Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting Using Full-Wave Rectification

This paper presents a new approach to realizing full-wave rectification for electromagnetic energy harvesting. Instead of using one antenna to feed one rectifier circuit, we propose utilizing two antennas connected to one rectifier to form a full-wave rectenna. This balanced configuration allows the received power to be rectified and transferred to a dc load between two antennas, making it very easy to channel the harvested power in rectenna arrays. The proposed concept is demonstrated in the microwave regime using an array of full-wave rectennas optimized for 2.45 GHz. The full-wave rectenna array is compared with an array of half-wave rectennas that occupy the same footprint and are optimized to maximize power absorption at the same frequency. Measurements showed that the proposed full-wave rectifier performed better than the half-wave rectifier and achieved 74% radiation-to-dc conversion efficiency. Here, without loss of generality, the proposed concept is demonstrated using T-matched dipole antennas at a specific frequency, but the concept can be applied to other antenna types and other frequencies.
Next‐generation sequencing in schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders

Schizophrenia is a debilitating lifelong illness that lacks a cure and poses a worldwide public health burden. The disease is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical and genetic presentation that complicates research efforts to identify causative genetic variations. This review examines the potential of current findings in schizophrenia and in other related neuropsychiatric disorders for application in next‐generation technologies, particularly whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and whole‐genome sequencing (WGS). These approaches may lead to the discovery of underlying genetic factors for schizophrenia and may thereby identify and target novel therapeutic targets for this devastating disorder. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Energy intensity, carbon emissions, renewable energy, and economic growth nexus: New insights from Romania

This study empirically examines the relationship between energy intensity, carbon emissions, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth for the case of Romania given the conflicting evidences in the literature between 1990 and 2014 on a quarterly basis. To this end, our study employs an autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model for cointegration, while direction of causality was achieved via the Toda–Yamamoto model. Empirical findings reveal cointegration among the variables under consideration. The causality results show feedback causality between energy intensity and economic growth while uni-directional causality is seen running from renewable energy consumption to economic growth. Thus, this study affirms the energy-led growth hypothesis. Therefore, our study corroborates with the current success story of Romania attaining her energy targets within two decades. However, there is need to sustain this milestone by further diversification of her energy portfolio into other cleaner energy sources.
Tracing the career paths of female Superintendents in Canada

The number of women in educational leadership positions has increasingly grown over the last few decades. However, there still are discrepancies between the number of women in education and the number of women represented in educational leadership, especially in the superintendency. The irony of this research is that professors in educational administration programs continually comment about a strong majority of their students being women. Furthermore, educational certification agencies report that the majority of those licensed for educational leadership positions are women. The purposes of the study was to: (a) provide opportunities for female senior administrators to offer their understanding of the barriers and challenges they have encountered during their career; (b) provide insight into the mentorship experiences and support they have received during their career; and, (c) describe their preferred/espoused leadership styles. Female superintendents identified a number of challenges over the course of their career: balancing career and home life, gender discrimination, various work conflicts and relocation. In contrast, the women in the study acknowledged the mentorship experiences and support that they received during their career from various professional colleagues or groups, educative institutions or programs, and family and friends. Their preferred leadership styles included a strong focus on relationships seconded by management and pedagogical issues. The study culminates by outlining various recommendations for practice, research and theory in chapter five. Female Superintendents 3
The Effect of Cerivastatin Therapy on Vascular Responses to Endothelin Antagonists in Humans

