Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feasibility, safety, and short-term outcome of leadless ultrasound-based endocardial left ventricular resynchronization in heart failure patients: results of the wireless stimulation endocardially for CRT (WiSE-CRT) study.

AIMS Left ventricular (LV) endocardial pacing may address the limitations in the selection of an LV pacing site and provide improvements in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) effectiveness. We report on the feasibility, the safety, and the short-term outcome of a leadless ultrasound-based technology for LV endocardial resynchronization in heart failure (HF) patients enroled into the Wireless Stimulation Endocardially for CRT (WiSE-CRT) study. METHODS AND RESULTS Seventeen HF patients were enroled and categorized as: (i) patients in whom attempted coronary sinus lead implantation for CRT had failed (n = 7); (ii) patients with a previously implanted CRT device, not responding to CRT (n = 2); and (iii) patients with previously implanted pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and meeting the standard indications for CRT (n = 8). System implantation was achieved in 13 patients (76.5%); mean R-wave amplitude was 5.6 ± 3.2 mV and the mean pacing threshold was 1.6 ± 1.0 V, respectively. In one patient, no sufficient pacing thresholds were found; in three patients pericardial effusion occurred. Biventricular pacing was recorded in 83% and 92% of the patients at 1 month and 6 months, respectively. QRS duration was shorter during biventricular pacing compared with right ventricular pacing at 1 month (-41 ms; P = 0.0002) and 6 months (-42 ms; P = 0.0011), respectively. At the 6-month follow-up, two-thirds of the patients had at least one functional class change. Left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased (P < 0.01) by 6 points at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION The feasibility of providing an endocardial stimulation for CRT with a leadless technology was successfully demonstrated. Despite the promising results for a novel technology, further study is required to definitively conclude the safety and the performance of the system. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION NCT01294527.
A Review on Pharmacological and Therapeutic Properties of Echinacea

Mostafa Ganjuri1, Sara Darakhshan2,3* and Fereidoun Taghizad4 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran 3Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran 4Department of physiology, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran International Journal of Pharmacovigilance Open Access Case report
Search for Gravitational-wave Bursts Associated with Gamma-ray Bursts Using Data from Ligo Science Run 5 and Virgo Science Run 1

We present the results of a search for gravitational-wave bursts (GWBs) associated with 137 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that were detected by satellite-based gamma-ray experiments during the fifth LIGO science run and first Virgo science run. The data used in this analysis were collected from 2005 November 4 to 2007 October 1, and most of the GRB triggers were from the Swift satellite. The search uses a coherent network analysis method that takes into account the different locations and orientations of the interferometers at the three LIGO–Virgo sites. We find no evidence for GWB signals associated with this sample of GRBs. Using simulated short-duration No. 2, 2010 SEARCH FOR GWBs ASSOCIATED WITH GRBs USING LIGO AND VIRGO 1441 (<1 s) waveforms, we set upper limits on the amplitude of gravitational waves associated with each GRB. We also place lower bounds on the distance to each GRB under the assumption of a fixed energy emission in gravitational waves, with a median limit of D ∼ 12 Mpc(E iso GW /0.01 M c 2) 1/2 for emission at frequencies around 150 Hz, where the LIGO–Virgo detector network has best sensitivity. We present astrophysical interpretations and implications of these results, and prospects for corresponding searches during future LIGO–Virgo runs.
Augmented Replicative Capacity of the Boosting Antigen Improves the Protective Efficacy of Heterologous Prime-Boost Vaccine Regimens

ABSTRACT Prime-boost immunization regimens have proven efficacious at generating robust immune responses. However, whether the level of replication of the boosting antigen impacts the magnitude and protective efficacy of vaccine-elicited immune responses remains unclear. To evaluate this, we primed mice with replication-defective adenovirus vectors expressing the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) glycoprotein (GP), followed by boosting with either LCMV Armstrong, which is rapidly controlled, or LCMV CL-13, which leads to a more prolonged exposure to the boosting antigen. Although priming of naive mice with LCMV CL-13 normally results in T cell exhaustion and establishment of chronic infection, boosting with CL-13 resulted in potent recall CD8 T cell responses that were greater than those following boosting with LCMV Armstrong. Furthermore, following the CL-13 boost, a greater number of anamnestic CD8 T cells localized to the lymph nodes, exhibited granzyme B expression, and conferred improved protection against Listeria and vaccinia virus challenges compared with the Armstrong boost. Overall, our findings suggest that the replicative capacity of the boosting antigen influences the protective efficacy afforded by prime-boost vaccine regimens. These findings are relevant for optimizing vaccine candidates and suggest a benefit of robustly replicating vaccine vectors. IMPORTANCE The development of optimal prime-boost vaccine regimens is a high priority for the vaccine development field. In this study, we compared two boosting antigens with different replicative capacities. Boosting with a more highly replicative vector resulted in augmented immune responses and improved protective efficacy.
The protonmotive potential difference across the vacuo-lysosomal membrane of Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree) and its modification by a membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatase.

The vacuo-lysosomes of Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree) constitute a suitable model system for the study of active transport and energization at the level of the membrane of plant vacuoles. The pH gradient (delta pH) and the membrane potential (delta psi) of vacuo-lysosomes were determined by means of the weak base methylamine and the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium. The values obtained depended strongly on the experimental conditions such as medium pH or K+ concentration. Under experimental conditions, i.e., pH 7.5 outside and low K+, the delta pH amounts to about 0.9 unit, interior acid, and the delta psi to -120 mV, interior negative. The delta psi is presumably caused by the imposed K+ gradient, and the internal acidification might be a consequence of the passive proton inflow along the electric field. This explanation is sustained by the ineffectiveness of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone in destroying the delta pH and delta psi, whereas higher K+ concentration decreased both. Under conditions existing in vivo, the membrane potential might be significantly lower. The presence of ATP increased the acidification of the intravesicular space by 0.5pH unit to a delta pH of up to 1.4 and shifts the membrane potential at least 60mV to a more positive value. The change of the protonmotive potential did not occur with ADP; the pH-dependence of the change was identical with the pH-dependence of a vacuo-lysosomal membrane-bound ATPase, and the effect of ATPase was prevented by the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. The change of protonmotive potential difference, brought about by the ATPase, was at least 90 mV. This is evidence that a vacuo-lysosomal ATPase in plants can function as an electrogenic proton pump that transfers protons into the vacuo-lysosomal space.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff Reports

This paper presents preliminary findings and is being distributed to economists and other interested readers solely to stimulate discussion and elicit comments. The views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and are not necessarily reflective of views at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Federal Reserve System. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors. Abstract Loss aversion has been used to explain why a high equity premium might be consistent with plausible levels of risk aversion. The intuition is that the different utility impact of wealth gains and losses leads loss-averse investors to behave similarly to investors with high risk aversion. But if so, should these agents not perceive larger gains from international diversification than standard expected-utility preference agents with plausible levels of risk aversion? They might not, because comovements in international stock markets are asymmetric: Correlations are higher in market downturns than in upturns. This asymmetry dampens the gains from diversification relatively more for loss-averse investors. We analyze the portfolio problem of such an investor who has to choose between home and foreign equities in the presence of asymmetric comovement in returns. Perhaps surprisingly, in the context of the home bias puzzle we find that the loss-averse investors behave similarly to those with standard expected-utility preferences and plausible levels of risk aversion. We argue that preference specifications that appear to perform well with respect to the equity premium puzzle should be subjected to this " test. "
Soil response to skidder trafficking and slash application

ABSTRACT Ground-based timber harvesting systems are common in the United States. Harvesting machinery can negatively influence soils by increasing erosion and decreasing site productivity. Skid trails can become compacted and erosive. Slash applications to skid trails are effective for erosion control, yet few investigations have examined effects of slash on soil physical properties influenced by compaction. This research project has two objectives: (1) to compare and contrast the impacts of traffic resulting from a rubber-tired grapple skidder and a dozer using a variety of soil compaction indices, and (2) to compare effects of slash versus bare soil on skid trails trafficked by a rubber-tired grapple skidder and a dozer. The project was conducted within an upland hardwood/pine stand in the Ridge and Valley region. Skidder traffic changed both visual appearance and soil physical properties. The heavier skidder resulted in deeper visible ruts, greater increases in bulk density, and greater decreases in macro porosity when compared to the lighter dozer. This project also served as a pilot test for the AgTech sensor for forest trails. Results from sensors are briefly compared with traditional soil compaction indices. While no major relationships were found, the technology is promising for future research applications. Using slash as a means of ameliorating soil disturbance was not entirely conclusive as variation in cover had no effect on bulk density or porosity and mechanical resistance data were contradictory. Slash reduced increases in soil strength, and despite difference in sizes, the skidder and dozer resulted in similar changes in soil strength.
Seasonal Patterns of Controller and Rescue Medication Dispensed in Underserved Children with Asthma

