Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
P2Y receptor‐activating nucleotides modulate cellular reactive oxygen species production in dissociated hippocampal astrocytes and neurons in culture independent of parallel cytosolic Ca2+ rise and change in mitochondrial potential

With mixed cultures of hippocampal astrocytes and neurons, we investigated the influence of nucleotides on cytosolic Ca2+ level, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial potential. We employed ATP and four purine/pyrimidine derivates, which are P2Y receptor subtype‐preferring agonists. Stimulation with ATP, a P2Y1/2/4 receptor agonist in rat, caused a large cytosolic Ca2+ increase in astrocytes and a considerably smaller Ca2+ response in neighboring neurons. The P2Y1 receptor antagonist MRS2179 completely blocked the ATP‐induced Ca2+ response in astrocytes and neurons. Application of ATP significantly reduced the mitochondrial potential in neurons, which was not inhibited by MRS2179. Interestingly, MRS2179 mediated a mitochondrial depolarization without affecting the cytosolic Ca2+ level. Stimulation with UDP, a P2Y6 receptor agonist; UTP, a P2Y2/4 receptor agonist; 2MeSATP, a P2Y1 receptor agonist; or 2MeSADP, a P2Y1/12/13 receptor agonist, evoked significant Ca2+ responses in astrocytes but small Ca2+ responses in neurons. In astrocytes, there was an inverse relationship between the amplitude of the cytosolic Ca2+ peak and the rate of ROS generation in response to nucleotide application. Activation with UDP resulted in the highest ROS generation that we detected, whereas 2MeSADP and 2MeSATP reduced the ROS generation below the basal level. 2MeSADP and UDP caused mitochondrial depolarization of comparable size. Thus, neither in astrocytes nor in neurons did the degree of mitochondrial depolarization correlate with ROS generation. Nucleotides acting via P2Y receptors can modulate ROS generation of hippocampal neurons without acutely changing the cytosolic Ca2+ level. Thus, ROS might function as a signaling molecule upon nucleotide‐induced P2Y receptor activation in brain. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamic pilot scheduling scheme for 5G outdoor ultra-dense network

5G is envisioned to provide 1000 fold increase in terms of area capacity when compared to today's network. Large part of this promise is going to be fulfilled by ultra dense network(UDN). However, dense network suffers from interference challenges. In this work, we investigated the performance of interference aware dynamic pilot scheduling scheme for UDN using 3D map based channel model. Initial Pilot scheduling has been carried out using location-aware scheduling scheme which results in minimum tolerable level of channel state information (CSI) error. Following initial schedule, dynamic rescheduling has been carried out by letting 20% of users to move at constant speed towards their respective destination. The impact of different design criteria such as pilot reuse distance, deployment planning, and the frequency of rescheduling (as signaling over head) for various user density and mobility are assessed. Moreover, the probability of successfully rescheduling users within the coherence time has been studied for the dynamic scheduling scheme. Results show that dynamic pilot scheduling scheme has higher probability of successfully rescheduling users in high mobility environment. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that locationaware pilot scheduling with received signal strength (RSS) based rescheduling scheme can be taken as a promising solution to the CSI uncertainty problem so that the full advantage of enabling technologies of 5G can be utilized.
Linearization by output-injection under sampling

Linearization by output injection has been studied in both continuous-time and discrete-time contexts. The object of this work is to discuss the possible preservation of such a property under sampling. It is shown that, up to an error in 0(δn+1), δ being the sampling period and n the state space dimension, such a property can be maintained under sampling. The pursued approach relies on differential/difference representations of discrete-time systems which provide suitable combinatoric descriptions of the sampled equivalent models.
Drug Prescribing Pattern for Patients of Anxiety and Depression Attending Psychiatry OPD of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in North India

