Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels of rat olfactory receptor cells: divalent cations control the sensitivity to cAMP

cAMP-gated channels were studied in inside-out membrane patches excised from the apical cellular pole of isolated olfactory receptor cells of the rat. In the absence of divalent cations the dose-response curve of activation of patch current by cAMP had a KM of 4.0 microM at -50 mV and of 2.5 microM at +50 mV. However, addition of 0.2 or 0.5 mM Ca2+ shifted the KM of cAMP reversibly to the higher cAMP concentrations of 33 or 90 microM, respectively, at -50 mV. Among divalent cations, the relative potency for inducing cAMP affinity shifts was: Ca2+ > Sr2+ > Mn2+ > Ba2+ > Mg2+, of which Mg2+ (up to 3 mM) did not shift the KM at all. This potency sequence corresponds closely to that required for the activation of calmodulin. However, the Ca(2+)-sensitivity is lower than expected for a calmodulin-mediated action. Brief (60 s) transient exposure to 3 mM Mg2+, in the absence of other divalent cations, had a protective effect in that following washout of Mg2+, subsequent exposure to 0.2 mM Ca2+ no longer caused affinity shifts. This protection effect did not occur in intact cells and was probably a consequence of patch excision, possibly representing ablation of a regulatory protein from the channel cyclic nucleotide binding site. Thus, the binding of divalent cations, probably via a regulatory protein, controls the sensitivity of the cAMP-gated channels to cAMP. The influx of Ca2+ through these channels during the odorant response may rise to a sufficiently high concentration at the intracellular membrane surface to contribute to the desensitization of the odorant- induced response. The results also indicate that divalent cation effects on cyclic nucleotide-gated channels may depend on the sequence of pre-exposure to other divalent cations.
Assessment of the Pollution Threat of Boreholes Located Around an Abandoned Dumpsite in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the heavy metal and microbial contamination levels of ground water located in an abandoned municipal dumpsite in Uyo metropolis. Study Design and significantly between the boreholes (p<0.05), while Cr varied insignificantly between the boreholes (p>0.05). The total coliform count (TCC) and yeast count (YC) varied significantly between the borehole (p<0.05), while total plate count (TPC) of bacteria varied insignificantly between the boreholes (p>0.05). Eschericha coli was not detected in the 4 borehole water samples, but TPC and TCC were observed in boreholes 2, 3, and 4. The TPC, TCC, E. coli , and YC in borehole 1 (control) were all within the Nigerian standard for drinking water quality (NSDWQ), and was deemed healthy for drinking. In general, borehole 2, 3, and 4 are unhealthy for consumption since majority of the microbial parameters and heavy metals studied were above the NSDWQ acceptable limit. Conclusion: Despite recently moving the dumpsite far from residential areas, the boreholes around the abandoned dumpsite are still contaminated and unsafe for drinking. Thorough treatment and regular monitoring of the boreholes is recommended as a strategy, to prevent outbreak of water borne diseases.
Effects of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Oxidative Stress and Adiponectin Levels in Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background: Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both associated with the prevalence of major cardiovascular illnesses and certain common factors they are considered responsible for, such as stress oxidative increase, sympathetic tonus and resistance to insulin. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on oxidative stress and adiponectin levels in obese patients with and without OSA. Methods: Twenty-nine obese patients were categorized into 3 groups: group 1: 10 individuals without OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI ≤5) who did not have OSA diagnosed at polysomnography; group 2: 10 patients with moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≧20) who did not use CPAP; group 3: 9 patients with moderate to severe OSA (AHI ≧20) who used CPAP. Results: Group 3 showed significant differences before and after the use of CPAP, in the variables of diminished production of superoxide, and increased nitrite and nitrate synthesis and adiponectin levels. Positive correlations were seen between the AHI and the superoxide production, between the nitrite and nitrate levels and the adiponectin levels, between superoxide production and the HOMA-IR, and between AHI and the HOMA-IR. Negative correlations were found between AHI and the nitrite and nitrate levels, between the superoxide production and that of nitric oxide, between the superoxide production and the adiponectin levels, between AHI and the adiponectin levels, and between the nitrite and nitrate levels and the HOMA-IR. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the use of CPAP can reverse the increased superoxide production, the diminished serum nitrite, nitrate and plasma adiponectin levels, and the metabolic changes existing in obese patients with OSA.
Redetermination of the low-temperature polymorph of Li2MnSiO4 from single-crystal X-ray data

