Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Antagonism at Central Nervous System M3 Muscarinic Receptors on Laryngeal Chemoresponse

The laryngeal chemoresponse (LCR), comprising laryngeal adductor spasm, central apnea, and subsequent cardiovascular instability, is thought to be a factor in sudden infant death syndrome. A muscarinic subtype receptor, M3, appears to be involved in central respiratory drive and control. Both the duration of the LCR apnea and levels of M3 receptor messenger RNA in the brain stem change according to postnatal age. This study examined the effect of central nervous system antagonism at M3 receptors on the LCR with respect to animal age and dose of antagonist. Ten piglets in each of three age groups (group 1, 5 to 8 days; group 2, 18 to 21 days; and group 3, 40 to 43 days) received a series of four increasing doses of an M3 antagonist (p-fluoro-hexahydro-siladiphenidol) by intracerebral ventricle injection. The LCR was evoked at baseline and after each dose of antagonist. An effect on susceptible animals (groups 1 and 2) was evident by the second antagonist dose, and persisted for the remainder of the experiment (2 hours). At completion of the experiment, mean apnea duration had decreased in group 1 (61%, p < .05), and group 2 (57%, p < .05), but was unchanged in group 3 (<10%, p not significant). Length of mean baseline apneas correlated directly with degree of apnea shortening. The reduction is not attributable to changes in arterial Po2 or Pco2 or baseline respiratory rate. These results support an age-related influence on the LCR by M3 receptors in younger animals that decreases with maturation.
Physically-based Human Neck Simulation

In deformable character animation, the skin deformation of the neck is important to reproduce believable facial animation, and the neck also plays an important role in supporting the head in balance while generating the controlled head movements that are essential to so many aspects of human behavior. However, neck animation is largely overlooked both in computer graphics and animation due to the complexity of the cervical anatomy. This paper presents a physical human neck model based on biomechanical modeling. Relevant anatomical structures available in a 3D model of human musculoskeletal system are modeled as deformable or linked rigid bodies. We couple the soft-hard bodies using soft constraints via elastic springs and form a Lagrangian dynamic system. The simulation of dynamic skin deformation is achieved by automatically binding the vertices to underlying bodies in an anatomical manner. Experimental results are provided and show high level of realism our model offers, and the simulation runs at interactive rates on a modern computer.
How to benefit from small samples of web queries?

The basic goal of this article is to demonstrate the process of detecting useful ideas from small web query samples by combining different software tools. Our sample contained web queries made by users of the Special Library of the Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter SLOMI). The process of extracting useful ideas from our sample was partially guided by statistical analysis, partially by rather intuitive and collective descriptive evaluation methods. Several rich visualisation techniques were used to stimulate creative data interpretation. The collected data on the queried persons and their areas of professional interest in our sample were implemented into a customised thesaurus and a mind map in order to extract useful ideas.
The relations between phonological processing abilities and emerging individual differences in mathematical computation skills: a longitudinal study from second to fifth grades.

The primary purpose of this longitudinal correlational study was to examine relations between phonological processing abilities and emerging individual differences in math computation skills and also to investigate the source of covariation between reading and math computation skills in a random sample (n = 201). Phonological memory, rate of access to phonological codes in long-term memory, and phonological awareness were uniquely associated with growth in estimated total number of computation procedures mastered (general computation skills) from 92.5 to 134.8 months in age, although the contributions of the first two abilities were developmentally limited. Phonological processing almost completely accounted for the associations between reading and general computation skills. Evidence of bidirectional relations between general computation skills and simple arithmetic problem solving speed was found.
Cluster synchronization of inter-cluster nonidentical linear systems under directed nonnegative graphs

This paper aims to achieve cluster synchronization for coupled linear dynamical systems whose models are distinct in different clusters under directed nonnegative graphs. Both static coupling strategies and dynamic coupling strategies are utilized. The static couplings are applicable to interaction graphs where the inter-cluster connections are acyclic, and will render the analysis intractable when inter-cluster connections form cycles. In comparison, the dynamic couplings are shown to be applicable in general graphs. A cluster spanning trees condition is imposed on the interaction graph, and is shown to be necessary and sufficient under acyclic inter-cluster structures. Lower bounds on a weighting factor of the interaction graph are derived under the two coupling strategies, respectively.
Mucosal and plasma IgA from HIV-exposed seronegative individuals neutralize a primary HIV-1 isolate