Objective. To determine whether temporal trends exist for short-acting beta agonist (SABA), oral corticosteroid (OCS), and anti-inflammatory prescription fills in children with persistent asthma. Method. This was a longitudinal analysis of pharmacy record data and health information data obtained by parent report over 12 months for children with persistent asthma 2 to 9 years of age. Eligible children had to report current nebulizer use and one or more emergency department visits or hospitalizations within the past 12 months. Results. Children were primarily African-American (89%), male (64%), received Medicaid health insurance (82%), and were a mean age of 4.5 years (SD 2.1). Few families (11%) reported any problems paying for their child's asthma medications at baseline or at the 12-month follow-up. There was a high degree of association between filling a rescue (SABA or OCS) and controller (leukotriene modifier, inhaled corticosteroid, cromolyn) medication during the same month for all months with Pearson's correlation coefficients ranging from a low of 0.28 for October to a high of 0.53 in September. Short-acting beta agonist fills were significantly more likely to be filled concurrently with inhaled corticosteroid fills. However, significantly fewer prescription fills were obtained in the summer months with an acceleration of medication fills in September through December and an increase in early spring. Conclusions. There was a summer decline in both inhaled corticosteroid and SABA fills. Timing of asthma monitoring visits to occur before peak prescription fill months, i.e., August and December for an asthma “tune-up,” theoretically could improve asthma control. During these primary care visits children could benefit from more intensive monitoring of medication use including monitoring lung function, frequency of prescription refills, and assessment of medication device technique to ensure that an effective dose of medication is adequately delivered to the respiratory tract. Additionally, scheduling non-urgent asthma care visits at pre-peak prescription fill months can take advantage of “step down” during decreased symptom periods and when appropriate restart daily controller medications to “step up” prior to peak asthma periods.
Continuously Tunable Dual-Mode Bandstop Filter

A varactor-based tunable bandstop filter has been proposed in this letter. The proposed filter is based on a dual-mode circuit developed by introducing inductive and capacitive couplings into a notch filter. The frequency tunability is achieved by using varactor diodes instead of the lumped capacitors in the circuit. Next, the equivalent circuit model has been implemented in planar microstrip technology using thin inductive traces and varactor diodes. The fabricated filter prototype shows a continuous center frequency tuning range of 0.66–0.99 GHz with a compact size of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.12\lambda _{g} \times 0.16\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, where <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the guided wavelength at the middle frequency of the tuning range.
Reconstitution of Anti‐tumor Effects of Lentinan in Nude Mice: Roles of Delayed‐type Hypersensitivity Reaction Triggered by CD4‐positive T Cell Clone in the Infiltration of Effector Cells into Tumor

Lentinan, an antitumor polysaccharide used clinically in Japan, requires the intact T cell compartment to manifest its antitumor effects. The aim of the current study was to clarify the mechanisms playing crucial roles in the T cell requirement in the expression of antitumor effects of lentinan. Lentinan treatment of BDF1 mice transplanted intradermally with FBL‐3 induced complete tumor regression and a marked increase in survival time. The antitumor action of lentinan was abolished in mice treated simultaneously with antibodies to CD4 and CD8 antigens, whereas antibody to CD4, CD8 or NK1.1 alone was ineffective. The natural killer, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and helper T cell activities were already augmented in this FBL‐3/BDF1 system and thus further augmentation of these activities by lentinan was not observed. These activities did not correlate with the antitumor activity of lentinan, as was confirmed in lymphocyte subset depletion experiments. On the contrary, the delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) response against tumor‐associated antigens was triggered by lentinan and was abrogated only in mice treated simultaneously with antibodies to CD4 and CD8 antigens. Furthermore, a non‐cytolytic tumor‐associated antigen‐specific CD4+ T cell clone able to induce the DTH response in concert with lentinan reconstituted the antitumor effects in B6 nude mice when administered with lentinan. These results suggest that, in addition to the augmentation of immune effector cell activity against tumors, infiltration of these cells into the tumor burden initiated by the DTH responses at tumor sites may be involved in eradication of tumors by lentinan.
Testing the role of sport event personality on the development of event involvement and loyalty: The case of mountain running races

