Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative analysis by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of abnormal mitochondrial oxidation in skeletal muscle during recovery from exercise

We use the hyperbolic relationship between cytosolic [ADP] and the rate of phosphocreatine (PCr) resynthesis after exercise to estimate the apparent maximum rate of oxidative ATP synthesis (QMAX). We examine data from some human diseases in which mitochondrial oxidation may be impaired (due to reduced mitochondrial numbers, intrinsic mitochondrial defect or impaired vascular supply). Muscle responds to impaired oxidation by stimulating anaerobic ATP synthesis and/or by increasing [ADP], the stimulus to the mitochondrion. However, these responses interact: [ADP] depends on pH and [PCr], and lactic acid production tends to lower [ADP] (by lowering pH), while proton efflux has the opposite effect. We identify four patterns of results: (A) in mitochondrial myopathy, apparent QMAX is reduced and [ADP] is appropriately increased, because increased proton efflux reduces the pH change in exercise despite increased lactic acid production; (B) in some conditions (e.g., cyanotic congenital heart disease) apparent QMAX is reduced but there is no compensatory rise in [ADP], probably because anaerobic ATP synthesis during exercise is increased without increase in proton efflux; (C) in other conditions (e.g., myotonic dystrophy) [ADP] is increased during exercise but apparent QMAX is normal, suggesting either an increase in proton efflux and/or decrease in anaerobic ATP synthesis during exercise; (D) there are also conditions (e.g., respiratory failure) where, despite impaired oxygen supply, both apparent QMAX and end‐exercise [ADP] are normal. We also discuss the metabolic conditions under which end‐exercise [ADP] is increased by a mitochondrial defect. Finally, we discuss some technical aspects, including the effects of an altered mitochondrial Km for ADP and the relationship of the analysis to the halftime of PCr recovery and an alternative calculation of apparent QMAX.
EFFECTS OF BIBP3226 AND BIBP3435 ON CYTOSOLIC CALCIUM IN NEUROPEPTIDE Y Y1 RECEPTOR-TRANSFECTED CHINESE HAMSTER OVARY CELLS AND WILD TYPE CHO-K1 CELLS

The NPY Y1-receptor selective antagonist BIBP3226 exerts a dual control on the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NPY Y1 receptor- transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells (CHO-Y1 cells). It is a potent inhibitor of the NPY-evoked increase in [Ca2+]i. This can be ascribed to its antagonistic properties for the NPY Y1 receptor since its less active stereoisomer, BIBP3435, is much less potent. However, when its concentration exceeds 1 μM, BIBP3226 produces a large increase in [Ca2+]i on its own. This effect is mimicked by BIBP3435 and it also occurs in wild type CHO-K1 cells. These latter cells do not contain high affinity binding sites for [3H]NPY and [3H]BIBP3226 and, hence, no endogenous NPY Y1 receptors. It is concluded that, at moderately high concentrations, the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP3226 and its entantiomer BIBP3435 are able to increase the [Ca2+]i in CHO cells either by stimulating another receptor or by directly affecting cellular mechanisms that are involved in calcium homeostasis.
Prostaglandin H2 induces the migration of human eosinophils through the chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule of Th2 cells, CRTH2

