Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applications de la mécanique statistique à la modélisation du climat : thermodynamique et dynamique de l'atmosphère

Les outils classiques de la modelisation du climat s'appuient sur l'integration numerique des equations de la dynamique, avec une resolution spatiale et temporelle aussi fine que possible. Dans cette these, nous avons developpe des methodes complementaires, qui visent a calculer directement l'etat final au niveau macroscopique, en s'affranchissant des details de la dynamique microscopique. Deux approches principales ont ete degagees. D'une part, on formule un probleme variationnel thermodynamique qui permet d'obtenir directement un champ de temperature a l'equilibre en prenant en compte le transport d'energie par l'atmosphere et l'ocean de maniere implicite, mais sans parametrisation empirique. Les extensions de ce principe permettant de prendre en compte des retroactions climatiques, un cycle saisonnier, ou la convection verticale, sont discutees. L'accent est mis sur les possibles utilisations pour l'etude des paleoclimats. D'autre part, on applique les principes generaux de la mecanique statistique a l'ecoulement atmospherique. En raison de la nature turbulente de l'ecoulement, la vorticite a petite echelle est melangee tandis que des structures apparaissent a grande echelle. Ces structures peuvent etre calculees en choisissant une distribution de probabilite pour la vorticite microscopique. On en deduit une classification des etats d'equilibre d'un modele simple de la circulation generale, qui depend seulement de quelques quantites conservees.
SIRT1 promotes RGC survival and delays loss of function following optic nerve crush.

PURPOSE Activation of SIRT1 deacetylase prevents retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss in experimental optic neuritis, an inflammatory optic neuropathy. While mechanisms of this effect are not known, evidence suggests it involves reduction of oxidative stress. We hypothesized that SIRT1 reduces RGC loss due to oxidative stress in noninflammatory optic neuropathies, and examined effects following traumatic injury. METHODS Optic nerve crush injury was induced in wild-type C57BL/6 mice, mice overexpressing SIRT1, and mice with conditional deletion of SIRT1 in neurons. Wild-type mice were treated daily with vehicle or 250 mg/kg resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol that activates SIRT1. RGC function was assessed by pupillometry and optokinetic responses (OKR), and RGC survival was measured. Superoxide levels were measured to assess oxidative stress. RESULTS Significant decreases in pupillary light responses, OKR and RGC survival occurred 1 week after optic nerve crush, with progressive worsening at 2 to 4 weeks. Resveratrol treatment and SIRT1 overexpression delayed RGC loss and loss of pupillary light responses following optic nerve crush, although no change in RGC loss occurred in neuronal SIRT1-deficient mice. A significant accumulation of superoxide was detected in wild-type optic nerves following crush, and was reduced in mice overexpressing SIRT1 or treated with resveratrol. CONCLUSIONS SIRT1 delays RGC loss following traumatic injury. Effects are associated with reduced oxidative stress. Results suggest SIRT1-activating drugs may have a specific role in preventing traumatic optic nerve damage, and suggest a broader role for this strategy in treating a variety of optic neuropathies that may include a component of oxidative stress.
Managing Financial Globalization: A Guide for Developing Countries Based on the Recent Literature