Endothelin blocking drugs have vasodilator effects mediated at least in part via the nitric oxide system. Hypercholesterolaemia is associated with vascular dysfunction manifest as impaired nitric oxide-mediated vasodilatation and arterial stiffness. Treatment with HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has proven mortality benefits in a range of patient populations. Subjects (n = 5) received either placebo or 800 μg cerivastatin for an 8-week period in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Cerivastatin reduced the total plasma cholesterol compared with baseline by 27% (5.4 ± 0.4 mmol/L versus 7.3 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P = 0.04). Selective endothelin-A receptor blockade caused an increase in forearm blood flow (FBF) (18.0 ± 7.2%, P = 0.04). Compared with placebo, cerivastatin therapy caused a trend towards a further increase in FBF (18.0 ± 7.2% versus 52.0 ± 19.0%, P = 0.06). Selective endothelin-B receptor blockade reduced FBF (-11.0 ± 3.9%, P = 0.02) with no difference between placebo and cerivastatin therapy (-11.0 ± 3.9% versus -13.0 ± 3.6%, P = 0.9). Combined endothelin-A/endothelin-B receptor blockade increased FBF (39.8 ± 13.4%, P < 0.01) with no difference between placebo and cerivastatin therapy (39.8 ± 13.4% versus 42.4 ± 19.0%, P = 0.7). There was a trend towards a reduction in the augmentation index between cerivastatin and placebo (6.2 ± 2.7 versus 9.1 ± 2.4, n = 5, P = 0.4) compared with baseline (7.2 ± 1.0). In conclusion, statin therapy may decrease large artery stiffness and increase the vasodilating effects of endothelin-A receptor blockade.
Deficiency in Na,K-ATPase α Isoform Genes Alters Spatial Learning, Motor Activity, and Anxiety in Mice

Several disorders have been associated with mutations in Na,K-ATPase α isoforms (rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism, familial hemiplegic migraine type-2), as well as reduction in Na,K-ATPase content (depression and Alzheimer's disease), thereby raising the issue of whether haploinsufficiency or altered enzymatic function contribute to disease etiology. Three isoforms are expressed in the brain: the α1 isoform is found in many cell types, the α2 isoform is predominantly expressed in astrocytes, and the α3 isoform is exclusively expressed in neurons. Here we show that mice heterozygous for the α2 isoform display increased anxiety-related behavior, reduced locomotor activity, and impaired spatial learning in the Morris water maze. Mice heterozygous for the α3 isoform displayed spatial learning and memory deficits unrelated to differences in cued learning in the Morris maze, increased locomotor activity, an increased locomotor response to methamphetamine, and a 40% reduction in hippocampal NMDA receptor expression. In contrast, heterozygous α1 isoform mice showed increased locomotor response to methamphetamine and increased basal and stimulated corticosterone in plasma. The learning and memory deficits observed in the α2 and α3 heterozygous mice reveal the Na,K-ATPase to be an important factor in the functioning of pathways associated with spatial learning. The neurobehavioral changes seen in heterozygous mice suggest that these mouse models may be useful in future investigations of the associated human CNS disorders.
Degenerated human articular cartilage at autopsy represents preclinical osteoarthritic cartilage: comparison with clinically defined osteoarthritic cartilage.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether macroscopically fibrillated human articular knee cartilage observed at autopsy can be considered an early, preclinical phase of osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS Histological and biochemical characteristics of 3 types of articular knee cartilage were compared: macroscopically degenerated knee cartilage obtained at autopsy (6 donors) from donors without clinical history of OA, normal healthy knee cartilage obtained at autopsy (6 donors), and OA cartilage obtained during joint replacement surgery from patients (n = 6) with clinically defined OA of the knee. From the same donors synovial tissue and synovial fluid were obtained and analyzed for features of inflammation. RESULTS Histological changes of OA were comparable for degenerated and OA cartilage and significantly different from normal cartilage. Content and synthesis of proteoglycans showed intermediate levels for degenerated tissue compared to normal and OA cartilage. Analysis of synovial tissue revealed a low, mild, and moderate degree of inflammation for joints with normal, degenerated, and OA cartilage, respectively. The same sequence was found for metalloproteinase activity in synovial fluid. CONCLUSION In general, all changes observed in OA joints were, to a lesser extent, observed in the joints with degenerated cartilage and were significantly different from joints with normal cartilage. We conclude that cartilage degeneration observed at autopsy can be considered a preclinical phase of OA, suitable for studying the process of cartilage degeneration in OA.
Effect of Brewery Size on the Main Process Parameters and Cradle‐to‐Grave Carbon Footprint of Lager Beer

