Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Internal regulation of ATP turnover, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in rat hepatocytes.

Previously [Ainscow, E.K. & Brand, M.D. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 263, 671-685], top-down control analysis was used to describe the control pattern of energy metabolism in rat hepatocytes. The system was divided into nine reaction blocks (glycogen breakdown, glucose release, glycolysis, lactate production, NADH oxidation, pyruvate oxidation, mitochondrial proton leak, mitochondrial phosphorylation and ATP consumption) linked by five intermediates (intracellular glucose 6-phosphate, pyruvate and ATP levels, cytoplasmic NADH/NAD ratio and mitochondrial membrane potential). The kinetic responses (elasticities) of reaction blocks to intermediates were determined and used to calculate control coefficients. In the present paper, these elasticities and control coefficients are used to quantify the internal regulatory pathways within the cell. Flux control coefficients were partitioned to give partial flux control coefficients. These describe how strongly one block of reactions controls the flux through another via its effects on the concentration of a particular intermediate. Most flux control coefficients were the sum of positive and negative partial effects acting through different intermediates; these partial effects could be large compared to the final control strength. An important result was the breakdown of the way ATP consumption controlled respiration: changes in ATP level were more important than changes in mitochondrial membrane potential in stimulating oxygen consumption when ATP consumption increased. The partial internal response coefficients to changes in each intermediate were also calculated; they describe how steady state concentrations of intermediates are maintained. Increases in mitochondrial membrane potential were opposed mostly by decreased supply, whereas increases in glucose-6-phosphate, NADH/NAD and pyruvate were opposed mostly by increased consumption. Increases in ATP were opposed significantly by both decreased supply and increased consumption.
CARD15/NOD2 functions as an antibacterial factor in human intestinal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Mutations in the CARD15/NOD2 gene, a putative intracellular pattern recognition receptor, have been linked to the risk for Crohn's disease. Because intestinal epithelial cells play a role as the barrier to luminal microorganisms, we investigated the expression and function of CARD15/NOD2 in intestinal epithelial cells. METHODS Expression of CARD15/NOD2 messenger RNA (mRNA) in intestinal epithelial cell lines and primary intestinal epithelial cells was assessed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Regulation of expression of CARD15/NOD2 by cytokines was determined by Northern blot using the SW480 cell line. Active CARD15/NOD2 protein in SW480 cells was assessed by the combination of immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting using anti-CARD15/NOD2 antisera. To identify the functional role of CARD15/NOD2 in intestinal epithelial cells, gentamicin protection assays of Salmonella typhimurium were performed using Caco2 cells stably transfected with either wild-type CARD15/NOD2 or the 3020insC mutant associated with Crohn's disease. RESULTS CARD15/NOD2 mRNA was expressed in both intestinal epithelial cell lines and primary intestinal epithelial cells. CARD15/NOD2 mRNA and protein were up-regulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in SW480 cells. The number of viable internalized S. typhimurium in Caco2 cells stably transfected with CARD15/NOD2 expression plasmid was lower than untransfected Caco2 cells or MOCK transfectant. In contrast, expression of a variant associated with Crohn's disease was unable to constrain bacterial survival. CONCLUSIONS CARD15/NOD2 is expressed in intestinal epithelial cells and may serve as a key component of innate mucosal responses to luminal bacteria as an antibacterial factor. Failure in this activity may contribute to the development of Crohn's disease.
An Iterative Phase Recovery Framework with Phase Mask for Spectral Mapping with an Application to Speech Enhancement

