Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localization of Cardiac Sodium Channels in Caveolin-Rich Membrane Domains: Regulation of Sodium Current Amplitude

This study demonstrates that caveolae, omega-shaped membrane invaginations, are involved in cardiac sodium channel regulation by a mechanism involving the &agr; subunit of the stimulatory heterotrimeric G-protein, G&agr;s, via stimulation of the cell surface &bgr;-adrenergic receptor. Stimulation of &bgr;-adrenergic receptors with 10 &mgr;mol/L isoproterenol in the presence of a protein kinase A inhibitor increased the whole-cell sodium current by a “direct” cAMP-independent G-protein mechanism. The addition of antibodies against caveolin-3 to the cell’s cytoplasm via the pipette solution abrogated this direct G protein-induced increase in sodium current, whereas antibodies to caveolin-1 or caveolin-2 did not. Voltage-gated sodium channel proteins were found to associate with caveolin-rich membranes obtained by detergent-free buoyant density separation. The purity of the caveolar membrane fraction was verified by Western blot analyses, which indicated that endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum, endosomal compartments, Golgi apparatus, clathrin-coated vesicles, and sarcolemmal membranes were excluded from the caveolin-rich membrane fraction. Additionally, the sodium channel was found to colocalize with caveolar membranes by immunoprecipitation, indirect immunofluorescence, and immunogold transmission electron microscopy. These results suggest that stimulation of &bgr;-adrenergic receptors, and thereby G&agr;s, promotes the presentation of cardiac sodium channels associated with caveolar membranes to the sarcolemma.
A higher order time-varying moment method for multicomponent chirp signals parameter estimation

Parameter estimation for nonstationary chirp (LFM) signal is a noticeable signal processing problem that shows up in many applications. A special time-varying higher order moment approach is proposed here to realize multicomponent chirp signals parameter estimation. Though chirp signal is nonstationary, its special time-varying fourth order moment in this paper is a function independent of time. Namely this special fourth order moment presents a stationary character. Then a cross fourth order moment MUSIC method is applied to do the following signal processing. Because this technique needs only one dimension search, it is superior to ML method and time-frequency distribution methods (which need two dimension search) in computer burden greatly. Even working in colored noise and relatively low SNR phenomena, the method here is very accurate, highly reliable, and can operate efficiently
Mitogenomes from The 1000 Genome Project Reveal New Near Eastern Features in Present-Day Tuscans

Background Genetic analyses have recently been carried out on present-day Tuscans (Central Italy) in order to investigate their presumable recent Near East ancestry in connection with the long-standing debate on the origins of the Etruscan civilization. We retrieved mitogenomes and genome-wide SNP data from 110 Tuscans analyzed within the context of The 1000 Genome Project. For phylogeographic and evolutionary analysis we made use of a large worldwide database of entire mitogenomes (>26,000) and partial control region sequences (>180,000). Results Different analyses reveal the presence of typical Near East haplotypes in Tuscans representing isolated members of various mtDNA phylogenetic branches. As a whole, the Near East component in Tuscan mitogenomes can be estimated at about 8%; a proportion that is comparable to previous estimates but significantly lower than admixture estimates obtained from autosomal SNP data (21%). Phylogeographic and evolutionary inter-population comparisons indicate that the main signal of Near Eastern Tuscan mitogenomes comes from Iran. Conclusions Mitogenomes of recent Near East origin in present-day Tuscans do not show local or regional variation. This points to a demographic scenario that is compatible with a recent arrival of Near Easterners to this region in Italy with no founder events or bottlenecks.
The impact of male overweight on semen quality and outcome of assisted reproduction

It is well-documented that male overweight and obesity causes endocrine disorders that might diminish the male reproductive capacity; however, reports have been conflicting regarding the influence of male body mass index (BMI) on semen quality and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased male BMI affects sperm quality and the outcome of assisted reproduction in couples with an overweight or obese man and a non-obese partner. Data was prospectively collected from 612 infertile couples undergoing ART at a Danish fertility center. Self-reported information on paternal height and weight were recorded and BMI was calculated. The men were divided into four BMI categories: underweight BMI < 20 kg m−2, normal BMI 20–24.9 kg m−2, overweight BMI 25–29.9 kg m−2 and obese BMI > 30 kg m−2. Conventional semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization guideline and sperm DNA integrity was analyzed by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). No statistically significant effect of male BMI was seen on conventional semen parameters (sperm concentration, total sperm count, seminal volume and motility) or on SCSA-results. Furthermore, the outcome of ART regarding fertilization rate, number of good quality embryos (GQE), implantation and pregnancy outcome was not influenced by the increasing male BMI.
Rectification and precession signals in the climate system

