Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does the neurotransmitter transporter underlie adaptation at a histaminergic photoreceptor synapse?

Using autoradiographic and biochemical techniques, we studied the sodium-dependent forward and reverse transport of the neurotransmitter histamine in an arthropod photoreceptor in order to test whether the transporter plays a central role in visual signal transfer at this synapse. In particular, we asked whether the histamine transporter might be the important factor in synaptic adaptation, the process by which the operating range of the synapse adapts to increasing depolarizations of the photoreceptor in increasing background light. Drugs known from electrophysiological observations to interfere with synaptic adaptation blocked the uptake of [3H]histamine into photoreceptors. These drugs also blocked the sodium (Na)-triggered efflux of [3H]histamine, previously loaded into photoreceptors, via the histamine transporter. Several lines of evidence showed that efflux of [3H]histamine did not occur via calcium-dependent exocytosis. First, efflux occurred when the preparation was bathed in calcium (Ca)-free/EGTA salines or in cobalt (Co)-containing salines. Even more importantly, efflux could be elicited from axons, whose membranes must contain the transporter protein since they take up [3H]histamine independently from the presynaptic terminals. Since both adaptation and the histamine transporter are blocked by the same agents, the transporter may underlie adaptation by maintaining the cleft histamine concentration in a particular range independent of light intensity. We also characterized the transporter further and found that it is partially dependent on chloride ions, and that neither [3H]norepinephrine nor [3H]dopamine are transported (at 20 μM), adding to evidence that the transporter is highly selective for histamine.
Pigment epithelium-derived factor and its phosphomimetic mutant induce JNK-dependent apoptosis and p38-mediated migration arrest.

Alexander Konson, Sunila Pradeep, Cosimo Walter D’Acunto, and Rony Seger This article has been withdrawn by the authors. The authors were recentlymade aware of issues in Figs. 2A and 7A as well as supplemental Fig. S4. The 4-h EEE-PEDF panel was reused in the 10 nM EEE-PEDF panel in Fig. 2A. In Fig. 7A, the control panel for BAEC cells was reused in the SP600125 panel from BAEC cells in the presence of bFGF and EEE-PEDF. Lane 7 of the pAKT panel from BAEC cells was inappropriately manipulated in supplemental Fig S4. In the interest of maintaining accuracy in the published scientific literature, the authors wish to withdraw this article. However, the authors have full confidence in the findings and conclusions of this paper and have replicated the findings in subsequent work. WITHDRAWALS/RETRACTIONS
Haemovigilance data on the use of methylene blue virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma with the Theraflex MB‐Plasma System in comparison to quarantine plasma: 11 years' experience

Haemovigilance is an effective tool for identifying adverse effects of blood components. We analyse cumulative haemovigilance data in order to compare the two secured therapeutic plasmas that have been in use for more than 11 years in Greece – methylene blue‐treated fresh frozen plasma (MB‐FFP) and quarantine fresh frozen plasma (Q‐FFP) – regarding safety and adverse events.
Folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine status and chromosome damage rate in lymphocytes of older men.

