Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RGS4 reduces contractile dysfunction and hypertrophic gene induction in Galpha q overexpressing mice.

The intrinsic GTPase activity of Galpha q is low, and RGS proteins which activate GTPase are expressed in the heart; however, their functional relevance in vivo is unknown. Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Galpha q in myocardium exhibit cardiac hypertrophy, enhanced PKC xi membrane translocation, embryonic gene expression, and depressed cardiac contractility. We recently reported that transgenic mice with cardiac-specific expression of RGS4, a Galpha q and Galpha i GTPase activator, exhibit decreased left ventricular hypertrophy and ANF induction in response to pressure overload. To test the hypothesis that RGS4 can act as a Galpha q-specific GTPase activating protein (GAP) in the in vivo heart, dual transgenic Galpha q-40xRGS4 mice were generated to determine if RGS4 co-expression would ameliorate the Galpha q-40 phenotype. At age 4 weeks, percent fractional shortening was normalized in dual transgenic mice as was left ventricular internal dimension and posterior and septal wall thicknesses. PKC xi membrane translocation and ANF and alpha -skeletal actin mRNA levels were also normalized. Compound transgenic mice eventually developed depressed cardiac contractility that was evident by 9 weeks of age. These studies establish for the first time a role for RGS4 as a GAP for Galpha q in the in vivo heart, and demonstrate that its regulated expression can have pathophysiologic consequences.
Le determinanti dei prezzi delle abitazioni: aspetti microeconomici

Questo lavoro presenta una rassegna della letteratura sulle deter- minanti dei prezzi delle abitazioni a livello microeconomico. Dopo aver discusso le caratteristiche speci¯che del mercato delle abitazioni, e le implicazioni per la metodogia di analisi, la prima parte del lavoro esamina l'eterogeneitµa intrinseca delle abitazioni e i principali approc- ci per la costruzione di indici dei prezzi delle abitazioni. La seconda parte discute i principali contributi relativi al ruolo dei neighborhood e®ects per la determinazione dei prezzi delle abitazioni. La terza parte esamina la dimensione spaziale, concentrando l'attenzione sugli e®etti della posizione sui prezzi delle abitazioni. L'enfasi µe posta in modo particolare sugli aspetti metodologici, sui risultati a livello empirico, e sulle relative implicazioni normative.
A One-Layer Feedback Artificial Neural Network with a Bayesian Learning Rule

A probabilistic artificial neural network is presented. It is of a one-layer, feedback-coupled type with graded units. The learning rule is derived from Bayes's rule. Learning is regarded as collecting statistics and recall as a statistical inference process. Units correspond to events and connections come out as compatibility coefficients in a logarithmic combination rule. The input to a unit via connections from other active units affects the a posteriori belief in the event in question. The new model is compared to an earlier binary model with respect to storage capacity, noise tolerance, etc. in a content addressable memory (CAM) task. The new model is a real time network and some results on the reaction time for associative recall are given. The scaling of learning and relaxation operations is considered together with issues related to representation of information in one-layer artificial neural networks. An extension with complex units is discussed.
Silicon Reduces Aluminum Accumulation in Rats: Relevance to the Aluminum Hypothesis of Alzheimer Disease

Summary:In recent years, a possible relation between the aluminum and silicon levels in drinking water and the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) has been established. It has been suggested that silicon may have a protective effect in limiting oral aluminum absorption. The present study was undertaken to examine the influence of supplementing silicon in the diet to prevent tissue aluminum retention in rats exposed to oral aluminum. Three groups of adult male rats were given by gavage 450 mg/kg/day of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Concurrently, animals received silicon in the drinking water at 0 (positive control), 59, and 1 18 mg Si/L. A fourth group ( — Al, —Si) was designated as a negative control group. At the end of the period of aluminum and silicon administration, urines were collected for 4 consecutive days, and the urinary aluminum levels were determined. The aluminum concentrations in the brain (various regions), liver, bone, spleen, and kidney were also measured. For all tissues, aluminum levels were significantly lower in the groups exposed to 59 and 118 mg Si/L than in the positive control group; significant reductions in the urinary aluminum levels of the same groups were also found. The current results corroborate that silicon effectively prevents gastrointestinal aluminum absorption, which may be of concern in protecting against the neurotoxic effects of aluminum.
Genetic constraints on adaptation: a theoretical primer for the genomics era

Genetic constraints are features of inheritance systems that slow or prohibit adaptation. Several population genetic mechanisms of constraint have received sustained attention within the field since they were first articulated in the early 20th century. This attention is now reflected in a rich, and still growing, theoretical literature on the genetic limits to adaptive change. In turn, empirical research on constraints has seen a rapid expansion over the last two decades in response to changing interests of evolutionary biologists, along with new technologies, expanding data sets, and creative analytical approaches that blend mathematical modeling with genomics. Indeed, one of the most notable and exciting features of recent progress in genetic constraints is the close connection between theoretical and empirical research. In this review, we discuss five major population genetic contexts of genetic constraint: genetic dominance, pleiotropy, fitness trade‐offs between types of individuals of a population, sign epistasis, and genetic linkage between loci. For each, we outline historical antecedents of the theory, specific contexts where constraints manifest, and their quantitative consequences for adaptation. From each of these theoretical foundations, we discuss recent empirical approaches for identifying and characterizing genetic constraints, each grounded and motivated by this theory, and outline promising areas for future work.
Modelling and Efficiency-Analysis of Wireless Power Transfer using Magnetic Resonance Coupling

Wireless power transfer (WPT) system has got significant attention in recent years due to its applications in consumer electronics, medical implants and electric vehicles etc. WPT is a promising choice in situations, where the physical connectors can be unreliable and susceptible to failure. The efficiency of WPT system decreasing rapidly with increasing air-gap. Many circuit topologies have been employed to enhance the efficiency of the WPT system. This paper presents the modelling and performance analysis of resonant wireless power transfer (RWPT) system using series-parallel-mixed topology. The power transfer efficiency analysis of the model is investigated via circuit theory. S-parameters have been used for measuring power transfer efficiency. Transient analysis is performed to realize the behavior of voltage and current waveforms using advanced design system (ADS) software. The proposed model is tested with two amplitudes i.e. 100 V peak-to-peak and 110 V peak-to-peak at the same frequency of 365.1 kHz. The overall result shows that the series-parallel-mixed topology model has higher efficiency at low coupling factor (K) for both voltage amplitudes.
Binding of a soluble p70 killer cell inhibitory receptor to HLA‐B*5101: Requirement for all three p70 immunoglobulin domains

Lysis of target cells by natural killer (NK) cells can be prevented by killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) specific for major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. Functional studies have identified two distinct p58 KIR, each reactive with a different group of HLA‐C allotypes, and distinct p70 KIR specific for some HLA‐B or HLA‐A allotypes. The NK specificities for each group of HLA‐C allotypes have been reproduced by direct binding of recombinant soluble p58 molecules. Here, we show that a soluble p70 KIR binds to HLA‐B*5101, but not to HLA‐A or HLA‐C molecules. Truncated soluble forms of the HLA‐B*5101‐specific p70 KIR, including one with two immunoglobulin (Ig) domains reactive with a monoclonal antibody that blocks p70 KIR function, did not bind to HLA‐B*5101, indicating that all three Ig domains are required for binding.
Retention Strategy: A Clinical Ladder for Occupational Therapists

This article explores the issue of retention of occupational therapists and its impact on the facility, client, department and the profession. It also describes the use of a clinical ladder as a retention tool and presents the experience of one clinical facility in developing a clinical ladder. The literature, in association with the experience of the aforementioned clinical facility in the development of a clinical ladder in an occupational therapy department, does not provide conclusive evidence of the efficacy of a clinical ladder as a retention tool. However, it does lend enough support for the concept to encourage its further use in occupational therapy departments. There is a need to be creative in the design of retention methodologies which will decrease turn over and attrition from the profession in order to provide a stable pool of personnel to agencies that employ occupational therapists.
[Reliability of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Homes Polish version].

AIM The present study evaluated the reliability of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Homes) (NPI-NH) Polish version. METHOD 43 nursing home residents fulfilling the ICD-10 criteria for dementia were assessed with NPI-NH. RESULTS For analysis of data we used Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The internal consistency of the NPI-NH was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha for the total was 0.25 and only 0.881 for the frequency and severity of symptoms). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for the test-retest reliability was 0.75 for the total scale results and ranged from 0.40 to 0.85 for each symptom assessed. Interrater reliabilities were 0.86 for the total and from 0.71 to 1.00 for each symptom reported. CONCLUSION The preliminary results of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Homes Polish version reliability were all satisfactory.
Inappropriate prescribing: are there ‘appropriate’ educational solutions?

The inclusion of Oxford et al’s1 paper on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in this journal provides a timely and valuable educational challenge. The subtext of the paper is that we have known about the dangers of antibiotic usage in the context of what are likely to be viral infections for more than 20 years2 yet we continue to use them. In this commentary I will examine why doctors carry on doing what they do despite contrary evidence and I will attempt to summarise some of the salient literature on changing doctors’ behaviour. ‘Educate the doctors’ is a common conclusion of studies that demonstrate deficits in practice, but is it possible to ‘educate the doctors’? We know, for example, that despite the availability of contrary evidence from the literature, from expert colleagues and from national guidelines, GPs’ prescribing behaviour tends to be remarkably stable over time.3 There is a gap between knowing about best practice and making the required changes.4 For many years doctor behaviour change initiatives have been founded on a so-called ‘information deficit framework’. 5 The rationale is that the many confounding sources of influence on doctors’ behaviour (personal beliefs, habits, perceived patient expectations, etc.) can be overcome by providing sufficient information using a combination of delivery formats, e.g. guidelines, audit cycles, continuing medical education (CME) events.5,6 However, despite years of effort there is an international consensus that there are no ‘magic bullets’ for changing doctors’ behaviour.7 This begs the question, why do doctors not change their behaviour?
Zur klinisch-mikrobiologischen Situation bei Patienten mit Implantatversorgung : eine Beobachtungsstudie

Ziel der Studie war die Erfassung klinischer und mikrobiologischer Parameter bei 81 Patienten vor, ein Vierteljahr und ein Jahr nach Implantation. Weiterhin sollte die deskriptive Auswertung aller erhobenen Parameter (Mittelwerte, Standardabweichung, Minima, Maxima) vorgenommen werden und deren Prufung auf Unterschiede und mittels multipler Regressionsanalyse die Einflussfaktoren auf das Implantat in Beziehung zur tiefsten Zahnfleischtasche [ZFT] modelliert werden. Es sollte erhellt werden, ob sich die Mundhygiene der Patienten verbessert hat, ein Jahr nach Implantatinsertion mehrheitlich ein Implantaterfolg vorliegt und ob es klinische Parameter gibt, die eine Vorhersage des Implantaterfolges bereits vor der Implantation erlauben. Die Patienten wurden prospektiv nach der tiefsten ZFT im Restgebiss vier Gruppen zugeteilt. Untersuchungsparameter waren der DMFT, der Community Periodontal Index [CPI], die ST, der prothetische Status, Mundhygieneindizes, die Bestimmung der Mutans-Streptokokken und Laktobazillen im Speichel, der parodontopathogenen Keime sowie der aMMP8-Konzentration in der tiefsten ZFT und im Implantatsulkus. Ein Jahr nach Insertion hatten die Patienten ihre Mundhygiene verbessert. Die Implantate waren mehrheitlich plaque- (Ober-/Unterkiefer [OK/UK] vestibular 100/93%, OK/UK oral 92/89%) und entzundungsfrei (OK/UK vestibular 97/93%, OK/UK oral 92/91%). Bei geringer Aussagekraft der Regressionsanalyse (Bestimmtheitsmas 6,6 %) erwies sich lediglich die Gesamtkeimzahl [GKZ] im Implantatsulkus als signifikant einflussnehmende Variable auf das Implantat. Die Regressionsanalyse zur „tiefsten ZFT“ hatte mit 15 Einflussfaktoren eine hohe Aussagekraft von 82,7 %. Grosten Einfluss hatten der prothetische Status, der CPI (Zahne 17/16, 31), die GKZ der tiefsten ZFT, der radikulare Kariesbefall (Zahn 41) und eine bereits erfolgte Parodontitisbehandlung. Diese Einflussfaktoren konnen bereits vor der Implantation beurteilt werden.
A likelihood ratio test for evolutionary rate shifts and functional divergence among proteins

Changes in protein function can lead to changes in the selection acting on specific residues. This can often be detected as evolutionary rate changes at the sites in question. A maximum-likelihood method for detecting evolutionary rate shifts at specific protein positions is presented. The method determines significance values of the rate differences to give a sound statistical foundation for the conclusions drawn from the analyses. A statistical test for detecting slowly evolving sites is also described. The methods are applied to a set of Myc proteins for the identification of both conserved sites and those with changing evolutionary rates. Those positions with conserved and changing rates are related to the structures and functions of their proteins. The results are compared with an earlier Bayesian method, thereby highlighting the advantages of the new likelihood ratio tests.
&Dgr;9-THC exposure attenuates aversive effects and reveals appetitive effects of K2/‘Spice’ constituent JWH-018 in mice

The emergence of high-efficacy synthetic cannabinoids as drugs of abuse in readily available K2/‘Spice’ smoking blends has exposed users to much more potent and effective substances than the phytocannabinoids present in cannabis. Increasing reports of adverse reactions, including dependence and withdrawal, are appearing in the clinical literature. Here we investigated whether the effects of one such synthetic cannabinoid, 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (JWH-018), would be altered by a prior history of &Dgr;9-tetrahydrocannabinol (&Dgr;9-THC) exposure, in assays of conditioned taste aversion and conditioned place preference. In the conditioned taste aversion procedure, JWH-018 induced marked and persistent aversive effects in mice with no previous cannabinoid history, but the magnitude and duration of these aversive effects were significantly blunted in mice previously treated with an ascending dose regimen of &Dgr;9-THC. Similarly, in the conditioned place preference procedure, JWH-018 induced dose-dependent aversive effects in mice with no previous drug history, but mice exposed to &Dgr;9-THC before place conditioning showed reduced aversions at a high JWH-018 dose and apparent rewarding effects at a low dose of JWH-018. These findings suggest that a history of &Dgr;9-THC exposure ‘protects’ against aversive effects and ‘unmasks’ appetitive effects of the high-efficacy synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 in mice. This pattern of results implies that cannabinoid-naive individuals administering K2/‘Spice’ products for the first-time may be at an increased risk for adverse reactions, whereas those with a history of marijuana use may be particularly sensitive to the reinforcing effects of high-efficacy cannabinoids present in these commercial smoking blends.
Reconstructing a level-1-network from quartets Bachelor project

This paper deals with the problem of reconstructing a phylogenetic network from quartets. Specifically a polynomial-time algorithm was implemented to reconstruct trees and level1-networks from quartet data that satisfies certain conditions. This algorithm uses linear algebra methods to construct the set of orders the taxa can have along the boundary when drawing a planar embedding of the network. Then, the network can be reconstructed. Several experiments are performed to validate the implementation and measure the accuracy and performance of the algorithm.
Non-invasive assessment of systolic left ventricular function in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a multisystemic disorder, also affecting the heart. To evaluate its influence on systolic left ventricular (LV) function, we investigated 30 consecutive patients (age 54.5 +/- 2.4 years, 15 men and 15 women) and 48 controls matched for age and sex. All subjects were investigated by phonocardiography, pulse curve recordings, M-mode echocardiography, and by pulsed and continuous wave Doppler. Heart rate, blood pressure and peripheral resistance did not differ, but patients weighed less than controls (P less than 0.01). Systolic time intervals indicated systolic impairment, with an increased pre-ejection period to LV ejection time (LVET) ratio (0.37 +/- 0.02 vs 0.30 +/- 0.01 P less than 0.001), and also an increased isovolumic contraction time to LVET ratio (0.17 +/- 0.02 vs 0.12 +/- 0.01, P less than 0.02). The latter difference remained when LVET was adjusted for heart rate. Echocardiographic E-point to septal separation was increased in patients (8.3 +/- 1.3 vs 4.8 +/- 0.3 mm, P = 0.001), also after adjustment for LV dimension (P = 0.0001), while septal fractional thickening was decreased (P less than 0.01). End systolic wall stress (P = 0.0002) and stress to volume ratio (P = 0.03) were lower in systemic sclerosis. Peak LV emptying rate was also lower in the patient group when measured by echocardiography (P = 0.03). There was no difference between groups regarding LV dimensions, fractional shortening or mean velocity of circumferential fibre shortening. While aortic Doppler peak emptying rate did not differ between groups, it occurred later in systole in the patient group (P less than 0.01) as did peak velocity (P = 0.0001). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Apego al tratamiento y control de los pacientes diabéticos en la comunidad

