Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Volume regulation by flounder red blood cells in anisotonic media

The nucleated high K, low Na red blood cells of the winter flounder demonstrated a volume regulatory response subsequent to osmotic swelling or shrinkage. During volume regulation the net water flow was secondary to net inorganic cation flux. Volume regulation the net water flow was secondary to net inorganic cation flux. Volume regulation after osmotic swelling is referred to as regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and was characterized by net K and water loss. Since the electrochemical gradient for K is directed out of the cell there is no need to invoke active processes to explain RVD. When osmotically shrunken, the flounder erythrocyte demonstrated a regulatory volume increase (RVI) back toward control cell volume. The water movements characteristic of RVI were a consequence of net cellular NaCl and KCl uptake with Na accounting for 75 percent of the increase in intracellular cation content. Since the Na electrochemical gradient is directed into the cell, net Na uptake was the result of Na flux via dissipative pathways. The addition of 10(-4)M ouabain to suspensions of flounder erythrocytes was without effect upon net water movements during volume regulation. The presence of ouabain did however lead to a decreased ration of intracellular K:Na. Analysis of net Na and K fluxes in the presence and absence of ouabain led to the conclusion that Na and K fluxes via both conservative and dissipative pathways are increased in response to osmotic swelling or shrinkage. In addition, the Na and K flux rate through both pump and leak pathways decreased in a parallel fashion as cell volume was regulated. Taken as a whole, the Na and K movements through the flounder erythrocyte membrane demonstrated a functional dependence during volume regulation.
Contact Heterogeneity, Rather Than Transmission Efficiency, Limits the Emergence and Spread of Canine Influenza Virus

Host-range shifts in influenza virus are a major risk factor for pandemics. A key question in the study of emerging zoonoses is how the evolution of transmission efficiency interacts with heterogeneity in contact patterns in the new host species, as this interplay influences disease dynamics and prospects for control. Here we use a synergistic mixture of models and data to tease apart the evolutionary and demographic processes controlling a host-range shift in equine H3N8-derived canine influenza virus (CIV). CIV has experienced 15 years of continuous transfer among dogs in the United States, but maintains a patchy distribution, characterized by sporadic short-lived outbreaks coupled with endemic hotspots in large animal shelters. We show that CIV has a high reproductive potential in these facilities (mean R0 = 3.9) and that these hotspots act as refugia from the sparsely connected majority of the dog population. Intriguingly, CIV has evolved a transmission efficiency that closely matches the minimum required to persist in these refugia, leaving it poised on the extinction/invasion threshold of the host contact network. Corresponding phylogenetic analyses show strong geographic clustering in three US regions, and that the effective reproductive number of the virus (Re) in the general dog population is close to 1.0. Our results highlight the critical role of host contact structure in CIV dynamics, and show how host contact networks could shape the evolution of pathogen transmission efficiency. Importantly, efficient control measures could eradicate the virus, in turn minimizing the risk of future sustained transmission among companion dogs that could represent a potential new axis to the human-animal interface for influenza.
Longer duration of homelessness is associated with a lower likelihood of non-detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load among people who use illicit drugs in a Canadian setting

ABSTRACT Homelessness is common among people who use drugs (PWUD) and, for those living with HIV/AIDS, an important contributor to sub-optimal HIV treatment outcomes. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the duration of homelessness and the likelihood of plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL) non-detectability among a cohort of HIV-positive PWUD. We used data from the ACCESS study, a long-running prospective cohort study of HIV-positive PWUD linked to comprehensive HIV clinical records including systematic plasma HIV-1 RNA VL monitoring. We estimated the longitudinal relationship between the duration of homelessness and the likelihood of exhibiting a non-detectable VL (i.e., <500 copies/mL plasma) using generalized linear mixed-effects modelling. Between May 1996 and June 2014, 922 highly active antiretroviral therapy-exposed participants were recruited and contributed 8188 observations. Of these, 4800 (59%) were characterized by non-detectable VL. Participants reported they were homeless in 910 (11%) interviews (median: six months, interquartile range: 6–12 months). A longer duration of homelessness was associated with lower odds of VL non-detectability (adjusted odds ratio = 0.71 per six-month period of homelessness, 95% confidence interval: 0.60–0.83) after adjustment for age, ancestry, drug use patterns, engagement in addiction treatment, and other potential confounders. Longer durations of episodes of homelessness in this cohort of HIV-positive illicit drug users were associated with a lower likelihood of plasma VL non-detectability. Our findings suggest that interventions that seek to promptly house homeless individuals, such as Housing First approaches, might assist in maximizing the clinical and public health benefits of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS.
Compensation of magnetometers error based on nonlinear models for multimotor aerial robots applications

