Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasticity in Membrane Cholesterol Contributes toward Electrical Maturation of Hearing*

Advances in refining the “fluid mosaic” model of the plasma membrane have revealed that it is wrought with an ordered lipid composition that undergoes remarkable plasticity during cell development. Despite the evidence that specific signaling proteins and ion channels gravitate toward these lipid microdomains, identification of their functional impact remains a formidable challenge. We report that in contrast to matured auditory hair cells, depletion of membrane cholesterol in developing hair cells produced marked potentiation of voltage-gated K+ currents (IKv). The enhanced magnitude of IKv in developing hair cells was in keeping with the reduced cholesterol-rich microdomains in matured hair cells. Remarkably, potentiation of the cholesterol-sensitive current was sufficient to abolish spontaneous activity, a functional blueprint of developing and regenerating hair cells. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that developmental plasticity of lipid microdomains and the ensuing changes in K+ currents are important determinants of one of the hallmarks in the maturation of hearing.
Chronological Reconstruction of Natfieh Tombs, Northern Jordan

Abstract This research radiocarbon dates human teeth and bones sampled from seven tombs from the archaeological site of Natfieh, Northern Jordan. The small number of artifact fragments uncovered, looting and disruption of the tombs in antiquity and/or recent times, and the continuity between the Greek and Roman burial traditions and similarity in tomb architecture impede determining accurate dates and chronology of the tombs. This research aims to ascertain the archaeological dates and the chronological sequence of the tombs and the artifacts uncovered. Results show that the probable earliest use of these tombs was between 90 BC and AD 20, and their probable latest use was from AD 126–236. Most probably, at Natfieh new tombs spread northward and carving the tombs started in the lower rock layers and later in the upper layers.
Assessing approaches and barriers to reduce antipsychotic drug use in Florida nursing homes

Objectives: Antipsychotic medications have been federally regulated since 1987, yet research suggests they continue to be used inappropriately to alleviate behavioral symptoms associated with dementia. In 2012, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid launched a new initiative to reduce antipsychotic medication in nursing homes by 15% nationally. The aim of this study was to examine qualitative data to explore strategies that have been implemented, to assess which strategies are evidence-based, and to make recommendations to improve upon practices to reduce antipsychotic medication use. Method: A convenience sample of 276 nursing home professional staff members were surveyed about these topics using open-ended questions. Results: Theme-based content analysis yielded three main themes. The themes related to changes in practice included the following: (1) increased review of resident behavior and antipsychotic medication regimens; (2) reduction in antipsychotic medications or dosage; and (3) increased use of nonpharmacological interventions. The main themes relevant to needed assistance included the following: (1) education; (2) clinical support; and (3) increased financial resources and reimbursement. Discussion: Overall findings indicate that the majority of facilities are actively responding to the initiative, but challenges remain in education, finding mental health support, and in reimbursement.
A Laser-Trimmed Rail-to-Rail Precision CMOS Operational Amplifier

This brief presents a rail-to-rail input-output precision operational amplifier with integrated laser-trimmable polysilicon resistors for reducing the input offset voltage. The amplifier is fabricated in a standard Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company 0.18-μm complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor process technology. The resistors' trimming sequence allows for minimizing the offset voltage over the complete input common mode voltage range (ICMR) extending from the ground to the supply. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the steps involved in offset-voltage trimming. The prototype amplifier drives a 400-pF capacitive load and operates from a 3.3-V supply. The amplifier is unity-gain stable with a phase margin of 58° and has an open-loop direct-current gain greater than 130 dB with a unity-gain bandwidth of 0.5 MHz. Experimental results show that an untrimmed input offset voltage ranging from +0.1 to +0.5 mV over the ICMR was reduced to -30 to + 30 μV.
Stochastic, Compartmental, and Dynamic Modeling of Cross‐Contamination During Mechanical Smearing of Cheeses

Cheese smearing is a complex process and the potential for cross‐contamination with pathogenic or undesirable microorganisms is critical. During ripening, cheeses are salted and washed with brine to develop flavor and remove molds that could develop on the surfaces. Considering the potential for cross‐contamination of this process in quantitative risk assessments could contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon and, eventually, improve its control. The purpose of this article is to model the cross‐contamination of smear‐ripened cheeses due to the smearing operation under industrial conditions. A compartmental, dynamic, and stochastic model is proposed for mechanical brush smearing. This model has been developed to describe the exchange of microorganisms between compartments. Based on the analytical solution of the model equations and on experimental data collected with an industrial smearing machine, we assessed the values of the transfer parameters of the model. Monte Carlo simulations, using the distributions of transfer parameters, provide the final number of contaminated products in a batch and their final level of contamination for a given scenario taking into account the initial number of contaminated cheeses of the batch and their contaminant load. Based on analytical results, the model provides indicators for smearing efficiency and propensity of the process for cross‐contamination. Unlike traditional approaches in mechanistic models, our approach captures the variability and uncertainty inherent in the process and the experimental data. More generally, this model could represent a generic base to use in modeling similar processes prone to cross‐contamination.
The furosemide diagnostic test in suspected slow‐onset heart failure: popular but not useful

