Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of coral calcification to ocean acidification: a meta‐analysis

To date, meta‐analyses of effects of acidification have focused on the overall strength of evidence for statistically significant responses; however, to anticipate likely consequences of ocean acidification, quantitative estimates of the magnitude of likely responses are also needed. Herein, we use random effects meta‐analysis to produce a systematically integrated measure of the distribution of magnitudes of the response of coral calcification to decreasing ΩArag. We also tested whether methodological and biological factors that have been hypothesized to drive variation in response magnitude explain a significant proportion of the among‐study variation. We found that the overall mean response of coral calcification is ~15% per unit decrease in ΩArag over the range 2 < ΩArag < 4. Among‐study variation is large (standard deviation of 8% per unit decrease in ΩArag). Neither differences in carbonate chemistry manipulation method, study duration, irradiance level, nor study species growth rate explained a significant proportion of the among‐study variation. However, studies employing buoyant weighting found significantly smaller decreases in calcification per unit ΩArag (~10%), compared with studies using the alkalinity anomaly technique (~25%). These differences may be due to the greater tendency for the former to integrate over light and dark calcification. If the existing body of experimental work is indeed representative of likely responses of corals in nature, our results imply that, under business as usual conditions, declines in coral calcification by end‐of‐century will be ~22%, on average, or ~15% if only studies integrating light and dark calcification are considered. These values are near the low end of published projections, but support the emerging view that variability due to local environmental conditions and species composition is likely to be substantial.
Psychological effects of chronic disease.

Recent years have seen a tremendous growth and reconceptualization in approaches to understanding the impact of chronic disease on children and their families. The traditional deficit-centred model is slowly being replaced. The trend is towards models that take account of coping resources and individual competence. The emphasis is away from identifying psychopathology within families, and towards an understanding of how ordinary families deal with specific crises that arise
Short‐latency autogenic inhibition in patients with parkinsonian rigidity

The spinal Ib interneuron efficacy has been compared in 11 control subjects and 19 patients with parkinsonian rigidity. In normal subjects, gastrocnemius medialis nerve stimulation induces an inhibition of the soleus H reflex for 3 to 8 msec with a peak at 5 msec of 83.72 ± 7.28% of the control value of H reflex. In parkinsonian patients, inhibition is reduced or even replaced by facilitation, which also peaks at 5 msec. The departures from normal values correlate with rigidity intensity assessed by the Webster scale. Increase in rigidity is associated, first, with a reduction of inhibition and, from a score of 2 or more, with facilitation replacing the normal inhibition. In addition to providing an electrophysiological index of rigidity, reduction in autogenic inhibition might be one of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying rigidity. In association with the known hyperactivity of the Ia inhibitory interneuron in Parkinson's disease, reduction of activity of Ib interneuron could be explained by an increased activity in the reticularis gigantocellularis nucleus; its efferent tracts both inhibit Ib interneurons and activate Ia interneurons.
Technique for training schizophrenic patients in illness self-management: a controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether schizophrenic outpatients receiving low-dose neuroleptic therapy could learn and retain complex information and skills related to self-management of their illness, a novel technique of teaching, using cognitive and behavioral methods, was designed to compensate for the patients' learning disabilities. METHOD The subjects were 41 patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia who were receiving constant maintenance neuroleptic drug therapy. They were randomly assigned to structured, modularized skills training or to supportive group psychotherapy. RESULTS The patients who received skills training made significant gains in each of the areas taught, while those participating in group therapy did not. The skills learned during training were retained without significant erosion over a 1-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of modularized teaching of illness self-management skills to schizophrenic patients appears to be largely independent of baseline psychology and symptom improvement. Such an approach is useful for overcoming or compensating for the enduring cognitive and information processing deficits commonly found in schizophrenia.
Dual-broadband T-shaped monopole antenna for wireless communication