In this paper we describe the compensation of magnetometers error which are result of high current flows in their vicinity. This kind of errors can be found in multirotor applications where measurement unit is located in the platform center, while motors with propellers are mounted on a relatively short arms around the platform body. Varying current flows have an impact on magnetic field around the magnetometers what results in an apparent angular changes of the unmanned platform. In order to compensate this unwanted effect, we have builded nonlinear model relating motors control inputs with the magnetic field changes and employed it in a compensation scheme.
How the Performance of Mentoring Activities Affects the Mentor's Job Outcomes

Peer mentoring occurs in a sales force when a more experienced salesperson (mentor) takes responsibility for the development and guidance of a less experienced salesperson (protégé). Few studies have examined how this work relationship affects the mentor. This study explores the relationships between the mentoring activities performed by the mentor and the benefits that are achieved for the mentor. Data was collected from real estate salespeople who indicated they were serving as mentors. The exploratory findings demonstrate that the different activities performed by a mentor could affect the benefits received by the mentor. For example, providing a protégé with exposure to others in the organization rejuvenates the mentor's career and improves some aspects of the mentor's satisfaction. Helping the protégé with his or her selling skills has a positive impact on several aspects of the mentor's own performance. Results help explain why an experienced salesperson might choose to mentor.
Reduced Expression of 15-Lipoxygenase 2 in Human Head and Neck Carcinomas

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have demonstrated cancer chemoprevention effects associated with their ability to modulate polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism. In the present study, we report a significant reduction of 15-lipoxygenase 2 (15-LOX-2) in seven carcinoma cell lines of the human head and neck when compared with normal primary cultured keratinocytes, and 18 primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) when compared with matched normal mucosa. 15-LOX-2 is mainly expressed in the mature cells of the benign squamous epithelium, but not in the basal layer cells of benign epithelium, suggesting a role of 15-LOX-2 in cell differentiation. We further found that 15-lipoxygenase activity was reduced in carcinoma cells when compared with normal primary cultured keratinocytes. When the effects of NSAIDs were examined on cell proliferation and regulation of 15-LOX-2 in the carcinoma cells, NS398 treatment resulted in significant growth inhibition associated with upregulation of 15-LOX-2 and its major metabolite 15-S-HETE. Finally, restoration of 15-LOX-2 expression into these carcinoma cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation. Our results demonstrate that 15-LOX-2 expression is significantly reduced and this reduction may promote proliferation in human head and neck carcinoma. 15-LOX-2 may be a possible biomarker in human head and neck malignancy.
Effect of intense pulsed-light exposure on lipid peroxides and thymine dimers in human skin in vivo.