The major mast cell product PGD2 is released during the allergic response and stimulates the chemotaxis of eosinophils, basophils, and Th2‐type T lymphocytes. The chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule of Th2 cells (CRTH2) has been shown to mediate the chemotactic effect of PGD2. PGH2 is the common precursor of all PGs and is produced by several cells that express cyclooxygenases. In this study, we show that PGH2 selectively stimulates human peripheral blood eosinophils and basophils but not neutrophils, and this effect is prevented by the CRTH2 receptor antagonist (+)‐3‐[[(4‐fluorophenyl)sulfonyl] methyl amino]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐9H‐carbazole‐9‐acetic acid (Cay10471) but not by the hematopoietic PGD synthase inhibitor 4‐benzhydryloxy‐1‐[3‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐propyl]piperidine (HQL79). In chemotaxis assays, eosinophils showed a pronounced migratory response toward PGH2, but eosinophil degranulation was inhibited by PGH2. Moreover, collagen‐induced platelet aggregation was inhibited by PGH2 in platelet‐rich plasma, which was abrogated in the presence of the D‐type prostanoid (DP) receptor antagonist 3‐[(2‐cyclohexyl‐2‐hydroxyethyl)amino]‐2,5‐dioxo‐1‐(phenylmethyl)‐4‐imidazolidine‐heptanoic acid (BWA868c). Each of these effects of PGH2 was enhanced in the presence of plasma and/or albumin. In eosinophils, PGH2‐induced calcium ion (Ca2+) flux was subject to homologous desensitization with PGD2. Human embryo kidney (HEK)293 cells transfected with human CRTH2 or DP likewise responded with Ca2+ flux, and untransfected HEK293 cells showed no response. These data indicate that PGH2 causes activation of the PGD2 receptors CRTH2 and DP via a dual mechanism: by interacting directly with the receptors and/or by giving rise to PGD2 after catalytic conversion by plasma proteins.
Signal and Power Integrity Co-Simulation for Multi-layered System on Package Modules

The coupling of simultaneous switching noise (SSN) in mixed signal system on package modules is a critical signal and power integrity (SI/PI) problem. In the presence of split planes and apertures, SSN coupling occurs both horizontally as well as vertically across layers. Thus, to catch SI and PI problems at an early stage of design requires fast signal and power co-simulation methodologies. In this paper, we outline the multi-layer finite difference method and how the accuracy of the technique can be enhanced with models for fringe and gap effects. We then briefly describe a method for integrating the signal distribution network with the power distribution network to enable co-simulation. The method is then applied to a mixed signal board containing split planes, and numerical results are compared to full-wave simulations.
Cardiac Autonomic Function Measured by Heart Rate Variability and Turbulence in Pre-hypertensive Subjects

Non-dipping blood pressure pattern was shown to be associated with increased cardiovascular events. In addition, cardiac autonomic dysfunction was found to be associated with non-dipper phenomenon. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cardiac autonomic functions in dipper and non-dipper pre-hypertensive subjects. A total of 65 pre-hypertensive subjects were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups as non-dippers (40 subjects, 52% female) and dippers (25 subjects, 52.5% female). Cardiac autonomic functions of the two groups were compared with the aid of heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence (HRT), atrial premature contractions (APCs), ventricular premature contractions (VPCs), and mean heart rate (MHR). There was no significant difference between non-dippers and dippers in basal characteristics. The two parameters of HRT, turbulence onset and turbulence slope, were found to be significantly abnormal in non-dippers than in dippers (P < .011 and P < .002, respectively). Heart rate variability parameters, including SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD, and pNN50, were found to be similar in dipper and non-dipper pre-hypertensive subjects (P < .998, P < .453, P < .205, and P < .788, respectively). APCs, VPCs, and MHR were compared, and there were statistical differences between the groups (APCs 5.80 ± 4.55, 9.14 ± 7.33, P < .024; VPCs 8.48 ± 8.83, 13.23 ± 9.68, P < .044; and MHR 70.16 ± 11.08, 76.26 ± 11.31, P < .035; respectively). This study demonstrated a possible cardiac autonomic dysfunction in pre-hypertensive subjects with non-dipper pattern. This may be a basis for future studies related to pre-hypertension and non-dipping BP pattern.
Effects of Nonlinear Frequency Compression on Speech Identification in Children With Hearing Loss

