Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maximum velocity of shortening related to myosin isoform composition in frog skeletal muscle fibres.

1. The velocity of unloaded shortening (V0), the myofibrillar ATPase activity and the immunoreactivity to two monoclonal antibodies (A1 and A2) that were raised against the myosin heavy chains were studied in single fibres of the anterior tibialis muscle of Rana temporaria. V0 was recorded for the fibre as a whole using the slack‐test method. Myofibrillar ATPase activity was determined by means of a quantitative histochemical technique. 2. A highly significant, direct relationship was found to exist between V0 and the myofibrillar ATPase activity recorded in the same single fibres. Both V0 and the myofibrillar ATPase activity changed in proportion to the cross‐sectional area of the fibres. 3. Muscle fibres that had first been characterized with respect to V0 and myofibrillar ATPase activity were exposed to monoclonal antibodies A1 and A2. Thin fibres, having relatively low V0 and low myofibrillar ATPase activity, reacted preferentially with A1. Thick fibres, on the other hand, exhibiting relatively high V0 and high myofibrillar ATPase activity, were preferentially stained by A2. A third category of fibres reacted with both A1 and A2. The results support the view that the variability in shortening velocity and myofibrillar ATPase activity that exists among twitch fibres in frog skeletal muscle is based on differences in myosin heavy‐chain composition. 4. Attempts were made to elucidate further the previous observation (Edman, Reggiani & te Kronnie, 1985) that the velocity of unloaded shortening (V0) differs along the length of individual muscle fibres. To this end discrete segments (0.5‐0.7 mm in length) of intact fibres were delineated by opaque markers of hair that were placed on the fibre surface. The change in length between two adjacent markers (one segment) was recorded photo‐electrically while the fibre was released to shorten against a very small load between 2.2 and 2.0 micron sarcomere lengths. In the majority of fibres (eight out of eleven preparations), V0 and myofibrillar ATPase activity exhibited similar patterns of variation along the fibre. Pooled data from thirty‐three segments of twelve fibres showed a positive correlation between V0 and myofibrillar ATPase activity (P less than 0.05). 5. The possibility was explored that the myosin isoform composition might vary along the length of an individual muscle fibre. For this purpose bundles of fibres were cross‐sectioned at 0.5‐1 mm intervals along their entire length and the reactivity to monoclonal antibody A2 was tested at each location. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
NÃO LINEARIDADE NOS CICLOS DE NEGÓCIOS: MODELO AUTO-REGRESSIVO “SMOOTH TRANSITION” PARA O ÍNDICE GERAL DE PRODUÇÃO INDUSTRIAL BRASILEIRO E BENS DE CAPITAL

Os ciclos de negocios sao uma das principais linhas de pesquisa da macroeconomia largamente debatida ao longo de todo seculo XX. Devido a questoes deixadas em aberto nas teorias convencionais, nos ultimos 20 anos, alguns economistas tem proposto analisar os ciclos de negocios sob o enfoque dos modelos nao lineares. Essa perspectiva pressupoe um comportamento assimetrico das flutuacoes, em geral, ligadas a existencia de uma dinâmica endogena de transicao entre regimes, distintos entre si. Este trabalho se propoe justamente a levar em consideracao essa nao linearidade por meio da estimacao do modelo STAR (Smooth Transition Autoregressive) para o indice geral de producao industrial e de bens de capital. Alem do mais, e realizado o teste de deteccao de outlier com a finalidade de se distinguir o que sao caracteristicas nao lineares da serie e Additive Outliers (AO). E tal distincao possibilita o modelo STAR incorporar somente as assimetrias endogenas da dinâmica da producao industrial. Os resultados sao interpretados por meio do calculo das raizes caracteristicas, obtidas pelos valores dos coeficientes da estimativa de cada uma das fases do modelo, assim como, pela simulacao da parte deterministica do modelo, para assim verificar se o sistema possui um ponto limite, ciclo limite ou uma trajetoria caotica.
Analysis of TPC-DS: the first standard benchmark for SQL-based big data systems

The advent of Web 2.0 companies, such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon with their insatiable appetite for vast amounts of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, triggered the development of Hadoop and related tools, e.g., YARN, MapReduce, and Pig, as well as NoSQL databases. These tools form an open source software stack to support the processing of large and diverse data sets on clustered systems to perform decision support tasks. Recently, SQL is resurrecting in many of these solutions, e.g., Hive, Stinger, Impala, Shark, and Presto. At the same time, RDBMS vendors are adding Hadoop support into their SQL engines, e.g., IBM's Big SQL, Actian's Vortex, Oracle's Big Data SQL, and SAP's HANA. Because there was no industry standard benchmark that could measure the performance of SQL-based big data solutions, marketing claims were mostly based on "cherry picked" subsets of the TPC-DS benchmark to suit individual companies strengths, while blending out their weaknesses. In this paper, we present and analyze our work on modifying TPC-DS to fill the void for an industry standard benchmark that is able to measure the performance of SQL-based big data solutions. The new benchmark was ratified by the TPC in early 2016. To show the significance of the new benchmark, we analyze performance data obtained on four different systems running big data, traditional RDBMS, and columnar in-memory architectures.
CXC CHEMOKINE SUPPRESSION OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES APOPTOSIS AND PRESERVATION OF FUNCTION IS OXIDATIVE STRESS INDEPENDENT

ABSTRACT Interleukin 8 (IL‐8) and growth‐related oncogene alpha (Gro‐a) delay neutrophil apoptosis, which is thought to be important for the resolution of inflammation. We hypothesized that (IL‐8) and Gro‐a interfere with extracellular death receptor signaling or intracellular caspase activation to suppress neutrophil apoptosis. In addition, we sought to determine if prolonged neutrophil half‐life was associated with preservation of function. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were cultured with IL‐8 or Gro‐a (0–100 ng/mL) in normoxia or hypoxia, and the extent of apoptosis was assessed by histology and TdT‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Subsequently, to determine the role of apoptotic‐associated receptors, PMN were cultured with IL‐8 and neutralizing monoclonal antibody to Fas (CD95), TNFR55, and TNFR75. To establish the effect of IL‐8 or Gro‐&agr; on pro‐apoptotic caspase activity, the cleavage of specific colorimetric substrates was assessed. Functional changes in PMN included the capacity to produce superoxide anion and phagocytosis of Escherichia coli. At the 100 ng/mL dose, the addition of IL‐8 and Gro‐&agr; maximally suppressed PMN apoptosis from 54% (untreated) to 5% and 6%, respectively. The addition of neutralizing antibodies to Fas, TNFR55, or R75 caused no change in IL‐8 suppression of apoptosis. Caspase 3 activity was markedly suppressed at 24 h by the inclusion of either IL‐8 and Gro‐a. IL‐8 and Gro‐a‐stimulated PMN released more superoxide anion and had an increased phagocytic index vs. control PMN. IL‐8 and Gro‐&agr; suppress neutrophil apoptosis to a similar level that is not influenced by oxygen tension at high doses. The effect of IL‐8 and Gro‐a does not depend on activation of the Fas, TNFR55, or R75 receptor pathways but involves suppression of caspase 3 activity. IL‐8 or Gro‐&agr; extends the functional half‐life of neutrophils and may explain their role in disease states such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Genetic Conversion of a Fungal Plant Pathogen to a Nonpathogenic, Endophytic Mutualist

The filamentous fungal ascomycete Colletotrichum magna causes anthracnose in cucurbit plants. Isolation of a nonpathogenic mutant of this species (path-1) resulted in maintained wild-type levels of in vitro sporulation, spore adhesion, appressorial formation, and infection. Path-1 grew throughout host tissues as an endophyte and retained the wild-type host range, which indicates that the genetics involved in pathogenicity and host specificity are distinct. Prior infection with path-1 protected plants from disease caused by Colletotrichum and Fusarium.Genetic analysis of a cross between path-1 and wild-type strains indicated mutation of a single locus.
Extreme THz nonlinearities in bulk and nanostructured semiconductors

Phase-locked electromagnetic transients in the terahertz (THz) spectral domain have become a unique contact-free probe of the femtosecond dynamics of low-energy excitations in semiconductors. Access to their nonlinear response, however, has been limited by a shortage of sufficiently intense THz emitters. Here we introduce a novel high-field source for THz transients featuring peak amplitudes of up to 108 MV/cm. This facility allows us to explore the non-perturbative response of semiconductors to intense fields tailored with sub-cycle precision. In a first experiment intense transients drive Rabi-oscillations between excitonic states in Cu2O, implying exciting perspectives for future THz quantum optics. At electric fields beyond 10 MV/cm, we observe the breakdown of the power expansion of the nonlinear polarization in bulk semiconductors. Furthermore, we employ the intense magnetic field components of our transients to coherently control spin waves in antiferromagnetically ordered solids. Finally, intersubband cavity polaritons in semiconductor microcavities are exploited to push light-matter coupling to an unprecedented ultrastrong and sub-cycle regime.
The Late Effects Clinic in action: For survivors of childhood malignancy

Background. Long-term survivors of childhood malignancy are a newly emergent patient group with a unique but wide range of survivorship issues. There are rising demands for long-term, medical follow-up and social support for this potentially vulnerable group. These demands stem from improving survival rates and the progressively increasing incidence of late physical, psychological and social sequelae. Case-studies and Discussion. The ideal method to facilitate this long-term follow-up is unclear, and faces the problems of health-care system limitations coupled with the paucity of outcomes-based research to guide evidence-based, clinical practice. We discuss how the Late Effects Clinic operates in our institution: optimising the involvement of the multi-disciplinary medical and allied health care teams to meet the physical and psychological needs of long-term survivors, and to assist with the social issues surrounding survivorship. This model involves a co-operative team approach, thereby alleviating the sole responsibility from general practitioners or individual physicians with a restricted realm of expertise. We present three case reports illustrating the value of a formal late effects follow-up programme, and demonstrating the integration of the Late Effects Clinic into medical practice.
Editor’s Highlight: Spatiotemporal Progression and Remission of Lesions in the Rat Brain Following Acute Intoxication With Diisopropylfluorophosphate

Similar to organophosphate (OP) nerve agents, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) rapidly and irreversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase, leading to convulsions that can progress to status epilepticus (SE). However, in contrast to the OP nerve agents, the long-term consequences of DFP-induced SE are not well known. Thus, we characterized the spatiotemporal profile of neuropathology during the first 2 months following acute DFP intoxication. Adult, male Sprague Dawley rats administered pyridostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg, im) 30 min prior to successive administration of DFP (4 mg/kg, sc), atropine sulfate (2 mg/kg, im), and 2-pralidoxime (25 mg/kg, im), exhibited moderate-to-severe seizure behavior, yet survived until euthanized at 0.5 to 60 days post exposure. Analyses of brains and hearts stained with hematoxylin-eosin, or of brains immunostained for neuronal nuclei (NeuN), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or ionized binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1), revealed progressive neuronal cell death, neuroinflammation, and tissue remodeling across limbic brain regions and the cerebral cortex, with no detectable pathology in the cerebellum or the heart. The lesion type and progression varied according to brain region and time after exposure. Across multiple brain regions, neuronal necrosis peaked after the first week, and neuroinflammation persisted at least 2 months after intoxication. Notably, mineralization was observed at later times in the thalamus, and to a more limited extent, in the hippocampus. Lesion severity was influenced by the initial seizure severity, and spontaneous recurrent seizures were associated with more severe brain damage. These findings parallel descriptions of neuropathology in preclinical models of acute intoxication with OP nerve agents, and other seizurogenic chemicals, suggesting conserved mechanisms of pathology downstream of chemical-induced SE.
Association between genetic variants in adhesion molecules and outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplants

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Adhesion molecules play an important role in endothelial activation and initiation of inflammatory response. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endothelial molecules may contribute to heterogeneity in HCT outcomes. We evaluated the association of 4 SNPs in ICAM1 (rs5498), PECAM1 (rs668 and rs1131012) and SELL (rs2229569) genes with acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) and those experiencing transplant‐related mortality (TRM) within 1 year among 425 allogeneic HCT recipient–donor pairs. Using a Fine and Gray proportional hazards model to evaluate the association between genetic variants and clinical outcomes, after adjustment for recipient age, race, diagnosis, disease status, gender mismatch, cytomegalovirus serostatus, gender, donor type, conditioning regimen and year of transplant, only rs5498 in the ICAM1 gene among both recipients and donors was associated with a decreased risk of TRM (P ≤ 0.02). None of the SNPs were associated with acute or chronic GvHD risk. These findings suggest that genetic variants in the vascular adhesion molecules may be used to identify patients at high risk for TRM.
Histopathological comparison of biodegradable polymer and permanent polymer based sirolimus eluting stents in a porcine model of coronary stent implantation

Summary Biodegradable stent coatings were recently introduced as a potential solution to overcome sustained inflammatory responses observed with permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents. In a preliminary study, selected biodegradable or permanent polymer-based sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) formulations were screened for effectiveness in comparison to bare metal stents (BMS) at 28 days. Subsequently, the most favourable SES formulation was compared to commercially available SES (CypherTM) at 28,90 and 180 days to investigate the histopathologic response as well as tissue, blood and organ pharmacokinetics. Overlapping SES implantation was conducted to evaluate vascular healing at 28 days in this particular setting. SES with biodegradable poly (L-lactide) polymer (PLLA) or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) showed the most favourable outcome with regards to reductions in neointimal area in comparison to BMS at 28 days. The PLLA SES showed a similar reduction in neointimal area compared to CypherTM at 28 days, with significant greater reductions at 90 and 180 days (1.7 ± 0.7 mm2 vs. 3.1 ± 1.5 mm2, p=0.03 and 1.8 ± 1.2 mm2 vs. 3.0 ± 1.5 mm2, p=0.01, respectively). Sirolimus vascular tissue concentrations were detectable up to 90 days following implantation. Overlapping stented segments showed favourable histopathologic results with respect to fibrin deposition and endothelialisation at 28 days. In conclusion, the use of PLLA as drugeluting matrix resulted in mild inflammatory responses in the presence of effective sirolimus tissue concentrations. The greater efficacy observed at long-term follow-up in PLLA SES compared to CypherTM may be a multifactorial result of stent design, polymer biocompatibility and improved release kinetics.
RNA sequence and secondary structural determinants in a minimal viral promoter that directs replicase recognition and initiation of genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis1

Abstract Viral RNA replication provides a useful system to study the structure and function of RNAs and the mechanism of RNA synthesis from RNA templates. Previously we demonstrated that a 27 nt RNA from brome mosaic virus (BMV) can direct correct initiation of genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis by the BMV replicase. In this study, using biochemical, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermodynamic analyses, we determined that the secondary structure of this 27 nt RNA can be significantly altered and retain the ability to direct RNA synthesis. In contrast, we find that position-specific changes in the RNA sequence will affect replicase recognition, modulate the polymerization process, and contribute to the differential accumulation of viral RNAs. These functional results are in agreement with the phylogenetic analysis of BMV and related viral sequences and suggest that a similar mechanism of RNA synthesis takes place for members of the alphavirus superfamily.
Neuroprotective effects of leptin in vivo and in vitro

The present study explored the efficacy of leptin in protecting against in vivo induction of excitotoxic lesions by the glutamatergic analogue ibotenate injected into the developing mouse brain and against in vitro NMDA-induced cell death in primary neuronal cultures. Ibotenate injected intracerebrally (i.c.) to mice on postnatal day 5 produced transcortical necrosis and white matter cysts. Co-treatment with leptin administered i.c. or i.p. reduced ibotenate-induced cortical lesions and white matter cysts by 50%. in vitro, leptin afforded significant neuroprotection of mouse cortical neurons against NMDA cytotoxicity. The neuroprotective effect of leptin was antagonized both in vivo and in vitro by the Jak2 inhibitor AG490, indicating that it was mediated via the leptin receptor and Jak2 activation. These findings are the first evidence for a role of leptin in neuroprotection.
Zero-Sequence Current Suppression Strategy of Open-Winding PMSG System With Common DC Bus Based on Zero Vector Redistribution