ObjectiveTo characterize functional properties of HIV-specific IgA in samples representing both systemic and mucosal compartments of HIV-1 highly exposed persistently seronegative (HEPS) individuals. MethodsIgA was purified from plasma and mucosal samples from HEPS individuals and tested for the ability to neutralize infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by a non-syncytium inducing HIV-1 (clade B) primary isolate. None of these individuals had measurable HIV-1-specific IgG. ResultsHIV-1-specific neutralizing activity of the purified IgA from plasma (n = 15), saliva (n = 15) and cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) (n = 14) were found in the majority of samples (73, 73 and 79%, respectively). In contrast, plasma, saliva and CVF samples of low-risk, uninfected HIV-seronegative individuals lacked neutralizing IgA, with the exception of two out of 34 (6%) saliva samples. ConclusionMucosal and plasma IgA from HEPS individuals can neutralize HIV-1 infection.
Sexual Initiation in Early Adolescence: The Nexus of Parental and Community Control

This study explores the link between neighborhood collective efficacy and the timing of first intercourse for a sample of urban youth. The authors hypothesize that youth who experience lower levels of parental monitoring and higher levels of exposure to neighborhood environments are more likely to be influenced by collective supervision capacity. The study also examines the extent to which parental and neighborhood controls differ in their impact on first intercourse experiences by gender. Analyses of multilevel and longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods indicate that neighborhood collective efficacy delays sexual onset only for adolescents who experience lower levels of parental monitoring. Although parental monitoring exerts significantly greater influence on girls' timing of first intercourse, the moderating effect of parental monitoring on collective efficacy holds for both boys and girls.
Can imaginary instantaneous normal mode frequencies predict barriers to self-diffusion?

We discuss whether or not local information on the potential energy surface embodied by the distribution of unstable instantaneous normal modes can be used to predict the hopping rates and barrier heights for Zwanzig’s model of self-diffusion [R. Zwanzig, J. Chem. Phys. 79, 4507 (1983)] in simple liquids. Results from a set of simulations of Lennard-Jones particles done at multiple temperatures and densities are presented. These simulations show that the theories which predict diffusive barrier heights from the distribution of imaginary frequencies are questionable. This discrepancy is due to the presence of imaginary frequency instantaneous normal modes which persist into the solid phase. Model systems are used to show that imaginary frequency instantaneous normal modes (and even those at the top of the barrier along that mode) are not necessarily indicators of diffusive barrier crossing as used in Zwanzig’s model. These false barriers are shown to be the cause of all of the imaginary frequency zero-forc.
Realization of an innovative 3D imaging digital beamforming radar system

An innovative 24 GHz digital beamforming radar system for three-dimensional imaging is addressed in this paper. The presented FMCW radar is characterized by an orthogonal arrangement of a transmitter and receiver antenna array in order to perform digital beamforming in two dimensions. By temporal multiplexing of the transmitter channels and parallel-operated receivers, each propagation path from the mth transmit antenna to the object to the nth receive antenna is made available to the signal processing. The three-dimensional imaging concept and the realized digital beamforming radar as well as signal processing aspects concerning sensor calibration are described in this paper.
High-efficiency step-down converter via coupled inductor

In this study, a high-efficiency single-input multiple-output (SIMO) step-down converter is designed. The coupled-inductor-based SIMO step-down converter utilizes two power switches with the properties of voltage clamping for the middle-voltage switch, and soft switching for all power switches due to the appropriately choice of the corresponding device specifications. As a result, the leakage inductor energy of the coupled inductor can be recycled, and the voltage spikes on power switches can be alleviated. Moreover, the switching losses can be significantly decreased because of all power switches with zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) features. Therefore, the objectives of high-efficiency power conversion, high step-down ratio, and various output voltage with different levels can be obtained. The effectiveness of the proposed SIMO step-down converter is verified by experimental results of a converter prototype in practical applications.
Child Passenger Restraints in Relation to Other Second-Row Passengers: An Analysis of the 2007–2009 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats

Objective: Child restraint systems (CRS) are increasingly being designed to accommodate larger children and to mitigate side impact injuries. Little is known about the impact of CRS on the safety of other vehicle passengers due to limitations of existing crash databases. This study provides the first assessment of the seating positions occupied by child passengers and the relationship between CRS and other second-row passengers in a national sample of vehicles transporting children. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of data from the 2007–2009 National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats (NSUBS), a direct in-vehicle observational study of child passenger restraint use. Passengers riding in the same vehicle were identified and passenger position was determined. Vehicles with second-row child passengers were included in analyses of seat positions occupied by child passengers with and without CRS. Frequency counts for the different combinations of CRS and passengers in second rows were calculated. Results: Of the 17,065 vehicles observed in 2007–2009 NSUBS, 14,506 (85%) vehicles contained at least 1 child passenger in a second row that contained no more than 3 total passengers. Of these 14,506 vehicles, 55 percent contained a lone child passenger in the second row. A CRS was in use in 4656 (59%) of the 7949 vehicles with a lone child passenger in the second row compared to 4077 (62%) of the 6557 vehicles with multiple passengers in the second row (P < .001). A passenger was adjacent to a CRS within 1333 (33%) of the 4077 vehicles containing a CRS in the second row. There were 3 second-row passengers in nearly 1 in 5 vehicles containing a CRS in the second row. Conclusion: Adults and children not using CRS are frequently seated in vehicle second rows adjacent to a child restrained in a CRS. These findings should be used to inform the regulation, design, and testing of CRS and to determine the risks of larger CRS designs to other passengers seated in the same vehicle row relative to the benefits of the CRS for the passenger it restrains.
Coexistence of slow and fast isoforms of contractile and regulatory proteins in human skeletal muscle fibres induced by endurance training.

