Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voltage-independent Inhibition of P/Q-type Ca2+Channels in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells via a Neuronal Ca2+Sensor-1-dependent Pathway Involves Src Family Tyrosine Kinase*

In common with many neurons, adrenal chromaffin cells possess distinct voltage-dependent and voltage-independent pathways for Ca2+ channel regulation. In this study, the voltage-independent pathway was revealed by addition of naloxone and suramin to remove tonic blockade of Ca2+ currents via opioid and purinergic receptors due to autocrine feedback inhibition. This pathway requires the Ca2+-binding protein neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1). The voltage-dependent pathway was pertussis toxin-sensitive, whereas the voltage-independent pathway was largely pertussis toxin-insensitive. Characterization of the voltage-independent inhibition of Ca2+ currents revealed that it did not involve protein kinase C-dependent signaling pathways but did require the activity of a Src family tyrosine kinase. Two structurally distinct Src kinase inhibitors, 4-amino-5-(4-methylphenyl)7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP1) and a Src inhibitory peptide, increased the Ca2+ currents, and no further increase in Ca2+currents was elicited by addition of naloxone and suramin. In addition, the Src-like kinase appeared to act in the same pathway as NCS-1. In contrast, addition of PP1 did not prevent a voltage-dependent facilitation elicited by a strong pre-pulse depolarization indicating that this pathway was independent of Src kinase activity. PPI no longer increased Ca2+currents after addition of the P/Q-type channel blocker ω-agatoxin TK. The α1A subunit of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels was immunoprecipitated from chromaffin cell extracts and found to be phosphorylated in a PP1-sensitive manner by endogenous kinases in the immunoprecipitate. A high molecular mass (around 220 kDa) form of the α1A subunit was detected by anti-phosphotyrosine, suggesting a possible target for Src family kinase action. These data demonstrate a voltage-independent mechanism for autocrine inhibition of P/Q-type Ca2+ channel currents in chromaffin cells that requires Src family kinase activity and suggests that this may be a widely distributed pathway for Ca2+ channel regulation.
Chapter 2 Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem, often referred to as a silent epidemic due to lack of public awareness [1]. TBI is still the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world for individuals under the age of 45 [2]. In the United States alone, based on population data from 1995 to 2001, 1.4 million people sustained TBI in the United States each year, compared to 176,000 new cases of breast cancer, 43,500 new cases of HIV, and 10,400 new cases of multiple sclerosis [3]. Of these brain injuries, 50,000 died, 235,000 were hospitalized, and 1.1 million were treated and released from hospital emergency departments. Though many patients recover from their injuries, each year an estimated 80,000–90,000 Americans sustain a TBI that results in permanent disability [1]. It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans are living with disability resulting from TBI [3]. Mild TBI alone costs the nation $17 billion annually [4]. Leading causes of traumatic brain injury are falls – 28%, motor vehicle accidents – 20%, being struck by or against objects – 19%, and assault – 11% [1]. In the United States, persons in the 15–24 and 64+ age groups are at highest risk, with males at more risk than females at a ratio of approximately 2.8:1.6 [5]. Sportsrelated TBI is second only to MVA as a leading cause
16S Ribosomal DNA Typing for Identification of Pathogens in Patients with Bacterial Keratitis

ABSTRACT The identification of pathogens in patients with bacterial keratitis remains problematic because standard diagnostic tests are negative for 40 to 60% of patients. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine if PCR and sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) could be used to detect bacterial pathogens in patients with keratitis. Corneal specimens were collected for culture and rDNA typing. Variable segments of each rDNA specimen were amplified by PCR, sequenced, and aligned with the sequences in GenBank. Eleven patients had microbiologically documented bacterial keratitis, while 17 patients had keratitis due to other causes. Nine (82%) of 11 bacterial keratitis patients were PCR positive; each sequencing result matched the culture results. Seventeen (100%) patients with nonbacterial keratitis were PCR negative. Our data suggest that 16S rDNA typing holds promise as a rapid alternative to culture for identifying pathogens in patients with bacterial keratitis.
Flow Cytometric Determination of Estrogen Receptors in Intact Cells 1

