Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exercise effects during diving and decompression on postdive venous gas emboli.

BACKGROUND Exercise and diving have generally been associated with an increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS), thus accounting for the lack of studies involving exercise during decompression. However, theoretical and observational evidence contrary to this association motivated the present investigation on the effects of moderate, intermittent exercise during diving and/or during decompression on venous gas emboli (VGE) activity following a dive. HYPOTHESIS VGE observed at both the precordium and subclavian vein sites after diving should be reduced if moderate exercise is performed during decompression vs. remaining inactive. METHODS In a water-filled hyperbaric chamber, 39 healthy male subjects were compressed to a pressure of 450 kPa (45 msw) for 30 min followed by 55 min of staged decompression. Subjects were either active or inactive at the bottom phase (450 kPa) and/or during the decompression. Activity comprised three 5-min intervals of moderate arm or leg exercise at the bottom and five such intervals during decompression. After decompression, VGE were monitored at the precordium and subclavian vein sites using Doppler detection. Bubble activity scores were converted to various indices and analyzed using non-parametric statistics. RESULTS VGE activity was invariant as to whether subjects were active or sedentary during the bottom phase of the dive. However, it was significantly lower for all indices examined (p < 0.05) after dives in which exercise was performed during decompression vs. inactive decompression. CONCLUSION Moderate, intermittent physical activity during decompression decreases VGE activity after diving.
Comparative thermal analysis of IPMSMs with integral-slot distributed-winding (ISDW) and fractional-slot concentrated-winding (FSCW) for electric vehicle application

Fractional-slot concentrated-winding (FSCW) interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) have been attracting considerable attention due to their high power density, high efficiency, short end-winding, high slot fill factor, low cogging torque, excellent flux-weakening and fault tolerance capability. However, compared to integer-slot distributed-winding (ISDW) IPMSMs, the key challenge of using FSCW configurations is the significant rotor losses, particularly at high speed. To figure out the IPMSM with which winding configuration is more suitable for electric vehicle (EV) application, the thermal behaviors of four IPMSMs with ISDW, single-, double- and four-layer FSCWs are comprehensively and comparatively investigated in this paper. Firstly, electromagnetic design and loss analysis of the four IPMSMs are investigated to meet the EV traction motor requirements. Secondly, finite element method (FEM) is employed to investigate the thermal performance of the IPMSMs under different rotational speeds and torque overload capacities. Besides, the influence of magnet segmentation on the temperature is also taken into account. Finally, some conclusions are drawn for the suitable winding configuration selection and the PM traction motor design.
Nonlinear control structures based on embedded neural system models

This paper investigates in detail the possible application of neural networks to the modeling and adaptive control of nonlinear systems. Nonlinear neural-network-based plant modeling is first discussed, based on the approximation capabilities of the multilayer perceptron. A structure is then proposed to utilize feedforward networks within a direct model reference adaptive control strategy. The difficulties involved in training this network, embedded within the closed-loop are discussed and a novel neural-network-based sensitivity modeling approach proposed to allow for the backpropagation of errors through the plant to the neural controller. Finally, a novel nonlinear internal model control (IMC) strategy is suggested, that utilizes a nonlinear neural model of the plant to generate parameter estimates over the nonlinear operating region for an adaptive linear internal model, without the problems associated with recursive parameter identification algorithms. Unlike other neural IMC approaches the linear control law can then be readily designed. A continuous stirred tank reactor was chosen as a realistic nonlinear case study for the techniques discussed in the paper.
Identification of a domain required for autoproteolytic cleavage of murine coronavirus gene A polyprotein

