Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organic osmolytes in rat renal inner medulla are modulated by vasopressin V1 and/or V2 antagonists.

For the purpose of clarifying the role of vasopressin V1 and V2 receptors in osmolyte accumulation, we determined the effects on the inner medullary osmolyte content of the administration of orally active vasopressin V1 and/or V2 receptor antagonists OPC-21268 (i.e., 1-(1-[4-(3-acetylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-4-piperidyl)- 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone) and OPC-31260 (i.e., 5-dimethylamino-1-[4-(2-methylbenzoylamino)benzoyl]-2,3,4,5-tet rah ydro-1H- benzazepine] under a condition of maximal urine concentration achieved by water deprivation for 4 days. Taurine content increased significantly with the use of the V2 antagonist, irrespective of the use of the V1 antagonist. Inner medullary betaine content decreased with the administration of the V1 antagonist, irrespective of the administration of V2 antagonist. The administration of either the V1 or V2 antagonist alone did not affect sorbitol content, aldose reductase activity, or aldose reductase mRNA abundance in renal inner medulla. However, the combined administration of the V1 and V2 antagonists decreased all of these significantly. Myo-inositol content was not affected by the administration of the V1 or V2 antagonists. Glycerophosphorylcholine content was decreased with the use of the V2 antagonist, irrespective of the use of the V1 antagonist, and this effect paralleled urine osmolality. In conclusion, the individual organic osmolytes responded differently to the antagonists of vasopressin V1 and/or V2 receptors. The mechanisms linked to vasopressin V1 and/or V2 receptors appeared to modulate the accumulation of some organic osmolytes in the inner medulla. Aldose reductase mRNA abundance and sorbitol accumulation in the inner medulla appeared to be mediated through either V1 or V2 receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Flexible nets

Proteins participate in complex sets of interactions that represent the mechanistic foundation for much of the physiology and function of the cell. These protein–protein interactions are organized into exquisitely complex networks. The architecture of protein–protein interaction networks was recently proposed to be scale‐free, with most of the proteins having only one or two connections but with relatively fewer ‘hubs’ possessing tens, hundreds or more links. The high level of hub connectivity must somehow be reflected in protein structure. What structural quality of hub proteins enables them to interact with large numbers of diverse targets? One possibility would be to employ binding regions that have the ability to bind multiple, structurally diverse partners. This trait can be imparted by the incorporation of intrinsic disorder in one or both partners. To illustrate the value of such contributions, this review examines the roles of intrinsic disorder in protein network architecture. We show that there are three general ways that intrinsic disorder can contribute: First, intrinsic disorder can serve as the structural basis for hub protein promiscuity; secondly, intrinsically disordered proteins can bind to structured hub proteins; and thirdly, intrinsic disorder can provide flexible linkers between functional domains with the linkers enabling mechanisms that facilitate binding diversity. An important research direction will be to determine what fraction of protein–protein interaction in regulatory networks relies on intrinsic disorder.
Mate recognition in a freshwater fish: geographical distance, genetic differentiation, and variation in female preference for local over foreign males

It often is assumed that more distant allopatry should reflect reduced rates of contemporary gene flow and/or greater divergence in mate recognition systems. This assumption, however, is rarely tested and may not always be appropriate. Here we investigated female preference for local and foreign males in a morphologically variable Australian freshwater fish, the Pacific blue‐eye Pseudomugil signifer. Using a multidisciplinary approach that combined molecular phylogeography with conventional mate choice experiments, we found female blue‐eyes spent more time in association with local males only when the alternative was a foreigner from a geographically and genetically more distant population. When offered the choice between two foreign males, females associated more with males from the population that was more closely adjacent to their own. Our results suggest that female preference for local over foreign males in blue‐eyes may depend on how genetically and geographically separated populations are from one another.
Reversible inhibition of hydrogen peroxide elimination by calcium in brain mitochondria

In the present work, the Ca2+ dependence of mitochondrial H2O2 elimination was investigated. Mitochondria isolated from guinea pig brain were energized by glutamate and malate and incubated with micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ in the presence of ADP, preventing permeability transition pore formation. After the completion of Ca2+ uptake, mitochondria were challenged with H2O2 (5 μM), then at various time points residual H2O2 was determined using the Amplex red method and compared with that in mitochondria incubated with H2O2 without Ca2+ addition. Dose‐dependent inhibition of H2O2 elimination by Ca2+ was detected, which was prevented by the Ca2+‐uptake inhibitor Ru 360. Stimulation of Ca2+ release from Ca2+ ‐loaded mitochondria by a combined addition of Ru 360 and Na+ decreased the Ca2+‐evoked inhibition of H2O2 removal. After Ca2+ uptake (50 μM), mitochondrial aconitase activity was found to be decreased, which was partially attributable to the impaired elimination of endogenously produced reactive oxygen species. We found that the effects of Ca2+ and H2O2 on the activity of aconitase were additive. These results confirm that Ca2+ inhibits elimination of H2O2 in mitochondria and demonstrate that this effect is concentration dependent and reversible. The phenomenon described here can play a role in the modulation of ROS handling under conditions involving excessive cellular Ca2+ load. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variability in true protein, casein, nonprotein nitrogen, and proteolysis in high and low somatic cell milks.

