Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ion channels in a skeletal muscle cell line from a Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient

A cell Iine (RCDMD), derived from a muscle biopsy taken from a 7‐yearold patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), was established in vitro using conditioned media from the UCHT1 thyroid cell line as described elsewhere (Biochim Biophys Acta 1992;1134:247–255). Unlike other cell lines established by the same procedure, RCDMD cells were highly refractory to transformation and the resulting cell line grew slowly with a doubling time of approximately 72 h. Further, cells continue to grow after more than 20 doublings and 15 passages. Some of the characteristics of the cell line include lack of reaction with antidystrophin antibodies and the presence of receptors for the dihydropyridine PN200‐110 (Kd) = 0.3 ± 0.05 nmol/L and Bmax = 1.06 ± 0.03 pmol/mg protein and for α‐bungarotoxin (Kd = 1.02 ± 0.17 nmol/L and Bmax = 4.2 ± 0.37 pmol/mg protein). Patch clamped cells in the voltage clamp configuration lack ion currents when growing in complete medium with high serum, but they can be induced to differentiate by serum deprivation and addition of hormones and trace elements. After 5 days in differentiating medium, noninactivating, delayed rectifier potassium currents are seen. At day 12, A‐type, inactivating potassium currents as well as transient inward currents are seen. In conditions in which sodium and potassium currents are absent, a very fast activating and fast inactivating calcium current was evident. The cell line offers the possibility of studying cellular mechanisms in the pathophysoplogy of DMD. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Regulation of alpha-bungarotoxin receptor accumulation in chick retina cultures: effects of membrane depolarization, cyclic nucleotide derivatives, and Ca2+

The regulation of a putative neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Btx)-binding protein, was investigated in primary cultures of chick embryo retina. Depolarization of the cells by veratrum alkaloids, or by a high K+ concentration of the culture medium, reduced the accumulation of cell surface alpha-Btx receptors in these cultures. In contrast, the addition of a blocker of voltage- dependent Na+ channels, tetrodotoxin, increased alpha-Btx receptor accumulation in differentiated retina cultures. Derivatives of cyclic adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate also increased the number of alpha-Btx receptor sites, whereas dibutyryl cyclic guanosine 3′:5′-monophosphate, but not 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine 3′:5′-monophosphate, had the opposite effect. The blocker of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, D600, and media containing a reduced Ca2+ concentration also increased alpha-Btx receptor levels. All of these different culture conditions altered the rate of receptor loss after blocking protein synthesis by cycloheximide. These results show that the synthesis of the neuronal alpha-Btx receptor is regulated by membrane depolarization, cyclic nucleotides, and Ca2+ in a fashion analogous to the regulation of muscle acetylcholine receptor.
Random trees with superexponential branching weights

We study rooted planar random trees with a probability distribution which is proportional to a product of weight factors wn associated with the vertices of the tree and depending only on their individual degrees n. We focus on the case when wn grows faster than exponentially with n. In this case, the measures on trees of finite size N converge weakly as N tends to infinity to a measure which is concentrated on a single tree with one vertex of infinite degree. For explicit weight factors of the form wn = ((n − 1)! )α with α > 0, we obtain more refined results about the approach to the infinite volume limit.
Virtual dissection and physical collaboration

This paper explores how software can be designed for individual use or for collaboration in the physical or virtual world, focusing on physical collaboration. The case study explored is the design and use of frog and human dissection simulation software. Since socialization has traditionally played an important role in the dissection laboratory experience, yet dissection simulations do not typically incorporate any online or offline interactions, the idea of virtual dissections or other types of educational software for physical collaboration is proposed.
Unsupervised Aspect Level Sentiment Analysis Using Self-Organizing Maps

This paper presents an unsupervised method for aspect level sentiment analysis that uses the Growing Hierarchical Self-organizing Maps. Different sentences in a product review refer to different aspects of the reviewed product. We use the Growing Hierarchical Self-organizing Maps in order to classify the review sentences. This way we determine whether the various aspects of the target entity (e.g. a product) are opinionated with positive or negative sentiment in the review sentences. By classifying the sentences against a domain specific tree-like ontological taxonomy of aspects and sentiments associated with the aspects (positive/ negative sentiments), we really classify the opinion polarity as expressed in sentences about the different aspects of the target object. The approach proposed has been tested on a collection of product reviews, more exactly reviews about photo cameras.
Calcitonin Gene‐Related Peptide in Noradrenergic Transmission in Rat Hypothalamus