Crystals of dilithium manganese(II) silicate were grown under high-temperature hydrothermal conditions in the system LiOH—MnO2—SiO2. The title compound crystallizes in the βII-Li3PO4 structure type. The coordination polyhedra of all cations are slightly distorted tetrahedra (m symmetry for MnO4 and SiO4), which are linked by corner-sharing to each other. The vertices of the tetrahedra point to the same direction perpendicular to the distorted hexagonal close-packed (hcp) array of O atoms within which half of the tetrahedral voids are occupied by cations. In comparison with the previous refinement from powder X-ray data [Dominko et al. (2006 ▶). Electrochem. Commun. 8, 217–222], the present reinvestigation from single-crystal X-ray data allows a more precise determination of the distribution of the Li+ and Mn2+ cations, giving a perfectly site-ordered structure model for both Li+ and Mn2+.
Ciliary contact interactions dominate surface scattering of swimming eukaryotes

Interactions between swimming cells and surfaces are essential to many microbiological processes, from bacterial biofilm formation to human fertilization. However, despite their fundamental importance, relatively little is known about the physical mechanisms that govern the scattering of flagellated or ciliated cells from solid surfaces. A more detailed understanding of these interactions promises not only new biological insights into structure and dynamics of flagella and cilia but may also lead to new microfluidic techniques for controlling cell motility and microbial locomotion, with potential applications ranging from diagnostic tools to therapeutic protein synthesis and photosynthetic biofuel production. Due to fundamental differences in physiology and swimming strategies, it is an open question of whether microfluidic transport and rectification schemes that have recently been demonstrated for pusher-type microswimmers such as bacteria and sperm cells, can be transferred to puller-type algae and other motile eukaryotes, because it is not known whether long-range hydrodynamic or short-range mechanical forces dominate the surface interactions of these microorganisms. Here, using high-speed microscopic imaging, we present direct experimental evidence that the surface scattering of both mammalian sperm cells and unicellular green algae is primarily governed by direct ciliary contact interactions. Building on this insight, we predict and experimentally verify the existence of optimal microfluidic ratchets that maximize rectification of initially uniform Chlamydomonas reinhardtii suspensions. Because mechano-elastic properties of cilia are conserved across eukaryotic species, we expect that our results apply to a wide range of swimming microorganisms.
Inhibition of transpositional recombination by OrfA and OrfB proteins encoded by insertion sequence IS3

An insertion element IS3 is flanked by terminal inverted repeat (IR) sequences. IS3 encodes two, out‐of‐phase, overlapping open reading frames, orfA and orfB, from which three proteins are produced. OrfAB is a transframe protein produced by −1 translational frameshifting between orfA and orfB, and it is known to be IS3 transposase. OrfA and OrfB are the proteins produced without frameshifting, but their functions have not been elucidated.
Exponential algorithmic speedup by a quantum walk

We construct a black box graph traversal problem that can be solved exponentially faster on a quantum computer than on a classical computer. The quantum algorithm is based on a continuous time quantum walk, and thus employs a different technique from previous quantum algorithms based on quantum Fourier transforms. We show how to implement the quantum walk efficiently in our black box setting. We then show how this quantum walk solves our problem by rapidly traversing a graph. Finally, we prove that no classical algorithm can solve the problem in subexponential time.
Evaluation of a Novel Thermal Accelerant for Augmentation of Microwave Energy during Image-guided Tumor Ablation

The primary challenge in thermal ablation of liver tumors (e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic colorectal cancer) is the relatively high recurrence rate (~30%) for which incomplete ablation at the periphery of the tumor is the most common reason. In an attempt to overcome this, we have developed a novel thermal accelerant (TA) agent capable of augmenting microwave energy from a distance normally unattainable by a single microwave ablation antenna. This cesium-based block co-polymer compound transforms from a liquid to a gel at body temperature and is intrinsically visible by computed tomography. Using an agarose phantom model, herein we demonstrate that both the rate and magnitude of temperature increase during microwave ablation were significantly greater in the presence of TA when compared with controls. These results suggest robust augmentation of microwave energy, and may translate into larger ablation zone volumes within biologic tissues. Further work using in vivo techniques is necessary to confirm these findings.
Comparison of the Investment Behavior of German and Kazakhstani Farmers: an Experimental Approach

Kazakhstan and Germany have different development levels of the agricultural sectors. One of the explanations for this fact might be the different investment behavior of farmers in the two countries. We experimentally analyze whether the investment behavior of farmers is consistent with the normative benchmarks of the net present value criterion or the real options approach. Furthermore, we experimentally compare the investment behavior of farmers in the two countries in an agricultural and a non-agricultural treatment. In addition, farmers were confronted with the two treatments in a different order. Our results show that both theories cannot exactly predict the investment behavior of farmers. Farmers invest later than the net present value criterion suggests and earlier than the real options approach suggests. However, German farmers invest later than Kazakhstani farmers, which mean that the investment behavior of German farmers is more in accordance with the superior real options approach. Therefore, the different investment behavior might partly be an explanation for different development levels of the agricultural sectors of the two countries. Moreover, results are independent from the framing of an agricultural and a non-agricultural treatment. However, farmers learn from their former investment decisions and consider the value of waiting over time.
Mining broad latent query aspects from search sessions

Search queries are typically very short, which means they are often underspecified or have senses that the user did not think of. A broad latent query aspect is a set of keywords that succinctly represents one particular sense, or one particular information need, that can aid users in reformulating such queries. We extract such broad latent aspects from query reformulations found in historical search session logs. We propose a framework under which the problem of extracting such broad latent aspects reduces to that of optimizing a formal objective function under constraints on the total number of aspects the system can store, and the number of aspects that can be shown in response to any given query. We present algorithms to find a good set of aspects, and also to pick the best k aspects matching any query. Empirical results on real-world search engine logs show significant gains over a strong baseline that uses single-keyword reformulations: a gain of 14% and 23% in terms of human-judged accuracy and click-through data respectively, and around 20% in terms of consistency among aspects predicted for "similar" queries. This demonstrates both the importance of broad query aspects, and the efficacy of our algorithms for extracting them.
IDENTIFICATION OF A MAJOR BASIC PROTEIN IN GUINEA PIG EOSINOPHIL GRANULES

Elucidation of the functions of the eosinophil might be accomplished by analysis of the granule constituents. We have purified eosinophils (93% or greater) from the peritoneal cavity of the guinea pig and have investigated a variety of methods to disrupt cells and liberate intact granules. Lysis in 0.34 M sucrose gave the best yield of granules and these had the characteristic morphology of eosinophil granules when examined by electron microscopy. Granules were solubilized by a variety of treatments and the solutions analyzed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis at pH 3 in 6 M urea. Comparison of the electrophoretic patterns of solubilized eosinophil and neutrophil granules revealed a difference: a major portion (53±3%; x ±1 SE) of the protein from the eosinophil granule migrated as a single component. This major band protein has a molecular weight between 6,000 and 12,000 daltons and a pI of 10 or greater. Analysis of eosinophil granule constituents on Sephadex G-50 revealed two main peaks; peak 1 possessed peroxidase activity and peak 2 contained the major band protein. These studies indicate that eosinophil granules contain a cationic protein of low molecular weight which lacks peroxidase activity and which accounts for greater than 50% of granule protein.
A comparison of the epidemiology of low back pain in Indian and Coloured communities in South Africa

In order to investigate low back pain in an Indian and a Coloured community in South Africa, a population-based epidemiological survey was carried out in which 1 000 subjects were interviewed (500 Indians and 500 Coloureds). Subjects were selected using the Systematic Random Sampling method. A pre-tested questionnaire, designed by the researcher, was used to elicit information about the subjects' demography, general characteristics and details regarding low back pain (incidence, prevalence, severity, disability, treatment). Only subjects 18 years or older who were permanent residents of the 2 suburbs were included in the study. The author carried out the interviews personally
Participation and accountability in development management

This article critically reviews the role of participatory theory in managing development projects and programmes in poor countries. Participation has emerged in response to global demands for greater individual and social control over the activities of state and private agencies, and especially to the manifest failures of traditional ‘top-down’ management systems in LDCs. Claims made on behalf of these participatory methodologies are critically reviewed and a distinction is drawn between strong and weak versions of the theory. Empirical evidence is then considered to evaluate the effectiveness of these methodologies, using long-standing insights of social science theory to show that participation can succeed for specific kinds of projects and programmes in favourable circumstances, but is unsuitable for many others. It commonly fails in contexts where local conditions make co-operative and collective action very difficult, or where it is manipulated by implementing agencies to justify their own actions or poor performance.
Barriers to providing diabetes care in community health centers.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify barriers to improving care for individuals with diabetes in community health centers. These findings are important because many such patients, as in most other practice settings, receive care that does not meet evidence-based standards. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In 42 Midwestern health centers, we surveyed 389 health providers and administrators about the barriers they faced delivering diabetes care. We report on home blood glucose monitoring, HbA1c tests, dilated eye examinations, foot examinations, diet, and exercise, all of which are a subset of the larger clinical practice recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). RESULTS Among the 279 (72%) respondents, providers perceived that patients were significantly less likely than providers to believe that key processes of care were important (overall mean on 30-point scale: providers 26.8, patients 18.2, P = 0.0001). Providers were more confident in their ability to instruct patients on diet and exercise than on their ability to help them make changes in these areas. Ratings of the importance of access to care and finances as barriers varied widely; however, >25% of the providers and administrators agreed that significant barriers included affordability of home blood glucose monitoring, HbA1c testing, dilated eye examination, and special diets; nonproximity of ophthalmologist; forgetting to order eye examinations and to examine patients' feet; time required to teach home blood glucose monitoring; and language or cultural barriers. CONCLUSIONS Providers in health centers indicate a need to enhance behavioral change in diabetic patients. In addition, better health care delivery systems and reforms that improve the affordability, accessibility, and efficiency of care are also likely to help health centers meet ADA standards of care.
The shrinking ark: patterns of large mammal extinctions in India