We propose an iterative phase recovery framework to improve spectral mapping with an application to improving the performance of state-of-the-art speech enhancement systems using magnitude-based spectral mapping with deep neural networks (DNNs). We further propose to use an estimated time-frequency mask to reduce sign uncertainty in the overlap-add waveform reconstruction algorithm. In a series of enhancement experiments using a DNN baseline system, by directly replacing the original phase of noisy speech with the estimated phase obtained with a classical phase recovery algorithm, the proposed iterative technique reduces the log-spectral distortion (LSD) by 0.41 dB from the DNN baseline, and increases the perceptual evaluation speech quality (PESQ) by 0.05 over the DNN baseline, averaging over a wide range of signal and noise conditions. The proposed phase mask mechanism further increases the segmental signal-to-noise ratio (SegSNR) by 0.44 dB at an expense of a slight degradation in LSD and PESQ comparing with the algorithm without using any phase mask.
Suppression of the Escherichia coli rpoH opal mutation by ribosomes lacking S15 protein

Several suppressors (suhD) that can specifically suppress the temperature-sensitive opal rpoH11 mutation of Escherichia coli K-12 have been isolated and characterized. Unlike the parental rpoH11 mutant deficient in the heat shock response, the temperature-resistant pseudorevertants carrying suhD were capable of synthesizing sigma 32 and exhibiting partial induction of heat shock proteins. These strains were also cold sensitive and unable to grow at 25 degrees C. Genetic mapping and complementation studies permitted us to localize suhD near rpsO (69 min), the structural gene for ribosomal protein S15. Ribosomes and polyribosomes prepared from suhD cells contained a reduced level (ca. 10%) of S15 relative to that of the wild type. Cloning and sequencing of suhD revealed that an IS10-like element had been inserted at the attenuator-terminator region immediately downstream of the rpsO coding region. The rpsO mRNA level in the suhD strain was also reduced to about 10% that of wild type. Apparently, ribosomes lacking S15 can actively participate in protein synthesis and suppress the rpoH11 opal (UGA) mutation at high temperature but cannot sustain cell growth at low temperature.
Increased dysferlin expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate dysferlin expression in muscle biopsies from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Dysferlin is known to have a role in the process of membrane fusion and muscle membrane repair in skeletal muscle fibers. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed 20 muscle biopsy samples of DMD patients with immunohistochemical techniques to determine the expression of dysferlin. Immunoblotting was performed to assess dysferlin abundance in dystrophic muscle. RESULTS Dysferlin showed various immunostaining patterns in dystrophic muscle, including reduced, normal, or enhanced sarcolemmal expression and intracellular immunostaining of the protein. Immunoblotting revealed that dysferlin was upregulated in 15 out of the 20 samples (75%). The abundance of the protein was analogous to the number of fibers with enhanced sarcolemmal expression of the protein. CONCLUSION These data suggest that although dysferlin is not an integral part of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, its expression is altered in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Prevention of corticosteroid-induced suppression of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte-induced damage of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and gamma interferon

Neutrophils (PMNs) are a critical line of defense against Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Increased frequency of invasive aspergillosis has been observed in patients receiving corticosteroids, suggesting a deleterious effect of these compounds on PMN antifungal function. To investigate this hypothesis and to determine the potential preventive utility of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), the effects of hydrocortisone (HCS) and dexamethasone (DXS) on PMN-induced damage of Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae were studied with or without pretreatment of PMNs with G-CSF and IFN-gamma. PMNs treated with HCS (> or = 3,000 microM) or DXS (> or = 10 microM) during a 2-h colorimetric tetrazolium metabolic assay (using methylthiotetrazolium) showed suppressed percentage of hyphal damage (P < 0.02). In addition, both HCS (> or = 30 microM) and DXS (> or = 1 microM) significantly suppressed oxidative burst measured as superoxide anion release by PMNs in response to opsonized and nonopsonized hyphae as well as to N-formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine. Pretreatment of PMNs with G-CSF (4,000 U/ml) and/or IFN-gamma (100 and 1,000 U/ml) for 90 min prevented the suppression of hyphal damage that occurred in the presence of HCS (3,000 microM; P < 0.01) or DXS (10 microM; P < or = 0.001). G-CSF (4,000 U/ml) and IFN-gamma (100 U/ml) combined had an additive effect on increasing the antifungal activity of HCS-treated but not of DXS-treated PMNs compared with IFN-gamma alone (P = 0.015). Thus, these findings reveal that corticosteroids impair PMN function in response to A. fumigatus and that G-CSF and IFN-gamma prevent this impairment.
Breath-hold single-dose gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR aortography: usefulness of a timing examination and MR power injector.

