Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Major challenges confronting marine biogeochemical modeling

Substantial improvements are required in the current suite of numerical models if we are to better understand the present ocean biogeochemical state and predict potential future responses to anthropogenic perturbations. At present, major impediments to marine biogeochemical modeling include the inadequate representation of multi‐element cycling and community structure, large‐scale physical circulation, mesoscale space and time variability, and mass exchange between the open ocean and the atmosphere, land, and coastal ocean. Marine biogeochemical modeling is inherently data driven, and significant progress on any of these topics will require close collaboration between the observational and modeling communities. Two main thrusts should be to develop improved, mechanistically based parameterizations of specific biogeochemical processes and to test the overall skill of integrated system models through detailed model‐data comparison of both the mean state and seasonal to interdecadal variability.
Overview of the Baculovirus Expression System

Baculoviruses have emerged as a popular system for overproducing recombinant proteins in eukaryotic cells. This unit gives an overview of the baculovirus expression system, including discussion of the baculovirus life cycle, and post‐translational modifications that occur in insect cells. In addition, the steps for overproducing proteins in the baculovirus systems are described along with recommendations for choosing an appropriate baculovirus vector and DNA, and reagents and equipment necessary for implementing the whole overexpression system.
Over-expression of renal LAT1 and LAT2 and enhanced L-DOPA uptake in SHR immortalized renal proximal tubular cells.

BACKGROUND Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) may have an increased renal production of dopamine. LAT2 promotes L-DOPA renal uptake, and this may determine the rate of dopamine synthesis. The present study evaluated L-DOPA inward and outward transfer in immortalized renal proximal tubular epithelial cells of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). METHODS Uptake of [(14)C]-L-DOPA was initiated by the addition of 1 mL Hanks' medium with a given concentration of the substrate. The apical fractional outflow of intracellular [(14)C]-L-DOPA was evaluated in cells loaded with [(14)C]-L-DOPA for 6 minutes, and then the corresponding efflux was monitored over 12 minutes. The presence of LAT1 and LAT2 transcripts and protein in WKY and SHR cells was examined, respectively, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunobloting. RESULTS LAT2 in WKY cells contributed almost exclusively for [(14)C]-L-DOPA uptake. In SHR cells [(14)C]-L-DOPA uptake was 25% through system B(0), 25% through LAT2 (resulting from inhibition by 1 mmol/L glycine, L-alanine, L-serine, and L-threonine), and the remaining 50% through LAT1. The efflux of [(14)C]-L-DOPA from WKY and SHR cells corresponded to approximately 65% and approximately 25%, respectively, of the amount accumulated in the cells. The LAT1 and LAT2 transcripts were present in both SHR and WKY cells, but the abundance of both LAT1 and LAT2 proteins in SHR cells was greater than in WKY cells. CONCLUSION Differences in L-DOPA handling between SHR and WKY cells may result from over-expression of LAT1 and LAT2 transporters in the former. The unique role of Na(+)-dependent transporters (system B(0)) in SHR cells also contributes to the enhanced L-DOPA uptake in these cells.
Television viewing, computer use, and BMI among U.S. children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND To examine the prevalence of television (TV) viewing, computer use, and their combination and associations with demographic characteristics and body mass index (BMI) among U.S. youth. METHODS The 1999 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used. Time spent yesterday sitting and watching television or videos (TV viewing) and using the computer or playing computer games (computer use) were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS Prevalence (%) of meeting the U.S. objective for TV viewing (< or =2 hours/day) ranged from 65% to 71%. Prevalence of no computer use (0 hours/day) ranged from 23% to 45%. Non-Hispanic Black youth aged 2 to 15 years were less likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to meet the objective for TV viewing. Overweight or obese school-age youth were less likely than their normal weight counterparts to meet the objective for TV viewing. CONCLUSIONS Computer use is prevalent among U.S. youth; more than half of youth used a computer on the previous day. The proportion of youth meeting the U.S. objective for TV viewing is less than the target of 75%. Time spent in sedentary behaviors such as viewing TV may contribute to overweight and obesity among U.S. youth.
Effect of Control Method on Impedance-Based Interactions in a Buck Converter