Deficient levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 are associated with elevated chromosome damage rate and high concentrations of homocysteine in the blood. We have therefore performed a study to determine the prevalence of folate deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia in 64 healthy men aged between 50 and 70 years, and evaluate the relationship of these micronutrient levels in the blood with the micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We also performed a placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study to determine whether supplementation of the diet with a daily dose of 0.7 mg (as a supplement in cereal) or 2.0 mg (in a tablet) over a period of 4 months resulted in a significant alteration of folate status, homocysteine status and the micronucleus index. Twenty-three per cent of the men were serum folate deficient (<6.8 nmol/l), 16% were red blood cell folate deficient (<317 nmol/l), 4.7% were vitamin B12 deficient (<150 pmol/l) and 37% has plasma homocysteine levels >10 micromol/l. In total, 56% of the men had one or more abnormal blood values for folate, vitamin B12 or homocysteine. The micronucleus index of these men (n = 34) in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells (19.2 +/- 1.1) was significantly elevated (P = 0.02) when compared to the micronucleus index of the rest of the men who had normal levels of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine (16.3 +/- 1.3, n = 30). Interestingly, the micronucleus index in men with normal folate and vitamin B12, but homocysteine levels >10 micromol/l (19.4 +/- 1.7, n = 15) was also significantly higher (P = 0.05) when compared to those with normal folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine. This novel result was also supported by the observation that the micronucleus index and plasma homocysteine were significantly (P = 0.0086) and positively correlated (r2 = 0.172) in those subjects who were not deficient in folate or vitamin B12. The micronucleus index was not significantly correlated with folate indices, but there was a significant (P = 0.013) negative correlation with serum vitamin B12 (r2 = 0.099). Daily supplementation of the diet with 0.7 mg free folic acid in cereal for 2 months followed by 2.0 mg free folic acid via a tablet produced a 4-fold increase in plasma folate, a 2.6-fold increase in red blood cell folate and a 11% reduction in plasma homocysteine; however, these changes were not accompanied by a reduction in the micronucleus index. In conclusion, it is apparent that elevated homocysteine status, in the absence of vitamin deficiency and low, but not deficient, vitamin B12 status are important risk factors for increased chromosome damage in lymphocytes.
Binary teaching-learning based optimization for power system unit commitment

Unit Commitment is a mix-integer optimization problem and has long been intractable for power system operators. The binary status and power generation of online units need to be determined simultaneously, while the system constraints are required to maintain at the same time. This paper proposes two binary teaching-learning based optimization methods to solve the unit commitment problem. The new methods are employed to solve different scales of 10-100 unit commitment problems with different spinning reserves. Numerical results show that the proposed new algorithms have superb performance in multiple cases studies.
Pre-Processing of Integral Images for 3-D Displays

This paper seeks to explore a method to accurately correct geometric distortions caused during the capture of three-dimensional (3-D) integral images. Such distortions are rotational and scaling errors which, if not corrected, will cause banding and moire effects on the replayed image. The method for calculating the angle of deviation in the 3-D Integral Images is based on Hough Transform. It allows detection of the angle necessary for correction of the rotational error. Experiments have been conducted on a number of 3-D integral image samples and it has been found that the proposed method produces results with accuracy of 0.05 deg
Ligand–protein docking using a quantum stochastic tunneling optimization method

A novel hybrid optimization method called quantum stochastic tunneling has been recently introduced. Here, we report its implementation within a new docking program called EasyDock and a validation with the CCDC/Astex data set of ligand–protein complexes using the PLP score to represent the ligand–protein potential energy surface and ScreenScore to score the ligand–protein binding energies. When taking the top energy‐ranked ligand binding mode pose, we were able to predict the correct crystallographic ligand binding mode in up to 75% of the cases. By using this novel optimization method run times for typical docking simulations are significantly shortened. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 858–864, 2004
Neutrophil sequestration and migration in localized pulmonary inflammation. Capillary localization and migration across the interalveolar septum.

Recent studies have raised the possibility that biophysical properties of the neutrophil, specifically cell size and deformability, along with the unique hemodynamic properties of the pulmonary microvasculature may be important determinants of neutrophil transit through the lung and lead to significant retention in capillaries. Additionally, accumulating evidence supports the concept that leukocytes may emigrate into inflammatory lesions through the pulmonary capillary wall, quite unlike the situation in the systemic circulation where the predominant site of margination and emigration is the postcapillary venule. To confirm and extent this suggestion, morphometric techniques were employed to determine the location and kinetics of neutrophil movement from the vascular compartment to the alveolar space in response to an inflammatory reaction initiated by local instillation of fragments of the activated form of the fifth component of complement (C5f). We found that the site of neutrophil sequestration and probable migration was almost exclusively the capillary. Neutrophil sequestration appeared first in the capillaries of the interalveolar septae, with negligible accumulation in arterioles and venules (less than that in interalveolar septae by a factor of 10(4) when corrected for the relevant surface areas). Accumulation in the airspaces lagged behind that in the interalveolar septa by about 60 min, placing an upper time-limit on the emigration process across the epithelial barriers. Interestingly, neutrophils samples by bronchoalveolar lavage represented only 1 to 2% of those neutrophils shown to be present in the airspaces of the lung by morphometric assessment, suggesting that bronchoalveolar lavage may sample only a subpopulation of the emigrated cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Material Characterization by Line-Focus-Beam Acoustic Microscope

