Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel osmosensitive voltage gated cation current in rat supraoptic neurones

The magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus (MNCs) regulate water balance by releasing vasopressin and oxytocin as a function of plasma osmolality. Release is determined largely by the rate and pattern of action potentials generated in the MNC somata. Changes in firing are mediated in part by a stretch‐inactivated non‐selective cation current that causes the cells to depolarize when increased osmolality leads to cell shrinkage. We have obtained evidence for a new current that may regulate MNC firing during changes in external osmolality, using whole‐cell patch clamp of acutely isolated rat MNC somata. In internal and external solutions lacking K+, with high concentrations of TEA, and with Na+ as the only likely permeant cation, the current appears as a slow inward current during depolarizations and yields a large tail current upon return to the holding potential of −80 mV. Approximately 60% of the MNCs tested (79 out of 134 cells) displayed a large increase in tail current density (from 5.2 ± 0.9 to 10.5 ± 1.4 pA pF−1; P < 0.001) following an increase in external osmolality from 295 to 325 mosmol kg−1. The current is activated by depolarization to potentials above −60 mV and does not appear to depend on changes in internal Ca2+. The current is carried by Na+ under these conditions, but is blocked by Cs+ and Ba2+ and by internal K+, which suggests that the current could be a K+ current under physiological conditions. This current could play an important role in regulating the response of MNCs to osmolality.
Brain natriuretic peptide and C-type natriuretic peptide are differently regulated by age but similarly elevated in coronary artery disease

Objective — We investigated the effect of age and coronary angioplasty on brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). Methods and results — Serum levels of both peptides immediately before catheterization and at the end of angioplasty in 15 patients (age 68 ± 8 years, 8 men) with coronary artery disease (CAD) were compared to 12 elderly (65 ± 7 years, 8 men) and 16 non-elderly (34 ± 7 years, 10 men) healthy individuals.The results showed that in healthy individuals the levels of both peptides are age-dependent dissimilarly. Compared to the non-elderly, while BNP increases in the elderly (7.81 ± 1.60 vs. 10.01 ± 2.06 pg/ml, p = 0.002), CNP decreases (5.39 ± 1.30 vs. 2.22 ± 0.80 pg/ml, p < 0.001). On the other hand, compared to the elderly healthy persons, patients with CAD have a marked increase in the baseline levels of BNP (20.02 ± 17.43 pg/ml, p = 0.03) and CNP (4.41 ± 1.20 pg/ml, p < 0.001). However, both peptides remain stationary immediately after angioplasty (BNP, 21.02 ± 16.95; CNP, 4.51 ± 1.06 pg/ml ; both p = 0.4). Conclusions — BNP and CNP are differentially regulated by age in a healthy state, suggesting that each peptide has a distinct role during the aging process. The elevation of both peptides in CAD but little change shortly after angioplasty may indicate that both peptides respond to a chronic state rather than an acute episode of vascular damage.
Psychological empowerment, job insecurity and wellness of employees in selected organisations / Marius Wilhelm Stander

South Africa, like the rest of the world, is undergoing major changes in the social, political, economic, technological and organisational environments. The ability of any organisation to compete internationally will depend to a large extent on the quality of its people. The biggest challenge that organisations are facing is to find, develop and retain talent. More than ever the ability of organisations to grow and develop will he determined by the level of competence and energy of their people. Challenging and meaningful work, development opportunities, leadership and empowerment are some of the most important reasons why talented people will stay on in a company. To increase speed, efficiency and to reduce costs, organisations have flattened their structures. From this it can be concluded that if companies want to be successful and retain talented people they have to create an environment where people feel empowered. The leader or manager plays an import role in the empowerment of people. The consequences of empowerment can include higher levels of job satisfaction, organisational commitment and work engagement. The objectives of the study were to determine the reliability and validity of the instruments, as well as the relationship between psychological empowerment, leader empowering behaviour, job insecurity, job satisfaction, organisational commitment and work engagement. Employees from selected organisation were targeted. The study population included employees from managerial and non-managerial categories. A cross-sectional survey design was used to obtain the research objectives. Six standardised questionnaires were used in the empirical study, namely Leader Empowering Behaviour Questionnaire, Job Insecurity Inventory, Measuring Empowerment Questionnaire, Job satisfaction, Organisational commitment and Work engagement. Descriptive statistics, factor analyses, Cronbach alpha coefficien@ correlations, MANOVAS and regression analyses were used to analyse the data.
Morphological aspects of chromaffin tissue: the differential fixation of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

