Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SOD1-G93A Mice Exhibit Muscle-Fiber-Type-Specific Decreases in Glucose Uptake in the Absence of Whole-Body Changes in Metabolism

Background: Skeletal muscles play an important role in systemic glucose homeostasis and are purported to be the origin of the altered metabolic state observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whole-body and muscle-specific glucose metabolism in the SOD1-G93A mouse model of ALS. Methods: We assessed glucose tolerance in early-, middle-, and late-stage SOD1-G93A and control mice using an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. We then measured the respiratory exchange ratio (CO2 production/O2 consumption) as a function of fasting and feeding using indirect calorimetry in a subset of male mice at these time points. Finally, muscles from all mice were harvested to evaluate basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in fast- and slow-twitch muscles. Results: No changes in systemic glucose clearance were observed in SOD1-G93A mice at any stage, nor were there changes in fasting insulin levels. Indirect calorimetry revealed an increase in the respiratory exchange ratio during the fed state at middle, but not at early or late stages of disease. Middle-stage SOD1-G93A mice exhibited decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in fast-twitch, but not slow-twitch, skeletal muscle. Late-stage SOD1-G93A mice exhibited decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in both fast- and slow-twitch muscle, as well as increased basal (non-insulin-stimulated) glucose uptake. Conclusions: These results suggest that alterations in muscle metabolism occur in a fiber-type-specific manner in ALS, but do not necessarily lead to whole-body metabolic changes in SOD1-G93A mice.
Measuring fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: A cross‐sectional study to evaluate the Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi‐Dimensional questionnaire, visual analog scales, and numerical rating scales

Current patient‐reported outcome measures of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have limitations, providing only a global perspective. This study constructed a questionnaire (the Bristol RA Fatigue Multi‐Dimensional Questionnaire [BRAF‐MDQ]) from 45 preliminary questions derived from analysis of patient interviews and surveys and explored its structure for fatigue dimensions. The BRAF‐MDQ and short BRAF numerical rating scales (NRS) and visual analog scales (VAS) for severity, effect, and ability to cope with fatigue were evaluated for validity.
Reductase A Intermediate in Escherichia coli Nitrate the High Stability Semiquinone Direct Evidence for Nitrogen Ligation to Metabolism and Bioenergetics

10.1074/jbc.M109. 060251 Access the most updated version of this article at doi: . JBC Affinity Sites Find articles, minireviews, Reflections and Classics on similar topics on the Alerts: When a correction for this article is posted • When this article is cited • to choose from all of JBC's e-mail alerts Click here http://www.jbc. org/content/285/1/179.full. html#ref-list-1 This article cites 53 references, 14 of which can be accessed free at
Dielectric Barrier Discharge of Moist Nitrogen: A Methodology for Exclusive NO Generation

Chemical transformations of moist nitrogen in dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma into NO, NO<sub>2</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> in conjunction with the control for exclusive NO generation are reported. Initial gas-phase products NO and NO<sub>2</sub> were identified and estimated spectrophotometrically at respective absorption <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{{{\text {max}}}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> taking the set of three closely spaced peaks around 204, 214.5, and 226 nm in case of the former, while at 400 nm for latter. Other products NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> were identified and estimated by wet-chemical sampling methods followed by colorimetric analyzes, respectively, at 540 and 350 nm. NO, NO<sub>2</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> yields increased continuously, with increase in gas residence time inside the plasma zone, applied voltage between two electrodes, and the moisture concentration in the gas stream. Typical G values estimated are: NO, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3.98 \times 10^{-3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>; total NO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$6.30 \times 10^{-3}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>; and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.7 \times 10^{-3}~\mu \text {mol}\cdot \text {J}^{-1}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. In the product mixture, employing NO<sub>2</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> absorber solution, 50–750 ppm level NO was obtained as an exclusive product with 0.05–24 kHz ac power supplies.
HCCA support in IEEE 802.11 networks QoS and QoE performance evaluation

The profile of the service users in telecommunication networks shows a continuous growth in the interest towards real-time applications (streaming and interactive video, web conferences, voice over IP). In order to assure the optimal parameters for this kind of transmissions, the implementation of mechanisms that provide service quality support is mandatory. One way of assuring the QoS support in IEEE 802.11 networks is to enable the HCCA mechanism. This paper provides an objective analysis of the performances of the HCCA mechanism regarding voice and video applications by means of the evaluation of specific QoS/QoE parameters: delay, jitter and MOS.
Face recognition on surgically altered faces using principal component analysis

