Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An agonist-induced switch in G protein coupling of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor regulates pulsatile neuropeptide secretion

The pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from normal and immortalized hypothalamic GnRH neurons is highly calcium-dependent and is stimulated by cAMP. It is also influenced by agonist activation of the endogenous GnRH receptor (GnRH-R), which couples to Gq/11 as indicated by release of membrane-bound αq/11 subunits and increased inositol phosphate/Ca2+ signaling. Conversely, GnRH antagonists increase membrane-associated αq/11 subunits and abolish pulsatile GnRH secretion. GnRH also stimulates cAMP production but at high concentrations has a pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory effect, indicative of receptor coupling to Gi. Coupling of the agonist-activated GnRH-R to both Gs and Gi proteins was demonstrated by the ability of nanomolar GnRH concentrations to reduce membrane-associated αs and αi3 levels and of higher concentrations to diminish αi3 levels. Conversely, αi3 was increased during GnRH antagonist and pertussis toxin treatment, with concomitant loss of pulsatile GnRH secretion. In cholera toxin-treated GnRH neurons, decreases in αs immunoreactivity and increases in cAMP production paralleled the responses to nanomolar GnRH concentrations. Treatment with cholera toxin and 8-bromo-cAMP amplified episodic GnRH pulses but did not affect their frequency. These findings suggest that an agonist concentration-dependent switch in coupling of the GnRH-R between specific G proteins modulates neuronal Ca2+ signaling via Gs-cAMP stimulatory and Gi-cAMP inhibitory mechanisms. Activation of Gi may also inhibit GnRH neuronal function and episodic secretion by regulating membrane ion currents. This autocrine mechanism could serve as a timer to determine the frequency of pulsatile GnRH release by regulating Ca2+- and cAMP-dependent signaling and GnRH neuronal firing.
Velocity-Level Tri-Criteria Optimization Scheme for Different Complex Path Tracking of Redundant Manipulators

In order to remedy the position deviation of the joint angles and ensure the smooth motion trajectory of the end-effector at velocity level, a velocity-level tri-criteria optimization (VLTCO) scheme of redundant manipulator’s is proposed. The proposed VLTCO scheme combines the minimum velocity norm (MVN), the repetitive motion planning (RMP), and the infinity-norm velocity minimization (INVM) through the weighting factors, which guarantees the joint velocity to be near zero after finishing the redundant manipulators task. At the same time, the scheme considers the joint-angle and joint-velocity physical limits, which can keep the joint angle and joint velocity within their given range and prevent the occurrence of high joint velocity during the task duration. Finally, the VLTCO scheme is reformulated as one general quadratic program (QP) problem. The QP problem is then solved by a linear-variational-inequality-based primal–dual neural network solver (LVI-PDNN). The validity and advantages of the VLTCO scheme are substantiated by the simulation results and the physical experiment based on the JACO2 redundant manipulator.
Ruptured Tricuspid Valve Papillary Muscle in a Neonate with Intractable Persistent Fetal Circulation

Unguarded tricuspid regurgitation (TR) due to a flail tricuspid leaflet is a rare condition of newborn cyanosis. A high perinatal mortality has been associated with this fatal condition. But, there are feasible surgical repairs to improve survival. We report the case of a male full-term neonate with intractable hypoxia. He had profound tricuspid insufficiency and leaflet prolapse caused by a ruptured papillary muscle supporting the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. He presented with severe cyanosis and respiratory distress immediately after birth. Despite medical management, the pulmonary vascular resistance was not decreased and a low cardiac output persisted. Initial stabilization was accomplished with nitric oxide and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The tricuspid valve repair surgery was successfully performed subsequently. TR resulting from papillary muscle rupture is a potentially lethal condition. Timely diagnosis and proper surgical treatment can be lifesaving.
Using disability-adjusted life years to assess the economic impact of dengue in Puerto Rico: 1984-1994.