Background: Mood disorders are among the most common mental disorders, with depression occupying the highest percentage (2.6%) followed by anxiety (2.3%). With the advancement of new drug research and better research outcome, psychotropic drug prescribing patterns have changed globally over the last few years. This study was done to assess the current prescribing pattern for patients suffering from depression and anxiety.
Subsidies and the African Green Revolution: Direct Effects and Social Network Spillovers of Randomized Input Subsidies in Mozambique

The Green Revolution, which bolstered agricultural yields and economic well-being in Asia and Latin America beginning in the 1960s, largely bypassed sub-Saharan Africa. We study the first randomized controlled trial of a government-implemented input subsidy program (ISP) in Africa intended to foment a Green Revolution. We find that this temporary subsidy for Mozambican maize farmers stimulates Green Revolution technology adoption and leads to increased maize yields. Effects of the subsidy persist in later unsubsidized years. In addition, social networks of subsidized farmers benefit from spillovers, experiencing increases in technology adoption, yields, and beliefs about the returns to the technologies. Spillovers account for the vast majority of subsidy-induced gains. ISPs alleviate informational market failures, stimulating learning about new technologies by subsidy recipients and their social networks. (JEL O13, Q12, Q16, Q18)
A Gain-of-Function Suppressor Screen for Genes Involved in Dorsal–Ventral Boundary Formation in the Drosophila Wing

The Drosophila wing primordium is subdivided into a dorsal (D) and a ventral (V) compartment by the activity of the LIM-homeodomain protein Apterous in D cells. Cell interactions between D and V cells induce the activation of Notch at the DV boundary. Notch is required for the maintenance of the compartment boundary and the growth of the wing primordium. Beadex, a gain-of-function allele of dLMO, results in increased levels of dLMO protein, which interferes with the activity of Apterous and results in defects in DV axis formation. We performed a gain-of-function enhancer-promoter (EP) screen to search for suppressors of Beadex when overexpressed in D cells. We identified 53 lines corresponding to 35 genes. Loci encoding for micro-RNAs and proteins involved in chromatin organization, transcriptional control, and vesicle trafficking were characterized in the context of dLMO activity and DV boundary formation. Our results indicate that a gain-of-function genetic screen in a sensitized background, as opposed to classical loss-of-function-based screenings, is a very efficient way to identify redundant genes involved in a developmental process.
The gradual emergence of language

Language is a unique hallmark of the human species. Although many species can communicate about things that are physically present, only humans can use communication to construct a full narrative characterization of events occurring outside of the here and now. The religions of the world have interpreted this unique endowment as a Special Gift bestowed directly by the Creator. Scientists have also been influenced by this view of language, often attributing the emergence of language to some single, pivotal event in human evolution. The idea of linking language evolution to the emergence of a single Special Gift is certainly quite attractive, since it would account for so many facts in linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience through some single, simple mechanism.
Is Long‐Distance Bird Flight Equivalent to a High‐Energy Fast? Body Composition Changes in Freely Migrating and Captive Fasting Great Knots

We studied changes in body composition in great knots, Calidris tenuirostris, before and after a migratory flight of 5,400 km from northwest Australia to eastern China. We also took premigratory birds into captivity and fasted them down to their equivalent arrival mass after migration to compare organ changes and nutrient use in a low‐energy‐turnover fast with a high‐energy‐turnover fast (migratory flight). Migrated birds were as economical as any fasting animal measured yet at conserving protein: their estimated relative protein contribution (RPC) to the energy used was 4.0%. Fasted birds had an estimated RPC of 6.8% and, consequently, a much lower lean mass and higher fat content for an equivalent body mass than migrated birds. Lean tissue was catabolized from most organs in both groups, except the brain. Furthermore, a principal components biplot showed that individuals were grouped primarily on the basis of overall organ fat or lean tissue content rather than by the size of specific organs. This indicates that organ changes during migratory flight are similar to those of a low‐energy fast, although the length of the fast in this study probably accentuated organ reductions in some functional groups. Whether the metabolic characteristics of a flying migratory fast follow the three‐phase model described in many inactive fasting animals is unclear. We have some evidence for skeletal fat being catabolized without phase 3 of a fast having been reached.
Myeloperoxidase is associated with incident coronary heart disease independently of traditional risk factors: results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg study

Abstract. Karakas M, Koenig W, Zierer A, Herder C, Rottbauer W, Baumert J, Meisinger C, Thorand B (University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm; German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology II, Neuherberg; and Institute for Clinical Diabetology, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany). Myeloperoxidase is associated with incident coronary heart disease independently of traditional risk factors: results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg study. J Intern Med 2012; 271: 43–50.
A Nurse Extern Simulation Experience Through an Innovative Hospital–College Partnership

Nursing students in Gwinnett Hospital System’s summer Nurse Extern Program participated in an innovative initiative that promoted critical thinking, prioritization, and teamwork. A collegial partnership between the Gwinnett Hospital System Learning Resources Department and the Georgia Perimeter College Department of Nursing used simulation as a patient care teaching methodology. Simulation may be one methodology that hospital–college partnerships can pursue in developing and achieving nursing excellence in future nurses.
Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation The GENACIS project : a review of findings and some implications for global needs in women-focused substance abuse prevention and intervention

Correspondence: Sharon C Wilsnack Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 501 North Columbia Road Stop 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037, USA Tel +1 701 777 3065 Fax +1 701 777 6478 Email sharon.wilsnack@med.und. edu Abstract: Gender, Alcohol, and Culture: An International Study (GENACIS) is a collaborative study of gender-related and cultural influences on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems of women and men. Members conduct comparative analyses of data from comparable general population surveys in 38 countries on five continents. This paper presents GENACIS findings that (1) age-related declines in drinking are uncommon outside North America and Europe; (2) groups of women at increased risk for hazardous drinking include women who cohabit, women with fewer social roles, more highly educated women in lower-income countries, and sexual minority women in North America; (3) heavier alcohol use shows strong and cross-culturally consistent associations with increased likelihood and severity of intimate partner violence; and (4) one effect or accompaniment of rapid social, economic, and gender-role change in traditional societies may be increased drinking among formerly abstinent women. These findings have potentially important implications for women-focused intervention and policy. Substance abuse services should include attention to middle-aged and older women, who may have different risk factors, symptoms, and treatment issues than their younger counterparts. Creative, targeted prevention is needed for high-risk groups of women. Programs to reduce violence between intimate partners must include attention to the pervasive role of alcohol use in intimate partner aggression. Social and economic empowerment of women, together with social marketing of norms of abstention or low-risk drinking, may help prevent increased hazardous alcohol use among women in countries undergoing rapid social change. Greater attention to effects of gender, culture, and their interactions can inform the design of more effective prevention, intervention, and policy to reduce the substantial global costs of alcohol abuse in both women and men.
Actin Cytoskeleton Straddling the Immunological Synapse between Cytotoxic Lymphocytes and Cancer Cells

The immune system is a fundamental part of the tumor microenvironment. In particular, cytotoxic lymphocytes, such as cytolytic T cells and natural killer cells, control tumor growth and disease progression by interacting and eliminating tumor cells. The actin cytoskeleton of cytotoxic lymphocytes engaged in an immunological synapse has received considerable research attention. It has been recognized as a central mediator of the formation and maturation of the immunological synapse, and its signaling and cytolytic activities. In comparison, fewer studies have explored the organization and function of actin filaments on the target cancer cell side of the immunological synapse. However, there is growing evidence that the actin cytoskeleton of cancer cells also undergoes extensive remodeling upon cytotoxic lymphocyte attack, and that such remodeling can alter physical and functional interactions at the immunological synapse. In this article, we review the current knowledge of actin organization and functions at both sides of the immunological synapse between cytotoxic lymphocytes and cancer cells, with particular focus on synapse formation, signaling and cytolytic activity, and immune evasion.
Application of a tri-axial accelerometry-based portable motion recorder for the quantitative assessment of hippotherapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