Objectives: This study evaluated effects of nonlinear frequency compression (NLFC) processing in children with hearing loss for consonant identification in quiet and for spondee identification in competing noise or speech. It was predicted that participants would benefit from NLFC for consonant identification in quiet when access to high-frequency information was critical, but that NLFC would be less beneficial, or even detrimental, when identification relied on mid-frequency cues. Further, it was hypothesized that NLFC could result in greater susceptibility to masking in the spondee task. The rationale for these predictions is that improved access to high-frequency information comes at the cost of decreased spectral resolution. Design: A repeated-measures design compared speech-perception outcomes in 17 pediatric hearing aid users (9 to 17 years of age) wearing Naida V SP “laboratory” hearing aids with NLFC on and off. Data were also collected in an initial baseline session in which children wore their personal hearing aids. Children with a wide range of audiometric configurations were included, but all participants were full-time users of hearing aids with active NLFC. For each hearing aid condition, speech perception was assessed in the sound field by using a closed-set 12-alternative consonant–vowel identification measure in quiet, and a closed-set four-alternative spondee-identification measure in a speech-shaped noise or in a two-talker speech masker. Results: No significant differences in performance were observed between laboratory hearing aid conditions with NLFC activated or deactivated for either speech-perception measure. An unexpected finding was that the majority of participants had no difficulty identifying the high-frequency consonant /s/ even when NLFC was deactivated. Investigation into individual differences revealed that subjects with a greater difference in audible bandwidth with NLFC on versus NLFC off were less likely to demonstrate improvements in high-frequency consonant identification in quiet, but were more likely to demonstrate improvements in spondee identification in speech-shaped noise. Group results observed in the initial baseline assessment using personal aids fitted with more aggressive NLFC settings than used in laboratory aids indicated better consonant identification accuracy in quiet. However, spondee identification in the two-talker masker was poorer with personal compared with laboratory hearing aids. Comparisons across personal and laboratory hearing aids are tempered, however, by the potential of an order effect. Conclusions: The observation of comparable performance with NLFC on and NLFC off in the laboratory aids provides evidence that NLFC is neither detrimental nor advantageous when modest in strength. Results with personal hearing aids fitted with stronger compression settings than laboratory aids (NLFC on) highlight the critical need for further research to determine the impact of NLFC processing on speech perception for a wider range of speech-perception measures and compression settings.
Review of various gamma radiation dosimeters based on thin and thick films of metal oxides and polymer materials

This work reviews various thick and thin film radiation sensors made to date at University of Limerick. Numerous oxides such as NiO, LaFeO/sub 3/, CeO/sub 2/, TeO/sub 2/, In/sub 2/O/sub 3/, SiO/sub 2/, MnO etc. and their mixtures in different proportions were used. Polymers such as CuPc, NiPc, MnPc and CoPc were also studied in our laboratories. Thin and thick film devices were made in the form of resistor- and capacitor-type structures, structures with interdigitated electrodes, pn- junctions and transistors. The /sup 60/Co and /sup 137/Cs sources were used to expose the samples to radiation. Current-voltage characteristics, optical absorption spectra, Raman spectra, SEM, XRD measurements etc. for the samples were recorded after each exposure procedure and values of radiation damage were estimated. Mixing materials in different proportions was found to change the sensitivity of these devices. In general thin film devices were found to be more sensitive to lower doses of radiation than the counterpart the thick films. Properties of thick film devices were restored after annealing. This suggests that these films can be reused on repeatable basis. Thin film devices can hardly undergo heat treatment as diffusion of the materials occurs. It was experimentally demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate a device that would satisfy the requirement of particular application, such as the sensitivity to /spl gamma/-radiation exposure and working dose region. Based on the above given data, these structures are therefore might be regarded as a cost-effective alternative for room temperature real time /spl gamma/-radiation dosimetry.
Cortical Indocyanine Green Videography for Quantification of Acute Hypoperfusion After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND: Acute neurological deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) correlate with outcome, and a phase of acute hypoperfusion was characterized recently. Indocyanine green (ICG) videography is an established intraoperative imaging technique with important descriptive potential. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether ICG can be used to analyze and confirm perfusion changes early after SAH. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 11 patients with acute SAH within the past 24 hours and 14 patients undergoing surgery for unruptured aneurysms. Cortical ICG videography was performed, and offline analysis included the arterial, parenchymal, and venous cortical compartment. Transit times, signal gradient, maximum of fluorescence intensity, and the area under the curve were calculated as surrogate markers for perfusion characteristics. RESULTS: Arterial, parenchymal, and venous transit times were comparable in both groups. The velocity of signal change in SAH patients was significantly lower in all 3 compartments (P < .001, P < .01, P < .001, respectively), as was the peak fluorescence intensity (P < .001). In SAH patients, fluorescence intensity did not vary between areas with and without diffuse cortical blood. Area under the curve analysis showed significantly lower values in SAH patients compared with the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Cortical ICG videography and analysis are feasible during surgery. Patients early after SAH have a significantly lower velocity of signal change, lower peak of fluorescence intensity, and lower overall area under the curve, but similar transit times. This technique can be used to quantify perfusion alteration, in this case, acute SAH, and may be used as an adapted measurement tool for intraoperative therapy. ABBREVIATIONS: AImax, peak fluorescence intensity AUC, area under the curve CBF, cerebral blood flow CBV, cerebral blood volume HH, Hunt and Hess ICG, indocyanine green ICP, intracranial pressure MAP, mean arterial pressure mFS, modified Fisher Scale MTT, mean transit time ROI, region of interest TTP, time to peak
Validity and Reliability of the PowerTap Mobile Cycling Powermeter when Compared with the SRM Device

