Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of an "El Niño" southern oscillation event on reproduction in male and female blue-footed boobies, Sula nebouxii.

This study attempted to determine endocrine correlates of reproductive success in relation to major deleterious environmental conditions. In 1992, an El Niño southern oscillation event resulted in complete reproductive failure in a colony of blue-footed boobies, Sula nebouxi, on Isla Isabel in the Pacific Ocean off San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico (21.5 degrees N, 105.5 degrees W). In 1993, the El Niño event had waned and reproductive success was high. The mean sea surface temperature in 1992 was 26.69 degrees, the warmest year for 11 years of data (mean, 25.63 degrees ). In 1993, mean sea surface temperature was 25.75 degrees. Plasma levels of testosterone were highest during the egg-laying period in 1993 and declined markedly during incubation. There were no differences between males and females. Comparisons of testosterone levels between 1992 and 1993 (egg-laying time point removed for 1993) showed no significant differences. Thus reproductive failure during an El Niño year was not related to testosterone levels. Baseline plasma levels of corticosterone did not change over the nesting cycle in either sex. There was a trend for plasma levels of corticosterone to be higher in males and females during the earlier stages of breeding in 1992 compared with 1993, and if all levels were combined within years then females showed significantly higher plasma levels of corticosterone in the El Niño year. Plasma levels of corticosterone showed marked increases following capture and handling in both sexes and at every stage of the breeding cycle in each year. There was no variation in the adrenocortical responses to stress with year or stage of nesting in males. However, in females, maximum corticosterone levels were greatest during the parental phase of 1992, the El Niño year, when all nests ultimately failed. Comparisons of the dynamics of corticosterone changes during the capture stress protocol revealed no correlations with body mass in 1992 or 1993. These data suggest that although massive reproductive failure in the El Niño year was not related to testosterone levels, baseline circulating concentrations of corticosterone may have a role in inhibiting onset of breeding. In contrast, after the nesting cycle has been initiated, increased adrenocortical sensitivity to acute stress may be involved in nest abandonment.
Evaluating an individualized lifestyle and life skills intervention to prevent antipsychotic‐induced weight gain in first‐episode psychosis

Initiating antipsychotic medication frequently induces rapid, clinically significant weight gain. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a lifestyle and life skills intervention, delivered within 4 weeks of antipsychotic medication initiation, in attenuating weight gain in youth aged 14–25 years with first‐episode psychosis (FEP).
Linkage Disequilibrium and Haplotype Analysis of COX‐2 and Risk of Colorectal Adenoma Development

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter and untranslated region of cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, an inducible enzyme responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandins, have been reported to modulate the risk for many human cancers. We performed comprehensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype analyses of 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the COX‐2 gene and examined its susceptibility to adenoma development in 72 African American cases and 142 controls. Results revealed significant variation in LD patterns with consequence for adenoma development. Two distinct haplotype blocks were identified; one block covered the coding regions of exon 1, introns and a section of the 3′‐unstranslated region (3′‐UTR), whereas the second block resided solely in the 3′‐UTR region. A haplotype in block 1 increased the risk of adenoma development by threefold (odds ratio [OR]= 2.9, confidence interval [CI]= 1.8–3.7, P= 0.002). Regression analysis showed, increase in copies of minor alleles of 6,064(T>C) polymorphism associated with increased odds of adenoma development by 80% (OR = 1.80, CI = 1.09–3.21, P= 0.034), 10,848(G>A) by 84% (OR = 1.84, CI = 1.05–3.23, P= 0.034) and 10,935(A>G) by 32% (OR = 1.32, CI = 1.12–3.69, P= 0.036). These results support the hypothesis that COX‐2 gene might play a role in the etiology of colon cancer and warrant further investigation in other cancers. Besides, these variations should be taken into account for disease‐based association studies in which the COX‐2 polymorphism is considered as a candidate gene. Clin Trans Sci 2012; Volume 5: 60–64
All-Optical Tunable Delay With NRZ-to-RZ Format Conversion Capability Based on Optical Kerr Switch and Pulse Pre-Chirping

All-optical tunable delay plays an important role for enabling high-throughput optical routing, such as buffer for contention resolution and timing synchronization. We proposed and demonstrated a widely tunable optical delay using optical Kerr-switch-based wavelength converter and pulse pre-chirping for compensating chromatic dispersion in fiber delay. With wideband operation provided by a Kerr-switch wavelength converter, a tunable delay range up to 8.56 ns was achieved. Meanwhile, pulse pre-chirping helped to alleviate group-velocity dispersion (GVD)-induced penalty, and provided simultaneous nonreturn-zero (NRZ)-to-RZ format conversion functionality.
Expression of transcripts for two interleukin 8 receptors in human phagocytes, lymphocytes and melanoma cells.