PURPOSE To determine the usefulness of a timing examination performed with 1 mL gadopentetate dimeglumine administered with a magnetic resonance (MR) power injector at single-dose three-dimensional (3D) MR aortography. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3D fast imaging with steady-state precession (repetition time [msec]/echo time [msec] = 5.0/2.0, with 50 degrees flip angle) was performed in 30 patients after administration of 0.1 mmol/kg gadopentetate dimeglumine. In 15 inpatients, a power injector was used and a timing examination was performed (experimental group). In 15 outpatients, manual injection was used and a timing examination was not performed (control group). In the timing examination, 1 mL gadopentetate dimeglumine was followed with 15 mL saline, both at 2 mL/sec, during axial turbo fast low-angle shot imaging (11/4.2/300 [inversion time ¿msec¿], with a 15 degrees flip angle); one image was obtained every 2 seconds for 60 seconds. Aortic signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns) and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) were determined on images obtained in the two groups. RESULTS In the timing examinations, aortic S/N increased significantly (902% +/- 517 [P < .001]) and was sufficient to help determine the timing of arterial enhancement. Findings on experimental images were superior to those on control images (S/N, 29.8 vs 20.5 [P = .003]; C/N, 23.8 vs 12.8 [P < .001], respectively). The time to perform procedures and calculations at the timing examination added a mean of 4.5 minutes to each examination. CONCLUSION The combined use of a power injector and a timing examination improved S/Ns and C/Ns at breath-hold single-dose gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR aortography.
Effect of onset age of strabismus on the binocular responses of neurons in the monkey visual cortex.

PURPOSE By 6 weeks of age, neurons in the monkey's primary visual cortex acquire qualitatively adult-like binocular response properties and behaviorally stereopsis emerges. In this study, it was determined whether the onset of strabismus has a more severe impact on cortical binocularity before or after this critical developmental age. METHODS Infant monkeys were fit with a light-weight helmet which held a total of 27 diopters of base-in prisms in front of their two eyes for a fixed period of two weeks. For one group of infant monkeys, prism-rearing began at 2 weeks of age and for a second group, the onset was at 6 weeks of age. Immediately after the rearing period, i.e., at 4 weeks and 8 weeks of age, respectively, extracellular single-unit recording methods were used to determine the nature and severity of alterations in the binocular response properties of V1 neurons. Dichoptic sinewave gratings were used as visual stimuli. RESULTS In comparison to normal age-matched infants, V1 neurons in both strabismic groups exhibited reductions in sensitivity to interocular spatial phase disparities (disparity sensitivity) and a higher prevalence of binocular inhibitory interactions (binocular suppression). However, the reduction in disparity sensitivity and the magnitude of binocular suppression were much greater in the late (6-8 weeks) than the early (2- 4 weeks) onset group. CONCLUSIONS Discordant binocular signals due to brief periods of early strabismus have more serious effects on the development of binocular properties of V1 neurons if they occur shortly after rather than before the emergence of stereopsis (i.e., when the binocular connections are relatively more mature but the visual cortex still shows a high degree of plasticity).
Mental health services reach the tipping point in Australian acute hospitals

As an independent commission, the NMHC has encourageddebate about their report. In a recent article in the Journal, Professor Ian Hickie, an NMHC Commissioner, supported “shifting the emphasis” from acute hospitals to community-based services, and he urged the federal government to act. The NMHC chair, Professor Allan Fels, echoed these views in his National Press Club Address in August 2015.He criticised federal government expenditure on acute-care hospitals as “payment for failure” and argued that mental health problems should be treated earlier to “catch people before they fall”.
Childhood patterns predictive of adult schizophrenia: a 30-year follow-up study.