The morphological aspects of chromaffin tissue are reviewed, based mainly on our studies on the mouse adrenal gland. Particular attention was focused on the differential fixation of adrenaline and noradrenaline, and on the uptake and storage of [3H]dopa, [3H]dopamine and related substances in the adrenaline-storing (A) and noradrenaline-storing (NA) cells. Scanning electron microscopy combined with the NaOH-maceration method was useful for demonstrating the 3-dimensional organisation of nerve terminals, chromaffin cells, glial elements and vascular elements. In transmission electron microscopy, 3 types of chromaffin cell were distinguished. They were A, NA and SGC (small granule chromaffin) cells. After glutaraldehyde fixation followed by postosmication, A cell granules showed lower electron density, whereas NA cell granules were solid and dark. This difference in appearance between A and NA cells was first explained by the hypothesis that, after glutaraldehyde fixation, most of the adrenaline dissolved, whereas noradrenaline was precipitated in situ. Later, this hypothesis was supported by a series of autoradiographic and radioisotopic assay studies using [3H]dopa, [3H]dopamine and related substances; when [3H]adrenaline occurred, radioactivity in A cells mostly disappeared in the specimen, whereas that in the NA cells remained. At 15-60 min after an i.p. injection of [3H]dopa or [3H]dopamine, the concentration of radioactivity in A cells was higher than that in NA cells. However, in hypophysectomised mice, the radioactivity was low and evenly distributed in these 2 types of chromaffin cell. It was deduced that the carrier activities for extracellular dopa and dopamine were made greater in the A cells than in the NA cells by the pituitary gland. The hypophysectomy effects were restored by i.p. administration of ACTH.
Improving the Efficiency of IGBT Series-Resonant Inverters Using Pulse Density Modulation

This paper analyzes a high-power (50 kW) high-frequency (150 kHz) voltage-fed inverter with a series-resonant load circuit for industrial induction heating applications, which is characterized by a full bridge inverter made of insulated-gate bipolar transistor and a power control based on pulse density modulation (PDM). This power control strategy allows the inverter to work close to the resonance frequency for all output-power levels. In this situation, zero-voltage switching and zero-current switching conditions are performed, and the switching losses are minimized. An additional improvement of inverter efficiency is achieved by choosing appropriate values of the modulation index. Results are verified experimentally using a prototype for induction hardening applications. A comparative study between the PDM and the classical power control by frequency variation will be made.
Safety and Efficacy of Oral Escitalopram as Continuation Treatment of Intravenous Citalopram in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

The objective of this open-label, multicentre study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment with escitalopram (10 or 20 mg/day) for 6 weeks following a switch from intravenous citalopram treatment (20 or 40 mg/day) in patients presenting with a major depressive episode. A total of 173 patients were included, 147 (85%) of whom completed the study. The mean Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at inclusion (last citalopram dose) was 31.6 ± 9.9. The MADRS score decreased to 23.4 ± 10.5 after 3 days of oral treatment with escitalopram and was 12.7 ± 9.3 at the end of the study. The scores on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Patient Global Evaluation scales also improved: at the end of the study, the response rates were 67% on the MADRS (defined as ≧50% decrease from MADRS baseline score) and 68% on the CGI-I (defined as CGI-I ≤2). More than half of the patients were in remission (MADRS score ≤12). Overall, the switch from intravenous citalopram to escitalopram was well tolerated. In all, 57 patients (33%) reported at least 1 adverse event, and 7 patients (4%) were withdrawn due to an adverse event. The most frequently reported adverse events were probably linked to residual depressive symptoms (anxiety: 9%; insomnia: 5%). In conclusion, escitalopram was well tolerated as a continuation treatment after switching from intravenous citalopram and reduced depressive symptoms in patients with a moderate to severe major depressive episode.
Abuse During Pregnancy: Effects on Maternal Complications and Birth Weight in Adult and Teenage Women

