Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pertussis toxin‐sensitive mechanism of endothelin action in porcine coronary artery smooth muscle

1 Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1)‐induced contraction of porcine coronary artery strips may be mediated via at least two intracellular signalling mechanisims, the activation of dihydropyridine‐sensitive voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels and the stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown. Here we have investigated the possible involvement of pertussis toxin (PT)‐sensitive guanosine‐5′‐triphosphate (GTP)‐binding proteins (G‐proteins) in ET‐1‐induced activation of these two signalling pathways in porcine coronary artery smooth muscle. 2 Increase in extracellular K+ concentration (10, 15 mm) shifted the dose‐response relationship for the ET‐1‐induced contraction to the left. 3 The dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine (10−8 m), induced a rightward shift in the dose‐response curve for ET‐1. Pretreatment of the arterial strips with PT (0.1 μg ml−1) induced a similar rightward shift of the ET‐1 dose‐response curve but not of the KCl response. Nifedipine (10−8 m) did not further attenuate the ET‐1‐induced contraction in the PT‐pretreated strips. 4 The pretreatment with PT significantly reduced 45Ca2+ uptake of the arterial strips stimulated by ET‐1, but had no effect on ET‐1‐induced production of inositol phosphates. 5 The contractile response of the arterial strips to phorbol dibutyrate, an active phorbol ester, was not significantly affected by 10−8 m nifedipine. 6 We confirmed that the pretreatment of the tissue with PT induced ADP‐ribosylation of a 41 kDa membrane protein. 7 These findings indicate that activation of dihydropyridine‐sensitive voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels by ET‐1 in this tissue is mediated via a PT‐sensitive G‐protein in a manner apparently independent of the ET‐1‐induced activation of protein kinase C. It is concluded that the action of ET‐1 in porcine coronary artery is mediated via two distinct signal transduction pathways, which are coupled to PT‐sensitive and PT‐insensitive GTP‐binding proteins, respectively.
Etude de la chimie du soufre dans les régions de formation stellaire de faible masse

Les etoiles de type solaire naissent de l'effondrement gravitationnel d'un nuage moleculaire. Celui-ci s'accompagne de la formation d'un coeur chaud au sein d'une protoetoile, et de regions de choc provoquees par l'ejection de matiere. Dans ces environnements chauds que sont le coeur et les regions choquees, le soufre, piege a la surface des grains de poussieres, s'evapore dans le gaz, sous une forme encore inconnue. Au cours de cette these, j'ai etudie l'evolution chimique des differentes composantes d'une protoetoile, en m'interessant en particulier aux molecules soufrees et a leur possible utilisation pour dater les regions chaudes. Dans un premier temps, j'ai analyse des observations millimetriques de deux regions de formation stellaire de faible masse afin de deduire et contraindre le comportement de ces molecules par rapport aux conditions physiques du gaz. A l'aide d'un modele de transfert radiatif couple a un modele dynamique d'effondrement, j'ai realise une etude detaillee de l'emission de SO et SO2 dans les enveloppes protostellaires dans le but d'identifier des transitions permettant de determiner les profils d'abondance de ces deux molecules dans les protoetoiles. J'ai egalement developpe un modele chimique qui m'a permis d'etudier en detail l'evolution des composes soufres et ainsi de determiner les possibilites et les limites de l'utilisation du soufre comme horloge chimique. J'ai demontre que les rapports d'abondance des molecules soufrees dependaient plus des conditions physiques du gaz et de la forme initiale du soufre evapore que du temps. Cependant, une etude au cas par cas sur des sources dont la structure physique est connue permettrait de contraindre a la fois l'âge des sources et la forme initiale de soufre. Des comparaisons entre observations et modele m'ont permis d'emettre l'hypothese que le soufre est evapore des grains sous la forme atomique ou sous une forme rapidement detruite pour donner S.
Current singularities at finitely compressible three-dimensional magnetic null points

The formation of current singularities at line-tied two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D, respectively) magnetic null points in a nonresistive magnetohydrodynamic environment is explored. It is shown that, despite the different separatrix structures of 2D and 3D null points, current singularities may be initiated in a formally equivalent manner. This is true no matter whether the collapse is triggered by flux imbalance within closed, line-tied null points or driven by externally imposed velocity fields in open, incompressible geometries. A Lagrangian numerical code is used to investigate the finite amplitude perturbations that lead to singular current sheets in collapsing 2D and 3D null points. The form of the singular current distribution is analyzed as a function of the spatial anisotropy of the null point, and the effects of finite gas pressure are quantified. It is pointed out that the pressure force, while never stopping the formation of the singularity, significantly alters the morphology of the cu.
Review of quality of life: menorrhagia in women with or without inherited bleeding disorders