Two cDNAs coding for distinct interleukin 8 (IL-8) receptors, IL-8R1 [Murphy and Tiffany (1991) Science 253, 1280-1283] and IL-8R2 [Holmes, Lee, Kuang, Rice and Wood (1991) Science 253, 1278-1280] have been reported, and biochemical studies on human neutrophils have revealed two proteins (p70 and p44) that bind IL-8 with high affinity [Moser, Schumacher, von Tscharner, Clark-Lewis and Baggiolini (1991), J. Biol. Chem. 266, 10666-10671]. We have cloned the cDNA coding for IL-8R1 from a library of differentiated HL-60 cells. Transfection of this cDNA into Jurkat cells resulted in the expression of high-affinity binding for IL-8 and two related cytokines, GRO alpha and neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (Kd 0.5-1.0 nM). Northern-blot analysis with the IL-8R1 cDNA as probe revealed abundant expression of transcripts of different size in human neutrophils and low-level expression of a single RNA species in HL-60 cells differentiated with dimethyl sulphoxide and retinoic acid. Because of the extensive nucleotide sequence similarity of the cDNAs for IL-8R1 and IL-8R2, the reverse-transcription PCR method was used for analysis of RNA expression in myeloid and lymphoid cells, 19 cell lines established from human primary melanomas or metastases, two melanocyte and one fibroblast cell lines. IL-8R1 mRNA transcripts were expressed at high levels in neutrophils, and to a lesser extent in blood monocytes and the myeloid cell lines, HL-60 and AML 193, but were not found in THP-1 cells, lymphocytes and Jurkat cells. IL-8R2 mRNA transcripts, by contrast, were found in all blood cells and related cell lines, as well as in all melanoma, melanocyte and fibroblast cell lines tested. As for IL-8R1, IL-8R2 mRNA expression was highest in neutrophils. These results suggest that IL-8R1 and IL-8R2 may both be involved in neutrophil activation by IL-8 and related cytokines, and presumably correspond to p70 and p44, the receptors that were identified biochemically. Possible IL-8 functions on lymphocytes and melanoma cells, e.g. chemotaxis and proliferation, must be independent of IL-8R1 and may be mediated by IL-8R2.
Effect of Solar Aeration Technology on Water Treatment of Polluted Urban River

After the application of aeration devices using solar energy in a polluted urban river for about one year, DO (dissolved oxygen) concentrations increased from 2.3 mg/L to 5.2 mg/L. Aeration accelerated the decomposition of pollutants and resulted in a removal rate of 52% COD (chemical oxygen demand), 54% NH3-N, 44% TN (total nitrogen) and 28% TP (total phosphorous) from the river. It was evident that solar aeration devices played a significant role on purifying pollutants especially organic matters and NH3-N in seriously polluted rivers with low velocity. Also, aeration had control algae bloom by decreasing nutrients amount and improving water exchange ability.
Direct modulation of TRPM4 and TRPM3 channels by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122

Signalling through phospholipase C (PLC) controls many cellular processes. Much information on the relevance of this important pathway has been derived from pharmacological inhibition of the enzymatic activity of PLC. We found that the most frequently employed PLC inhibitor, U73122, activates endogenous ionic currents in widely used cell lines. Given the extensive use of U73122 in research, we set out to identify these U73122‐sensitive ion channels.
Stress management interventions in the workplace improve stress reactivity: a randomised controlled trial

