Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Determinants for Activation of G-protein-coupled Inward Rectifier K+ (GIRK) Channels by Extracellular Acidosis*

Synaptic cleft acidification occurs following vesicle release. Such a pH change may affect synaptic transmissions in which G-protein-coupled inward rectifier K+ (GIRK) channels play a role. To elucidate the effect of extracellular pH (pH o ) on GIRK channels, we performed experiments on heteromeric GIRK1/GIRK4 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. A decrease in pH o to 6.2 augmented GIRK1/GIRK4 currents by ∼30%. The channel activation was reversible and dependent on pH o levels. This effect was produced by selective augmentation of single channel conductance without change in the open-state probability. To determine which subunit was involved, we took advantage of homomeric expression of GIRK1 and GIRK4 by introducing a single mutation. We found that homomeric GIRK1-F137S and GIRK4-S143T channels were activated at pH o 6.2 by ∼20 and ∼70%, respectively. Such activation was eliminated when a histidine residue in the M1-H5 linker was mutated to a non-titratable glutamine, i.e.H116Q in GIRK1 and H120Q in GIRK4. Both of these histidines were required for pH sensing of the heteromeric channels, because the mutation of one of them diminished but not abolished the pH o sensitivity. The pH o sensitivity of the heteromeric channels was completely lost when both were mutated. Thus, these results suggest that the GIRK-mediated synaptic transmission is determined by both neurotransmitter and protons with the transmitter accounting for only 70% of the effect on postsynaptic cell and protons released together with the transmitter contributing to the other 30%.
Use of tincture of opium compared to oral morphine for the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the difference in time until medical clearance when comparing tincture of opium (TO) to oral morphine (OM) in the treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). DESIGN Retrospective chart review conducted from May 2007 to July 2011. SETTING Level III Neonatal Intensive Care unit at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, New Jersey. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS Clinical Drug Utilization reports identified 26 neonates who were treated with TO and 25 neonates who were treated with OM for NAS. No patients were excluded. INTERVENTIONS Patients were treated with either TO or OM for the indication of NAS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The primary outcome is to compare the time it takes for a baby being treated with TO versus OM for NAS to be medically cleared for discharge. RESULTS The median time until medical clearance for those treated with TO was 29.5 days compared to 37 days for those treated with OM (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION There was no statistically significant difference in the time it takes for a baby being treated with TO versus OM for NAS to be medically cleared for discharge. There are a number of safety benefits in using OM compared to TO. Until further data are collected, it is appropriate to continue treatment of neonates with NAS with OM.
[Development of a questionnaire to assess inter-episode functioning in bipolar disorder: Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire].

OBJECTIVE Even though quality of life and functioning are topics that are point of interest, they are not assessed adequately in mood disorders. In this study, it is aimed to develop a functioning assessment scale in bipolar disorder. METHOD Bipolar Disorder Functioning Questionnaire (BDFQ) is developed by the Scientific Section for Mood Disorders of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey. The questionnaire contains 58 items, and consists of eleven subscales: emotional functioning, intellectual functioning, sexual functioning, feelings of stigmatization, social withdrawal, household relations, relations with friends, participation to social activities, daily activities and hobbies, taking initiative and self sufficiency, and occupation. RESULTS In this study, 252 remitted bipolar patients from 15 centers were included. In addition, thirty subjects without any lifetime psychiatric, neurological or physical disease were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 38.6+/-12.1 and 56% (n=141) were female. The mean duration of the bipolar disorder was 11.9+/-9.2 years, and 91.3% of the patients were diagnosed to have bipolar I disorder. In the reliability analyses, after the exclusion of six items with low reliability coefficients, The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated to be 0.91. The item-total scale correlations were between 0.22-0.86. In test-retest reliability, the correlation between the two ratings was high (r=0.82, p<0.0001). In validity analyses, 13 factors were obtained representing 65.1% of the total variance in exploratory factor analysis. In confirmatory factor analysis, 11 domains fit the model with a RMSEA of 0.061. BDFQ significantly correlated with GAF (r=0.428, p<.0001). BDFQ also showed significantly negative correlation with HAM-D (r=-0.541, p<0.0001) and YMRS (r=-0.365, p<0.0001). It discriminated the patients (mean score=111.8+/-15.2) from the healthy subjects (mean score=121.4+/-10.4) well (t=-2.300, p=0.038). CONCLUSION With the six items excluded, it is suggested that the 52-item BDFQ is a reliable and valid instrument in the assessment of functioning in bipolar disorder.
Bringing Distributed Energy Storage to Market

Spatially distributed energy storage devices can provide additional flexibility to system operators, which is needed to transition from primarily fossil fuel based electricity generation to variable renewable generation. Aggregators in charge of controlling distributed energy storage can take advantage of existing economic incentives for more flexibility. However, controlling large numbers of energy storage devices with individual constraints in accordance with the strict rules of existing energy and reserve markets is challenging. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the design and performance of a system that enables aggregators to bring large numbers of dedicated and fully controllable energy storage devices to multiple markets concurrently. In particular, we propose algorithms and heuristic optimization methods that allow aggregators to control such energy resources in accordance with arbitrary market rules and participation strategies. Our evaluation is based on a realistic dual market (reserve and intra-day energy) use case. We find that effective market-conform control of large numbers of energy storage devices using the proposed algorithms is feasible, even on short time scales. Furthermore, our results also indicate that the scalability of the proposed system design can be further improved via parallelization without limiting the reserve/energy brought to market.
Occupational Risk Factors for Tuberculosis Among Healthcare Workers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis is a known occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), especially in countries with a high burden of tuberculosis. It is estimated that HCWs have a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of developing tuberculosis compared with the general population. The objective of this study was to identify occupational risk factors for tuberculosis among HCWs in 3 district hospitals with specialized multidrug-resistant tuberculosis wards in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. METHODS We conducted a case-control study of HCWs diagnosed with tuberculosis between January 2006 and December 2010. Cases and controls were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding potential risk factors for tuberculosis. RESULTS Of 307 subjects selected, 145 (47%) HCWs responded to the questionnaire; 54 (37%) tuberculosis cases and 91 (63%) controls. Cases occurred more frequently among clinical staff 46% (n = 25) and support staff 35% (n = 19). Thirty-two (26% [32/125]) HCWs were known to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including 45% (21/54) of cases. HCWs living with HIV (odds ratio [OR], 6.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.54-11.37) and those who spent time working in areas with patients (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.40-3.59) had significantly greater odds of developing tuberculosis, controlling for occupation, number of wards worked in, and household crowding. CONCLUSIONS HIV was the major independent risk factor for tuberculosis among HCWs in this sample. These findings support the need for HCWs to know their HIV status, and for HIV-infected HCWs to be offered antiretroviral therapy and isoniazid preventive therapy. Infection prevention and control should also be improved to prevent transmission of tuberculosis in healthcare settings to protect both HCWs and patients.
Dynamics of cell-associated viremia and antibody response during the early phase of lentivirus infection in sheep.

OBJECTIVE To determine patterns of cell-associated viremia and antibody responses during the early phase of ovine lentivirus (OvLV) infection in sheep. ANIMALS 18 neonatal lambs. PROCEDURES 12 lambs were inoculated intratracheally with OvLV within 24 hours after birth; 6 lambs were inoculated with noninfected cell culture supernatant. Degree of cell-associated viremia was measured every other week for 16 weeks by use of a limited dilution assay. Antibody responses to OvLV transmembrane (TM) and p25 proteins were determined weekly by use of recombinant ELISA. Neutralizing antibody responses were measured before and 8 and 16 weeks after inoculation. RESULTS Degree of cell-associated viremia peaked between 2 and 6 weeks after inoculation and then decreased. For inoculated lambs, mean anti-p25 titer peaked 5 weeks after inoculation then slowly declined, whereas mean anti-TM and neutralizing antibody titers increased steadily. Over time, mean degree of cell-associated viremia was negatively correlated with mean anti-TM titer. Maximum individual degree of cell-associated viremia was positively correlated with maximum individual anti-TM titer. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that after experimental inoculation, OvLV replicates actively for several weeks and that an increase in anti-TM titer coincides with a decrease in degree of cell-associated viremia. Although the role antibodies play in protecting against lentivirus infection remains uncertain, understanding the dynamics of the antibody response may have important implications for diagnosis of OvLV infection, and antibodies may prove to be valuable markers for prediction of infection and disease.
Diabetes supersedes dobutamine stress echocardiography in predicting cardiac events in female patients.

BACKGROUND The many available choices for testing for coronary artery disease (CAD) brought about several questions regarding suitability of certain tests for different groups of patients and the prognostic value of obtained results in predicting events and mortality. The aim of this study is to describe the prognostic value of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) results in predicting cardiac events and mortality in > or = 60-year-old females. METHODS 49 women (> or = 60 years old) who were referred for DSE were included in the study. Data including CAD risk factors, and results of tests and a follow-up of events (MI, unstable angina, progression of CHF) and death. RESULTS Eleven patients were considered to have a positive DSE result. There was no difference between DSE (+) and DSE (-) patients in cardiac events and cardiac death. However when interventions were included to events, analysis showed DSE (+) to have more overall events. Non-cardiac deaths and "all deaths" were 11 and 8 times more common among DSE (+) patients compared with DSE (-) patients p < 0.01. Multivariable logistic regression showed that diabetics and DSE (+) patients were 32 (p = 0.01) and 23 (p = 0.02) times more likely to have an event compared with non-diabetics and DSE (-) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION DSE is a safe procedure to be used in > or = 60-year-old female patients and can provide informative prognostic information regarding all-cause deaths and cardiac events (including interventions) over a 4-year period. In addition we find that diabetes is a strong predictor of events regardless of DSE result.
Beyond the knee point: A practical guide to CT saturation

