Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide inhibition as a mechanism for blood pressure increase during salt loading in normotensive postmenopausal women

Objectives Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO), which plays an important role in natriuresis. We determined whether changes in endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDD) and plasma ADMA predict changes in blood pressure (BP) after salt loading in normotensive postmenopausal women (PMW). Methods In 15 normotensive PMW (age 50–60 years), not receiving estrogen, ambulatory 24-h BP, plasma lipids, and ADMA were measured after 4 days of a low-salt diet (70 mEq/day) and following 7 days of high-salt intake (260 mEq/day). Brachial artery diameter at rest, during reactive hyperemia, i.e. EDD, and after sublingual nitroglycerin, i.e. non-EDD, were measured by ultrasound. The 24-h urinary NO metabolite (NOx) was measured by Griess reaction. Plasma ADMA was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results During low-salt, 24-h BP levels averaged 121 ± 11 and 69 ± 7 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), respectively. After salt loading, average 24-h BP increases were: 7.6 mmHg for SBP, 2.2 mmHg for DBP, and 5.5 mmHg for pulse pressure (PP). Increases of 24-h SBP and 24-h PP after salt loading correlated directly with changes in ADMA (partial R2 = 0.16 for 24-h SBP and 0.17 for 24-h PP, P < 0.05 for both) and inversely with changes in EDD (partial R2 = 0.13, P = 0.09 for 24 h SBP and partial R2 = 0.15, P = 0.07 for 24-h PP), after adjustment for age and cholesterol. Conclusions Inhibition of NO bioavailability by ADMA and a subsequent reduction in EDD contribute to the increase in BP during high-salt intake in normotensive PMW not receiving estrogen.
Pregnane X receptor polymorphism affects CYP3A4 induction via a ligand-dependent interaction with steroid receptor coactivator-1

Background The human pregnane X receptor is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that plays critical roles in regulating detoxification genes such as CYP3A4 by recruiting transcriptional coactivators such as steroid receptor coactivator-1 in a ligand-dependent manner. In a previous study (Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 2005, 15: 337–341), we reported a novel pregnane X receptor single nucleotide polymorphism, Q158K, which impaired transactivation of CYP3A4. Methods and results By using DNA affinity precipitation assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we have now shown that Q158K does not alter the binding affinity of pregnane X receptor for the CYP3A4 promoter. Instead, as shown using a mammalian two-hybrid assay, it decreased the interaction of pregnane X receptor with steroid receptor coactivator-1 in the presence of rifampin, clotrimazole, paclitaxel, or nifedipine but not in their absence. Rifampin treatment markedly increased pregnane X receptor protein in the wild-type pregnane X receptor-transfected cells as shown by coimmunoprecipitation but not in Q158K pregnane X receptor-transfected cells. The impaired transactivation of the CYP3A4 promoter was reversed by transfecting steroid receptor coactivator-1 expression plasmids. An additional nine pregnane X receptor variants were isolated and selected by random mutagenesis. Mutations Q158, W223, F257, I346, and L424 also reduced CYP3A4 transactivation and interaction in mammalian two-hybrid assays only in the presence of ligands. Although Q158K did not greatly affect the interaction of pregnane X receptor to silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor, pregnane X receptor-silencing mediator of retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor interaction was impaired in the F257L and I346T variants with or without the presence of pregnane X receptor ligands. Conclusion Our data indicate that the impaired induction by the Q158K variant is probably due to defective steroid receptor coactivator-1 interaction in the presence of a pregnane X receptor ligand. As the whole ligand binding domain of pregnane X receptor is required for the interaction with steroid receptor coactivator-1, we propose that, not only the Q158K variant found in Chinese, but also in native pregnane X receptor variants in other ethnic groups (D163G, A370T, R381W, and I403V) affect CYP3A4 induction by altering steroid receptor coactivator-1 recruitment.
Immediate and habitat-specific responses of macroinvertebrates to sequential, experimental floods