With the addition of dual shorted L-shaped strip-sleeves, a novel dual-broadband T-shaped printed monopole antenna for 2.4/5.8 GHz WLAN has been proposed and experimentally studied. The obtained impedance bandwidths can reach about 35% for the 2.4 GHz band and 10.0% for the 5.8 GHz band, which both meet the required bandwidth specifications of the IEEE 802.11a/b/g standards. The measured peak antenna gains for the operating frequencies across dual WLAN bands are measured to be, respectively, 3.4 and 1.0 dBi, with the gain variations within 0.8 dBi.
A CMOS 5 nV$/\surd $Hz 74-dB-Gain-Range 82-dB-DR Multistandard Baseband Chain for Bluetooth, UMTS, and WLAN

An analog baseband chain for a multistandard (Bluetooth, WCDMA/UMTS, and WLAN) reconfigurable receiver in a 0.13 mum CMOS occupying 1.65 mm2 is presented. The circuit consists of an open-loop programmable-gain amplifier (PGA1), an active-Gm-RC low-pass filter (LPF), and a closed-loop programmable-gain amplifier (PGA2). The chain gain can be programmed in the range -6 divide 68 dB, while the input-referred noise (IRN) is 5 nV/radicHz. A dynamic range (DR) larger than 82 dB is achieved for a 1% total harmonic distortion (THD). The current consumption is minimized and adjusted for the different operation conditions, down to 11 mA for the full chain.
Modelling observers' errors in pointing to an unseen target.

Observers make large, systematic errors when they point to an unseen target (VSS 2014). Here, we report modelling of these errors. In the experiment (reported VSS 2014), participants in a real or virtual environment viewed a set of 4 target boxes from one location and then walked behind a set of screens with the targets obscured from view. They were then told which 'pointing zone' to go to and there they pointed to the location of the remembered targets. Participants' head and hand were tracked throughout to allow actual and true pointing directions to be compared. Pointing errors depended not only on the layout of the targets and the pointing zone but also the orientation of the obscuring screen. Models based only on a distorted initial representation of the target layout or on cumulative errors in walking (odometry) cannot account for this effect of screen orientation. The most successful model emerged from allowing the layout of the boxes to vary freely according to an affine distortion in a screen-dependent coordinate frame (6 free parameters). This model shifted all the target boxes to lie almost in a single plane parallel to and significantly behind the obscuring screen. The same model accounted well for other data gathered with four different screen orientations. Any model that assumes the configuration of the target boxes is planar will predict that the ordering of pointing to different boxes (e.g. yellow box is to the left of the blue box) will remain constant independent of pointing zone; this is a characteristic error that participants make. Current theories based on a particular, fixed distortion of visual space cannot explain these pointing data. The heuristics participants use differ systematically and significantly from 3D geometric calculations, even with a distorted representation of visual space. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.
Method and Reproducibility of a Standardized Ossiculoplasty Technique

Objective To describe a standardized ossiculoplasty technique and to evaluate its reproducibility. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Academic tertiary referral center. Patients The first 35 consecutive patients (adults and children) that underwent ossiculoplasty between 2009 and 2010 using a standardized technique that was newly adopted by a surgeon that had previous experience only using other ossiculoplasty techniques. Intervention Standardized technique consisted of the following: 1) reconstruction from the stapes to the malleus neck, 2) usage of standard length prostheses (2-mm partial ossicular replacement prosthesis and 4-mm total ossicular replacement prosthesis) in nearly all cases, 3) bending the prosthesis head 15 to 30 degrees according to the contour of the malleus, 4) freestanding reconstruction without packing, 5) usage of a large cartilage graft over the prosthesis head, 6) usage of a footplate stabilization prosthesis for total ossicular replacement prosthesis cases, and 7) tympanoplasty at the same stage as ossiculoplasty. The predicted postoperative air-bone (A–B) gap was calculated according to middle ear risk factors based on a scoring system developed using this technique, which was compared with the actual average postoperative A–B gap. Main Outcome Measure Predicted versus actual postoperative A–B gap. Results Thirty cases had audiometric data available for review. The average postoperative A–B gap was 15.3 dB (range, 1–31 dB), which was not different (p = 0.9060) than the predicted value. This also was statistically better (p < 0.0001) than the preoperative A–B gap of 27.8 dB. Conclusion Short-term data suggest that this standardized technique of ossiculoplasty leads to predictable hearing outcomes and seems to be reproducible by an experienced otologist with only limited specific instruction.
Intraplantar injection of glutamate evokes peripheral adenosine release in the rat hind paw: involvement of peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors and capsaicin‐sensitive sensory afferents