Flow cytometry has been used to detect estrogen receptor (ER) Â¡nintact cells, using 1-{/v>fluoresceinyl estrone thiosemicarbazone (17FE), a ligand shown to have sufficient affinity and specificity to identify high-affinity receptors. For each concentra tion of 17FE, two fluorescent distributions were obtained: (a) "total" fluorescence due to 17FE alone; and (o) diethylstilbestrol-inhibited fluorescence ("nonspecific"). The mean fluores cence intensity for both the "total" (MT) and "nonspecific" (MN) distributions was calculated at each ligand concentration by obtaining the total brightness of each sample, normalized to the number of cells analyzed. A specific binding curve was con structed over a broad range of 17FE concentrations (1.5 x 10~9 to 7.5 x 10~7 M) by plotting the mean specific fluorescence intensity (Ms = MTMN) at each 17FE concentration. Saturable binding was demonstrated for a known ER-positive cell line (MCF-7) at low ligand concentrations (5 to 10 x 10~8 M), while no specific binding was obtained for a known ER-negative cell line(MDA-231). The Kd was estimated from the specific binding curve of MCF7 cells as the concentration of 17FE at half-maximal binding. When corrected for the binding activity relative to estradici, a Krf of 18 x IO"10 M was obtained. The flow cytometer-generated distributions give a qualitative estimate of the proportions of ER-rich and ER-poor cells. Quantitation of ER heterogeneity will require a mathematical algorithm expressing the difference between the "total" and "nonspecific" distributions. These studies demonstrate that flow cytometry and an appro priate ligand can detect and partially describe ER heterogeneity in intact cells.
Research article, J Sport Sci Med

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of suspended moxibustion upon tender point on delayed onset muscle soreness. The study was a randomized double-blind controlled trial with 50 subjects in each group. Subjects in moxibustion group received suspended moxibustion upon tender point (by palpation) twice. The controls received no treatment. Each subject received treatments twice, 24 hr and 48 hr after the delayed onset muscle soreness induction. The measurements of Pain Visual Analog Scale, maximum isometric muscle strength and circumference were made immediately after delayed onset muscle soreness induction, before and after every treatment session and 72 hr after delayed onset muscle soreness induction. There were no significantly statistical differences between two groups at all measurement time points on maximum isometric muscle strength and circumference. However, the Pain Visual Analog Scale scores after first treatment session and 72 hr after delayed onset muscle soreness induction in moxibustion group was less than the control group, with significant difference (p < 0.05). The suspended moxibustion failed to show the effect on delayed onset muscle soreness. However, results need to be cautiously interpreted because of the pilot character of this study. The suspended moxibustion has a potential effect of pain relief on DOMS from the analysis of the data of this study. A large sample size trial is needed to confirm the effect of the suspended moxibustion on DOMS in the future.
New stability and stabilization conditions for systems with time-delay

In this article, the problems of stability and stabilization for systems with both constant and time-varying delays have been considered. By the so-called lifting method, time-delay systems are transformed into delay-free systems such that simple necessary and sufficient conditions have been developed for the stability analysis of systems with constant delays. For systems with time-varying delays, they have been converted to a switched system so that the existing results can be applied to analyze the problems of stability and stabilization. Linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach has been employed to the state feedback control design. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Advanced Groupband Data Modem Using Orthogonally Multiplexed QAM Technique

An advanced groupband data modem based on the orthogonally multiplexed QAM technique is proposed. Its performance is evaluated through experiments. In the proposed modem, data are transmitted by a number of orthogonally multiplexed parallel subchannels. Because of this orthogonally multiplexing parallelism, the proposed modem becomes more immune to Gaussian noises, impulsive noises, and channel distortions, compared to the conventional Class IV partial response VSB modem. Furthermore, the orthogonally multiplexed QAM modem retains high flexibility in multiplexing a variety of data terminals and in carrying out fallback operation to a wide range of data rates. Experimental results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed groupband data modem.
Exploration of Reinforcement Learning to SNAKE