Abstract Spatial and temporal patterns of transported organic matter (seston) and macroinvertebrates (drift) and benthic macroinvertebrate densities were examined before, during, and shortly after each of a series of scheduled, experimental floods in a flow-regulated river in the Swiss National Park. Temporal patterns in the lateral transfer of seston, drift, and benthic macroinvertebrates were evaluated in the flooded riparian area during 3 to 4 separate floods of different magnitude. No clear spatial pattern was found in the lateral transfer of seston, drift, or benthic macroinvertebrates, but the concentrations of seston and the densities of macroinvertebrates in the drift usually were lower in samples collected farthest from the main channel. Seston and drift increased significantly (from <1 g to 4–20 g ash-free dry mass/m3 and <10 to 250–1300 ind./m3, respectively) in the initial stages of each flood, but decreased to baseflow levels after ∼2 to 3 h. Macroinvertebrates responded passively to the floods, and their densities followed the hysteresis pattern of sediment and organic particles entrained during the course of each flood. The total number of macroinvertebrates drifting during each flood ranged from 33 × 106 to >300 × 106 individuals. The average density of macroinvertebrates stranded in the riparian area after each flood ranged from ∼6000 to 22,000 ind. /m2. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from pool, run, bedrock, and riffle habitats in the main channel the day before and the morning after 5 floods to test whether specific habitats provided flow refugia for macroinvertebrates. Floods reduced macroinvertebrate densities by 14% to 92%, averaged across habitat types, and the % reduction was related to flood magnitude. Fewer organisms were lost from bedrock habitats (43%) than from the other habitat types, and the most macroinvertebrates typically were lost from pools (>90%). Macroinvertebrate responses (e.g., recovery patterns) changed significantly between early floods and sequentially later floods, reflecting temporal changes in assemblage composition and abundance.
Hospital Stockpiling Problems with Inventory Sharing

Hospitals are typically optimized to operate near capacity, and there are serious concerns that our healthcare system is not prepared for the next pandemic. Stockpiles of different supplies, e.g., personal protective equipments (PPE) and medical equipment, need to be maintained in order to be able to respond to any future pandemics. Large outbreaks occur with a low probability, and such stockpiles require big investments. Further, hospitals often have mutual sharing agreements, which makes the problem of stockpiling decisions a natural game-theoretical problem. In this paper, we formalize hospital stockpiling as a game-theoretical problem. We use the notion of pairwise Nash stability as a solution concept for this problem, and characterize its structure. We show that stable strategies can lead to high unsatisfied demands in some scenarios, and stockpiles might not be maintained at all nodes. We also show that stable strategies and the social optimum can be computed efficiently.
Performance Analysis of TAS-based MISO System in Temporally-Correlated Channel

Transmit antenna selection (TAS), an effective technique for improving the performance of multiple antennal system, has been researched extensively under the scenario of block fading channel and no delay uplink. In this paper, the performance of the TAS-based multiple-input single-output (MISO) system with delayed uplink in temporally-correlated Rayleigh fading channel are investigated. The closed-form expression of average bit error rate (BER) and outage probability are derived. Those significant results demonstrate in the time-varying channel, TAS-based MISO system with delayed uplink can hardly achieve a full diversity order.
NG2‐expressing cells in the nervous system: role of the proteoglycan in migration and glial–neuron interaction

The NG2 glycoprotein is a type I membrane protein expressed in the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS) by subpopulations of glia including oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs), and in the developing CNS additionally by pericytes. In the mouse CNS, expression of NG2 protein is already observed at embryonic day 13 and peaks between postnatal days 8 and 12. NG2+ cells persist in grey and white matter in adult mouse brain: cells in the developing and adult brain show clear differences in migration, cell‐cycle length and lineage restriction. Several groups have provided evidence that subpopulations of NG2+ cells can generate neurons in vivo. Neuronal stimulation in the developing and adult hippocampus leads to Ca2+ signals in apposing NG2+ glia, suggesting that these cells may modulate synaptic activity, and NG2+ cells often ensheath synapses. The structure of the protein with two N‐terminal LamininG/Neurexin/Sex‐hormone‐binding globulin domains suggests a role in adhesion. The C‐terminal PSD‐95/DiscsLarge/Zona Occludens‐1 (PDZ)‐binding motif has been found to associate with several PDZ proteins including the Glutamate Receptor Interacting Protein GRIP: NG2 may thus act to position AMPA receptors on glia towards sites of neuronal glutamate release. Furthermore, the NG2 proteoglycan plays a role in cell migration and spreading and associates with actin‐containing cytoskeletal structures.
Conservation-dissipation structure of linear stochastic systems