The 5'-most gene of the murine coronavirus genome, gene A, is presumed to encode viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. It has previously been shown that the N-terminal portion of this gene product is cleaved into a protein of 28 kilodaltons (p28). To further understand the mechanism of synthesis of the p28 protein, cDNA clones representing the 5'-most 5.3 kilobases of murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM were sequenced and subcloned into pT7 vectors from which RNAs were transcribed and translated in vitro. The sequence was found to encode a single long open reading frame continuing from near the 5' terminus of the genome. Although p28 is encoded from the first 1 kilobase at the 5' end of the genome, translation of in vitro-transcribed RNAs indicated that this protein was not detected unless the product of the entire 5.3-kilobase region was synthesized. Translation of RNAs of 3.9 kilobases or smaller yielded proteins which contained the p28 sequence, but p28 was not cleaved. This suggests that the sequence in the region between 3.9 and 5.3 kilobases from the 5' end of the genomic RNA is essential for proteolytic cleavage and contains autoproteolytic activity. The p28 protein could not be cleaved from the smaller primary translation products of gene A, even in the presence of the larger autocleaving protein. Cleavage of the p28 protein was inhibited by addition of the protease inhibitor ZnCl2. This study thus identified a protein domain essential for autoproteolytic cleavage of the gene A polyprotein.
Isothermal in vitro amplification of DNA by a restriction enzyme/DNA polymerase system.

An isothermal in vitro DNA amplification method was developed based upon the following sequence of reaction events. Restriction enzyme cleavage and subsequent heat denaturation of a DNA sample generates two single-stranded target DNA fragments (T1 and T2). Present in excess are two DNA amplification primers (P1 and P2). The 3' end of P1 binds to the 3' end of T1, forming a duplex with 5' overhangs. Likewise, P2 binds to T2. The 5' overhangs of P1 and P2 contain a recognition sequence (5'-GTTGAC-3') for the restriction enzyme HincII. An exonuclease-deficient form of the large fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (exo- Klenow polymerase) [Derbyshire, V. , Freemont, P. S. , Sanderson, M. R. , Beese, L. , Friedman, J. M. , Joyce, C. M. & Steitz, T. A. (1988) Science 240, 199-201] extends the 3' ends of the duplexes using dGTP, dCTP, TTP, and deoxyadenosine 5'-[alpha-thio]triphosphate, which produces hemiphosphorothioate recognition sites on P1.T1 and P2.T2. HincII nicks the unprotected primer strands of the hemiphosphorothioate recognition sites, leaving intact the modified complementary strands. The exo- Klenow polymerase extends the 3' end at the nick on P1.T1 and displaces the downstream strand that is functionally equivalent to T2. Likewise, extension at the nick on P2.T2 results in displacement of a downstream strand functionally equivalent to T1. Nicking and polymerization/displacement steps cycle continuously on P1.T1 and P2.T2 because extension at a nick regenerates a nickable HincII recognition site. Target amplification is exponential because strands displaced from P1.T1 serve as targets for P2 and strands displaced from P2.T2 serve as targets for P1. A 10(6)-fold amplification of a genomic sequence from Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis was achieved in 4 h at 37 degrees C.
Endosomal Proteolysis of the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Is Necessary for Infection

Ebola virus (EboV) causes rapidly fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and there is currently no effective treatment. We found that the infection of African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells by vesicular stomatitis viruses bearing the EboV glycoprotein (GP) requires the activity of endosomal cysteine proteases. Using selective protease inhibitors and protease-deficient cell lines, we identified an essential role for cathepsin B (CatB) and an accessory role for cathepsin L (CatL) in EboV GP-dependent entry. Biochemical studies demonstrate that CatB and CatL mediate entry by carrying out proteolysis of the EboV GP subunit GP1 and support a multistep mechanism that explains the relative contributions of these enzymes to infection. CatB and CatB/CatL inhibitors diminish the multiplication of infectious EboV-Zaire in cultured cells and may merit investigation as anti-EboV drugs.
Influence of Exercise on Intraocular Pressure, Schlemm's Canal, and the Trabecular Meshwork.