Precession of the equinoxes has no effect on the mean annual insolation, but does modulate the amplitude of the seasonal cycle. In a linear climate system, there would be no energy near the 21,000 year precession period. It is only when a non‐linear mechanism rectifies the seasonal modulation that precession‐period variability appears. Such rectification can arise from physical processes within the climate system, for example a dependence of ice cover only on summer maximum insolation. The possibility exists, however, that the seasonality inherent in many climate proxies will produce precession‐period variability in the records independent of any precession‐period variability in the climate. One must distinguish this instrumental effect from true climate responses. Careful examination of regions without seasonal cycles, for example the abyssal ocean, and the use of proxies with different seasonal responses, might permit separation of physical from instrumental effects.
Momentum in online discussions: the effect of social presence on motivation for participation

[Abstract]: Compared to earlier forms of distance education online education is characterised by increased opportunities for productive interaction of learners with content, instructors and peers. Although online courses typically include discussion spaces for interaction, relatively little has been published about what motivates students to participate in the discussions. This study investigated the effect of social presence on motivation for student participation. Data were collected from 60 students over a semester using a sequential exploratory design. A significant relationship was found between social presence and motivation but most students reported a decline in perceived social presence during the semester. The findings suggest actions that might be taken by facilitators of online courses to enhance student motivation for participation in course discussions.
Clinicopathological Studies on The Effect of Papaya on experimentally induced short term hyperglycemia in rats

The study is designed to evaluate the Carica papaya effect on diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. Ninety clinically healthy white male rats of two months old (100 g average body weight) were divided into equal six groups, each one has 15 rats, Gp. (I): without treatment as normal control, Gp. (II): DM was induced in overnight fasted rats by a single IP injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg B.W.) freshly dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer (pH 4.5), Gp. (III): were received orally a daily dose of C. papaya leaves aqueous extract (0.11 g/ml) by stomach cannula for 30 days, Gp. (IV): were administrated orally a daily dose of C. papaya leaves aqueous extract as in gp. (III) for 40 days. After 10 days post C. papaya treatment the rats were injected by STZ as in gp. (II) then completed C. papaya administration, Gp. (V): DM induced as in gp. (II). Then rats were administrated C. papaya leaves aqueous extract (0.11 g/ml) daily by stomach cannula for 30 days, Gp. (VI): treated like Gp (V) but were administrated C. papaya leaves aqueous extract at a dose level 0.22 g/2ml daily by stomach cannula for 30 days. After 15 days and 30 days post-STZ injection, aqueous leaves extract of C. papaya improved health status of treated diabetic rats, as serum glucose, fractosamine, TC, TGs, LDL-c and MDA activity were decreased, while Insulin and HDL-c levels and CAT activity were increased when compared with untreated diabetic groups.
A meaning-centered approach to building youth resilience.

Resilience has emerged as a major area of research in psychology (Hart & Sasso, 2011), especially in applied positive psychology (Seligman, 2011). In fantasyland, life would be experienced as a perpetual state of bliss, free from stress and strife; living in such a paradise, where every need is met and every desire fulfi lled, would make resilience superfl uous. But in reality, life for most people is full of hardship and problems; people need resilience in order to manage stress and maintain an acceptable level of well-being. For vulnerable populations, those living in poverty or war-torn zones or suff ering from chronic conditions, for example, resilience takes on even greater importance. Although agreeing with Bonanno (2004) that most people are resilient, we also believe that children and youth can benefi t a great deal from resilience training on how to grow and fl ourish in spite of adversities. Research on resilience has evolved over the years. In the early days of resilience research, the focus was on “the invulnerable child,” who did better than expected despite adversities and disadvantages (Garmezy, 1974, 1985; Werner, 1984); developmental psychologists were interested in individual diff erences and the protective factors that contributed to the development of the invulnerable child. Subsequent research shift ed the focus to person–situation interactions and emphasized contextual variables and the process of adaptation. Rutter (1993) even dismissed the concept of invulnerability as both misleading and unrealistic. He warned that resilience should not be assumed to be a “magic bullet” that enables individuals to resist all the stresses in life. He emphasized that “resilience may reside in the social context as much as within the individual” (p. 626). His concept of the “steeling” eff ect highlights the essence of resilience—the more experience you have in overcoming adversities, the more resilient you will become.
Unpacking Pretrial Detention: An Examination of Patterns and Predictors of Readmissions

