Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of hypocapnia on the sensitivity of hyperthermic hyperventilation and the cerebrovascular response in resting heated humans.

Elevating core temperature at rest causes increases in minute ventilation (V̇e), which lead to reductions in both arterial CO2 partial pressure (hypocapnia) and cerebral blood flow. We tested the hypothesis that in resting heated humans this hypocapnia diminishes the ventilatory sensitivity to rising core temperature but does not explain a large portion of the decrease in cerebral blood flow. Fourteen healthy men were passively heated using hot-water immersion (41°C) combined with a water-perfused suit, which caused esophageal temperature (Tes) to reach 39°C. During heating in two separate trials, end-tidal CO2 partial pressure decreased from the level before heating (39.4 ± 2.0 mmHg) to the end of heating (30.5 ± 6.3 mmHg) ( P = 0.005) in the Control trial. This decrease was prevented by breathing CO2-enriched air throughout the heating such that end-tidal CO2 partial pressure did not differ between the beginning (39.8 ± 1.5 mmHg) and end (40.9 ± 2.7 mmHg) of heating ( P = 1.00). The sensitivity to rising Tes (i.e., slope of the Tes - V̇E relation) did not differ between the Control and CO2-breathing trials (37.1 ± 43.1 vs. 16.5 ± 11.1 l·min-1·°C-1, P = 0.31). In both trials, middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAV) decreased early during heating (all P < 0.01), despite the absence of hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia. CO2 breathing increased MCAV relative to Control at the end of heating ( P = 0.005) and explained 36.6% of the heat-induced reduction in MCAV. These results indicate that during passive heating at rest ventilatory sensitivity to rising core temperature is not suppressed by hypocapnia and that most of the decrease in cerebral blood flow occurs independently of hypocapnia. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hyperthermia causes hyperventilation and concomitant hypocapnia and cerebral hypoperfusion. The last may underlie central fatigue. We are the first to demonstrate that hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation is not suppressed by the resultant hypocapnia and that hypocapnia explains only 36% of cerebral hypoperfusion elicited by hyperthermia. These new findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms controlling ventilation and cerebral blood flow during heat stress, which may be useful for developing interventions aimed at preventing central fatigue during hyperthermia.
Chromatin remodeling in the aging genome of Drosophila

Chromatin structure affects the accessibility of DNA to transcription, repair, and replication. Changes in chromatin structure occur during development, but less is known about changes during aging. We examined the state of chromatin structure and its effect on gene expression during aging in Drosophila at the whole genome and cellular level using whole‐genome tiling microarrays of activation and repressive chromatin marks, whole‐genome transcriptional microarrays and single‐cell immunohistochemistry. We found dramatic reorganization of chromosomal regions with age. Mapping of H3K9me3 and HP1 signals to fly chromosomes reveals in young flies the expected high enrichment in the pericentric regions, the 4th chromosome, and islands of facultative heterochromatin dispersed throughout the genome. With age, there is a striking reduction in this enrichment resulting in a nearly equivalent level of H3K9me3 and HP1 in the pericentric regions, the 4th chromosome, facultative heterochromatin, and euchromatin. These extensive changes in repressive chromatin marks are associated with alterations in age‐related gene expression. Large‐scale changes in repressive marks with age are further substantiated by single‐cell immunohistochemistry that shows changes in nuclear distribution of H3K9me3 and HP1 marks with age. Such epigenetic changes are expected to directly or indirectly impinge upon important cellular functions such as gene expression, DNA repair, and DNA replication. The combination of genome‐wide approaches such as whole‐genome chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcriptional studies in conjunction with single‐cell immunohistochemistry as shown here provide a first step toward defining how changes in chromatin may contribute to the process of aging in metazoans.
Decision making in the management of benign prostatic enlargement and the role of transabdominal ultrasound

Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is a common disease affecting elderly men. It can present clinically in many ways including, but not exclusively, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and acute urinary retention (AUR). Therefore, in managing men with BPE, a correct diagnosis in the outpatient setting is important. Diagnosis of BPE in the clinic can be aided by simple, non‐invasive, transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS). In our practice, a normal prostate is generally defined as less than 20 mL, and shows no intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) to distort the normal funneling bladder neck on TAUS, with a maximum flow rate of more than 15 mL/s. The degree of IPP can be measured non‐invasively in the midsagittal plane, and can be graded accordingly. Studies have shown that the grade of IPP correlates well with the degree of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). In addition, TAUS can also be used to measure prostate volume (PV) and post‐void residual urine (PVR). There is a good correlation between IPP and PV, but IPP is a better predictor for BOO. Patients with low‐grade IPP, no significant PVR (<100 mL) and no bothersome symptoms (low stage) can generally be watched; whereas those with high‐grade IPP, significant PVR (>100 mL) and bothersome symptoms (higher stage) will need more aggressive management. The final decision for management can then be tailored and individualized to achieve cost‐effectiveness.
Determinants of fat oxidation during exercise in healthy men and women: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of the present study was to establish fat oxidation rates over a range of exercise intensities in a large group of healthy men and women. It was hypothesised that exercise intensity is of primary importance to the regulation of fat oxidation and that gender, body composition, physical activity level, and training status are secondary and can explain part of the observed interindividual variation. For this purpose, 300 healthy men and women (157 men and 143 women) performed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill [adapted from a previous protocol (Achten J, Venables MC, and Jeukendrup AE. Metabolism 52: 747-752, 2003)]. Substrate oxidation was determined using indirect calorimetry. For each individual, maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and the intensity at which MFO occurred (Fat(max)) were determined. On average, MFO was 7.8 +/- 0.13 mg.kg fat-free mass (FFM)(-1). min(-1) and occurred at 48.3 +/- 0.9% maximal oxygen uptake (Vo(2 max)), equivalent to 61.5 +/- 0.6% maximal heart rate. MFO (7.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 8.3 +/- 0.2 mg.kg.FFM(-1). min(-1); P < 0.01) and Fat(max) (45 +/- 1 vs. 52 +/- 1% Vo(2 max); P < 0.01) were significantly lower in men compared with women. When corrected for FFM, MFO was predicted by physical activity (self-reported physical activity level), Vo(2 max), and gender (R(2) = 0.12) but not with fat mass. Men compared with women had lower rates of fat oxidation and an earlier shift to using carbohydrate as the dominant fuel. Physical activity, Vo(2 max), and gender explained only 12% of the interindividual variation in MFO during exercise, whereas body fatness was not a predictor. The interindividual variation in fat oxidation remains largely unexplained.
A hybrid intelligent system combining self organizing maps and case based reasoning for evaluating postural control

Evaluating performance is crucial in stability assessments and training as it provides a valuable measure to examine postural control and recommend rehabilitation strategies for improvement. This paper proposes a novel methodology combining self organizing maps and case based reasoning implemented using a relational database management system to access, examine, diagnose and propose recommendations for improving trunk postural control. A self organizing map was developed to classify the input dataset gathered during a tandem Romberg stability test which behaved as the knowledgebase of the system. Case based reasoning was incorporated based on its ability to solve new problems by adopting previously defined, successful solutions to analogous problems. The case based reasoning architecture was implemented using a relational database with the self organizing map integrated to retrieve analogous case records to solve a new case. The prediction accuracy of the hybrid system to accurately produce the most similar case for a given new case was tested using leave-one-out-cross-validation method. The results demonstrated a high prediction accuracy of over 90% confirming the effectiveness of the hybrid methodology for evaluating and predicting recommendations for performance improvement based on existing knowledgebase for postural control.
Dynamics Change of Phoborhodopsin and Transducer by Activation: Study Using D75N Mutant of the Receptor by Site‐directed Solid‐state 13C NMR †

Pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR or sensory rhodopsin II) is a negative phototaxis receptor of Natronomonas pharaonis, and forms a complex, which transmits the photosignal into cytoplasm, with its cognate transducer (pHtrII). We examined a possible local dynamics change of ppR and its D75N mutant complexed with pHtrII, using solid‐state 13C NMR of [3‐13C]Ala‐ and [1‐13C]Val‐labeled preparations. We distinguished Ala Cβ13C signals of relatively static stem (Ala221) in the C‐terminus of the receptors from those of flexible tip (Ala228, 234, 236 and 238), utilizing a mutant with truncated C‐terminus. The local fluctuation frequency at the C‐terminal tip was appreciably decreased when ppR was bound to pHtrII, while it was increased when D75N, that mimics the signaling state because of disrupted salt bridge between C and G helices prerequisite for the signal transfer, was bound to pHtrII. This signal change may be considered with the larger dissociation constant of the complex between pHtrII and M‐state of ppR. At the same time, it turned out that fluctuation frequency of cytoplasmic portion of pHtrII is lowered when ppR is replaced by D75N in the complex with pHtrII. This means that the C‐terminal tip partly participates in binding with the linker region of pHtrII in the dark, but this portion might be released at the signaling state leading to mutual association of the two transducers in the cytoplasmic regions within the ppR/pHtrII complex.
Towards Decentralized Fault Detection in UAV Formations

A decentralized fault detection (DFD) scheme warranting mission integrity for leader-to-follower formations of almost-lighter-than-air vehicles (ALTAVs) is proposed. Such DFD allows compensating for concurrent communication network and component-level faults that may significantly impact mission integrity despite the presence of on-board fault detection, isolation and recovery for actuator and sensor faults. The formation of unmanned ALTAVs is beforehand stabilized by a distributed formation guidance scheme that uses neighboring vehicle information. Each ALTAV is equipped with an observer based on simplified models of the neighboring ALTAVs. The observer and the guidance law use the same local information. Residues associated with neighboring vehicle states carry the information as to their normal or abnormal flight conditions, thereby determining whether or not there is a fault in the neighboring vehicles. The observer design is formulated as a mixed H2/Hinfin controller synthesis compensating for exogenous disturbance estimates and accounting for noisy measurements. The minimum detectable fault and the associated threshold are shown to be increasing functions of the relative distance between the formation leader and the follower vehicle at hand, which means that the value of the threshold may vary from one follower to another depending on its relative distance from the leader. Simulations based on high-fidelity nonlinear 6DOF ALTAV models show that the proposed team-level DFD scheme combined with a simple guidance adaptation technique enable quick hard fault/failure detection while preserving leader-to-follower formation geometry requirements.
Results of a standardised regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Bangladesh.

SETTING Individualised regimens based on drug susceptibility test results, generally used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), require often unavailable expertise and resources. OBJECTIVE To evaluate a standardised regimen based on the susceptibility profiles of locally prevalent MDR-TB strains. DESIGN The activities of a successful DOTS programme in Bangladesh were complemented by offering treatment with a standardised 21-month regimen to patients with laboratory-confirmed MDR-TB disease. The regimen contained kanamycin, ofloxacin, prothionamide, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, isoniazid and clofazimine. Clinical and bacteriological progress was monitored quarterly until treatment completion, then 6 monthly for 2 years. RESULTS The status at the end of treatment of this cohort of 58 documented MDR-TB patients was as follows: eight (14%) deaths, seven (12%) defaults, three (5%) failures and 40 (69%) cures. One bacteriologically-confirmed relapse was recognised. Frequent and sometimes serious side effects proved to be the main problem, suggesting the need for a better tolerated but equally effective regimen. CONCLUSION A standardised approach may provide a reasonable alternative to individualised treatment of MDR-TB in resource-poor settings. However, DOTS-plus programmes in resource-poor settings may confront significant difficulties in the enrolment, diagnosis and management of MDR-TB patients.
Effect of L-carnitin on Cadmium Induced Toxicity in Rat Embryo Hippocampus

Cadmium is a toxic metal which is widely used in industry. This metal exerts toxic effects on multiple organs, including nervous system. The aim of this study have been evaluated the effect of cadmium on weight and development of hippocampus in Wistar rat embryos and then determining if L-carnitin, as an antioxidant, could protect hippocampus from the toxic effects. Female Wistar rats (250-300 g) were used in this study. 24 hours after mating with male rats, the females were separated and their vaginal smears were obtained for sperm detection. This day was considered as embryonic zero day. The females were divided into three groups: Control group which received no injection, Experimental groups which received 1mg/kg B.W cadmium or 1mg/kg B.W cadmium + 500mg/kg B.W L-carnitin in days 7 and 10 of gestation. On day 17 of gestation, the animals were sacrificed by chloroform over dose and their embryos were removed surgically. The embryos were fixed in formalin 10% for 30 days. Then weight of embryos was measured and tissue processing, sectioning and hematoxylin-eosin (H&M) staining were done. Some sections of hippocampus were evaluated using light microscope and MOTIC software. The weights of embryos were significantly decreased in experimental groups. This decrease was significantly greater in the first experimental group. The number of cells and thickness of hippocampus layers were decreased significantly just in the first group. These findings indicate that cadmium has teratogenic effects on embryo’s weight and development of hippocampus and at least a part of these effects may be inhibited by L-carnitin.
Linear Quadratic Integral control of an Organic Rankine Cycle for waste heat recovery in heavy-duty diesel powertrain

This paper presents controller designs for a nonlinear Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) model used for transient waste heat recovery (WHR) in heavy-duty diesel powertrain. The ORC's heat exchangers are described by Moving Boundary models based on energy and mass conservation principles. The control-oriented, dynamic heat exchanger models are connected to static expander and pump models that are coupled to the engine crankshaft. The controllers in this paper are designed to regulate evaporating and condensing pressures in the presence of engine transient disturbances (heat sources and crankshaft speed) generated from a driving cycle. The Proportional Integral (PI) and Linear Quadratic Integral (LQI) controllers are designed and compared for different actuator configurations. The controllers are designed on a linearized ORC model, but are applied on the nonlinear model. Simulations show that both the PI and LQI controllers cannot meet pressure setpoints under the 2-actuator configuration. The 3-actuator configuration improved ORC controllability and allowed the LQI controller to regulate to the pressure setpoints. The results show benefits of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) LQI control over single-input single-output (SISO) PI control for the nonlinear ORC in the presence of automotive transient disturbances.
Pharmacologic induction of fetal lung maturity.

The consequences of a preterm birth are usually not secondary to a developmental abnormality but rather due to the immaturity of one or more organ systems. Because neonatal RDS is the most common and the most severe complication of a preterm delivery, a major emphasis has been placed on its prevention and/or treatment. Despite intensive research efforts directed at preventing or inhibiting preterm labor, to date there is no universally effective method that can be used in most patients. As a result, preterm birth will continue to occur and continue to challenge the health care provider. Several medications and hormones have been shown to stimulate endogenous surfactant production in the fetus. Their administration to women at risk of delivering preterm can decrease both the incidence and severity of neonatal RDS. The primary limiting factor with most agents is the need to delay birth for 48 to 72 hours to achieve maximum therapeutic effect. This mandates the obstetric health care provider not only identify parturients who will deliver preterm but also manage their intrapartum course to achieve maximum value from these pharmacologic agents. Lastly, in those patients in whom labor can be neither inhibited nor safely delayed, exogenous surfactant therapy offers real hope particularly to the very low birth weight baby. To obtain maximum benefit in the very premature infant, i.e., less than 30 weeks' gestation, therapy ideally should begin immediately after birth and before the first breath. However, to offer such therapy, patients need to be identified during the intrapartum period. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Wideband, Dual-Path, Millimeter-Wave Power Amplifier With 20 dBm Output Power and PAE Above 15% in 130 nm SiGe-BiCMOS