The popularity of plastic surgery is increasing due to the enhancement and accessibility in that field. Plastic surgery procedure provides an efficient way to improve the facial appearance, which result in the reconstruction of facial features either globally or locally. The changes introduced by plastic surgery remains complicated to be analyzed by face recognition systems. This paper focus on recognition of face images before and after plastic surgery. Here, Viola-Jones algorithm is used to detect the face and modified PCA algorithm is used to recognize faces from images with some near real-time variations. This principal component analysis resolves the recognition problem for 2-D image of faces, using Eigenface Recognition algorithm.
Implicit Motivation Makes the Brain Grow Younger: Improving Executive Functions of Older Adults

The dominant view of cognitive aging holds that while controlled processes (e.g., working memory and executive functions) decline with age, implicit (automatic) processes do not. In this paper we challenge this view by arguing that high-level automatic processes (e.g., implicit motivation) decline with age, and that this decline plays an important and as yet unappreciated role in cognitive aging. Specifically, we hypothesized that due to their decline, high-level automatic processes are less likely to be spontaneously activated in old age, and so their subtle, external activation should have stronger effects on older (vs. younger) adults. In two experiments we used different methods of implicitly activating motivation, and measured executive functions of younger and older adults via the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In Experiment 1 we used goal priming to subtly increase achievement motivation. In Experiment 2 motivation was manipulated by subtly increasing engagement in the task. More specifically, we introduce the Jerusalem Face Sorting Test (JFST), a modified version of the WCST that uses cards with faces instead of geometric shapes. In both experiments, implicitly induced changes in motivation improved older- but not younger- adults’ executive functioning. The framework we propose is general, and it has implications as to how we view and test cognitive functions. Our case study of older adults offers a new look at various aspects of cognitive aging. Applications of this view to other special populations (e.g., ADHD, schizophrenia) and possible interventions are discussed.
Inequality in Children’s Contexts

Past research shows that income segregation between neighborhoods increased over the past several decades. In this article, I reexamine income segregation from 1990 to 2010 in the 100 largest metropolitan areas, and I find that income segregation increased only among families with children. Among childless households—two-thirds of the population—income segregation changed little and is half as large as among households with children. I examine two factors that may account for these differences by household composition. First, I find that increasing income inequality, identified by past research as a driver of income segregation, was a much more powerful predictor of income segregation among families with children, among whom income inequality has risen more. Second, I find that local school options, delineated by school district boundaries, contribute to higher segregation among households with children compared to households without. Rising income inequality provided high-income households more resources, and parents used these resources to purchase housing in particular neighborhoods, with residential decisions structured, in part, by school district boundaries. Overall, results indicate that children face greater and increasing stratification in neighborhood contexts than do all residents, and this has implications for growing inequalities in their future outcomes.
Cost-Optimal Placement and Backhauling of Small-Cell Networks

The deployment of small cells has been identified as one of the future-proof solutions to cope with the increasing demand for higher data rate and ubiquitous access in mobile networks. However, providing a reliable and cost-effective backhaul connectivity for small cells has become a key challenge. It is identified that the cost efficiency of small-cell deployments can be improved by leveraging existing resources when planning the deployment. However, if not strategically planned the deployment, such an approach may compromise other requirements such as coverage and capacity. In this paper, we demonstrate how a small-cell network and its backhaul can be planned cost efficiently in scenarios where the existing fiber resources are sparsely located. To this end, we develop an optimization framework to minimize the deployment cost subject to a range of constraints that capture different network requirements such as the coverage and capacity. We demonstrate a practical example by using our model to plan a small-cell network and its backhaul, for a typical suburban area where existing fiber access locations are sparsely located. We also discuss the potential cost implications due to the stringency of different network requirements, by evaluating the optimal solutions for variety of deployment scenarios.
Does economic freedom increase income inequality? Evidence from the EU countries

This paper examines the relationship between economic liberalization and income inequality in the EU using panel data for the 2000s. The empirical evidence suggests that economic freedom is strongly related to income inequality. However, not all areas of economic freedom affect income distribution similarly. Government size is robustly associated with inequality, and also when controlling for potential endogeneity in a dynamic panel data analysis. Regulation is linked to income inequality as well, whereas legal system and sound money have no significant effects on income distribution. In the case of freedom to trade internationally, the relationship differs between old (EU-15) and new (former socialist) EU countries.
Multi Resolution LSTM For Long Term Prediction In Neural Activity Video

Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal, overly syn- chronized, electrical activity in the brain. The abnor- mal electrical activity manifests as waves, propagating across the brain. Accurate prediction of the propagation velocity and direction of these waves could enable real- time responsive brain stimulation to suppress or prevent the seizures entirely. However, this problem is very chal- lenging because the algorithm must be able to predict the neural signals in a sufficiently long time horizon to allow enough time for medical intervention. We consider how to accomplish long term prediction using a LSTM network. To alleviate the vanishing gradient problem, we propose two encoder-decoder-predictor structures, both using multi-resolution representation. The novel LSTM structure with multi-resolution layers could significantly outperform the single-resolution benchmark with similar number of parameters. To overcome the blurring effect associated with video prediction in the pixel domain using standard mean square error (MSE) loss, we use energy- based adversarial training to improve the long-term pre- diction. We demonstrate and analyze how a discriminative model with an encoder-decoder structure using 3D CNN model improves long term prediction.
Host range studies of GB virus‐B hepatitis agent, the closest relative of hepatitis C virus, in New World monkeys and chimpanzees †

GB virus‐B (GBV‐B) is a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. This RNA virus causes acute resolving hepatitis in experimentally infected tamarins, but its natural host remains unknown. GBV‐B and a related virus, GBV‐A, were recovered from serum containing the “GB agent,” which was believed to have originated from a surgeon (initials: GB) with acute hepatitis. GBV‐B has special interest because it is the virus related most closely to hepatitis C virus, which is an important cause of acute and chronic liver disease in humans. In the present study, we found that the host range of GBV‐B includes owl monkeys. Tamarins and owl monkeys belong to two different families of New World monkeys. The natural history of GBV‐B in the two owl monkeys studied was similar to that previously found for tamarins and was characterized by early appearance of viremia and viral clearance. However, the peak viral titers of GBV‐B observed in owl monkeys (105 genome equivalents [GE] /ml) were lower than those observed in experimentally infected tamarins (107–108 GE/ml) and acute hepatitis was observed in only one animal. If GBV‐B were indeed a virus of humans, it would be expected to infect chimpanzees, a surrogate of humans, because all recognized human hepatitis viruses are transmissible to chimpanzees and cause hepatitis. However, in the present study, we failed to transmit GBV‐B to a naive chimpanzee. In addition, a second naive chimpanzee transfected intrahepatically with RNA transcripts from an infectious clone of GBV‐B did not become infected. Thus, chimpanzees are apparently not susceptible to GBV‐B. Finally, we failed to detect GBV‐B in acute‐phase serum from surgeon GB. Our data suggest that GBV‐B is not a human virus and that GBV‐B, like GBV‐A, is a virus of New World monkeys. J. Med. Virol. 65:694–697, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Ovarian Hormones on Internal Circadian Organization in Rats1

ABSTRACT The circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the central pacemaker driving rhythms in endocrine physiology. Gonadal steroid hormones affect behavioral rhythms and clock gene expression. However, the impact of fluctuating ovarian steroid levels during the estrous cycle on internal circadian organization remains to be determined. Further, it is not known if steroid hormone depletion, as in menopause, affects the timing system. To determine the influence of estrous cycle stage and steroid depletion on circadian organization, we measured clock gene expression in the SCN and peripheral tissues from cycling and ovariectomized (OVX) period1-luciferase (per1-luc) transgenic rats. The estrous cycle had modest effects on mean phase and phase distribution of per1-luc expression in the SCN. Surprisingly, peak per1-luc expression in the SCN was widely distributed mainly at night, regardless of cycle stage, an effect eliminated by OVX. Treatment of SCN tissue explants with ovarian steroids did not significantly affect per1-luc expression, suggesting that brain regions outside the SCN mediate the phasic effects of steroids. Our data demonstrate that estrous cycle stage has tissue-dependent effects on the phase of per1-luc expression, phase synchrony among oscillators, and the phase relationship between some peripheral clocks and the light-dark cycle. They also reveal that steroid hormone depletion following OVX alters the timing system, suggesting that the decline in hormone levels, common during the transition to menopause, may be associated with irregular internal circadian organization. This effect on the timing system could contribute to the behavioral and physiological changes associated with this transition.
THE ELECTRON PROBE IN ENZYME HISTOCHEMISTRY

The electron prol)e has been used extensively to study elements, as outlined imi the proceedimigs of recemit comiferences (Burks. Electron Probe Microanalyses . Iiiterscience Publishers, New York, 19fi3 ; Castaing ci al. Oplique des Rayon X el 1! icroanalyse. ilermanut Publishimig Compamiy, Paris, 1966; Martomi, First Xationai Conference on Electron Probe .ilicroanalysis, 1966; McKinley, et a! . The EleelronMicroprobe.JohnWiley &Sons, Inc., New )rk, 1966; Pattee et al. X-ray Optics and A’-ray Microanalysis. Academic Press, New ‘ ork, 1963). Previous biologic muse of the electromi probe microanalyzer has generally been limited to demon-
Separation of Leucocytes: Improved Cell Purity by Fine Adjustments of Gradient Medium Density and Osmolality

