Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling and interpreting the isotopic composition of water vapour in convective updrafts

Abstract. The isotopic compositions of water vapour and its condensates have long been used as tracers of the global hydrological cycle, but may also be useful for understanding processes within individual convective clouds. We review here the representation of processes that alter water isotopic compositions during processing of air in convective updrafts and present a unified model for water vapour isotopic evolution within undiluted deep convective cores, with a special focus on the out-of-equilibrium conditions of mixed-phase zones where metastable liquid water and ice coexist. We use our model to show that a combination of water isotopologue measurements can constrain critical convective parameters, including degree of supersaturation, supercooled water content and glaciation temperature. Important isotopic processes in updrafts include kinetic effects that are a consequence of diffusive growth or decay of cloud particles within a supersaturated or subsaturated environment; isotopic re-equilibration between vapour and supercooled droplets, which buffers isotopic distillation; and differing mechanisms of glaciation (droplet freezing vs. the Wegener–Bergeron–Findeisen process). As all of these processes are related to updraft strength, particle size distribution and the retention of supercooled water, isotopic measurements can serve as a probe of in-cloud conditions of importance to convective processes. We study the sensitivity of the profile of water vapour isotopic composition to differing model assumptions and show how measurements of isotopic composition at cloud base and cloud top alone may be sufficient to retrieve key cloud parameters.
Single-Stage Single-Switch High-Power-Factor Boost-Forward Converter with FM and PWM Composite Control

This paper presents the single-stage boost-forward converter with pulse-width modulation and frequency modulation composite control. The feature of this composite control is the ripple of output voltage can be reduced by pulse-width modulation and the harmonic of input current can also be reduced by frequency modulation. Therefore, the higher efficiency of system is achieved. In this way, the pulse-width and frequency modulation are mainly controlled by the feedback voltage and the larger variation of duty-cycle would be improved when input current is changed and input voltage is dropped to low voltage level. In result, the ripple of output voltage and the harmonic of input current would be reduced. The experiment is carried out to verify this composite control method by compare to the single-stage high-power-factor boost-forward converter with single modulation control.
Leadership and culture of data governance for the achievement of higher education goals (Case study: Indonesia University of Education)

Data is a vital asset in a business enterprise in achieving organizational goals. Data and information affect the decision-making process on the various activities of an organization. Data problems include validity, quality, duplication, control over data, and the difficulty of data availability.Data Governance is the way the company / institution manages its data assets. Data Governance covers the rules, policies, procedures, roles and responsibilities, and performance indicators that direct the overall management of data assets. Studies on governance data or information aplenty recommend the importance of cultural factors in the governance of research data. Among the organization’s leadership culture has a very close relationship, and there are two concepts turn, namely: Culture created by leaders, leaders created by culture.Based on the above, this study exposure to the theme “Leadership and Culture Of Data Governance For The Achievement Of Higher Education Goals (Case Study: Indonesia University Of Ed.
The Role of Vision in the Perception of Speech

The ability of hearing adolescents to use speech-read information in order to report lists of CVC words presented in white noise was investigated. The conditions of stimulus presentation included were auditory and visual information in synchrony, out of synchrony, auditory input alone, visual input alone, and a condition where the information presented in the auditory input conflicted with the visual input. The results indicated that the amount and type of information reported varied according to the condition of presentation, and that vision provided a complementary source of information for the perception of speech.
Failure to insert a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: a survey based on self-reports by Israeli gynecologists.

BACKGROUND The insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) requires experience and is associated with a low failure rate. OBJECTIVES To assess the reasons given by gynecologists why they failed to insert a LNG-IUS. METHODS We obtained data from the sole distributor in Israel that prospectively recorded these cases when contacted by gynecologists following an insertion failure. RESULTS The mean rate of failed insertions was 0.95% (range 0.77-1.03%) for the 5 year study period 2006-2010. The most common reasons reported by gynecologists for LNG-IUS insertion failure were loss of sterility of the device, inability to insert the device due to a stenotic cervical canal, accidental removal of the device following a successful insertion due to hasty removal of the inserter or the use of blunt scissors, and removal of the newly inserted LNG-IUS following ultrasound evidence that it was misplaced. CONCLUSIONS Gynecologists should be aware of the common pitfalls associated with insertion of an LNG-IUS. Several techniques that may aid in avoiding these mishaps are described.
Tyrosine kinase and phosphatase regulation of slow delayed‐rectifier K+ current in guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes

The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of the cardiac slowly activating delayed‐rectifier K+ current (IKs) that is important for action potential repolarization. Constitutive IKs recorded from guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes was suppressed by broad‐spectrum tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors tyrphostin A23 (IC50, 4.1 ± 0.6 μm), tyrphostin A25 (IC50, 12.1 ± 2.1 μm) and genistein (IC50, 64 ± 4 μm), but was relatively insensitive to the inactive analogues tyrphostin A1, tyrphostin A63, daidzein and genistin. IKs was unaffected by AG1478 (10 μm), an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor TK, and was strongly suppressed by the Src TK inhibitor PP2 (10 μm) but not by the inactive analogue PP3 (10 μm). The results of experiments with forskolin, H89 and bisindolylmaleimide I indicate that the suppression of IKs by TK inhibitors was not mediated via inhibition of (IKs‐stimulatory) protein kinases A and C. To evaluate whether the suppression was related to lowered tyrosine phosphorylation, myocytes were pretreated with TK inhibitors and then exposed to the phosphotyrosyl phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate (1 mm). Orthovanadate almost completely reversed the suppression of IKs induced by broad‐spectrum TK inhibitors at concentrations around their IC50 values. We conclude that basal IKs is strongly dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation of Ks channel (or channel‐regulatory) protein.
Parent-Reported Executive Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents with Chiari Malformation Type 1

Background: Children with Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) have increasingly presented to neurosurgery clinics. Limited research relating to the cognitive dysfunction experienced by this population has been completed. In adults, inhibition problems and executive dysfunction have been documented. Methods: Seventy-seven parental reports of children with CM1 were included in the study. Parents completed questions on a scale rating daily executive functioning as well as reporting on common neurological symptoms. Results: The sample consisted of 41 males and 36 females with a mean age of 133.57 ± 42.18 months. Thirty-eight subjects had had decompression surgery. The most common neurological symptoms included: headache (69%), a history of pain (31%) and gait disturbance (20%). One third of the sample demonstrated overall executive functioning impairment, with working memory elevations being most prevalent (44%). Depression, gender, age and decompression surgery were not related to executive dysfunction. Conclusions: The parental report of executive dysfunction in children with CM1 was higher than the standardized healthy sample. Metacognitive problems, especially working memory and initiation problems were most prevalent. A quick parental rating scale identifying children with executive dysfunction may be beneficial for neurosurgeons and assist with referrals for a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment.
Changing sensitivity to cell death during development of retinal photoreceptors

Photoreceptor cell death occurs during both normal and pathological retinal development. We tested for selective induction and blockade of cell death in either retinal photoreceptors or their precursors. Organotypical retinal explants from rats at postnatal days 3–11 were treated in vitro for 24 hr with thapsigargin, okadaic acid, etoposide, anisomycin, or forskolin. Explant sections were examined for cell death, and identification of either photoreceptors or proliferating/immediate postmitotic cells followed imunohistochemistry for either rhodopsin or bromodeoxyuridine and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively. Photoreceptor cell death was selectively induced by either thapsigargin or okadaic acid, whereas death of proliferating/immediate postmitotic cells was induced by etoposide. Prelabeling of proliferating precursors allowed direct demonstration of changing sensitivity of photoreceptors to various chemicals. Degeneration of both photoreceptors and proliferating/immediate postmitotic cells depended on protein synthesis. Increase of intracellular cyclic AMP blocked degeneration of postmitotic, but not of proliferating, photoreceptor precursors. The selective induction and blockade of cell death show that developing photoreceptors undergo progressive changes in mechanisms of programmed cell death associated with phenotypic differentiation. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Glucose and cholesterol stabilization in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with depressive and anxiety symptoms by problem-solving therapy in primary care centers in Mexico City

Aim The aim of this study was to determine if the problem-solving therapy (PST) helps control metabolic variables in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who show depressive and anxiety symptoms. Background T2DM is a chronic-degenerative multifactorial disease. It is considered one of the main public health problems in the world, and it represents an important social and economic burden. It is frequently associated with major depression and anxiety disorders, which are related with high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations and poor metabolic control. Method We initially included 123 patients diagnosed with T2DM from five primary care centers (PCC) in Mexico City. HbA1c, central glucose, and lipid profile were measured in each patient. In addition, the Kessler psychological distress scale (K-10), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were applied at the beginning and, to those who continued, at the end of the PST, as well as four months later. Findings In total, 36 patients completed the PST and the follow-up. There was a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms (P<0.001), as well as in total cholesterol (P=0.002), HbA1c (P=0.05), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P=0.022). The PST helps reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms and may help stabilize glucose and cholesterol up to four months. Further studies on this area are recommended. If our findings are confirmed, the PST could help improve the quality of life of thousands of individuals with psychiatric-metabolic co-morbidity who only visit PCC.
A mouse model of aerosol-transmitted orthopoxviral disease: morphology of experimental aerosol-transmitted orthopoxviral disease in a cowpox virus-BALB/c mouse system.