Glutamate receptors have been identified on the peripheral terminals of both primary sensory afferents and sympathetic post‐ganglionic neurons, and activation of these receptors produces peripheral sensitization and enhances nociception. Adenosine is an endogenous agent that has a regulatory effect on pain. In brain and spinal cord, adenosine release can be promoted by excitatory amino acids. In the present study, we used in vivo microdialysis to determine whether glutamate also can release adenosine in peripheral tissues. Rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and microdialysis probes were implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the plantar aspect of the rat hind paw. Subcutaneous injection of glutamate (50 μL, 0.3–100 μmol) evoked a short‐lasting adenosine release immediately following drug injection. Co‐administration of either the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, dizocipine maleate (MK‐801, 1 nmol) or the non‐NMDA receptor antagonist, 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline (CNQX, 10 nmol) with glutamate blocked such release, suggesting an involvement of peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors in this response. Systemic pre‐treatment with capsaicin, a neurotoxin selective for unmyelinated sensory afferents, significantly reduced glutamate‐evoked peripheral adenosine release, but release was not affected by systemic pre‐treatment with 6‐hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin selective for sympathetic nerve efferents. Neither MK‐801 nor CNQX blocked 5% formalin‐evoked adenosine release, suggesting adenosine release by formalin is not secondary to ionotropic glutamate receptor activation. We conclude that administration of glutamate evokes peripheral adenosine release, and that peripheral ionotropic glutamate receptors on unmyelinated sensory afferents are involved in such release. The released adenosine may provide a negative feedback control on nociception.
Characterization of feline cytochrome P450 2B6

Abstract 1. Little is known about drug metabolism in carnivores. Although the domestic cat (Felis catus) is an obligate carnivore and is the most common companion animal, usage and dosage of many drugs are determined according to information obtained from humans and dogs. We determined the complete cDNA sequence of CYP2B6 from the feline lung. 2. Feline CYP2B6 consists of 494 deduced amino acids, showing highest identity with the dog CYP2B ortholog, followed by those of horse, pig, primate and human. 3. Feline CYP2B6 transcripts were expressed predominantly in the lung and slightly in the small intestine but not in the liver without significant sex-dependent differences. Western blot analysis with an anti-human CYP2B6 antibody confirmed the presence of CYP2B protein in the lung but not in the liver. 4. Feline CYP2B6 proteins heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli metabolized several substrates specific to human CYP2B6, including 7-ethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl) coumarin (EFC). The metabolic activity was strongly inhibited by medetomidine and atipamezole, potent inhibitors of canine CYP2B11 (now officially CYP2B6) as well as by ticlopidine and sertraline, inhibitors selective to human CYP2B6. 5. The results suggest that feline CYP2B6 is a functional CYP2B ortholog that plays a role in the local defense mechanism in the cat respiratory system and intestine.
Recovery and recurrence following treatment for adolescent major depression.