Several carbon footprint (CF) studies have been so far carried out to assess the environmental impact of the brewing industry. In this study, a series of reliable secondary data for small‐, medium‐, and large‐sized breweries were collected and used to develop a simplified model to estimate the cradle‐to‐grave (C2G) CF of the production of a functional unit consisting of 1 hectoliter (hL) of lager beer packed in 66‐centiliter (glass or polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) bottles. With reference to the typical operating conditions of nine breweries of different size, the C2G CF was found to increase up to 43% or 45% either for glass or PET bottles as the brewery size reduced from 10 × 106 to 500 hL per year. Whatever the brewery size, the use of PET instead of glass bottles lowered the beer CF by 2.7 ± 0.9%. The contribution of the consumer and postconsumer waste disposal phases was found to be significant. Thus, beer makers should pay attention to the recycling ratio of postconsumer packaging in the sales areas. The C2G CF tended to increase linearly with the overall (thermal and electric) energy needed to produce 1 hL of beer, almost independently of the primary packaging material used. Such a simple and easy‐to‐measure quantitative indicator might be more than sufficient not only to estimate qualitatively the environmental burden of beer production, but also to identify which mitigation opportunities might be explored or to prioritize primary data collection efforts to refine CF calculation.
Dietary and Total Calcium Intakes Are Associated with Lower Percentage Total Body and Truncal Fat in Young, Healthy Adults

Objective: To investigate the relationship between different sources of calcium intake (dairy [milk products only], dietary [all dietary sources including dairy], nondairy dietary [all dietary sources excluding dairy], and total [dietary + supplemental]) and fat mass in young adults. Methods: One hundred ninety-seven healthy Caucasian men and women aged 18 to 28 years from southwestern Ontario underwent whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to determine total body fat mass (%FM) and truncal fat (%TF). Calcium intakes, determined using a food frequency questionnaire, were divided into quartiles for each of dairy, dietary, nondairy dietary, and total sources. Physical activity scores were collected on a subset of subjects (n = 167). Mean %FM and %TF were compared between the lowest (Q1) and highest (Q4) quartiles of calcium consumers for each calcium source. Calcium intakes between subjects with %FM ≥50th and <50th percentile were also compared. Results: Mean calcium intakes were as follows: 568 mg/d dairy calcium, 312 mg/d nondairy dietary calcium, 881 mg/d dietary calcium, 68 mg/d supplemental calcium, and 948 mg/d total calcium. %FM was 3.9%–4.9% lower and %TF was 4.1%–5.0% lower (all P ≤ 0.05) for subjects in Q4 vs Q1, regardless of calcium source (dairy, dietary, and total). When adjusted for physical activity, lower %FM and %TF persisted (P ≤ 0.05) for subjects in Q4 (1113–1595 mg/d mean dietary and total calcium intakes) vs Q1 (116–393 mg/d mean dietary and total calcium intakes). Calcium intakes from dairy, dietary, and total sources for subjects with a %FM ≥50th percentile were significantly lower (all P ≤ 0.05); when adjusted for physical activity, dietary (P = 0.025) and total (P = 0.060) calcium intakes remained lower. Implications and Conclusions: Our findings support a relationship, even after adjusting for physical activity, between higher dietary and total calcium intakes and lower total body and truncal fat in young adults. Results suggest an intake of approximately 1500 mg/d calcium could aid in the management of body and truncal fat. We recommend that young adults be encouraged to increase their total calcium intakes to at least the recommended daily allowance of 1000 mg/d for reasons extending beyond bone health.
Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals the Effects of PilF Phosphorylation on Type IV Pilus and Biofilm Formation in Thermus thermophilus HB27*