Mammal extinctions are widespread globally, with South Asian species being most threatened. We examine local extinctions of 25 mammals in India. We use historical records to obtain a set of locations at which each species was known to have been present at some time in the last 200 years. We then use occupancy estimation models to draw inferences about current presence at these same locations based on field observations of local experts. We examine predictions about the influence of key factors such as protected areas, forest cover, elevation, human population density and cultural tolerance on species extinction. For all 25 species, estimated local extinction probabilities (referenced to a 100 year time frame) range between 0.14 and 0.96. Time elapsed since the historical occurrence record was an important determinant of extinction probability for 14 species. Protected areas are positively associated with lower extinction of 18 species, although many species occur outside them. We find evidence that higher proportion of forest cover is associated with lower extinction probabilities for seven species. However, for species that prefer open habitats (which have experienced intensive land-use change), forest cover alone appears insufficient to ensure persistence (the complement of extinction). We find that higher altitude is positively associated with lower extinction for eight species. Human population density is positively associated with extinction of 13 species. We find that ‘culturally tolerated’ species do exhibit higher persistence. Overall, large-bodied, rare and habitat specialist mammals tend to have higher extinction probabilities.
Optical mesh network topology design using node-pair encoding genetic programming

Two variants of a new node-pair encoding genetic programming (GP) approach for optical mesh network topology design are presented. In addition, a new variant of the earlier connected-nodes encoding is described. Experimental work on 15- and 20-node networks demonstrates that both GP approaches can almost match the design quality of bit-string genetic algorithms, particularly for the larger network size investigated.
Modern pollen-vegetation relationships along a steep temperature gradient in the Tropical Andes of Ecuador

Abstract The characterization of modern pollen rain assemblages along environmental gradients is an essential prerequisite for reliable interpretations of fossil pollen records. In this study, we identify pollen-vegetation relationships using modern pollen rain assemblages in moss polsters (n = 13) and lake sediment surface samples (n = 11) along a steep temperature gradient of 7°C (3100–4200 m above sea level) on the western Andean Cordillera, Ecuador. The pollen rain is correlated to vascular plant abundance data recorded in vegetation relevées (n = 13). Results show that pollen spectra from both moss polsters and sediment surface samples reflect changes in species composition along the temperature gradient, despite overrepresentation of upper montane forest taxa in the latter. Estimated pollen transport distance for a lake (Laguna Llaviucu) situated in a steep upper montane forest valley is 1–2 km, while a lake (Laguna Pallcacocha) in the páramo captures pollen input from a distance of up to 10–40 km. Weinmannia spp. , Podocarpus spp. , and Hedyosmum sp. are indicators of local upper montane forest vegetation, while Phlegmariurus spp. and Plantago spp. are indicators for local páramo vegetation.
Discriminative noise adaptive training approach for an environment migration

A combined strategy of noise-adaptive training (NAT) and discriminative-based adaptation is proposed for effective migration of speech recognition systems to other noisy environments. NAT is an effective approach for real-field applications, but does not satisfy the minimum classification error (MCE) criterion for the recognition process and adapts poorly to new environments. The proposed method makes up for the weak points in discriminative adaptation strategies, and presents a new method for improving the MCE approach. Using this new method, experimental results show that the speech recognition system can successfully be migrated to other environments using specific-condition data of the target environment.
de Travail du Centre d ’ Economie de la Sorbonne The three worlds of welfare capitalism revisited

We introduce a new way to model the Bismarckian social insurance system, stressing its corporatist dimension. Comparing the Beveridgean, Bismarckian and Liberal systems according to the majority voting rule, we show that for a given distribution of risks inside society, the Liberal system wins if the inequality of income is low, and the Beveridgean system wins if the inequality of income is high. Using a utilitarian criterion, the Beveridgean system always dominates and the Bismarckian system is preferred to the Liberal one. JEL Classification: D63; D72; H53