All the interconnected regulated systems are prone to impedance-based interactions making them sensitive to instability and transient-performance degradation. The applied control method affects significantly the characteristics of the converter in terms of sensitivity to different impedance interactions. This paper provides for the first time the whole set of impedance-type internal parameters and the formulas according to which the interaction sensitivity can be fully explained and analyzed. The formulation given in this paper can be utilized equally either based on measured frequency responses or on predicted analytic transfer functions. Usually, the distributed dc–dc systems are constructed by using ready-made power modules without having thorough knowledge on the actual power-stage and control-system designs. As a consequence, the interaction characterization has to be based on the frequency responses measureable via the input and output terminals. A buck converter with four different control methods is experimentally characterized in frequency domain to demonstrate the effect of control method on the interaction sensitivity. The presented analytical models are used to explain the phenomena behind the changes in the interaction sensitivity.
Rem Sleep Deprivation Does Not Increase the Sexual Behaviors of Male Rats

Using several measures of sexual activity, 24 male and 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a pretreatment test and 3 posttests (immediate and Recovery Days 4 and 7) following REM sleep deprivation in a water tank. With careful controls, sexual activity was not significantly affected by the sleep treatments. Data do not support motivational hypotheses.
Loki, Io: New ground‐based observations and a model describing the change from periodic overturn

Loki Patera is the most powerful volcano in the solar system. We have obtained measurements of Loki's 3.5 micron brightness from NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) and have witnessed a major change in eruptive behavior. While Loki brightened by a factor of several every 540 days prior to 2001, from 2001 through 2004 Loki remained at a constant, intermediate brightness. We have constructed a quantitative model of Loki as a basaltic lava lake whose solidified crust overturns when it becomes buoyantly unstable. By altering the speed at which the overturn propagates across the patera, we can match our ground‐based brightness data. In addition, we can match other data taken at other times and wavelengths. By slowing the propagation speed dramatically, we can match the observations from 2001–2004. Such slowing could be due to a small change in volatile content in the lava.
Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (LC3)-associated phagocytosis is required for the efficient clearance of dead cells

The recognition and clearance of dead cells is a process that must occur efficiently to prevent an autoimmune or inflammatory response. Recently, a process was identified wherein the autophagy machinery is recruited to pathogen-containing phagosomes, termed MAPLC3A (LC3)-associated phagocytosis (LAP), which results in optimal degradation of the phagocytosed cargo. Here, we describe the engagement of LAP upon uptake of apoptotic, necrotic, and RIPK3-dependent necrotic cells by macrophages. This process is dependent on some members of the classical autophagy pathway, including Beclin1, ATG5, and ATG7. In contrast, ULK1, despite being required for autophagy, is dispensable for LAP induced by uptake of microbes or dead cells. LAP is required for efficient degradation of the engulfed corpse, and in the absence of LAP, engulfment of dead cells results in increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and decreased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. LAP is triggered by engagement of the TIM4 receptor by either phosphatidylserine (PtdSer)-displaying dead cells or PtdSer-containing liposomes. Therefore, the consequence of phagocytosis of dead cells is strongly affected by those components of the autophagy pathway involved in LAP.
Unifying Rigid and Soft Bodies Representation: The Sulfur Physics Engine

Video games are (also) real-time interactive graphic simulations: hence, providing a convincing physics simulation for each specific game environment is of paramount importance in the process of achieving a satisfying player experience. While the existing game engines appropriately address many aspects of physics simulation, some others are still in need of improvements. In particular, several specific physics properties of bodies not usually involved in the main game mechanics (e.g., properties useful to represent systems composed by soft bodies), are often poorly rendered by general-purpose engines. This issue may limit game designers when imagining innovative and compelling video games and game mechanics. For this reason, we dug into the problem of appropriately representing soft bodies. Subsequently, we have extended the approach developed for soft bodies to rigid ones, proposing and developing a unified approach in a game engine: Sulfur. To test the engine, we have also designed and developed "Escape from Quaoar," a prototypal video game whose main game mechanic exploits an elastic rope, and a level editor for the game.
Orthogonal Signalling in the Gaussian Wiretap Channel in the Wideband Regime

We consider communication between a legitimate transmitter and a legitimate receiver in the presence of an eavesdropper in the conventional Gaussian wiretap channel setting. Based on Wyner's coding scheme, we show that a code construction using orthogonal codewords can achieve the secrecy capacity of the Gaussian wiretap channel in the wideband regime. This is illustrated through analysis of the error probability between the legitimate parties and the eavesdropper equivocation rate, as well as various simulation results.
Baroreceptor-mediated suppression of osmotically stimulated vasopressin in normal humans.