This study presents the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a non-monetary economic measure of impact, lost to dengue in Puerto Rico for the period 1984-1994. Data on the number of reported cases, cases with hemorrhagic manifestations, hospitalizations, and deaths were obtained from a surveillance system maintained at the Dengue Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (San Juan, PR). The reported cases were divided into two age groups (0-15 years old and >15 years old), and then multiplied by predetermined factors (10 for 0-15 years; 27 for >15 years) to allow for age-related under-reporting of cases. Severity of dengue was modeled by classifying cases into three groups: dengue fever, dengue with severe manifestations, and hospitalized cases. Each group was assigned a different number of days lost because of dengue-related disability. Dengue caused an average of 658 DALYs per year per million population (SE = 114, range = 145-1,519). A multivariate sensitivity analysis, which simultaneously altered the values of six input variables, produced a mean of 580 DALYs/year/million population, with a maximum average of 1,021 DALYs/year/million population, and a maximum, single-year estimate for 1994 of 2,153 DALYs/million population. The most important input was the number of days lost to classic dengue. The DALYs/year/million population lost to dengue in Puerto Rico are much greater than previous estimates concerning the impact of dengue hemorrhagic fever alone. The loss to dengue is similar to the losses per million population in the Latin American and Caribbean region attributed to any of the following diseases or disease clusters; the childhood cluster (polio, measles, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus), meningitis, hepatitis, or malaria. The loss is also of the same order of magnitude as any one of the following: tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases (excluding human immunodeficiency virus), tropical cluster (e.g., Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis), or intestinal helminths. The results objectively suggest that when governments and international funding agencies allocate resources for research and control, dengue should be given a priority equal to many other infectious diseases that are generally considered more important.
- 1-Using pedometers to increase physical activity in overweight and obese women : a pilot study

Like all articles in BMC journals, this peer-reviewed article was published immediately upon acceptance. It can be downloaded, printed and distributed freely for any purposes (see copyright notice below). Articles in BMC journals are listed in PubMed and archived at PubMed Central. For information about publishing your research in BMC journals or any BioMed Central journal, go to http://www.biomedcentral. com/info/authors/ BMC Public Health
Humanoid robot trajectory generator for safe haptic arm control via arm wrench limitation, trajectory compensation and reactive stepping

An optimal trajectory planner for humanoid robots with a haptically controlled arm is proposed. This trajectory planner simultaneously plans time-varying arm wrench constraints, foot step positions, and a Center-of-Mass (COM) trajectory. This system has the useful characteristic of ensuring that the robot does not fall when the human operator commands an excessively large arm wrench and in the long term the resultant arm wrench approaches the desired arm wrench via a combination of changes in the foot positions and the COM position. This is accomplished via a Model Predictive Controller with a Quadratic Programming-based trajectory optimizer that calculates a time series of arm wrench constraints, foot positions and, a COM trajectory that optimizes the criteria of minimizing the tracking error of the desired foot positions and the desired arm wrench. A simulation and experiments demonstrate the validity of the proposed algorithm. Graphical Abstract
Molecular phylogeny and evolution of marsupial protamine P1 genes

We report the DNA sequences of protamine P1 genes and flanking regions from 21 mammalian species, including representatives of all extant marsupial orders. The protamine P1 locus in marsupials displays highly conserved 5' and 3' flanking sequences, as well as a highly variable intron. Marsupial protamines examined are distinct from those of eutherian mammals in lacking cysteine residues, a feature that may be correlated with lower stability of marsupial sperm nuclei during chromatin condensation. Phylogenetic analysis of protamine sequences leads to the following conclusions: (i) the microbiothere Dromiciops is part of a clade that includes dasyurids, Notoryctes and diprotodontians but not bandicoots; (ii) dasyurids are the closest living relatives of Notoryctes; (iii) macropodids, phalangerids and pseudocheirids form a clade apart from the phascolarctids; and (iv) the closest living relatives of caenolestids are didelphids.
Genome‐wide and digital polymerase chain reaction epigenetic assessments of alcohol consumption