Current transformer (CT) saturation, while a fairly common occurrence in protection systems, is not often clearly understood by protective relay engineers. This paper forgoes the usual physics equations to describe how CTs saturate in a simple and intuitive way. We explain the differences between symmetrical and asymmetrical saturation and how remanence accumulates in the core of a CT. We then describe the CT equivalent circuit and how it results in the familiar CT excitation graph. ANSI ratings of CTs are explained, and we show how to analyze the performance of CTs using simple equations and tools. Finally, we explain how CT saturation can affect relay operation and show how to detect CT saturation in protective relay event reports. Real-world event reports are presented where correct relay operation was compromised as a result of incorrect current values from saturated CTs.
Escherichia coli Contamination of Vegetables Grown in Soils Fertilized with Noncomposted Bovine Manure: Garden-Scale Studies

ABSTRACT In this study we tested the validity of the National Organic Program (NOP) requirement for a ≥120-day interval between application of noncomposted manure and harvesting of vegetables grown in manure-fertilized soil. Noncomposted bovine manure was applied to 9.3-m2 plots at three Wisconsin sites (loamy sand, silt loam, and silty clay loam) prior to spring and summer planting of carrots, radishes, and lettuce. Soil and washed (30 s under running tap water) vegetables were analyzed for indigenous Escherichia coli. Within 90 days, the level of E. coli in manure-fertilized soil generally decreased by about 3 log CFU/g from initial levels of 4.2 to 4.4 log CFU/g. Low levels of E. coli generally persisted in manure-fertilized soil for more than 100 days and were detected in enriched soil from all three sites 132 to 168 days after manure application. For carrots and lettuce, at least one enrichment-negative sample was obtained ≤100 days after manure application for 63 and 88% of the treatments, respectively. The current ≥120-day limit provided an even greater likelihood of not detecting E. coli on carrots (≥1 enrichment-negative result for 100% of the treatments). The rapid maturation of radishes prevented conclusive evaluation of a 100- or 120-day application-to-harvest interval. The absolute absence of E. coli from vegetables harvested from manure-fertilized Wisconsin soils may not be ensured solely by adherence to the NOP ≥120-day limit. Unless pathogens are far better at colonizing vegetables than indigenous E. coli strains are, it appears that the risk of contamination for vegetables grown in Wisconsin soils would be elevated only slightly by reducing the NOP requirement to ≥100 days.
Localization of BDNF expression in the developing brain of zebrafish

The brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is expressed in differentiating and post‐mitotic neurons of the zebrafish embryo, where it has been implicated in Huntington's disease. Little is known, however, about the full complement of neuronal cell types that express BDNF in this important vertebrate model. Here, we further explored the transcriptional profiles during the first week of development using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and whole‐mount in situ hybridization (WISH). RT‐qPCR results revealed a high level of maternal contribution followed by a steady increase of zygotic transcription, consistent with the notion of a prominent role of BDNF in neuronal maturation and maintenance. Based on WISH, we demonstrate for the first time that BDNF expression in the developing brain of zebrafish is structure specific. Anatomical criteria and co‐staining with genetic markers (shh, pax2a, emx1, krox20, lhx2b and lhx9) visualized major topological domains of BDNF‐positive cells in the pallium, hypothalamus, posterior tuberculum and optic tectum. Moreover, the relative timing of BDNF transcription in the eye and tectum may illustrate a mechanism for coordinated development of the retinotectal system. Taken together, our results are compatible with a local delivery and early role of BDNF in the developing brain of zebrafish, adding basic knowledge to the study of neurotrophin functions in neural development and disease.
CD133 negative glioma cells form tumors in nude rats and give rise to CD133 positive cells

CD133 is a cell surface marker expressed on progenitors of haematopoietic and endothelial cell lineages. Moreover, several studies have identified CD133 as a marker of brain tumor‐initiating cells. In this study, human glioblastoma multiforme biopsies were engrafted intracerebrally into nude rats. The resulting tumors were serially passaged in vivo, and monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. CD133 expression was analyzed at various passages. Tumors initiated directly from the biopsies expressed little or no CD133, and showed no contrast enhancement suggesting an intact blood‐brain barrier. During passaging, the tumors gradually displayed more contrast enhancement, increased angiogenesis and a shorter survival. Real‐time qPCR and immunoblots showed that this was accompanied by increased CD133 expression. Primary biopsy spheroids and xenograft tumors were subsequently dissociated and flow sorted into CD133 negative and CD133 positive cell populations. Both populations incorporated BrdU in cell culture, and expressed the neural precursor marker nestin. Notably, CD133 negative cells derived from 6 different patients were tumorgenic when implanted into the rat brains. For 3 of these patients, analysis showed that the resulting tumors contained CD133 positive cells. In conclusion, we show that CD133 negative glioma cells are tumorgenic in nude rats, and that CD133 positive cells can be obtained from these tumors. Upon passaging of the tumors in vivo, CD133 expression is upregulated, coinciding with the onset of angiogenesis and a shorter survival. Thus, our findings do not suggest that CD133 expression is required for brain tumor initiation, but that it may be involved during brain tumor progression. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Microsphere-adenoviral complexes target and transduce the glomerulus in vivo.

BACKGROUND Developing new treatments for glomerulonephritis makes the glomerulus a logical target for gene therapy. Microspheres may lodge in the glomerulus, and replication-deficient recombinant adenoviruses are potent mediators of gene transfer. We postulated that adenoviral-microsphere complexes could result in DNA transfer (transduction) into glomerular cells in vivo. METHODS Two adenoviruses, each one containing a luciferase or beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) transgene expression cassette, were complexed to polystyrene microspheres. To assess in vivo glomerular transduction with this tool, male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent aortic injections with adenovirus linked to 11 or 16 microm diameter microspheres. RESULTS After 48 hours, adenoviral-microsphere complexes resulted in transduction of up to 19% of glomeruli per kidney section. Endothelial and mesangial cells were transduced with this approach, and transprotein expression persisted for 21 days. Transduction efficiency was greater in the 16 microm group. For all rats, there was a strong correlation between kidney luciferase levels and the number of beta-gal-positive glomeruli (r = 0.87), indicating that transgene expression was primarily glomerular in location. This was supported by reverse transcriptase in situ polymerase chain reaction, which demonstrated glomerular localization of the beta-gal transgene. CONCLUSIONS The aortic injection of adenoviral-microsphere complexes transduces the glomerulus in vivo and may be a useful tool in developing approaches to gene therapy of glomerular disease.
Workshop on inconspicuous interaction

Growing usage of interactive systems in the public space has highlighted the prevalence of conflicts between desired functionality and maintenance of privacy/social comfort. This has inspired researchers and practitioners, in communities concerned with usable security, wearable and mobile interfaces, natural user interfaces, accessibility and social interaction, to employ inconspicuous interaction styles. This workshop will bring these communities together to produce forward-looking insights that can shape the way users interact with tomorrow's computers, in interactive systems that account for the social nomadic contexts where they are bound to be used.
Time-of-use pricing in retail electricity market: Step tariff vs. usage-based schemes

With the advances of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), it is possible for power customer and utility company to adjust their consumption behaviors or schemes in order to achieve higher profits in retail electricity market. Recently, relevant research emerges from demand side management (DSM) view. Time dependent pricing has been proposed as a DSM method to influence user demands. Initial investigations have shown its advantages over the conventional time independent pricing. Nevertheless, much is unknown in how a practical and effective time dependent pricing scheme can be designed. In this paper, we combine game-theoretic approach and probabilistic analysis methods to explore the design space of time dependent pricing. In particularly, we focus on usage-based and step tariff schemes. Our findings include: step tariff scheme improves capacity utilization during high demand period and can earn higher users' surplus than that in usage-based scheme all the time.
60-GHz CMOS Current-Combining PA With Adaptive Back-Off PAE Enhancement

This brief describes the design and implementation of a current-combining power amplifier (PA) with a fully adaptive approach to enhance the output power and the back-off power added efficiency (PAE). The PA consists of a main amplifier and an auxiliary amplifier. Adaptive biasing technique is employed to shut down or provide optimum bias voltage to the auxiliary amplifier according to the input power level. The 50-Ω input matching is realized with adaptive power distribution. The output load modulation is accomplished by a compact output matching network (MN) using transmission lines and transformers. Based on the same MN, the back-off PAE degradation caused by the low output impedance of the auxiliary path is mitigated. The proposed PA is designed at 60 GHz using 65-nm CMOS and is experimentally characterized. The measurement results reveal 16-dBm OP1dB and 14% peak PAE. Approximately 8% PAE at 6-dB back-off is achieved, addressing improved back-off efficiency.