BACKGROUND Intense pulsed light (IPL) generates high-intensity short flashes of visible light and has been used for about 10 years to improve dermatological conditions such as telangiectasia, pigmented lesions, and skin aging. Although these systems deliver a moderate dose (10-30 J/cm(2)) of visible light, this dose is delivered during a short pulse (2-5 milliseconds), which implies a very high fluence rate (approximately 4000 W/cm(2)). For this reason, we speculated whether the Bunsen-Roscoe law of reciprocity could still be valid in these conditions. OBSERVATIONS Nine healthy volunteers were exposed to IPL or UV-A or simulated solar UV radiation, and then thymine dimer and lipid peroxide concentrations were determined in skin biopsy specimens of the exposed sites. Only exposure to solar UV radiation (7-J/cm(2) UV-A + 80-mJ/cm(2) UV-B) produced measurable amounts of thymine dimers in DNA from skin biopsy specimens, whereas UV-A radiation (40 J/cm(2)) and IPL (9 J/cm(2)) induced 3-fold and 6-fold increases of cutaneous lipid peroxides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results indicate that IPL, although filtered for wavelengths shorter than 500 nm, can generate oxidative stress, a typical hallmark of UV-A, but does not induce thymine dimers. This emphasizes the need for long-term studies involving IPL before using this technique in a recurrent manner.
Whole body bone mineral accretion in healthy children and adolescents

Data on accretion in bone size and bone mineral content (BMC) are needed to evaluate bone mineralisation during childhood. Whole body bone mineral content (BMC) and bone area (BA) were determined by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (Hologic 1000/W) with a one year interval in healthy girls (n = 192) and boys (n = 140) aged 6–19 years. Annual accretion in BMC (ΔBMC (g/year)) and BA (ΔBA (cm2/year)) according to sex and pubertal stages were calculated. ΔBA and ΔBMC were highly significantly associated with pubertal stages in girls and boys. Centile curves for ΔBA and ΔBMC according to sex and age were constructed using the LMS method. Peak ΔBA and ΔBMC values were reached earlier in girls (12.3 and 12.5 years, respectively) than in boys (13.4 and 14.2 years, respectively). The ΔBA peak was dissociated in time from the ΔBMC peak, indicating that increase in bone size occurs before increase in bone mineral content. Assuming that 32.2% of BMC consist of calcium, the median (90th centile) annual bone calcium accretion in pubertal stage III was 220 mg/day (302) and 317 mg/day (386) for girls and boys, respectively. To obtain an average bone calcium accretion, a high calcium absorption is needed during puberty. This may have implications for dietary calcium requirements at this time.
Alignathon: a competitive assessment of whole-genome alignment methods

Background Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) are a prerequisite for a wide variety of evolutionary analyses. Published assessments and benchmark datasets for protein and, to a lesser extent, global nucleotide MSAs are available, but less effort has been made to establish benchmarks in the more general problem of whole genome alignment (WGA). Results Using the same model as the successful Assemblathon competitions, we organized a competitive evaluation in which teams submitted their alignments, and assessments were performed collectively after all the submissions were received. Three datasets were used: two of simulated primate and mammalian phylogenies, and one of 20 real fly genomes. In total 35 submissions were assessed, submitted by ten teams using 12 different alignment pipelines. Conclusions We found agreement between independent simulation-based and statistical assessments, indicating that there are substantial accuracy differences between contemporary alignment tools. We saw considerable difference in the alignment quality of differently annotated regions, and found few tools aligned the duplications analysed. We found many tools worked well at shorter evolutionary distances, but fewer performed competitively at longer distances. We provide all datasets, submissions and assessment programs for further study, and provide, as a resource for future benchmarking, a convenient repository of code and data for reproducing the simulation assessments.
The implications of disease threat for attitudes, behavior, and culture

ii PREFACE . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . x DEDICATION . xi 1 General Introduction . 1 1.1 Disease Threat and Adaptive Behavior . 3 1.2 Social Implications of the Behavioral Immune System . 5 1.3 Cross-Cultural Implications of the Behavioral Immune System . 8 1.4 Questions Unaddressed by Previous Work . 13 1.5 Overview of this Thesis . 14 2 Perceived Threat of Infectious Disease and Its Implications for Sexual Attitudes . 19 2.1 Method . 25 2.2 Results . 29 2.3 Discussion . 32 3 Perceived Threat of Infectious Disease and Its Implications for Conformist Attitudes and Behavior . 37 3.1 Method . 42 3.2 Results . 48 3.3 Discussion . 52 4 Historical Prevalence of Infectious Diseases within 230 Regions: Creating a Tool for Investigating the Origins of Culture . 63 4.1 Methods and Results . 67 4.2 Discussion . 71 5 Pathogens and Politics: Exploring the Relationships between Parasite Prevalence and Authoritarianism . 80 5.1 Study One: Method . 86 5.2 Study One: Results and Discussion . 89 5.3 Study Two: Method . 91 5.4 Study Two: Results and Discussion . 95 5.5 General Discussion . 97
Novel approach to urban farming: A case study of a solar-powered automated mushroom cultivation in a plastic box

