Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulatory consideration of bioavailability for metals: Simplification of input parameters for the chronic copper biotic ligand model

The chronic Cu biotic ligand model (CuBLM) provides a means by which the bioavailability of Cu can be taken into account in assessing the potential chronic risks posed by Cu at specific freshwater locations. One of the barriers to the widespread regulatory application of the CuBLM is the perceived complexity of the approach when compared to the current systems that are in place in many regulatory organizations. The CuBLM requires 10 measured input parameters, although some of these have a relatively limited influence on the predicted no‐effect concentration (PNEC) for Cu. Simplification of the input requirements of the CuBLM is proposed by estimating the concentrations of the major ions Mg2+, Na+, K+, ${\rm SO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 2 \hbox{-} }} $, Cl−, and alkalinity from Ca concentrations. A series of relationships between log10 (Ca, mg l−1) and log10 (major ion, mg l−1) was established from surface water monitoring data for Europe, and applied in the prediction of Cu PNEC values for some UK freshwater monitoring data. The use of default values for major ion concentrations was also considered, and both approaches were compared to the use of measured major ion concentrations. Both the use of fixed default major ion concentrations, and major ion concentrations estimated from Ca concentrations, provided Cu PNEC predictions which were in good agreement with the results of calculations using measured data. There is a slight loss of accuracy when using estimates of major ion concentrations compared to using measured concentration data, although to a lesser extent than when fixed default values are applied. The simplifications proposed provide a practical evidence‐based methodology to facilitate the regulatory implementation of the CuBLM. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2011;7:437–444. © 2011 SETAC
Localization of Human Mcm10 Is Spatially and Temporally Regulated during the S Phase*

Mcm10 (Dna43) is an essential protein for the initiation of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recently, we identified a human Mcm10 homolog and found that it is regulated by proteolysis and phosphorylation in a cell cycle-dependent manner and that it binds chromatin exclusively during the S phase of the cell cycle. However, the precise roles that Mcm10 plays are still unknown. To study the localization dynamics of human Mcm10, we established HeLa cell lines expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Mcm10. From early to mid-S phase, GFP-Mcm10 appeared in discrete nuclear foci. In early S phase, several hundred foci appeared throughout the nucleus. In mid-S phase, the foci appeared at the nuclear periphery and nucleolar regions. In the late S and G phases, GFP-Mcm10 was localized to nucleoli. Although 2the distributions of GFP-Mcm10 during the S phase resembled those of replication foci, GFP-Mcm10 foci did not colocalize with sites of DNA synthesis in most cases. Furthermore, the transition of GFP-Mcm10 distribution patterns preceded changes in replication foci patterns or proliferating cell nuclear antigen foci patterns by 30–60 min. These results suggest that human Mcm10 is temporarily recruited to the replication sites 30–60 min before they replicate and that it dissociates from chromatin after the activation of the prereplication complex.
Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Strength Performance Following Various Periods of Recovery

The purpose of this study was to determine if the type and intensity of aerobic training affects performance in a subsequent strength-training session after varying periods of recovery. Sixteen male subjects participated in the study and were divided into 2 groups based on aerobic training, high-intensity intervals (MAX n = 8) and continuous submaximal (SUB n = 8). Each subject performed 4 sets of both bench press and leg press at approximately 75% 1 repetition maximum (1RM) following aerobic training with recovery periods of 4, 8, and 24 hours, as well as once in a control condition. Both the 4- and 8-hour conditions resulted in fewer total leg press repetitions than the control and 24-hour conditions. There was no difference between both the control and 24-hour conditions. No main effect was shown with respect to the type of aerobic training. It was concluded that when aerobic training precedes strength training, the volume of work that can be performed is diminished for up to 8 hours. This impairment appears to be localized to the muscle groups involved in the aerobic training.
Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Isoforms in Human Pregnant Myometrium at Term

