Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Calpain for Apoptosis in Dysfunction of the Unaffected Testis in Rats with Experimental Testicular Torsion

PROBLEM: The dynamics of calpain and involvement of apoptosis in sperm formation disorder of the unaffected testis in rats with experimental testicular torsion were investigated. METHODS OF STUDY: Using 6‐week‐old Wistar rats, an experimental unilateral testicular torsion model was prepared. The bilateral testes were excised 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 35, and 70 days after the left testis was twisted, and the unaffected testes were subjected to immunohistological staining, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting using anti‐calpain antibodies. Apoptosis was detected by the TdT‐mediated dUTP–biotin nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: By immunohistological staining, positive immunostaining by anti‐pro μ‐calpain antibody was observed in the spermatocyte nucleus, but not with anti‐pro m‐calpain antibody. The staining was increased until 7 days after testicular torsion, then decreased with progression of sperm formation disorder. By Western blotting, the intensity of staining with anti‐pro μ‐calpain antibody was increased until 7 days after torsion of the testis. Apoptosis expression in the unaffected testis was significantly inhibited by addition of a calpain inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that μ‐calpain may be involved in apoptosis expression in sperm formation disorder of the unaffected testis in unilateral testicular torsion.
A Relay Selection Based on Eigenvalue Decomposition for Cooperative Communications in Indoor Ubiquitous Sensor Networks

A new best-relay selection scheme is proposed in this letter in order to maintain a reliable cooperative communications for ubiquitous sensor networks in indoor environments. The suggested technique relies on eigenvalue decomposition to select the best relay. The simulation results confirm that the performance of the proposed approach is better than that of the previous scheme in indoor environments.
Identification of cDNA-RFLP markers and their use for molecular mapping in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Restriction fragment length polymorphic (RFLP) probes derived from complementary DNA (cDNA) clones were developed for oil palm genome analysis. A total of 321 cDNA-RFLP probes were evaluated for their ability to detect polymorphism in a mapping family derived from the selfing of a Tenera guineensis palm (palm T128). Approximately 38% (123 probes) revealed polymorphism with at least one restriction enzyme. All the 123 informative probes were used to genotype the mapping family. Majority of the markers (80%) showed expected segregation ratios, indicating that most of the RFLP markers were inherited in a Mendelian manner. A total of 116 segregating markers were assigned to 20 linkage groups spanning 693cM. The RFLP markers were found to be largely well distributed and did not show excessive clustering in any particular region. This is the first published map for oil palm containing gene specific markers. The cDNA-RFLP probes mapped will not be merely anonymous markers with symbols, but point to the actual location of specific genes. The map also proved useful in revealing QTL associated with oil to wet mesocarp (O/WM) content.
Analysis of a class of cybernetic model and its stability on China's urban-rural income gap

Since the reform and opening, the income gap has been widening between urban and rural in China, and the excessive income gap has challenged the sustainable economic growth, social justice and stability. This paper aims at predicting the developing trend of China's urban-rural income gap by establishing a class of cybernetic model and analyzing the model's stability. The results indicate that the income gap between urban and rural areas in China continues to keep an asymptotically stable growth in the future while the urban-rural income gap in China is within the controllable range.
Matrix volume measurements challenge the existence of diazoxide/glibencamide‐sensitive KATP channels in rat mitochondria

A mitochondrial sulphonylurea‐sensitive, ATP‐sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) that is selectively inhibited by 5‐hydroxydecanoate (5‐HD) and activated by diazoxide has been implicated in ischaemic preconditioning. Here we re‐evaluate the evidence for the existence of this mitoKATP by measuring changes in light scattering (A520) in parallel with direct determination of mitochondrial matrix volumes using 3H2O and [14C]sucrose. Incubation of rat liver and heart mitochondria in KCl medium containing Mg2+ and inorganic phosphate caused a decrease in light scattering over 5 min, which was accompanied by a small (15–30 %) increase in matrix volume. The presence of ATP or ADP in the buffer from the start greatly inhibited the decline in A520, whilst addition after a period of incubation (1–5 min) induced a rapid increase in A520, especially in heart mitochondria. Neither response was accompanied by a change in matrix volume, as measured isotopically. However, the effects of ATP and ADP on A520 were abolished by carboxyatractyloside and bongkrekic acid, inhibitors of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) that lock the transporter in two discrete conformations and cause distinct changes in A520 in their own right. These data suggest that rather than matrix volume changes, the effects of ATP and ADP on A520 reflect changes in mitochondrial shape induced by conformational changes in the ANT. Furthermore, we were unable to demonstrate either a decrease in A520 or increase in matrix volume with a range of ATP‐sensitive K+ channel openers such as diazoxide. Nor did glibencamide or 5‐HD cause any reduction of matrix volume, whereas the K+ ionophore valinomycin (0.2 nm), produced a 10–20 % increase in matrix volume that was readily detectable by both techniques. Our data argue against the existence of a sulphonylurea‐inhibitable mitoKATP channel.
Chronological lifespan of stationary phase yeast cells; a model for investigating the factors that might influence the ageing of postmitotic tissues in higher organisms

