Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of maternal streptozotocin-diabetes on fetal growth, energy reserves and body composition of newborn pigs.

Two doses of Streptozotocin (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) were administered to two groups of pregnant gilts at d 80 of gestation to determine the influence of two levels of maternal diabetes on the gilts, their developing progenies and the body composition of the pigs. All the experimental animals received 1.82 kg of gestation diet/day throughout gestation. Serum glucose concentration increased to hyperglycemic levels in low-dose and high-dose groups; insulin concentrations decreased (P less than .01) in the high-dose, but not in the low-dose group (P greater than .05). Maternal free fatty acids (FFA) increased (P less than .05) in both treatment groups when compared with the control. However, birth weight of the litter and litter size were not affected. The liver weight increased (P less than .01) in the progeny of high-dose but not the low-dose group. Total liver DNA and RNA were not altered by the treatments, however; total liver protein and protein:DNA ratio increased (P less than .01) in the progeny of high-dose gilts. Pigs from high-dose and low-dose groups showed increases (P less than .01) in liver glycogen concentrations and percentage liver lipid. Body chemical composition data showed increases in percentage dry matter and percentage lipid (P less than .05 and P less than .01, respectively) in the progeny of high-dose but not in the low-dose group. It was concluded that streptozotocin administered to gestating gilts increased the maternal nutrient supply to the developing pigs, which resulted in higher energy status of the pigs at birth.
Voltage-gated and Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in intact human T lymphocytes. Noninvasive measurements of membrane currents, membrane potential, and intracellular calcium

Voltage-gated n-type K(V) and Ca(2+)-activated K+ [K(Ca)] channels were studied in cell-attached patches of activated human T lymphocytes. The single-channel conductance of the K(V) channel near the resting membrane potential (Vm) was 10 pS with low K+ solution in the pipette, and 33 pS with high K+ solution in the pipette. With high K+ pipette solution, the channel showed inward rectification at positive potentials. K(V) channels in cell-attached patches of T lymphocytes inactivated more slowly than K(V) channels in the whole-cell configuration. In intact cells, steady state inactivation at the resting membrane potential was incomplete, and the threshold for activation was close to Vm. This indicates that the K(V) channel is active in the physiological Vm range. An accurate, quantitative measure for Vm was obtained from the reversal potential of the K(V) current evoked by ramp stimulation in cell-attached patches, with high K+ solution in the pipette. This method yielded an average resting Vm for activated human T lymphocytes of -59 mV. Fluctuations in Vm were detected from changes in the reversal potential. Ionomycin activates K(Ca) channels and hyperpolarizes Vm to the Nernst potential for K+. Elevating intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by ionomycin opened a 33-50-pS channel, identified kinetically as the CTX-sensitive IK-type K(Ca) channel. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the K(Ca) channel in intact cells was determined by measuring [Ca2+]i and the activity of single K(Ca) channels simultaneously. The threshold for activation was between 100 and 200 nM; half-maximal activation occurred at 450 nM. At concentrations > 1 microM, channel activity decreased. Stimulation of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex using the mitogenic lectin, PHA, increased [Ca2+]i, and increased channel activity and current amplitude resulting from membrane hyperpolarization.
Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Storage I/O in Data Grid

Storage I/O has become a performance bottleneck for many data grid applications. Characterization of I/O patterns has shown that many of these applications have complex, irregular I/O patterns. In this paper we show how stochastic Petri net (SPN) models can be exploited for performance analysis of hybrid I/O data grid storage systems. We study a typical storage system SPN modeling and simplify model complexities based on aggregate I/O. Evaluation using case studies shows that we can adjust the priority schedule by changing the ratio of file I/O and multimedia I/O.
High-Resolution Water Stable Isotope Ice-Core Record: Roosevelt Island, Antarctica