On propose une nouvelle methode de caracterisation tres precise des materiaux. On mesure les caracteristiques de propagation des ondes de fuite a la limite entre l'eau et l'echantillon; la vitesse de phase et l'attenuation sont determinees a travers des mesures de la courbe V(z). On presente une methode d'analyse spectrale pour obtenir les proprietes acoustiques a partir des courbes V(z). Description des mesures effectuees en utilisant des materiaux isotropes ou anisotropes pour lesquels les vitesses s'etendent de 2000 a 11000 m/s. On examine tous les modes d'ondes de fuite impliques dans les phenomenes d'interferences dans les courbes V(z). Resultats experimentaux confirmant les resultats theoriques. Application a l'analyse de la structure des materiaux polycristallins
Delay-dependent criterion for asymptotic stability of a class of multi-delay neutral equations

This work gives an improved criterion for asymptotical stability of a class of neural networks described by multi-delay neutral differential equations. Introduced suitable Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, a delay dependent criterion which not only depends on the discrete delays but also on the neutral delay is presented. The criterion,which can be solved by various efficient convex optimization algorithms, is expressed in terms of linear matrix inequality. In the end of the work, utilizing Matlab toolbox, the numerical example is presented to illustrate feasibility of the criterion given in the work.
Pronounced genetic diversity in tropical epiphyllous lichen fungi

Lowland tropical habitats harbour an unexplored genetic diversity of epiphyllous fungi. In the shade of rainforest understoreys, lichenized fungi are specialized to an ephemeral habitat where they produce little vegetative biomass and develop reproductive structures early. In a first population genetic study of epiphyllous lichen fungi, we analysed the intraspecific genetic diversity of five leaf‐colonizing lichen mycobiont species. Sampling focused on a lowland perhumid forest plot in Costa Rica, with additional collections from other localities throughout the country. In all species we detected sympatric occurrence of highly diverged haplotypes. Haplotypes belonging to distinct clades in networks were also found on the same leaf, clearly indicating multiple independent colonization events on single leaves. Despite the unusually high genetic diversity of these leaf‐colonizing tropical fungi, we did not detect pronounced spatial structure of the haplotype distribution between geographical regions. The observed patterns suggest that the diversity of foliicolous lichens could be much higher than expected, with several cryptic genetic lineages within each morphologically characterized species.
The design and implementation of a reconfigurable convolution operator based on APU

In order to achieve fast IC design, reduce development cycle and cost, Key Lab of Integrated Microsystems in Peking University proposed Array Processing for Unification Architecture(APU) which consists of four kinds of operators: computation, data path, control and MEM operators to replace the configurable logic block in current FPGA fabric. In this paper, a reconfigurable convolution operator based on APU, is presented which is used to convolutional neural network computing. The reconfigurable convolution operator is with more coarse-grain and function changeable than APU. And the process of operator synthesis is verified by simulation-based verification and formal verification separately. With the verification method proposed in this paper, certainty and completeness have been achieved. The results show that compared with the hardware design at the cost of resources based APU, this methodology can obtain hardware of suitable performance with regular structure with the cost of 34.08% less area and 25.26% lower power.
[Effects of prolonged selenium deficiency on synaptic structures in CA3 area of hippocampus in the third generation rats].