Early, slow‐onset heart failure is difficult to diagnose from just signs and symptoms. The physician needs ancillary diagnostic tests. The ‘loop‐diuretic test’ or ‘furosemide test’, characterized as weight loss and alleviation of symptoms after a short course of a loop‐diuretic, could be a candidate. The furosemide test is not formally mentioned in the guidelines and no evidence could be found in the literature. We asked general practitioners (GPs) about their actual use of the furosemide test and studied the diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected heart failure.
A Problem-Based Learning Approach to Facilitate Evidence-Based Practice in Entry-Level Health Professional Education

This article will provide an overview of the problem-based learning process, and an illustration of how problem-based learning can facilitate development of critical appraisal necessary for evidence-based practice. It will trace the development of problem-based learning as an educational methodology for entry-level health professional education. The information seeking and appraisal themes common to both problem-based learning and evidence-based practice will be examined, along with the roles and responsibilities of faculty and tutors who are part of problem-based learning courses or curricula. Examples of strategies for student assessment will be discussed, for both mastery of didactic content and for contribution to the interactive processes that are part of problem-based learning courses and curricula. A “case” will be presented to illustrate application of problem-based learning principles as a means of facilitating skills necessary for effective evidence-based practice.
Identification of genes differentially expressed in Jining Grey and Liaoning Cashmere goats ovaries

To search for genes controlling high prolificacy of Chinese indigenous goats, differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) was used to screen differentially expressed cDNA bands in the sexually matured ovaries of 3-year-old prolific Jining Grey goats and monotocous Liaoning Cashmere goats with 24 combinations of three anchored primers and eight arbitrary primers. 22 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were proved to be the positive bands by Northern hybridization. They comprised 10 known ESTs and 12 ESTs without homologous sequences in the GenBank. These results indicate that several genes such as GATA-4, metallothionein-like protein, CAT genes and unknown ESTs (CV983340 and CV983341) were expressed only in Jining Grey goats. Keywords : Differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, goat, ovary, prolificacy African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(27), pp. 4408-4411
Multievent: An Extension of Multistate Capture–Recapture Models to Uncertain States

Summary Capture–recapture models were originally developed to account for encounter probabilities that are less than 1 in free‐ranging animal populations. Nowadays, these models can deal with the movement of animals between different locations and are also used to study transitions between different states. However, their use to estimate transitions between states does not account for uncertainty in state assignment. I present the extension of multievent models, which does incorporate this uncertainty. Multievent models belong to the family of hidden Markov models. I also show in this article that the memory model, in which the next state or location is influenced by the previous state occupied, can be fully treated within the framework of multievent models.
CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing for simultaneous interference with gene expression and protein stability

Abstract Interference with genes is the foundation of reverse genetics and is key to manipulation of living cells for biomedical and biotechnological applications. However, classical genetic knockout and transcriptional knockdown technologies have different drawbacks and offer no control over existing protein levels. Here, we describe an efficient genome editing approach that affects specific protein abundances by changing the rates of both RNA synthesis and protein degradation, based on the two cross-kingdom control mechanisms CRISPRi and the N-end rule for protein stability. In addition, our approach demonstrates that CRISPRi efficiency is dependent on endogenous gene expression levels. The method has broad applications in e.g. study of essential genes and antibiotics discovery.
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus: role of obesity and diet.