In this project, we explored the application of reinforcement learning in the problem not amenable to closed form analysis. By combining convolutional neural network and reinforcement learning, an agent of game Snake is trained to play the revised Snake game. The challenge is that the size of state space is extremely huge due to the fact that position of the snake affects the training results directly while its changing all the time. By training the agent in a reduced state space, we showed the comparisons among different reinforcement learning algorithms and approximation optimal solution, and analyzed the difference between two major reinforcement learning method.
6 PBL STATE ESTIMATES WITH SURFACE OBSERVATIONS , A COLUMN MODEL , AND AN ENSEMBLE FILTER : PROBABILISTIC EVALUATION UNDER VARIOUS MESOSCALE REGIMES

A long-term goal of this work is to find an efficient system for probabilistic PBL nowcasting that can be employed wherever surface observations are present. One can also view it as a probabilistic PBL profile retrieval approach, given a background ensemble and surface observations. We are motivated to pursue this by the relative density of high-quality, inexpensive surface observations in local and regional networks worldwide, the fundamental difficulties associated with forecasting details of the PBL at lead times greater than a few hours, and the complexity and expense involved with current NWP models. One approach showing promise is the use of a single column model (SCM) and ensemble filter data assimilation techniques. Hacker and Rostkier-Edelstein (2007) showed that surface observations can be an important source of information with an SCM and an ensemble filter. Comparisons in that work were against free-running simulations, representing a “climatological” distribution, to obtain a direct measure of the impact for surface observations. The results showed that without additional sources of information, it is possible to obtain error levels that approach observation-error levels in the lowest few-hundred meters of the atmosphere. Here we extend that work to quantify the probabilistic skill of the same SCM, and the SCM with added complexity. We also use a relevant 3D forecast to center the ensemble on each day, rather than using a climatological ensemble as before, to generate an ensemble that is valid for a particular time. Although it is appealing to add additional physics and dynamics to the SCM model, with the expectation that it will make solutions more realistic, it is not immediately clear that additional complexity will improve the performance of a PBL nowcasting system based on a simple
A 0.6-V to 1-V audio ΔΣ modulator in 65 nm CMOS with 90.2 dB SNDR at 0.6-V

This paper presents a discrete time, single loop, third order ΔΣ modulator. The input feed forward technique combined with 5- bit quantizer is adopted to suppress swings of integrators. Harmonic distortions as well as the noise mixture due to the nonlinear amplifier gain are prevented. The design of amplifiers is hence relaxed. To reduce the area and power cost of the 5-bit quantizer, the successive approximation quantizer with only a single comparator instead of traditional flash quantizer is employed. Fabricated in 65nm CMOS, the modulator achieves 95 dB peak SNDR at 1-V supply with 24 kHz. Thanks to low swing circuit techniques and low threshold voltages of devices, the peak SNDR maintains 90.2 dB under 0.6-V low supply. The total power dissipation is 371 µW at 1-V and drops to only 133 µWat 0.6-V.
Carbon nanotube thin film transistors based on aerosol methods