OBJECTIVE The relationship between selenium deficiency and the changes of synaptic structure in the CA3 area of hippocampus were studied in the third generation rats. METHODS A selenium deficiency model was established by feeding rats with selenium-deficient food. The rats were divided into 4 groups: control (Se+I+), selenium deficiency (Se-I+), iodine deficiency (Se+I-), and both deficient group (Se-I-). The hippocampuses were dissected from the third generation rats on the 21st gestational day and the ultrastructural features of hippocampal synapses were observed with electron microscope. The length of active zone, synaptic curvatures, post-synaptic density (PSD) and synaptic cleft were quantitatively described. RESULTS Compared with the control, the length of active zone and the thickness of PSD were significantly decreased in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(261.7 +/- 50.1) nm, (286.7 +/- 41.6) nm and (220.8 +/- 61.6) nm contrast to (312.4 +/- 47.7) nm, P < 0.01], so were the synaptic curvatures in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(22.9 +/- 6.3) nm, (27.5 +/- 8.6) nm and (25.2 +/- 6.5) nm contrast to (48.1 +/- 12.3) nm, P < 0.01]; the width of synaptic cleft were also decreased significantly in Se-I- [(11.1 +/- 3.3) nm contrast to (16.1 +/- 4.0) nm, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION Selenium deficiency might cause changes of neuronal functions at the synaptic level, and furthermore, affect learning and memory.
Blutungen nach herzchirurgischen Operationen

Zusammenfassung Herzchirurgische Operationen sind mit dem Risiko verbunden, einen relevanten Blutverlust zu erleiden und eine Transfusion von Blutprodukten zu erhalten. Neben dem Blutverlust treten internationalen Studien zufolge schwere Blutungen, die eine Reoperation zur Blutstillung erfordern, bei 3-5% der Patienten auf. Die Morbidität und Mortalität ist signifikant erhöht, so dass eine effektive und sichere hämostatische Therapie die Prognose entscheidend verbessern kann. Rekombinanter aktivierter Faktor VII ist für die Therapie von Patienten mit Hemmkörper-Hämophilie sowie Thrombasthenie Glanzmann und Faktor-VII-Mangel zugelassen. In den vergangenen Jahren häufen sich die Publikationen, die über eine erfolgreiche und sichere Stillung von Blutungen nach herzchirurgischen Operationen berichten, die einer konventionellen Therapie gegenüber refraktär waren. Dieses Review stellt die pathophysiologischen Veränderungen des Gerinnungssystems, die der Anschluss an die Herz- Lungen-Maschine induziert und die für die Erklärung des erhöhten Blutungsrisikos herzchirurgischer Patienten herangezogen werden, dar. Die publizierten Erfahrungen mit rFVIIa in der Kinder- und Erwachsenen-Herzchirurgie werden dargestellt und hinsichtlich der Effektivität und Sicherheit kritisch diskutiert.
An isolated interleaved DC-DC converter with voltage doubler rectifier for PHEV battery charger

In this paper, an isolated interleaved zero voltage switching full-bridge converter with trailing edge pulse width modulation and output voltage doubler rectifier is presented. The target application for this work is the second stage dc-dc converter in a two stage 3.3 kW on-board charger for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A detailed converter operation analysis is presented along with a design procedure. The interleaved dc-dc converter operates efficiently, shares equal output power and uniformly distributes thermal losses among the individual cells. The proposed converter significantly reduces the number of output rectifier diodes, reduces input filtering requirements and also reduces the reverse recovery losses in the secondary rectifier diodes. Simulation and experimental results are presented for a prototype unit converting 400 V from the input dc link to an output voltage range of 150 V to 400 V dc at 3300 W with a peak efficiency of 96%.
Prediction Modeling Using EHR Data: Challenges, Strategies, and a Comparison of Machine Learning Approaches

Background:Electronic health record (EHR) databases contain vast amounts of information about patients. Machine learning techniques such as Boosting and support vector machine (SVM) can potentially identify patients at high risk for serious conditions, such as heart disease, from EHR data. However, these techniques have not yet been widely tested. Objective:To model detection of heart failure more than 6 months before the actual date of clinical diagnosis using machine learning techniques applied to EHR data. To compare the performance of logistic regression, SVM, and Boosting, along with various variable selection methods in heart failure prediction. Research Design:Geisinger Clinic primary care patients with data in the EHR data from 2001 to 2006 diagnosed with heart failure between 2003 and 2006 were identified. Controls were randomly selected matched on sex, age, and clinic for this nested case-control study. Measures:Area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operator characteristic curve was computed for each method using 10-fold cross-validation. The number of variables selected by each method was compared. Results:Logistic regression with model selection based on Bayesian information criterion provided the most parsimonious model, with about 10 variables selected on average, while maintaining a high AUC (0.77 in 10-fold cross-validation). Boosting with strict variable importance threshold provided similar performance. Conclusions:Heart failure was predicted more than 6 months before clinical diagnosis, with AUC of about 0.76, using logistic regression and Boosting. These results were achieved even with strict model selection criteria. SVM had the poorest performance, possibly because of imbalanced data.
Treatment of brain metastases.