Pretrial detention makes up the majority of jail admissions, but little is known about this high-volume population. The current study fills this gap by examining the pretrial detention population in New York City and assesses their pretrial readmissions over a 10-year follow-up period. While the number of individuals detained pretrial has consistently decreased since 1995, the prevalence and the frequency of pretrial readmissions remain high: About 60% of the sample was readmitted at least once within 10 years and they were readmitted on average 3 times. A negative binomial model predicting readmission counts for felony and misdemeanor admissions found that males, non-Hispanic Blacks, and younger individuals were more frequently readmitted pretrial. Self-reported drug use and prior criminal records were associated with higher readmission counts. We also found that charge and discharge types predicted readmission counts. Findings suggest the importance of earlier intervention and developing targeted strategies to reduce further readmissions.
POCO-PLC: Enabling dynamic pareto-optimal resilient controller placement in SDN networks

Recently, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has gained a lot of attention. The paradigm shift towards centralized architectures with a separation of control plane and data plane is expected for several use cases, including amongst others core communication networks, data center networks, or Network Function Virtualization (NFV). An important issue during SDN deployment is the placement of controllers in the network. The first to address this topic were Heller et al. [3] followed by other researchers who added different resilience issues into their observations. An overview on relevant publications can be found in our previous work [1], where we also introduced our POCO toolset. Here, a powerful and user friendly POCO-PLC toolset is provided and presented that facilitates the analysis and optimization of the controller placement in SDN networks under dynamic conditions. A general overview on the functionality and architecture of POCO-PLC is given. Then, possible use cases enabled by POCO-PLC is indicated.
Analytical Calculation of D - and Q -axis Inductance for Interior Permanent Magnet Motors Based on Winding Function Theory

Interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors are widely used in electric vehicles (EVs), benefiting from the excellent advantages of a more rational use of energy. For further improvement of energy utilization, this paper presents an analytical method of d - and q -axis inductance calculation for IPM motors with V-shaped rotor in no-load condition. A lumped parameter magnetic circuit model (LPMCM) is adopted to investigate the saturation and nonlinearity of the bridge. Taking into account the influence of magnetic field distribution on inductance, the winding function theory (WFT) is employed to accurately calculate the armature reaction airgap magnetic field and d - and q -axis inductances. The validity of the analytical technique is verified by the finite element method (FEM).
The Impact of Parental Detention on the Psychological Wellbeing of Palestinian Children

Background Since 1967, the Palestinian Occupied Territories are marked by a political conflict between Palestinians and Israel. During this conflict, about one fifth of the Palestinian population has been detained; about one quarter of these are parents. Although we know that father’s incarceration might impact their children’s psychological wellbeing, little is known about the impact of father’s imprisonment on young children (under 11 years old), and when the incarceration is framed in contexts of political conflict. Therefore, this study aimed at gaining insight into the impact of parental detention on young children’s psychological wellbeing, and the impact of witnessing the detention process itself. Methods Based on the list of imprisoned Palestinian men with children living in the West Bank, a group of 79 (3- to 10-years old) children was randomly composed. Above, through schools and health centers, a comparison sample of 99 children who didn’t experience imprisonment of a family member was selected. Mothers of these children completed two cross-culturally validated questionnaires on their children’s psychological wellbeing, the UCLA-PTSD-Index and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results Results showed higher levels of PTSD and general mental health problems associated with father’s capturing. Above, when the children watched the arrest process of their fathers, scores still increased further. Younger children tended to show higher SDQ scores, and children living in villages reported higher posttraumatic stress scores compared to children living in urban areas or refugee camps. Little gender differences were found. Conclusion This study shows the important impact of parental detention on the psychological wellbeing for young children and urges for more psychological care and support for family members – in particular children – of detainees.
The influence of inspiratory muscle work history and specific inspiratory muscle training upon human limb muscle fatigue

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the work history of the inspiratory muscles upon the fatigue characteristics of the plantar flexors (PF). We hypothesized that under conditions where the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex has been elicited, PF fatigue would be hastened due to peripheral vasoconstriction. Eight volunteers undertook seven test conditions, two of which followed 4 week of inspiratory muscle training (IMT). The inspiratory metaboreflex was induced by inspiring against a calibrated flow resistor. We measured torque and EMG during isometric PF exercise at 85% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque. Supramaximal twitches were superimposed upon MVC efforts at 1 min intervals (MVCTI); twitch interpolation assessed the level of central activation. PF was terminated (Tlim) when MVCTI was <50% of baseline MVC. PF Tlim was significantly shorter than control (9.93 ± 1.95 min) in the presence of a leg cuff inflated to 140 mmHg (4.89 ± 1.78 min; P= 0.006), as well as when PF was preceded immediately by fatiguing inspiratory muscle work (6.28 ± 2.24 min; P= 0.009). Resting the inspiratory muscles for 30 min restored the PF Tlim to control. After 4 weeks, IMT, inspiratory muscle work at the same absolute intensity did not influence PF Tlim, but Tlim was significantly shorter at the same relative intensity. The data are the first to provide evidence that the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex accelerates the rate of calf fatigue during PF, and that IMT attenuates this effect.
Subduction of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in the northeast Atlantic