Objetivos: determinar el grado de apego al tratamiento en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, asi como apego al tratamiento de las comorbilidades asociadas con mas frecuencia, como hipertension arterial sistemica, hiperlipidemia y obesidad; ademas de identificar las posibles causas de no apego a los tratamientos, realizar el estudio estadistico de los datos, analizar y discutir los resultados arrojados en el estudio. Material y metodo: estudio monocentrico, longitudinal, observacional y analitico efectuado en pacientes mayores de 18 anos con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 de mas de seis meses de diagnostico, con o sin comorbilidades, como hipertension arterial sistemica, hiperlipidemia y obesidad, que acuden a la consulta externa de Medicina Interna de un centro de salud del Distrito Federal. Se excluyeron los pacientes con diagnostico menor a seis meses y que tuvieran diagnostico de comorbilidades que influyeran en el apego al tratamiento, como enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva cronica, hiper o hipotiroidismo, enfermedad vascular cerebral, entre otras. Resultados: se encontraron 22 pacientes diabeticos controlados y 33 pacientes diabeticos no controlados; de los pacientes diabeticos controlados, 11 tenian buen apego, 4, regular apego y 7, mal apego al tratamiento. De los 33 pacientes diabeticos no controlados, 10 tenian buen apego, 18, regular apego y 5, mal apego al tratamiento; el factor economico fue la principal causa de mal apego al tratamiento. Conclusion: de acuerdo con las metas establecidas (control glucemico bueno: 140), encontramos que algunos de los pacientes alcanzaron las metas sin tener un adecuado apego al tratamiento; sin embargo, son la minoria, porque el grueso de nuestra poblacion controlada permanecio con regular y buen apego al tratamiento
Delayed phosphorylation of the largest neurofilament protein in rat optic nerve development

Monoclonal antibodies selectively reacting with the high molecular weight neurofilament proteins (NF 150K and NF 200K) on immunoblots of bovine spinal cord extracts were obtained upon immunization of mice with chicken brain antigen and with highly purified NF 150K or NF 200K isolated from bovine spinal cord by anion exchange chromatography. Antibodies reacting with NF 200K or with both NF 150K and NF 200K were selected for this study. The antibodies were screened on immunoblots for reactivity with phosphorylated epitopes by dilution of the supernatants in sodium potassium phosphate as well as by treatment of nitrocellulose transfers with alkaline phosphatase. Abolishment of staining under these conditions was taken as evidence of reactivity with phosphorylated epitopes. With phosphate/phosphatase‐sensitive antibodies, NF 200K immunoreactivity was a late event in rat optic nerve development. It was first observed at day 18 on immunoblots of sodium dodecyl sulfate extracts analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Conversely, with phosphate/phosphatase‐insensitive antibodies, NF 200K immunoreactivity was already present on day 10, the earliest age in this study. With one monoclonal reacting with phosphorylated NF 150K and NF 200K, NF 150K immunoreactivity was already present on day 10. It is proposed that NF 200K expression precedes NF 200K phosphorylation in development.
High performance tuners for handsets

Impedance tuners are in evaluation within mobile handsets to improve radiated performance, compensate for environmental influences on antenna impedance, shrink antenna volumes and shorten design cycles. As a new component in the handset RF front end designer's toolkit, tuner specifications and value propositions are subjects of heated debate. A unified approach to specifying tuner RF performance remains to be developed. This paper proposes such a specification approach and then details the design and measured performance of an integrated tuner module against the specification.