[Purpose] This case series aims to evaluate the effects of hippotherapy on gait and balance ability of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy using quantitative parameters for physical activity. [Subjects and Methods] Three patients with gait disability as a sequela of cerebral palsy (one female and two males; age 5, 12, and 25 years old) were recruited. Participants received hippotherapy for 30 min once a week for 2 years. Gait parameters (step rate, step length, gait speed, mean acceleration, and horizontal/vertical displacement ratio) were measured using a portable motion recorder equipped with a tri-axial accelerometer attached to the waist before and after a 10-m walking test. [Results] There was a significant increase in step length between before and after a single hippotherapy session. Over the course of 2 year intervention, there was a significant increase in step rate, gait speed, step length, and mean acceleration and a significant improvement in horizontal/vertical displacement ratio. [Conclusion] The data suggest that quantitative parameters derived from a portable motion recorder can track both immediate and long-term changes in the walking ability of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy undergoing hippotherapy.
Models of psychological time revisited*

Theorists have taken two seemingly different approaches to ex­ plaining, or modeling, psychological time (Block, 1990). These ap­ proaches have appeared under several guises. Ornstein (1969) referred to them as tlle sensory-process approach and the cognitive approach. Sensory-process models "postulate some sort of <time-base', a repetitive, cumulative, pUlse-dispensing mechanism which delivers internal time signals, an 'organ' of time" (p. 25). Ornstein claimed that this type of model has not provided a useful way to understand duration experience. This approach may also have difficulties explaining why cognitive, or infonnation-processing, variables influence duration experience. TI1e other class of model includes various' proposals concerning the important cognitive factor underlying duration experience, such as "images" (Guyau, 1890~ 1988), "changes," (Fraisse, 1957; 1963), "mentaI con­ tent" (Frankenhaellser, 1959), "storage size" (Ornstein, 1969), and "contextual changes" (Block & Reed, 1978). According to some propo­ nents of sensory-process models, cognitive models cannot easily explain tl1e near-linear psychophysical relationship between physical and psy­ chological duration, as well as the possible influence of physiological variables sllch as body temperature.
Analysis of Customer Reviews based on Integration of Structured and Unstructured Texts

With the explosive growth of user-generated content on the Web, the need for its useful analysis has grown exponentially. Successful mining of peoples sentiments and opinions from this plethora of posts on discussion boards, blogs, online forums and merchant sites, can be vital to various fields such as marketing and product development. Companies selling a product no longer have to rely on their survey teams to gather data on how well the product is doing in the market. All they have to do is, collect this review data from the web and utilize it for upgrading/improving the product. The main idea behind sentiment analysis of textual sources is that there is a huge volume of opinionated text available online. These opinions are hidden in long forum posts and blogs, and there are thousands and millions of these available on the Web. Hence sentiment analysis through data mining techniques provides an automated way of opinion discovery and summarization.
Towards a realtime, collision-free motion coordination and navigation system for a UAV fleet

This paper presents a realtime, collision-free motion coordination and navigation system for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) fleet. The proposed system uses geographical locations of the UAVs and of the successfully detected, static and moving obstacles to predict and avoid: (1) UAV-to-UAV collisions, (2) UAV-to-static-obstacle collisions, and (3) UAV-to-moving-obstacle collisions. Our collision prediction approach leverages efficient runtime monitoring and Complex Event Processing (CEP) to make timely predictions. A distinctive feature of the proposed system is its ability to foresee a risk of a collision in realtime and proactively find best ways to avoid the predicted collisions in order to ensure safety of the entire fleet. We also present a simulation-based implementation of the proposed system along with an experimental evaluation involving a series of experiments. The results demonstrate that the proposed system successfully predicts and avoids all three kinds of collisions in realtime. Moreover, it generates efficient UAV routes, has an excellent runtime performance, efficiently scales to large-sized problem instances involving dozens of UAVs and obstacles, and is suitable for some densely populated, cluttered flying zones.
Simultaneous Quantitative Assay of Six HIV Protease Inhibitors, One Metabolite, And Two Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors in Human Plasma by Isocratic Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography

A rapid (less than 30 min), sensitive, and specific liquid chromatography method for simultaneous assay of nine antiretroviral drugs in human plasma is described. This technique allows therapeutic drug monitoring of six approved protease inhibitors (amprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir) and two approved non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (efavirenz and nevirapine). Assays were performed after diethyl ether liquid–liquid extraction from 250-&mgr;L plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an X-TERRA (Waters; Saint Quentin, France) column using a 58% water (with 3 mmol/L pyrrolidine) and 42% acetonitrile mobile phase. Three ultraviolet wavelengths were used for detection with a diode array detector. This method allowed quantitative assay of all nine antiretroviral drugs within a concentration range of 25 ng/mL to 9000 ng/mL. The method has been validated extensively and has been in routine use in our laboratory for several months for drug monitoring in plasma samples from patients treated with antiretroviral drugs.
Nucleosomes in Gene Regulation : Theoretical Approaches 1

This work reviews current theoretical approaches of biophysics and bioinformatics for the descrip tion of nucleosome arrangements in chromatin and transcription factor binding to nucleosomal organized DNA. The role of nucleosomes in gene regulation is discussed from the molecular mechanistic and biologi cal points of view. In addition to classical problems in this field, actual questions of epigenetic regulation are discussed. The authors selected for discussion what seem to be the most interesting concepts and hypotheses. Mathematical approaches are described in a simplified language to attract attention to the most important directions of this field. DOI: 10.1134/S002689331106015X
Quantitation of enniatins in biological samples of Wistar rats after oral administration by LC-MS/MS

Abstract The emerging Fusarium mycotoxins enniatins (ENNs) have diverse biological properties, mainly due to their ionophoric activity, and represent a potential risk to human and animal health since they are commonly found in food and feed. In vivo toxicity studies are scarce and limited to the major mycotoxins. Until now, any method for the simultaneous analysis of these compounds in plasma, serum and feces from rat has been reported. A method for the extraction and determination of ENNs A, A1, B and B1 from Wistar rat samples by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. The method was successfully validated with satisfactory recoveries (70–106%), good intraday (<10%) and interday (<20%) precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, and good linearity between limits of quantitation (LOQ) and 100 times LOQ. Limits of detection (LOD) and LOQ were ≤1 and ≤10 ng/ml, respectively. The validated method was applied for the analysis of biological Wistar rat samples that were administered a mixture of ENNs containing 1.19, 2.16, 1.03 and 1.41 mg/kg body weight of ENN A, A1, B and B1, respectively. Blood, urine and feces samples collected every 2 h during the 8-h duration of the experiment were analyzed. The administered dose of the mixture of ENNs did not cause observable adverse effects on the animals. ENNs concentrations detected in serum and urine were below LOQs. The four ENNs were detected in feces reaching the maximum concentration at 6 h after administration.
A Novel DDS-PLL Hybrid Structure to Generate the LFM Signal

The signal generator with Direct Digital Synthesizer Phase Locked Loop (DDS-PLL) Hybrid structure generates the signal with the qualities of the wide bandwidth and high frequency resolution. The long acquisition time in the PLL limits its applications. A novel generator structure is proposed by adding the sweeping voltage circuitry to the classical DDS-PLL Hybrid in order to accelerate the acquisition speed. A test circuitry is designed to testify the novel structure. The measured results indicate that the acquisition time is reduced to be 2. 175μs and 1. 032μs corresponding to 1MHz and 2MHz loop bandwidth respectively; the pulse compression result is very good where the main lobe width remains as ideal, Peak Side Lobe Ratio (PSLR) is better than -38dB, and the Integrated Side Lobe Ratio (ISLR) is better than -9.5dB.