We seek to draw lessons for developing countries based on a survey of the recent literature on financial globalization. First, while capital account openness holds promises (by potentially generating a lower cost of capital, better risk sharing, and stronger disciplines on policies), they do not always work out that way in the data. Distortions in the domestic financial market, international capital market, domestic labor market, and domestic public governance can make financial globalization less beneficial for developing countries. Second, developing countries sometimes need to insulate themselves from foreign monetary policy shocks. The empirical pattern appears to be somewhere between a trilemma and a dilemma. While nominal exchange rate flexibility is insufficient for policy autonomy, capital flow management may be needed to confer more monetary policy autonomy.
Inguinal hernia repair: a comparison between local and general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND A comparative analysis of outcomes of inguinal hernia repair performed under local (LA) and general anaesthesia (GA) by a single surgeon using a standardized technique of anterior transversalis repair was performed. Ninety-three cases were examined, 56 of which were cases of LA hernia repair. METHODS A retrospective analysis of the patient hospital record was performed with particular attention to intra-operative and post-operative analgesia requirements. RESULTS An overall series complication rate of 6.5% (6/93) is reported. Only one of 56 LA patients (2%) required more than 24 h of narcotic analgesic injections compared to 11% (4/37) in the GA group (P < 0.05). The mean total postoperative parenteral narcotic requirement in the LA group was 86+/-14 mg of pethidine as compared to the GA group who had a mean total requirement of 121+/-17 mg of pethidine (P > 0.08). CONCLUSIONS The LA infiltration technique is an effective method for inguinal hernia repair. This series demonstrates benefits in terms of length of hospital stay and a lower incidence of postoperative parenteral narcotic analgesic requirement although when post-operative parenteral narcotics were required by the LA group of patients, the difference in mean total pethidine requirement was not statistically significant.
Effect of Palmatine on periodontal tissue destruction in experimental periodontitis rat model

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.5156 Received: 15.06. 2017 Accepted: 02.07. 2017 Printed: 01.12. 2017 J Clin Anal Med 2017;8(suppl 4): 390-4 Corresponding Author: Çiğdem Coşkun Türer, Department of Periodontology, Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Dentistry, 67600 Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey. T. : +90 3722613651 F. : +90 3722613603 E-Mail: cigdemturer@gmail.com Öz Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı deneysel periodontitis (DP) rat modelinde oral olarak uygulanan palmatinin periodonsiyum üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Toplam 40 sıçan, DP oluşturulmayan ve palmatin uygulanmayan (grup 1, CTRL); DP oluşturulan ama palmatin uygulanmayan (grup 2, EP); DP oluşturulan ve 5 mg / kg palmatin uygulanan (grup 3, EP-5P); DP oluşturulan ve 10 mg / kg palmatin uygulanan (grup 4, EP-10P) olmak üzere dört gruba ayrıldı. Deneysel periodontitis, sıçanların sağ mandibular birinci molar dişlerinin servikal kenarlarına 3.0 ipek dikiş yerleştirilerek elde edildi. Alveoler kemik seviyesi (AKS), ataşman seviyesi (AS) ve alveolar kemik alanı (AKA) histomorfometrik yöntem ile incelendi. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) ve Osteoprotegerin (OPG) immünoreaktivitesi ve RANKL/OPG oranları immünhistokimyasal analiz ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Palmatin gruplarındaki alveolar kemik alanı değerleri, EP grubuna göre istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek tespit edildi (p<0.05). AKS ve AS değerleri, palmatin gruplarında EP grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha düşük bulundu (p<0.05). AKS, AS ve AKA değerleri için, EP-5P ve EP-10P grupları arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p>0.05). RANKL / OPG oranı, deney süresi boyunca palmatin ile tedavi edilen gruplarda belirgin olarak daha düşük gözlendi (p<0.05). Buna ek olarak, RANKL / OPG oranına göre EP-5P ve EP-10P arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p>0.05). Tartışma: Palmatinin periodontal hastalıkta alveoler kemik kaybı ve bağ dokusu yıkımı üzerine koruyucu etkisi olabilir.
FLEXURAL RELIABILITY OF RC BRIDGE GIRDERS STRENGTHENED WITH CFRP LAMINATES

This paper presents the development of a resistance model for reinforced concrete bridge girders flexurally strengthened with externally bonded CFRP laminates. The resistance model is used to calculate the probability of failure and reliability index of CFRP strengthened crosssections. The first order reliability method is employed to calibrate the flexural resistance factor for a broad range of design variables. The study shows that the addition of CFRP improves reliability somewhat because the strength of CFRP laminates has a lower coefficient of variation than steel or concrete. However, the brittle nature of CFRP laminates necessitates a reliability index that is greater than that generally implied in AASHTO-LRFD (1998). This leads to a resistance factor that is slightly lower than currently accepted for reinforced concrete sections in flexure.
Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uptake Requires Sustained Ca2+ Release from the Endoplasmic Reticulum*