The distribution of fast and slow isoforms of troponin C, I, and T components and myosin heavy chains was investigated in histochemically typed myofibrillar ATPase intermediate (IM) fibres, that is, fibres that stain after both acid and alkaline preincubation in stainings for myofibrillar ATPase. In addition to the previously described IM fibres of types IIC and IB, fibres that displayed staining characteristics between types IIC and IB were observed and termed type IIC-IB. The IM fibres constitute less than 1% of the fibres in normal human limb and abdominal muscles. The IM fibres studied here resulted from extensive endurance training of human triceps brachii muscle (n = 6) and were induced by conversion of a proportion (13%) of type II fibres. The immunohistochemical stains of serial sections with antibodies to slow isoforms of troponin I, T, C and myosin heavy chain showed no staining of type II fibres but intense staining of types I and IB fibres, whereas type IIC fibres stained with intermediate intensity. The antibodies to fast isoforms of the troponin components and myosin heavy chain did not give rise to staining of type I fibres but dark staining of type II fibres. Type IB fibres stained with intermediate intensity and type IIC was either as dark as type II or slightly lighter. Type IIC-IB fibres showed staining intensities intermediate between those observed for types IB and IIC in the immunohistochemical stains. It is therefore concluded that training-induced myofibrillar ATPase intermediate human skeletal muscle fibres are characterized by the coexistence of slow and fast isoforms of contractile and regulatory proteins. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Exploring origins, invasion history and genetic diversity of Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. (Cogongrass) in the United States using genotyping by sequencing

Imperata cylindrica (Cogongrass, Speargrass) is a diploid C4 grass that is a noxious weed in 73 countries and constitutes a significant threat to global biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. We used a cost‐effective genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) approach to identify the reproductive system, genetic diversity and geographic origins of invasions in the south‐eastern United States. In this work, we demonstrated the advantage of employing the closely related, fully sequenced crop species Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench as a proxy reference genome to identify a set of 2320 informative single nucleotide and insertion–deletion polymorphisms. Genetic analyses identified four clonal lineages of cogongrass and one clonal lineage of Imperata brasiliensis Trin. in the United States. Each lineage was highly homogeneous, and we found no evidence of hybridization among the different lineages, despite geographical overlap. We found evidence that at least three of these lineages showed clonal reproduction prior to introduction to the United States. These results indicate that cogongrass has limited evolutionary potential to adapt to novel environments and further suggest that upon arrival to its invaded range, this species did not require local adaptation through hybridization/introgression or selection of favourable alleles from a broad genetic base. Thus, cogongrass presents a clear case of broad invasive success, across a diversity of environments, in a clonal organism with limited genetic diversity.
Ran-binding Protein 1 (RanBP1) Forms a Ternary Complex with Ran and Karyopherin β and Reduces Ran GTPase-activating Protein (RanGAP) Inhibition by Karyopherin β*

The nuclear accumulation of proteins containing nuclear localization signals requires the Ran GTPase and a complex of proteins assembled at the nuclear pore. RanBP1 is a cytosolic Ran-binding protein that inhibits RCC1-stimulated release of GTP from Ran. RanBP1 also promotes the binding of Ran to karyopherin β (also called importin β and p97) and is a co-stimulator of RanGAP activity. Yeast karyopherin β inhibits the GTP hydrolysis by Ran catalyzed by RanGAP. To further define the roles of RanBP1 and karyopherin β in Ran function, we explored the effects of RanBP1 and karyopherin β on mammalian proteins known to regulate Ran. Like RanBP1, karyopherin β prevented the release of GTP from Ran stimulated by RCC1 or EDTA. As with the yeast protein, mammalian karyopherin β completely blocked RanGAP activity. However, the addition of RanBP1 to this assay partially rescued the inhibited RanGAP activity. Kinetic analysis of the effects on RanGAP activity by karyopherin β and RanBP1 revealed a combination of competitive and noncompetitive interactions. Solution binding assays confirmed the ability of RanBP1 to associate with Ran and karyopherin β in a ternary complex, and RanBP1 binding was not competed out by the addition of karyopherin β. These results demonstrate that RanBP1 and karyopherin β interact with distinct sites of Ran and suggest that RanBP1 plays an essential role in nuclear transport by permitting RanGAP-mediated hydrolysis of GTP on Ran complexed to karyopherin β.
Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) Selectively Regulates the Stability of KDM4B/JMJD2B Histone Demethylase*