Budding yeast can be considered to have two distinct lifespans: (a) a replicative (budding, non‐chronological) lifespan, measured as the number of daughters produced by each actively dividing mother cell; and (ii) a chronological lifespan, measured as the ability of stationary cultures to maintain viability over time. In non‐dividing cells, essential components that become damaged cannot be diluted out through cell division but must, of necessity, be turned over and renewed. By elevating stress resistances, many of the activities needed for such renewal should be elevated with commensurate reduction in the steady‐state levels of damaged cell components. Therefore, chronological lifespan in particular might be expected to relate to stress resistance. For yeast to attain a full chronological lifespan requires the expression of the general stress response. It is more important, though, that the cells should be efficiently adapted to respiratory maintenance, since it is cultures grown to stationary phase on respiratory media that usually display the longest chronological lifespans. For this reason, respiration‐adapted cells potentially provide a better model of chronological ageing than cultures pre‐grown on glucose. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reassessment of the recombination properties of aluminium–oxygen complexes in n‐ and p‐type Czochralski‐grown silicon

The recombination parameters of aluminium–oxygen complexes in silicon have been reassessed by applying lifetime spectroscopy on several n‐ and p‐type intentionally Al‐contaminated and control samples, using a single‐level defect model. The presence of the control samples has allowed greater accuracy for the extraction of the recombination lifetime. The uncertainty ranges of the parameters have been tightened significantly by simultaneously fitting the lifetime on several samples. The electron/hole capture cross section ratio k was reassessed to be 380, in the uncertainty range of 330–460. A direct comparison of the n‐ and p‐type samples has shown that those complexes are much more recombination‐active in p‐type silicon than in n‐type silicon at low and intermediate injection levels.
Mutations in toxR and toxSThat Separate Transcriptional Activation from DNA Binding at the Cholera Toxin Gene Promoter

ABSTRACT ToxR and ToxS are integral membrane proteins that activate the transcription of virulence genes in Vibrio cholerae. ToxR can be separated into three different domains: an N-terminal cytoplasmic DNA binding domain, a central transmembrane domain, and a C-terminal periplasmic domain. ToxS is thought to enhance ToxR-mediated transcriptional activation through a periplasmic interaction. By P22 challenge phage selection for DNA binding, in combination with a screen for cholera toxin gene transcription, 12 toxR andtoxS positive control mutants producing variant ToxR proteins from the toxRS operon that bind to the cholera toxin promoter but that fail to activate transcription were isolated. One mutation in toxR specifies an E82K change in the predicted helix-loop-helix DNA binding domain and destroys ToxR-mediated activation. Seven toxR mutations included frameshifts and stop codons introduced into the periplasmic domain, and six of these mutations appeared to produce proteolytically processed shorter forms of ToxR, suggesting that even short periplasmic deletions alter the folding of ToxR in the periplasm. Deletion oftoxS did not alter the steady-state level of ToxR, and ToxR was found to be capable of binding to DNA in the absence of ToxS even though it did not activate transcription. However, the ToxS L33S variant rendered ToxR susceptible to proteolysis, suggesting that the natural function of ToxS is to complex with ToxR. Therefore, certain alterations that map to the ToxR cytoplasmic DNA binding domain, to the periplasmic domain, or to ToxS separate DNA binding activity from activator function. These data support a model where proper assembly or stability of the periplasmic domain of ToxR is enhanced by ToxS. This chaperone-like activity of ToxS may be required for the formation of the transcriptional activation complex but not the ToxR-DNA complex.
Safety , Tolerability , and Efficacy of GSK 1322322 in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections

GSK1322322 represents a new class of antibiotics that targets an essential bacterial enzyme required for protein maturation, peptide deformylase. This multicenter, randomized, phase IIa study compared the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of GSK1322322 at 1,500 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) with that of linezolid at 600 mg b.i. d. in patients suspected of having Gram-positive acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). The primary endpoint was assessment of the safety of GSK1322322, and a key secondary endpoint was the number of subjects with a >20% decrease in lesion area from the baseline at 48 and 72 h after treatment initiation. GSK1322322 administration was associated with mild-to-moderate drug-related adverse events, most commonly, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Adverse events (86% versus 74%) and withdrawals (28% versus 11%) were more frequent in the GSK1322322-treated group. Treatment with GSK1322322 and linezolid was associated with >20% decreases from the baseline in the lesion area in 73% (36/49) and 92% (24/26) of the patients, respectively, at the 48-h assessment and in 96% (44/46) and 100% (25/25) of the patients, respectively, at the 72-h assessment. Reductions in exudate/pus, pain, and skin infection scores were comparable between the GSK1322322 and linezolid treatments. The clinical success rates within the intent-to-treat population and the per-protocol population that completed this study were 67 and 91%, respectively, in the GSK1322322-treated group and 89 and 100%, respectively, in the linezolid-treated group. These results will be used to guide dose selection in future studies with GSK1322322 to optimize its tolerability and efficacy in patients with ABSSSIs. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01209078 and at http://www.gsk-clinicalstudyregister.com [PDF113414].)
A laminated waveguide magic-T in multilayer LTCC

A compact waveguide magic-T design composed of open-ended microstrip lines and laminated waveguide in multilayer LTCC technology is proposed. Two orthogonal slots are used to excite even- and odd-symmetric field patterns, respectively, resulting in a good isolation between each other. An X-band waveguide magic-T is developed in LTCC to validate the proposed topology. The measurements agree well with simulation results and present superior performance. The fabricated magic-T provides a broad bandwidth of low phase imbalance (±2.5°) and magnitude imbalance (−0.3∼0.75 dB). The sum and difference ports also give a good isolation greater than 34 dB over an extremely wide frequency range over 8 to 13 GHz.
Pro-smoking apps for smartphones: the latest vehicle for the tobacco industry?

Background Smartphone use is growing exponentially and will soon become the only mobile phone handset for about 6 billion users. Smartphones are ideal marketing targets as consumers can be reached anytime, anywhere. Smartphone application (app) stores are global shops that sell apps to users all around the world. Although smartphone stores have a wide collection of health-related apps they also have a wide set of harmful apps. In this study, the availability of ‘pro-smoking’ apps in two of the largest smartphone app stores (Apple App store and Android Market) was examined. Method In February 2012, we searched the Apple App Store and Android Market for pro-smoking apps, using the keywords Smoke, Cigarette, Cigar, Smoking and Tobacco. We excluded apps that were not tobacco-related and then assessed the tobacco-related apps against our inclusion criteria. Result 107 pro-smoking apps were identified and classified into six categories based on functionality.42 of these apps were from the Android Market and downloaded by over 6 million users. Some apps have explicit images of cigarette brands. Conclusions Tobacco products are being promoted in the new ‘smartphone app’ medium which has global reach, a huge consumer base of various age groups and underdeveloped regulation. The paper also provides two examples of app store responses to country-specific laws and regulations that could be used to control the harmful contents in the app stores for individual countries.
A study of GI-less in Parallel Transmission for OFDM system

This paper proposed a Guard Interval Less (GI-less) transmission on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for Long Term Evolution (LTE). The system will utilise the application of parallel packet transmission and the useful operation of the characteristics of IFFT. In addition with perfect frequency equalizer FEQ, the intersymbol and interchannel interference can be eliminated. Therefore, the proposed system offered the similar performance of QOS at a reasonable complexity enhancement. In this paper, an in-depth overview of OFDM with focus on physical layer will be examined.
A study on the electric property of buckypaper by eddy current testing

since 1991, Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been caused a worldwide wave of research interests because of its excellent characteristics of physical and chemical. But to the present, it's rarely being applied to daily life due to its hard-handling, tiny-size and the nature of difference between each tube (even on one tube, actually).
Spatial Distension Variations Are Associated with Focal Atherosclerotic Plaques

Background: Alterations in arterial absolute distension (AD) and relative distension (RD) in the common carotid artery (CCA), as observed by ultrasound, may relate to atherosclerotic processes in a nearby vascular segment. The main objective of the study was to establish to what extent these mechanical vascular alterations relate to carotid bulb stenosis. Methods: The AD, RD and their interrecording variation (ΔAD and ΔRD), representing the spatial inhomogeneity of AD and RD, were evaluated in 308 CCA and associated with the degree of bulb stenosis. Results: The mechanical CCA parameters were marginally correlated to the degree of ipsilateral (r = –0.14 for AD and r = –0.28 for RD) and contralateral stenosis (r = –0.21 for AD and r = –0.27 for RD). However, ΔAD (r = 0.54; p < 0.001) and ΔRD (r = 0.59; p < 0.001) were significantly correlated to ipsilateral stenosis, independent of age, gender and pulse pressure. Conclusions: The indices of CCA arterial stiffness are weakly associated with ipsilateral bulb stenosis, but their interrecording variation is a good indicator for atherosclerotic alterations in the carotid bulb. The results indicate that a focal atherosclerotic lesion is associated with modifications in the dynamic characteristics of a nearby vascular segment.
Integrated Extension Alarm System for Machinery and Cargo Monitoring