PURPOSE We aimed to assess the changes in IOP, Schlemm's canal (SC), and the trabecular meshwork (TM) in healthy individuals after exercise. METHODS The area and perimeter of SC, TM thickness, IOP, pupil diameter, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and plasma catecholamine concentrations were measured in 29 young healthy individuals before and after exercise by jogging for 20 minutes. The TM and SC in the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal regions were evaluated by 80-MHz ultrasound biomicroscopy. RESULTS In comparison with the baseline values, the post-exercise values of IOP had significantly reduced, and those of the pupil diameter, systolic and diastolic BP, and plasma catecholamine concentrations had significantly increased (all, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of eyes with observable SC before (81.9%) and after (90.5%; X = 3.652; P = 0.057) exercise. In comparison with the baseline values, the mean values of area (132.83 ± 19.67 vs. 155.33 ± 21.46 pixels; P < 0.001) and perimeter (54.94 ± 4.95 vs. 60.23 ± 4.19 pixels; P < 0.001) of SC and TM thickness (10.30 ± 1.28 vs. 11.48 ± 1.07 pixels; P < 0.001) after exercise were increased. The increase in area (r = 0.019, P = 0.923) and perimeter (r = -0.109, P = 0.573) of SC and TM thickness (r = -0.088, P = 0.651) were not significantly correlated with the decrease in IOP. CONCLUSIONS Aerobic exercise could cause sympathetic nerve stimulation, consequently causing the expansion of the TM and SC, which, in turn, leads to IOP reduction. Furthermore, SC and the TM might have an autonomic regulation function, and their expansion and collapse might not be completely dependent on the IOP.
Pelvic motion assistance of NaTUre-gaits with adaptive body weight support

Body weight support (BWS) gait rehabilitation was first introduced in 1987. This method provides a safe and effective environment for gait rehabilitation training. However, the restriction of pelvic motion and body weight shifting are limitations of this method. BWS control strategies focus on providing a precise supporting force for patients. Interaction between the BWS system and a patient as well as pelvic motion guidance are often missing. In this work, a robotic mechanism is designed to provide pelvic motion, with capability of active body weight support. An adaptive control strategy for structural BWS (pa-sBWS) with pelvic motion is introduced to address the issues faced in conventional BWS apparatus. A reference trajectory for pelvic motion is planned and the control strategy will allow the motion of the patient to deviate slightly from the desired trajectory. This method provides an active body weight support to promote the interactive participation of the patient so that the therapeutic outcome will be improved. The control strategy also supports the pelvic motion during the training process. Experiment setup has been used to verify the response of the proposed controller. The experiment results show that the control strategy is able to achieve the objective of this work. The detail of experiments and results are presented at the end of this paper.
Assessment of Embedded Conjugated Polymer Sensor Arrays for Potential Load Transmission Measurement in Orthopaedic Implants

Load transfer through orthopaedic joint implants is poorly understood. The longer-term outcomes of these implants are just starting to be studied, making it imperative to monitor contact loads across the entire joint implant interface to elucidate the force transmission and distribution mechanisms exhibited by these implants in service. This study proposes and demonstrates the design, implementation, and characterization of a 3D-printed smart polymer sensor array using conductive polyaniline (PANI) structures embedded within a polymeric parent phase. The piezoresistive characteristics of PANI were investigated to characterize the sensing behaviour inherent to these embedded pressure sensor arrays, including the experimental determination of the stable response of PANI to continuous loading, stability throughout the course of loading and unloading cycles, and finally sensor repeatability and linearity in response to incremental loading cycles. This specially developed multi-material additive manufacturing process for PANI is shown be an attractive approach for the fabrication of implant components having embedded smart-polymer sensors, which could ultimately be employed for the measurement and analysis of joint loads in orthopaedic implants for in vitro testing.
Resting Bradycardia, Enhanced Postexercise Heart Rate Recovery and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Recreational Ballroom Dancers