Monthly variation in milk protein (total nitrogen X 6.38) and milk fat was determined for 115 farms over 2 yr. Yearly average milk protein and fat tests in each year were 3.16 and 3.62%, respectively. The mean regression coefficient for milk protein with respect to milk fat was . 47 for the entire period. Twenty-four farms were selected and grouped high or low based on their previous 2-yr somatic cell history. Monthly milk samples for each farm were tested for direct microscopic somatic cell count, total nitrogen, noncasein nitrogen, and nonprotein nitrogen. No differences in monthly nonprotein nitrogen, true protein, and casein were found between groups. Casein as a percent of total nitrogen was significantly higher for the low somatic group for seven of the 12 mo studied but was significantly higher for 9 mo when expressed as a percent of true protein. The average increase in tyrosine value for incubated preserved milk was significantly higher for the high somatic cell milk, indicating higher proteolytic activity in high somatic cell milk. Electrophoretic analysis of high and low somatic cell milk indicated that there was substantial proteolytic breakdown of alpha S-casein and beta-casein by proteases associated with elevated somatic cell counts.
Has fertility declined in recent decades?

Objective. Increasing use of infertility treatment and a decline in demographic fertility in some countries have raised concern whether human fecundity is declining or has declined over time. A dramatic decline in semen quality over the past half‐century has been proposed and widely discussed, but none of the existing studies provide data good enough for coming to any firm conclusion. Results. Results from 19 articles published during the last 5 years on semen quality and fecundity, covering data from the Nordic countries since the year 2000, do not indicate an ongoing decline in fertility. Conclusion. We will probably never know, whether semen quality and fecundity has declined over time, but we may be able to monitor biological fecundity and semen quality over time from now on. There are both research initiatives and interest from official channels that could provide more funding for infertility research.
Epidemiology of hepatitis C among veterans with alcoholic liver disease. The VA Cooperative Study Group 275.

Of 288 patients with alcoholism and various stages of alcoholic hepatitis, 18.4% (53 of 288) reacted serologically for hepatitis C (HCV). An evaluation of the risk factors associated with HCV indicated that parenteral drug use, even in the distant past, increased the risk for infection 10.1-fold (p = 0.0001). Ethnicity was also a significant, independent risk factor. Minorities (i.e., African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans) had a 2.4-fold increase (p = 0.038). Prior blood transfusions, even if multiple, showed only a tendency toward increased infections (p = 0.088) in this population. An interaction between age and contact with parenteral drug users was demonstrated such that the risk of HCV infection was increased by contact with drug users. This was further increased with increasing age (p = 0.006). There was no relationship between HCV reactivity and the severity of the liver disease; however, the liver injury appeared to be accelerated since it occurred at a younger age (p = 0.0001) and was associated with more frequent hospitalizations (p = 0.0005).
Where do all the maternal effects go? Variation in offspring body size through ontogeny in the live-bearing fish Poecilia parae

Abstract Maternal effects are an important source of adaptive variation, but little is known about how they vary throughout ontogeny. We estimate the contribution of maternal effects, sire genetic and environmental variation to offspring body size from birth until 1 year of age in the live-bearing fish Poecilia parae. In both the sexes, maternal effects on body size were initially high in juveniles, and then declined to zero at sexual maturity. In sons, this was accompanied by a sharp rise in sire genetic variance, consistent with the expression of Y-linked loci affecting male size. In daughters, all variance components decreased with time, consistent with compensatory growth. There were significant negative among-dam correlations between early body size and the timing of sexual maturity in both sons and daughters. However, there was no relationship between early life maternal effects and adult longevity, suggesting that maternal effects, although important early in life, may not always influence late life-history traits.
A Single-Inductor Step-Up DC-DC Switching Converter With Bipolar Outputs for Active Matrix OLED Mobile Display Panels

A single-inductor step-up DC-DC switching converter with bipolar outputs is implemented for active-matrix OLED mobile display panels. The positive output voltage is regulated by a boost operation with a modified comparator control (MCC), and the negative output voltage is regulated by a charge-pump operation with a proportional-integral (PI) control. The proposed adaptive current-sensing technique successfully supports the implementation of the proposed converter topology and enables the converter to work in both discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) and continuous-conduction mode (CCM). In addition, with the MCC method, the converter can guarantee a positive output voltage that has both a fast transient response of the comparator control and a small output voltage ripple of the PWM control. A 4.1 mm2 converter IC fabricated in a 0.5 mum power BiCMOS process operates at a switching frequency of 1 MHz with a maximum efficiency of 82.3% at an output power of 330 mW.
Generalized eta squared for multiple comparisons on between-groups designs.