The Guidelines Project, an initiative of the Brazilian Medical Association, aims to combine information from the medical field in order to standardize procedures to assist the reasoning and decision-making of doctors. The information provided through this project must be assessed and criticized by the physician responsible for the conduct that will be adopted, depending on the conditions and the clinical status of each patient.
Motor Discoordination Results from Combined Gene Disruption of the NMDA Receptor NR2A and NR2C Subunits, But Not from Single Disruption of the NR2A or NR2C Subunit

NMDA receptors consist of two distinct classes of subunits. The NR1 subunit possesses all properties of the NMDA receptor-channel complex, whereas four NR2 subunits (NR2A–2D) potentiate and differentiate NMDA receptor responses by heteromeric assemblies with NR1. The mRNAs for the five NMDA receptor subunits are expressed in the cerebellum in a distinct temporospatial manner. To study functions of the NMDA receptors in the cerebellum, we generated knockout mice deficient in either NR2A or NR2C or both of these subunits. All three mutant mice developed normally and showed normal overall morphology of the cerebellum. The NMDA receptor-mediated components of EPSCs in granule cells, as assessed by whole-cell recordings of cerebellar slices, were reduced in NR2A- and NR2C-deficient mice and nearly abolished in mice lacking both NR2A and NR2C. The NR2A- and NR2C-deficient granule cells were different in the current–voltage relationship and time course of NMDA receptor responses. The NR2A and NR2C subunits thus contribute to distinct NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory transmission in mossy fiber–granule cell synapses in the mature cerebellum. Both NR2A- and NR2C-deficient mice showed no impaired movements in the motor coordination tasks tested. The mutant mice deficient in both NR2A and NR2C could also manage simple coordinated tasks, such as staying on a stationary or a slowly rotating rod, but failed more challenging tasks such as staying on a quickly rotating rod. These data demonstrate that the NMDA receptors play an active role in motor coordination.
Comparison of two tools to assess dyad feeding interaction in infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the Mother-Infant/Toddler Feeding Scale (MITFS) and the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS). Specific questions were as follows: (1) Are there differences between the results of the MITFS and the NCAFS tools in terms of rating infant feeding interactions? And (2) does one tool provide a more detailed, nuanced overview of the quality of feeding interactions than the other? DESIGN AND METHODS This comparative descriptive study is a secondary analysis of a study evaluating a massage intervention for infants with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). A feeding observation for each dyad was scored using both the NCAFS and MITFS. Infants were 6-18 weeks of age. RESULTS There were moderate correlations (r = 0.3-0.8) between 11 of 20 possible NCAFS and MITFS mother-related subscales, and between 3 of 10 possible NCAFS and the MITFS infant-related subscales. A total of 19 dyads (83%) had one or more NCAFS subscale scores that were at least 1 standard deviation (SD) below normative scores, and 21 dyads (91%) had one or more MITFS subscale T-scores that deviated 1 SD from the normative T-scores. Agreement between the two instruments on scores deviating from the norm was 78%. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Both instruments discussed in this paper are standardized ways of assessing an infant feeding. Use of a standardized feeding tool is an objective way to evaluate feedings and can potentially identify specific areas of concern to guide an individualized intervention for a mother-infant dyad. Thus, nurses and other health professionals working with mothers and babies, whether in the hospital, pediatrician offices, or clinics would benefit from learning how to use a standardized feeding tool. Use of a feeding tool also provides the opportunity for nurses to understand the basis of important qualities of a feeding interaction, and a way for nurses who regularly feed infants to self-evaluate their feeding methods. This may minimize less than optimal interactions and allow for optimal support for infants during feedings by mothers and nurses.