A 30-year follow-up study of 526 children seen in a child guidance clinic shows that of the 284 so far interviewed, 10% were diagnosed in adult life as schizophrenic and 20% were diagnosed as no disease. The childhood histories and adult adjustment of the schizophrenic and no disease groups are compared. This comparison shows the following: 1. In childhood the schizophrenic group have more symptoms of all kinds than the no disease group including a large number of anti-social symptoms. 2. More areas of function were disturbed in the pre-schizophrenic child than in the child who in adult life had no psychiatric disease. 3. As adults the schizophrenics have a higher rate of mental hospitalizations than the no disease group. 4. The schizophrenic adults have a higher arrest rate than the no disease group. The schizophrenics are consequently often treated as criminals rather than mentally ill persons.
Tunable notched planar bandpass filter for ultra wideband applications

This paper proposes a compact and tunable notch ultrawide band bandpass filter. We used the interdigital resonator for designing this filter. Using interdigital finger resonator we are getting the ultrawide band with one notch and due to diode we are getting the second notch. When diode is in OFF state we are getting one notch at 7.75GHz and in ON state we are getting the two notches one the previous one and second at 4.5GHz. The notches are removing the interference due to satellite systems in UWB band. The size of filter is compact with dimension 17 × 17 X 1 mm3 with the ground plane. For designing of this structure FR-4 substrate of thickness 1 mm and dielectric constant 4.9 is used. Simulation and analysis of this structure is done on the electromagnetic simulation software, computer simulation technology microwave studio (CST MWS). The proposed filter is working for whole UWB band from 3.1 to 10.6GHz and rejecting the frequencies 4.5GHz and 7.75GHz. The insertion loss of first notch band is -17dB and and for second notched band insertion loss is -14dB.
Allosteric Regulation of Proteases

Allostery is a basic principle of control of enzymatic activities based on the interaction of a protein or small molecule at a site distinct from an enzyme's active center. Allosteric modulators represent an alternative approach to the design and synthesis of small‐molecule activators or inhibitors of proteases and are therefore of wide interest for medicinal chemistry. The structural bases of some proteinaceous and small‐molecule allosteric protease regulators have already been elucidated, indicating a general mechanism that might be exploitable for future rational design of small‐molecule effectors.
Approximate model of European interconnected system as a benchmark system to study effects of cross-border trades

Research into transmission pricing and congestion management in interconnected power systems, such as those found in USA and Europe, requires an appropriate benchmark system to test different methodologies. Creation of a realistic benchmark system is difficult as utilities are often unwilling to disclose details of their own systems because of commercial sensitivity and security reasons. This paper presents development of an approximate model of a European interconnected system which could be used to study the effects of cross-border trades. In creating the load-flow model, only publicly available information was used. Comparison of simulation results conducted on the test system with the published cross-border flows and power transfer distribution factors showed a very good correlation, exceeding 90%.
The Dangers of Life in the City: Patterns of Activity, Injury and Mortality in Suburban Lizards (Tiliqua scincoides)

Abstract Human activities affect animal populations whenever animals and humans live in close proximity, but patterns of mortality in urban wildlife remain poorly known. We analyzed rates of injury and mortality of bluetongue lizards (Tiliqua scincoides) in Sydney, Australia, using a Wildlife Information and Rescue Service database that contained more than 2000 reported “rescues” of this species over a three-year period. Motor vehicles and dogs killed many adult lizards in springtime (the mating season) when adult males move about more frequently. Domestic cats killed mainly juvenile lizards, especially just after parturition in midsummer. Weather conditions affected rescue rates, presumably because lizards were more active on hot dry days. Habitat loss was the most important cause for lizard rescue in highly urbanized areas, whereas domestic pets were a major threat in outlying suburbs. Such datasets are subject to many biases but allow meaningful comparisons at some levels of analysis. The large datasets of wildlife rescue groups have considerable potential to illuminate the nature and frequency of interactions between humans and wildlife.
High-Resolution, Far-Field, and Passive Temperature Sensing up to 700 °C Using an Isolated ZST Microwave Dielectric Resonator