In this paper, we explore the conservation-dissipation structure and balance equations for linear systems forced with white noise process. The proposed methodology bases on a Fokker-Planck operator with the analytic expression and an operator decomposition. The symmetric component accounts for a conservative dynamics and the skew-symmetric corresponds to a dissipating system. In terms of an important structural condition, the dissipation structures are correlated with the stationary equilibrium states, while the conservation structures are correlated with the stationary non-equilibrium states. We also conduct the energy and entropy flow analysis in the non-equilibrium circumstance associated with unbalanced probability circulation. Finally, the framework enables us to evidence the First and Second Law of thermodynamics by relating the dissipativity theory to entropy production, heat dissipation, and work extraction.
Agile testing practices in software quality: State of the art review

In this paper you can find a review of articles related to agile testing practices in software quality, looking for theoretical information and real cases applied to testing inside a modern context, comparing them with the standard procedures taking into account their advantages and relevant features. As final result, we determine that agile practices in software quality have wide acceptance and many companies have chosen their use for all their benefits and impact on development software processes in several real applications, not necessarily IT governance ones, since other kind of technical applications have shown excellent results on testing.
Marketing Management for Consumer Products in the Era of the Internet of Things

In the Internet of Things (IoT) consumer products like coffee machines and smoke detectors are connected with the Internet, which effectively expands the Internet to the physical world. Such products have the ability to collect and share data from the user’s environment and, thus, their broad emergence will affect well-established concepts presented in the extant marketing literature. In order to provide a distinct contribution, we focus on customer relationship management, product life cycle management, as well as business model development and discuss implications of the enhanced capabilities of IoT products in these fields. By means of an extensive analysis of current developments in theory and practice, we systematically deduce ten research propositions. The paper concludes with a synthesis of findings and an outlook to promising directions for further research in IoT-oriented marketing management.
Anterograde Transport and Trophic Actions of BDNF and NT-4/5 in the Developing Rat Visual System

During development the viability of immature neurons may depend upon retrograde, anterograde, or paracrine trophic support. Using (125)I-labeled peptides we show that there is substantial and rapid anterograde transport of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and, to a lesser extent, neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) to central visual target areas in the neonatal rat brain. Six hours after unilateral intraocular injection, all retinorecipient regions in the thalamus and midbrain are heavily labeled. Intraocular application of physiologically relevant doses of neurotrophin has a marked effect on cells in the developing superior colliculus (SC): 24 h postinjection of BDNF or NT-4/5, the number of pyknotic profiles in the contralateral superficial SC significantly decreases, while total cell numbers increase relative to ipsilateral SC. This increase is primarily associated with neurons. The data support the hypothesis that BDNF and NT-4/5 are anterograde survival factors for postsynaptic cells in the developing rat SC.
Oxygen and nitrogen isotopic composition of nitrate in commercial fertilizers, nitric acid, and reagent salts

