Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relation of Internet Use to Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Chinese Adolescents

Prosocial and antisocial Internet use is investigated in this study by constructing an objective measure called the Adolescent Internet Use Questionnaire (AIUQ). The sample consists of 509 secondary school students in Hong Kong. Based on the previous review of the literature, the present study tests the following two hypotheses: (a) sex difference hypothesis: boys are more delinquent in Internet use than are girls; (b) positive association hypothesis: there is a positive association between Internet behavior and daily social behavior. In other words, positive Internet behavior is positively associated with positive daily social behavior, and negative Internet behavior is positively associated with negative daily social behavior. In general, the two hypotheses are supported by the data in this study. The internal consistency reliability and predictive validity of the major indices of the AIUQ are also substantiated by the present data.
The effects of type 1 diabetes on cognitive performance: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the exact nature and magnitude of cognitive impairments in patients with type 1 diabetes and the possible association with other disease variables, such as recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia and metabolic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS MedLine and PsycLit search engines were used to identify studies on cognitive performance in patients with type 1 diabetes. Effect sizes (Cohen's d), which are the standardized differences between the experimental and the control group, were calculated. In the meta-analysis, a combined d value was calculated, expressing the magnitude of associations across studies. RESULTS A total of 33 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Compared with nondiabetic control subjects, the type 1 diabetic group demonstrated a significantly lowered performance on the following cognitive domains: intelligence (d = -0.7), speed of information processing (d = -0.3), psychomotor efficiency (d = -0.6), visual (d = -0.4) and sustained attention (d = -0.3), cognitive flexibility (d = -0.5), and visual perception (d = -0.4). Lowered cognitive performance in diabetic patients appeared to be associated with the presence of microvascular complications but not with the occurrence of severe hypoglycemic episodes or with poor metabolic control. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 1 diabetes, cognitive dysfunction is characterized by a slowing of mental speed and a diminished mental flexibility, whereas learning and memory are spared.The magnitude of the cognitive deficits is mild to moderate, but even mild forms of cognitive dysfunction might hamper everyday activities since they can be expected to present problems in more demanding situations.
A game-theoretic derivation of the $\sqrt{dt}$ effect

We study the origins of the $\sqrt{dt}$ effect in finance and SDE. In particular, we show, in the game-theoretic framework, that market volatility is a consequence of the absence of riskless opportunities for making money and that too high volatility is also incompatible with such opportunities. More precisely, riskless opportunities for making money arise whenever a traded security has fractal dimension below or above that of the Brownian motion and its price is not almost constant and does not become extremely large. This is a simple observation known in the measure-theoretic mathematical finance. At the end of the article we also consider the case of non-zero interest rate. This version of the article was essentially written in March 2005 but remains a working paper.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-dependent and -independent Cell-signaling Pathways Originating from the Urokinase Receptor*

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and vitronectin activate cell-signaling pathways by binding to the uPA receptor (uPAR). Because uPAR is glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored, the signaling receptor is most likely a uPAR-containing multiprotein complex. This complex may be heterogeneous within a single cell and among different cell types. The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of the EGF receptor (EGFR) as a component of the uPAR-signaling machinery. uPA activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in COS-7 cells and in COS-7 cells that overexpress uPAR, and this response was blocked by the EGFR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1478, implicating the EGFR in the pathway that links uPAR to ERK. By contrast, Rac1 activation, which occurred as a result of uPAR overexpression, was EGFR-independent. COS-7 cell migration was stimulated, in an additive manner, by uPAR-dependent pathways leading to ERK and Rac1. AG1478 inhibited only the ERK-dependent component of the response. CHO-K1 cells do not express EGFR; however, these cells demonstrated ERK activation in response to uPA, indicating the presence of an EGFR-independent alternative pathway. As anticipated, this response was insensitive to AG1478. When CHO-K1 cells were transfected to express EGFR or a kinase-inactive mutant of EGFR, ERK activation in response to uPA was unchanged; however, the EGFR-expressing cells acquired sensitivity to AG1478. We conclude that the EGFR may function as a transducer of the signal from uPAR to ERK, but not Rac1. In the absence of EGFR, an alternative pathway links uPAR to ERK; however, this pathway is apparently silenced by EGFR expression.
In situ determination of kinetic parameters for biofilms: Isolation and characterization of oligotrophic biofilms

This article develops and utilizes an in situ technique to estimate the Monod half‐maximum rate concentration, Ks and the maximum specific utilization rate constant, k, for biofilms. The technique employs a curve‐matching method with kinetic results from several short‐term experiments with completely mixed biofilm reactors. Use of the in situ method eliminates the two drawbacks of using conventional suspended‐growth measurements to characterize biofilm: possible alteration of cell physiology and a major investment to run the suspended‐growth tests. Results with five cultures of biofilm‐forming oligotrophs demonstrated the in situ technique and supported the hypothesis that Ks values were lower for the biofilm oligotrophs than for typical copiotrophs.
Design of 56 Gb/s PAM4 wire-line receiver with ring VCO based CDR in a 65 nm CMOS technology

This paper presents a 56 Gb/s 4-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) wire-line receiver, which employs a quarter rate architecture. By employing a ring voltage control oscillator (VCO) based clock and data recovery (CDR) with separate proportional path, the complexity, power consumption and area can all be reduced. To reduce the noise of the detector and improve the stability of the CDR, both the major and minor transitions with the central crossover point are utilized to extract the phase error. The receiver is designed in a 65nm CMOS technology and supplied with 1.2V. The simulation results show that the proposed PAM4 receiver can work at 56 Gb/s with 76 mW consumption.
Arrhythmogenic activities of antiarrhythmic drugs in conscious hypokalemic dogs with atrioventricular block: comparison between quinidine, lidocaine, flecainide, propranolol and sotalol.

In order to create and evaluate a model sensitive to QT-dependent proarrhythmic effects of drugs, a long QT syndrome was produced in chronically instrumented dogs with bradycardia and hypokalemia. Bradycardia (mean cycle length: 1495 +/- 78 msec) was provided by permanent atrioventricular block and hypokalemia (K+ = 2.6 +/- 0.05 mmol/l) by high doses of diuretics. To evaluate that model, six of these conscious dogs were subjected to quinidine, flecainide, lidocaine, propranolol and sotalol infusions. In crossover design, drugs were infused i.v. at rates allowing stable and nontoxic drug plasma levels during the experiment. Four-lead ECGs were recorded for arrhythmias for 30 min before (base line) and 75 min after onset of infusion. Ventricular cycle length was increased dramatically by sotalol, lidocaine and propranolol (+618 +/- 192, +388 +/- 125 and +329 +/- 114 msec, respectively) and QT interval was increased by sotalol, quinidine and flecainide (+56 +/- 8, +31 +/- 7.9 and +20 +/- 5.7 msec, respectively). Quinidine and sotalol, but not flecainide, propranolol or lidocaine, exhibited significant arrhythmogenic activities. During quinidine infusion, most dogs exhibited some ventricular arrhythmias whose most severe forms were runs of ventricular tachycardia. These arrhythmias were suppressed by pacing at high rates. During sotalol infusion, five out of six dogs exhibited typical "torsades de pointes. " This incidence was not related to the slowing effects of sotalol on idioventricular pacemakers, because a similar incidence was obtained in five complementary dogs paced at 40 bpm. It could be related to dose, because torsades de pointes occurred only once in another group of five dogs receiving half the dose used in the controlled study. Only quinidine and sotalol, but not propranolol, flecainide or lidocaine, are clinically associated to torsades de pointes. They were also the only drugs associated with proarrhythmic events in the present study, a fact suggesting that QT-dependent arrhythmogenic effects of drugs can be reliably evaluated in conscious hypokalemic dogs with complete atrioventricular block.
Renin Uptake by the Endothelium Mediates Vascular Angiotensin Formation

