Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuronal Na+ channel blockade suppresses arrhythmogenic diastolic Ca2+ release.

AIMS Sudden death resulting from cardiac arrhythmias is the most common consequence of cardiac disease. Certain arrhythmias caused by abnormal impulse formation including catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) are associated with delayed afterdepolarizations resulting from diastolic Ca2+ release (DCR) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Despite high response of CPVT to agents directly affecting Ca2+ cycling, the incidence of refractory cases is still significant. Surprisingly, these patients often respond to treatment with Na+ channel blockers. However, the relationship between Na+ influx and disturbances in Ca2+ handling immediately preceding arrhythmias in CPVT remains poorly understood and is the object of this study. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed optical Ca2+ and membrane potential imaging in ventricular myocytes and intact cardiac muscles as well as surface ECGs on a CPVT mouse model with a mutation in cardiac calsequestrin. We demonstrate that a subpopulation of Na+ channels (neuronal Na+ channels; nNav) colocalize with ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels (RyR2). Disruption of the crosstalk between nNav and RyR2 by nNav blockade with riluzole reduced and also desynchronized DCR in isolated cardiomyocytes and in intact cardiac tissue. Such desynchronization of DCR on cellular and tissue level translated into decreased arrhythmias in CPVT mice. CONCLUSIONS Thus, our study offers the first evidence that nNav contribute to arrhythmogenic DCR, thereby providing a conceptual basis for mechanism-based antiarrhythmic therapy.
Hours Restrictions and Labor Supply

This study presents a model of labor supply in which individuals may face constraints on their choice of work hours, and analyzes the sensitivity of parameter estimates and policy conclusions to the usual assumption of unrestricted choice. We set up the labor supply decision asa discrete choice problem, where each worker faces a finite number of employment opportunities, each offering fixed hours of work.The distribution from which these are drawn, as well as the number of draws, is estimated along with the behavioral parameters of individual labor supply.The standard model with unconstrained hours appears as a special case where the number of draws approaches infinity. We estimate the mean absolute difference between desired and actual work hours to be about ten hours perweek. The results strongly support the notion that hours choices are constrained, and suggest that models which ignore restrictions on hours worked may yield biased estimates of the wage elasticity of desired hours. Further, we suggest that analysis of policies such as income transfers and the flat rate tax which do not consider their effects on the distribution of hours offered may be very misleading.
Influenza vaccination coverage in children with inflammatory bowel disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influenza vaccination status among paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Poland. This was a questionnaire‐based study. 242 patients with IBD and 142 controls were enrolled in the study. Of patients with IBD, 7·8% received an influenza vaccine, compared to 18·3% of controls (P = 0·0013). There were no statistically significant differences in time from IBD diagnosis, disease activity and in drugs, between vaccinated and non‐vaccinated IBD children. In conclusion, the data of our study demonstrate an alarmingly poor influenza vaccination status in the majority of children with IBD. Therefore, there is an unmet need to implement better influenza vaccination strategies for this group of patients.
Multistage quasi-orthogonal minimum output energy multiuser detector analysis for turbo coded CDMA systems in frequency-selective fading

The paper presents the performance analysis of the multistage quasi-orthogonal minimum output energy (QOMOE) detector for a turbo coded synchronous CDMA systems in frequency selective fading environment. The QOMOE detector minimizes the output variance with respect to the component equivalent to the quasi-orthogonal component to the desired user's signature waveform, then the solution is the linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) transformation. The QOMOE receiver employs maximal-ratio combiner (MRC) for detecting the desired user. A comparison is made among multistage detectors, namely; QOMOE-MRC, matched filter (MF-MRC), decorrelator-MRC, LMMSE-MRC and blind adaptive-MRC receivers, in a frequency selective fading channel. Analysis and simulation results show that the multistage QOMOE-MRC can obtain better performance than that of other considered detectors.
Conditions for Corruption : Institutions, Executive Power, and Privatization in Argentina and Chile in the 1990s