Objective To determine the incidence of physical and sexual abuse in a sample of adult and teen pregnant women and to determine the effect of abuse on birth weight. One thousand two hundred three African-American, Hispanic, and white urban female residents were screened for abuse on their first prenatal visit and in the second and third trimesters. Infant birth weight was obtained by record review.
Treatment of psoriatic arthritis with extracorporeal photochemotherapy and conventional psoralen-ultraviolet A irradiation.

OBJECTIVE To study the use of combined photopheresis and psoralen-ultraviolet A irradiation (PUVA) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. METHODS Eight patients with psoriasis and sero-negative arthritis received photopheresis for 12 weeks, followed by photopheresis plus PUVA for another 12 weeks. Clinical and laboratory examinations were performed every 3 months for up to 1 year after therapy. RESULTS Four patients experienced a marked improvement of joint symptoms that lasted for > or = 12 months post-therapy (74% decrease in the Ritchie articular index; P < 0.01). Prior to therapy, these patients had a higher CD4:CD8 ratio than the poor responders. Only minor laboratory changes occurred. CONCLUSION A more extensive trial of photopheresis plus PUVA in psoriatic arthritis is warranted.
The Role Of E-Learning In Producing Independent Students With Critical Thinking

This research provides a thorough background on E-learning and how it has come about. The research focuses on the important role of E-learning in a time when life is saturated with technology. This paper also explains how E-learning can be an effective way of learning. The research attempts to take UHD students from both colleges of computer science and Languages as samples. The paper deals with fundamental achievements one can gain through E-learning. Life is a non-stop process towards technology and E-government with all different parts. In such a livelihood, how can E-learning help improve a nation and help advance a country. This paper also attempts to understand the role of E-learning in advancing KRI . This paper answers the following questions this research provides a thorough background on E-learning and how it has come about. The research focuses on the important role of E-learning in a time when life is saturated with technology. This paper also explains how E-learning can be an effective way of learning. The research attempts to take UHD students from both colleges of computer science and Languages as samples. The paper deals with fundamental achievements one can gain through E-learning. Life is a non-stop process towards technology and E-government with all different parts. In such a livelihood, how can E-learning help improve a nation and help advance a country. This paper also attempts to understand the role of E-learning in advancing KRI .
Resistance to powdery mildew in populations of barley landraces from Morocco

Forty one populations of barley landraces collected from Morocco were screened for resistance to powdery mildew and a number of different resistance genes were detected. Test populations were sourced from the collection of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria. Eighteen populations of landraces (about 44%) showed resistant reactions and 38 resistant single plants were selected, increased and screened as seedlings. Fourteen of these lines were tested with 17 differential isolates of powdery mildew, and 24 lines were tested with 23 isolates. The isolates were chosen according to their virulence spectra observed on the Pallas isolines differential set. Eight lines (566-2-2, 569-3-3, 570-2-2, 576-1-1, 576-1-4, 592-1-5, 592-3-1 and 594-1-2) selected from six populations of landraces showed resistance to all powdery mildew virulence genes prevalent in Europe. About 84% of all reaction types were classified as resistant (scores 0, 1 and 2). The most frequent score was 2 (64%). Thirty-one lines (82%) showed reaction type 2 against more than 50% of isolates used. It was impossible to postulate which specific allele or alleles for resistance are present in 24 of the tested lines. However, presence of reaction types 0, 1 and 2 indicate that these lines may have many alleles for resistance. Among specific resistance alleles the most common was allele Mlat (Atlas resistance). This allele was postulated to be present in thirteen (34%) of the tested lines. The use of newly identified sources of resistance to powdery mildew in barley breeding is discussed.
OWL-FC Ontology Web Language for fuzzy control