Thermus thermophilus HB27 is an extremely thermophilic eubacteria with a high frequency of natural competence. This organism is therefore often used as a thermophilic model to investigate the molecular basis of type IV pili–mediated functions, such as the uptake of free DNA, adhesion, twitching motility, and biofilm formation, in hot environments. In this study, the phosphoproteome of T. thermophilus HB27 was analyzed via a shotgun approach and high-accuracy mass spectrometry. Ninety-three unique phosphopeptides, including 67 in vivo phosphorylated sites on 53 phosphoproteins, were identified. The distribution of Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation sites was 57%/36%/7%. The phosphoproteins were mostly involved in central metabolic pathways and protein/cell envelope biosynthesis. According to this analysis, the ATPase motor PilF, a type IV pili–related component, was first found to be phosphorylated on Thr-368 and Ser-372. Through the point mutation of PilF, mimic phosphorylated mutants T368D and S372E resulted in nonpiliated and nontwitching phenotypes, whereas nonphosphorylated mutants T368V and S372A displayed piliation and twitching motility. In addition, mimic phosphorylated mutants showed elevated biofilm-forming abilities with a higher initial attachment rate, caused by increasing exopolysaccharide production. In summary, the phosphorylation of PilF might regulate the pili and biofilm formation associated with exopolysaccharide production.
Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in rabbit Müller cells after lensectomy-vitrectomy.

PURPOSE To assess retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy, the authors analyzed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), which retinal glial cells express in several pathologic conditions. METHODS GFAP expression was examined by means of immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in rabbit retina after lensectomy-vitrectomy. RESULTS Müller cells had detectable GFAP immunoreactivity in peripheral retina 3 days after surgery. GFAP immunoreactivity was present in both peripheral and posterior regions 7 days, 14 days, and 6 months after surgery. The authors confirmed that anti-GFAP antibody recognized the 51 kDa protein specifically by Western blot analysis. Time-dependent increase of GFAP in peripheral retina was also obtained by ELISA: CONCLUSIONS Such progressive GFAP accumulation in Müller cells, which are sensitive to microenvironmental changes, may reflect some underlying retinal response after lensectomy-vitrectomy.
A Role for the Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor in Cell-Cell Communication in Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans

Background: The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is expressed in many tissues that are not associated with Ca2+ homeostasis, including the endocrine cells in pancreatic islets of Langerhans. We have demonstrated previously that pharmacological activation of the CaR stimulates insulin secretion from islet β-cells and insulin-secreting MIN6 cells. Methods: In the present study we have investigated the effects of CaR activation on MIN6 cell proliferation and have used shRNA-mediated CaR knockdown to determine whether the CaR is involved in the regulation of insulin secretion via cell-cell communication. Results: CaR activation caused the phosphorylation and activation of the p42/44 MAPK signalling cascade, and this activation was prevented by the shRNA-induced down-regulation of CaR mRNA expression. CaR activation also resulted in increased proliferation of MIN6 cells, consistent with the known role of the p42/44 MAPK system in the regulation of β-cell proliferation. Down-regulation of CaR expression had no detectable effects on glucose-induced insulin secretion from MIN6 cells maintained as monolayers, but blocked the increases in insulin secretion that were observed when the cells were configured as three-dimensional islet-like structures (pseudoislets), consistent with a role for the CaR in cell-cell communication in pseudoislets. Conclusion: It is well established that islet function is dependent on communication between islet cells and the results of this study suggest that the CaR is required for β-cell to β-cell interactions within islet-like structures.
Correlation of Adrenomedullin gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes with severity of ischemic stroke

Human adrenomedullin (ADM), a 52-amino acid peptide, belongs to the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)/amylin peptide family. ADM acts as a multifunctional regulatory peptide and is upregulated in response to hypoxia. Previous microarray studies have found increased ADM gene (ADM) expression in peripheral blood cells of patients with stroke, however, it is unknown if an increased ADM level is correlated with severity of human ischemic stroke. This study investigated ADM expression in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of healthy controls and subjects at day 1, week 1 and week 3 postacute ischemic stroke using rtPCR methodology. We found that ADM expression was significantly upregulated on the first day of stroke compared to the healthy subjects and the disease controls; the levels remained elevated for up to week 3. Further, ADM expression at day 1 was correlated with stroke severity measured by the National Institute of Healthy Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the modified Barthel Index (mBI) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). This could indicate that ADM expression level is related to the severity of tissue damage. We suggest that increased ADM expression in PBL after acute ischemic stroke is most likely to indicate that these cells have been subjected to hypoxia and that the magnitude of expression is likely to be related to the volume of hypoxic tissue. Hypoxia can affect lymphocytes function and could affect the immune response to stroke. The correlation of ADM expression level with the measures of stroke severity implicates ADM –a potential blood bio-marker in studies of ischemic stroke.
Type 2 diabetes affects hippocampus volume differentially in men and women