In the present study, we examined the regulatory mechanisms of calcitonin gene-related peptide on norepinephrine release in rat hypothalamus. Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibited the stimulationevoked norepinephrine release from hypothalamic slices of Sprague-Dawley rats in a dose-dependent manner, although the peptide did not affect basal release of norepinephrine. The blockade of the α2-adrenergic receptors by RX 781094 failed to modulate the inhibitory effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on norepinephrine release. Pretreatment of slices with islet activating protein, a toxin that interferes with the coupling of the inhibitory receptors to adenylate cyclase, did not affect the suppression of norepinephrine release by calcitonin gene-related peptide. However, Bay K 8644, a dihydropyridinesensitive calcium channel agonist, significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on norepinephrine release. These results show that calcitonin gene-related peptide might inhibit norepinephrine release in rat hypothalamus, partially mediated by interactions with dihydropyridinesensitive Ca2+ channels but not by interactions with presynaptic α2-adrenergic receptors and inhibitory guanosine triphosphate binding proteins. Furthermore, the finding suggests the possible involvement of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the regulation of sympathetic nervous activity in the central nervous system.
Clinical predictors of and mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome: Potential role of red cell transfusion*

Objective:Clinical predictors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been studied in few prospective studies. Although transfusions are common in the intensive care unit, the role of submassive transfusion in non-trauma-related ARDS has not been studied. We describe here the clinical predictors of ARDS risk and mortality including the role of red cell transfusion. Design:Observational prospective cohort. Setting:Intensive care unit of Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients:We studied 688 patients with sepsis, trauma, aspiration, and hypertransfusion. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Two hundred twenty-one (32%) subjects developed ARDS with a 60-day mortality rate of 46%. Significant predictors for ARDS on multivariate analyses included trauma (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.53), diabetes (ORadj 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.92), direct pulmonary injury (ORadj 3.78, 95% CI 2.45–5.81), hematologic failure (ORadj 1.84, 95% CI 1.05–3.21), transfer from another hospital (ORadj 2.08, 95% CI 1.33–3.25), respiratory rate >33 breaths/min (ORadj 2.39, 95% CI 1.51–3.78), hematocrit >37.5% (ORadj 1.77, 95% CI 1.14–2.77), arterial pH <7.33 (ORadj 2.00, 95% CI 1.31–3.05), and albumin ≤2.3 g/dL (ORadj 1.80, 95% CI 1.18–2.73). Packed red blood cell transfusion was associated with ARDS (ORadj 1.52, 95% CI 1.00–2.31, p = .05). Significant predictors for mortality in ARDS included age (ORadj 1.96, 95% CI 1.50–2.53), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score (ORadj 1.78, 95% CI 1.16–2.73), trauma (ORadj 0.075, 95% CI 0.006–0.96), corticosteroids before ARDS (ORadj 4.65, 95% CI 1.47–14.7), and arterial pH <7.22 (ORadj 2.32, 95% CI 1.02–5.25). Packed red blood cell transfusions were associated with increased mortality in ARDS (ORadj 1.10 per unit transfused; 95% CI 1.04–1.17) with a significant dose-dependent response (p = .02). Conclusions:Important predictors for the development of and mortality in ARDS were identified. Packed red blood cell transfusion was associated with an increased development of and increased mortality in ARDS.
Adaptive Piecewise Linear Predistorters for Nonlinear Power Amplifiers With Memory

We propose novel direct and indirect learning predistorters (PDs) that employ a new baseband simplicial canonical piecewise linear (SCPWL) function. The performance of the proposed PDs is easily controlled by varying the number of segments of the SCPWL function. When comparing to polynomial-based PDs, our SCPWL-based PDs are more robust for modeling strong nonlinearities and are less sensitive to input noise. In particular, we show that noise appearing in the feedback path of an indirect learning SCPWL-PD has negligible effect on the performance while the polynomial counterpart suffers from a noise-induced coefficient bias. We consider adaptive implementations of both Hammerstein-based and memory-based SCPWL PDs; the former featuring less parameters to be identified while the latter renders more straightforward parameter identification. When deriving the PD algorithms, we avoid a separate PA identification step which allows for a true real-time, or sample-by-sample, implementation without an alternating PA and PD identification procedure. However, to arrive at efficient sample-by-sample algorithms for Hammerstein PDs we need to bypass the problem of the associated nonconvex cost function. This is done by employing a modified, linear-in-the-parameter, Wiener model whose parameters can be explicitly or implicitly used for both indirect and direct learning. Extensive simulations confirm that the proposed SCPWL PDs outperform their polynomial counterparts, especially when noise is present in the feedback path of the indirect learning structure. The same is also verified by circuit level simulations on the Freescale MRF6S23100H class-AB PA in an 802.16d WiMAX system.
Controversies About the Use of Antidepressants in Pregnancy