The SRM power measuring crank system is nowadays a popular device for cycling power output (PO) measurements in the field and in laboratories. The PowerTap (CycleOps, Madison, USA) is a more recent and less well-known device that allows mobile PO measurements of cycling via the rear wheel hub. The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of the PowerTap by comparing it with the most accurate (i.e. the scientific model) of the SRM system. The validity of the PowerTap is tested during i) sub-maximal incremental intensities (ranging from 100 to 420 W) on a treadmill with different pedalling cadences (45 to 120 rpm) and cycling positions (standing and seated) on different grades, ii) a continuous sub-maximal intensity lasting 30 min, iii) a maximal intensity (8-s sprint), and iiii) real road cycling. The reliability is assessed by repeating ten times the sub-maximal incremental and continuous tests. The results show a good validity of the PowerTap during sub-maximal intensities between 100 and 450 W (mean PO difference -1.2 +/- 1.3 %) when it is compared to the scientific SRM model, but less validity for the maximal PO during sprint exercise, where the validity appears to depend on the gear ratio. The reliability of the PowerTap during the sub-maximal intensities is similar to the scientific SRM model (the coefficient of variation is respectively 0.9 to 2.9 % and 0.7 to 2.1 % for PowerTap and SRM). The PowerTap must be considered as a suitable device for PO measurements during sub-maximal real road cycling and in sub-maximal laboratory tests.
Tracking Human Hand Motion Using Genetic Particle Filter

Probabilistic visual tracking has been an active research area in the computer vision community in the last few years. Recently, the popular approach to analyze human motion is the use of particle filtering and its extension which mainly based on the Bayes' rule. It has been pointed out that an essential structure involved in the particle filter is quite similar to that in the genetic algorithm. In the sampling stage and resampling stage of the particle filter, particles are drawn from the prior probability distribution of the state evolution. Consequently, the algorithm demands a large number of particles and computationally expensive. In this paper, we elaborate on the relationship of the particle filter and genetic algorithm, then we replace the "Evolve" step of the particle filter by the mutation and crossover operators in the GA to solve the conventional Monte Carlo methods problems. Experiments with tracking real image sequences are made to compare the performance of the two algorithm.
Diabetes and the risk of infection-related mortality in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether diabetes predicts infection-related mortality and to clarify the extent to which this relationship is mediated by comorbid conditions that may themselves increase risk of infection. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Study of 9,208 adults aged 30-74 years in 1976-1980. We defined demographic variables, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and smoking by self-report; BMI, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol from baseline examination; and cause-specific mortality from death certificates. RESULTS Over 12-16 years of follow-up, 36 infection-related deaths occurred among 533 adults with diabetes vs. 265 deaths in 8,675 adults without diabetes (4.7 vs. 1.5 per 1,000 person-years, P < 0.001). Diabetes (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.2) and congestive heart failure (2.8, 1.6-5.1) were independent predictors of infection-related mortality after simultaneous adjustment for age, sex, race, poverty status, smoking, BMI, and hypertension. After subdividing infection-related deaths into those with (n = 145) and without (n = 156) concurrent cardiovascular diagnoses at the time of death, diabetic adults were at risk for infection-related death with CVD (3.0, 1.8-5.0) but not without CVD (1.0, 0.5-2.2). CONCLUSIONS These nationally representative data suggest that diabetic adults are at greater risk for infection-related mortality, and the excess risk may be mediated by CVD.
Conserving Biodiversity in Farm Animals: Do Farmer and Public Biodiversity Knowledge and Awareness Matter?