Objective To examine the long-term effects of a stress management intervention (SMI) based on the effort–reward imbalance (ERI) model, on psychological and biological reactions to work stress. Methods 174 lower or middle management employees (99% male) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a waiting control group. The programme comprised 24×45 min group sessions (2 full days followed by two 4×45 min sessions within the next 8 months) on individual work stress situations. The primary endpoint was perceived stress reactivity (Stress Reactivity Scale, SRS), while secondary endpoints were salivary cortisol and α-amylase, anxiety and depression, and ERI. Assessments were repeated in 154 participants 1 year later. Results SRS score decreased in both groups. A two-factor ANOVA with repeated measures showed a significant time×group effect (F=5.932; p=0.016) with the greater reduction in the intervention group. For SRS, the effect size (Cohen's d) after 1 year was d=0.416 in the intervention and d=0.166 in the control group. α-Amylase as a measure of sympathetic nervous system activation, decreased more strongly in the intervention group (area under the daytime curve and daytime slope: time×group effect p=0.076 and p=0.075). No difference was observed for cortisol. For depression, anxiety and ERI, improvements were higher in the intervention group but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions SMI based on work stress theory, is effective in reducing perceived stress reactivity and sympathetic activation in lower and middle management employees. Other mental health parameters and ERI show a tendency towards improvement. These beneficial effects are present 1 year later.
Phase II study of single-agent gemcitabine in previously untreated patients with metastatic urothelial cancer.

PURPOSE To determine the activity of single-agent gemcitabine in previously untreated patients with metastatic transitional cell cancer. METHODS Forty patients with measurable disease and a Karnofsky performance status > or = 60% were enrolled at five institutions between March 1994 and October 1995. Treatment consisted of gemcitabine (1,200 mg/m2) administered weekly times three on a 4-week cycle. One patient was ineligible for response evaluation because pathology review showed a metastatic melanoma. Responses were confirmed by all investigators and an independent radiologist and were maintained for at least 4 weeks. RESULTS There were four complete and seven partial responses, for an overall response rate of 28%. Responses were seen at all sites, including liver. Median progression-free and overall survival times were 20 and 54 weeks, respectively. Toxicity was mild, with only two grade 4 toxicities. Twenty-five percent of patients experienced grade 3 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia that was rapidly reversible. CONCLUSION Gemcitabine exhibits significant activity in metastatic transitional cell cancer with minimal toxicity, but survival remains short. Trials of gemcitabine in combination with other active agents are thus suggested.
Shade Avoidance

The presence of neighboring vegetation modifies the light environment experienced by plants, generating signals that are perceived by phytochromes and cryptochromes. These signals cause large changes in plant body form and function, including enhanced growth of the hypocotyl and petioles, a more erect position of the leaves and early flowering in Arabidopsis thaliana. Collectively, these so-called shade-avoidance responses tend to reduce the degree of current or future shade by neighbors. Shade light signals increase the abundance of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) and PIF5 proteins, promote the synthesis and redirection of auxin, favor the degradation of DELLA proteins and increase the expression of auxin, gibberellins and brassinosteroid-promoted genes, among other events downstream the photoreceptors. Selectively disrupting these events by genetic or pharmacological approaches affects shade-avoidance responses with an intensity that depends on the developmental context and the environment. Shade-avoidance responses provide a model to investigate the signaling networks used by plants to take advantage of the cues provided by the environment to adjust to the challenges imposed by the environment itself.
The HOX gene network in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver organogenesis and cancerogenesis share common mechanisms. HOX genes control normal development, primary cellular processes and are characterized by a unique genomic network organization. Less is known about the involvement of HOX genes with liver cancerogenesis. The comparison of the HOX gene network expression between nontumorous livers and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) highlights significant differences in the locus A HOX genes, located on chromosome 7, with a consistent overexpression of HOXA13 mRNA thus validating this gene deregulation as a feature of HCC. HOXA13 is a determinant of gut primordia and posterior body structures. Transcriptome analysis of HCC/nontumorous liver mRNAs, selected on the basis of HOXA13 overexpression, recognizes a set of deregulated genes. The matching of these genes with previously reported HCC transcriptome analysis identifies cell‐cycle and nuclear pore‐related HCC phenotype displaying poor prognosis. HOXA13 and HOXA7 homeoproteins share a consensus sequence that physically links eIF4E nuclear bodies acting on the export of specific mRNAs (c‐myc, FGF‐2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and cyclin D1). We report the protein–protein interaction between HOXA13 and eIF4E in liver cancer cells and the deregulation of eIF4E mRNA and protein in cell cycle/nuclear pore HCC group phenotype and in T4 stage HCCs, respectively. Thus, transcriptional and post‐transcriptional HOXA13 deregulation is involved in HCC possibly through the mRNA nuclear export of eIF4E‐dependent transcripts.
Low-Profile Composite Helical-Spiral Antenna for a Circularly-Polarized Tilted Beam