This paper presents a high-resolution, wireless and passive temperature measurement system up to 700 °C. The sensor is based on a metallization-free monolithic microwave dielectric resonator composed of zirconium tin titanate (Zr0.8Sn0.2TiO4) operating at 2.37 GHz. The external electromagnetic fields of the tracked single mode are adequate for the far-field coupling without the need to use any conducting part on the sensor surface. The measurements are conducted in a light weight refractory bricks oven at a distance of 1.20 m between the sensor and a reader planar antenna connected to a time-domain RADAR-based interrogation unit. This method allows to retain a quality factor (Q) higher than 670 at 700 °C, while the Q-factor from other electromagnetic cavity or microwave dielectric resonators degrades below 100, hence limiting the sensing resolution and increasing the sensitivity to the environmental echoes. The effect of temperature on the tracked sensor resonance frequency, signal-to-noise ratio, Q-factor, thermal expansion, and sensing resolution is presented. The concept is suitable for applications working in extreme environments, such as aerospace applications.
Influence of gender on ventilatory efficiency during exercise in young children

Abstract In this study, we assessed the ventilatory response in 84 children (46 males: age 8.1 ± 1.0 years, body mass 34.2 ± 7.9 kg, height 1.32 ± 0.16 m; 38 females: age 8.0 ± 0.8 years, body mass 31.7 ± 8.7 kg, height 1.31 ± 0.08 m) during a cycle ergometer test to determine if there was an influence of gender on ventilatory efficiency. The test commenced at 25 W and increased by 10 W every minute. Expired air was collected through a face mask and analysed breath by breath. The ventilatory anaerobic threshold was determined according to gas exchange methods and we focused our attention on the analysis of carbon dioxide production ([Vdot]CO2), ventilation ([Vdot] E), the ratio [Vdot] E/[Vdot]CO2 and its slope. Differences between the sexes at maximal power output were strongly significant for [Vdot] E and [Vdot]CO2 (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0004 respectively) and moderately significant for the [Vdot] E/[Vdot]CO2 ratio (P = 0.05). The slope of [Vdot] E versus [Vdot]CO2 was 30.8 ± 4.2 for males and 29.4 ± 3.2 for females, with no difference between the sexes (P = 0.1). In conclusion, although the peak values of [Vdot] E and [Vdot]CO2 were significantly different between the sexes, there were no such differences in ventilatory efficiency during a maximal incremental test expressed as the slope of [Vdot] E/[Vdot]CO2, at least in young children.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors--do they have an anti-ischemic action?

The "toxic" influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) re-lates to its conversion of inactive, angiotensin I to active angiotensin II. Thus, angiotensin II stimulates aldosterone release, sodium re-tention, vasoconstriction, vascular structural changes (including smooth muscle proliferation in vascular tissues) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-i (PAI-1) release (1,2). It is possible that elevated PAI-1 levels may be involved in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events (3). In addition ACE inactivates bradykinin. Bradykinin activates the arachidonic acid cascade in endothelium resulting in prostaglandin synthesis and also stimulates the release of nitric oxide. Sodium excretion and vasodilation ensue. In addition bradykinin has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation and adhesion, block smooth muscle cell proliferation and inhibit macrophage adherence to vessel walls, thus potentially modifying the atherosclerotic process. II blood pressure in several ways. is very potent It facilitates sodium the kidney through its direct effects on the and stim-ulatory influence on the adrenal production of aldosterone-enhancing distal tubular sodium reabsorption. It has an ability also to induce post-glomerular vasoconstriction and thus angiotensin sodium reabsorption kidney. This results in an increase in peritubular capillary colloid osmotic pressure and a decrease in peritubular capillary hydrostatic pressure. These changes produce an enhanced sodium and water transfer from the tubular limb into the peritubular capillary. Angiotensin II can augment catecholamine released from sympathetic nerve endings, and enhance myocardial contractility. on mortality and morbidity in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Results of the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement