Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of altered temperature on Ca2(+)-sensitive force in permeabilized myocardium and skeletal muscle. Evidence for force dependence of thin filament activation

The effect of changes in temperature on the calcium sensitivity of tension development was examined in permeabilized cellular preparations of rat ventricle and rabbit psoas muscle. Maximum force and Ca2+ sensitivity of force development increased with temperature in both muscle types. Cardiac muscle was more sensitive to changes in temperature than skeletal muscle in the range 10-15 degrees C. It was postulated that the level of thin filament activation may be decreased by cooling. To investigate this possibility, troponin C (TnC) was partially extracted from both muscle types, thus decreasing the level of thin filament activation independent of temperature and, at least in skeletal muscle fibers, decreasing cooperative activation of the thin filament as well. TnC extraction from cardiac muscle reduced the calcium sensitivity of tension less than did extraction of TnC from skeletal muscle. In skeletal muscle the midpoint shift of the tension- pCa curve with altered temperature was greater after TnC extraction than in control fibers. Calcium sensitivity of tension development was proportional to the maximum tension generated in cardiac or skeletal muscle under all conditions studied. Based on these results, we conclude that (a) maximum tension-generating capability and calcium sensitivity of tension development are related, perhaps causally, in fast skeletal and cardiac muscles, and (b) thin filament activation is less cooperative in cardiac muscle than in skeletal muscle, which explains the differential sensitivity of the two fiber types to temperature and TnC extraction. Reducing thin filament cooperativity in skeletal muscle by TnC extraction results in a response to temperature similar to that of control cardiac cells. This study provides evidence that force levels in striated muscle influence the calcium binding affinity of TnC.
Adaptive multiple subtraction with wavelet-based complex unary Wiener filters

ABSTRACTAdaptive subtraction is a key element in predictive multiple-suppression methods. It minimizes misalignments and amplitude differences between modeled and actual multiples, and thus reduces multiple contamination in the data set after subtraction. Due to the high crosscorrelation between their waveforms, the main challenge resides in attenuating multiples without distorting primaries. As they overlap on a wide frequency range, we split this wide-band problem into a set of more tractable narrow-band filter designs, using a 1D complex wavelet frame. This decomposition enables a single-pass adaptive subtraction via complex, single-sample (unary) Wiener filters, consistently estimated on overlapping windows in a complex wavelet transformed domain. Each unary filter compensates for amplitude differences within its frequency support, and can correct small and large misalignment errors through phase and integer delay corrections. This approach greatly simplifies the matching filter estimation and, despit.
A Bidirectional Battery Charger With Modular Integrated Charge Equalization Circuit

High-voltage battery pack and charger structure are the main concerns of the electric vehicle (EV) developments. To achieve required voltage and power in propulsion systems, cascading battery stacks is essential. However, due to small discrepancies between different cells, charge imbalance occurs. Charge imbalance reduces battery cells life cycle, accessible energy, and system performance. Hence, charge equalization among battery stacks is necessary. Furthermore, EVs should have some essential requirements to provide desired contributions in future networks. Therefore, bidirectional power flow and reactive power control are other important capabilities of the battery charger system. In this paper, a bidirectional structure with two operation modes for a modular battery stack is developed. The developed structure has active and reactive control capabilities during grid to vehicle and vehicle to grid operations. To improve the battery system performance, a modular charge equalizer circuit (CEC) for both operation modes is developed. The modular configuration of the battery stack improves the system reliability and flexibility. Moreover, the overall system performance for the CEC and converter is improved by utilizing the integrated control strategy. Performance of the proposed structure is evaluated using simulations and laboratory experiments. The results confirm the capability of the proposed structure.
Model-Agnostic Interpretability of Machine Learning

Understanding why machine learning models behave the way they do empowers both system designers and end-users in many ways: in model selection, feature engineering, in order to trust and act upon the predictions, and in more intuitive user interfaces. Thus, interpretability has become a vital concern in machine learning, and work in the area of interpretable models has found renewed interest. In some applications, such models are as accurate as non-interpretable ones, and thus are preferred for their transparency. Even when they are not accurate, they may still be preferred when interpretability is of paramount importance. However, restricting machine learning to interpretable models is often a severe limitation. In this paper we argue for explaining machine learning predictions using model-agnostic approaches. By treating the machine learning models as black-box functions, these approaches provide crucial flexibility in the choice of models, explanations, and representations, improving debugging, comparison, and interfaces for a variety of users and models. We also outline the main challenges for such methods, and review a recently-introduced model-agnostic explanation approach (LIME) that addresses these challenges.
What is the Private Return to Tertiary Education? New Evidence from 21 OECD Countries

This article provides estimates of the private Internal Rates of Return to tertiary education for women and men in 21 OECD countries, for the years between 1991 and 2005. IRR are computed by estimating labour market premia on cross-country comparable individual-level data. Labour market premia are then adjusted for fiscal factors and costs of education. We find that returns to an additional year of tertiary education are on average above 8% and vary in a range from 4 to 15% in the countries and in the period under study. IRR are relatively homogenous across genders. Overall, a slightly increasing trend is observed over time. The article discusses various policy levers for shaping individual incentives to invest in tertiary education and provides some illustrative quantification of the impact of policy changes on those incentives.
New insights into craniofacial morphogenesis

No region of our anatomy more powerfully conveys our emotions nor elicits more profound reactions when disease or genetic disorders disfigure it than the face. Recent progress has been made towards defining the tissue interactions and molecular mechanisms that control craniofacial morphogenesis. Some insights have come from genetic manipulations and others from tissue recombinations and biochemical approaches, which have revealed the molecular underpinnings of facial morphogenesis. Changes in craniofacial architecture also lie at the heart of evolutionary adaptation, as new studies in fish and fowl attest. Together, these findings reveal much about molecular and tissue interactions behind craniofacial development.
Asset Growth and Stock Market Returns: A Time-Series Analysis

I examine whether the firm-level total asset growth effect in Cooper, Gulen, and Schill (2008) extends to the aggregate stock market. I find that aggregate asset growth negatively predicts future market returns both in and out-of-sample and this result is robust across G7 countries. I further show that aggregate asset growth contains information about future market returns not captured by traditional macroeconomic variables and other measures of investment or growth. The forecasting ability of asset growth is strongly correlated with its propensity to predict equity issuance timing and growth in cash savings, earnings surprise, and systematic errors in investors' expectations.
No resuscitation and withdrawal of therapy in a neonatal and a pediatric intensive care unit in Canada.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare and contrast the modes of death in a neonatal (NICU) and a pediatric (PICU) intensive care unit. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of patient records. SUBJECTS All newborn infants and children (< 17 years of age) who died in the NICU and PICU at the University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, between Jan. 1, 1990, to Dec. 31, 1991. RESULTS The mortality rate in the PICU was 8.7% (73/839) compared with 5.6% (75/1333) in the NICU (p = 0.007). Withdrawal of therapy was the most common cause of death in both units and occurred more commonly in the NICU (NICU = 69% vs PICU = 34%; p = 0.01). There were significantly more deaths as a result of failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the PICU than in the NICU (29% vs 13%; p = 0.046). Death after no-CPR orders occurred with equal frequency in both units (NICU 17%; PICU 15%). Brain death accounted for 22% (16/87) of PICU deaths; no infant in the NICU was declared brain dead (p < 0.05). When deaths resulting from brain death and failed CPR were excluded, there was no significant difference between the two units regarding withdrawal of therapy (NICU 80% vs PICU 69%) and no-CPR orders (NICU 20% vs PICU 30%). CONCLUSIONS This study confirms that both withdrawal of therapy and no-CPR orders are part of current clinical practice in both the NICU and PICU settings. The ethical foundations and implications of these practices need further elaboration.
Increased aqueous humor basic fibroblast growth factor and hyaluronan levels in relation to the exfoliation syndrome and exfoliative glaucoma.

PURPOSE To quantify the concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hyaluronan (HA) in the aqueous humor of patients with the exfoliation syndrome (XFS) or exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). METHODS Aqueous humor bFGF and HA levels were measured in 13 patients with XFS and in 7 patients with XFG. The results were compared with those obtained from 17 healthy controls. RESULTS Mean bFGF levels were significantly higher in the XFG patients than those in the XFS patients, which in turn were higher than the bFGF levels in the healthy individuals. Aqueous humor HA levels in both patients with the XFS and the XFG were significantly higher compared to the controls. CONCLUSION We suggest that bFGF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of XFS and XFG, as well as in the synthesis of secreted HA, which may result in connective tissue degradation that affects the ocular anterior segment.
Work‐family culture, work‐family interference and well‐being at work: Is it possible to distinguish between a positive and a negative process?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether work‐family (WF) interference functions as an explaining mechanism in the link between work‐family culture and well‐being, hereby distinguishing between a negative and a positive process. The negative, energy depleting process initiates from a hindrance work‐family culture and ends up to burnout through the experience of work‐family conflict. The positive, motivation generating process initiates from a supportive work‐family culture and ends up to work engagement through work‐family enrichment.Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a quantitative study among employees from three different organizations (n=516). Findings – Work‐family conflict fully mediates the relationship between a hindrance WF‐culture and the exhaustion dimension of burnout and partially mediates the relationship between a hindrance WF‐culture and the cynicism dimension of burnout. With regard to the mediational role of work‐family enrichment the results also confirm the.
Rho Inhibition Induces Migration of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Although mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being increasingly used as cell therapeutics in clinical trials, the mechanisms that regulate their chemotactic migration behavior are incompletely understood. We aimed to better define the ability of the GTPase regulator of cytoskeletal activation, Rho, to modulate migration induction in MSCs in a transwell chemotaxis assay. We found that culture‐expanded MSCs migrate poorly toward exogenous phospholipids lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) in transwell assays. Moreover, plasma‐induced chemotactic migration of MSCs was even inhibited after pretreatment with LPA. LPA treatment activated intracellular Rho and increased actin stress fibers in resident MSCs. Very similar cytoskeletal changes were observed after microinjection of a cDNA encoding constitutively active RhoA (RhoAV14) in MSCs. In contrast, microinjection of cDNA encoding Rho inhibitor C3 transferase led to resolution of actin stress fibers, appearance of a looser actin meshwork, and increased numbers of cytoplasmic extensions in the MSCs. Surprisingly, in LPA‐pretreated MSCs migrating toward plasma, simultaneous addition of Rho inhibitor C2I‐C3 reversed LPA‐induced migration suppression and led to improved migration. Moreover, addition of Rho inhibitor C2I‐C3 resulted in an approximately 3‐ to 10‐fold enhancement of chemotactic migration toward LPA, S1P, as well as platelet‐derived growth factor or hepatocyte growth factor. Thus, inhibition of Rho induces rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton in MSCs and renders them susceptible to induction of migration by physiological stimuli.
On the continuous spectral component of the Floquet operator for a periodically kicked quantum system

By a straightforward generalization, we extend the work of Combescure [J. Stat. Phys. 59, 679 (1990)] from rank-1 to rank-N perturbations. The requirement for the Floquet operator to be pure point is established and compared to that in Combescure. The result matches that in McCaw and McKeller [J. Math. Phys. 46, 032108 (2005)]. The method here is an alternative to that work. We show that if the condition for the Floquet operator to be pure point is relaxed, then in the case of the δ-kicked Harmonic oscillator, a singularly continuous component of the Floquet operator spectrum exists. We also provide an in-depth discussion of the conjecture presented in the work of Combescure of the case where the unperturbed Hamiltonian is more general. We link the physics conjecture directly to a number-theoretic conjecture of Vinogradov [The Method of Trigonometrical Sums in the Theory of Numbers (Interscience, London, 1954)] and show that a solution of Vinogradov’s conjecture solves the physics conjecture. The result i.
Inactivation of SMAD4 Tumor Suppressor Gene During Gastric Carcinoma Progression

Purpose: Mothers against decapentaplegic homologue 4 (SMAD4) is a tumor suppressor gene associated with gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study is to more precisely characterize its role in the development and progression of human gastric carcinoma. Experimental Design: The expression of SMAD4 was investigated in 283 gastric adenocarcinomas and related lesions, as well as in 9 gastric carcinoma cell lines. We also analyzed the methylation status of SMAD4 gene by using methylation-specific PCR, examined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of this gene locus by using a vicinal marker, and detected exon mutation of SMAD4 through exon-by-exon amplification. Moreover, we assessed whether MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, affected the SMAD4 protein level. Results: We found loss of SMAD4 protein expression in the cytoplasm (36 of 114, 32%) and in the nucleus (46 of 114, 40%) of gastric cancer cells. The loss of nuclear SMAD4 expression in primary tumors correlated significantly with poor survival, and was an independent prognostic marker in multivariate analysis. We also found a substantial decrease in SMAD4 expression at both the RNA and protein level in several human gastric carcinoma cell lines. In addition, we found that LOH (20 of 70, 29%) and promoter hypermethylation (4 of 73, 5%) were associated with the loss of SMAD4 expression. SMAD4 protein levels were also affected in certain gastric carcinoma cell lines following incubation with MG132. Conclusion: Taken together, our results indicate that the loss of SMAD4, especially loss of nuclear SMAD4 expression, is involved in gastric cancer progression. The loss of SMAD4 in gastric carcinomas was due to several mechanisms, including LOH, hypermethylation, and proteasome degradation.
High Affinity Binding of the Receptor-associated Protein D1D2 Domains with the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein (LRP1) Involves Bivalent Complex Formation

The LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a large endocytic receptor that binds and mediates the endocytosis of numerous structurally diverse ligands. Currently, the basis for ligand recognition by LRP1 is not well understood. LRP1 requires a molecular chaperone, termed the receptor-associated protein (RAP), to escort the newly synthesized receptor from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. RAP is a three-domain protein that contains the following two high affinity binding sites for LRP1: one is located within domains 1 and 2, and one is located in its third domain. Studies on the interaction of the RAP third domain with LRP1 reveal critical contributions by lysine 256 and lysine 270 for this interaction. From these studies, a model for ligand recognition by this class of receptors has been proposed. Here, we employed surface plasmon resonance to investigate the binding of RAP D1D2 to LRP1. Our results reveal that the high affinity of D1D2 for LRP1 results from avidity effects mediated by the simultaneous interactions of lysine 60 in D1 and lysine 191 in D2 with sites on LRP1 to form a bivalent D1D2-LRP1 complex. When lysine 60 and 191 are both mutated to alanine, the binding of D1D2 to LRP1 is ablated. Our data also reveal that D1D2 is able to bind to a second distinct site on LRP1 to form a monovalent complex. The studies confirm the canonical model for ligand recognition by this class of receptors, which is initiated by pairs of lysine residues that dock into acidic pockets on the receptor.
Functional Impairment of Human Myeloid Dendritic Cells during Schistosoma haematobium Infection