The question posed in this dissertation is why high-level corruption has been less widespread in Chile than in Argentina. It explores the hypothesis that political-institutional conditions have made Chile less vulnerable to high-level corruption than its neighbor. The analytical focus is on four institutional dimensions usually considered significant for explaining variations in vulnerability to corruption: power concentration, discretion, transparency, and intrastate accountability. The role and significance of institutional conditions emerge from an empirical study of the actions of decision-makers – largely executive officials – in connection with the launching and implementation of privatization during the 1990s (just the sort of situation normally offering manifold incentives and opportunities for corrupt behavior). The results of this study confirm the significance of political institutions in accounting for differences in vulnerability to corruption at high levels of the political hierarchy. The Chilean political setting proved more adverse to corruption than its Argentinean counterpart, with stronger intrastate accountability and a less pronounced concentration of power in the hands of the executive branch. Variations in the level of discretion in decision-making were found to be less influential than is usually suggested in the literature on corruption. Most notably, a higher level of transparency in Argentina was not associated with any lower level of corruption. The research findings indicate a more complex causal relationship than expected between transparency and corruption, with results varying according to level of transparency, time span considered, and degree of intrastate accountability and power concentration. The empirical analysis also yields revealing insights into the role played by particular institutional conditions in shaping contexts more adverse or favorable to high-level corruption. These insights are of value for theory development, and may be useful for purposes of institutional reform.
The nuclear SED of NGC 6251 : a BL Lac in the center of an FR I radio galaxy 1

We determine the nuclear spectral energy distribution (SED) from the radio to the gamma– ray band for the FR I radio galaxy NGC 6251, by using both data from the literature and analyzing HST and X-ray archival data. In the log ν − log(νFν ) representation, the SED has two broad peaks, and it is remarkably similar to those of blazars. We show that the low-energy peak can be explained in terms of synchrotron radiation, while the high energy peak is most plausibly produced by inverse Compton scattering. This brings direct support to the FR I–BL Lacs unification model. We model the overall emission in the frame of a synchrotron self-Compton scenario, which well describes the SED of BL Lacs. The model parameters we obtain confirm also quantitatively the FR I–BL Lac unification model and imply a rather small viewing angle to this source (θ < ∼ 20 ). NGC 6251 is the second radio galaxy, in addition to Centaurus A, for which a similar analysis has been performed. A significant improvement with respect to the case of Cen A is the absence of obscuration in NGC 6251, which strengthens the overall result. Subject headings: galaxies: active — galaxies: nuclei — galaxies: jets — galaxies: individual (NGC 6251) ESA fellow On assignment from ESA Based on observations obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Incorporated, under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.
Economic Role of Zakat in Reducing Poverty and Income Inequality: A Case Study in the Province of DKI Jakarta, Indonesia

Poverty and income inequality are still the major problems faced by Indonesia. Some scholars argue that economic development in the country had created a trade-off between economic growth and distribution. Therefore, the number of the poor for the last two decades did not fall significantly. Likewise, income inequality in the country tends to worsen. The conventional distribution approach seems to fail in overcoming these two problems. Hence, introduction of zakat mechanism is highly needed as an alternative approach to solve the problems. This research attempts to examine the economic role of zakat in reducing poverty and income inequality in the country, by taking a case study in the Province of DKI Jakarta. After analyzing 1,195 households as the respondents of the research, this study finds that zakat fund has increased monthly income of the households by 8.94 percent. The presence of zakat programmes has reduced the poverty incidence by an average of 16.79 percentage points and income inequality by an average of 0.57 percentage points.
A radiation condition for uniqueness in a wave propagation problem for 2‐D open waveguides

We study the uniqueness of solutions of Helmholtz equation for a problem that concerns wave propagation in waveguides. The classical radiation condition does not apply to our problem because the inhomogeneity of the index of refraction extends to infinity in one direction. Also, because of the presence of a waveguide, some waves propagate in one direction with different propagation constants and without decaying in amplitude.
Selection of efficient re-ordering heuristics for MDD construction

Multi-valued decision diagrams (MDDs) are a generalization of binary decision diagrams (BDDs). They are suitable for several applications in synthesis and verification of integrated circuits since often, functions with multi-valued input variables can be represented efficiently by MDDs. Their sizes counted in number of nodes vary from linear to exponential dependent on the variable ordering used. Therefore sifting, i.e. dynamic variable re-ordering, has to be applied frequently while an MDD is built in order to keep the number of nodes needed during the process small. Often most of the runtime for MDD construction is spent for sifting. We present a new method that speeds up MDD construction and also reduces memory consumption. It is based on the selection of re-ordering heuristics dependent on the history of the construction process. Success of previous re-ordering steps as well as the frequency of sifting calls in the past are used to determine a variation of sifting that is applied next. Experimental results are given to demonstrate that runtimes and memory consumption can be reduced by 30% on average when the proposed selection methods are used during MDD construction.
High-Temperature Combustion: Approaching Equilibrium Using Nuclear Networks

A method for integrating the chemical equations associated with nuclear combustion at high temperature is presented and extensively checked. Following the idea of Müller, the feedback between nuclear rates and temperature was taken into account by simultaneously computing molar fraction changes and temperature response in the same matrix. The resulting algorithm is very stable and efficient at calculating nuclear combustion in explosive scenarios, especially in those situations where the reacting material manages to climb to the nuclear statistical equilibrium regime. The numerical scheme may be useful not only for those who carry out hydrodynamical simulations of explosive events, but also as a tool to investigate the properties of a nuclear system approaching equilibrium through a variety of thermodynamical trajectories.
The Genesis of Industrial Clusters