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been shown to result in medical complications on several organ systems including the kidneys, eyes, cardiovascular system, and most recently described the brain, including the hippocampus. There is also evidence that females are disproportionately affected by these medical complications. Brain volume reductions have also been associated with chronic low‐grade inflammation and dyslipidaemia. This study investigated the relationships among T2DM, gender, inflammation, dyslipidaemia, and hippocampal volumes.
Structure and expression of a new complementary DNA encoding the almost exclusive 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4-isomerase in human adrenals and gonads.

The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4 isomerase (3 beta HSD) enzyme catalyzes the oxidation and isomerization of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid precursors into delta 4-ketosteroids, thus leading to the formation of all classes of steroid hormones. In addition, 3 beta HSD catalyzes the interconversion of 3 beta-hydroxy- and 3-keto-5 alpha-androstane steroids. Clinical observations in patients with 3 beta HSD deficiency as well as our recent data obtained by Southern blot analysis using a human placental 3 beta HSD cDNA (type I) as probe suggested the existence of multiple related 3 beta HSD isoenzymes. We now report the isolation and characterization of a second type of cDNA clone (arbitrarily designated type II) encoding 3 beta HSD after screening of a human adrenal lambda gt22A library. The nucleotide sequence of 1676 basepairs of human 3 beta HSD type II cDNA predicts a protein of 371 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 41,921 daltons, which displays 93.5% and 96.2% homology with human placental type I and rhesus macaque ovary 3 beta HSD deduced proteins, respectively. To characterize and compare the kinetic properties of the two isoenzymes, plasmids derived from pCMV and containing type I or type II 3 beta HSD full-length cDNA inserts were transiently expressed in HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells. In vitro incubation with NAD+ and 3H-labeled pregnenolone or dehydroepiandrosterone shows that the type I protein possesses a 3 beta HSD/delta 5-delta 4 isomerase activity higher than type II, with respective Km values of 0.24 vs. 1.2 microM for pregnenolone and 0.18 vs. 1.6 microM for dihydroepiandrosterone, while the specific activity of both types is equivalent. Moreover, incubation in the presence of NADH of homogenates from cells transfected with type I or type II 3 beta HSD indicates that dihydrotestosterone is converted into 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, with Km values of 0.26 and 2.7 microM, respectively. Ribonuclease protection assay using type I- and type II-specific cRNA probes revealed that type II transcripts are the almost exclusive 3 beta HSD mRNA species in the human adrenal gland, ovary, and testis, while type I transcripts correspond to the almost exclusive 3 beta HSD mRNA species in the placenta and skin and represent the predominantly expressed species in mammary gland tissue. The present data show for the first time that adrenals and gonads express a type of 3 beta HSD isoenzyme that is distinct from the type expressed in the placenta. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Inhibitory miniature synaptic potentials in rat motoneurons

In the newborn rat spinal cord, spontaneous potentials were recorded, with KC1 electrodes, from motoneurons in the presence of tetrodotoxin (10-6 g ml-1) to abolish nerve impulses. These potentials occurred at low frequencies (< 2 Hz), and their mean amplitude was a fraction of 1 mV. An increase of osmolarity with sucrose or an increase of extracellular K+, increased the frequency of miniature synaptic potentials. The amplitude of the spontaneous potentials was increased by intracellular injection of C1-. Strychnine (2-25 µM) completely abolished the spontaneous potentials. It is suggested that these potentials are produced by the spontaneous release of packages of inhibitory transmitter at synapses on motoneurons.