Nitrate is a key component of synthetic fertilizers that can be beneficial to crop production in agro-ecosystems, but can also cause damage to natural ecosystems if it is exported in large amounts. Stable isotopes, both oxygen and nitrogen, have been used to trace the sources and fate of nitrate in various ecosystems. However, the oxygen isotope composition of synthetic and organic nitrates is poorly constrained. Here, we present a study on the N and O isotope composition of nitrate-based fertilizers. The δ15N values of synthetic and natural nitrates were 0 ± 2 ‰ similar to the air N2 from which they are derived. The δ18O values of synthetic nitrates were 23 ± 3 ‰, similar to air O2, and natural nitrate fertilizer δ18O values (55 ± 5 ‰) were similar to those observed in atmospheric nitrate. The Δ17O values of synthetic fertilizer nitrate were approximately zero following a mass-dependent isotope relationship, while natural nitrate fertilizers had Δ17O values of 18 ± 2 ‰ similar to nitrate produced photochemically in the atmosphere. These narrow ranges of values can be used to assess the amount of nitrate arising from fertilizers in mixed systems where more than one nitrate source exists (soil, rivers, and lakes) using simple isotope mixing models.
Selection of non-Saccharomyces yeasts to be used in grape musts with high alcoholic potential: a strategy to obtain wines with reduced ethanol content

Ethanol content of wine has increased over the last decades as consequence of searching phenolic maturity, requiring increased grape maturity. This may result in the production of wines with excessive alcohol levels (sometimes more than 15% (v/v)), sluggish and stuck fermentations and excessive volatile acidity. Many strategies to reduce ethanol in wines are being studied, and microbial methods have some additional advantages. However, because of the broad intra- and interspecies variability, new selection criteria should be included. Therefore, the goal of the present work was to design and evaluate a simple and integral procedure for non-Saccharomyces yeast selection. This strategy allowed selection of yeasts that presented successful implantation in grape must with high alcohol potential and their use in co-cultures could reduce the ethanol in wines. A total of 114 native non-Saccharomyces yeasts were assayed to determine their respiratory, fermentative and physiological characteristics of enological interest. Hanseniaspora uvarum BHu9 and BHu11, H. osmophila BHo51, Starmerella bacillaris BSb55 and Candida membranaefaciens BCm71 were selected as candidates to design co-culture starters.
Rapid Deformation of the South Flank of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

The south flank of Kilauea volcano has experienced two large [magnitude (M) 7.2 and M 6.1] earthquakes in the past two decades. Global Positioning System measurements conducted between 1990 and 1993 reveal seaward displacements of Kilauea's central south flank at rates of up to about 10 centimeters per year. In contrast, the northern side of the volcano and the distal ends of the south flank did not displace significantly. The observations can be explained by slip on a low-angle fault beneath the south flank combined with dilation deep within Kilauea's rift system, both at rates of at least 15 centimeters per year.
Stimulation of BMP-2 Expression by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines IL-1 and TNF-&agr; in Normal and Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

Background: Destruction of cartilage in osteoarthritis is a direct effect of an imbalance between catabolic and anabolic activities in the tissue. While a great deal is known about catabolism, we sought to determine the biochemical basis of the anabolic activity.Methods: Cartilage was isolated from normal and osteoarthritic patients and subjected to both cell and explant culture. mRNA expression levels of the growth and differentiation factors bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), BMP-4, BMP-6, cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein-1 (CDMP-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and activin were determined. BMP-2 was localized in osteoarthritic cartilage by immunohistochemistry. To determine the mechanism of BMP-2 stimulation, chondrocytes were cultured with TGF-&bgr; (transforming growth factor-&bgr;), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-1&bgr; (IL-1&bgr;), and tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;). The BMP-2 response was monitored by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to ascertain mRNA levels and by Western blot analysis, BMP-2 protein quantitation, and immunohistochemistry to determine protein levels.Results: BMP-2 was found to be up-regulated in osteoarthritic chondrocytes and cartilage. In cell culture, IL-1&bgr; and TNF-&agr; increased BMP-2 mRNA and protein levels by eightfold and fifteenfold, respectively, whereas IGF-1 and TGF-&bgr;1 had no effect. In cartilage explant cultures, IL-1&bgr; and TNF-&agr; increased BMP-2 levels both intracellularly and extracellularly. Functional relevance was suggested by co-localization of BMP-2 and newly synthesized type-II procollagen within the same cells.Conclusions: BMP-2 acts as a stimulus of anabolic activities in normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Furthermore, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1&bgr; and TNF-&agr;, known to be present in synovium and cartilage of patients with osteoarthritis, stimulate the production of active BMP-2.Clinical Relevance: These results suggest that, in addition to their role in catabolism of cartilage in osteoarthritis, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1&bgr; and TNF-&agr; may stimulate anabolic events through production of BMP-2. BMP-2, in turn, increases the synthesis of chondrocyte extracellular molecules, aggrecan and type-II collagen. Consequently, local inflammatory events may contribute to the remodeling or repair of cartilage.
The Sociopolitical Economy of an Ancient Maya Village: Cerén and its Sacbe