ABSTRACT Purpose: In a cross-sectional study design, we evaluated the resting heart rate (HRbaseline) and exercise and postexercise stress test-related chronotropic responses in male practitioners of recreational ballroom dancing (BD; n = 25, Mage = 26.6 ± 6.1 years) compared to a control group of insufficiently active nondancers (CG; n = 25, Mage = 25.9 ± 4.5 years). Method: All participants underwent a submaximal exercise test. At 85% of the maximal predicted HR, the recovery protocol was started, and heart rate recovery (HRR) was recorded during 1-min intervals for 5 min. Results: Compared with CG, BD showed lower HRbaseline (70 beats per minute [bpm] vs. 62 bpm, respectively, U = 143, p < .05, ES = .46), lower preexercise HR (94 bpm vs. 86 bpm, U = 157, p < .05, ES = .42), longer exercise test duration (346 s vs. 420 s, U = 95.5, p < .05, ES = .59), and higher HRR for 5 min postexercise (U = 1.29–1.89, p < .05, ES = .33–.50) as follows: 1st min (32 bpm vs. 40 bpm), 2nd min (45 bpm vs. 53 bpm), 3rd min (51 bpm vs. 58 bpm), 4th min (55 bpm vs. 59 bpm), and 5th min (59 bpm vs. 63 bpm). The coefficient of HRR from the 1st min to the 5th min postexercise was similar in both groups (U = 229–311, p > .05, ES = < .10–.22). Conclusion: Heightened cardiovascular functional status characterized by favorable enhanced chronotropic dynamics appears to occur in practitioners of recreational ballroom dancing, which suggests that this modality of exercise may result in health benefits.
Divergent Phenotypes of Human Regulatory T Cells Expressing the Receptors TIGIT and CD226

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a central role in counteracting inflammation and autoimmunity. A more complete understanding of cellular heterogeneity and the potential for lineage plasticity in human Treg subsets may identify markers of disease pathogenesis and facilitate the development of optimized cellular therapeutics. To better elucidate human Treg subsets, we conducted direct transcriptional profiling of CD4+FOXP3+Helios+ thymic-derived Tregs and CD4+FOXP3+Helios− T cells, followed by comparison with CD4+FOXP3−Helios− T conventional cells. These analyses revealed that the coinhibitory receptor T cell Ig and ITIM domain (TIGIT) was highly expressed on thymic-derived Tregs. TIGIT and the costimulatory factor CD226 bind the common ligand CD155. Thus, we analyzed the cellular distribution and suppressive activity of isolated subsets of CD4+CD25+CD127lo/− T cells expressing CD226 and/or TIGIT. We observed TIGIT is highly expressed and upregulated on Tregs after activation and in vitro expansion, and is associated with lineage stability and suppressive capacity. Conversely, the CD226+TIGIT− population was associated with reduced Treg purity and suppressive capacity after expansion, along with a marked increase in IL-10 and effector cytokine production. These studies provide additional markers to delineate functionally distinct Treg subsets that may help direct cellular therapies and provide important phenotypic markers for assessing the role of Tregs in health and disease.
Developments in Accelerators Used for Particle Therapy

After the invention of the cyclotron by Ernest Lawrence and Robert Wilson's suggestion to use the Bragg peak in the depth-dose distribution of protons to apply a high radiation dose selectively into a tumor, the first patient was treated with energetic ions at the Bevatron in Berkeley in 1950. Since then cyclotrons and synchrotrons have been used to accelerate protons and ions for particle therapy. In the first 50 years of particle therapy many treatment facilities were located at laboratory based accelerators, but since 2000 the number of clinical facilities in a hospital based environment is increasing. An overview of developments in and related to the accelerators typically used in this medical application will be presented. This paper will concentrate on developments in cyclotrons and synchrotrons, since these two accelerator types are and are likely to remain the major accelerator types used for therapy in the coming years.
MicroRNA expression profiles of circulating microvesicles in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Microvesicles (MVs) packaged with microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) have been shown to be released mainly from tumor cells. However, little information is known for miRNAs from MVs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hence, we explored the MVs' miRNAs expression profiles in HCC. METHODS MVs were collected from peripheral blood of HCC, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal controls. miRNA from MVs were labeled and analyzed by Agilent miRNA microarry. Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze function of the differentially expressed MVs' miRNAs. RESULTS A total of 242 aberrantly expressed miRNAs were identified in HCC-MVs compared with CHB-MVs and the control. Among them, 115 miRNAs were over-expressed with up to 31 fold difference (miR-671-5p) and 127 were down-expressed with up to 0.041 fold difference (miR-432) in HCC. By software miRror2.0, nucleolar protein 3 (NOL3) was found to be the core player among 300 target genes of top ten up-regulated miRNAs and serine/ arginine repetitive matrix 1(SRRM1) was central among the 219 targets of the top ten down-regulated miRNAs. We also analyzed GO categories for these predicted genes : cellular component, biological processes, and molecular function. The deregulation of MVs' miRNAs and their target genes were closely involved in the pathways of HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our study firstly demonstrated that miRNAs were differentially expressed in HCC-MVs compared with CHB and normal controls. Aberrant HCC-MVs miRNAs may play important roles in the development of HCC.
Use of stable isotopes and mathematical modelling to investigate human mineral metabolism