Summary. The objectives of this study were to identify the impact of menorrhagia on the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of women in general and those with inherited bleeding disorders and to identify the commonly used tools in assessing quality of life. A review of studies evaluating quality of life in women suffering from menorrhagia was conducted. Data sources used included electronic databases Medline and Embase. Reference lists and bibliographies of the relevant papers and books were hand‐searched for additional studies. Eighteen of the 53 studies identified measured quality of life prior to treatment of menorrhagia. Ten of the studies used a validated measure of quality of life. Five studies involving a total of 1171 women with menorrhagia in general and using SF‐36 were considered for further review. The mean SF‐36 scores in women with menorrhagia were worse in all the eight scales when compared with normative scores from a general population of women. Three studies, involving 187 women, assessed the quality of life in women with menorrhagia and inherited bleeding disorders. None of these studies used a validated HRQOL score making it difficult for comparison. However, all reported poorer scores in study women compared to the controls. In conclusion, HRQOL is adversely affected in women with menorrhagia in general and in those with inherited bleeding disorders. HRQOL evaluation is useful in the management of women with menorrhagia for assessment of treatment efficacy.
Physical relation and expression: joint attention for human-robot interaction

This paper proposes a speech generation system named Linta-III, which generates an utterance dependent on a real world situation. To generate the situated utterance, Linta-III has a joint attention mechanism, which develops joint attention between a person and a robot. The joint attention mechanism employs eye-contact and an attention expression. The eye-contact promotes the relationship between the person and the robot. The attention expression manifests relevant sensor information with a physical expression. With the eye-contact and attention expression, the joint attention mechanism is able to draw the person's attention to the same sensor information as the robot. As a result of the joint attention, Linta-III is able to omit obvious words in the situation from an utterance description. We also conducted a psychological experiment on the development of joint attention. The results indicated that the eye-contact and attention expression are significant factors in the development of joint attention.
Ca2+ transport processes of lobster hepatopancreatic brush-border membrane vesicles

45Ca2+ uptake by hepatopancreatic brush-border membrane vesicles of Atlantic lobster (Homarus americanus) occurred by a combination of three independent processes: (1) an amiloride-sensitive carrier-mediated transport system; (2) an amiloride-insensitive carrier-mediated transport system; and (3) a verapamil-inhibited channel process responsive to transmembrane potential. Both carrier-mediated processes were antiporters and capable of exchanging external Ca2+ with intravesicular Na+ or H+. The kinetic parameters of both carrier-mediated processes have been reported previously. External amiloride and Zn2+ were both competitive inhibitors of 45Ca2+ influx, reducing entry of the divalent cation at a single binding site with Ki values of 370 µmol l-1 for amiloride and 940 µmol l-1 for Zn2+. It is concluded that the mechanisms controlling Ca2+ entry into hepatopancreatic epithelial cells include a previously reported electrogenic 2Na+/1H+ antiporter, an electroneutral 2Na+/1Ca2+ antiporter and a verapamil-sensitive Ca2+ channel, which might also be used for the entry of Zn2+ and possibly other heavy metals. Evidence from an equilibrium-shift experiment, based on the thermodynamics of a coupled transport process, suggested that both monovalent (Na+) and divalent (Ca2+ and Zn2+) cations may enter hepatopancreatic epithelial cells through a common carrier-mediated transport protein. This suite of hepatopancreatic brush-border Ca2+ transport processes qualitatively resembles that previously reported for the luminal membrane of lobster antennal glands and suggests that crustacean epithelial cells from different organs may handle this divalent cation by similar means.
Use of Load Control to Regulate Voltage on Distribution Networks with Embedded Generation

Since 1994 Econnect has, in conjunction with Northern Electric PLC, investigated the use of consumer load control as a new and innovative method to actively regulate distribution system voltage when affected by the operation of embedded generators [1],[2]. There are a number of issues that can limit the installed capacity of embedded generators; these are often voltage related, and the most common is steady state voltage rise. A number of techniques can be applied to limit steady state voltage rise, some of which are static in time (e.g., network reinforcement) and some dynamic (e.g., power factor control). This paper discusses the issue of excess steady state voltage rise and the methods of limitation that can be applied with specific reference to wind generation. The new and innovative approach using consumer load control is discussed and compared with the existing methods using a simulation case study.
Growth mechanisms and process window for InAs V-shaped nanoscale membranes on Si[001]

