Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses to hypoxia and recovery: repayment of oxygen debt is not associated with compensatory protein synthesis in the Amazonian cichlid, Astronotus ocellatus

SUMMARY Oxygen consumption, as an indicator of routine metabolic rate (RoMR), and tissue-specific changes in protein synthesis, as measured by 3H-labelled phenylalanine incorporation rates, were determined in Astronotus ocellatus to investigate the cellular mechanisms behind hypoxia-induced metabolic depression and recovery. RoMR was significantly depressed, by approximately 50%, when dissolved oxygen levels reached 10% saturation (0.67±0.01 mg l–1 at 28±1°C). This depression in RoMR was accompanied by a 50–60% decrease in liver, heart and gill protein synthesis, but only a 30% decrease in brain protein synthesis. During recovery from hypoxia, an overshoot in RoMR to 270% of the normoxic rate was observed, indicating the accumulation of an oxygen debt during hypoxia. This conclusion was consistent with significant increase in plasma lactate levels during the hypoxic exposure, and the fact that lactate levels rapidly returned to pre-hypoxic levels. In contrast, a hyperactivation of protein synthesis did not occur, suggesting the overshoot in oxygen consumption during recovery is attributed to an increase in cellular processes other than protein synthesis.
Commentary on: psychotic symptoms in frontotemporal dementia: a diagnostic dilemma?

Frontotemporal dementia is clearly a very important condition, not only because alongside Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia it is one of the four most common causes of dementia, but because its broad symptom profile and younger age of onset makes it a particularly challenging condition to diagnose and manage. In recent years, great progress has been made in understanding genetic and pathological underpinnings of frontotemporal dementias, and in characterizing specific pathological causes. In particular, three major subtypes can be delineated: those associated pathologically with tau; transactive responsive DNA binding protein (TDP-43); or fused in sarcoma (FUS). Of these, tau and TDP-43 are by far the two most common subtypes of frontotemporal dementia. In addition, there have been important genetic advances and several autosomal dominant mutations have been described, for example associated with MAPT, progranulin, and C9ORF72. However, despite these important advances regarding pathophysiological heterogeneity, relatively little is known about the frequency, nature, and correlates of psychotic symptoms in the disorder. It is therefore very timely that in this month's Paper of the Month, Waldo and colleagues (Waldo et al., 2015) describe a very detailed description of a cohort of 97 consecutive subjects seen in Lund who received a neuropathological diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
Use of vemurafenib in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, poorly differentiated type of thyroid cancer occurring in less than 5% of all thyroid cancers. Patients typically have a poor prognosis with very few options for treatment.2 With current therapy of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, median survival is only 6 months from the time of diagnosis. Several mutations in cell cycle regulation have been discovered in ATC that contribute to its undifferentiated state, one of which is the BRAF kinase mutation. This mutation results in activation of the MAPK pathway and uncontrolled cell proliferation. In this case report, a 51 y old male presented with a 2-week history of hoarseness and was diagnosed with ATC. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in BRAF kinase; the patient subsequently began therapy with vemurafenib, a BRAF kinase inhibitor indicated for melanoma. After an initial response, the patient quickly declined and consequently died from his disease. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a deadly cancer without an effective treatment. Inhibiting mutated enzymes that drive the development of this cancer is a potential drug target that may improve outcomes in patients with ATC.
Vancomycin concentrations in infected and noninfected human bone

Concentrations of vancomycin in bones of 14 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (group 1) and 5 patients with osteomyelitis (group 2) were studied. Group 1 received vancomycin, 15 mg/kg intravenously, 1 h prior to anesthesia. Group 2 received doses adjusted to achieve peak levels in serum of 20 to 30 micrograms/ml and trough levels of less than 12 micrograms/ml; bone specimens were collected during surgical debridement. The specimens were pulverized and eluted into phosphate buffer, and the supernatants were analyzed for vancomycin content by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. In group 1, vancomycin was detectable in all cancellous specimens with a mean concentration of 2.3 +/- 4.0 micrograms/g (range, 0.5 to 16 micrograms/g); 10 of 14 cortical specimens had detectable vancomycin; the mean cortical concentration was 1.1 +/- 0.8 micrograms/g (range, not detectable to 2.6 micrograms/g). In group 2, vancomycin was detectable in only two of five cortical bone specimens (mean concentration, 5.9 +/- 3.5 micrograms/g). Cancellous bone was obtained in one patient; the vancomycin concentration was 3.6 micrograms/g. In most patients the vancomycin levels in bones were higher than the MIC for susceptible staphylococci following single prophylactic doses. In the few infected patients studied, penetration was variable and deserves further study.
An improved edge-adaptive image scaling algorithm