Increases in central venous pressure and arterial pressure have been reported to have variable effects on normal arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels in healthy humans. To test the hypothesis that baroreceptor suppression of AVP secretion might be more likely if AVP were subjected to a prior osmotic stimulus, we investigated the response of plasma AVP to increased central venous pressure and mean arterial pressure after hypertonic saline in six normal volunteers. Plasma AVP, serum osmolality, heart rate, central venous pressure, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure were assessed before and after a 0.06 ml.kg-1.min-1-infusion of 5% saline give over 90 min and then after 10 min of 30 degrees head-down tilt and 10 min of head-down tilt plus lower-body positive pressure. Hypertonic saline increased plasma AVP. After head-down tilt, which did not change heart rate, pulse pressure, or mean arterial pressure but did increase central venous pressure, plasma AVP fell. Heart rate, pulse pressure, and central venous pressure were unchanged from head-down tilt values during lower-body positive pressure, whereas mean arterial pressure increased. Plasma AVP during lower-body positive pressure was not different from that during tilt. Osmolality increased during the saline infusion but was stable throughout the remainder of the study. These data therefore suggest that an osmotically stimulated plasma AVP level can be suppressed by baroreflex activation. Either the low-pressure cardiopulmonary receptors (subjected to a rise in central venous pressure during head-down tilt) or the sinoaortic baroreceptors (subjected to hydrostatic effects during head-down tilt) could have been responsible for the suppression of AVP. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Actuator Failure Identification and Compensation Through Sliding Modes

The actuator failure compensation problem is addressed in this brief. It is considered an uncertain linear plant, which is supposed to undergo unknown failures causing the plant input components to be stuck at some uncertain but bounded time functions. A sliding-mode-based control policy is presented, guaranteeing the detection of the fault and the identification of the failed component by means of a suitable test input. Once the failed component has been identified, the control law is reconfigured, redistributing the control activity among the controllers still working. The proposed controller has been tested by simulation on a benchmark problem
Pathogenic Role of Advanced Glycation End-Products (Ages): An Overview

E nd-stage renal disease (ESRD) represents a form of "accelerated aging," with accelerated athero sclerosis as its major manifestation. Patients with ESRD also exhibit other evidence of accelerated aging such as increased rates of stroke, peripheral vascular disease (1), and malignancy (1,2), as well as decreased immune responsiveness (3). Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of these ESRD-associated disease processes (4,5). AGEs accumulate in renal failure (6-8), reaching levels 20 times to 40 times normal on circulating and tissue proteins (9-11). The basis for the accumulation of AGEs, and their potential tissue toxicity remain areas of intensive research. The goal of this paper is to review the data on the accumulation of AGEs in renal failure and the evidence for the toxic ity of AGEs. Distinctions seen in patients treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) will be emphasized.
Effects of diet on norepinephrine turnover in obese (ob/ob) mice.

Effects of energy restriction and of supplemental sucrose or fat on norepinephrine (NE) turnover in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and heart of female obese (ob/ob) and lean mice were examined. Rates of NE turnover in BAT of control female obese mice (8 weeks old) were 39% lower than in control lean mice; no differences were evident in hearts of these mice. Energy intake of 6-week-old ob/ob mice was restricted to the intake of lean mice for 2 weeks. This restriction decreased intake by 41% and reduced rates of NE turnover in heart (-15%), but not in BAT, of obese mice. Next, 7 1/2-week-old lean and obese mice were given access to stock diet and a 30% sucrose solution for 3-4 days. Intake of stock diet decreased by more than 50%. Total energy intake increased in lean mice (+18%), but decreased (-19%) in obese mice. When a 10% sucrose solution was offered intake of stock diet still decreased, but total energy intake was unchanged in lean and obese mice. Oxygen consumption increased in lean mice (+19 to +24%), but not in obese mice, when fed either 30 or 10% sucrose solutions, or a fat-supplemented diet where fat isocalorically replaced the sucrose consumed from 30% sucrose solution. Rates of NE turnover were not significantly increased in lean mice fed the 30% sucrose solution, but were increased in BAT (+34%) and heart (+25%) in lean mice fed the fat-supplemented diet. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptor-mediated responses in preparations of pulmonary artery and aorta from young and aged rats.