BACKGROUND In the United States, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, including the esophagogastric junction, has been increasing rapidly over the past two decades. Except for an association with Barrett's esophagus, little is known about the etiology of these cancers. PURPOSE Our purpose was to investigate dietary and nutritional risk factors for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. METHODS A population-based, case-control interview study of 174 white men with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and 750 control subjects living in three areas of the United States was conducted during 1986 through 1989. RESULTS Risk was significantly elevated for subjects in the heaviest quartile compared with the lightest quartile of body mass index (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-5.3). No significant associations were seen with total calories from food, number of meals eaten per day, level of fat intake, or consumption of coffee and tea. Risks were highest for those consuming the least amount of vegetables, with some evidence of a dose response for the subcategories of cruciferous vegetables (P for trend < .001) and vegetables consumed raw (P for trend = .10). A significantly elevated risk was also seen for those consuming the least amount of raw fruit (P for trend = .05). No clear associations were reported for intake of particular micronutrients overall or in supplements, but a significant protective effect was associated with increasing intake of dietary fiber (P for trend = .004). CONCLUSIONS The findings of an increased risk with obesity and decreased risks with intake of raw fruits and vegetables and dietary fiber provide useful directions to pursue in further investigations of this malignancy. IMPLICATIONS The finding with respect to obesity is particularly noteworthy, since it may explain at least a portion of the recent epidemic increases reported in the incidence of this tumor.
Process evaluation plan of a patient-centered home visitation program for potentially frail community-dwelling older people in general practice

Background: Evaluation studies examining the effectiveness of interventions tend to offer little insight into the mechanisms responsible for changes in outcomes. The present study has conducted a thorough process evaluation alongside a longitudinal quasi-experimental trial investigating the effects of a home visitation program for the early detection of health problems among potentially frail community-dwelling older people (≥ 75 years). We aim to describe the rationale for and steps undertaken in developing a process evaluation plan to identify the factors that influence the success or failure of this complex, patient-centered intervention within the primary care setting. Method: Using a theoretical framework underlying the process evaluation, process evaluation questions are formulated per component of the framework (i.e., implementation fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, recruitment and context). The process evaluation plan shows how both quantitative (e.g., structured registration forms) and qualitative methods (e.g., semi-structured interviews) are applied in gathering process data for a complex, patient-centered intervention integrated within general practices. Process data are gathered with either formative or summative purposes among practice nurses and general practitioners from participating general practices and a purposive sample of older people. Conclusion: Conducting a process evaluation alongside a clinical trial will assist in deciding to what extent the intervention is effective, as well as what factors contribute to the intervention’s effectiveness. The insights gained are imperative for the development of patient-centered interventions that are likely to be sustained when implemented in the intended context.
Correction of aberration in holographic optical tweezers using a Shack-Hartmann sensor.

Optical aberration due to the nonflatness of spatial light modulators used in holographic optical tweezers significantly deteriorates the quality of the trap and may easily prevent stable trapping of particles. We use a Shack-Hartmann sensor to measure the distorted wavefront at the modulator plane; the conjugate of this wavefront is then added to the holograms written into the display to counteract its own curvature and thus compensate the optical aberration of the system. For a Holoeye LC-R 2500 reflective device, flatness is improved from 0. 8λ to λ/16 (λ=532 nm), leading to a diffraction-limited spot at the focal plane of the microscope objective, which makes stable trapping possible. This process could be fully automated in a closed-loop configuration and would eventually allow other sources of aberration in the optical setup to be corrected for.
Dual Targeting of Hypoxia and Homologous Recombination Repair Dysfunction in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor clinical outcome and few validated drug targets. Two prevalent features of TNBC, tumor hypoxia and derangement of homologous recombination (HR) repair, are potentially exploitable for therapy. This study investigated whether hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAP) of DNA-damaging cytotoxins may inhibit growth of TNBC by simultaneously addressing these two targets. We measured in vitro activity of HAP of DNA breakers (tirapazamine, SN30000) and alkylators (TH-302, PR-104, SN30548) in TNBC cell lines and isogenic models, and related this to measures of HR repair and expression of prodrug-activating enzymes. Antitumor activity of HAP was examined in isogenic BRCA2-knockout xenograft models and compared with platinum chemotherapy. All five HAP selectively inhibited growth of TNBC cell lines under hypoxia. Sensitivity to HAP was not strongly associated with BRCA1 genotype. However, HAP sensitivity was enhanced by suppression of HR (assessed by radiation-induced RAD51 focus formation) when BRCA1 and PALB2 were knocked down in a common (MDA-MB-231) background. Furthermore, knockout of BRCA2 markedly sensitized DLD-1 cells to the clinical nitrogen mustard prodrugs TH-302 and PR-104 and significantly augmented sterilization of clonogens by these agents in xenografts, both as monotherapy and in combination with radiotherapy, but had less effect on activity of the benzotriazine di-N-oxide SN30000. PR-104 monotherapy was more effective than cisplatin at inhibiting growth of BRCA2-knockout tumors at equitoxic doses. This study demonstrates the potential for HAP of nitrogen mustards to simultaneously exploit hypoxia and HR defects in tumors, with translational implications for TNBC and other HR-deficient malignancies. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(11); 2501–14. ©2014 AACR.
Risk of heavy drinking among sexual minority adolescents: indirect pathways through sexual orientation-related victimization and affiliation with substance-using peers.