Abstract—We investigated the role of the vascular endothelium in the local production of angiotensin. Angiotensin release from isolated rat hindquarters perfused with an artificial medium was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. Perfused hindquarters with endothelium released angiotensin I spontaneously, indicating ongoing renin-angiotensinogen reaction. Endothelium denudation (by a detergent, validated by electron microscopy and by the absence of a vasodilator response to acetylcholine) reduced angiotensin I release by >90%, whereas bilateral nephrectomy 24 hours before perfusion abolished the release completely. Infusion of renin into perfused hindquarters induced sustained local angiotensin I release in the presence of an intact endothelium but not after endothelium denudation. The conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II was abrogated by endothelium denudation, whereas the disappearance of angiotensin II was unchanged. Endothelium denudation diminished the pressor response to angiotensin II but abolished the response to renin and angiotensin I. Expression of renin messenger RNA, investigated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction using 4 different primer combinations, was not detected in up to 5 &mgr;g vascular RNA, whereas a renin signal was readily detected with 5 ng kidney RNA. The effects of endothelium destruction on Ang I formation support the notion that the endothelium mediates vascular angiotensin formation by taking up renin.
HYPOTHALAMIC DIGOXIN, HEMISPHERIC CHEMICAL DOMINANCE, AND SLEEP

The isoprenoid pathway produces endogenous digoxin, a substance that can regulate neurotransmitter and amino acid transport. Digoxin synthesis and neurotransmitter patterns were assessed in individuals with chronic insomnia. The patterns were compared in those with right hemispheric and left hemispheric dominance. The activity of HMG GoA reductase and serum levels of digoxin, magnesium, tryptophan catabolites, and tyrosine catabolites were measured in individuals with chronic insomnia and in individuals with differing hemispheric dominance. Digoxin synthesis was increased with upregulated tryptophan catabolism (increased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine), and downregulated tyrosine catabolism (decreased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with chronic insomnia and right hemispheric chemical dominance. Digoxin synthesis was reduced with downregulated tryptophan catabolism (decreased levels of serotonin, strychnine, and nicotine) and upregulated tyrosine catabolism (increased levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and morphine) in those with normal sleep patterns and left hemispheric chemical dominance. Hypothalamic digoxin plays a central role in the regulation of sleep behavior. Hemispheric chemical dominance in relation to digoxin status is also crucial.
Effect of dietary calcium level on mineral and trace element utilization from a rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) diet fed to ileum-fistulated pigs

The bioavailability of intrinsic minerals in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) meal was studied in growing, fistulated pigs. Furthermore, the effect on mineral availability of an extrinsic Ca supply to this diet, high in phytate, was observed. Comparisons between small intestinal and total gastrointestinal absorption were accomplished for minerals and other dietary components. N retention increased as the dietary Ca intake increased, but dropped, in general significantly, throughout the experimental period, indicating that factors other than protein were limiting for growth. The highest dietary Ca level increased the absorption and retention of Ca and Mg. In contrast, addition of CaCO3 did not influence the apparent absorption and retention of P, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn. The majority of observed blood variables was not affected by the Ca content of the diet. Zn status-related variables were, however, thoroughly depressed by duration of the experiment and it seems probable that the amount of absorbed Zn was a factor limiting growth. Total gastrointestinal balances showed a Zn retention of 4.7 mg/d, which accounted for 13.6 % of that ingested. This low absorption of Zn may have been due to the high intrinsic content of phytate. Apparent absorption of organic matter, ash, N and S was significantly greater calculated from faecal contents than from ileal contents, indicating a disappearance of material in the caecum–colon section of the gastrointestinal tract. The minerals which were studied showed the opposite pattern: apparent small intestinal absorption was larger than total intestinal absorption, suggesting that the caecal–colon region takes part in mineral turnover.
Oxidant injury in neonatal erythrocytes during the perinatal period

It has been known for many decades that oxidative stress leads to oxidation of hemoglobin and damage to the erythrocyte membrane. More recently, the factors involved in denaturating of membrane proteins and lipid peroxidation have been investigated in detail, as well as the mechanism of reactive oxygen species formation in red cells. Oxidative stress depletes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenine nucleotides, whereas adenosine monophosphate (AMP) deaminase seems to depress energy metabolism by blocking the salvage pathway of purine nucleotides. Depletion of ATP and activation of AMP deaminase are related to calcium ion concentrations. Denaturating of membrane proteins generally precedes lipid peroxidation and consequent phagocytosis due to caspase activation. Extensive investigations demonstrated the key role of oxidative stress and iron release in a reactive form causing membrane protein damage via the Fenton reaction and hydroxyl radical production. In the absence of efficient protection by antioxidant factors and other molecules such as flavonoids, oxidative stress is responsible for the release of iron in reactive form, predisposing red cells to hemolysis through the formation of senescence antigen. Other well‐known sources of oxidative stress in red cells are free radical production outside the red cell by activated phagocytes, endothelial metabolism, hyperoxia, ischemia‐reperfusion and the arachidonic acid cascade.
Uncovering the economic value of natural enemies and true costs of chemical insecticides to cotton farmers in China

Little empirical evidence on the economic value of biological control of pests at farm level is available to improve economic decision-making by farmers and policy makers. Using insect sampling and household survey in an integrated bio-economic analysis framework, this paper studies farmers’ crop management practices in cotton in the North China Plain, and estimates the marginal value of natural enemies and costs of chemical insecticides to farmers. Ladybeetles (mainly Harmonia axyridis, Propylea japonica, and Coccinella septempunctata), the dominant natural enemy group that controls the primary pest (aphid) in cotton in our study area, provide a significant economic benefit that is unknown to the farmers. Even at the current high levels of insecticide use, an additional ladybeetle provides an economic benefit of 0.05 CNY (almost USD 0.01) to farmers. The use of broad-spectrum insecticides by farmers is alarmingly excessive, not only undermining farmers’ cotton profitability but also inducing social costs as well as disruption of the natural pest suppression system. Doubling current ladybeetle density in cotton field could gain an estimated USD 300 million for cotton farmers in China, providing a strong economic case for policies to move the pest control system towards a more ecologically-based regime, with positive consequences for farm income and environmental health. With rising use of biological control service provided by natural enemies such as ladybeetles in cotton fields, significant falls in farmers’ insecticide use would be expected, which could raise the value of ladybeetles and other natural enemies even further. The results indicate that there is an urgent need to rationalize inputs and move forward to improved agro-ecosystem management in smallholder farming system. Raising knowledge and awareness on the costs and value of biological pest control versus insecticides among farmers and policy makers and having effective extension service, are priorities towards achieving a more ecologically-based approach to crop protection on smallholder farms.
Optimizing window settings for improved presentation of virtual monoenergetic images in dual‐energy computed tomography

Purpose: Dual‐energy computed tomography virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) at 40 keV exhibits superior contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR), although practicing radiologists do not consistently prefer it over VMI at 70 keV due to high perceivable noise. We hypothesize that the presentation of 40 keV VMI may be compromised using window settings (i.e., window‐and‐level values [W‐L values]) designed for conventional single‐energy CT. This study aimed to devise optimum window settings that reduce the apparent noise and utilize the high CNR of 40 keV VMI, in order to improve the conspicuity of hypervascular liver lesions. Materials and Methods: Three W‐L value adjustment methods were investigated to alter the presentation of 40 keV VMI. To harness the high CNR of 40 keV VMI, the methods were designed to achieve (a) liver histogram distribution, (b) lesion‐to‐liver contrast, or (c) liver background noise comparable to those perceived in 70 keV VMI. This IRB‐approved study included 18 patient abdominal datasets reconstructed at 40 and 70 keV. For each patient, the W‐L values were determined using the three methods. For each of the images with default or adjusted W‐L values, the noise, contrast, and CNR were calculated in terms of both display space and native CT number (referred to as HU) space. An observer study was performed to compare the 40 keV images with the three adjusted W‐L values, and 40 and 70 keV images with default W‐L values in terms of noise, contrast, and diagnostic preference. A comparison was also made in terms of the applicability of using patient‐specific or patient‐averaged W‐L values. Results: Using the default W‐L values, 40 keV VMI exhibited higher HU CNR than 70 keV VMI by 24.6 ± 14.9% (P < 0.001) but lower display CNR by 38.0 ± 16.4% (P < 0.001). Using adjusted W‐L values, 40 keV images showed increased display CNR as compared to 70 keV images, by 21.2 ± 13.1%, 17.4 ± 13.6%, and 24.2 ± 15.9% (P < 0.001) for histogram‐, noise‐, and contrast equalization methods, respectively. The 40 keV images with all three W‐L value adjustment methods showed improved perceived conspicuity (CNR) of liver presentation by 103–120% (P < 0.001), as compared to default W‐L values. The qualitative observer study revealed that 40 keV images with noise‐ and histogram‐equalized W‐L values were the most preferred, followed by 40 keV images with contrast‐equalized W‐L values and 70 keV images with default W‐L values. The 40 keV images with default W‐L values were the least preferred. Patient‐specific W‐L values offered similar results to those of patient‐averaged W‐L values. Conclusion: The adjusted W‐L values can significantly improve the perception of VMI dataset image quality by improving the actual display CNR.
Cornelia de Lange syndrome, cohesin, and beyond

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) (OMIM #122470, #300590 and #610759) is a dominant genetic disorder with multiple organ system abnormalities which is classically characterized by typical facial features, growth and mental retardation, upper limb defects, hirsutism, gastrointestinal and other visceral system involvement. Mutations in three cohesin proteins, a key regulator of cohesin, NIPBL, and two structural components of the cohesin ring SMC1A and SMC3, etiologically account for about 65% of individuals with CdLS. Cohesin controls faithful chromosome segregation during the mitotic and meiotic cell cycles. Multiple proteins in the cohesin pathway are also involved in additional fundamental biological events such as double‐strand DNA break repair and long‐range regulation of transcription. Moreover, chromosome instability was recently associated with defective sister chromatid cohesion in several cancer studies, and an increasing number of human developmental disorders is being reported to result from disruption of this pathway. Here, we will discuss the human disorders caused by alterations of cohesin function (termed ‘cohesinopathies’), with an emphasis on the clinical manifestations of CdLS and mechanistic studies of the CdLS‐related proteins.
Effect of protein kinase C on glucose-mediated insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the regulation of protein kinase C on glucose-mediated insulin secretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We examined the effect of protein kinase C on the cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) and the activity of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)-channel) in the insulinoma cell line, HIT-T15. RESULTS Glucose at a concentration of 10 mmol/L increased the secretion of insulin. This increase was partly inhibited by 1 nmol/L staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. Staurosporine (1 nmol/L) also attenuated the glucose-induced elevations in [Ca(2+)]i. On the contrary, glibenclamide (100 nmol/L) specifically blocked ATP-sensitive K(+) channels, and increased both [Ca(2+)]i and insulin secretion, but staurosporine had no effect on them. Patch clamp studies showed that 10 mmol/L glucose almost completely blocked K(Ca) channel activity, an effect that was reversed by 1 nmol/L staurosporine. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (1 mmol/L), a protein kinase C activator, also decreased K(Ca) channel activity. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the activation of protein kinase C is involved in the glucose-induced release of insulin by modulating K(+) channel function in HIT-T15 cells.