Image scaling is an important part of image processing. In order to protect edge characteristics of images, this paper proposes an improved edge-adaptive image scaling algorithm, in which the image is mainly divided into four kinds of image blocks with simple directional edge detector, and interpolation is then adaptively carried out along edge direction. Our experiment shows that the proposed algorithm can produce high-quality images with well-preserved edge and low computational complexity.
Multidimensional Databases and Data Warehousing

The present book's subject is multidimensional data models and data modeling concepts as they are applied in real data warehouses. The book aims to present the most important concepts within this subject in a precise and understandable manner. The book's coverage of fundamental concepts includes data cubes and their elements, such as dimensions, facts, and measures and their representation in a relational setting; it includes architecture-related concepts; and it includes the querying of multidimensional databases. The book also covers advanced multidimensional concepts that are considered to be particularly important. This coverage includes advanced dimension-related concepts such as slowly changing dimensions, degenerate and junk dimensions, outriggers, parent-child hierarchies, and unbalanced, non-covering, and non-strict hierarchies. The book offers a principled overview of key implementation techniques that are particularly important to multidimensional databases, including materialized views, bitmap indices, join indices, and star join processing. The book ends with a chapter that presents the literature on which the book is based and offers further readings for those readers who wish to engage in more in-depth study of specific aspects of the book's subject. Table of Contents: Introduction / Fundamental Concepts / Advanced Concepts / Implementation Issues / Further Readings
Experimental Study of Disruption-Tolerant Transport Protocol for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks with Connection Diversity

Due to node mobility, the network topology of a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) usually varies from full connection to intermittent connection, showing a connection diversity. There have been many well-known routing protocols for full connection and intermittent connection situations respectively. However, it is hard to find one-fit-to-all routing protocol suitable in all connection situations. In this paper, we propose a unified transport framework for MANET with connection diversity, named by DTTP (Delay Tolerant Transport Protocol). DTTP provides a scheme to integrate routing protocols in both paradigms. It is only implemented in end nodes (sources and destinations) and the intermediate nodes remain untouched. The decision on which protocol to use for transmitting a given message from source to destination is made on application level and transparent to applications. To this end, DTTP defines an unified API for application development, and designs a heartbeat mechanism to determine the network connection situations. We implement DTTP in our testbed and evaluate its performance. The experiment results verify its fundamental functionalities.
Activation of olfactory‐type cyclic nucleotide‐gated channels is highly cooperative

Cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) ion channels play a key role in the sensory transduction of vision and olfaction. The channels are opened by the binding of cyclic nucleotides. Native olfactory CNG channels are heterotetramers of CNGA2, CNGA4, and CNGB1b subunits. Upon heterologous expression, only CNGA2 subunits can form functional homotetrameric channels. It is presently not known how the binding of the ligands to the four subunits is translated to channel opening. We studied activation of olfactory CNG channels by photolysis‐induced jumps of cGMP or cAMP, two cyclic nucleotides with markedly different apparent affinity. It is shown that at equal degree of activation, the activation time course of homotetrameric channels is similar with cGMP and cAMP and it is also similar in homo‐ and heterotetrameric channels with the same cyclic nucleotide. Kinetic models were globally fitted to activation time courses of homotetrameric channels. While all models containing equivalent binding sites failed, a model containing three binding sites with a ligand affinity high–low–high described the data adequately. Only the second binding step switches from a very low to a very high open probability. We propose a unique gating mechanism for homotetrameric and heterotetrameric channels that involves only three highly cooperative binding steps.
Seasonal induction of GABAergic excitation in the central mammalian clock