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test: the applicability of Aaker’s (1997) brand personality model in the context of mountain running races; and the influence of event personality on event involvement and loyalty. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 177 runners (n=177) at two mountain running races participated in the study and filled the brand personality (Aaker, 1997) and leisure involvement (Kyle et al., 2004a, b) questionnaires. Findings – The confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the factorial validity of the brand personality and event involvement models. The analysis confirmed also the structural model. Four of the five personality facets (excitement, competence, ruggedness and sincerity) significantly influenced the three dimensions of event involvement, which in their turn influenced event loyalty (intention to participate and W-O-M communications). Practical implications – The topic of brand personality is important for building brand equity and guiding market positionin.
The use of "cognitive contrastive analysis" in foreign language teaching

The paper made an initial attempt to discuss the characteristics and its role of " cognitive contrastive analysis" in foreign language teaching.The paper consists of two sections.The first section compares the differences between cognitive contrastive analysis and traditional contrastive analysis in terms of their theoretical basis,contrastive content,contrastive method,contrastive function and teaching method.The second section explains how cognitive contrastive analysis can be potentially used to facilitate foreign language teaching.
Linking waterlogging tolerance with Mn²⁺ toxicity: a case study for barley.

Vast agricultural areas are affected by flooding, causing up to 80% yield reduction and resulting in multibillion dollar losses. Up to now, the focus of plant breeders was predominantly on detrimental effects of anoxia, while other (potentially equally important) traits were essentially neglected; one of these is soil elemental toxicity. Excess water triggers a progressive decrease in soil redox potential, thus increasing the concentration of Mn(2+) that can be toxic to plants if above a specific threshold. This work aimed to quantify the relative contribution of Mn(2+) toxicity to waterlogging stress tolerance, using barley as a case study. Twenty barley (Hordeum vulgare) genotypes contrasting in waterlogging stress tolerance were studied for their ability to cope with toxic (1 mm) amounts of Mn(2+) in the root rhizosphere. Under Mn(2+) toxicity, chlorophyll content of most waterlogging-tolerant genotypes (TX9425, Yerong, CPI-71284-48 and CM72) remained above 60% of the control value, whereas sensitive genotypes (Franklin and Naso Nijo) had 35% less chlorophyll than 35% of controls. Manganese concentration in leaves was not related to visual Mn(2+) toxicity symptoms, suggesting that various Mn(2+) tolerance mechanisms might operate in different tolerant genotypes, i.e. avoidance versus tissue tolerance. The overall significant (r = 0.60) correlation between tolerance to Mn(2+) toxicity and waterlogging in barley suggests that plant breeding for tolerance to waterlogging traits may be advanced by targeting mechanisms conferring tolerance to Mn(2+) toxicity, at least in this species.
Predictive Regressions: A Present-Value Approach

We propose a latent variables approach within a present-value model to estimate the expected returns and expected dividend growth rates of the aggregate stock market. This approach aggregates information contained in the history of price-dividend ratios and dividend growth rates to predict future returns and dividend growth rates. We find that returns and dividend growth rates are predictable with values ranging from 8.2% to 8.9% for returns and 13.9% to 31.6% for dividend growth rates. Both expected returns and expected dividend growth rates have a persistent component, but expected returns are more persistent than expected dividend growth rates. Copyright (c) 2010 the American Finance Association.
Alignment and rheo-oscillator criteria for sheared nematic polymer films in the monolayer limit

Monolayer films of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) are modelled with a mesoscopic two-dimensional (2D) analogue of the Doi-Hess (1981, 1976) rigid rod model. One aim is to establish a more complete solution to the classical problem of how orientational degeneracy of quiescent nematic equilibria breaks in weak shear. We exploit the simplicity of 2D liquids to extend results of Kuzuu and Doi (1983,1984), Marrucci and Maffetone (1989-1991), See, Doi and Larson (1990), Forest et al. (2003-2004). We recall the distinction between two versus three dimensional quiescent phase diagrams and the isotropic-nematic phase transition, then analyze the deformation of these respective bifurcation diagrams in shear flow. We give a simple proof that limit cycles, known as tumbling orbits, must arise beyond the parameter boundary for the steady-unsteady transition. Finally, we show the shear-perturbed 2D phase diagram is significantly more robust to closure approximations than the 3D system.