Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Downregulation of bradykinin B2 receptor in human fibroblasts during prolonged agonist exposure.

Sustained activation of G protein-coupled receptors results in an attenuation of cellular responses, a phenomenon termed desensitization. Whereas mechanisms for rapid desensitization of ligand-receptor-G protein-effector systems are relatively well characterized, much less is known about long-term adaptation processes that occur in the continuous presence of an agonist. Here we have studied the fate of endogenously expressed bradykinin B(2) receptors on human fibroblasts during prolonged agonist treatment. Stimulation with bradykinin for up to 24 h resulted in a 50% reduction of surface binding sites that was paralleled by a similar decrease of total B(2) receptor protein followed by Western blotting using monoclonal antibodies to the B(2) receptor. Whereas B(2) receptor mRNA levels did not change during 24 h of agonist treatment, B(2) receptor de novo synthesis was attenuated by 35-50%, indicating translational control of B(2) receptor levels. Furthermore, the half-life of B(2) receptor protein was shortened by 20-40% as shown by (35)S-labeled pulse-chase and immunoprecipitation experiments. This study demonstrates that bradykinin B(2) receptor expression during long-term agonist treatment is primarily regulated on the (post)translational level, i.e., by attenuation of de novo synthesis and by reduction of receptor stability.
Financial Structure: Does R&D affect Debt-financing?

This paper provides evidence on the determinants of firm financial structure. We suggest that innovation is a key factor in firm debt financing. Using French panel data, we propose a dynamic analysis of firm debt ratios by applying GMM system estimator. Our results show that an increase in R&D intensity is associated with lower bank debt/assets ratio and with a decrease in the share of bank debt in total debt. Moreover, our findings are consistent with most of the standard empirical evidence: We both find a positive impact of collaterals and a negative effect of profitability on bank debt ratios.
Class Voting and Value Orientations: The fourth generation

The most important questions in the study of class voting during the last few decades have been whether, to what degree, and why class voting has been declining. Usually, a dichotomous left-right party choice variable has been utilized. This may have distorted dealignment and realignment, as the rise of the New Left and the New Right has changed the relationship between the social classes and the political parties. In this thesis, we utilize a party family dependent variable on contemporary data instead. We first describe the class basis in 18 West-European countries for all the party families, showing that the party families normally grouped into the “Left” and “Right” categories indeed have quite different class bases. The strength of class voting also varies by party family. We then test one of the mechanisms connecting class to voting, namely the role of value orientations. This means that we see how much of the bivariate association between class and voting that disappears when controlling for these intermediate variables. What we find is compelling evidence of the need for a more nuanced party choice variable: The amount of class voting accounted for by the value orientations varies between the party families. The thesis thus i) describes the class basis of the West-European party families; ii) tests a mechanism through which class has its effects on voting; iii) proves the need for a more nuanced, “4 th generation” dependent variable.
On Backbone Structure For a Future Multipurpose Network

Telecommunications are evolving towards the unification of services and infrastructures. This unification must be achieved at the highest hierarchical level for a complete synergy of services. Therefore, one of the requirements is a multipurpose backbone network capable of supporting all the current and future services over the same infrastructure, offering high QoS levels. This paper analyzes different possibilities of a future backbone in order to find the best option among the studied ones. This option is a two level structure formed by the combination of N2R and Grid topologies which will achieve high performance levels.
A Genetic Evaluation of Seed Dispersal in the Neotropical Tree Jacaranda copaia (Bignoniaceae)

Seed dispersal is a critical but poorly understood life‐history stage of plants. Here we use a genetic approach to describe seed dispersal patterns accurately in a natural population of the Neotropical tree species Jacaranda copaia (Bignoniaceae). We used microsatellite genotypes from maternally derived tissue on the diaspore to identify which individual of all possible adult trees in the population was the true source of a given seed collected after it dispersed. Wind‐dispersed seeds were captured in two different years in a large array of seed traps in an 84‐ha mapped area of tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We were particularly interested in the proportion of seeds that traveled long distances and whether there was evidence for direct dispersal into gaps, which are required for successful recruitment of this pioneer tree species. Maximum likelihood procedures were used to fit single‐ and multiple‐component dispersal kernels to the distance data. Mixture models, with separate distributions near and far, best fit the observed dispersal distances, albeit with considerable uncertainty in the tail. We discuss the results in light of different mechanisms responsible for separate distributions near the adult source and in the tail of the curve.
Non-Cooperative Beacon Rate and Awareness Control for VANETs

In vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), vehicles broadcast their status information in beacons periodically to make the surrounding vehicles aware of their presence. To maximize the level of awareness, a congestion control mechanism is necessary to avoid loss of beacons due to collision in dense traffic environments. In addition to congestion control, it is desirable that vehicles share network bandwidth in a manner proportional to their dynamics or safety application requirements. Current congestion control mechanisms have a number of issues including control information overheads, fairness, and awareness. In this paper, a beacon rate and awareness control mechanism based on non-cooperative game theory called non-cooperative beacon rate and awareness control (NORAC), is proposed. The existence and uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium of the game is proved mathematically and an algorithm is proposed to find the equilibrium point in a distributed manner. The proposed algorithm is used to assign a beacon rate to every vehicle proportional to its requirements, while ensuring fairness between vehicles with the same requirement. NORAC is compared with the two other known congestion control mechanisms. The simulation results show the efficiency and stability of the proposed NORAC algorithm in several high-density traffic scenarios. The results indicate its advantages in terms of fairness and congestion and awareness control over the other two algorithms, while not requiring excessive information to be included in beacons.
Approximation of large-scaled dynamical systems based on multi-layered hierarchical structure and multiple time scales

In this paper, we deal with approximation methods of large-scaled complex systems and derive the condition that the equilibrium point of the error dynamics is exponentially stable. Especially, we propose multi-layered hierarchical model which approximates the large-scaled systems. Our heterogeneous approximation is preferable for preserving the details of a subsystem of our interest and simplifying the other parts of such large-scaled systems. Finally, numerical simulations are demonstrated to show the efficiency.
CelG from Clostridium cellulolyticum: a multidomain endoglucanase acting efficiently on crystalline cellulose

The gene coding for CelG, a family 9 cellulase from Clostridium cellulolyticum, was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Four different forms of the protein were genetically engineered, purified, and studied: CelGL (the entire form of CelG), CelGcat1 (the catalytic domain of CelG alone), CelGcat2 (CelGcat1 plus 91 amino acids at the beginning of the cellulose binding domain [CBD]), and GST-CBD(CelG) (the CBD of CelG fused to glutathione S-transferase). The biochemical properties of CelG were compared with those of CelA, an endoglucanase from C. cellulolyticum which was previously studied. CelG, like CelA, was found to have an endo cutting mode of activity on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) but exhibited greater activity on crystalline substrates (bacterial microcrystalline cellulose and Avicel) than CelA. As observed with CelA, the presence of the nonhydrolytic miniscaffolding protein (miniCipC1) enhanced the activity of CelG on phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC), but to a lesser extent. The absence of the CBD led to the complete inactivation of the enzyme. The abilities of CelG and GST-CBD(CelG) to bind various substrates were also studied. Although the entire enzyme is able to bind to crystalline cellulose at a limited number of sites, the chimeric protein GST-CBD(CelG) does not bind to either of the tested substrates (Avicel and PASC). The lack of independence between the two domains and the weak binding to cellulose suggest that this CBD-like domain may play a special role and be either directly or indirectly involved in the catalytic reaction.
Multimedia Applications and Security in MapReduce: Opportunities and Challenges

Cloud computing has recently attracted great attention, both commercially and academically. MapReduce is a popular programming model for distributed storage and computation in the cloud. In this paper, we survey cloud‐based multimedia applications, identifying the open issues and challenges which arise when MapReduce is used for cloud computing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protocol combining GnRH agonists and GnRH antagonists for rapid suppression and prevention of gonadal damage during cytotoxic therapy.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION Infertility represents one of the main sequelae of cytotoxic therapy given for various malignant diseases. Because dividing cells are more sensitive to cytotoxic effects than are cells at rest, it has been hypothesized that inhibition of the pituitary-gonadal axis may facilitate the preservation of future gonadal function. The aim of our study was to find a quick, reliable and economic way to suppress the pituitary-gonadal axis by combining GnRH-agonists with GnRH-antagonists in order to preserve future gonadal function. METHODS A combination of D-Trp6-GnRH-a (3.75 mg) and cetrorelix (3 mg) was used to achieve a quick downregulation in six postmenarchal young women (aged 15.4 +/- 0.7) years with haematological malignancies before the onset of cytotoxic chemotherapy. RESULTS The combination of D-Trp6-GnRH-a and GnRH-antagonist cetrorelix induced a reliable and long-lasting suppression of gonadotrophin secretion within 96 hours in all patients allowing cytotoxic therapy to be started without any delay. CONCLUSIONS The combination of GnRH-agonist and GnRH-antagonist enables a rapid, reliable and cost-effective suppression of the pituitary-gonadal axis to be achieved. Future gonadal function of treated patients will be monitored.
Novel Controller Using Fuzzy Logic Interpolation for Accurate Positioning under Conditions of Nonlinear Low-velocity Friction