CONTEXT Major depressive disorder in adolescents is common and impairing. Efficacious treatments have been developed, but little is known about longer-term outcomes, including recurrence. OBJECTIVES To determine whether adolescents who responded to short-term treatments or who received the most efficacious short-term treatment would have lower recurrence rates, and to identify predictors of recovery and recurrence. DESIGN Naturalistic follow-up study. SETTING Twelve academic sites in the United States. PARTICIPANTS One hundred ninety-six adolescents (86 males and 110 females) randomized to 1 of 4 short-term interventions (fluoxetine hydrochloride treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, their combination, or placebo) in the Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study were followed up for 5 years after study entry (44.6% of the original Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study sample). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Recovery was defined as absence of clinically significant major depressive disorder symptoms on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version interview for at least 8 weeks, and recurrence was defined as a new episode of major depressive disorder following recovery. RESULTS Almost all participants (96.4%) recovered from their index episode of major depressive disorder during the follow-up period. Recovery by 2 years was significantly more likely for short-term treatment responders (96.2%) than for partial responders or nonresponders (79.1%) (P < .001) but was not associated with having received the most efficacious short-term treatment (the combination of fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy). Of the 189 participants who recovered, 88 (46.6%) had a recurrence. Recurrence was not predicted by full short-term treatment response or by original treatment. However, full or partial responders were less likely to have a recurrence (42.9%) than were nonresponders (67.6%) (P = .03). Sex predicted recurrence (57.0% among females vs 32.9% among males; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Almost all depressed adolescents recovered. However, recurrence occurs in almost half of recovered adolescents, with higher probability in females in this age range. Further research should identify and address the vulnerabilities to recurrence that are more common among young women.
In Situ Interfacial Mass Detection with Piezoelectric Transducers

The converse piezoelectric effect, in which an electric field applied across a piezoelectric material induces a stress in that material, has spurred many recent developments in mass measurement techniques. These methods commonly rely on the changes in the vibrational resonant frequency of piezoelectric quartz oscillators that result from changes in mass on the surface of the oscillator. The dependence of frequency on mass has been exploited extensively for mass measurements in vacuum or gas phase, for example, thickness monitors for thin-film preparation and sensors for chemical agents. Advances in piezoelectric methodology in the last decade now allow dynamic measurements of minute mass changes (< 10-9 grams per square centimeter) at surfaces, thin films, and electrode interfaces in liquid media as well. Mass measurements associated with a diverse collection of interfacial processes can be readily performed, including chemical and biological sensors, reactions catalyzed by enzymes immobilized on surfaces, electron transfer at and ion exchange in thin polymer films, and doping reactions of conducting polymers.
Artificial Impedance Surfaces for Reduced Dispersion in Antenna Feeding Systems

An impedance surface is presented that reduces the dispersion experienced upon propagation of broadband pulses within rectangular waveguides. The surface impedance is selected so that, within a frequency range, the transverse resonance condition is satisfied for longitudinal wavenumber that varies linearly with frequency. A synthesis procedure for practical surface topologies consisting of periodic dipole arrays is described. An example involving a finite structure is employed to illustrate the reduced dispersion. Numerical simulation results obtained from in-house mode-matching method as well as HFSS are presented. A prototype is fabricated and tested experimentally validating the theoretical predictions.
Background conductance attributable to spontaneous opening of muscarinic K+ channels in rabbit sino‐atrial node cells.