This thesis presents a water-isotope (δD) record from 1900 to 2009 for the Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) ice core, Antarctica. Examination of the RICE isotope record with observation data (using global reanalysis and SST datasets) revealed details of the climate signal that is preserved within the full 763 m isotope record. RICE δD provides a proxy record, which captures the central tropical Pacific ENSO variability, the significant (p < 0.01) central Pacific δD-SST correlation pattern contain the Niño-4 SST region. Central tropical Pacific ENSO variability projects upon the Amundsen Sea region via a Pacific–South American pattern (PSA)-like teleconnection. RICE δD is primarily influenced by Amundsen Sea circulation, which coincides with the leading PSA pattern’s (PSA1) circulation focal point in the Amundsen Sea. Additionally, RICE regional physical setting (sheltered from direct impact from Amundsen Sea cyclones by WA orography) offers a unique setting, where enriched isotopes only are associated with one PSA1 polarity (El Niño, PSA1+, Amundsen Sea anticyclones). In contrast, during La Niña and Amundsen Sea cyclones, δD is depleted. Combined these settings, provides a compelling explanation to why RICE δD preserves PSA1 and ENSO variability. On interannual and seasonal time scales, the RICE δD variability is well-explained by the PSA teleconnections and their interactions over the Pacific sector. The influence from PSA2 on δD is strong during the beginning of the year (December–February, DJF). In contrast, the PSA1 influence is strong during the latter part of the year, peaking in spring (September–November, SON). The isotope record appears to preserve tropical Pacific El Niño-like interdecadal variability, particularly a decadal-signal from the central-Pacific (Niño-4 SST region) and from the Pacific-wide Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). On decadal-scales RICE δD is modulated by ENSO and Southern Annular Mode (SAM); when the correlation with SAM is active (during IPO+) δD appears to be in a depleted state and when the correlation with SAM breaks down (during IPO−) δD appears to be in a relatively enriched state. A RICE δD SST proxy reconstruction can potentially provide a record longer than the currently available observational datasets, allowing for examination of intrinsic decadal-scale tropical Pacific climate variability and its extratropical impact.
M|G|/spl infin/ input processes: a versatile class of models for network traffic

We suggest the M|G|/spl infin/ input process as a viable model for network traffic due to its versatility and tractability. We characterize the process as short- or long-range dependent by means of a simple test. To gauge its performance, we study the large buffer asymptotics of a multiplexer driven by an M|G|/spl infin/ input process. The decay rate of the tail probabilities for the buffer content (in steady-state) is investigated using large deviations techniques suggested by Duffield and O'Connell (see Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, no.118, p.363-74, 1995). We show that the selection of the appropriate large deviations scaling is related to the forward recurrence time of the service time distribution, and a closed-form expression is derived for the corresponding generalized limiting log-moment generating function associated with the input process. We apply our results to cases where the service time distribution in the M|G|/spl infin/ input model is (i) Rayleigh, (ii) gamma, (iii) geometric, (iv) Weibull, (v) log-normal and (vi) Pareto-cases (v) and (vi) have been found adequate for modeling packet traffic streams in certain networking applications. Finally, we comment on the insufficiency of the short- vs. long-range dependence characterization of an input process as a means to accurately describe the corresponding buffer dynamics.
Heterogeneity of rhythmic suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons: Implications for circadian waveform and photoperiodic encoding

Circadian rhythms in neuronal ensemble, subpopulations, and single unit activity were recorded in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of rat hypothalamic slices. Decomposition of the ensemble pattern revealed that neuronal subpopulations and single units within the SCN show surprisingly short periods of enhanced electrical activity of ≈5 h and show maximal activity at different phases of the circadian cycle. The summed activity accounts for the neuronal ensemble pattern of the SCN, indicating that circadian waveform of electrical activity is a composed tissue property. The recorded single unit activity pattern was used to simulate the responsiveness of SCN neurons to different photoperiods. We inferred predictions on changes in peak width, amplitude, and peak time in the multiunit activity pattern and confirmed these predictions with hypothalamic slices from animals that had been kept in a short or long photoperiod. We propose that the animals' ability to code for day length derives from plasticity in the neuronal network of oscillating SCN neurons.
The Negative Impact of Climate Change on Environment Balance and Species, Number of Fish on Tigris River in Mosul Dam/ Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The climate change has been impacting negatively on fish diversity in Duhok province such as in Dams, Rivers, Lakes, and other sources of water. Resolving the effect of climate change on fish populations is complicated, because climate change affects a multitude of environmental factors that may affect various processes at different levels of biological organization [1] (Lehodey et al. 2006; Tasker 2008). For example, even if the effect of changes in an environmental factor on the physiology of an organism is known (Christopher et al. 2006). It will be difficult to evaluate the outcome of this organism-level physiological response at the population or ecosystem level (MacKenzie and Köster 2004). Statistical analysis of available time-series revealed changes in distribution and abundance of fish species that correlate with environmental variables (Perry et al., 2005; Weijerman et al., 2005; Heath, 2007). However, statistical correlations do not necessarily indicate underlying processes (Köster et al., 2005).
Low-bandwidth VM migration via opportunistic replay

Virtual machine (VM) migration has been proposed as a building block for mobile computing. An important challenge for VM migration is to optimize the transfer of large amounts of disk and memory state. We propose a solution based on the opportunistic replay of user interactions with applications at the GUI level. Whereas this approach results in very small replay logs that economize network utilization, replay of user interactions on a VM at the migration target site can result in divergent VM state. Cryptographic hashing techniques are used to identify and transmit only the differences. We discuss the implementation challenges of this approach, and present encouraging results from an early prototype that show savings of up to 80.5% of bytes transferred.
Impact of Medical Technology on Expansion in Healthcare Expenses

the impact of medical technology on expansion in health care expenses has long been a subject of essential interest, mainly in the context of long-term outcrops of health spending, which must deal with the issue of the applicability of historical trends to future periods. The idea of this paper is to assess an approximate range for the involvement of technological alteration to growth in health spending, and to assess factors which might adjust this impact in the future. Based on the studies re-examined, we estimated that roughly half of growth in actual per capita health care costs is attributable to the beginning and diffusion of new medical technology, within an approximately probable range of 38 to 62 percent of expansion.
Differential Expression Profiling and Functional Analysis of microRNAs through Stage I-III Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective: To elucidate the mechanisms undergoing the pathogenesis of PTC, this study try to find stage specific microRNAs (miRNAs) using microarray chip in stage I, II and III papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues as well predict miRNAs binding target genes and their molecular functions. Methods: PTC specimens of stage I, II, and III and their paired adjacent non-tumor tissue (one patient for each stage) were collected. The expressions of miRNAs were examined using miRNA microarray chip. The most significant changed miRNAs from microarray were verified by using quantitative RT-PCR. The Potential miRNAs regulating target genes and their preliminary biological functions were forecasted with variety function prediction software. Results: Ten miRNAs exhibited sequential up regulation expression profiles and five miRNAs performed sequential down regulation throughout stage I to III (p<0.05). After normalization, Fifteen miRNAs showed significant different compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (p<0.05). Among of them, the most significant up regulation and down regulation miRNAs were miR-146b-5p and miR-335, respectively. Both of them were verified with qRT-PCR. 34 target genes for miR-146-5p and 36 target genes for miR-335 was predicted. Conclusion: MicroRNA profile assay successfully detected a branch of differential expression miRNAs between PTC and normal tissue. Some of them also showed stage specific. Biological function analysis showed that target genes were involved in five aspects including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, cycle, and signaling transduction pathway, suggesting the regulatory role of abnormal expression of critical miRNAs in the pathogenesis of PTC.
Determinants of in vivo MR imaging of slow axonal transport.

PURPOSE To investigate specific surface characteristics of magnetic contrast agents based on a monocrystalline iron oxide nanoparticle (MION) that may determine their uptake and/or transport by axons. MATERIALS AND METHODS MION were modified to have a range of surface charges or were covalently linked to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a neurotropic protein. Each agent was injected directly into the sciatic nerves or femoral arteries of rats (n = 22), and magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained several days later. The imaging results then were correlated with results at postmortem histologic examination. RESULTS Substantial uptake and/or transport by axons occurred only after intraneural injection and only if the agent had a strong surface charge or was covalently linked to WGA. The sciatic nerves appeared as uniformly hypointense structures having lengths proportional to the time from injection to imaging, and the calculated transport rates (4-7 mm/d) were consistent with slow axonal transport. Numerous Schwann cells and macrophages acquired large fractions of the injected agents and contributed substantially to the imaging results. CONCLUSION Those characteristics of MION-based contrast agents that promote efficacy after intraneural injection may impede delivery to the nerve after intraarterial injection.
Recombinant gamma interferon increases the binding of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes and a Leu-3+ T lymphocyte clone to cultured keratinocytes and to a malignant cutaneous squamous carcinoma cell line that is blocked by antibody against the LFA-1 molecule.

Because keratinocytes (KCs) express HLA-DR in a wide variety of skin diseases in which mononuclear leukocytes are observed in close apposition to KCs (i.e., graft-versus-host disease), and since gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induces HLA-DR expression on KCs, we asked whether IFN-gamma treatment of KCs would influence the adherence of mononuclear leukocytes. When allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) and a Leu-3+ T cell clone were coincubated with IFN-gamma-treated KCs (300 U/ml, 3 days), there was a marked increase in binding compared with nontreated KCs. Similar binding results were obtained using a cutaneous squamous carcinoma cell line (SCL-1) after IFN-gamma treatment. The IFN effect was relatively specific for IFN-gamma, as neither IFN-alpha nor -beta had any effect. Tumor necrosis factor exposure (500 U/ml, 3 days) increased the binding of the Leu-3+ T cell clone to both KCs and SCL-1 cells. Neutrophils displayed a less marked (but statistically significant) increase in binding to IFN-gamma-treated KCs. Using the Leu-3+ cell clone and SCL-1 cells, detailed kinetic analysis of the effect of IFN-gamma on binding was performed. The increased adherence between the cells began to appear after only 7 hours of treatment with r-IFN-gamma (300 U/ml) and reached a plateau at 48 hours, with significantly enhanced binding continuing for at least 48 hours after removal of IFN-gamma. The mechanism of binding was explored by preincubation of the PBML/Leu-3+ T cells with anti-LFA-1 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen) antibody (0.6-6.0 micrograms/ml), which totally inhibited the binding with no effect by anti-LFA-2 or -3 or class I or II antibodies despite documented binding of these antibodies to the cells. These results suggest that, after exposure to IFN-gamma, the ability of KCs to bind mononuclear leukocytes is strongly enhanced, and this adherence may be important in leukocyte trafficking in the skin as well as contributing to altered KC-leukocyte interaction, which may be of fundamental importance in a variety of skin disease.
A Meta-Learning Failure Predictor for Blue Gene/L Systems

The demand for more computational power in science and engineering has spurred the design and deployment of ever-growing cluster systems. Even though the individual components used in these systems are highly reliable, the presence of large number of components inevitably increases the failure probability of such systems. Successful prediction of potential failures can greatly enhance various fault tolerance mechanisms used in large clusters, thereby mitigating the adverse impact of failures on system productivity and total cost of ownership. In this paper, we present a three-phase failure predictor to automatically process RAS events and further discover failure patterns for prediction in Blue Gene/L systems. In particular, this paper explores the use of meta- learning to adoptively integrate base methods with the goal to boost prediction accuracy. Experiments with two RAS logs collected from Blue Gene/L systems at ANL and SDSC demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed failure predictor.
Time Series Abstraction Methods - A Survey

In knowledge discovery from time series the goal is to detect interesting patterns in the series that may help a human to better recognize the regularities in the observed variables and thereby improve the understanding of the system. Computer programs are very good in number crunching, but knowledge arises only in the head of a human. Ideally, knowledge discovery algorithms therefore use time series representations that are close to those that are used by a human.
Increased LRP mRNA expression is associated with the MDR phenotype in intrinsically resistant human cancer cell lines

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in human cancer cells is multifactorial. Previously, we reported on the association between expression of P‐glycoprotein (Pgp), the multidrug resistance‐associated protein (MRP), and the lung resistance protein (LRP) with the MDR phenotype in the NCI panel of 60 human cancer cell lines used for in vitro anticancer drug screening. Eight cell lines from this panel, manifesting widely divergent levels of in vitro drug resistance were chosen to investigate the role of MRP and LRP expression at the molecular level. LRP mRNA levels, as determined by ribonuclease protection assay, varied significantly among the 8 cell lines, and correlated closely with in vitro drug resistance to both MDR and non‐MDR related drugs. LRP mRNA expression was determined to be a stronger correlate of drug sensitivity than protein expression. In contrast, MRP mRNA levels were not significantly correlated with drug sensitivity. The rates of newly transcribed LRP or MRP mRNA did not correlate with mRNA levels, indicating that mRNA stability or other features of processing may be important in regulation of LRP and MRP mRNA levels. Using Southern blot analysis, LRP gene amplification was shown not to be associated with LRP overexpression. These data suggest that LRP expression may be an important determinant of the MDR phenotype in cell lines intrinsically resistant to cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Int. J. Cancer 72:1021–1026, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a consensus element recognized and cleaved by IRE1α

IRE1α is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-located transmembrane RNase that plays a central role in the ER stress response. Upon ER stress, IRE1α is activated and cleaves specific exon–intron sites in the mRNA encoding the transcription factor X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1). In addition, previous studies allow us to predict that IRE1α targets several RNAs other than the XBP1. In fact, we have identified CD59 mRNA as a cleavage target of IRE1α. However, it is not yet clear how IRE1α recognizes and cleaves target RNAs. To address this question, we devised a unique method that combines an in vitro cleavage assay with an exon microarray analysis, and performed genome-wide screening for IRE1α cleavage targets. We identified 13 novel mRNAs as candidate IRE1α cleavage targets. Moreover, an analysis of the novel cleavage sites revealed a consensus sequence (CUGCAG) which, when accompanied by a stem-loop structure, is essential for IRE1α-mediated cleavage. The sequence and structure were also conserved in the known IRE1α cleavage targets, CD59 and XBP1. These findings provide the important clue to understanding the molecular mechanisms by which IRE1α recognizes and cleaves target RNAs.