AIMS To test two indirect pathways through which sexual minority adolescents (SMAs) may be at risk for heavy episodic drinking (HED) including a socialization pathway via substance-using peer affiliations and social marginalization pathway via sexual minority-specific victimization and subsequent substance-using peer affiliations. DESIGN Analysis of the first three waves (6 months apart) of a longitudinal adolescent health risk study (2011-14). Participants were referred by medical providers or a screening system in providers' waiting rooms. SETTING Two large urban adolescent health clinics in Pennsylvania and Ohio, USA. PARTICIPANTS A total of 290 adolescents (ages 14-19 years, mean: 17.08) who were 71.0% female, 33.4% non-Hispanic white and 34.5% SMAs. MEASUREMENTS Self-reported sexual minority status (wave 1) and affiliation with substance-using peers (waves 1 and 2), and latent sexual-minority specific victimization (waves 1 and 2) and HED (waves 1 and 3) variables. FINDINGS Using mediation analyses in a structural equation modeling framework, there was a significant indirect effect of sexual minority status (wave 1) on HED (wave 3) via affiliation with substance-using peers [wave 2; indirect effect = 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01, 0.07], after accounting for the indirect effect of sexual-orientation related victimization (wave 2; indirect effect = 0.10, 95% CI = 0.02-0.19). The social marginalization pathway was not supported, as victimization (wave 1) was not associated with affiliation with substance-using peers (wave 2; β = - 0.04, P = 0.66). Sex differences in the indirect effects were not detected (Ps > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Sexual minority adolescents in the United States appear to exhibit increased heavy episodic drinking via an indirect socialization pathway, including affiliations with substance-using peers and a concurrent indirect pathway involving sexual minority-related victimization. The pathways appear to operate similarly for boys and girls.
Performance Comparison of Various Diversity Techniques using Matlab Simulation

Due to the time-varying nature of the wireless channel and presence of limited resources for the signal transmission, which faces various detrimental effects such as path-loss, delay spread, Doppler spread, shadowing and interference make it very difficult to achieve sufficient data rates. To combat the effect of multi-path fading in the wireless communication system, the diversity combining mechanism has been introduced. In this paper, we have developed an algorithm for the performance evaluation of various spatial diversity combing techniques by using Matlab simulation. The developed new algorithm combine all three diversity techniques such as maximal ratio combining (MRC), selection combining (SC) and equal gain combing (EGC) techniques The combined diversity techniques algorithm computes and compares the MRC, SC, and EGC combing techniques theoretically by using the Matlab simulation.
A novel nuclear structure containing the survival of motor neurons protein.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common, often fatal, autosomal recessive disease leading to progressive muscle wasting and paralysis as a result of degeneration of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. A gene termed survival of motor neurons (SMN), at 5q13, has been identified as the determining gene of SMA (Lefebvre et al., 1995). The SMN gene is deleted in > 98% of SMA patients, but the function of the SMN protein is unknown. In searching for hnRNP‐interacting proteins we found that SMN interacts with the RGG box region of hnRNP U, with itself, with fibrillarin and with several novel proteins. We have produced monoclonal antibodies to the SMN protein, and we report here on its striking cellular localization pattern. Immunolocalization studies using SMN monoclonal antibodies show several intense dots in HeLa cell nuclei. These structures are similar in number (2–6) and size (0.1–1.0 micron) to coiled bodies, and frequently are found near or associated with coiled bodies. We term these prominent nuclear structures gems, for Gemini of coiled bodies.
Energy-Efficient Distributed Multi-Sensor Scheduling Based on Energy Balance in Wireless Sensor Networks

An energy-efficient distributed multi-sensor scheduling (EDMS) scheme i.s proposed for target tracking in wireless sensor networks. To increase tracking accuracy, a distributed unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is developed to estimate the trajectory of the target and predict error covariance matrix for next time step. To maximize the lifetime of the whole network, a novel energy balance model is constructed. In the EDMS scheme, multiple sensors are dynamically scheduled as tasking nodes to form a dynamic cluster based on the minimal trace of error covariance matrix and a cluster head is selected based on the energy balance model. In addition, adaptive sampling intervals are adopted to save energy consumption under the satisfactory tracking accuracy. The simulation results indicate that the tracking accuracy of the proposed EDMS using distributed UKF is signilicantïy improved compared with extended Kalman filter (EKF). Under the satisfactory tracking accuracy, the EDMS scheme considering energy balance has better energy balance distribution than that not eonsideriiig energy balance.