The lack of readily employable biomarkers of alcohol consumption is a problem for clinicians and researchers. In 2014, we published a preliminary DNA methylation signature of heavy alcohol consumption that remits as a function of abstinence. Herein, we present new genome‐wide methylation findings from a cohort of additional subjects and a meta‐analysis of the data. Using DNA from 47 consecutive heavy drinkers admitted for alcohol detoxification in the context of alcohol treatment and 47 abstinent controls, we replicate the 2014 results and show that 21,221 CpG residues are differentially methylated in active heavy drinkers. Meta‐analysis of all data from the 448,058 probes common to the two methylation platforms shows a similarly profound signature with confirmation of findings from other groups. Principal components analyses show that genome‐wide methylation changes in response to alcohol consumption load on two major factors with one component accounting at least 50% of the total variance in both smokers and nonsmoking alcoholics. Using data from the arrays, we derive a panel of five methylation probes that classifies use status with a receiver operator characteristic area under the curve (AUC) of 0.97. Finally, using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we convert these array‐based findings to two marker assays with an AUC of 0.95 and a four marker set AUC of 0.98. We conclude that DNA methylation assessments are capable of quantifying alcohol use status and suggest that readily employable digital PCR approaches for substance consumption may find widespread use in alcohol‐related research and patient care.
The effectiveness of a dynamic warm-up in improving performance in college athletes.

Warming up before performing rigorous physical activity is typically done to increase range of motion and improve athletic performance. Common warm-up techniques in college athletics include static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, dynamic warm-ups, and sport-specific activities. However, the type of warm-up routine used in the college setting varies based on a variety of factors including coaching or therapist experience, education, and preference. Recent studies have investigated the effectiveness of different types of warm-up on college athlete performance measures such as vertical jump, agility, and sport-specific activities (eg, sprint performance). Although a dynamic warm-up is generally thought to be superior to other common warm-up techniques, there remains uncertainty regarding the best method to prepare for intercollegiate athletic participation.
Use of Recombinant Antigens for Early Postnatal Diagnosis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis

ABSTRACT The main objective of this work was to improve the early serologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in children at risk of congenital infection by using recombinant antigens. Serum samples from 104 infants born to mothers with primary Toxoplasma gondii infection acquired during pregnancy, of which 35 were congenitally infected and 22 had clinical silent toxoplasmosis at birth, were included. Immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, and IgG subtype antibodies against epitopes carried by fragments of T. gondii MIC2, MIC3, MIC4, M2AP, AMA1, and SAG1 gene products were measured by performing parallel enzyme immunoassays (Rec-ELISAs). Recombinant antigens preferentially reacted with IgG antibodies from infected infants compared to uninfected subjects (P < 0.0001), indicating that sera from infected children recognized a more diverse repertoire of antigens than sera transferred over the placenta from the mothers. Using two serial samples collected within 3 months of life, it was possible to demonstrate a neosynthesis of specific anti-MIC2 and anti-SAG1 immunoglobulin G, mainly of the IgG2 subtype, in 13 out of 20 infants with congenital toxoplasmosis. IgM antibodies in 97% of infected infants reacted with at least one of the recombinant antigens, confirming the diagnosis of congenital infection as soon as 2 months after birth (P < 0.0001). The use of recombinant antigens is effective in distinguishing T. gondii-infected from uninfected infants and shows that assays based on recombinant antigens improve the diagnosis of newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the jumping spider Telamonia vlijmi (Araneae: Salticidae)

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of a jumping spider Telamonia vlijmi was sequenced and its total length is 14,601 bp, with A 35.5%, T 41.8%, C 8.7%, and G 14.0%. Among protein-coding genes, two genes (CO1 and Cytb) start with TTA, uncommon in invertebrate mitogenomes. The standard cloverleaf secondary structure was found in 10 tRNA genes and TV-replacement loop was not found in the other 12 tRNA genes.
Effects of Flt-3 Ligand in Combination with TPO on the Expansion of Megakaryocytic Progenitors