[1] Northeast Atlantic mode waters (NEAMW) are formed by subduction in a region known to be a strong sink of atmospheric CO2. This study investigates the biological and physical carbon pumps involved in this sink. For that purpose, we estimate the annual transfer of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen from the surface into the ocean interior through NEAMW subduction. Our estimates are based on a model simulation constrained with data collected during the Programme Ocean Multidisciplinaire Meso Echelle (POMME). We found that subduction accounts for a large proportion of carbon export below the mixed layer in the POMME region (38°N–45°N, 16°W–22°W). Fifty percent of labile organic carbon is exported by the biological pump and 50% by subduction; 98% of the total carbon flux below the mixed layer is due to carbon subduction, essentially in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon and of more refractory dissolved organic matter. This is because they are the dominant pools of carbon and are passing through the winter mixed-layer depth gradient that characterizes the region. Our results emphasize that the net export of carbon represents a small fraction of the fluxes of carbon across the mixed layer through the processes of subduction and obduction. Moreover, our results indicate that NEAMW subduction occurs before the spring bloom. This implies that NEAMW is mostly subducted with end-winter characteristics with, in particular, relatively high nutrient content. This reflects a relative inefficiency in nutrient utilization and contrasts with subtropical mode waters, which are subducted during the bloom and are thus relatively poor in nutrients when they are subducted.
Cultural value differences among ethnic groups in Indonesia: Are Hofstede’s Indonesian findings still relevant?

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a national cultural framework can describe cultural differences among ethnic groups in Indonesia. We argue that to understand Indonesia's culture, the cultures of its ethnic groups must first be characterised. In this study, Hofstede's cultural framework was applied to explore cultural values of Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau, Batak and Chinese-Indonesian employees, and to investigate whether Hofstede's Indonesian findings are still relevant. A sample of 699 respondents was obtained and drawn from paid employees representing the five ethnic groups in Indonesia. The evidence suggests that Hofstede's Indonesian findings are only able to explain Javanese's cultural characteristics. Moreover, the overall findings show that there are significant differences among the ethnic groups studied.
A fixed-lag Kalman smoother for retrospective data assimilation

Abstract Data assimilation has traditionally been employed to provide initial conditions for numerical weather prediction (NWP). A multiyear time sequence of objective analyses produced by data assimilation can also be used as an archival record from which to carry out a variety of atmospheric process studies. For this latter propose, NWP analyses are not as accurate as they could be, for each analysis is based only on current and past observed data, and not on any future data. Analyses incorporating future data, as well as current and past data, are termed retrospective analyses. The problem of retrospective objective analysis has not yet received attention in the meteorological literature. In this paper, the fixed-lag Kalman smoother (FLKS) is proposed as a means of providing retrospective analysis capability in data assimilation. The FLKS is a direct generalization of the Kalman filter. It incorporates all data observed up to and including some fixed amount of time past each analysis time. A computatio.
The Term Structure of Interest Rates in the European Union

This paper uses cointegration and common trends techniques to investigate empirically the expectations hypothesis of the term structure of interest rates among the original 15 EU countries. By decomposing each term structure into its transitory and permanent components, we also examine whether the short or the long rate is weakly exogenous and thus determine the long run behavior of each term structure. The empirical results support the expectations theory of the term structure of interest rates for all the EU-15 countries. They also indicate that the long term interest rates are weakly exogenous for almost all the countries in our sample. Further, we investigate if the expectation theory of the term structure of interest rates is affected by other exogenous variables such as nominal and real exchange rates, inflation rates, inflation variance, money growth and its variance. Our evidence suggests that the inclusion of the other exogenous variables does not affect the expectations hypothesis for most of the EU-15 countries. Also available for download here: http://ideas.repec. org/p/crt/wpaper/0611.html
Tracking the Brain's Functional Coupling Dynamics over Development

The transition from childhood to adulthood is marked by pronounced functional and structural brain transformations that impact cognition and behavior. Here, we use a functional imaging approach to reveal dynamic changes in coupling strength between networks and the expression of discrete brain configurations over human development during rest and a cognitive control task. Although the brain's repertoire of functional states was generally preserved across ages, state-specific temporal features, such as the frequency of expression and the amount of time spent in select states, varied by age in ways that were dependent on condition. Increasing age was associated with greater variability of connection strengths across time at rest, while there was a selective inversion of this effect in higher-order networks during implementation of cognitive control. The results suggest that development is characterized by the modification of dynamic coupling to both maximize and constrain functional variability in response to ongoing cognitive and behavioral requirements.