BACKGROUND Psychological and educational researchers are experiencing many practical difficulties in following the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) for their statistical analyses: one such difficulty is the reporting of an effect-size measure along with each test of statistical significance (APA, 2010). The problem is exacerbated when researchers focus on contrast analysis instead of omnibus tests and when the Type-I error rate per comparison has to be adjusted. METHOD Several reasons for this problem are discussed, with emphasis on the facts that researchers may be presented with too many optional effect-size measures with varying degrees of adequacy in several designs, and common statistical packages fail to provide appropriate effect-size measures for contrast analysis. RESULTS This study proposes specific procedures (also implemented in spreadsheets) to compute generalized eta squared for various kinds of hypotheses, either general or specific, for one-factor and factorial between-group designs, and with manipulated and/or measured factors. CONCLUSIONS Finally, conclusions are drawn concerning the need to take into account the kind of design and the kind of hypothesis in order to calculate comparable effect-size indexes across different types of studies and to prevent an overestimation of effect size.
Prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbance among older women in Vietnam

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbance among women aged 60 and over in Vietnam. BACKGROUND Sleep disturbance can negatively influence human's health. Sleep disturbance is likely to increase with age, and women appear to be more likely to experience sleep disturbance than men. Knowledge about sleep disturbance in women aged 60 and over in Vietnam is under-researched. DESIGN The study presents results from a cross-sectional survey of 440 women aged 60 and over from 16 rural and urban suburbs in Vietnam from August 2014-January 2015 METHODS: Structured questionnaires were used to gather data about residence, age, marital status, educational attainment, employment status, income, body mass index, physical activity, exercise, perceived stress, general health status, number of chronic diseases and sleep disturbance. Descriptive analysis, bivariate correlation and binary logistic generalised linear model were used for data analysis. RESULTS Among older women in Vietnam, (i) the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 38.9%; (ii) the most commonly problem was difficulty maintaining sleep, followed by sleep latency, reduced sleep quality, early waking and daytime sleepiness, (iii) body mass index and physical health were significantly associated with sleep disturbance status. CONCLUSIONS Sleep disturbance was relatively common among older women in Vietnam. Overweight increased their sleep disturbance while physical health was negatively associated with their sleep disturbance. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This article provided evidence about sleep problems among older women in Vietnam and suggested that interventions targeting weight control and physical health promotion would be useful to improve their sleep problems.
Reducing ambient levels of fine particulates could substantially improve health: a mortality impact assessment for 26 European cities

Recently new European policies on ambient air quality—namely, the adoption of new standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), have generated a broad debate about choosing the air quality standards that can best protect public health. The Apheis network estimated the number of potential premature deaths from all causes that could be prevented by reducing PM2.5 annual levels to 25 μg/m3, 20 μg/m3, 15 μg/m3 and 10 μg/m3 in 26 European cities. The various PM2.5 concentrations were chosen as different reductions based on the limit values proposed by the new European Directive, the European Parliament, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization, respectively. The Apheis network provided the health and exposure data used in this study. The concentration-response function (CRF) was derived from the paper by Pope et al (2002). If no direct PM2.5 measurements were available, then the PM10 measurements were converted to PM2.5 using a local or an assumed European conversion factor. We performed a sensitivity analysis using assumptions for two key factors—namely, CRF and the conversion factor for PM2.5. Specifically, using the “at least” approach, in the 26 Apheis cities with more than 40 million inhabitants, reducing annual mean levels of PM2.5 to 15 μg/m3 could lead to a reduction in the total burden of mortality among people aged 30 years and over that would be four times greater than the reduction in mortality that could be achieved by reducing PM2.5 levels to 25 μg/m3 (1.6% vs 0.4% reduction) and two times greater than a reduction to 20 μg/m3. The percentage reduction could grow by more than seven times if PM2.5 levels were reduced to 10 μg/m3 (3.0% vs 0.4%). This study shows that more stringent standards need to be adopted in Europe to protect public health, as proposed by the scientific community and the World Health Organization.
Understanding multistreaming for web traffic: An experimental study