This paper briefly reviews commonly used procedures for separation or mononuclear cells (MNC) and granulocytes from human blood with X‐ray contrast media as gradient material, and also presents new and modified procedures for leucocyte preparation. Standard techniques for human blood do not always yield satisfactory results with blood from other species. In general pure MNC are easily obtained (top fraction), but often the granulocyte fraction has a low purity, due to contamination with MNC that move to the bottom during centrifugation and contaminate the granulocyte suspension. Obviously the density distribution of MNC differs between species, However. the separation can be improved by tine adjustment of gradient medium osmolality. For this purpose we have used Nycodenz a non‐ionic X‐ray contrast medium, A favourable property of Nycodenz solutions is that the osmolality and density can easily be varied over a broad range. The cells react promptly to a change of medium osmolality. In hypertonic medium the cells expel water. shrink, their density increases and they sediment faster, in spite of a smaller radius. Further. the cells may pass what was initially a density barrier. A hypotonic environment has the opposite effect.
Development of a Computer-Aided Application for Analyzing ECG Signals and Detection of Cardiac Arrhythmia Using Back Propagation Neural Network-Part I : Model Development

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a graphic recording of the electrical activity produced by the heart. The accuracy of any electrocardiogram waveform extraction plays a vital role in helping a better diagnosis of any heart related illnesses. We present a computer-aided application model for detection of cardiac arrhythmia in ECG signal, which consists of signal pre-processing and detection of the ECG signal components adapting Pan-Tompkins and Hamilton-Tompkins algorithms; feature extraction from the detected QRS complexes, and classification of the beats extracted from QRS complexes using Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN). The application model was developed for ECG signal classification under ‘Normal’ or ‘Abnormal’ heartbeats to detect cardiac arrhythmia in the ECG signal. The model was trained with standard arrhythmia database of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Science and Technology/Beth Israel Hospital (MIT-BIH), and taking into account the Association for the Advance of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standard. The performance of the developed application model for classification of ECG signals was investigated using the MIT-BIH database. The accuracy of detection and extraction of the signal components and features (based only on the MIT-BIH database used) shows that the developed application model can be employed for the detection of heart diseases in patients.
Robust band artifact suppression for cardiac CT

Cardiac cone beam CT images are reconstructed today using phase selective multi-cycle algorithms. According to the acquisition geometry of a helical CT scan, voxels having different z-coordinates are illuminated during non-overlapping time intervals and are reconstructed, therefore, using phase points of different heart cycles. This behavior can lead to inconsistency expressed by step-like and slab-like band artifacts. These bands often seen in coronal and saggital images can hinder the segmentation of the coronary arteries and the diagnosis. Our present work is based on the understanding that by forcing a smooth change of the back-projection weights with respect to the voxel z-coordinate band artifacts will be suppressed. Using this approach, we have developed a new back-projection weighting scheme that replaces the original weighting scheme of the so-called extended cardiac reconstruction method for helical cone beam CT (Grass et al, Phys. Med. Biol. 2003). We evaluated this scheme on patients having different heart rates. The strong suppression of band artifacts and the visualization of the coronary arteries obtained using this scheme will be presented.
Dynamic regulation of leg vasomotor tone in patients with chronic heart failure.

We examined the central hemodynamic (n = 5) and leg blood flow (n = 9) responses to one- and two-leg bicycle exercise in nine ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction 17 +/- 9%). During peak one- vs. two-leg exercise, leg blood flow (thermodilution) tended to be higher (1.99 +/- 0.91 vs. 1.67 +/- 0.91 l/min, P = 0.07), whereas femoral arteriovenous oxygen difference was lower (13.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 15.0 +/- 2.9 ml/dl, P less than 0.01). Comparison of data from exercise stages matched for single-leg work rate during one- vs. two-leg exercise demonstrated that cardiac output was similar while both oxygen consumption and central arteriovenous oxygen differences were lower, indicating relative improvement in the cardiac output response at a given single-leg work rate during one-leg exercise. This was accompanied by higher leg blood flow (1.56 +/- 0.76 vs. 1.83 +/- 0.72 l/min, P = 0.02) and a tendency for leg vascular resistance to be lower (92 +/- 54 vs. 80 +/- 48 Torr.l-1.min, P = 0.08) without any change in blood lactate. These data indicate that, in patients with chronic heart failure, leg vasomotor tone is dynamically regulated, independent of skeletal muscle metabolism, and is not determined solely by intrinsic abnormalities in skeletal muscle vasodilator capacity. Our results suggest that relative improvements in central cardiac function may lead to a reflex release of skeletal muscle vasoconstrictor tone in this disorder.