As an early acting growth factor, flt-3 ligand (FL) promotes the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The effect and mechanism of FL on the development of the megakaryocytic lineage remain unclear. In this study, we compared the effects of FL and stem cell factor (SCF) in combination with other megakaryocyte-promoting cytokines on the differentiation and proliferation of megakaryocytic progenitors and investigated the expression of flt-3 receptors on megakaryocytic cell lines. In liquid cultures of enriched CD34+ cells from human umbilical cord blood for 14 days, FL plus thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-6 promoted the expansion of nucleated cells, CD34+ cells, CD34+CD38– cells, and megakaryocyte colony-forming units (CFU-MK) by 300 ± 115-, 23.8 ± 11.3-, 33.9 ±28.6-, and 584 ± 220-fold, respectively. Replacing FL with SCF significantly decreased the yield of all cell types. Using murine bone marrow (BM) cells, we demonstrated that FL at a range of 0–100 ng/ml had no significant mitogenic effect on CFU-MK formation. TPO increased CFU-MK (p < 0.001) but the effect was not significantly modified by FL. While one human acute lymphoblastic leukemia sample expressed high levels of flt-3 receptor, the four megakaryocytic cell lines (Meg-01, CHRF-288-11, M-07e, and Dami) did not show any positive expression. Our data suggest that the present cytokine combination and expansion conditions provide an effective and potentially useful system for the clinical expansion of cord blood for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). FL alone did not stimulate megakaryocytopoiesis, possibly due to the lack of receptor expression on megakaryocytes. The effect of FL in augmenting the expansion of CFU-MK in liquid culture might be due to the early action of FL at the pluripotent stem cell stage.
POTASSIUM ACTIVATION OF [3H]‐CHOLINE ACCUMULATION BY ISOLATED SYMPATHETIC GANGLIA OF THE RAT

1 The effect of K‐depolarization on the uptake of low and high concentrations of [3H]‐choline by isolated superior sympathetic ganglia of the rat has been studied. 2 In unstimulated ganglia, the uptake of [3H]‐choline (0.1 μm) (‘high affinity uptake’) was unaffected by denervation or by hemicholinium‐3 (HC‐3), suggesting uptake by structures other than cholinergic nerve terminals. 3 K‐depolarization of the ganglia increased [3H]‐choline accumulation by the high affinity uptake process but in contrast the ‘low affinity’ accumulation of [3H]‐choline (100 μm) was decreased. 4 The K‐activated, ‘high affinity’ component of choline uptake was highly sodium‐dependent, inhibited by HC‐3, and was abolished by denervation. 5 In incubation conditions designed to prevent transmitter release (Ca‐free medium and high‐Mg medium), the K‐activated uptake of [3H]‐choline was abolished. 6 It is concluded that in unstimulated ganglia, there is little choline uptake by nerve terminals. However, when the terminals are depolarized, choline uptake is increased by the activation of a sodium‐dependent, HC‐3‐sensitive transport process. The activation of this uptake process is apparently associated with the release of acetylcholine from the terminals, or by changes in ionic fluxes, and not by the depolarization per se.
Economic freedom, human capital, and foreign direct investment

This paper investigates the impact of economic freedom and human capital on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in a large panel dataset of 137 developing and developed countries covering the period of 1995-2010. Foreign direct investment is by far the largest source of private capital flows to developing and middle income countries, far exceeding other private capital flows such as portfolio investment and remittances. Many of these countries have been liberalizing their policies in recent decades to attract more foreign direct investment. The ultimate goal of attracting more foreign direct investment is to augment limited domestic investment and spur economic growth through transfer of knowledge, technology, and managerial skills. The role of traditional determinants of FDI such as availability of natural resources, market size, and cheap labor are well researched in the literature. What has not received much attention is the impact of non-traditional determinants of FDI flows like the presence of economic freedom and high skilled labor in the recipient countries. Besides, there has not been any attempt to simultaneously model the impacts of economic freedom and human capital as well as their interaction on foreign direct investment inflows, a crucial void which this paper fills. In order to deal with potential endogeneity problem in the explanatory variables and unobserved country fixed-effects, we use dynamic panel data methods. The system generalized method of moments (S-GMM) estimator of Arellano and Bond, and Blundell and Bond are estimated in two-step procedure, using levels of the variables as instruments for the difference equation and differences of the variables as instruments for the levels equation. We test for instrument validity using Sargan’s test and second order autocorrelation AR (2) in the differenced equation. The results show that economic freedom has a positive and significant effect on foreign direct investment in middle- and high-income countries. Human capital is a significant determinant of FDI in all countries. After accounting for endogeneity of and interaction between economic freedom and human capital, we find that the marginal effect of economic freedom on FDI is contingent upon the level of human capital in the recipient country. We postulate that Transnational Corporations (TNCs) care about the quality of human capital only in the case of low-income countries when they make their decisions to locate in developing countries. We do not find this to be the case with respect to TNCs’ decisions to invest in middle-income and high-income countries.
Location-Assisted Intercell Interference Management Scheme in Next Generation Wireless Networks Using Opportunistic Beamforming