This paper describes a novel approach to very accurate po . • itioning control of mechanical devices with nonlinear (stick-slip) friction. The controller applies narrow torque pulses to achieve a desired displac ement of a mechanism. The torque pulses are computed through fuzzy logic approx­ imation of the dependence between the desired displace­ ment and the torque puls e shapes. The stab il ity conditions of the proposed controller are derived taking into account influence of the random variation of the fri ction proper­ ties. It is experime ntally demonstrated that the developed controller is capable of positioning the mechanism up to the limits of the position encoder resolution.
The plasma flux and oxidation rate of ornithine adaptively decline with restricted arginine intake.

We hypothesized recently that arginine homeostasis is achieved in humans largely by modulating the rate of arginine degradation. We have tested this hypothesis further by measuring in vivo the whole body rate of conversion of arginine to ornithine and ornithine oxidation in six healthy young adults. Subjects received for 6 days an L-amino acid-based diet supplying an arginine-rich or arginine-free intake and on day 7, following an overnight fast, an 8-h tracer protocol (first 3 h, fast state; next 5 h, fed state) was conducted; L-[guanidino-15N2; 5,5-2H]arginine and L-[5-13C]ornithine were given as primed, constant intravenous tracers; measurements of the abundances of various isotopologs of arginine, ornithine, and citrulline in plasma were made, and from these the various kinetic parameters of the metabolism of these amino acids were derived. Arginine and ornithine fluxes were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in the fed state with arginine-free feeding. The rates of conversion (mumol.kg-1.h-1; mean +/- SD) of plasma arginine to ornithine for arginine-rich were 12.9 +/- 2.6 and 24.7 +/- 4.8 for fast and fed states. These values were 11.1 +/- 3.5 and 9.6 +/- 1.2 (P > 0.05 and P < 0.001), respectively, with an arginine-free diet. [13C]Ornithine oxidation was reduced (P < 0.001) by 46% during the fed state when the arginine-free diet was given. The findings strengthen our hypothesis that homeostasis of arginine metabolism in the human host depends importantly upon a regulation in the rate of arginine degradation with, perhaps, little involvement in the de novo net rate of arginine synthesis.
Synthesis and characterization of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for secondary zinc-air batteries

In an effort to transition from fossil fuel-based production toward a more sustainable global energy economy, large-scale reforms to the energy infrastructure have been taking place in the past few years. The rapid integration of renewable energy sources in the global energy production scheme, along with the electrification of transport, have created a growing market for battery energy storage to cope with the intermittent nature of renewables. Metal-air batteries have recently gained renewed interest as high-energy density, low-cost, light-weight and environmentally friendly alternatives to the Li-ion batteries currently dominating the market. Among metal-air battery technologies, reversible zinc-air batteries are considered the closest to commercialization. However, the poor performance of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, coupled with large overpotentials during charge/discharge cycles and low cyclability are all obstacles that limit their potential. In this work, two classes of materials, i.e. carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and cobalt-manganese spinel-type oxides were investigated as possible candidates for use as active catalyst layer in the air electrode of reversible zinc-air batteries. The electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions of the prepared materials was assessed and compared with that of state-of-the-art catalysts (Pt/C and IrO2). In an attempt to better understand the structural origin of the electrocatalytic activity of the materials investigated, common microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques (SEM, TEM, Raman, EDX, XRD, XPS) were employed. The results showed promising prospects for the development of efficient and stable bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts using hybrids of cobalt-manganese spinel oxides and nitrogen-doped CNTs. The performance of these hybrids was generally found to be in good agreement with the results reported in literature on similar materials. New directions for the optimization of the synthetic methods used in this work can be furhter explored in the future in order to enhance the structural and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized electrocatalysts.
Cutting Edge: Virus-Specific CD4+ Memory T Cells in Nonlymphoid Tissues Express a Highly Activated Phenotype1

Recent studies have shown that CD4+ memory T cells persist in nonlymphoid organs following infections. However, the development and phenotype of these peripheral memory cells are poorly defined. In this study, multimerized MHC-Ig fusion proteins, with a covalently attached peptide sequence from the Sendai virus hemagglutinin/neuraminidase gene, have been used to identify virus-specific CD4+ T cells during Sendai virus infection and the establishment of peripheral CD4+ memory populations in the lungs. We show declining frequencies of virus-specific CD4+ T cells in the lungs over the course of ∼3 mo after infection. Like peripheral CD8+ T cells, the CD4+ have an acutely activated phenotype, suggesting that a high level of differentiation is required to reach the airways and persist as memory cells. Differences in CD25 and CD11a expression indicate that the CD4+ cells from the lung airways and parenchyma are distinct memory populations.
Chronic gastritis rat model and role of inducing factors.