In addition to giving a short overview of the content of the book, this chapter summarizes the main policy conclusions. Cluster formation is a process that relies on the co-evolution of technology, business models, and local supporting institutions. Serendipity in cluster emergence is a conspicuous feature in the cases presented here, and has also been confirmed in the previous literature. Three prominent features of cluster formation emerge. First, the emergence and sustainability of clusters seems to critically interact with entrepreneurial activities. Second, spin-offs from old firms, or individuals with previous entrepreneurial experience, become crucial assets in the development of clusters. Third, policies are by no means redundant in the case of cluster emergence, despite a high element of serendipity.
Generic behavioural criteria of managerial effectiveness

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a “partnership‐research” study of effective and ineffective managerial behaviour within the “local government” setting of the Wolverhampton City Council Social Care Department, and to describe how the research supports and challenges the organisation's existing “leadership and management behavioural competency framework”. Additionally, it reveals and discusses the extent to which the results are consistent with equivalent and comparable findings from an equivalent study within a “central government” department.Design/methodology/approach – Concrete examples of effective and ineffective managerial behaviour were collected using the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) of Flanagan, and the obtained data were analysed using content and thematic analytic methods.Findings – The paper finds that from a total of 218 usable critical incidents 50 discrete behavioural items were identified, of which 25 were examples of “effective” and 25 of “ineffective.
Marginal bone response of implants with platform switching and non-platform switching abutments in posterior healed sites: a 1-year prospective study

Objectives This 1-year prospective study evaluated the implant success rate and marginal bone response of non-submerged implants with platform and non-platform switching abutments in posterior healed sites. Material and methods Nineteen patients (9 male, 10 female) with posterior partially edentulous spaces, between the ages of 23 and 76 (mean = 55.4 years), were included in this study. A total of 30 implants (15 implants restored with platform switching [PS] abutments [control] and 15 implants restored with non-platform switching [NPS] abutments [test]) were assigned between two groups using a randomization procedure. The definitive abutments with conical connections were placed at the time of surgery, and the definitive restorations were placed at 3 months. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically using standardized radiographs at time of implant placement (0), 3, 6 and 12 months after implant placement. Data were analyzed using Friedman test with post hoc pairwise comparisons, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Pearson's chi-square test at the significance level of α = 0.05. Results At 12 months, all 30 implants remained osseointegrated corresponding to a 100% success rate. The overall mean marginal bone level change at 12 months was −0.04 ± 0.08 mm for PS group and −0.19 ± 0.16 mm for NPS group. Statistically significant difference in the marginal bone level change was observed between groups at 0 to 12 months and 3 to 12 months (P < 0.05). Conclusions This 1-year randomized control study suggests that when a conical implant–abutment connection is present, similar peri-implant tissue responses can be achieved with platform switching and non-platform switching abutments.
Why Bounded Rationality

NEARLY EVERYONE would see the truth as between Hamlet and Puck. Including Hamlet and Puck. Hamlet is feigning madness, and Puck is just being, well, puckish. Model-writing economists, however, tend not to the middle but to the “infinite in faculties” extreme. Although the postulate of unbounded rationality has dominated economic modeling for several decades, the dominance is relaxing. Is this encouraging? Why bounded rationality? In this survey, four reasons are given for incorporating bounded rationality in economic models. First, there is abundant empirical evidence that it is important. Second, models of bounded rationality have proved themselves in a wide range of impressive work. Third, the standard justifications for assuming unbounded rationality are unconvincing; their logic cuts both ways. Fourth, deliberation about an economic decision is a costly activity, and good economics requires that we entertain all costs. These four reasons, or categories of reasons, are developed in the following four sections. Deliberation cost will be a recurring theme. Most references are to the last 15 years, though many earlier works are also cited. A longer version of the survey, including many more references, is available from the author on request.
Groups acting on cubes and Kazhdan’s property (T)

We show that a group G contains a subgroup K with e(G,K) > 1 if and only if it admits an action on a connected cube that is transitive on the hyperplanes and has no fixed point. As a corollary we deduce that a countable group Gwith such a subgroup does not satisfy Kazhdan's property (T).
Voluntary Disclosure of Advertising Expenditures