Objective: To determine whether nitric oxide synthase isoforms are expressed in human myometrium, to define their localization, and to examine the possibility that one or more may play a role in initiating labor. Methods: Human myometrial biopsies were collected from term laboring and nonlaboring patients. The mRNA expression was assessed using in situ hybridization. The relative expression levels were also assessed by Affymetrix GeneChip hybridization. The protein expression was determined using Western blot analysis, and localization was shown using immunostaining. Results: Both inducible nitric oxide synthase and brain nitric oxide synthase were expressed in myometrial cells and blood vessel endothelial cells. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase was expressed exclusively in blood vessel endothelial cells. There were no differences in distribution or quantity of nitric oxide synthase expression between term labor and nnonlabor myometrium. Conclusion: All three isotypes of nitric oxide synthases were expressed in human pregnant term uterus. Their expression did not change in the myometrium of the laboring uterus.
Latitudinal Gradients in Colony Size for Social Insects: Termites and Ants Show Different Patterns

On the basis of a comparison of Nearctic and Neotropical ants, social insects have been proposed to show a latitudinal gradient in colony size. Further, the “fasting endurance hypothesis,” which predicts larger colonies in areas with extended periods of low food availability, was proposed as the mechanism driving the gradient. To test the generality of the pattern and its mechanism, we examined the relationships between termite colony size and both latitude and annual evapotranspiration, a measure of plant productivity. We found no evidence that colony size increases with increasing latitude or decreasing plant productivity. We conclude that the pattern identified for ants cannot be generalized to include social insects as a whole. As is the case for ecogeographic gradients in insect body sizes, a pattern that is reported for one taxon may not be consistent for other taxa at the global level.
An 8Gb/s forwarded-clock I/O receiver with up to 1GHz constant jitter tracking bandwidth using a weak injection-locked oscillator in 0.13µm CMOS

This paper presents a forwarded-clock I/O receiver with wide range constant jitter tracking bandwidth (JTB). A JTB interpolator in the receiver enables wide JTB using a weak injection-locked oscillator (ILO) instead of a strong ILO, so narrow VCO tuning is possible. By using the JTB interpolator, the proposed receiver compensates for the JTB reduction caused by deskew-JTB dependency in conventional ILOs. An 8Gb/s receiver has been implemented to verify 70M∼1GHz constant JTB and one UI deskew with only 1.94∼2GHz VCO tuning. The 0. 13µm test chip consumes 17.2∼21.4mW and occupies 0.04mm2.
Women's Knowledge About Intrauterine Contraception

OBJECTIVES: To survey knowledge and attitudes about intrauterine contraception among reproductive-aged women in the area of Saint Louis, Missouri. METHODS: We mailed an eight-page written survey to 12,500 randomly selected households in the St. Louis area that asked English-literate, reproductive-aged, adult women to respond. The survey asked about obstetric and contraceptive history and effectiveness of contraceptive methods, as well as appropriate candidates for, side effects of, and perceived risks of intrauterine contraception. The results from 1,665 (13.3%) returned surveys were weighted for the analysis, which included descriptive statistics and polynomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Almost 8% of respondents were currently using or had previously used intrauterine contraception, and use was higher in women who reported discussing the method with their health care provider (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 13.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.5–27.8). Sixty-one percent of respondents underestimated the effectiveness of intrauterine contraception, and up to one half of survey respondents were unable to correctly answer knowledge questions about intrauterine contraception use and safety. An additional 11%–36% of respondents indicated concern that intrauterine contraception is associated with complications such as infection, infertility, and cancer. Current and past intrauterine contraception users were more likely to be knowledgeable about intrauterine contraception. Women who were currently using intrauterine contraception were more likely to correctly estimate the effectiveness of intrauterine contraception (adjusted OR 7.6, 95% CI 3.2–18.0). CONCLUSION: Reproductive-aged women's specific knowledge of the benefits and risks of intrauterine contraception is limited. More educational interventions are needed to increase women's knowledge about the effectiveness and benefits of intrauterine contraception. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
Anti-Candida albicans biofilm effect of novel heterocyclic compounds.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to develop new anti-biofilm drugs, examine their activity against Candida albicans biofilm and investigate their structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action. METHODS A series of thiazolidinedione and succinimide derivatives were synthesized and their ability to inhibit C. albicans biofilm formation and destroy pre-formed biofilm was tested. The biofilms' structure, metabolic activity and viability were determined by XTT assay and propidium iodide and SYTO 9 live/dead stains combined with confocal microscopic analysis. The effect of the most active compounds on cell morphology, sterol distribution and cell wall morphology and composition was then determined by specific fluorescent stains and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Most of the compounds were active at sub-MICs. Elongation of the aliphatic side chain resulted in reduced anti-biofilm activity and the sulphur atom contributed to biofilm killing, indicating a structure-activity relationship. The compounds differed in their effects on biofilm viability, yeast-to-hyphal form transition, hyphal morphology, cell wall morphology and composition, and sterol distribution. The most effective anti-biofilm compounds were the thiazolidinedione S8H and the succinimide NA8. CONCLUSIONS We developed novel anti-biofilm agents that both inhibited and destroyed C. albicans biofilm. With some further development, these agents might be suitable for therapeutic purposes.
Design of reduced rating VFC for a micro grid