Organized growth of high aspect-ratio nanostructures such as membranes is interesting for opto-electronic and energy harvesting applications. Recently, we reported a new form of InAs nano-membranes grown on Si substrates with enhanced light scattering properties. In this paper we study how to tune the morphology of the membranes by changing the growth conditions. We examine the role of the V/III ratio, substrate temperature, mask opening size and inter-hole distances in determining the size and shape of the structures. Our results show that the nano-membranes form by a combination of the growth mechanisms of nanowires and the Stranski–Krastanov type of quantum dots: in analogy with nanowires, the length of the membranes strongly depends on the growth temperature and the V/III ratio; the inter-hole distance of the sample determines two different growth regimes: competitive growth for small distances and an independent regime for larger distances. Conversely, and similarly to quantum dots, the width of the nano-membranes increases with the growth temperature and does not exhibit dependence on the V/III ratio. These results constitute an important step towards achieving rational design of high aspect-ratio nanostructures.
Innovative Dam Monitoring Tools Based on Distributed Temperature Measurement

Distributed fibreoptic measurements contain a number of particular features. Even though they are nowadays used for strain measurements, actually the most interesting parameter to be monitored by distributed fibreoptic measurements in dams is temperature. Due to their enormous mass, large structures such as dams usually show very slow behaviour in terms of temperature changes. It is well known that temperature measurements have to be carried out in concrete dams in order to observe the development of the heat of hydration. Furthermore, seepage flows affect the temperature field within the dams and their foundations. The Distributed Fibre Optic Temperature DFOT measurement was identified to be ideally suited for monitoring the temperature fields of dams, both for leakage detection and for the observation of concrete temperatures. For almost one decade, DFOT measurement has proven to be a powerful tool to detect and locate leakage in hydraulic structures. Leakage detection by means of DFOT measurements has been typically implemented through two major approaches: the gradient method, which employs the temperature as a tracer to detect anomalies in the flow field; and the heat-up method, which allows detecting the presence and movement of water by evaluating the thermal response after external heat is induced. In the past years more and more DFOT projects are under progress. As for today, the DFOT measurement has to be considered as a state of the art tool in dam monitoring. Nevertheless, especially in the field of leakage detection, there is still an enormous potential to improve effectiveness. New additional applications will be developed and important parameters as the seepage velocity in soil material will be measured with DFOT technology in the future. Being robust and gaining a high density of in-situ information out of the dam, DFOT technology has to be considered as one of the key technologies in tomorrow’s dam monitoring.
Extended antenatal use of triple antiretroviral therapy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 correlates with favorable pregnancy outcomes

Objective:To evaluate pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of HIV-infected women receiving triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) for prevention of mother-to-child-transmission. Methods:A retrospective cohort study with review of records of 3273 HIV-positive women receiving prenatal care in Malawi and Mozambique from July 2005 to December 2009 was conducted in Drug Resource Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition (DREAM) centers. Patients were offered nevirapine-based triple ART initiated in pregnancy until 6 months postpartum. Main outcome measures were maternal mortality, abortion/stillbirth, prematurity, and low birth weight. Results:Maternal mortality was 1.2% (42/3273): 7.4% in 68 women with no antenatal ART and 0.7% in 1370 with at least 90 days of antenatal ART [P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR) 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.14–0.96]. Abortion/stillbirth was 5.2% (169/3273): 26.5% in 68 women with no ART and 5.0% in 1370 women with at least 90 days of antenatal ART [P < 0.001; OR 0.39 (95% CI 0.27–0.57)]. Prematurity was 19.1%: 70% in 10 women with no antenatal ART and 8.5% in 1330 women with at least 90 days of antenatal ART [P < 0.001; OR 0.15 (95% CI 0.14–0.19)]. Low birth weight was 11.5% (57/496) and not associated with ART duration. The protective effect of antenatal ART against mortality, fetal demise, and prematurity was independent of CD4 strata. Multivariate analysis for BMI, CD4 cell count, virus load, days in care, predelivery length of ART, and hemoglobin demonstrated an independent association between predelivery length of ART and CD4 with maternal mortality, abortion/stillbirth, and prematurity. ART toxicities were infrequent (5.2%). Conclusion:Antenatal triple ART reduces adverse pregnancy outcomes in HIV-infected women.
GLOBALIZATION AND MARKET STRUCTURE