OBJECTIVES To determine the morphologic changes and disease progression of aerosolized cowpox virus infection in BALB/c mice and to ascertain the suitability of cowpox virus-infected BALB/c mice as a model of aerosol-transmitted, orthopoxviral respiratory disease. METHODS BALB/c mice were inoculated with cowpox virus, Brighton strain, by aerosol or intranasal route. Mice were killed at specified times after inoculation, necropsied, and tissues were collected for routine histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. RESULTS Inoculation by both routes resulted in disease and death. Immunolabeled viral antigen and lesions predominated in the tissues associated with the inoculation route, that is, lungs, airways, trachea, and nasal passages and sinuses. Tracheitis was evident in the intranasally infected group only. Lesions were generally necrotizing and hemorrhagic, neutrophilic, and increased in extent and severity in a time-dependent fashion. Viral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, immunolabeled viral antigen, or virions were readily seen in epithelial tissues, smooth muscle cells of airways and vessels, fibroblasts, periosteal cells, perineural cells, and macrophages. Although the extension of infection appeared to be primarily direct, lesions suggesting hematogenous dissemination were occasionally noted in bone marrow and skin. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated features of cell injury or death, virion assembly and maturation, and both A-type and B-type inclusions. CONCLUSIONS Aerosol inoculation of BALB/c mice with cowpox virus provides a reliable and facilitative model of aerosol-transmitted, orthopoxviral respiratory disease.
Natural Polymorphisms in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Protease Can Accelerate Time to Development of Resistance to Protease Inhibitors

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) contains numerous natural polymorphisms in its protease (PR) gene that are implicated in drug resistance in the case of HIV-1. This study evaluated emergent PR resistance in HIV-2. Three HIV-2 isolates were selected for resistance to amprenavir (APV), nelfinavir (NFV), indinavir (IDV), and tipranavir (TPV) in cell culture. Genotypic analysis determined the time to the appearance of protease inhibitor (PI)-associated mutations compared to HIV-1. Phenotypic drug susceptibility assays were used to determine the levels of drug resistance. Within 10 to 15 weeks of serial passage, three major mutations—I54M, I82F, and L90M—arose in HIV-2 viral cultures exposed to APV, NFV, and IDV, whereas I82L was selected with TPV. After 25 weeks, other cultures had developed I50V and I84V mutations. In contrast, no major PI mutations were selected in HIV-1 over this period except for D30N in the context of NFV selective pressure. The baseline phenotypes of wild-type HIV-2 isolates were in the range observed for HIV-1, except for APV and NFV for which a lower degree of sensitivity was seen. The acquisition of the I54M, I84V, L90M, and L99F mutations resulted in multi-PI-resistant viruses, conferring 10-fold to more than 100-fold resistance. Of note, we observed a 62A/99F mutational motif that conferred high-level resistance to PIs, as well as novel secondary mutations, including 6F, 12A, and 21K. Thus, natural polymorphisms in HIV-2 may facilitate the selection of PI resistance. The increasing incidence of such polymorphisms in drug-naive HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected persons is of concern.
A Single Protein Kinase A or Calmodulin Kinase II Site Does Not Control the Cardiac Pacemaker Ca2+ Clock

Background—Fight or flight heart rate (HR) increases depend on protein kinase A (PKA)– and calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII)–mediated enhancement of Ca2+ uptake and release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC). However, the impact of specific PKA and CaMKII phosphorylation sites on HR is unknown. Methods and Results—We systematically evaluated validated PKA and CaMKII target sites on phospholamban and the ryanodine receptor using genetically modified mice. We found that knockin alanine replacement of ryanodine receptor PKA (S2808) or CaMKII (S2814) target sites failed to affect HR responses to isoproterenol or spontaneous activity in vivo or in SANC. Similarly, selective mutation of phospholamban amino acids critical for enhancing SR Ca2+ uptake by PKA (S16) or CaMKII (T17) to alanines did not affect HR in vivo or in SANC. In contrast, CaMKII inhibition by expression of AC3-I has been shown to slow SANC rate responses to isoproterenol and decrease SR Ca2+ content. Phospholamban deficiency rescued SR Ca2+ content and SANC rate responses to isoproterenol in mice with AC3-I expression, suggesting that CaMKII affects HR by modulation of SR Ca2+ content. Consistent with this, mice expressing a superinhibitory phospholamban mutant had low SR Ca2+ content and slow HR in vivo and in SANC. Conclusions—SR Ca2+ depletion reduces HR and SR Ca2+ repletion restores physiological SANC rate responses, despite CaMKII inhibition. PKA and CaMKII do not affect HR by a unique target site governing SR Ca2+ uptake or release. HR acceleration may require an SR Ca2+ content threshold.
Brevican isoforms associate with neural membranes