Background: The levels of the KDM4B histone demethylase are elevated in different types of cancer cells, and its depletion suppresses tumor formation. Results: Pharmacological inhibition of Hsp90 promotes ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of KDM4B, hence altering the histone code. Conclusion: KDM4B is a bona fide client protein of Hsp90. Significance: Hsp90 inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of tumors driven by KDM4B overexpression. The family of KDM4A-D histone demethylases selectively demethylates H3K9 and H3K36 and is implicated in key cellular processes including DNA damage response, transcription, cell cycle regulation, cellular differentiation, senescence, and carcinogenesis. Various human cancers exhibit elevated protein levels of KDM4A-D members, and their depletion impairs tumor formation, suggesting that their enhanced activity promotes carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms regulating the KDM4 protein stability remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the molecular chaperon Hsp90 interacts with and stabilizes KDM4B protein. Pharmacological inhibition of Hsp90 with geldanamycin resulted in ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of KDM4B, but not of KDM4C, suggesting that the turnover of these demethylases is regulated by distinct mechanisms. This degradation was accompanied by increased methylation of H3K9. We further show that KDM4B is ubiquitinated on lysines 337 and 562; simultaneous substitution of these residues to arginine suppressed the geldanamycin-induced degradation of KDM4B, suggesting that the ubiquitination of Lys-337 and Lys-562 targets KDM4B for proteasomal degradation upon Hsp90 inhibition. These findings constitute a novel pathway by which Hsp90 activity alters the histone code via regulation of KDM4B stability. This pathway may prove a druggable target for the treatment of tumors driven by enhanced KDM4B activity.
Alcohol and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscles in the rat

Ethanol is known to cause an acute and profound insulin resistance in man and the rat primarily via effects on glucose utilization. This paper examines the nature of these inhibitory effects on whole‐body glucose utilization using the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp in the conscious unrestrained rat. We confirm that ethanol infusion causes an acute insulin resistance, the rate of glucose infusion required to maintain euglycaemia (GIR) being decreased markedly by ethanol. To ensure that the GIR is a measure of whole‐body glucose disposal, glucose turnover and hepatic glycogen levels were measured. These studies showed that ethanol totally suppressed hepatic glucose production. The reduction in GIR is associated with marked decreases in glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in most skeletal muscles. In oxidative but not in non‐oxidative muscles, the activation of glycogen synthase in response to insulin was decreased by ethanol, suggesting that a defect in glycogen synthase activation may be responsible for the decrease in glycogen synthesis. The basis of the inhibitory effects of ethanol on insulin‐stimulated glucose metabolism in muscle is unknown, but may involve membrane‐associated impairments in insulin signalling and/or the glucose transport system.
Gaming Hospital-Level Pneumonia 30-Day Mortality and Readmission Measures by Legitimate Changes to Diagnostic Coding*

Objective: Risk-standardized 30-day mortality and hospital readmission rates for pneumonia are increasingly being tied to hospital reimbursement to incentivize the delivery of high-quality care. Such measures may be susceptible to gaming by recoding patients with pneumonia to a primary diagnosis of sepsis or respiratory failure. We sought to determine the degree to which hospitals can game mortality or readmission measures and change their rankings by recoding patients with pneumonia. Design and Setting: Simulated experimental study of 2,906 U.S. acute care hospitals with at least 25 admissions for pneumonia using 2009 Medicare data. Patients: Elderly (age ≥ 65 yr) Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized with pneumonia. Patients eligible for recoding to sepsis or respiratory failure were those with a principal International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification, discharge code for pneumonia and secondary codes for respiratory failure or acute organ dysfunction. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: We measured the number of hospitals that improved their pneumonia mortality or readmission rates after recoding eligible patients. When a sample of 100 hospitals with pneumonia mortality rates above the 50th percentile recoded all eligible patients to sepsis or respiratory failure, 90 hospitals (95% CI, 84–95) improved their mortality rate (mean improvement, 1.09%; 95% CI, 0.94–1.28%) and 41 hospitals dropped below the 50th percentile (95% CI, 33–52). When a sample of 100 hospitals with pneumonia readmission rates above the 50th percentile recoded all eligible patients, 66 hospitals (95% CI, 54–75) improved their readmission rate (mean improvement, 0.34%; 95% CI, 0.19–0.45%) and 15 hospitals (95% CI, 9–22) dropped below the 50th percentile. Conclusions: Hospitals can improve apparent pneumonia mortality and readmission rates by recoding pneumonia patients. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should consider changes to their methods used to calculate hospital-level pneumonia outcome measures to make them less susceptible to gaming.