The current “semantic” generation of Web strongly lies in sharing knowledge rather than linkages among digital resources. The Semantic Web represents an effective infrastructure based on ontologies, languages and tools to enhance visibility of knowledge on the net. The imprecise nature of knowledge often requires fuzzy techniques to coherently represent the imprecise and uncertain information of the real world. It is indubitable that many decision making problems within business, industrial and web applications are solved by fuzzy approaches, especially by exploiting fuzzy control. In order to integrate fuzzy knowledge in the Semantic Web, appropriate formal schemas are introduced for describing fuzzy data types and uncertainty information. In particular, this paper presents an OWL-based upper ontology, called OWL-FC (Ontology Web Language for Fuzzy Control) which provides a set of ontological constructs for defining semantic specification of Fuzzy Control. The OWL-FC ontology represents a straightforward contribute to support automation in discovery, usage and interoperability among a large number of fuzzy controls; built-in markups for the fuzzy controls enable the natural integration in description logics-based reasoners and guarantee the specification of fuzzy concepts which do not depend on the application domain.
Lingual Tonsillectomy for Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective To determine the role of lingual tonsillectomy (LT) in pediatric patients with persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A). Data Sources PubMed, OVID-MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central from 2006 to 2017. Review Methods Inclusion criteria included English-language studies containing original data on LT in pediatric patients with persistent OSA. Exclusion criteria included case reports and studies without outcome measures. Two investigators independently reviewed all manuscripts and performed quality assessment using validated tools. Meta-analysis was performed. Results Of the 866 abstracts identified, 5 studies met inclusion criteria. All studies were case series (level of evidence 4). Outcome measures included apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimum oxygen saturation (minSaO2), comorbidity status, and adverse events. Qualitatively, all studies demonstrated reduction in AHI and increase in minSaO2 after LT. Comorbidities may not affect the success of LT for lingual tonsil hypertrophy (LTH). LT had similar adverse event rates as T&A. Meta-analysis was performed on 4 studies. LT showed a mean change in reduction of AHI and increase of minSaO2 of −6.64 (95% CI, −8.63 to −4.65) and 4.17 (95% CI, 1.25-7.08), respectively. The overall success rate, defined as postoperative AHI <5, was 52%. Conclusion LT for LTH can be a safe and effective adjunct surgery for persistent OSA in patients after T&A. LT may reduce AHI and increase minSaO2, though complete resolution of OSA is rare. Given the limited number of patients studied, no formal recommendations can be made for the routine use of LT for LTH in persistent pediatric OSA.
Stereoscopic Visual Attention Guided Seam Carving for Stereoscopic Image Retargeting

Stereoscopic image retargeting plays an important role in adaptive 3D stereoscopic displays. It aims to fit displays with various resolutions while preserving visually salient content and geometric consistency. We propose a stereoscopic image retargeting method based on stereoscopic visual attention guided seam carving. Firstly, stereoscopic saliency map is generated by combining 2D saliency and depth saliency maps, and significant energy map is generated by considering binocular disparity binocular and binocular just-noticeable-difference (BJND). Then, seam selection is applied to the left image based on stereoscopic saliency and energy maps, and seam replacement is performed for the occluded regions to prevent the geometry inconsistency. Finally, according to the matched left and right seams, the retargeted stereoscopic image is generated. In the experiments, subjective and objective analysis on three stereoscopic image databases shows that the proposed approach produces better seam carving results than the related existing methods.
A nonlinear parametric identification method for biceps muscle model by using iterative learning approach