Rat pulmonary artery contains both alpha adrenoceptors mediating contraction and beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors mediating relaxation. Neither alpha nor beta adrenoceptor-mediated responses of this vessel to norepinephrine or epinephrine were potentiated by cocaine, despite evidence for the presence of some adrenergic nerves. Beta adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation of pulmonary artery, but not aorta, modulated alpha adrenoceptor-mediated contractions to epinephrine but not norepinephrine. Rat aorta also contains both beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoceptors mediating relaxation, in that Schild plots for atenolol (beta-1 selective antagonist) using a beta-1 selective agonist (norepinephrine) and a beta-2 selective agonist (fenoterol), respectively, were not superimposed. The Schild plot data for lCl 118,551 (beta-2 selective) indicated that the minor population (beta-1) was less important in aorta than in pulmonary artery. On preparations from 18-month-old rats, the maximum relaxation to isoproterenol (20.4%, aorta and 67.9%, pulmonary artery) was less than in preparations from young rats (79.8%, aorta and 96.9%, pulmonary artery), i.e., aging had reduced the beta adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in both vessels, but particularly in aorta. Also, the negative log EC50 of fenoterol, but not of isoproterenol or norepinephrine, was less than in preparations from young rats. This could indicate that aging had affected beta-2 more than beta-1 adrenoceptor-mediated responses and may explain why aging depressed the maximum relaxation of aorta more than that of pulmonary artery.
A Correlative Study between Platelet Count, Mean Platelet Volume and Red Cell Distribution Width with the Disease Severity Index in Psoriasis Patients.

Introduction Platelet activation is presumed to play an important role in the immunoinflammatory reactions. Several recent studies on a variety of inflammatory disorders have used Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) as a marker for platelet activation. Aim To determine the relationship between haematological parameters and disease severity index in psoriasis patients. Materials and Methods A Case control study was carried out on 50 psoriatic patients and 50 healthy control subjects. Ten haematologic parameters were compared between patients and control subjects. These parameters were also correlated in patients with PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score. The data was statistically analysed using IBM SPSS software (Version 21). Spearman Rank Correlation was used to find the correlation between PASI and haematological parameters. Results When all the patients were considered together, mean values for MPV, Platelet Count (PLT) and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) were significantly different between the two groups (Control and Patients). While MPV and RDW were raised, PLT was reduced in patients of both sexes when compared with controls. In Male patients the MPV and RDW showed statistically significant correlation with Psoriasis Area And Severity Index (PASI) (MPV <0.01; RDW<0.05), whereas PLT though reduced in both sexes when compared with controls, it showed significance in female patients alone (p <0.01). Conclusion The mean values for MPV and RDW were higher and mean platelet values were lower in patients than controls. The MPV values in male patients and Platelet counts in female patients showed strong positive and negative correlation respectively with the PASI score. It can be concluded that rising MPV and decreasing PLT could be good indicators of disease severity and progression. These indicators could also help in assessing the treatment course of the disease.
Social Media Attention Increases Article Visits: An Investigation on Article-Level Referral Data of PeerJ

In order to better understand the effect of social media in the dissemination of scholarly articles, employing the daily updated referral data of 110 PeerJ articles collected over a period of 345 days, we analyze the relationship between social media attention and article visitors directed by social media. Our results show that social media presence of PeerJ articles is high. About 68.18% of the papers receive at least one tweet from Twitter accounts other than @PeerJ, the official account of the journal. Social media attention increases the dissemination of scholarly articles. Altmetrics could not only act as the complement of traditional citation measures but also play an important role in increasing the article downloads and promoting the impacts of scholarly articles. There also exists a significant correlation among the online attention from different social media platforms. Articles with more Facebook shares tend to get more tweets. The temporal trends show that social attention comes immediately following publication but does not last long, so do the social media directed article views.
Proteome Dynamics: Revisiting Turnover with a Global Perspective*

Although bulk protein turnover has been measured with the use of stable isotope labeled tracers for over half a century, it is only recently that the same approach has become applicable to the level of the proteome, permitting analysis of the turnover of many proteins instead of single proteins or an aggregated protein pool. The optimal experimental design for turnover studies is dependent on the nature of the biological system under study, which dictates the choice of precursor label, protein pool sampling strategy, and treatment of data. In this review we discuss different approaches and, in particular, explore how complexity in experimental design and data processing increases as we shift from unicellular to multicellular systems, in particular animals.
The Intergenerational Social Mobility of Minority Ethnic Groups

This study examines the intergenerational social mobility of different ethnic groups in Britain between 1971 and 1991.The small body of previous research on intergenerational mobility and ethnicity in Britain has not distinguished between premigration and post-migration social class, and thus has been unable to relate findings directly to studies of intergenerational social mobility or to accounts of the changing class composition of different ethnic groups within Britain. This study, instead, focuses on social mobility between generations as it is experienced by different groups in the same country, over the same time period and over the same age range. Using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Longitudinal Study, this study describes the different patterns of class mobility experienced by a single cohort of children aged 8-15 in 1971 from each of three ethnic groups: white non-migrants, Indians and Caribbeans. It finds that the impact of class origin varies with ethnicity. However, the impact of ethnicity is less salient in determining outcomes for women than it is for men.