A solar-powered, automated mushroom cultivation technique using a plastic box for urban place farming and ready-to-deploy to a disaster-hit-area is presented. The system is composed of a commercially-available plastic box where the mushrooms grow, and an automated monitor and control of air and soil humidity and air temperature for optimum mushroom growth. It is purposely designed to grow in a box to enable the easy stacking of boxes in a space-constrained urban place. The power can be sourced out from a commercial power or from the sun light using solar photovoltaic energy harvesting technology making it a standalone, ready-to-deploy food source in a disaster-hit area. Aside from organic substrate and mushroom seed, each box is equipped with low cost set of electronic components, small fan and a humidifier which facilitate the automated cultivation process. This system is not only useful for urban farming and disaster-hit-area deployment but also valuable for research purposes. It has an option to interface into a computer in a laboratory setting to precisely monitor, analyze and determine the factors that influences the optimum growth of mushroom. This approach of farming not only enabled the space-constraint farming but also improves the yield of harvest because of well-controlled growing environment. The proposed system is successfully designed, implemented and tested.
A Multiobjective Algorithm for Protein Structure Prediction Using Adaptive Differential Evolution

Protein Structure Prediction (PSP) is one of the most challenging problems in Bioinformatics research area. This paper models PSP as a multiobjective optimization problem and adopts Adaptive Differential Evolution for Multiobjective Problems (ADEMO/D) to minimize potential energies (bonded and non-bonded) providing final protein structures. ADEMO/D incorporates concepts of Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms based on Decomposition (MOEA/D) and mechanisms of mutation strategies adaptation. In this work the probability matching and extreme absolute reward methods are combined to adapt ADEMO/D to the PSP context. The DE mutation strategy is chosen from a candidate pool according to a probability that depends on its received reward. We test the behavior of the proposed method, considering the off-lattice model and ab initio approach for PSP, in Met-Enkephalin peptide and 1ZDD protein. The results point ADEMO/D as a competitive approach for potential energy values and conformation similarity metrics.
ID-based secret-key cryptography

This paper introduces ID-based secret-key cryptography, in which secret keys are privately and uniquely binded to an identity. This enables to extend public-key cryptography features at the high throughput rate of secret-key cryptography. As applications, efficient login protocols, an enhanced version of Kerberos, and an ID-based MAC algorithm are presented.ID-based systems were initially developed in the context of public-key cryptography by removing the need of explicit public keys. The idea was to derive, in a publicly known way, a public key from an identity. Similarly, in secret-key cryptography, ID-based systems allow authorized entities to derive a secret key from an identity. So, large databases maintaining the correspondence between an identity and the corresponding secret key are no longer required, resulting in better performances and higher security.
Geographic and Specialty Distribution of US Physicians Trained to Treat Opioid Use Disorder