We demonstrate a fabrication method for high-performance field-effect transistors (FETs) based on dry-processed random single-walled carbon nanotube networks (CNTNs) deposited at room temperature. This method is an advantageous alternative to solution-processed and direct CVD grown CNTN FETs, which allows using various substrate materials, including heat-intolerant plastic substrates, and enables an efficient, density-controlled, scalable deposition of as-produced single-walled CNTNs on the substrate directly from the aerosol (floating catalyst) synthesis reactor. Two types of thin film transistor (TFT) structures were fabricated to evaluate the FET performance of dry-processed CNTNs: bottom-gate transistors on Si/SiO2 substrates and top-gate transistors on polymer substrates. Devices exhibited on/off ratios up to 105 and field-effect mobilities up to 4 cm2 V−1 s−1. The suppression of hysteresis in the bottom-gate device transfer characteristics by means of thermal treatment in vacuum and passivation by an atomic layer deposited Al2O3 film was investigated. A 32 nm thick Al2O3 layer was found to be able to eliminate the hysteresis.
Roles of platelet-activating factor, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 in intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by mesenteric arterial ischemia and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND Platelet-activating factor (PAF), cytokines, proteases, and other factors are probably involved in the development of gut barrier dysfunction following intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), although the act underlying pathophysiological mechanisms has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship of intestinal barrier integrity to systemic levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and protease inhibitor levels and local leukocyte accumulation in a rat model of intestinal ischemia for 40 min followed by 3 or 12 h reperfusion, with or without treatment with a PAF inhibitor. METHODS Myeloperoxidase (MPO) content in the small intestinal mucosa, serum levels of interleukin-1beta and -6, and plasma protease inhibitors, and intestinal endothelial and epithelial permeability were assessed, with or without treatment with the PAF antagonist lexipafant. RESULTS Intestinal I/R resulted in intestinal barrier dysfunction with pronounced plasma leakage to the intestinal lumen, the leakage being aggravated following a longer reperfusion period. Proteolytic plasma activity was evident by low levels of the plasma protease inhibitors measured. MPO content increased significantly after I/R, as did serum levels of interleukin-1beta and -6, without difference between the two periods of reperfusion. Treatment with the PAF inhibitor lexipafant partly, though not fully, restored the changes caused by I/R. CONCLUSION PAF seems to be involved in the release of cytokines, such as interleukin-1 and -6, consumption of protease inhibitors, and impaired intestinal barrier integrity seen following intestinal I/R. Treatment with a PAF antagonist was effective in restoring the changes caused by intestinal I/R, though not reaching complete normal levels.
Increased prevalence of abnormal Papanicolaou smears in urban adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To determine the secular trend in the prevalence of cervical dysplasia as evidenced by abnormal Papanicolaou smear results in sexually active adolescents. DESIGN Descriptive case series. SETTING Outpatient department of an urban public hospital. PARTICIPANTS All sexually active adolescents with Papanicolaou smear results recorded during 2 periods: January 1, 1982, through December 31, 1983 (n = 577), and January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1993 (n = 871). MEASUREMENTS Age, ethnicity, patient care location in which the Papanicolaou smear preparation was performed, and Papanicolaou smear results were obtained for each patient. For patients with more than 1 Papanicolaou smear result during the specified period, only the first result was included in this study. Papanicolaou smear results were classified according to the Bethesda system as within normal limits, benign cellular change, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, lowgrade squamous intraepithelial lesion, or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Any Papanicolaou smear classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low- or high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was defined as abnormal. RESULTS The prevalence of abnormal Papanicolaou smear results was 2.8% in 1982 through 1983 vs 11.7% in 1992 through 1993; prevalence odds ratio was 4.7 (95% confidence interval, 2.7-8.3). The higher rate of abnormal Papanicolaou smear results in 1992 through 1993 persisted after controlling for age, patient care location, and ethnicity in a logistic regression model (adjusted prevalence odds ratio, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-8.9). The prevalence of benign cellular change was 8.7% in 1982 through 1983 vs 20.1% in 1992 through 1993; prevalence odds ratio was 2.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.8). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of abnormal Papanicolaou smear results has significantly increased in the last decade in sexually active adolescents seen at a city hospital clinic. The results of this study emphasize the importance of routine Papanicolaou smear screening for all sexually active female adolescents.
A Closed-Form Solution for Transmission-Line Fault Location Without the Need of Terminal Synchronization or Line Parameters

This letter introduces a novel method for fault location in alternate current transmission lines where neither the line parameters nor terminals synchronization is needed. As opposed to the previous works, it introduces a closed-form solution instead of iterative methods. The results are presented for simulated and real-world problems, indicating that the proposed algorithm attains good performance in the tested cases.
How forward body bias helps to reduce ground bouncing noise and silicon area in MTCMOS circuits: Divulging the basic mechanism