The intellectual, artistic, and architectural accomplishments of Maya elites during the Classic period were extraordinary, and evidence of elite activities has preserved well in the archaeological record. A centuries-long research focus on elites has understandably fostered the view that they controlled the economy, politics, and religion of Maya civilization. While there has been significant progress in household archaeology, unfortunately the activities, decisions, and interactions of commoners generally preserve poorly in the archaeological record. Therefore, it has been challenging to understand the sociopolitical economy of commoners, and how it related—or did not relate—to elite authority. The exceptional volcanic preservation of the site of Cerén, El Salvador, provides a unique opportunity to explore the degree to which elites controlled or influenced commoner life. Was society organized in a top-down hierarchy in which elites controlled everything? Or did commoners have autonomy, and thus the authority to decide quotidian, seasonal, and annual issues within the village? Or was there a mixture of different loci of authority within the village and the region? Research at Cerén is beginning to shed some light on the sociopolitical economy within the community and in relation to elites in the Zapotitan valley. A domain in which there was considerable commoner-elite interaction in the Cerén area was the marketplace. Elites and their attached specialists provided products, and commoners decided which marketplace they would attend to exchange their items. Evidence from Cerén also suggests that there were numerous other domains of authority within the community that had no detectable control or influence from outside. For instance, people in the village decided what crafts or specialized agricultural products to produce as surplus to be exchanged within the community for different products from other households. Cerén community members acted independently as individuals, as households, or in other domains within the community. Understanding the multiple layers of authority at Cerén sheds light on the sociopolitical organization in one non-elite Classic period Maya community.
An Efficient Power Allocation Algorithm for Peak-Power Constrained Multicarrier Systems

Multicarrier Modulation (MCM) is an attractive transmission technique that provides improved performance in various communication systems. A fundamental issue of multicarrier communication systems is power allocation, which is addressed as a constrained multivariable nonlinear optimization problem. In this paper, we develop a computationally efficient solution for the loading of multicarrier systems that present constraints both on overall available power and maximum power per carrier. The proposed algorithm offers significantly low computational complexity over the well-known water-filling methods.
SIFLOW: A Data Centric Routing Protocol in Wireless Sensor-ActuatorNetworks

In Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs), the collaborative operation of sensors enables the distributed sensing of a physical phenomenon, while actuators collect and process sensor data and perform appropriate actions. In this paper, the coordination and communication problems in WSANs with mobile actuators are studied. A hybrid location management scheme is introduced to handle the mobility of actuators with minimal energy expenditure. WSANs are deployed in different classes of applications for accurate monitoring. Due to the high density of nodes in these networks, it is likely that redundant data will be detected by nearby nodes when sensing an event. Since energy conservation is a key issue in WSANs, data fusion and aggregation should be exploited in order to save energy. Under the restrictions of sensor networks, the SIFLOW requires only the most basic functions and reasonable resources to achieve reliable packet delivery. In this case, redundant data can be aggregated at intermediate nodes reducing the size and number of exchanged messages and, thus, decreasing communication costs and energy consumption. In this work, we propose a Data Routing Protocol for data-centric Aggregation, called SIFLOW, that has some key aspects such as a reduced number of messages for setting up a routing tree, maximized number of overlapping routes, high aggregation rate, and reliable data aggregation and transmission. Results indicate clearly that the routing tree built by SIFLOW provides the best aggregation quality when compared to other algorithms. The obtained results show that our proposed solution outperforms in different scenarios and in different key aspects required by