ABSTRACT Increases in biodiversity losses are a growing concern globally. In farm animals, related concerns about losses in genetic diversity have potentially increased with the emergence of breeding technologies that allow for faster genetic change in herds. Farmer and public acceptance of specific breeding practices can be influenced by a number of factors, including concerns about biodiversity and knowledge of biodiversity. The link between these factors and acceptance of new genetic technologies, if it exists, may help explain concerns about genetic technologies. This article examines the effect of attitudes and knowledge about biodiversity on the acceptance of genomic selection in livestock production using farmer and public survey data from Canada. Our results suggest that the link between biodiversity concerns and the acceptance of genomic selection is more robust for the public than for farmers. We also find that biodiversity knowledge and attitudes have opposite effects on acceptance of genomic selection.
Nasoalveolar Molding Improves Long-Term Nasal Symmetry in Complete Unilateral Cleft Lip–Cleft Palate Patients

Background: Nasoalveolar molding was developed to improve dentoalveolar, septal, and lower lateral cartilage position before cleft lip repair. Previous studies have documented the long-term maintenance of columella length and nasal dome form and projection. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of presurgical nasoalveolar molding on long-term unilateral complete cleft nasal symmetry. Methods: A retrospective review of 25 consecutively presenting nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip–cleft palate patients was conducted. Fifteen patients were treated with presurgical nasoalveolar molding for 3 months before surgical correction, and 10 patients were treated by surgical correction alone. The average age at the time of follow-up was 9 years. Four nasal anthropometric distances and two angular relationships were measured to assess nasal symmetry. Results: All six measurements demonstrated a greater degree of nasal symmetry in nasoalveolar molding patients compared with the patients treated with surgery alone. Five symmetry measurements were significantly more symmetric in the nasoalveolar molding patients and one measurement demonstrated a nonsignificant but greater degree of symmetry compared with the patients treated with surgery alone. Conclusions: The data demonstrate that the lower lateral and septal cartilages are more symmetric in the nasoalveolar molding patients compared with the surgery-alone patients. Furthermore, the improved symmetry observed in nasoalveolar molding–treated noses during the time of the primary surgery is maintained at 9 years of age.
"Inside-out" signal transduction inhibited by isolated integrin cytoplasmic domains.

The affinities of integrin alpha beta heterodimers for extracellular ligands are important regulators of cell adhesion. Intracellular signals provoke changes in the integrin extracellular domain resulting in "activation," as manifested by an increase in affinity. Interactions of integrin cytoplasmic domains with intracellular elements may mediate this "inside-out signaling. " Here we report that overexpression of chimeras of the cytoplasmic domain of integrin beta 3 or beta 1 subunits, joined to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the Tac subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor, reduced integrin affinity. In contrast, chimeras containing the cytoplasmic domain of alpha 5 or alpha IIb or of beta 3 bearing a mutation that disrupts inside-out signaling lacked inhibitory activity. These data suggest that limiting quantities of intracellular factors bind to integrin beta 3 and beta 1 cytoplasmic domains to modulate ligand binding affinity. Structural mimics of these domains may provide a novel means to alter cell adhesion.
A Cartesian Sigma-Delta transmitter architecture

This paper proposes a transmitter architecture that enables high Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) signals transmission with good linearity and efficiency. The architecture is based on the principle of transforming a non constant envelope modulated signal in a constant one using lowpass Sigma-Delta (S? ) modulators on the In-Phase and Quadrature baseband signal components. This conversion enables the use of a switched mode power amplifier which increases the transmitter power efficiency. Cartesian ΣΔ architecture performances have been studied and compared to those obtained with a Polar Sigma Delta transmitter architecture.