This paper explores the design trade-offs needed for an Internet transport protocol to effectively support web access over HTTP/1.1. It explores use of a multistreaming transport protocol mechanism and studies these using a practical methodology utilising the transport features of TCP and SCTP. This is used to evaluate the relative benefit of key transport mechanisms and analyse how these impact web access performance. Our conclusions help identify the root causes of performance impairments and suggest appropriate choices when selecting a suitable transport protocol.
A missense mutation in ftsZ differentially affects vegetative and developmentally controlled cell division in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) undergoes at least two kinds of cell division: vegetative septation leading to cross‐walls in the substrate mycelium; and developmentally regulated sporulation septation in aerial hyphae. By isolation and characterization of a non‐sporulating ftsZ mutant, we demonstrate a difference between the two types of septation. The ftsZ17 (Spo) allele gave rise to a classical white phenotype. The mutant grew as well as the parent on plates, and formed apparently normal hyphal cross‐walls, although with a small reduction in frequency. In contrast, sporulation septation was almost completely abolished, resulting in a phenotype reminiscent of whiH and ftsZΔ2p mutants. The ftsZ17 (Spo) allele was partially dominant and had no detectable effect on the cellular FtsZ content. As judged from both immunofluorescence microscopy of FtsZ and translational fusion of ftsZ to egfp , the mutation prevented correct temporal and spatial assembly of Z rings in sporulating hyphae. Homology modelling of S. coelicolor FtsZ indicated that the mutation, an A249T change in the C‐terminal domain, would be expected to alter the protein on the lateral face of FtsZ protofilaments. The results suggest that cytokinesis may be developmentally controlled at the level of Z‐ring assembly during sporulation of S. coelicolor A3(2).
Concurrent Validity and Consistency of Social Media Sentiment Analysis Tools

Users of social media increasingly express their opinions and as a result, a large number of commercially and freely available sentiment analysis tools have been developed. These tools claim that they can measure the sentiment expressions on anything, but their validity and reliability has not yet been determined. This research focuses on the concurrent validity of various sentiment analysis tools to determine if these claims can be corroborated. In addition, the consistency of their algorithms is also researched. Four of the five tools that were tested appear to have more validity as well as reliability than the fifth tool. This observation can be explained by looking at the analytic procedure of the tools. The results have theoretical as well as practical consequences for academics researching sentiment analysis as this research shows the effect of various analytics procedures. Another practical contribution is that users of the tools, researched in this study, have (more) proof of the accuracy of the tool they use. These users often take the sentiment reports into account in their decision making, thus making this proof appreciated.
INTRAPERITONEAL L-CARNITINE REGULATES LIPID METABOLISM AND REDUCES OXIDATIVE STRESS IN FRUCTOSE-INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

SUMMARY The role of nutritional substances in the management of insulin resistance is of interest. The present study was aimed to explore the effect of administration of L-carnitine on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in a high fructose-fed, hyperlipidemic, insulin resistant rat model. Rats fed fructose showed hyperlipidemia, significant alterations in lipoprotein profile, and accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. High density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced, while very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly elevated (p<0.05). The activities of lipoprotein lipase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase in plasma and liver were significantly reduced. Alterations in the activities of plasma and liver cholesterol ester hydrolase, cholesterol ester synthetase and hydroxymethyl glutarylcoenzyme A reductase were observed. Fructose-fed rats displayed reduction in plasma nitrite, accumulation of lipid peroxidation end products and depletion of antioxidants in the liver. Simultaneous administration of carnitine along with fructose diet alleviated the effects of fructose. These rats showed near-normal levels of the parameters studied. The results suggest that carnitine supplementation may have some benefits in patients with insulin resistance.
Real-time localization and visualization of a sound source for virtual reality applications

In this paper, we present our findings related to the problem of localization and visualization of a sound source placed in the same room as the listener. This is a part of a larger research effort devoted to studying the effects of synesthesia—the act of experiencing one sense modality as another, e.g., sound as flashes of colors—in virtual reality. Towards that end, we apply a series of recently developed methods for detecting sound source in a three-dimensional space around the listener. We also apply a Kalman filter to smooth out the perceived motion. Further, we transform the audio signal into a series of visual shapes, such that the size of each shape is determined by the loudness of the sound source, and its color is determined by the dominant spectral component of the sound. The developed prototype is verified in real time. The prototype configuration is described and some initial experimental results are reported and discussed. Some ideas for further development are also presented.
Formal methods for safety critical system specification

For safety critical systems, hardware is often preferred over software because it is easier to achieve safety goals in hardware alone and because hardware is considered more reliable than software. But as systems become more complex, software solutions will also be important. Here we demonstrate, using a simple example, that formal methods are a useful tool for developing software specifications for safety critical systems, since they reduce ambiguity in the design and can be proven consistent. Using formal methods for specifications will enable the development of dependable, high-performance, reliable hardware/software safety critical systems. The method we describe is the first step in our work to establish a hardware/software development process for safety critical systems.