A wire composite helical-spiral (CHES) antenna fed from the central point of its bottom is investigated, where the number of helical turns is selected to be extremely small (one turn). The CHES is designed such that it radiates a circularly-polarized tilted beam under the condition that the diameter of the CHES is smaller than that of a corresponding tilted-beam spiral antenna. It is found that the direction of the tilted beam in the elevation plane is not sensitive to a change in frequency. The input impedance and the gain are relatively constant within a design frequency range of approximately 9%.
Effects of Contralateral Noise on 40-Hz and 80-Hz Auditory Steady-State Responses

Objectives: The amplitude of 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) in response to repeated click or tone pips at levels of 45 to 60 dB SL is reduced by up to 50% by the central masking mechanism if white noise at levels of 40 to 60 dB SL is applied contralaterally. However, the effect of contralateral noise on the elevation of the threshold of ASSR is unknown. The present study investigated the effects of contralateral noise on the threshold measurements of ASSR for 40- and 80-Hz amplitude modulated tones that are widely used in clinical examinations. Design: The effects of contralateral noise on the 40- and 80-Hz ASSRs for amplitude modulated tones at 500 Hz and 2000 Hz were examined in 11 healthy volunteers (10 men and 1 woman, mean age 26.1 years). Contralateral noise consisted of white noise low-pass filtered at 700 and 4000 Hz in the measurements of ASSR at a carrier frequency of 500 and 2000 Hz, respectively. Results: Contralateral noise at a level of 40 dB SL caused no significant psychophysical threshold elevation, caused significant threshold elevation of the 40-Hz ASSR (average 10 to 15 dB), and caused no significant threshold elevation of the 80-Hz ASSR. Conclusions: The different effects on the 40- and 80-Hz ASSRs were probably related to the differences in sources because the 40-Hz ASSR contains more components from the upper auditory pathway that are affected by contralateral masking, whereas the 80-Hz ASSR contains more components from the brain stem. The present results suggest that threshold elevation of the 40-Hz ASSR may occur during clinical measurements using binaural presentation of sounds and cause a possible discrepancy between psychophysical threshold and 40-Hz ASSR measurements.
Narrowband OFDM power line communication challenges, standardization, and semiconductor's role

In this paper, we focus on narrowband (NB) OFDM PLC standards and associated implementations operating in frequency bands below 500 kHz. With the emergence of the Smart Grid Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI), an international PLC standards gap was identified requiring new technology to serve market needs for higher bitrates and increased robustness [1]. This paper provides a brief history of PLC technology alternatives and the emergence of NB OFDM PLC solutions that fill this “standards gap”. We discuss power line channel impairments (e.g., noise, impedance) that we have measured on power grids and in dwellings such as in high rise buildings [2]. These studies have influenced emerging international NB OFDM PLC standards [3] [4] and existing NB OFDM PLC solutions [5] [6]. An important topic beyond NB PLC standardization is defining how the new modems coexist with legacy PLC modems operating in the same frequency band. SGIP PAP-15 [6] has done considerable work coordinating PLC coexistence requirements with IEEE P1901.2, ITU-T G.990x standards development; and PRIME and G3-PLC Alliances. Semiconductor's role is then to provide a hardware and software platform to realize a robust communications solution that can be deployed around the world. So then another important topic addressed is computational complexity. We roughly estimate modem computations as a function of signal bandwidth. This analysis shows that NB OFDM PLC standards can be implemented in software using a simple microprocessor; and in addition the same hardware platform can be used to implement the various standards.
Utilisation digestive des acides aminés des matières premières chez le porc en croissance

