double-stranded RNA, NFAR-1 (90 kDa) and -2 (110 kDa), are involved in retaining cellular transcripts in intranuclear foci and can regulate the export of mRNA to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, the NFAR proteins were found to remain associated with exported ribonucleoprotein complexes. Loss of NFAR function, which was embryonic-lethal, caused an increase in protein synthesis rates, an effect augmented by the presence of the mRNA export factors TAP, p15, or Rae1. Significantly, NFAR depletion in normal murine fibroblasts rendered these cells dramatically susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus replication. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the NFARs exert influence on mRNA trafficking and the modulation of translation rates and may constitute an innate immune translational surveillance mechanism important in host defense countermeasures against virus infection.
Extreme prematurity in the UK and Denmark: population differences in viability

Background: Previous studies comparing different models of neonatal intensive care have generally not been population based. The objective of this study was to compare the perinatal services of two total populations. Methods: Observational study based on two geographically defined populations: the whole of Demark (some centralisation of neonatal intensive care but most delivered locally by small perinatal centres—48 in total) and the Trent Health Region of the UK (no formal centralisation however deliveries almost all focussed on 16 major hospitals with > 90% of the intensive care provided by 13 hospitals). Information was recorded about the course of every liveborn infant < 28 weeks gestation and or < 1000g birth weight and ≥ 21 weeks gestation in 1994 and 1995. Results: Despite having a smaller population the number of liveborn children meeting the study criteria was significantly higher in Trent (Demark 461 (3.3 per 1000 births, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0 to 3.6); Trent 572 (4.9 per 1000 births, 95% CI 4.5 to 5.3)). In Denmark 91.1% of these infants were admitted for intensive care and 85.5% in Trent. Despite significantly more Trent infants being exposed to antenatal steroids their outcome was worse (median Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score 7 v 4; proportion receiving ventilation 87.6% v 40.0% ; survival to discharge (uncorrected for disease severity) 42.3% v 35.0%). Conclusion: The population characteristics of Trent seemed to produce a higher prematurity rate compared to Denmark. These infants as a group appeared sicker and, despite more intensive care delivered by a more specialised service, outcomes were worse.
Nightshift work job exposure matrices and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels among healthy Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE Six-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) is a primary urinary metabolite of melatonin. We examined the association between aMT6s levels and shift work estimated by a job exposure matrix (JEM) among healthy participants of the Shanghai Women's Health Study. METHODS Creatinine-adjusted aMT6s levels were measured in the urine samples of 300 women and related to JEM shift work categories. RESULTS Adjusted geometric means of aMT6s levels from urine samples collected before 08:00 hours were lower among persons holding nighttime shift work jobs. The adjusted aMT6s levels (ng/mg creatinine) were 8.36 [95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 4.47-15.6], 6.37 (95% CI 3.53-11.5), 6.20 (95% CI 3.33-11.5), 3.81 (95% CI 2.02-7.19), and 3.70 (95% CI 1.92-7.11) from the lowest (never held a shift work job) to the highest (current job likely involved all-night shift work) shift work JEM scores (P=0.05). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that nightshift work JEM scores were significantly and inversely associated with aMT6s levels in early morning spot urine samples collected between 07:00-08:00 hours.