Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vanadium Toxicity in Mice

Because precise information as to the toxicity of vanadium is required for practical use of vanadium compounds as antidiabetic drugs, we examined vanadium toxicity in mice fed normal diet or high-fat diet (C57BL/6N, male, 7 weeks) by oral administration of ammonium metavanadate (AMV) with a maximum dose of 20 mgV/kg/day. Marked lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, renal epithelial cells, and mucosal epithelial cells of the small and large intestines and severe degeneration, necrosis, and loss of mucosal epithelial cells in the small intestine were observed. These pathological changes were more severe in mice fed high-fat diet than mice fed normal diet, and the intensity of the changes increased with increase in the administered dose of AMV. By electron microscopy, the number and size of lipid droplets in hepatocytes were increased. In the small intestine, a TUNEL assay showed a decreased number of positive cells, and positive cells for acrolein immunohistochemistry were observed specifically in the mucosal epithelial cells indicating degeneration and necrosis in the AMV-treated group, suggesting that a possible factor responsible for cell necrosis in the small intestine could be oxidative stress. In conclusion, AMV may impair cellular lipid metabolism, resulting in lipid accumulation, and induce mucosal epithelial cell necrosis in the small intestine.
The Effects of Linkage, Epistasis, and Inbreeding on Population Changes under Selection.

I N studies of population genetic theory a number of complications arise when consideration shifts from single locus to multilocus situations. In multilocus situations, the possibility of interaction between loci (epistasis) is one obvious complicating factor, and the amount of recombination between loci (linkage) is another such factor. A number of recent investigations of multilocus models (KIMURA 1956; KOJIMA 1959a,b; LEWONTIN and KOJIMA 1960; BODMER and PARSONS 1962; LEWONTIN 1964a,b, 1965) have shown that interactions between linkage and epistasis can in fact have significant effects on the structure of large, random-mating populations and that some of the features of such populations can be understood only if the interactions between linkage and epistasis are taken into account. Another factor that is likely to be of real importance in understanding population structure is deviation from panmixia. Although it is not known how widespread the various types of deviation from panmixia are relative to one another, there can be little doubt that inbreeding is an extremely common phenomenon. Inbreeding can occur not only as a result of one or another type of control of the mating system, such as those that lead to predominant self-fertilization in many plant species, but also in regularly outcrossing species owing to regular or sporadic restrictions in population size, isolation by distance, and so on. Further, it is easily demonstrated that the position and stability of adaptive peaks corresponding to gene-frequency equilibria vary markedly with the level of inbreeding (e.g. ALLARD and WEHRHAHN 1964). This introduces the possibility that deviations from panmixia may influence interactions between linkage and epistasis and hence that they must be taken into account in attempts to understand multigenic systems. In view of the importance of inbreeding and the probability of compound interactions amongst inbreeding, epistasis and linkage, it seemed worthwhile to determine the combined effects of these factors on multilocus systems. The plan adopted was to examine a variety of heterotic and optimum models to determine in what ways relaxation of the assumption of panmixia affects various aspects of population structure. Both two-locus and six-locus models have been investigated. Results from two-locus models with large population size will be considered in
HIV-1 infection impairs regulatory T-cell suppressive capacity on a per-cell basis.

The impact of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Although it has been shown that Tregs can be infected with HIV-1, the consequences of infection on a per-cell basis are still unknown. In vitro HIV-GFP infected and noninfected Tregs were isolated by flow-based cell-sorting to investigate Treg suppressive capacity and gene expression profiles. Our data show that HIV-1-infected Tregs were significantly less suppressive than noninfected Tregs and demonstrated down-regulation of genes critical to Treg function. This impaired function may have detrimental consequences for the control of generalized immune activation and accelerate HIV disease progression.
Identifying Drivers of Parallel Evolution: A Regression Model Approach

Parallel evolution, defined as identical changes arising in independent populations, is often attributed to similar selective pressures favoring the fixation of identical genetic changes. However, some level of parallel evolution is also expected if mutation rates are heterogeneous across regions of the genome. Theory suggests that mutation and selection can have equal impacts on patterns of parallel evolution, however empirical studies have yet to jointly quantify the importance of these two processes. Here, we introduce several statistical models to examine the contributions of mutation and selection heterogeneity to shaping parallel evolutionary changes at the gene-level. Using this framework we analyze published data from forty experimentally evolved Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations. We can partition the effects of a number of genomic variables into those affecting patterns of parallel evolution via effects on the rate of arising mutations, and those affecting the retention versus loss of the arising mutations (i.e. selection). Our results suggest that gene-to-gene heterogeneity in both mutation and selection, associated with gene length, recombination rate, and number of protein domains drive parallel evolution at both synonymous and nonsynonymous sites. While there are still a number of parallel changes that are not well described, we show that allowing for heterogeneous rates of mutation and selection can provide improved predictions of the prevalence and degree of parallel evolution.
Monoclonal antibodies as probes for a function of large T antigen during the elongation process of simian virus 40 DNA replication

Various monoclonal antibodies specific for simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (T antigen) inhibit the elongation process of viral DNA replication in an in vitro system. The results provide strong evidence for a function intrinsic to T antigen during ongoing replicative-chain elongation. The antibody inhibition studies were further used to establish a correlation between the known biochemical activities of T antigen and its function during the elongation phase. The data demonstrate that, in addition to DNA binding and ATPase, a third function of T antigen is required for replicative chain elongation. This function is most probably related to the recently described DNA helicase activity of T antigen. This conclusion is based on the following results: aphidicolin treatment of actively replicating simian virus 40 minichromosomes causes a partial uncoupling of parental DNA strand separation and DNA synthesis; the strand separation reaction is blocked by the same monoclonal antibodies which strongly inhibit the elongation process. DNA helicase activity of isolated T antigen is equally well inhibited by the same set of monoclonal antibodies that affect minichromosome replication in vitro.
A 4-element MIMO implementation for laptop computers

A uniplanar, frequency reconfigurable multiband MIMO antenna for laptop computers is presented and studied. The proposed four element MIMO antenna provides the coverage of LTE700/2300/2500, GSM850/900/1800/1900, UMTS2100, and 2.4-GHz WLAN bands with a size of 60×15×0.8mm3. The antenna has a uniplanar structure and it's easy to fabricate on one surface of 0.8mm thick FR4 substrate. The proposed antenna supports the covered nine operating bands in 3:1 VSWR standard. Details of the proposed antenna and various important figures of merits are discussed.
Estudio molecular de los genes CDKN1B y CITED2 en mujeres con falla ovárica prematura idiopática

En los ultimos anos el aumento sustancial de la incidencia de la infertilidad humana ha convertido esta patologia en un problema real de salud publica: alrededor del 15% de las parejas consultan por esta causa. Entre las causas femeninas de infertilidad, la falla ovarica prematura (FOP) es extremadamente frecuente puesto que afecta entre el 1 y el 3% de las mujeres de la poblacion general. Multiples etiologias de FOP se han descrito (e.g. autoinmunes, infecciosas, iatrogenicas) pero desafortunadamente en mas de 80% de los casos no se conocen las causas, lo que sugiere mecanismos geneticos subyacentes. Algunas causas geneticas se han descrito, especialmente relacionadas con formas sindromicas de la enfermedad (e.g. sindromes de Turner y BPES). En estos casos se evidencian principalmente alteraciones cromosomicas y mutaciones especificas en genes participantes en la foliculogenesis. En otros casos, la presentacion de la enfermedad es aislada y se relaciona con mutaciones en genes especificos localizados en los autosomas y en el cromosoma X. Sin embargo, la complejidad genetica, la baja heredabilidad y el caracter cuantitativo de los fenotipos asociados a la reproduccion en los mamiferos implica que en casos fisiologicos y patologicos (hipofertilidad e infertilidad) cientos de genes participen en una red de sutil regulacion. En este contexto, recientemente se han propuesto una cantidad significativa de genes candidato para la FOP. Por consiguiente el estudio de genes potencialmente candidatos en la etiologia de la FOP por aproximaciones gen candidato, entre ellos CDKN1B y CITED2, es de especial interes en la comprension de los mecanismos subyacentes de esta en enfermedad. Ademas, es una etapa necesaria en la busqueda de nuevos marcadores de esta patologia que permitan en un futuro mejorar el asesoramiento genetico y proponer alternativas terapeuticas. Durante este trabajo de tesis nos hemos focalizado en la busqueda de variantes en la secuencia codificante de CDKN1B y CITED2 en mujeres FOP. Nuestros resultados sugieren que estos genes son dos nuevos factores etiologicos de la enfermedad.
The role of awareness in human differential autonomic classical conditioning: the necessary-gate hypothesis.

A “necessary-gate” hypothesis is proposed regarding the relationship between awareness of the CS-UCS relationship and autonomic classical conditioning. The hypothesis is that awareness is a necessary but not sufficient condition, and a gate but not analog condition, for human differential autonomic classical conditioning. Evidence in support of the hypothesis is reviewed and directions for future research and theory development are suggested.
An upper bound to zero-delay rate distortion via Kalman filtering for vector Gaussian sources

We deal with zero-delay source coding of a vector Gaussian autoregressive (AR) source subject to an average mean squared error (MSE) fidelity criterion. Toward this end, we consider the nonanticipative rate distortion function (NRDF) which is a lower bound to the causal and zero-delay rate distortion function (RDF). We use the realization scheme with feedback proposed in [1] to model the corresponding optimal “test-channel” of the NRDF, when considering vector Gaussian AR(1) sources subject to an average MSE distortion. We give conditions on the vector Gaussian AR(1) source to ensure asymptotic stationarity of the realization scheme (bounded performance). Then, we encode the vector innovations due to Kalman filtering via lattice quantization with subtractive dither and memoryless entropy coding. This coding scheme provides a tight upper bound to the zero-delay Gaussian RDF. We extend this result to vector Gaussian AR sources of any finite order. Further, we show that for infinite dimensional vector Gaussian AR sources of any finite order, the NRDF coincides with the zero-delay RDF. Our theoretical framework is corroborated with a simulation example.
L'analyse de l'expectoration induite dans l'asthme permet une nouvelle approche de l'inflammation

L'asthme est une maladie inflammatoire, comme l'ont montre les etudes du lavage broncho-alveolaire (LBA) et des biopsies bronchiques (BB) realisees au cours de fibroscopies bronchiques invasives. L'analyse de l'expectoration induite est une methode recemment introduite, peu invasive, fiable, reproductible et bien toleree, permettant de suivre l'inflammation bronchique chez l'asthmatique. Les etudes ayant compare l'expectoration induite au LBA et aux BB montrent que la premiere explore un compartiment distinct de ceux dont rendent compte les deux derniers. De nombreuses etudes suggerent que l'analyse de l'expectoration induite est a priori interessante dans le diagnostic precoce des exacerbations, le suivi du traitement, la recherche de la dose minimale efficace, l'appreciation de l'observance. Dans ce cadre, nous suggerons que cet examen puisse etre propose en routine dans le suivi des asthmes difficiles.
Improved Wireless Token Ring Protocol (IWTRP) for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks

A multi-hop wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) is a metropolitan area network that adopts the wireless multi-hop technique to provide high-speed data link between adjacent nodes for metropolitan area. This work presents an improved wireless token ring (IWTRP) protocol for W-MAN. IWTRP adopts the concept of spatial reuse to enhance the throughput of the W-MAN via using multiple tokens. It provides mechanisms to enable multi-token circulation within a ring and to prevent from the possible packet collisions. An analytical model is further proposed to derive the per-node saturation throughput of the W-MAN. Simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the analysis and the superiority of IWTRP
Diagnosis of the Lelystad strain of Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in individually housed pigs: comparison between serum and oral fluid samples for viral nucleic acid and antibody detection

There has been a developing interest in the use of oral fluid for the diagnosis of different pathogens such as Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). PRRSV and PRRSV-specific antibodies have been shown to be present in oral fluid samples, but the correlation between diagnostic results in oral fluid and serum samples has been insufficiently addressed. Studies investigating this correlation focused on boars older than 6 months and type 2 strains, but it is known that the outcome of a PRRSV infection is age and strain dependent. To address this gap, the current study reports on the detection of PRRSV and PRRSV-specific antibodies in serum and oral fluid samples collected over a 6-week period after an experimental infection of 8-week-old individually housed pigs with Lelystad virus, the type 1 prototype strain. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that significantly more serum samples were PRRSV RNA–positive than oral fluid until 5 days postinfection (dpi). Between 7 and 21 dpi, PRRSV RNA detection was similar in both samples but higher detection rates in oral fluid were found from 28 dpi. Compared with existing literature, this highlights that detection rates at particular time points postinfection might vary in function of strain virulence and animal age and provides useful information for the interpretation of pen-based oral fluid results. An excellent agreement between the oral fluid and serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results was observed at every time point, further supporting the usefulness of oral fluid as a diagnostic sample for antibody detection.
A novel high gain switched inductor multilevel buck-boost DC-DC converter for solar applications

This paper presents a study on novel high gain switched inductor multilevel buck-boost converter. High gain DC-DC converters are preferred for solar applications to step up the output voltage from PV arrays. Due to the limitation on duty cycle, high gain is not feasible in conventional buck-boost converter. This drawback is overcome by multilevel buck-boost converter using capacitor-diode multiplier. The gain increases with increase in number of multiplier levels. The switched inductor multilevel buck-boost converter gives gain higher than conventional and multilevel buck-boost converter at a respective level. This topology is single switch DC-DC converter with high frequency due to which circuit layout is optimized and gate complexity is also reduced. The main advantage is that gain increases with increase in the number of levels without disturbing the main circuit by providing modularity. The simulation is carried out using MATLAB/SIMULINK.
Oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) are inhibited by endogenous opioids in late pregnant rats.

Late pregnant rats exhibit endogenous opioid restraint of oxytocin cells since i.v. naloxone (NLX opioid antagonist) increases oxytocin (OXT) secretion but OXT nerve terminals become desensitised to opioids. We have studied central opioid inhibition of OXT neurones in late pregnancy by measuring SON OXT neurones firing rate, immediate early gene (Fos) expression and dendritic OXT release under the influence of NLX On day 21 of pregnancy NLX strongly potentiated cholecystokinin (CCK) excitation of OXT neurones increased Fos protein expression and increased intranuclear release of OXT in the SON; NLX was ineffective in virgin rats. The data indicate central endogenous opioid inhibition of OXT neurone activity in late pregnancy which may restrain premature OXT release.
Numerical Methods versus Bjerksund and Stensland Approximations for American Options Pricing

Numerical methods like binomial and trinomial trees and finite difference methods can be used to price a wide range of options contracts for which there are no known analytical solutions. American options are the most famous of that kind of options. Besides numerical methods, American options can be valued with the approximation formulas, like Bjerksund- Stensland formulas from 1993 and 2002. When the value of American option is approximated by Bjerksund-Stensland formulas, the computer time spent to carry out that calculation is very short. The computer time spent using numerical methods can vary from less than one second to several minutes or even hours. However to be able to conduct a comparative analysis of numerical methods and Bjerksund- Stensland formulas, we will limit computer calculation time of numerical method to less than one second. Therefore, we ask the question: Which method will be most accurate at nearly the same computer calculation time?
Secundum Atrial Septal Defect: Nonoperative Closure During Cardiac Catheterization

A 17-year-old girl had clinical and cardiac catheterization findings compatible with a secundum atrial septal defect. During cardiac catheterization, the atrial septal defect was sized and closed using a transvenous umbrella technique. (JAMA235:2506-2509, 1976)
Get the Right Balance – Lessons Learned from the First Ebola Infected Patient in Dallas

This Communications Editor ́s Corner focusses on current medical topics. With respect to the subject it is asked, which methods of information in medicine can face these challenges, and where further research is required. Articles of this series are an attempt to inspire an interactive sci entific discourse using social networks. As each article of Methods of Information in Medicine , it is desired to comment and discuss this contribution on Facebook or Twitter.
Instrumentation System for Location of Partial Discharges Using Acoustic Detection With Piezoelectric Transducers and Optical Fiber Sensors

In this paper, a multichannel instrumentation system for the location of partial discharges (PDs) in power transformers is presented. It is based on the detection of the acoustic emissions from PDs in oil with several piezoelectric (PZT) and fiber optic sensors. An acoustic detection and location approach is proposed based on a time reference given by one fiber optic sensor installed inside the tank and the times of arrival to several PZT sensors installed outside the tank (two in front of each phase windings of a three phase transformer for a typical application). The signal processing includes digital denoising techniques and time-difference lookup table-based 3-D location algorithms; these algorithms have been implemented with virtual instrumentation. The system is tested in an acoustic experimental setup and the location accuracy is evaluated. Finally, the error propagation from the times of arrival and the influence of the number of sensors and their sites in the 3-D location algorithm were analyzed.
Effects of abstinence from cigarette smoking on the cardiorespiratory capacity.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 6 or 7 d of abstinence from cigarette smoking on the cardiorespiratory capacity of young men. METHODS The subjects were 11 male volunteers, mean age 20.5 yr. Their mean smoking duration and cigarettes smoked per day were about 3.5 yr and 20.5 cigarettes, respectively. On the first day of the study, the subjects' physical characteristics, pulmonary functions, and maximal oxygen debt predicted by bicycle ergometer exercise were measured. The subjects' heart rate at rest (HRrest), blood pressure, venous blood analysis and maximal oxygen intake (VO2max) in a treadmill exercise test were measured on the second day. From the time of the second-day measurements, the subjects abstained from cigarette smoking. On the eighth and ninth days of the study, the same measurements were taken as the measurements of the first and second days, respectively. RESULTS The changes between before and after abstinence from smoking were as follows. The plasma cotinine had almost disappeared after the 7 d of abstinence from smoking. Pulmonary functions did not show a significant improvement. Although there were no significant changes in the HRrest or systolic or diastolic blood pressure, the pulse pressure was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Although the blood components were not changed significantly, the PO2, O2 saturation, HCO3, and CO2 concentration were significantly increased. The predicted maximal oxygen debt was not significantly decreased. Although the VO2max and maximal ventilation volume were not changed, the exercise time was significantly prolonged (P < 0.001). The heart rate during the treadmill exercise at almost all stages decreased significantly; however, the maximal heart rate did not change. CONCLUSION In conclusion, exercise performance was improved by the 7 d of abstinence from smoking.
The Ubiquitous and Varied Role of Infection in the Lives of Animals and Plants

Parasitic and symbiotic infections are major forces governing the life histories of plant and animal hosts—a fact that is ever more evident because of recent findings emanating from diverse subdisciplines of biology. Yet, infectious organisms have been relatively little investigated by biologists who study natural populations. Now that new molecular and computational tools allow us to differentiate and track microscopic infectious agents in nature, we are beginning to establish a better appreciation of their effects on larger, more familiar organisms. This special issue on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of infection for plants and animals is based on the annual Vice Presidential Symposium at the meeting of the American Society of Naturalists held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the summer of 2001.