Abstract There is controversy about the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy. Decisions about their use are affected by understanding the risks of these medications causing pregnancy loss, congenital malformations, neonatal adaptation syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, autism spectrum disorder, or long-term neurocognitive deficits. Although some research has raised concerns about antidepressants causing harm to the fetus and neonate, other studies have disputed these findings or noted that any risks found do not exceed the risk of congenital problems found in 1% to 3% of neonates in the general population. Untreated depression during pregnancy can also cause harm from poor diet, substance abuse, suicidal behavior, or prematurity. Decisions about the use of antidepressants during pregnancy must be based on a risk-benefit analysis based on the best evidence of the risks of treating or not treating maternal depression.
Neuroprotective effects of diosgenin in rats with experimental spinal cord injury via promotion of autophagy

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disorder in the central nervous system with neurological deficits and loss of motor function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of diosgenin (DSG), a natural extract which exerts anti-inflammatory effects on many diseases, in a rat model of SCI. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups (Sham group, Vehicle group, DSG (100 mg/ kg) group and DSG (200 mg/kg) group). SCI rat models were established based on the Allen’s method. DSG was orally administrated (100, 200 mg/kg b.w., respectively) after induction of SCI for consecutive 21 days. Neurological function recovery was evaluated using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) open-field locomotor rating scale and Rivlin’s inclined plane test. Seven days after SCI, the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits to examine the inflammatory responses in perilesional tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3) and autophagy associated proteins (Beclin 1 and light chain 3-II (LC3-II)). Spinal neurons were cultured to investigate the anti-inflammation effect of DSG in vitro. Results: We observed that administration of DSG significantly alleviated SCI-induced neurological deficits. Compared with Vehicle group, treatment with DSG following SCI markedly reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Moreover, compared with Vehicle group, administration of DSG also evidently attenuated SCI-induced apoptosis, and enhanced SCI-induced autophagy. Besides, administration of DSG significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in LPS-treated spinal cord neurons, and this reduction was suppressed by CQ treatment. Conclusion: Taken together, the results clearly showed that DSG attenuates SCI-induced secondary injury through inhibiting the inflammatory response, repressing apoptosis, and promoting autophagy in perilesional tissues.
Utilization of Separate Caches to Eliminate Cache Pollution Caused by Memory Management Functions

Data intensive service functions such as memory allocation/de-allocation, data prefetching, and data relocation can pollute processor cache in conventional systems since the same CPU (using the same cache) executes both application code and system services. In this paper we show the improvements in cache performance that can result from the elimination of the cache pollution using separate caches for memory management functions. For the purpose of our study we simulate the existence of separate hardware units for the application and the memory management services using two Unix processes. One process executes application code (simulating main CPU) while the other executes memory management code. We collected address traces for the two processes and used Dinero IV cache simulator to evaluate the expected cache behaviors. A second goal of this paper is to examine the cache performance of different memory allocators. In this paper we compare two allocators: a very popular segregated list based allocator (originally due to Doug Lea) and our own binary-tree based allocator (called Address-ordered Binary Tree).
Determinants of the induction of cortical plasticity by non‐invasive brain stimulation in healthy subjects

The ability to induce cortical plasticity with non‐invasive brain stimulation (NBS) techniques has provided novel and exciting opportunities for examining the role of the human cortex during a variety of behaviours. Additionally, and importantly, the induction of lasting changes in cortical excitability can, under some conditions, reversibly modify behaviour and interact with normal learning. Such findings have driven a large number of recent studies examining whether by using such approaches it might be possible to induce functionally significant changes in patients with a large variety of neurological and psychiatric conditions including stroke, Parkinson's disease and depression. However, even in neurologically normal subjects the variability in the neurophysiological and behavioural response to such brain stimulation techniques is high. This variability at present limits the therapeutic usefulness of these techniques. The cause of this variability is multifactorial and to some degree still unknown. However, a number of factors that can influence the induction of plasticity have been identified. This review will summarise what is known about the causes of variability in healthy subjects and propose additional factors that are likely to be important determinants. A greater understanding of these determinants is critical for optimising the therapeutic applications of non‐invasive brain stimulation techniques.
“Lazy kids watch TV”