In this article, I examine the incentives for voluntary disclosure of advertising expenditures for a sample of U.S. firms for the period 1994-2003. I estimate proxies for the proprietary costs and valuation benefits of advertising with data from the mandatory disclosure period. My proxy for proprietary costs is an estimate of the spillover effects of advertising. It is measured by the association between a firm's advertising investments and its competitors' market values or future profitability. Valuation benefits are defined by an estimate of the relation between the firm's own advertising outlays and its market value or future operating income. I use these proxies to explain firms' discretionary disclosure decisions, and I find that firms that experienced high proprietary costs (valuation benefits) from advertising during the mandatory disclosure period are less (more) likely to disclose their advertising expenses in the discretionary disclosure period.
Air Transport and the European Union: Europeanization and its Limits

Introduction PART I: AIR TRANSPORT UNDER THE TRADITIONAL REGIME From the Chicago Conference to the New US Aviation Policy National Aviation in Europe PART II: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMON AIR TRANSPORT POLICY From the Sidelines to the Margins The Liberal Breakthrough Completing the Single Market in Air Services Extending the Scope of the Common Air Transport Policy Beyond the Borders of the Single Market PART III: THE IMPACT OF EU ACTION Regulating the Single Market The EU and the Transformation of European Aviation Conclusion: Revolution in the Air
Compiler Assisted Dynamic Scheduling for Multicore Processors

In this paper, we propose a dynamic and efficient compiler based scheduling algorithm for multicore processors.Here, scheduler takes sub-blocks of a basic block which can be executed independently and maps these sub-blocks on to multiple cores to achieve less execution time. Instructions inside the sub-blocks are in Static-Single Assignment (SSA) form and have only true dependency, but all sub-blocks are disjoint. Scheduler is dynamic because, before mapping subblocks on to cores it checks the register requirement and cycles required for execution of each block and merges the sub-blocks if required which will lead to many outshoots. Despite having a number of new features, this algorithm has admissible time complexity, is economical in terms of the number of core used and is suitable for a wide range of graph structures.
Impact of Duration of Mitral Regurgitation on Outcomes in Asymptomatic Patients With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Undergoing Exercise Stress Echocardiography

Background Significant mitral regurgitation (MR) typically occurs as holosystolic (HS) or mid‐late systolic (MLS), with differences in volumetric impact on the left ventricle (LV). We sought to assess outcomes of degenerative MR patients undergoing exercise echocardiography, separated based on MR duration (MLS versus HS). Methods and Results We included 609 consecutive patients with ≥III+myxomatous MR undergoing exercise echocardiography: HS (n=487) and MLS (n=122). MLS MR was defined as delayed appearance of MR signal during mid‐late systole on continuous‐wave Doppler while HS MR occurred throughout systole. Composite events of death and congestive heart failure were recorded. Compared to MLS MR, HS MR patients were older (60±14 versus 53±14 years), more were males (72% versus 53%), and had greater prevalence of atrial fibrillation (16% versus 7%; all P<0.01). HS MR patients had higher right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) at rest (33±11 versus 27±9 mm Hg), more flail leaflets (36% versus 6%), and a lower number of metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved (9.5±3 versus 10.5±3), compared to the MLS MR group (all P<0.05). There were 54 events during 7.1±3 years of follow‐up. On step‐wise multivariable analysis, HS versus MLS MR (HR 4.99 [1.21 to 20.14]), higher LV ejection fraction (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94 [0.89 to 0.98]), atrial fibrillation (HR, 2.59 [1.33 to 5.11]), higher RVSP (HR, 1.05 [1.03 to 1.09]), and higher percentage of age‐ and gender‐predicted METs (HR, 0.98 [0.97 to 0.99]) were independently associated with adverse outcomes (all P<0.05). Conclusion In patients with ≥III+myxomatous MR undergoing exercise echocardiography, holosystolic MR is associated with adverse outcomes, independent of other predictors.
Online Communication and Adolescent Well-Being: Testing the Stimulation Versus the Displacement Hypothesis

The aim of this study was to contrast the validity of two opposing explanatory hypotheses about the effect of online communication on adolescents’ well-being. The displacement hypothesis predicts that online communication reduces adolescents’ well-being because it displaces time spent with existing friends, thereby reducing the quality of these friendships. In contrast, the stimulation hypothesis states that online communication stimulates well-being via its positive effect on time spent with existing friends and the quality of these friendships. We conducted an online survey among 1,210 Dutch teenagers between 10 and 17 years of age. Using mediation analyses, we found support for the stimulation hypothesis but not for the displacement hypothesis. We also found a moderating effect of type of online communication on adolescents’ well-being: Instant messaging, which was mostly used to communicate with existing friends, positively predicted well-being via the mediating variables (a) time spent with existing friends and (b) the quality of these friendships. Chat in a public chatroom, which was relatively often used to talk with strangers, had no effect on adolescents’ well-being via the mediating variables.