We analyzed the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (i) in powering mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and (ii) in maintaining a sustained elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+] c ). For this purpose, we expressed in HeLa cells aequorin-based Ca2+-sensitive probes targeted to different intracellular compartments and studied the effect of two agonists: histamine, acting on endogenous H1 receptors, and glutamate, acting on co-transfected metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1a), which rapidly inactivates through protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation and thus causes transient inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production. Glutamate induced a transient [Ca2+] c rise and drop in ER luminal [Ca2+] ([Ca2+] er ), and then the ER refilled with [Ca2+] c at resting values. With histamine, [Ca2+] c after the initial peak stabilized at a sustained plateau, and [Ca2+] er decreased to a low steady-state value. In mitochondria, histamine evoked a much larger mitochondrial Ca2+ response than glutamate (∼15 versus ∼65 μm). Protein kinase C inhibition, partly relieving mGluR1a desensitization, reestablished both the [Ca2+] c plateau and the sustained ER Ca2+ release and markedly increased the mitochondrial Ca2+ response. Conversely, mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake evoked by histamine was drastically reduced by very transient (∼2-s) agonist applications. These data indicate that efficient mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake depends on the preservation of high Ca2+ microdomains at the mouth of ER Ca2+ release sites close to mitochondria. This in turn depends on continuous Ca2+ release balanced by Ca2+ reuptake into the ER and maintained by Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space.
Awareness and use of probiotics among the millennials in the United States: Drivers and implications

Background: Despite the substantial increase in the number of probiotic products available in the U.S. during the last decade and the potential for millennials to be a large market for probiotics, there is a lack of understanding about millennials’ awareness, use, and preference for probiotics. In this study, we examine the relationship between the millennials’ health and diet perceptions and health outcomes, estimate awareness and use levels of probiotics among the millennials, and identify the drivers of use of probiotics.Methods: An online opt-in Internet panel is used to collect national level survey data on awareness, and use of probiotics from the U.S. population in the age group of 21 to 37 years old.Results: The study finds that there is divergence in millennials’ perceptions about their health and diet and health outcomes; awareness about probiotics is high and probiotics use is common among the millennials; demographic, socio-economic, and life style related attributes are influential in millennials’ decision on the use of probiotics;, and shakes and yogurt are the most preferred carrier forms of probiotics among the millennials. The study also finds that income constraints and perception of good health status are the major factors hindering the use of probiotics among the millennials.Conclusion: The study shows that millennials are already an important market for probiotics and there is substantial scope for expanding that market. The ability of probiotics to address public health concerns will depend greatly on how health care providers and probiotic industry will leverage these high levels of awareness and use by the millennials. Findings from our study provide insights that are helpful for probiotics product and market development and outreach efforts that will result in increased use of probiotics among the millennials with positive implications for public health and overall economy.Keywords: consumer preference, probiotic industry, health policy, shakes, yogurt
Cytotox ic T Cell Response to Epste in-BarrVirus and Its Relat ionship to T Cell