This paper reviews some puzzling economic aspects of globalization and argues that they cannot be satisfactorily addressed in perfectly or monopolistically competitive models. Drawing on recent work, a model of oligopoly in general equilibrium is sketched. The model ensures theoretical consistency by assuming that firms are large in their own markets but small in the economy as a whole, and ensures tractability by assuming quadratic preferences defined over a continuum of goods. Applications considered include the effects of trade liberalization on industrial structure, on cross-border merger waves, and on the distribution of income between skilled and unskilled workers. (JEL: D50, L13, F12) Copyright (c) 2003 The European Economic Association.
Effects of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands on proliferation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) has been known to have many functions such as a role in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, steroidogenesis, calcium flow, cellular respiration, cellular immunity, malignancy, and apoptosis. However, the presence of PBR has not been examined in mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, we demonstrated the expression of PBR in human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) and human adipose stromal cells (hATSCs) by RT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry. To determine the roles of PBR in cellular functions of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), effects of diazepam, PK11195, and Ro5‐4864 were examined. Adipose differentiation of hMSCs was decreased by high concentration of PBR ligands (50 μM), whereas it was increased by low concentrations of PBR ligands (<10 μM). PBR ligands showed a biphasic effect on glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. High concentration of PBR ligands (from 25 to 75 μM) inhibited proliferation of hMSCs. However, clonazepam, which does not have an affinity to PBR, did not affect adipose differentiation and proliferation of hMSCs. The PBR ligands did not induce cell death in hMSCs. PK11195 (50 μM) and Ro5‐5864 (50 μM) induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. These results indicate that PBR ligands play roles in adipose differentiation and proliferation of hMSCs. J. Cell. Physiol. 198: 91–99, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Health service access, use, and insurance coverage among American Indians/Alaska Natives and Whites: what role does the Indian Health Service play?

OBJECTIVES We compared access and utilization of health services among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AIANs) with that among non-Hispanic Whites. METHODS We used data from the 1997 and 1999 National Survey of America's Families to estimate odds ratios for several measures of access and utilization and the effects of Indian Health Service (IHS) coverage. RESULTS AIANs had less insurance coverage and worse access and utilization than Whites. Over half of low-income uninsured AIANs did not have access to the IHS. However, among the low-income population, AIANs with only IHS access fared better than uninsured AIANs and as well as insured Whites for key measures but received less preventive care. CONCLUSIONS The IHS partially offsets lack of insurance for some uninsured AIANs, but important needs were potentially unmet.
Moments of the longitudinal proton structure function FL from global data in the Q(2) range 0.75-45.0  (GeV/c)(2).

We present an extraction of the lowest three moments of the proton longitudinal structure function FL from world data between Q(2)=0.75 and 45 (GeV/c)(2). The availability of new FL data at low Bjorken x from HERA and at large x from Jefferson Lab allows the first determination of these moments over a large Q(2) range, relatively free from uncertainties associated with extrapolations into unmeasured regions. The moments are found to be underestimated by leading twist structure function parametrizations, especially for the higher moments, suggesting either the presence of significant higher twist effects in FL and/or a larger gluon distribution at high x.
DGZ Awards 2010

The cardiovascular circulatory system is pivotal for embryonic development, homeostatic regulation in the adult and is involved in various pathological situations such as atherosclerosis and cancer. In mammals, the circulatory system is composed of endothelial cells (ECs) that form multicellular tubes with a central vascular lumen. The process of vascular lumen formation in the developing aorta is called vasculogenesis, since this blood vessel forms de novo from ECs. In contrast, the formation of secondary blood vessels, for example the intersomitic vessels, is called angiogenesis, because these blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels (i.e. the aorta). Interestingly, lumen formation during both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis involves three distinct steps: (i) formation of a multicellular EC cord (Fig. 1A), (ii) formation of a central vascular lumen in this cord (Fig. 1B), and (iii) initiation of blood flow through the vascular lumen (Fig. 1C). In larger blood vessels, the latter step is subsequently followed by further expansion and remodeling of the blood vessel (Fig. 1D).
Effects of parathyroidectomy on bone metabolism in haemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the outcome of bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in haemodialysis patients after parathyroidectomy (PTX). Methods: A total of 31 haemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) were treated with PTX. BMD of lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Parathyroidectomy ledds to significant decrease of serum β-crosslaps (β-CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) while serum sclerostin (SOST) increased after surgery. BMD was markedly improved in both LS and FN after PTX. Z-scores analysis further confirmed that PTX significantly benefited bone metabolism in haemodialysis patients, which well correlated with the improvement of serum iPTH and OC. Conclusions: Parathyroidectomy leads to significant improvement of serum OC, PINP, β-CTX and SOST, which may beneficially modify calcium–phosphorus metabolism and BMD in haemodialysis patients with SHPT.
Bandit Smooth Convex Optimization: Improving the Bias-Variance Tradeoff

Bandit convex optimization is one of the fundamental problems in the field of online learning. The best algorithm for the general bandit convex optimization problem guarantees a regret of O(T5/6), while the best known lower bound is Ω(T1/2). Many attempts have been made to bridge the huge gap between these bounds. A particularly interesting special case of this problem assumes that the loss functions are smooth. In this case, the best known algorithm guarantees a regret of O(T2/3). We present an efficient algorithm for the bandit smooth convex optimization problem that guarantees a regret of O(T5/8). Our result rules out an Ω(T2/3) lower bound and takes a significant step towards the resolution of this open problem.