A frequency-scalable, three-stage, transformer-coupled millimeter-wave power amplifier (PA) is implemented in 130 nm SiGe-BiCMOS. Differential common-base gain stages extend collector-emitter breakdown voltage beyond 3 V, while collector-emitter neutralization increases reverse isolation and stability. Monolithic self-shielded transformers designed for low insertion loss and compact dimensions on-chip include: a 2:4 input power splitter, a 4:1 output balun combiner and inter-stage coupling transformers. The balun combiner and fully-differential splitter are compensated for imbalances caused by parasitic interwinding capacitance, and simulations predict better than 3% uniformity between reflected port-to-port impedances at 60 GHz. Simulated impedance uniformity is within 6% from 55-65 GHz, and insertion loss of the 0.015 mm2 combiner prototypes at 60 GHz is below 1 dB. The 0.72 mm2 60 GHz-band PA realizes a measured peak small-signal gain higher than 20 dB with over 10 GHz 3 dB bandwidth. Reverse isolation is better than 51 dB from 50-65 GHz and the PA is unconditionally stable. It consumes 353 mW (quiescent) from a 1.8 V supply and the active area is 0.25 mm2. Maximum output power and peak power-added efficiency (PAE) are 20.1 dBm and 18% at 62 GHz, respectively. An up-banded 79-87.5 GHz PA is also implemented to verify frequency scalability of the design. The 0.23 mm2 active area 79 GHz PA prototype produces 18 dBm saturated output power and 9% peak-PAE at 84 GHz from a 2.5 V supply.
Voltage‐dependent ion channels in glial cells

Glial cells, although non‐excitable, express a wealth of voltage‐activated ion channels that are typically characteristic of excitable cells. Since these channels are also observed in acutely isolated cells and in brain slices, they have to be considered functional in the intact brain. Numerous studies over the past 10 years have yielded detailed characterizations of glial channels permitting comparison of their properties to those of their neuronal counterparts. While for the most part such comparisons have demonstrated a high degree of similarity, they also provide evidence for the expression of some uniquely glial ion channels. An increasing number of studies indicate that the expression of “glial” channels is influenced by the cells' microenvironment. For example, the presence of neurons can induce or inhibit (depending on the preparation and type of channel studied) the expression of glial ion channels. Like ion channels in excitable cells, glial channels can be functionally regulated by activation of second‐messenger pathways, allowing for short‐term modulation of their membrane properties. Although the extent to which most of the characterized ion channels are involved in glial function is presently unclear, a growing body of data suggests that certain channels play an active role in glial function. Thus inwardly rectifying K+ channels in concert with delayed rectifying K+ channels are thought to be involved in the removal and redistribution of excess K+ in the brain, a process referred to as “spatial buffering. ” Glial K+ channels may also be crucial in modulating glial proliferation. Cl− channels and stretch‐activated cation channels are believed to be involved in volume regulation. Na+ channels appear to be important in fueling the glial Na+/K+ ‐pump, and Ca2+ channels are likely involved in numerous cellular events in which intracellular Ca2+ is a critical second messenger. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of blood flow in the microcirculation: role of conducted vasodilation

This review is concerned with understanding how vasodilation initiated from local sites in the tissue can spread to encompass multiple branches of the resistance vasculature. Within tissues, arteriolar networks control the distribution and magnitude of capillary perfusion. Vasodilation arising from the microcirculation can ‘ascend’ into feed arteries that control blood flow into arteriolar networks. Thus distal segments of the resistance network signal proximal segments to dilate and thereby increase total oxygen supply to parenchymal cells. August Krogh proposed that innervation of capillaries provided the mechanism for a spreading vasodilatory response. With greater understanding of the ultrastructural organization of resistance networks, an alternative explanation has emerged: Electrical signalling from cell to cell along the vessel wall through gap junctions. Hyperpolarization originates from ion channel activation at the site of stimulation with the endothelium serving as the predominant cellular pathway for signal conduction along the vessel wall. As hyperpolarization travels, it is transmitted into surrounding smooth muscle cells through myoendothelial coupling to promote relaxation. Conducted vasodilation (CVD) encompasses greater distances than can be explained by passive decay and understanding such behaviour is the focus of current research efforts. In the context of athletic performance, the ability of vasodilation to ascend into feed arteries is essential to achieving peak levels of muscle blood flow. CVD is tempered by sympathetic neuroeffector signalling when governing muscle blood flow at rest and during exercise. Impairment of conduction during ageing and in diseased states can limit physical work capacity by restricting muscle blood flow.