Forward body bias is an effective technique for reducing mode transition noise and area overhead associated with Multi-threshold CMOS (MTCMOS) circuits. In this paper, the principal mechanism of noise reduction and silicon area compaction in forward-body-biased MTCMOS circuits is revealed and discussed in detail. Tradeoffs between area and leakage power consumption in forward-body-biased MTCMOS circuits are evaluated. Design guidelines are provided for optimum sizing of noise-control transistor and appropriate selection of body bias voltage to fully utilize the benefits of the forward body bias technique.
Analysis of cell membrane aminophospholipids as isotope-tagged derivatives Published, JLR Papers in Press, February 16, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M500014-JLR200

Glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPEtn) and glycerophosphoserine (GPSer) lipids were reacted with a multiplexed set of differentially isotopically enriched N-methylpiperazine acetic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester reagents, which place isobaric mass labels at a primary amino group. The resulting derivatized aminophospholipids were isobaric and chromatographically indistinguishable but yielded positive reporter ions (m/z 114 or 117) after collisional activation that could be used to identify and quantify individual members of the multiplex set. The chromatographic and mass spectrometric response of N-methylpiperazine amide-tagged aminophospholipids was probed using glycerophosphoethanolamine and glycerophosphoserine lipid standards. The [M+H]+ of each tagged aminophospholipid shifted 144 Da, and during collision-induced dissociation the major fragmentation ion was either m/z 114 or 117. This mode of detecting aminophospholipids was useful for an unbiased analysis of plasmalogen GPEtn lipids. Molecular species information on the esterified fatty acyl substituents was obtained by collisional activation of the [M-H]− ions. The isotope-tagged reagents were used to assess changes in the distribution of GPEtn lipids after exposure of liposomes made from phospholipids extracted from RAW 264.7 cells to Cu2+/H2O2 to illustrate the ability of these reagents to aid in the mass spectrometric identification of aminophospholipid changes that occur during biological stimuli.
What do the bereaved by suicide communicate in online support groups? A content analysis.

BACKGROUND Every year, more than six million people lose a loved one through suicide. These bereaved by suicide are at relatively high risk for mental illnesses including suicide. The social stigma attached to suicide often makes it difficult to talk about grief. Participating in online forums may be beneficial for the bereaved by suicide, but it is unknown what they communicate in these forums. AIMS What do the bereaved by suicide communicate in online forums? We examined which self-help mechanisms, grief reactions, and experiences with health-care services they shared online. METHOD We conducted a content analysis of 1,250 messages from 165 members of two Dutch language forums for the bereaved by suicide. RESULTS We found that sharing personal experiences featured most prominently in the messages, often with emotional expressions of grief. Other frequently used self-help mechanisms were expressions of support or empathy, providing advice, and universality (recognition), while experiences with health-care services featured only occasionally. Compared with previous studies about online forums for somatic illnesses, the bereaved by suicide communicated more personal experiences and engaged much less in chitchat. CONCLUSION Online forums appear to have relevant additional value as a platform for talking about grief and finding support.
Fuzzy controller design for switched fuzzy systems via output feedback technique

In this paper, the problem of L2-L∞ dynamic output feedback controller design for the nonlinear switched system in the T-S fuzzy framework is investigated. First, the average dwell time approach is used to stabilize the nonlinear switched systems under an arbitrary switching law. Then, based on the piecewise Lyapunov function, the fuzzy-rule-dependent dynamic output feedback controller is designed to ensure that the overall closed-loop system is exponentially stable with a weighted :L2-L∞ performance. Finally, the solvability condition of the desired output feedback controller is obtained by the linearization procedure technique, which can be calculated by available software.
Positive Pressure Ventilation with the ProSeal Versus Classic Laryngeal Mask Airway: A Randomized, Crossover Study of Healthy Female Patients

IMPLICATIONS The ProSeal and classic laryngeal mask airways are equally effective ventilatory devices in healthy female patients at tidal volumes of 8 and 12 mL/kg with the cuff semi- or fully inflated, but leakage of small volumes of air from the mouth occurs more frequently with the laryngeal mask airway.