Individuals have varying needs for minerals that are dependent, amongst other things, on their lifestyle, age and genetic makeup. Knowledge of exact individual nutritional requirements should lead to better health, increased quality of life and reduced need for expensive medical care. Bioavailability, nutrient–gene interactions and whole–body metabolism all need to be investigated further if we are to progress towards the goal of defining optimal health and nutritional status. The discussion which follows will critically review the latest developments in the area of metabolism for several of the minerals that are essential for human health: Ca, Zn, Cu and Se. Stable–isotope tracers and mathematical modelling are some of the tools being used to facilitate the greater understanding in uptake, utilisation and excretion of these minerals. Stable isotopes, administered in physiological doses, present little or no risk to volunteers and allow metabolic studies to be carried out in vulnerable population groups such as children and pregnant women. Intrinsic labelling of foodstuffs ensures that the tracer and the native mineral will behave similarly once inside the body. Advances in computing power and software dedicated to solving nutritional problems have made it possible for investigators to use mathematical modelling in their experimental work. Mineral metabolism is ideally suited to a form of modelling known as compartmental analysis, which allows rates of mineral transferand sizes of mineral stores to be calculated accurately without the need for invasive sampling of body tissues
Probing mechanical behaviors of chronic myeloid leukemia cells in doxorubicin resistance by robotic manipulation with optical tweezers

Cell mechanics are correlated with cell functions, and are regarded as an effective biomarker indicating onset and progression of diseases. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is defined as a myeloproliferative disorder, expressed as increased proliferation of the granulocytic cells in blood and bone marrow. Chemotherapy drug resistance is a major obstacle to the treatment of CML. However, information associated with the cellular mechanical behavior of CML cells in chemotherapy drug resistance is not well understood. In this paper, the mechanical behaviors of CML cells and their drug-resistant counterparts is probed using optical tweezers technology. Experimental results show that CML drug-resistant cells are stiffer than CML cells. Alteration of mechanical behavior of cells is affected by the actin cytoskeleton. The cell microstructural model is used to model the mechanical response of cells of these two types and further extract the structural parameters of the actin cytoskeleton. These findings verify to some extent that mechanical behavior of cancer cells can be a potential marker for chemotherapy drug sensitivity.
One adenosine deaminase allele in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency contains a point mutation abolishing enzyme activity.

We have cloned and sequenced an adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene from a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) caused by inherited ADA deficiency. Two point mutations were found, resulting in amino acid substitutions at positions 80 (Lys to Arg) and 304 (Leu to Arg) of the protein. Hybridization experiments with synthetic oligonucleotide probes showed that the determined mutations are present in both DNA and RNA from the ADA‐SCID patient. In addition, wild‐type sequences could be detected at the same positions, indicating a compound heterozygosity. Studies with ADA expression clones mutagenized in vitro showed that the mutation at position 304 is responsible for ADA inactivation.