The open-winding configuration with a common dc bus provides a zero-sequence current loop which allows the zero-sequence current flowing. With the application in permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) systems, the existing zero-sequence current is inevitably caused by the common mode voltage generated by pulsewidth modulation (PWM) techniques and the third back EMF by the inherent flux harmonic component. With the mathematical modeling analysis, the zero-sequence equivalent circuit based on the PMSG system is proposed. Meanwhile, a zero-sequence current suppression controller is designed. In this paper, a zero vector redistribution PWM technique is proposed. With this technique, the dwell times of zero vectors (000) and (111) for both converters are determined. Meanwhile, it gives the zero-sequence component overmodulation analysis. Both the control method and improved PWM technique are implemented in a 1-kW open-winding PMSG experimental setup, and the experimental results are discussed.
Development of taste and food preferences in children

Purpose of reviewThere are concerns about the rising incidence of obesity in children and their acceptance of healthy foods. Many factors affect children's food acceptance, the most salient are those enabling early exposure to culturally appropriate foods in the weaning or pre-weaning period. Parents, however, have always observed individual differences in children's willingness to take new foods. This review looks at studies that encompass both exposure to and genetic determinants of food acceptance. Recent findingsChildren's willingness to take new foods and accept specific foods has strong-to-moderate heritability. This inherited willingness is moderated by cultural differences in early exposure to both the taste and texture of foods, giving rise to different patterns of food acceptance. Breast-feeding not only confers an advantage in food and taste acceptance but may also give rise to a preference for highly palatable ‘junk food’. Modelling and flavour-conditioning may also contribute to food acceptance, whereas coaxing a child to eat may impact negatively on the intake of food. Children of obese mothers, however, react to prompting by overeating rather than food refusal. This may indicate another area where food acceptance is genetically determined. SummaryHealth intervention programmes that aim to promote a healthy diet in children should start at the weaning and, to a lesser extent, the pre-weaning stage, and target maternal diet for optimal effectiveness.
Giant Convection Cells Found on the Sun

Giant Solar Cells Convection motions within the Sun transport heat from its interior to its surface. The hot regions are seen as granular (∼1000 kilometers across) and supergranular (∼30,000 kilometers across) cells in the Sun. Using data from the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Hathaway et al. (p. 1217) found evidence for even larger cells that have long been predicted by theory but not unambiguously detected. The flows associated with these giant cells transport angular momentum toward the equator and are important for maintaining the Sun's equatorial rotation. Flows in cells transport angular momentum toward the solar equator, maintaining the Sun’s rapid equatorial rotation. Heat is transported through the outermost 30% of the Sun’s interior by overturning convective motions. These motions are evident at the Sun’s surface in the form of two characteristic cellular structures: granules and supergranules (~1000 and ~30,000 kilometers across, respectively). The existence of much larger cells has been suggested by both theory and observation for more than 45 years. We found evidence for giant cellular flows that persist for months by tracking the motions of supergranules. As expected from the effects of the Sun’s rotation, the flows in these cells are clockwise around high pressure in the north and counterclockwise in the south and transport angular momentum toward the equator, maintaining the Sun’s rapid equatorial rotation.
The Francisella Pathogenicity Island

Abstract: The Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) is a cluster of 16–19 genes, which is found duplicated in most of the Francisella genomes that have been sequenced. Although 16 FPI genes are highly conserved there are 2–3 putative genes that are absent or interrupted by stop codons in some strains. Francisella strains with experimentally induced mutations in FPI genes are highly attenuated in virulence and show defects in intramacrophage growth. There is experimental evidence indicating that the regulation of most FPI genes is affected by the presence of the virulence regulator MglA and by the concentration of iron in the growth medium. Although studies of mRNA expression show that essentially all FPI genes are transcribed, only a handful of FPI‐encoded proteins have been detected by biochemical methods. The cumulative biochemical and genetic data to date have not yet been able to ascribe a biochemical function to any of the FPI‐encoded proteins. However, bioinformatics analysis suggests that some of the FPI‐encoded proteins are part of a type VI secretion system.