Abstract A marine automation system for merchant ships consists of machinery control & monitoring system and cargo control & monitoring system. Extension Alarm System (EAS) has been installed for machinery control & monitoring system to provide machinery alarms to bridge, cabins, and public areas. However, EAS of the latest marine automation systems requires the integrated functionality for both machinery and cargo monitoring. In this paper, we introduce general features of EAS and design Integrated Extension Alarm System (IEAS) for ACONIS-2000® system, which is the integrated marine automation system developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries co., ltd. Extension alarm panels of IEAS are classified by the system type and display the information received from the alarm server of ACONIS-2000®. Therefore, IEAS can transfer machinery and/or cargo alarms to the on-duty engineer according to the system type of alarms. In addition, IEAS provides the flexibility of the alarm group and duty configuration.
Operating region and control for power converters connected to a variable frequency and amplitude voltage grid supply

Power converters have been widely used in industrial applications as parallel and series compensators, UPQCs, and STATCOMs. These electronic devices can also be utilized on weak-grid or micro-grid systems, where both the supply voltage amplitude and frequency, may vary considerably from the nominal values. Micro-grid and weak-grid systems are commonly associated to distribute non-conventional power generation sources, where the voltage and frequency deviation are as a result of unbalances between generation and consumed power. This work studies and develops a Series Compensator control for a non-constant power supply. The study is focused on the rectifier control in order to get a stable closed loop system for sags and swells as well as frequency variations. In addition, an operating region study is performed in order to evaluate the capabilities and to find the maximum range of frequency variation tolerated by this topology. Finally, simulated results show the feasibility of the proposed control for a wide frequency and voltage variation.
Comparing density forecasts of aggregated time series via bootstrap

When forecasting aggregated time series, several options are available. For example, the multivariate series or the individual time series might be predicted and then aggregated, or one may choose to forecast the aggregated series directly. While in theory an optimal disaggregated forecast will generally be superior (or at least not inferior) to forecasts based on aggregated information, this is not necessarily true in practical situations. The main reason is that the true data generating process is usually unknown and models need to be specied and esti- mated on the basis of the available information. This paper describes a bootstrap-based procedure, in the context of vector autoregressive mod- els, for ranking the dierent forecasting approaches for contemporaneous time series aggregates. Estimation uncertainty and model misspecica- tion will be considered and the ranking will be based not only on the mean squared forecast error, but more in general on the performance of the predictive distribution. The forecasting procedures are applied to the United States aggregate ination.
A re-examination of an Irish government popularity function

This paper focuses on replication in the sense of Herrnson (1995). It re- examines the only study of an Irish popularity function (Borooah and Borooah, 1990) in the light of recent developments in econometric methodology and in Irish politics. Using error correction models the analysis provides an alternative account of the relationship between economics and government popularity to that provided by Borooah and Borooah. The findings indicate that the short-term impact of the economy is weaker than, and different from, that suggested by them. Economic influences at most set the general level of government approval rather than determine the quarter-by-quarter fluctuations.
Early Warning Scores to Predict Noncritical Events Overnight in Hospitalized Medical Patients: A Prospective Case Cohort Study

Background Physicians are often called to evaluate patients overnight with varying levels of clinical deterioration. Early warning scores predict critical clinical deterioration in patients; however, it is unknown whether they are able to reliably predict which patients will need to be seen overnight and whether these patients will require further resource use. Methods A prospective case cohort study of 522 patient nights in a single tertiary care hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was conducted to assess the ability of Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to predict patients who will need to be seen overnight by physicians and will require other healthcare resources. Prediction ability was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression models. Results The MEWS and NEWS both significantly predicted which patients needed to be seen overnight, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) for MEWS and NEWS were 0.72 (0.66–0.78) and 0.69 (0.63–0.76), respectively. Odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for MEWS and NEWS predicting need to be seen overnight were 1.52 (1.34–1.73) and 1.22 (1.14–1.31), respectively. Conclusions Both MEWS and NEWS have fair ability to predict patients who will need to be seen overnight. This may be useful for improving handover and resource allocation for overnight care.
Information theoretic learning of robust deep representations

We propose a novel objective function for learning robust deep representations of data based on information theory. Data is projected into a feature-vector space such that the mutual information of all subsets of features relative to the supervising signal is maximized. This objective function gives rise to robust representations by conserving available information relative to supervision in the face of noisy or unavailable features. Although the objective function is not directly tractable, we are able to derive a surrogate objective function. Minimizing this surrogate loss encourages features to be non-redundant and conditionally independent relative to the supervising signal. To evaluate the quality of obtained solutions, we have performed a set of preliminary experiments that show promising results.