Significance The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA plays an important role in many brain circuits involved in anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. GABA is critical for maintaining the balance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission, thereby ensuring proper neuronal network function. Here, we report that entraining mice to a long-day photoperiod can modify the excitatory/inhibitory balance in the suprachiasmatic neuronal network by increasing GABAergic excitation. These data suggest that day length affects the role of GABA in the circadian clock. This finding is important given the widespread application of GABAergic drugs and the general increase in the prevalence of sleep disorders. The balance between excitation and inhibition is essential for the proper function of neuronal networks in the brain. The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contributes to the network dynamics within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is involved in seasonal encoding. We investigated GABAergic activity and observed mainly inhibitory action in SCN neurons of mice exposed to a short-day photoperiod. Remarkably, the GABAergic activity in a long-day photoperiod shifts from inhibition toward excitation. The mechanistic basis for this appears to be a change in the equilibrium potential of GABA-evoked current. These results emphasize that environmental conditions can have substantial effects on the function of a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Semi-interpenetration with conducting polyanilines on poly(acrylamide-co-kaolin) composite

In this work, clay minerals such as kaolin particles were embedded within the network of poly(acrylamide) hydrogel (PAAm) using free radical solution polymerization method. Aniline monomer was absorbed in the network of PAAm/Kaolin composite hydrogel and followed using free radical solution polymerization at room temperature. The novel semi-interpenetrating network was comprised of linear polyaniline immersed in PAAm/Kaolin composite. Electrical conductivity of the hydrogels was measured using four-probe technique. The conductivity for the prepared new semi-interpenetrating polymer network (s-IPN) is found to be 1.1 ×10−4 S.cm−1. Thus, a new s-IPN composite hydrogel with good conductive properties was prepared.
Leveraged Speculators and Asset Prices Wenxi Jiang

I test the hypothesis that the use of leverage by market speculators can increase the likelihood and magnitude of a crash in asset prices. Using a novel leverage measure derived from public filings, I find that stocks held by highly levered hedge funds subsequently have more negatively skewed returns than stocks held by less levered funds. This finding extends to the aggregate U.S. market index. I relate this effect to fire sales: highly levered funds are more likely to liquidate long positions when experiencing negative fundamental shocks to the assets they hold and when experiencing funding liquidity shocks.
Ein echtzeitfähiges System zur Gewinnung von Tiefeninformation aus Stereobildpaaren für konfigurierbare Hardware

﻿Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit der Entwicklung eines echtzeitfahigen Systems zur Erstellung von Tiefeninformation aus Stereobildpaaren, das in einer Reihe von Anwendungen zur dreidimensionalen Vermessung des Raumes herangezogen werden kann. Als Hauptanwendungsgebiete sind in erster Linie mobile Robotikapplikationen vorgesehen, die sehr strenge Anforderungen sowohl bezuglich des Ressourcenverbrauchs als auch im Hinblick auf die Messeigenschaften und das Laufzeitverhalten stellen. Ein Merkmal des in dieser Arbeit entworfenen Systems ist die in Echtzeit stattfindende Ausfuhrung der verwendeten Algorithmen in Kombination mit sehr guten Messeigenschaften. Das verwendete Stereo-Matching-Verfahren basiert auf einem globalen Ansatz und liefert im Vergleich zu den alternativen echtzeitfahigen Methoden sehr gute Ergebnisse. Im Vordergrund steht dabei der Semi-Global-Matching-Algorithmus. Aufgrund der Komplexitat globaler Ansatze finden in Echtzeitapplikationen nur lokale Stereo-Verfahren Verwendung. Lokale Verfahren liefern jedoch im Vergleich zu den globalen Methoden qualitativ schlechte Disparitatskarten. Ein neuer globaler Matching-Algorithmus Efficient-Semi-Global-Matching (eSGM) wird vorgestellt und in das Konzept fur mobile Robotikanwendungen umgesetzt. Wegen der begrenzten Ressourcen der realen Hardware wurde eine Weiterentwicklung des eSGM-Algorithmus fur die Realisierung genutzt. Abschliesend wird das System anhand der drei Kerneigenschaften Laufzeit, Ressourcenverbrauch und Qualitat der Tiefeninformation gegenuber den Verfahren nach dem Stand der Technik bewertet. Der in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte FPGA-Ansatz, die eingesetzte Entwurfsmethode und die vorgestellten Algorithmen ermoglichten es, ein leistungsfahiges Stereo-Bildverarbeitungssystem zu entwickeln, das den hohen Anforderungen bezuglich des Laufzeitverhaltens und der Qualitat des Ergebnisses gerecht wird.
Tic22 Is an Essential Chaperone Required for Protein Import into the Apicoplast*

Background: Tic22 is a core protein import machinery component of chloroplasts and apicoplasts. Results: Tic22 is a chaperone, required for parasite survival and for protein import in the apicoplast. Conclusion: Tic22 lies between the plastid membranes, maintaining imported proteins unfolded for translocation. Significance: Chaperones which hold proteins in an unfolded state are central to membrane translocation systems and Tic22 plays this role in plastids. Most plastids proteins are post-translationally imported into organelles through multisubunit translocons. The TIC and TOC complexes perform this role in the two membranes of the plant chloroplast and in the inner two membranes of the apicoplasts of the apicomplexan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum. Tic22 is a ubiquitous intermembrane translocon component that interacts with translocating proteins. Here, we demonstrate that T. gondii Tic22 is an apicoplast-localized protein, essential for parasite survival and protein import into the apicoplast stroma. The structure of Tic22 from P. falciparum reveals a fold conserved from cyanobacteria to plants, which displays a non-polar groove on each side of the molecule. We show that these grooves allow Tic22 to act as a chaperone. General chaperones are common components of protein translocation systems where they maintain cargo proteins in an unfolded conformation during transit. Such a chaperone had not been identified in the intermembrane space of plastids and we propose that Tic22 fulfills this role.
Increased platelet counts and platelet activation in early symptomatic versus asymptomatic carotid stenosis and relationship with microembolic status : Results from the Platelets And Carotid Stenosis ( PACS ) Study

Background: Cerebral microembolic signals (MES) may predict increased stroke risk in carotid stenosis. However, the relationship between platelet counts or platelet activation status and MES in symptomatic versus asymptomatic carotid stenosis has not been comprehensively assessed. Setting: University teaching hospitals. Methods: This prospective, pilot observational study assessed platelet counts and platelet activation status, and the relationship between platelet activation and MES in asymptomatic versus early (≤4 weeks after TIA/stroke) and late phase (≥3 months) symptomatic moderate or severe (≥50%) carotid stenosis patients. Full blood count measurements were performed, and whole blood flow cytometry was used to quantify platelet surface activation marker expression (CD62P and CD63) and circulating leucocyte-platelet complexes. Bilateral simultaneous transcranial Doppler ultrasound monitoring of the middle cerebral arteries was performed for 1 hour to classify patients as MES-positive or MES-negative. Results: Data from 31 asymptomatic patients were compared with 46 symptomatic patients in the early phase, and 35 of these patients followed up to the late phase after symptom onset. The median platelet count (211 vs. 200 x 10 9 /L; p=0.03) and the median % lymphocyte-platelet complexes were higher in early symptomatic than asymptomatic patients (2.8 vs. 2.4%, p=0.001). The % lymphocyte-platelet complexes was higher in early symptomatic than asymptomatic patients with ≥70% carotid stenosis (p=0.0005), and in symptomatic patients recruited within 7 days of symptom onset (p=0.028). Complete TCD data were available in 25 asymptomatic and 31 early phase symptomatic, and 27 late phase symptomatic patients. 12% of asymptomatic versus 32% of early phase symptomatic (p=0.02) and 19% of late phase symptomatic patients (p=0.2) were MES-positive. Early symptomatic MES-negative patients had a higher % lymphocyte-platelet complexes than asymptomatic MES-negative patients (2.8 vs. 2.3%; p=0.0085). Discussion: Recently symptomatic carotid stenosis patients have higher platelet counts (potentially reflecting increased platelet production, mobilisation or reduced clearance) and platelet activation status than asymptomatic patients. MES were more frequently detected in early symptomatic than asymptomatic patients, but the differences between late symptomatic and asymptomatic groups were not significant. Increased lymphocyte-platelet complex formation in recently symptomatic vs. asymptomatic MES-negative patients indicates enhanced platelet activation in this early symptomatic subgroup. Platelet biomarkers, in combination with TCD, have the potential to aid risk-stratification in asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis
Hydrogen Bonded Helical Configurations of the Polypeptide Chain.