Surprisingly little research has explored the association between children’s perceptions of various media and patterns of children’s media exposure (Abelman & Atkin, 2000; Beentjes, Koolstra, Marseille, & van der Voort, 2001; Bohme-Durr, 1990; Lyle & Hoffman, 1972). While such an approach is consistent with uses and gratifications theory, which views media consumers as actively selecting content that satisfies their needs and desires (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974; Palmgreen, 1984; Rubin, 2002), much of the uses and gratifications research conducted with children has focused on establishing typologies of motives for engaging with various media (e.g. Brown, 1976; Greenberg, Ku, & Li, 1989; Rubin, 1977; Schramm, Lyle, & Parker, 1961; Valkenburg & Soeters, 2001; von Feilitzen, 1976). Although, it is important to identify a child’s motivations or reasons for using a particular medium, knowledge of children’s media perceptions, or their beliefs about what particular media are used by whom and why, becomes much more valuable if it is used as a way to understand and explain children’s actual media use. The purposes of this exploratory study were to identify young children’s perceptions of both old and new media and to relate these perceptions to their media exposure. As defined by Katz, Blumler, and Gurevitch (1974), uses and gratifications research addresses ‘‘(1) the social and psychological origins of (2) needs, which generate (3) expectations of (4) the mass media or other sources, which lead to (5) differential patterns of media exposure (or engagement in other activities), resulting in (6) need gratifications and (7) other consequences, perhaps mostly unintended ones’’ (p. 20). At the core of uses and gratifications theory is the notion of audience activity (e.g. Katz et al., 1973; Palmgreen, 1984; Ruggerio, 2000). Individuals intentionally seek out media experiences that fulfill their needs, a process that depends on perceptions of media and media content (Katz et al., 1973; Papacharissi & Rubin, 2000; Rubin, 2002). As Palmgreen (1984) commented, ‘‘the concept of audience expectations concerning the characteristics of media and potential gratifications to be obtained is essential to the uses and gratifications assumption of an active audience’’ (p. 35). Thus, media perceptions influence the uses people ascribe to various media and to specific media content.
Smart RF energy harvesting communications: challenges and opportunities

RF energy harvesting (RFH) is emerging as a potential method for the proactive energy replenishment of next generation wireless networks. Unlike other harvesting techniques that depend on the environment, RFH can be predictable or on demand, and as such it is better suited for supporting quality-of-service-based applications. However, RFH efficiency is scarce due to low RF-to-DC conversion efficiency and receiver sensitivity. In this article, we identify the novel communication techniques that enable and enhance the usefulness of RFH. Backed by some experimental observations on RFH and the current state of the art, we discuss the challenges in the actual feasibility of RFH communications, new research directions, and the obstacles to their practical implementation.
Acquired dyslexias and the computational modelling of reading

Two current approaches to the computational modelling of reading are the connectionist triangle model approach (parallel processing; distributed representations; models developed via a connectionist training algorithm such as backpropagation) and the DRC (“dual route cascaded”) model (serial processing components permitted; local representations; model architecture specified by the modeller rather than acquired by a learning algorithm). One way of testing such computational models is to lesion the computer programs that instantiate the models and study how well the impaired reading of such damaged models corresponds to the patterns of impaired reading seen in people with acquired dyslexia. This is computational cognitive neuropsychology. It has been used with both types of model in attempts to simulate acquired surface dyslexia and acquired phonological dyslexia. The results of this body of work currently favour the DRC model over connectionist models developed within the triangle model framework. Versions of this paper were presented at the European Society for Cognitive Psychology meeting, Granada, 2003; the Psychonomic Society meeting, Vancouver, 2003; and the European Workshop on Cognitive Neuropsychology, Bressanone, 2004. I thank Alfonso Caramazza, Ken Forster, and Anna Woollams for useful comments on an earlier draft.
On channel estimation using superimposed training and first-order statistics

Channel estimation for single-input multiple-output (SIMO) time-invariant channels is considered using only the first-order statistics of the data. A periodic (nonrandom) training sequence is added (superimposed) at a low power to the information sequence at the transmitter before modulation and transmission. Recently superimposed training has been used for channel estimation assuming no mean-value uncertainty at the receiver and using periodically inserted pilot symbols. We propose a different method that allows more general training sequences and explicitly exploits the underlying cyclostationary nature of the periodic training sequences. We also allow mean-value uncertainty at the receiver. Illustrative computer simulation examples are presented.
FlashSkipList: indexing on flash devices

Flash memory has been used as storage media on a wide spectrum of devices, such as sensor nodes, mobile devices, portable computers and enterprise servers. However, due to the unique characteristics of flash memory, especially the erase-before-write limitation, the design of flash-optimized index structures becomes an important and challenging problem. In this paper, we propose new index structure and optimization techniques to address this problem. Our key contributions include: (1) An innovative indexing framework which combines a write-optimized component with a read-optimized component to improve both write and read performance; (2) A flash-optimized index structure, called FlashSkipList, which can efficiently support dynamic updates and adapt to various workloads and flash devices; (3) Several optimization techniques for flash-friendly memory and storage management. Experimental evaluation shows FlashSkipList achieves high efficiency across a wide range of workloads, flash devices and memory constraints, significantly outperforms state-of-the-art flash-optimized indexing schemes.