The day-by-day increasing demand for energy can create problems for the power distributors, like grid instability and even outages. The necessity of producing more energy combined with the interest in clean technologies yields in an increased development of power distribution systems using renewable energy. In this purview, several types of Distributed Generations (DGs), local loads, storage system and voltage source converter can be connected together to form a small local power generation system called as micro grid (MG). MG can operate in grid connected mode or in islanding mode. The paper discusses islanding control of power electronics interfaced with DG systems in micro grid. Further, a new topology is introduced with zigzag/star transformer, which reduces the size of battery connected parallel to DC link of the voltage source converter, hence reducing the cost of the system. The proposed topology works well in maintaining phase angle, voltage and frequency of the micro sources in islanded mode as well as in resynchronization when one of the micro sources is off due to fault or unavailability of resources. The proposed topology is verified in MATLAB environment.
정책금리 변동이 성별‧세대별 고용률에 미치는 영향(Gender and Age Group Differences in Employment Responses to Monetary Policy Shocks)

Korean Abstract: 통상적으로 정책금리와 고용은 역의 관계를 가지고 있는 것으로 알려져 있으며 금리 인상은 전체 고용을 감소시키는 요인으로 작용할 것으로 예상된다. 그러나 성별, 세대별 등 노동시장의 세부 부문별로 나누어 보면 고유의 특성으로 정책금리 변동의 효과가 다르게 나타날 수 있다. 이러한 점에 착안하여 본고에서는 통화정책 충격이 노동시장의 성별, 세대별 고용률에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 분석결과 한국은행 기준금리 변동에 대해 성별 및 세대별 고용률이 상이한 반응을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로 보면 청년층 고용률의 경우 남성 및 여성 모두 기준금리 변동에 대해 역의 반응을 보였으나 반응의 크기와 통계적 유의성은 남성에서 더욱 뚜렷한 것으로 분석되었다. 중장년층 이상의 경우 대체로 유의하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 이는 노동시장의 수급결정 요인이 남성과 여성의 생애주기에 따라 다르다는 점이 영향을 미친 것으로 생각된다. 예를 들어 중장년층 고용이 통계적으로 유의하지 않은 반응을 보인 것은 금리충격이 실제로 영향을 미치지 않은 것이 아니라 높은 실물자산 비중과 가계부채 부담 등으로 노동공급에 미치는 금리변동의 영향이 커지면서 나타난 현상으로 풀이된다. English Abstract: Most previous empirical studies on the effects of monetary policy on employment fail to take care of the “price puzzle”, concluding that the estimated response of inflation is positive to the contractionary monetary policy shock. This paper aims to resolve this problem by using a factor augmented vector autoregressive (FAVAR) model suggested by Bernanke et al. (2005). Additionally, a small-open economy structure is imposed on the FAVAR model to separately identify the domestic and foreign interest rate shocks.The results suggest that a raise in the key rate by the Bank of Korea decreases the employment-to-population ratio (EPR) of young male workers while other worker groups do not respond in a similar fashion. This implies that a labor demand channel of monetary policy works only in the young male workers market. This finding is also in concord with the fact that young workers confront a relatively high unemployment rate compared to other population groups since a larger reserve labor force means a bigger sensitivity to a change in labor demand change.
Modulation-oriented harmonic balance based on Krylov-subspace methods