Brevican is a neural‐specific proteoglycan of the brain extracellular matrix, which is particularly abundant in the terminally differentiated CNS. It is expressed by neuronal and glial cells, and as a component of the perineuronal nets it decorates the surface of large neuronal somata and primary dendrites. One brevican isoform harbors a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment site and, as shown by ethanolamine incorporation studies, is indeed glypiated in stably transfected HEK293 cells as well as in oligodendrocyte precursor Oli‐neu cells. The major isoform is secreted into the extracellular space, although a significant amount appears to be tightly attached to the cell membrane, as it floats up in sucrose gradients. Flotation is sensitive to detergent treatment. Brevican is most prominent in the microsomal, light membrane and synaptosomal fractions of rat brain membrane preparations. The association with the particulate fraction is in part sensitive to chondroitinase ABC and phosphatidylinositol‐specific phospholipase C treatment. Furthermore, brevican staining on the surface of hippocampal neurons in culture is diminished after hyaluronidase or chondroitinase ABC treatment. Taken together, this could provide a mechanism by which perineuronal nets are anchored on neuronal surfaces.
High-precision UWB-based timestamping

The work presented in this paper is related with time synchronization for wireless networks. In particular, it is focused on the proposal and experimental evaluation of a low-cost and high precision timestamping technique based on Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signalling. In recent years, the use of such systems has gained an increasing success thanks to their robustness to interferers and multipath. In this paper a new hybrid wireless node is proposed; a traditional IEEE802.15. 4 radio, the reference physical layer for wireless sensor networks, is supported by an UWB transceiver. The former is used for communication purposes and allows to preserve compatibility with already installed infrastructures/networks; the latter is used for time of arrival estimation. Hardware prototypes have been realized and experimental tests have shown a sub-nanosecond accuracy. A comparison with commercial solutions has shown a performance improvement with respect to conventional approaches.
Reverse vaccinology in the 21st century: improvements over the original design

Reverse vaccinology (RV), the first application of genomic technologies in vaccine research, represented a major revolution in the process of discovering novel vaccines. By determining their entire antigenic repertoire, researchers could identify protective targets and design efficacious vaccines for pathogens where conventional approaches had failed. Bexsero, the first vaccine developed using RV, has recently received positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency. The use of RV initiated a cascade of changes that affected the entire vaccine development process, shifting the focus from the identification of a list of vaccine candidates to the definition of a set of high throughput screens to reduce the need for costly and labor intensive tests in animal models. It is now clear that a deep understanding of the epidemiology of vaccine candidates, and their regulation and role in host‐pathogen interactions, must become an integral component of the screening workflow. Far from being outdated by technological advancements, RV still represents a paradigm of how high‐throughput technologies and scientific insight can be integrated into biotechnology research.
A simple method for the detection of measles virus genome by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)

Approximately 20,000–30,000 measles patients were reported in a surveillance of infectious diseases because of low vaccine coverage of 80% in Japan. Among them, some were thought to be secondary vaccine failure (SVF) with generally mild or non‐typical measles illness and sometimes became a source of further transmission. We have developed a new, sensitive, and rapid method to detect the measles virus genome by reverse transcription loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (RT‐LAMP). We examined 50 nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) samples that were obtained during the 1999 outbreak and stored at −70°C and fresh NPS, lymphocytes and sera from 11 patients in 2003. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and RT‐LAMP. We detected the genomic RNA corresponding to at least 0.01–0.04 TCID50, 30–100 copies in samples by RT‐LAMP within 60 min after extraction of RNA, and all four genotypes isolated in Japan were equally amplified. Specific DNA amplification was monitored spectrophotometrically by real time turbidimeter and the quantity of RNA was calculated. Measles virus genome was detected in 44 of 50 stored NPS by RT‐PCR and in 49 by RT‐LAMP. The vaccine strain was discriminated from wild strains after sequencing the LAMP products. RT‐LAMP is a useful rapid diagnostic method for the detection of measles virus without any special apparatus, showing higher sensitivity than RT‐PCR, and expected to be applied for hospital‐based infection control and for laboratory‐based measles surveillance. J. Med. Virol. 76:406–413, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.