Chronic Schistosoma infection is often characterized by a state of T cell hyporesponsiveness of the host. Suppression of dendritic cell (DC) function could be one of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, since Schistosoma antigens are potent modulators of dendritic cell function in vitro. Yet, it remains to be established whether DC function is modulated during chronic human Schistosoma infection in vivo. To address this question, the effect of Schistosoma haematobium infection on the function of human blood DC was evaluated. We found that plasmacytoid (pDC) and myeloid DC (mDC) from infected subjects were present at lower frequencies in peripheral blood and that mDC displayed lower expression levels of HLA-DR compared to those from uninfected individuals. Furthermore, mDC from infected subjects, but not pDC, were found to have a reduced capacity to respond to TLR ligands, as determined by MAPK signaling, cytokine production and expression of maturation markers. Moreover, the T cell activating capacity of TLR-matured mDC from infected subjects was lower, likely as a result of reduced HLA-DR expression. Collectively these data show that S. haematobium infection is associated with functional impairment of human DC function in vivo and provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of T cell hyporesponsiveness during chronic schistosomiasis.
Phase I Trial of Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Nanoparticle Albumin–Bound Paclitaxel: Toxicity, Pharmacokinetics, and Activity

Because liver involvement in patients with metastatic cancer has limited options and poor outcomes, we conducted a phase I study to determine the safety, activity, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of hepatic arterial infusion of nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel (HAI nab-paclitaxel). Cohorts of three patients having predominant hepatic metastases received HAI nab-paclitaxel at three dose levels (180, 220, and 260 mg/m2, respectively) infused for more than 1 hour every 3 weeks (3 + 3 design). Some patients participated in comparative pharmacokinetic studies (i.v. vs. HAI), receiving their first course i.v. , to determine peak concentrations and effect of first-pass hepatic extraction compared with subsequent courses administered by HAI. The highest dose level was expanded to determine the safety and activity of HAI nab-paclitaxel. Thirty-eight patients were treated. There were no dose-limiting toxicities at doses up to 260 mg/m2. Common adverse events included alopecia, fatigue, myelosuppresion, nausea, and vomiting. Three patients had stable disease for 4 or more months and 2 patients (1 of 12 with breast cancer and 1 of 1 with cervical cancer) achieved a partial response lasting for 5 and 15 months, respectively. Peak concentrations were lower (∼50%) with greater hepatic extraction of drug (∼42%) following HAI than i.v. infusion based on area under the curve comparison of drug exposure. HAI nab-paclitaxel showed partial hepatic extraction. At doses 260 mg/m2 or less given for 1 hour every 3 weeks, the treatment was well-tolerated and showed activity in advanced cancer patients with predominant liver metastases. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(7); 1300–7. ©2011 AACR.
Effect of an Educational Program on Adherence to Therapeutic Regimen among Chronic Kidney Disease Stage5 (CKD5) Patients under Maintenance Hemodialysis

The burden of chronic disease on health care services worldwide is growing and the increased development of educational interventions which help patients to better manage their conditions is evident internationally. It has been recognized that poor adherence can be a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of patients. Adherence to fluid restrictions, dietary and medication guidelines as well as attendance at prescribed hemodialysis sessions of a hemodialysis regimen are essential for adequate management of chronic kidney disease. The objective of the present study is to investigate the effect of an educational program on adherence to therapeutic regimen among chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) patients under maintenance hemodialysis at Kasr AlAiny center for Nephrology, Dialysis and transplantation (KAC-NDT), Cairo University. To fulfill the aim of this study a purposive sample of sixty adult male and female patients on maintenance hemodialysis for at least 6 months and not more than one year were assigned. Socio-demographic and medical data sheet, laboratory investigation assessment data sheet, pre/post knowledge assessment data sheet and adherence assessment data sheet were utilized for data collection. The study results revealed, the post total mean knowledge scores of the study subjects increased significantly in follow up assessment times as compared to the pre-program assessment (X 2 = 186.332, P= 0.001). The post total mean adherence scores of the study subjects is increased significantly in follow up assessment times as compared to the pre-program assessment ( X 2 = 34.587 , P= 0.001). Frequent and repeated contacts with renal nurses can help these patients develop problem-solving skills, set goals, and understand their progress in managing multiple aspects of their disease. Individualization of the common educational approach by incorporating the patient’s beliefs, behaviors, and emotional and physical feelings as well as culture, economic situation, ability and knowledge of the disease and its treatment supports selfmanagement. Key wards: chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis, knowledge, adherence, diet and fluid restrictions.