Inter-cell interference management is one of the most important issues in next generation wireless networks. As opportunistic beamforming induces more fluctuations in the channel, it can be used as an effective means for inter-cell interference management. In this paper, we present a new scheme to decrease inter-cell interference by utilizing the information of user locations along with the inter-base station cooperation in a system that employs opportunistic beamforming. The performance of the proposed scheme is analyzed and compared with existing schemes. Simulation and analytical results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
A Novel Hybrid Approach towards an Improvement in Bug Severity prediction for Better Software Quality

: In this research study an approach of creating dictionary of critical terms is proposed to assess the bug severity as severe and non severe. It is found that using different approaches of feature selection and classifier the pattern of accuracy and precision is approximately same. However Chi square test and KNN classifier give the maximum performance of precision and accuracy for the all four components. The proposed work will help Triager in classifying bugs based on severity and assigning these bugs to relevant developer.
A simple confidence interval for meta‐analysis

In the context of a random effects model for meta‐analysis, a number of methods are available to estimate confidence limits for the overall mean effect. A simple and commonly used method is the DerSimonian and Laird approach. This paper discusses an alternative simple approach for constructing the confidence interval, based on the t‐distribution. This approach has improved coverage probability compared to the DerSimonian and Laird method. Moreover, it is easy to calculate, and unlike some methods suggested in the statistical literature, no iterative computation is required. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of translation and rotation fitting on analysis of corneal topography

Abstract The purpose was to assess the suitability of quadratic equations for the accurate representation of corneal topography and consider the effect of translation and rotation fitting on the quality of fit and the curvature results. Topography images were recorded for the anterior and posterior surfaces of 490 corneas of 490 myopic patients using Pentacam. Elevation data were fitted to four shape models, three of which considered translational and/or rotational fitting. Differences between the models in the estimates of radii of curvature (R) and asphericity coefficients (Q) and in the quality of fit (as measured by the root mean square (RMS) error and the structural similarity index (SSIM)) were statistically analysed. The general shape model that considered both translational and rotational misalignments provided the best fit for the anterior (RMS = 1.18 ± 0.56 µm, SSIM = 0.99 ± 0.01) and posterior (RMS 3.64 ± 1.23 µm, SSIM = 0.99 ± 0.01) corneal surfaces in all subjects. The quality of fit degraded significantly (with p < 0.01 in all cases) when misalignments were not considered, increasing RMS to 5.20 ± 2.27 µm (anterior) and 17.10 ± 6.08 µm (posterior) and decreasing SSIM to 0.84 ± 0.18 (anterior) and 0.68 ± 0.22 (posterior) when both translational and rotational misalignments were ignored. The estimates of Rx, Ry, Qx and Qy as obtained when both forms of misalignment were considered varied, respectively, by as much as 0.18 mm, 0.23 mm, 0.27 and 0.54 for the anterior surface, and 0.25 mm, 0.39 mm, 0.32 and 0.37 for the posterior surface when misalignments were ignored. The variations were statistically significant, with p remaining below 0.01 in all cases. In conclusion, consideration of geometric misalignments helps improve the accuracy of describing corneal topography. The effects of misalignments on the estimates of corneal radius and asphericity are statistically significant and may in some cases be clinically significant.