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from the U. S. Public Health Service to the Massachusetts General Hospital. t This is publication No. 141 of the Robert W. Lovett Memorial Foundation for the Study of Crippling Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 1 Schmitt, F. O. , Hall, C. E. , and Jakus, M. A. , J. Cell Comp. Physiol. , 20, 11-33 (1942). 2 Bahr, G. , Exptl. Cell Research, 1, 603-606 (1950). 3 Vanamee, P., and Porter, K. R. , J. Exptl. Med., 94, 255-268 (1951). 4 Noda, H. , and Wyckoff, R. W. G. , Biochem. et Biophys. Acta., 7, 494-506 (1951). 6 Gross, J., Proc. Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation; Conference on Metabolic Interrelationships, 4, 32-57 (1952). 6 Nageotte, J., and Guyon, L. , Arch. Biol., 41, 1-35 (1930). Faure-Fremiet and Garrault, H. , Arch. Anal. mic. , 33, 81-94 (1937). 8 Highberger, J. H. , Gross, J., and Schmitt, F. O. , PROC. NATL. ACAD. Sex. , 37, 286291 (1951). 9 Tustanovsky, A. A. , Biokhimiya, 12, 285-290 (1947). 10 Orekhovich, V. N. , Tustanovsky, A. A. , Orekhovich, K. D. , and Plotnikova, N. E. , Biochemiya, 13, 55-60 (1948). 11 Highberger, J. H. , Gross, J., and Schmitt, F. O. , J. Am. Chem. Soc. , 72, 3321 (1950). 12 Gross, J., Highberger, J. H. , and Schmitt, F. O. , Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med., 80, 462-465 (1952). 13 It should be noted, however, that a wide variety of proteins and other high polymers will not reproduce this phenomenon. 14 Bresler, C. E. , Finogenov, P. A. , and Frenkel, S. Y. , Repts. Acad. Sci. U.S.S.R. , Moscow, 72, 555-558 (1950). Bear, R. S. , Adv. Protein Chem., 7, 69-160 (1952). 16 Williams, R. C. , Biochem. et Biophys. Acta, 9, 237-239 (1952). 17 Bailey, K. , "The Muscle. A Study in Biology and Pathology," L'Expansion Sci. Francaise, 31-46 (1950). 18 Weber, H. H. , Adv. Protein Chem., 7, 161-252 (1952). 19 Hodge, A. J., PRoc. NATL. ACAD. SCI., 38, 850-855 (1952). '0 Mercer, E. H. , and Olofsson, B. , J. Polymer Sci., 6, 671-680 (1951).
Comparison of four magnetic resonance methods for mapping small temperature changes

Non-invasive detection of small temperature changes (C) is pivotal to the further advance of regional hyperthermia as a treatment modality for deep-seated tumours. Magnetic resonance (MR) thermography methods are considered to be a promising approach. Four methods exploiting temperature-dependent parameters were evaluated in phantom experiments. The investigated temperature indicators were spin-lattice relaxation time , diffusion coefficient D, shift of water proton resonance frequency (water PRF) and resonance frequency shift of the methoxy group of the praseodymium complex (Pr probe). The respective pulse sequences employed to detect temperature-dependent signal changes were the multiple readout single inversion recovery (T One by Multiple Read Out Pulses; TOMROP), the pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE), the fast low-angle shot (FLASH) with phase difference reconstruction, and the classical chemical shift imaging (CSI). Applying these sequences, experiments were performed in two separate and consecutive steps. In the first step, calibration curves were recorded for all four methods. In the second step, applying these calibration data, maps of temperature changes were generated and verified. With the equal total acquisition time of approximately 4 min for all four methods, the uncertainties of temperature changes derived from the calibration curves were less than C (Pr probe C, water PRF C, C and C). The corresponding maps of temperature changes exhibited slightly higher errors but still in the range or less than C (C, C, C, C respectively). The calibration results indicate the Pr probe method to be most sensitive and accurate. However, this advantage could only be partially transferred to the thermographic maps because of the coarse matrix of the classical CSI sequence. Therefore, at present the water PRF method appears to be most suitable for MR monitoring of small temperature changes during hyperthermia treatment.