The relationship between primary and memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, and the factors influencing entry into memory , are poorly understood. Here we address this in the context o f Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a persistent human herpesvirus in which memory C T L responses in longterm virus careers are highly focused on epitopes preferentially drawn from just three of the eight available virus latent proteins, EBNAs 3A, 3B, and 3C. T o detem-fine whether this unusual level o f focusing is a consequence of longterm virus challenge, we carried out a detailed analysis o f EBV antigen/epitope specificities in the primary virus-induced C T L response in 10 infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients o f different HLA types. Primary effectors, studied in ex vivo assays and by limiting dilution cloning in vitro, were again highly skewed toward a small number of viral epitopes, almost all derived from the EBNA3 proteins, with C T L to the immunodominan t epitope accounting for at least 1% of the circulating CD8 + IM T cell pool. This is the first unequivocal demonstration of an EBV-specific CD8 + C T L response in IM. Prospective studies on individual patients showed that, whereas all o f the EBV reactivlties found in C T L memory had been detectable earlier during primary infection, the memory population was not simply a scaled down version of the primary response. In particular (a) differences in the relative frequencies of C T L to imanunodominant versus subdominant epitopes appeared to be much less marked in memory than in primary populations, and (b) we found at least one clear example in which a significant virus-specific reactivity within the primary response was never detectable in memory .
Genetic Aspects of Endocrine Tumorigenesis : A Hunt for the Endocrine Neoplasia Gene

BACKGROUND:Recent findings have shown that up to 60% of pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are caused by germline or somatic mutations in one of the 11 hitherto known susceptibility genes: SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, VHL, HIF2A (EPAS1), RET, NF1, TMEM127 and MAX. This list of genes is constantly growing and the 11 genes together consist of 144 exons. A genetic screening test is extensively time consuming and expensive. Hence, we introduce next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a time-efficient and cost-effective alternative.METHODS:Tumour lesions from three patients with apparently sporadic PCC were subjected to whole exome sequencing utilizing Agilent Sureselect target enrichment system and Illumina Hi seq platform. Bioinformatics analysis was performed in-house using commercially available software. Variants in PCC and PGL susceptibility genes were identified.RESULTS:We have identified 16 unique genetic variants in PCC susceptibility loci in three different PCC, spending less than a 30-min hands-on, in-house time. Two patients had one unique variant each that was classified as probably and possibly pathogenic: NF1 Arg304Ter and RET Tyr791Phe. The RET variant was verified by Sanger sequencing.CONCLUSIONS:NGS can serve as a fast and cost-effective method in the clinical genetic screening of PCC. The bioinformatics analysis may be performed without expert skills. We identified process optimization, characterization of unknown variants and determination of additive effects of multiple variants as key issues to be addressed by future studies.
Trypsin digest coupled with two‐dimensional shotgun proteomics reveals the involvement of multiple signaling pathways in functional remodeling of late‐gestation uteri in rats

Pregnant uteri become quiescent after functional remodeling but details are not fully known. Here we revealed uterine proteins of late‐gestation rats by 2‐D shotgun proteomic analysis and correlated protein expression with uterine functions. After duplication, 239 proteins were identified. About 190 proteins commonly found in duplicate analyses were subjected to functional annotation. The proteins associated with signal transduction fell into three known pathways. Western blotting and functional data indicated that: (i) a reduction of Na+/K+‐ATPase‐related proteins was associated with the decrease of contraction rate, (ii) a reduction of tyrosine hydroxylase and cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase type II‐α regulatory chain (PKARIIα) was associated with an increase in the relaxation response to 8‐bromo‐cAMP, and (iii) in the presence of Ras, an increased expression of nucleolin was associated with the elevation of Bcl‐xL, an antiapoptotic protein. In conclusion, 2‐D shotgun proteomic analysis provides a global database of uterine proteins for hypothesis‐driven studies. Our data suggest that in late‐gestation uteri down‐regulation of PKARIIα and Na+/K+‐ATPase may cause functional remodeling and lead to uterine quiescent. Up‐regulation of antiapoptotic proteins (nucleolin and Bcl‐xL) in the Ras‐mediated pathway may maintain cell survival and counteract cell loss during remodeling.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Obtaining Public Procurement Contract Awards

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Obtaining Public Procurement Contract Awards by Asha McGlashan MS, Kaplan University, 2011 MBA, American InterContinental University, 2007 BS, Virginia State University, 2002 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2018
Circulating intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes are increased in patients with atrial fibrillation and reflect the functional remodelling of the left atrium