The paper introduces a new approach to the circuit-level analysis of nonlinear RF/microwave (sub)systems driven by digitally modulated carriers. The circuit is simulated by a sequence of modified harmonic-balance analyses based on a Krylov-subspace method driven by an inexact Newton loop. In this way, problems with many million nodal unknowns may be efficiently tackled at the workstation level.
Group augmentation, collective action, and territorial boundary patrols by male chimpanzees

Significance Many animals, especially humans, carry out activities collectively because the benefits of doing so exceed those that can be achieved individually. But how can collective action evolve when individuals receive the benefits of cooperation regardless of whether they pay the costs of participation? Collective action may be especially difficult to achieve when groups are large, because each individual’s contribution has a small effect on the outcome. We show that group augmentation theory helps explain one of the most striking examples of collective action in nonhuman primates, territorial boundary patrolling by male chimpanzees: Males bear the short-term costs of patrolling even when they have little to gain immediately because patrolling enhances group size, increasing the male’s chances of future reproduction. How can collective action evolve when individuals benefit from cooperation regardless of whether they pay its participation costs? According to one influential perspective, collective action problems are common, especially when groups are large, but may be solved when individuals who have more to gain from the collective good or can produce it at low costs provide it to others as a byproduct. Several results from a 20-y study of one of the most striking examples of collective action in nonhuman animals, territorial boundary patrolling by male chimpanzees, are consistent with these ideas. Individuals were more likely to patrol when (i) they had more to gain because they had many offspring in the group; (ii) they incurred relatively low costs because of their high dominance rank and superior physical condition; and (iii) the group size was relatively small. However, several other findings were better explained by group augmentation theory, which proposes that individuals should bear the short-term costs of collective action even when they have little to gain immediately if such action leads to increases in group size and long-term increases in reproductive success. In support of this theory, (i) individual patrolling effort was higher and less variable than participation in intergroup aggression in other primate species; (ii) males often patrolled when they had no offspring or maternal relatives in the group; and (iii) the aggregate patrolling effort of the group did not decrease with group size. We propose that group augmentation theory deserves more consideration in research on collective action.
Determinants of unprotected sex among HIV-positive patients in South Africa

This study examined the prevalence of unprotected sex, other sexual risk behaviours, and factors associated with unprotected sex among men and women recently diagnosed with HIV in South Africa. One hundred and forty-nine outpatients (44 males and 105 females) were assessed, of whom 101 were sexually active at least 6 months prior to study entry. Subjects were asked about sexual risk behaviours with reference to their most recent sexual encounter. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the predictors of condom use, with independent variables selected from five general categories: (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) situational characteristics regarding sexual intercourse (i.e. alcohol or drugs used before intercourse); (3) clinical diagnoses; (4) negative life events; and (5) coping styles. Fifty-five patients (19 males and 36 females), representing 54.4% of those sexually active in the 6 months preceding the study, had not used a condom during the most recent intercourse. Compared with those who used condoms, participants who did not significantly reported shorter duration of HIV infection (t=−2.7, p<0.001), have a current partner (χ2=3.98, p=0.005), and lack knowledge of their partner's HIV status (χ2=4.78, p=0.004). Also they were significantly more likely to engage in denial (t=3.2, p<0.002) and to use substances (t=1.98, p<0.05) as a means of coping. Logistic regression showed that shorter duration of illness (odds ratio (OR)=1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01–1.41) and coping styles characterized by denial (OR=0.6, 95% CI=0.45–0.96) were significantly associated with unprotected sex. These data suggest the need for interventions to further reduce sexual risk behaviours in HIV-positive patients in South Africa.
An Intra-Node Implementation of OpenSHMEM Using Virtual Address Space Mapping.