Single myocytes were dissociated from the rabbit sino‐atrial node, and the membrane background conductance produced by spontaneous opening of the muscarinic K+ channels was investigated by recording whole‐cell and single channel currents in both normal K+ (5.4 mM) and high‐K+ (145 mM) external solutions. Increasing external K+ concentration ([K+]o) from 5.4 to 145 mM induced a large inward shift of the whole‐cell current accompanied by considerable current fluctuations at ‐50 mV. The high‐K(+)‐induced current was both K+ selective and voltage dependent, which was examined by varying [K+]o. This current was almost completely suppressed by 1‐5 mM Ba2+ or 2‐10 mM Cs+ and it was partly blocked by 10 microM atropine. In high‐K+ (145 mM) solution, 20 nM acetylcholine (ACh) further increased the K+ conductance as well as the current noise. The power density spectrum of the noise was fitted with a sum of two Lorentzian functions. The corner frequencies of both the slow (approximately 5 Hz) and fast (approximately 120 Hz) components were comparable between the noise before and during the ACh application. Internal dialysis with a non‐hydrolysable derivative of ATP, 5'‐adenylylimido‐diphosphate (AMP‐PNP) or Mg(2+)‐free solution markedly decreased both the amplitude and fluctuations of the high‐K(+)‐induced current. The relation between the variance of the current fluctuations and the mean current amplitude was linear in every experiment using dialysis of AMP‐PNP or Mg(2+)‐free internal solution, or using superfusion of ACh. The slopes of these relations gave comparable single channel current amplitudes of ‐0.7 pA at ‐50 mV. These results indicate that the spontaneous opening of the muscarinic K+ channels is largely responsible for the high‐K(+)‐induced current. In the high‐K+ solution, the variance‐mean relation at ‐50 mV showed that the muscarinic K+ channel provides an inward current of 3.12 +/‐ 2.13 pA pF‐1 (n = 23), which was about 60% of the total inward background current. In the normal K+ solution, the variance‐mean relation at ‐50 mV indicated that an outward current of 6.0 +/‐ 2.0 pA (0.33 +/‐ 0.28 pA pF‐1, n = 8) was provided by the K+ channel. The single channel current amplitude was estimated to be 0.06 +/‐ 0.02 pA (n = 9). Cell‐attached recordings in the absence of ACh demonstrated sporadic and brief openings of channels identical to the ACh‐induced channels. The power density spectra of the single channel currents exhibited kinetic properties comparable with those of the whole‐cell currents. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Analysis of Promoter Targets for Escherichia coli Transcription Elongation Factor GreA In Vivo and In Vitro

ABSTRACT Transcription elongation factor GreA induces nucleolytic activity of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP). In vitro, transcript cleavage by GreA contributes to transcription efficiency by (i) suppressing pauses and arrests, (ii) stimulating RNAP promoter escape, and (iii) enhancing transcription fidelity. However, it is unclear which of these functions is (are) most relevant in vivo. By comparing global gene expression profiles of Escherichia coli strains lacking Gre factors and strains expressing either the wild type (wt) or a functionally inactive GreA mutant, we identified genes that are potential targets of GreA action. Data analysis revealed that in the presence of chromosomally expressed GreA, 19 genes are upregulated; an additional 105 genes are activated upon overexpression of the wt but not the mutant GreA. Primer extension reactions with selected transcription units confirmed the gene array data. The most prominent stimulatory effect (threefold to about sixfold) of GreA was observed for genes of ribosomal protein operons and the tna operon, suggesting that transcript cleavage by GreA contributes to optimal expression levels of these genes in vivo. In vitro transcription assays indicated that the stimulatory effect of GreA upon the transcription of these genes is mostly due to increased RNAP recycling due to facilitated promoter escape. We propose that transcript cleavage during early stages of initiation is thus the main in vivo function of GreA. Surprisingly, the presence of the wt GreA also led to the decreased transcription of many genes. The mechanism of this effect is unknown and may be indirect.
Characterization of Inheritance Patterns of Blood Pressure in Macaca fascicularis

A breeding colony of Macaca fascicularis was established at the New England Regional Primate Center in 1977 and continued through 1984. Characterization of the offspring of this colony at 18 and 30 months of age suggested that higher blood pressure levels are hereditary in M. fascicularis, but evidence to date cannot determine if this condition is harmful to the animals.
Social inhibition and emotional distress in patients with coronary artery disease: The Type D personality construct

We examined the validity of the social inhibition component of Type D, its distinctiveness from negative affectivity, and value regarding emotional distress as measured with the DS14 in 173 coronary artery disease patients. In dimensional analysis, social inhibition and negative affectivity emerged as distinct traits. Analysis of continuous negative affectivity and social inhibition measures showed main effects for several emotional and inhibition markers and an interaction effect for social anxiety. Categorical analysis indicated that Type D patients reported more depression, negative mood, social anxiety, and less positive mood. Social inhibition is not a redundant trait, but has additional conceptual value.