Soixante-dix-sept lots de matieres premieres (MP) (10 de ble, 10 de triticale, 5 de seigle, 5 d'orge, 7 de mais, 6 de sorgho, 3 de farine basse de ble, 4 de remoulage de ble, 3 de son de ble, 7 de corn gluten feed, 4 de tourteau de colza, 4 de tourteau de tournesol et 9 de tourteau de soja) ont fait l'objet d'une caracterisation analytique et d'une mesure de digestibilite ileale des acides amines (AA) sur des porcs, mâles castres, pesant entre 35 et 100 kg, et prepares en anastomose ileo-rectale termino-terminale. La digestibilite ileale vraie (DIV) de l'azote (N) et des AA de chaque lot de MP a ete calculee en corrigeant la digestibilite ileale apparente de l'excretion endogene basale. Cette derniere a ete mesuree au moyen d'un aliment proteiprive. La digestibilite ileale reelle (DIR) des AA des lots de cereales, de tourteau de colza et de tourteau de soja a ete calculee apres determination de l'excretion endogene totale d'AA par regression lineaire multiple. L'excretion endogene basale d'azote est en moyenne de 1.14 g/kg MSI. L'animal en est le principal facteur de variation. En moyenne, la DIV de l'N des cereales se situe entre 77% pour le seigle et 87-89% pour le ble, le triticale, et le mais. Celle des issues de meunerie passe de 94% pour les farines basses a 70% pour les sons. Celle du corn gluten feed varie de 62 a 75%, selon le lot. Elle est de 74% pour le tourteau de colza, 81 % pour le tourteau de tournesol et 88% pour le tourteau de soja. La DIV des AA des issues de meunerie, du corn gluten feed et du tourteau de soja peut etre predite a partir de leurs teneurs en fibres insolubles et/ou du pourcentage d'azote lie au residu NDF (NNDF). En moyenne, l'excretion endogene specifique d'N se situe entre 1.1 et 2.1 g/kg MS pour les cereales. Elle est de 3.6 et 7.9 g/kg MS pour, respectivement, le tourteau de soja et le tourteau de colza. Pour la plupart des matieres premieres, l'excretion endogene specifique d'N augmente significativement avec la teneur en fibres insolubles. Toutefois, plus l'animal est leger, plus il semble sensible a une augmentation de la teneur en fibres insolubles, et en particulier en ligno-cellulose, du regime. Par ailleurs, la fibre de type ble serait plus stimulante que la fibre de type orge. Des equations de prediction de l'excretion endogene specifique d'N en fonction de la teneur en ADF (Acid Detergent Fibre) du lot de matiere premiere et du poids de l'animal sont proposees. En moyenne, la DIR de l'azote est superieure a 95% pour le ble, le triticale et le mais, elle est de 94% pour le tourteau de soja, 91 % pour le sorgho, 88% pour l'orge, 84% pour le seigle et 86% pour le tourteau de colza.
Bacterial Cold Shock Responses

As a measure for molecular motion, temperature is one of the most important environmental factors for life as it directly influences structural and hence functional properties of cellular components. After a sudden increase in ambient temperature, which is termed heat shock, bacteria respond by expressing a specific set of genes whose protein products are designed to mainly cope with heat-induced alterations of protein conformation. This heat shock response comprises the expression of protein chaperones and proteases, and is under central control of an alternative sigma factor (σ32) which acts as a master regulator that specifically directs RNA polymerase to transcribe from the heat shock promotors. In a similar manner, bacteria express a well-defined set of proteins after a rapid decrease in temperature, which is termed cold shock. This protein set, however, is different from that expressed under heat shock conditions and predominantly comprises proteins such as helicases, nucleases, and ribosome-associated components that directly or indirectly interact with the biological information molecules DNA and RNA. Interestingly, in contrast to the heat shock response, to date no cold-specific sigma factor has been identified. Rather, it appears that the cold shock response is organized as a complex stimulon in which post-transcriptional events play an important role. In this review, we present a summary of research results that have been acquired in recent years by examinations of bacterial cold shock responses. Important processes such as cold signal perception, membrane adaptation, and the modification of the translation apparatus are discussed together with many other cold-relevant aspects of bacterial physiology and first attempts are made to dissect the cold shock stimulon into less complex regulatory subunits. Special emphasis is placed on findings concerning the nucleic acid-binding cold shock proteins which play a fundamental role not only during cold shock adaptation but also under optimal growth conditions.