Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Heterogeneity of SLC22 Family of Transporters in Drug Disposition

An important aspect of modern medicine is its orientation to achieve more personalized pharmacological treatments. In this context, transporters involved in drug disposition have gained well-justified attention. Owing to its broad spectrum of substrate specificity, including endogenous compounds and xenobiotics, and its strategical expression in organs accounting for drug disposition, such as intestine, liver and kidney, the SLC22 family of transporters plays an important role in physiology, pharmacology and toxicology. Among these carriers are plasma membrane transporters for organic cations (OCTs) and anions (OATs) with a marked overlap in substrate specificity. These two major clades of SLC22 proteins share a similar membrane topology but differ in their degree of genetic variability. Members of the OCT subfamily are highly polymorphic, whereas OATs have a lower number of genetic variants. Regarding drug disposition, changes in the activity of these variants affect intestinal absorption and target tissue uptake, but more frequently they modify plasma levels due to enhanced or reduced clearance by the liver and secretion by the kidney. The consequences of these changes in transport-associated function markedly affect the effectiveness and toxicity of the treatment in patients carrying the mutation. In solid tumors, changes in the expression of these transporters and the existence of genetic variants substantially determine the response to anticancer drugs. Moreover, chemoresistance usually evolves in response to pharmacological and radiological treatment. Future personalized medicine will require monitoring these changes in a dynamic way to adapt the treatment to the weaknesses shown by each tumor at each stage in each patient.
Performance Analysis of Relaying Systems With Fixed and Energy Harvesting Batteries

This paper focuses on the performance evaluation of an energy harvesting (EH) equipped dual-hop relaying system for which the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the overall system throughput are analyzed. The transmitter and relay nodes are equipped with both fixed and EH batteries. The source for harvesting at the transmitter is the solar energy, and at the relay node, the interference energy in the radio frequency is the harvesting source. Time switching scheme is used at the relay to switch between EH and decoding information. Harvest-use approach is implemented, and we investigate the effects of the harvesting energy in enhancing the performance of the relaying system by deriving estimated closed-form expressions for the cumulative distribution function of each link’s individual SNR and of the end-to-end SNR. The analytical expression for the ergodic capacity is also derived. These expressions are validated through Monte–Carlo simulations. It is also shown that with the additional EH at the transmitter (source and relay), a significant improvement in the system throughput can be achieved when fixed batteries are running on low powers.
ECG segmentation using adaptive hermite functions

Electrical activity of the heart can be measured via electrodes placed on the human body resulting in the physiological signal called electrocardiogram (ECG). Each heartbeat contains elementary waves (P, QRS, T), which represent different phases of a cardiac cycle. The main characteristics of these waves such as amplitudes, durations or shapes are of great importance for medical experts. In this article, we develop an ECG delineation algorithm which extracts these features and additionally is able to track subtle variations of the elementary waves. To this end we propose an adaptive signal model based on Hermite functions, which is optimized for each heartbeat.
Image denoising method based on a deep convolution neural network

Image denoising is still a challenging problem in image processing. The authors propose a novel image denoising method based on a deep convolution neural network (DCNN). Different from other learning-based methods, the authors design a DCNN to achieve the noise image. Thus, the latent clear image can be achieved by separating the noise image from the contaminated image. At the training stage, the gradient clipping scheme is employed to prevent gradient explosions and enables the network to converge quickly. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed denoising method can achieve a better performance compared with the state-of-the-art denoising methods. Also, the results indicate that the denoising method has the ability of suppressing different noises with different noise levels by means of one single denoising model.
The role of defensive symbionts in host–parasite coevolution

Understanding the coevolution of hosts and parasites is a long‐standing goal of evolutionary biology. There is a well‐developed theoretical framework to describe the evolution of host–parasite interactions under the assumption of direct, two‐species interactions, which can result in arms race dynamics or sustained genotype fluctuations driven by negative frequency dependence (Red Queen dynamics). However, many hosts rely on symbionts for defence against parasites. Whilst the ubiquity of defensive symbionts and their potential importance for disease control are increasingly recognized, there is still a gap in our understanding of how symbionts mediate or possibly take part in host–parasite coevolution. Herein we address this question by synthesizing information already available from theoretical and empirical studies. First, we briefly introduce current hypotheses on how defensive mutualisms evolved from more parasitic relationships and highlight exciting new experimental evidence showing that this can occur very rapidly. We go on to show that defensive symbionts influence virtually all important determinants of coevolutionary dynamics, namely the variation in host resistance available to selection by parasites, the specificity of host resistance, and the trade‐off structure between host resistance and other components of fitness. In light of these findings, we turn to the limited theory and experiments available for such three‐species interactions to assess the role of defensive symbionts in host–parasite coevolution. Specifically, we discuss under which conditions the defensive symbiont may take over from the host the reciprocal adaptation with parasites and undergo its own selection dynamics, thereby altering or relaxing selection on the hosts' own immune defences. Finally, we address potential effects of defensive symbionts on the evolution of parasite virulence. This is an important problem for which there is no single, clear‐cut prediction. The selection on parasite virulence resulting from the presence of defensive symbionts in their hosts will depend on the underlying mechanism of defence. We identify the evolutionary predictions for different functional categories of symbiont‐conferred resistance and we evaluate the empirical literature for supporting evidence. We end this review with outstanding questions and promising avenues for future research to improve our understanding of symbiont‐mediated coevolution between hosts and parasites.
Normal and Resonant Raman Spectra of CuPc-MWCNT Blend

Understanding molecular electronics is critical in advance of organic devices. Intermolecular interaction between copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was studied using infrared spectroscopy and confocal Raman microscope. The organics were prepared using solution processing method at ambient atmosphere. The infrared spectrum showed the signal from the lower wavenumber was largely dominated by broad absorption and the lacking of ‘fingerprints’ peaks provided no information on the MWCNT. Raman absorption spectra under normal (λ = 532 nm) and resonant (λ = 633 nm) were obtained to tackle the disadvantages in the former method. Fingerprint peaks of CuPc in frequency of 600 - 1600 cm-1 emerged under both excitation wavelengths. New 480 cm-1, 1100 cm-1 and 1300 cm-1 peaks were found in resonant spectra. There were no strong evidence of presence and interaction between CuPc and MWCNT detected in these measurements possibly due to overlapping vibrational states between the two compounds and insufficient quantity of MWCNT in the sample.
A taxonomic revision of the Paranoplocephala primordialis (Douthitt) complex (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) in voles and squirrels

This study redescribes Paranoplocephala primordialis (Douthitt) in the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus , describes two new, related species of Paranoplocephala Luhe from Microtus and Myodes (syn. Clethrionomys ) voles, and summarizes the patterns of their host specificity and geographic distribution, particularly in Alaska and adjacent regions in Canada and north-eastern Siberia. Paranoplocephala nearctica n. sp. and Paranoplocephala alaskensis n. sp. are shown to be slightly, but consistently differentiated host-specific parasites of Myodes rutilus and Myodes gapperi, and Microtus miurus , respectively. The related Paranoplocephala sp. from Microtus oeconomus is also suspected to be specifically distinct, but the available material does not allow a description of a new species. Paranoplocephala primordialis -like cestodes occur widely in rodents in North America, ranging from California to Labrador and Alaska, but also in north-eastern Siberia. The specific identity of the few Eurasian specimens could not, however, be confirmed. Paranoplocephala primordialis -like species seem to be rare in all host species and regions, maximum prevalences being 8%, 3%, 6.5% and 5% for P. primordialis , P. nearctica n. sp. , P. alaskensis n. sp. and Paranoplocephala sp. , respectively.
Food resource utilisation by the Magellanic penguin evaluated through stable-isotope analysis: segregation by sex and age and influence on offspring quality

We used stable-isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate sources of variation in the diet of and prey selection by Magellanic penguins Spheniscus magellanicus breeding on the Argentinean Patagonia coast. Our aim was to determine potential sources of variation in diet, focusing mainly on sex and age, although geographic and temporal effects were also taken into account. In addition, we evaluated how prey selection affects offspring quality. We measured stable nitrogen (δ 15 N) and carbon (δ 13 C) isotope values in whole blood of chicks (n = 98), yearlings (n = 15) and adults (n = 143) in 9 different breeding colonies during 2 consecutive breeding seasons (1999 and 2000). We also measured stable isotope val- ues in representative prey consumed by this species. Stable nitrogen and carbon isotope values in blood for penguins varied from 17.8 to 20.0‰ and from -18.1 to -14.8‰, respectively. Both colony and season had a significant effect on the 2 isotope signatures. Adult males had higher blood δ 15 N and δ 13 C values than females. Age significantly affected both δ 15 N and δ 13 C values, with chicks showing the highest and yearlings the lowest δ 15 N values. Chicks showed lower δ 13 C values than yearlings and adults. Mean prey δ 15 N values ranged from 13.6 ‰ in squid to 18.0 ‰ in octopus. As anchovy, the main prey consumed by the species in the study area, did not differ from other fish species (hake) in its δ 15 N value, we used it to represent a fish dietary alternative. Using a 2-source (anchovy and squid) isotopic mixing model, we de- termined that the mean proportion of anchovy in the diet was 49% for yearlings, 76% for chicks, and 69% and 67% for adult males and females, respectively. Sex and age differences in diet, as revealed by stable isotopes, may be the consequence of individual morphology (sexual size dimorphism) and re- productive constraints imposed by chick development since growing young require more nutritive prey than adults and yearlings. This reasoning would also explain the significant and positive correlation found between proportion of anchovy in the diet and body condition of chicks.
UAV efficient PID and LQR controllers design based on its stochastic state space dynamics model including disturbances

This paper explores the recent efforts to improve the functionality of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for active interaction and manipulation of objects in addition to making the loss of human lives and economic costs as low as possible. The manipulator movement with an unknown payload was analyzed concerning force and moment disturbances, which influence the mass distribution, and the center of gravity. Hence, a comprehensive dynamics mathematical model of a hexacopter is presented where the stochastic state-space model was derived in order to construct anti-disturbances controllers. Based on the compound pendulum method, the disturbances model was inserted into the stochastic model that simulates the robotic arm with a payload. This research presents a simulation study using LabVIEW, where two types of controllers, the proportional integral differential (PID) and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) are presented in order to investigate the stability of a hexacopter relative to the earth frame. The latter constitutes a challenge for UAV control performance especially with the presence of uncertainties and disturbances.
Do alcohol expectancies and peer delinquency/substance use mediate the relationship between impulsivity and drinking behaviour in adolescence?

AIMS To investigate (1). whether aggressive and delinquent behaviour problems predict subsequent adolescent drinking behaviour; and (2). to what extent this association is mediated by alcohol expectancies and/or peer delinquency/substance use. METHODS 147 adolescents (approximately 15 years old) were interviewed with regard to their drinking behaviour. In addition, several self-rating questionnaires were given to gather information regarding the peers of these children. RESULTS As proposed by the Acquired Preparedness Model (APM), we found that behavioural problems were related to quantity and frequency of alcohol consumed, and that this relationship was mediated by alcohol expectancies. Regarding peer relations, we found positive correlations between drinking behaviour and peer delinquency/substance use, aggression/delinquency and alcohol expectancies. Furthermore, the association between behavioural problems and drinking decreased dramatically if peer delinquency/substance use was accounted for. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that both alcohol expectancies and peer delinquency/substance use predicted alcohol consumption of adolescents at the 1-year follow-up above and beyond the effects of age, sex, family history of alcoholism and aggression/delinquency of respondents. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol expectancies and peer delinquency/substance use are both crucial to the amount and frequency of adolescent alcohol use. They should be considered in designing prevention and intervention strategies in this age group.
Transverse-momentum-dependent Multiplicities of Charged Hadrons in Muon-Deuteron Deep Inelastic Scattering

A semi-inclusive measurement of charged hadron multiplicities in deep inelastic muon scattering off an isoscalar target was performed using data collected by the COMPASS Collaboration at CERN. The following kinematic domain is covered by the data: photon virtuality Q2>1 (GeV/c)2, invariant mass of the hadronic system W>5 GeV/c2, Bjorken scaling variable in the range 0.003<x<0.4, fraction of the virtual photon energy carried by the hadron in the range 0.2<z<0.8, and square of the hadron transverse momentum with respect to the virtual photon direction in the range 0.02 (GeV/c)2<PhT2<3 (GeV/c)2. The multiplicities are presented as a function of PhT2 in three-dimensional bins of x, Q2, z and compared to previous semi-inclusive measurements. We explore the small-PhT2 region, i.e. PhT2<1 (GeV/c)2, where hadron transverse momenta are expected to arise from nonperturbative effects, and also the domain of larger PhT2, where contributions from higher-order perturbative QCD are expected to dominate. The multiplicities are fitted using a single-exponential function at small PhT2 to study the dependence of the average transverse momentum ⟨PhT2⟩ on x, Q2 and z. The power-law behavior of the multiplicities at large PhT2 is investigated using various functional forms. The fits describe the data reasonably well over the full measured range.
Growth of ZnO nanotube arrays and nanotube based piezoelectric nanogenerators

We present a systematic study of the growth of hexagonal ZnO nanotube arrays using a solution chemical method by varying the growth temperature (<100 °C), time and solution concentration. A piezoelectric nanogenerator using the as-grown ZnO nanotube arrays has been demonstrated for the first time. The nanogenerator gives an output voltage up to 35 mV. The detailed profile of the observed electric output is understood based on the calculated piezoelectric potential in the nanotube with consideration of the Schottky contact formed between the metal tip and the nanotube; and the mechanism agrees with that proposed for nanowire based nanogenerator. Our study shows that ZnO nanotubes can also be used for harvesting mechanical energy.
Analyzing Coverage Probability of Multitier Heterogeneous Networks Under Quantized Multiuser ZF Beamforming

In this paper, we analyze the coverage probability of a large-scale heterogenous cellular network (HetNet) where base stations (BSs) are equipped with multiantennas, serving a number of single-antenna user equipments (UEs) in the downlink—space division multiple access (SDMA). Adopting the tool of stochastic geometry, we analyze the coverage probability under the quantized zero-forcing beamforming (ZFBF). This analysis, however, intricate as a typical UE in a given cell experiences: i) a residual inter-user interference (IUI) rendered by the quantization error; ii) quantization-driven statistical correlation between its attending signal power and IUI; iii) Nakagami-type fading environment, induced by postprocessing ZFBF; and iv) intercell interference (ICI). Current related literature has not effectively accounted for issues (i), (ii), and (iv) and commonly resorted to simplifying scenarios of full SDMA (i.e., exponential fading), independency of IUI and attending signal power, approximating IUI via an exponential random variable, and the quantization cell approximation (QCA). Our analysis relaxes such limiting assumptions; it includes the more relevant random vector quantization (RVQ) method, and compared to the literature, does not resort to the evaluation of a higher order differentiation for the evaluation of the coverage probability by exploiting our previously developed method. We further introduce three novel approximations of the coverage probability: RVQ-M, RVG-G, and QCA, which the first two approximations are given in semi-closed-form formulas (requiring a simple integration step) and the last approximation is in a closed-form expression. All approximations are numerically affordable, and we confirm the RVG-G approximation is the most accurate one. Finally, we exploit our analysis to study several practically insightful issues to shed some lights on: 1) for given feedback capacity and number of UEs, when desification becomes beneficial; 2) how multitierness of HetNets can be exploited for substantially reducing feedback capacity; and 3) an adaptive share of feedback capacity for the purpose of CDI as well as channel quality information (CQI) feedbacks, when there is an uplink penalty subjected for the feedback procedure and the scheduled data rate at each BS is specified adaptively based on the quantized CQI.
solvation in proteins A fast method for the determination of fractional contributions to

A fast method for the calculation of residue contributions to protein solvation is presented. The approach uses the exposed polar and apolar surface of protein residues and has been parametrized from the fractional contributions to solvation determined from linear response theory coupled to molecular dynamics simulations. Application of the method to a large subset of proteins taken from the Protein Data Bank allowed us to compute the expected fractional solvation of residues. This information is used to discuss when a residue or a group of residues presents an uncommon solvation profile.
Gender-related differences in the excess pressure component of central aortic pressure waveform of healthy young

Gender-related difference in cardiovascular diseases is one of the most investigated and still unsolved issues. Finding an explanation to this topic might have important implications for the understanding of the differences between men and women in diseases and possibly lead to the development of gender-specific strategies for its management. Recent studies have proposed that the capacitive or reservoir function of the aorta and large elastic arteries plays a major role in determining the pulse wave morphology. The pressure waveform can be explained in terms of a reservoir pressure related to arterial compliance and an “excess” or wave-related pressure associated with traveling waves. Gender-differences in the ascending aorta pressure waveform reservoir and excess components are to be characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by means of a mathematical approach, gender-related differences in the central aortic pressure waveform components. Central aortic pressure waveform was non-invasively obtained in 22 healthy subjects (Age: 20 years old; 11 female). Males and females showed differences in the level and time to maximal excess pressure component, but no gender-related differences were found in the reservoir one.
A neural circuit mechanism for regulating vocal variability during song learning in zebra finches

Motor skill learning is characterized by improved performance and reduced motor variability. The neural mechanisms that couple skill level and variability, however, are not known. The zebra finch, a songbird, presents a unique opportunity to address this question because production of learned song and induction of vocal variability are instantiated in distinct circuits that converge on a motor cortex analogue controlling vocal output. To probe the interplay between learning and variability, we made intracellular recordings from neurons in this area, characterizing how their inputs from the functionally distinct pathways change throughout song development. We found that inputs that drive stereotyped song-patterns are strengthened and pruned, while inputs that induce variability remain unchanged. A simple network model showed that strengthening and pruning of action-specific connections reduces the sensitivity of motor control circuits to variable input and neural ‘noise’. This identifies a simple and general mechanism for learning-related regulation of motor variability. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.03697. 001