Aims A recent large clinical study demonstrated the association between intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes and cardiovascular events. However, whether that monocyte subset contributes to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been clarified. We compared the circulating monocyte subsets in AF patients and healthy people, and investigated the possible role of intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes in the pathophysiology of AF. Methods and results This case–control study included 44 consecutive AF patients without systemic diseases referred for catheter ablation at our hospital, and 40 healthy controls. Patients with systemic diseases, including structural heart disease, hepatic or renal dysfunction, collagen disease, malignancy, and inflammation were excluded. Monocyte subset analyses were performed (three distinct human monocyte subsets: classical CD14++CD16−, intermediate CD14++CD16+, and non-classical CD14+CD16++monocytes). We compared the monocyte subsets and evaluated the correlation with other clinical findings. A total of 60 participants (30 AF patients and 30 controls as an age-matched group) were included after excluding 14 AF patients due to inflammation. Atrial fibrillation patients had a higher proportion of circulating intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes than the controls (17.0 ± 9.6 vs. 7.5 ± 4.1%, P < 0.001). A multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only the proportion of intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes (odds ratio: 1.316; 95% confidence interval: 1.095–1.582, P = 0.003) was independently associated with the presence of AF. Intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes were negatively correlated with the left atrial appendage flow during sinus rhythm (r= −0.679, P = 0.003) and positively with the brain natriuretic peptide (r = 0.439, P = 0.015). Conclusion Intermediate CD14++CD16+monocytes might be closely related to the pathogenesis of AF and reflect functional remodelling of the left atrium.
Endothelin-induced changes in intracellular pH and Ca2+ in coronary smooth muscle: role of Na(+)-H+ exchange.

The relationship between endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced stimulation of Na(+)-H+ exchange and intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was examined in primary cultures of porcine coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Intracellular pH (pHi) and [Ca2+]i were measured using 2,7-bis-carboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and the acetoxymethyl ester of fura-2 respectively. In HCO3(-)-free buffer (pH = 7.4), ET-1 (0.1-50 nM) induced a sustained, dose-dependent increase in pHi. ET-1 (10 nM) increased pHi from 6.83 +/- 0.01 to 6.93 +/- 0.02 (P < 0.01). The alkalinization was blocked by the Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibitor, 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA, 3 microM) or by substitution of Na+ with N-methylglucamine or choline chloride (P < 0.05). Recovery of pHi in response to acidification, induced by washout of a 20 mM NH4Cl prepulse, was > 90% inhibited by EIPA (3 microM), confirming the presence of an ET-1-responsive Na(+)-H+ exchanger. Coronary smooth muscle cells responded to ET-1 with a dose-dependent, biphasic increase in [Ca2+]i which was not inhibited by manipulations (EIPA pretreatment or Na(+)-free media) shown to block the Na(+)-H+ exchanger. The ET-1-mediated alkalinization was not inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o). However, complete blockade of the ET-1-mediated [Ca2+]i response using the intracellular Ca(2+)-chelator, [bis-(2-amino-5-methylphenoxy)ethane-NNN'N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester] (MAPTAM), in [Ca2+]o-free media, demonstrated that an increment in [Ca2+]i is required for activation of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger by ET-1. The ET-1-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was not associated with a rise in pHi in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. We conclude that: (1) activation of Na(+)-H+ exchange by ET-1 requires an increment in [Ca2+]i; and (2) ET-1 stimulates EIPA-sensitive Na(+)-H+ exchange, but this stimulation does not modulate ET-1-induced changes in [Ca2+]i.
The Pass-Through of the Largest Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: The Case of Boulder, Colorado

We estimate the incidence of a relatively new type of excise tax, a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). We examine the largest such tax to date, which is two cents per ounce, in Boulder, CO. Using data that were hand-collected from stores and restaurants in both Boulder and two control communities, as well as internet data of restaurant menus, we find that the tax was largely, but not completely, passed through to consumers 5-7 weeks after implementation. Some retailers add the tax only at the register, indicating that estimates solely from posted prices would result in an underestimate of pass-through.