This paper focuses on the modeling of the human bicep brachii muscle and introduces an iterative identification method for nonlinear parameters in a virtual muscle model. This model displays characteristics that are highly nonlinear and dynamical in nature. However, the precision of the virtual muscle model depends on a set of model parameters which cannot be acquired easily using non-invasive measurement technology. Hence, experiments were conducted to derive relationships between joint angles, force, and EMG signals. In the experiment, the calculations from an anatomical mechanical model were used to relate isometric force to EMG levels at 5 different elbow angles for 3 subjects. An iterative identification method was then used to determine optimum muscle length and muscle mass of the biceps muscle based on the model and muscle data. Extensive studies have shown that the iterative identification method can achieve satisfactory results.
TANDEM: integrating automated allele binning into genetics and genomics workflows

SUMMARY Computer programs for the statistical analysis of microsatellite data use allele length variation to infer, e.g. population genetic parameters, to detect quantitative trait loci or selective sweeps. However, observed allele lengths are usually inaccurate and may deviate from the expected periodicity of repeats. The common practice of rounding to the nearest whole number frequently results in miscalls and underestimations of allelic richness. Manual sorting of allele lengths into discrete classes, a process called binning, is tedious and error-prone. Here, we present a new program for the automated binning of microsatellite allele lengths to overcome these problems and to facilitate high-throughput allele binning. AVAILABILITY www.evolution. unibas.ch/salzburger/software.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Characterization of native and modified extensin monomers and oligomers by electron microscopy and gel filtration.

We isolated hydroxyproline-rich extensin precursors from suspension-cultured tomato, cucumber, and sycamore-maple by salt-elution of intact cells and cell wall preparations. Cation exchange chromatography and HPLC gel filtration resolved these precursors into monomeric and oligomeric fractions, confirmed by amino acid analysis, immunological cross-reactivity, and TEM visualization. After rotary shadowing monomers appeared as flexuous rods with a contour length of 70 to 100 nanometers and a ;persistence length' (maximum linear displacement) of 44 to 51 nanometers. Oligomers were larger branched assemblies with occasional pores. Native extensin monomers gave uniform gel filtration retention times (Rts), but the Rts of HF-deglycosylated monomers varied depending on concentration, implying ionic interaction between the highly basic deglycosylated monomers and a weakly cationic gel matrix. Succinylation of the deglycosylated monomers reversed the net charge, and restored the retention time to that of glycosylated monomers, confirming the ionic interaction. Succinylation enhanced visualization of the deglycosylated monomers, which previously were barely discernible flexuous rods. The persistence length:contour length ratios of succinylated deglycosylated monomers (tomato sdP2) and glycosylated monomers (sP2) were the same, implying a similar molecular flexibility for both glycosylated and deglycosylated monomers at room temperature. These molecular properties are consistent with suggestions that extensin monomers reptate into the wall as a transmural protein ;weft' which becomes progressively cross-linked forming a network penetrated by the cellulose ;warp. '
Epistasis dominates the genetic architecture of Drosophila quantitative traits

Epistasis—nonlinear genetic interactions between polymorphic loci—is the genetic basis of canalization and speciation, and epistatic interactions can be used to infer genetic networks affecting quantitative traits. However, the role that epistasis plays in the genetic architecture of quantitative traits is controversial. Here, we compared the genetic architecture of three Drosophila life history traits in the sequenced inbred lines of the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) and a large outbred, advanced intercross population derived from 40 DGRP lines (Flyland). We assessed allele frequency changes between pools of individuals at the extremes of the distribution for each trait in the Flyland population by deep DNA sequencing. The genetic architecture of all traits was highly polygenic in both analyses. Surprisingly, none of the SNPs associated with the traits in Flyland replicated in the DGRP and vice versa. However, the majority of these SNPs participated in at least one epistatic interaction in the DGRP. Despite apparent additive effects at largely distinct loci in the two populations, the epistatic interactions perturbed common, biologically plausible, and highly connected genetic networks. Our analysis underscores the importance of epistasis as a principal factor that determines variation for quantitative traits and provides a means to uncover genetic networks affecting these traits. Knowledge of epistatic networks will contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of evolutionarily and clinically important traits and enhance predictive ability at an individualized level in medicine and agriculture.