The recent OpenSHMEM effort has generated renewed interest in developing a portable, high-performance implementation of the SHMEM programming interface. One advantage of SHMEM is the simplified one-sided communication model, but the traditional UNIX shared memory model does not support the single-copy semantics offered by SHMEM for exchanging data between processes on the same processor or within the same memory coherency domain. In this paper, we describe an initial implementation of the OpenSHMEM programming interface that uses operating system virtual address space mapping capabilities to provide efficient intra-node operations. We describe the details of the implementation for two different operating systems, Linux and the Kitten lightweight kernel, and we use micro-benchmarks to compare the performance of our implementation to the SHMEM implementation available on a Cray XE6 platform.
Non‐amines, drugs without an amine nitrogen, potently block serotonin transport: Novel antidepressant candidates?

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a principal site of action of therapeutic antidepressants in the brain. Without exception, these inhibitors of serotonin transport contain an amine nitrogen in their structure. We previously demonstrated that novel compounds without an amine nitrogen in their structure (non‐amines), blocked dopamine transport in cells transfected with the human dopamine transporter. The present study investigated whether, in the absence of an amine nitrogen, certain non‐amines bind selectively to the SERT and block the transport of serotonin. At 10 μM concentration, select non‐amines displayed no, or little, affinity for 9 serotonin, 5 dopamine, 7 adrenergic, 5 muscarinic cholinergic, 3 opiate and histamine receptors. The affinities of non‐amines for [3H]citalopram binding sites on the SERT and their potencies for blocking [3H]serotonin transport were measured in cloned human SERT stably or transiently expressed in HEK‐293. Whether oxa‐ or carba‐based, non‐amines bound to [3H]citalopram‐labeled sites and blocked [3H]serotonin transport in the low nanomolar range, at values equal to or higher than those of some conventional antidepressants. A non‐amine, O‐1809, was 99‐fold more selective for the serotonin over the dopamine transporter. As substituents on the aromatic ring of non‐amines confer high affinity for the SERT, we investigated the hypothesis that aromatic–aromatic interactions may contribute significantly to non‐amine/transporter association. A SERT mutant was produced in which a highly conserved aromatic amino acid, phenylalanine 548, was replaced by an alanine (F548A). Although the affinities of several non‐amines were unchanged in the mutant SERT, the affinity of imipramine was decreased, revealing possible differences in amine and non‐amine binding domains on the SERT. The similar affinities of non‐amines and conventional antidepressant drugs for the SERT support the view that an amine nitrogen is not essential for drugs to block serotonin transport with high affinity. Non‐amines open avenues for developing a new generation of antidepressants. Synapse 42:129–140, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of acceleration and deceleration distance on the walking speed of people with chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of acceleration and deceleration distance (0, 1, 2 and 3 m) on the comfortable and maximum walking speeds in: (i) the 5-m walk test (5mWT); and (ii) the 10-m walk test (10mWT) in people with chronic stroke. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING University-based rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS Thirty individuals with chronic stroke. METHODS Timed walking at comfortable and maximum walking speeds in the 5mWT and 10mWT with different acceleration and deceleration distances (0, 1, 2 and 3 m). RESULTS The comfortable walking speed in the 5mWT with 0 m acceleration and deceleration distance was significantly slower than that with 1, 2 or 3 m acceleration and deceleration distances (p < 0.0083), but there was no significant difference among 1, 2 and 3 m acceleration and deceleration distances. No significant difference was found in the maximum walking speed in the 5mWT, or in the comfortable and maximum walking speeds of the 10mWT. CONCLUSION Adoption of 1 m acceleration and deceleration distance is recommended when measuring the comfortable walking speed in the 5mWT in people with stroke. Neither acceleration nor deceleration distance is needed when measuring the maximum walking speed in the 5mWT, the comfortable walking speed or the maximum walking speed in the 10mWT.