PURPOSE The United States is experiencing an epidemic of opioid-related deaths driven by excessive prescribing of opioids, misuse of prescription drugs, and increased use of heroin. Buprenorphine-naloxone is an effective treatment for opioid use disorder and can be provided in office-based settings, but this treatment is unavailable to many patients who could benefit. We sought to describe the geographic distribution and specialties of physicians obtaining waivers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe buprenorphine-naloxone to treat opioid use disorder and to identify potential shortages of physicians. METHODS We linked physicians authorized to prescribe buprenorphine on the July 2012 DEA Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) Waived Physician List to the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile to determine their age, specialty, rural-urban status, and location. We then mapped the location of these physicians and determined their supply for all US counties. RESULTS Sixteen percent of psychiatrists had received a DEA DATA waiver (41.6% of all physicians with waivers) but practiced primarily in urban areas. Only 3.0% of primary care physicians, the largest group of physicians in rural America, had received waivers. Most US counties therefore had no physicians who had obtained waivers to prescribe buprenorphine-naloxone, resulting in more than 30 million persons who were living in counties without access to buprenorphine treatment. CONCLUSIONS In the United States opioid use and related unintentional lethal overdoses continue to rise, particularly in rural areas. Increasing access to office-based treatment of opioid use disorder—particularly in rural America—is a promising strategy to address rising rates of opioid use disorder and unintentional lethal overdoses.
Liver transplantation for HELLP syndrome

Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome is a rare complication of pregnancy that is associated with preeclampsia and may result in rupture of the liver. Although there have been case reports of liver transplantation for HELLP syndrome, the outcomes of transplantation for this rare indication have not been reported. Furthermore, the optimal management of complicated HELLP syndrome and indications for liver transplantation are unclear. Our objective was to review the national experience with liver transplantation for HELLP syndrome and to develop a comprehensive algorithm for the management of liver complications of HELLP syndrome, including indications for transplantation. A recent case from our institution is reported and the literature is reviewed. The results of liver transplantation for HELLP syndrome were analyzed from the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Between October 1987 and November 2003 there have been 8 deceased donor liver transplants performed for complications related to HELLP syndrome. As of the most recent follow‐up, 6 of the 8 patients are alive, with both deaths occurring within 1 month of transplantation, and 2 patients have required retransplantation. This review supports that good results can be obtained with liver transplantation for patients with complicated HELLP syndrome that have either ongoing, uncontrolled hemorrhage or liver necrosis and failure. Patients with complicated HELLP syndrome are best managed at a center with expertise in liver transplantation. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:224‐228.)
Spatial Sound Rendering Using Measured Room Impulse Responses

Spatial sound rendering has many applications such as music production, movies, electronic gaming and teleconferencing. Each of the applications may have different quality and complexity requirements. This paper presents a new spatial sound rendering framework that aims at producing realistic multichannel audio while being flexible and scalable so that is can be extended and adopted by various applications. The proposed framework uses multi-channel measured room impulse response (MMRIR) as the basis for building a room acoustic model which is used to synthesize multi-channel audio. The proposed framework has been evaluated by informal listening tests
Laryngotracheal stenosis in critically ill patients

Abstract Conclusions: Prolonged artificial pulmonary ventilation by tracheostomy tube (>30 days) doubled the risk of stenosis (relative risk, RR = 2.04, p = 0.002). Critically ill patients with repeated tracheotomies were more than six times likely to experience stenosis (RR = 6.44, p< 0.001) than other critically ill patients. Objective: In this retrospective study, we describe the occurrence of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) in critically ill patients after elective tracheostomy who had undergone treatment for LTS at the Na Homolce Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. Methods: We studied 28 patients who were diagnosed with symptomatic LTS. Basic major demographic data, duration of mechanical ventilation, onset of tracheal stenosis after decannulation, and tracheostomy type (percutaneous dilatational or surgical tracheostomy) were recorded. The number of patients requiring repeated tracheostomies was also recorded. Results: Neither the demographic data nor the type of tracheostomy represented statistically significant risk factors. The risk factors for LTS were prolonged artificial pulmonary ventilation using the tracheostomy tube (p = 0.005) and repeated tracheostomy (p< 0.001). The mean onset of stenosis symptoms was 53.7 days (range 2–300 days), with a median of 58 days. Stenosis involved the trachea in 20 patients, subglottis in five cases, and glottis and subglottis in three cases. Seven patients (25%) underwent a tracheal resection and primary end-to-end reconstruction. One patient underwent laryngotracheoplasty with dilatation. The procedure was endoscopic in 18 patients (64.3%). Two patients (7.1%) received permanent tracheostomies.