AIM To establish an experimental animal model of chronic gastritis in a short term and to investigate the effects of several potential inflammation-inducing factors on rat gastric mucosa. METHODS Twenty-four healthy, male SD rats were treated with intragastric administration of 600 mL/L alcohol, 20 mmol/L sodium deoxycholate and 0.5 g/L ammonia (factor A), forage containing low levels of vitamins (factor B), and/or indomethacin (factor C), according to an L(8) (2(7)) orthogonal design. After 12 wk, gastric antral and body mucosae were pathologically examined. RESULTS Chronic gastritis model was successfully induced in rats treated with factor A for 12 wk. After the treatment of animals, the gastric mucosal inflammation was significantly different from that in controls, and the number of pyloric glands at antrum and parietal cells at body were obviously reduced (P<0.01). Indomethacin induced gastritis but without atrophy, and short-term vitamin deficiency failed to induce chronic gastritis and gastric atrophy. In addition, indomethacin and vitamin deficiency had no synergistic effect in inducing gastritis with the factor A. No atypical hyperplasia and intestinal metaplasia in the gastric antrum and body were observed in all rats studied. CONCLUSION Combined intragastric administration of 600 mL/L alcohol, 20 mmol/L sodium deoxycholate and 0.5 g/L ammonia induces chronic gastritis and gastric atrophy in rats. Indomethacin induces chronic gastritis only. The long-term roles of these factors in gastric inflammation and carcinogenesis need to be further elucidated.
How Far Are Patients Willing to Travel for Gastrectomy?

Objective: To determine travel patterns for patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer and to identify factors associated with patient decision. Background: Support for regionalization of complex surgery grows; however, little is known about the willingness of patients to travel for care. Furthermore, utilization of outcomes data in patients’ hospital selection processes is not well understood. Methods: Analysis of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database from 1996 to 2009. Outcome measures included total distance traveled and rate of bypassing the nearest gastrectomy-performing hospitals. Multivariate analyses to identify predictors of bypassing local hospitals were performed. Results: Total study population was 10,022. Majority (67.1%) of patients underwent gastrectomy at the nearest providing hospitals. Distance traveled to destination hospitals in California averaged 17.04 miles. Bypassing patients traveled approximately 16 miles beyond the nearest hospitals to receive care, selecting lower volume destination hospitals in 27.9% of cases. Annual gastrectomy volumes for nearest and for destination hospitals averaged 4.4 and 6.8 cases, respectively, and inhospital mortality rates were 5.9% and 4.8%, respectively. A few patients (19.2%) sought care at teaching hospitals. Rural county residence significantly reduced the likelihood of bypass (P < 0.001). High volume (>7 cases) and teaching status of destination hospitals (both P < 0.001) were predictive of hospital bypass, though no significant association between mortality rate and bypass was identified. Conclusions: The majority of gastric cancer patients underwent gastrectomy at providing hospitals nearest to home, reflecting little regionalization of gastrectomy in California. Patients’ hospital selection appears not to be driven by outcomes data.
A case study of the implementation of a competency-based curriculum in a Caribbean teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE Several teaching hospitals are currently modifying their curriculum to comply with the changing demands in medical education. As a result, we decided to evaluate whether a competency-based curriculum implemented in a Caribbean teaching hospital fulfilled the requirements as defined by the CanMEDS framework. METHODS We made use of a triangulation method in the survey to obtain information on the educational process. Two separate methods were used consisting of site visits by visiting professors and a medical educator. The focus was on the structure, content and assessments of the educational activities. RESULTS Major recommendations included increased involvement of medical specialists in the educational activities in the clinical workplace. There was need for improvement of communication between medical specialists, patients, nurses, trainees and residents. Overall, improvements were observed in the structure of clinical rotations and content of the training programme. CONCLUSION The implemented assessment programme provided necessary information for effective evaluation of the competency-based curriculum. We were able to identify new and feasible methods for improving the curriculum in our educational setting.
Financial Intermediation, Capital Accumulation, and Recovery

This paper integrates a simple model of banks into a two-sector neoclassical growth model. The integration yields an analytically tractable framework with two coupled accumulation rules for household capital and bank equity. We analyze steady state properties, transition and recovery patterns, as well as policies to accelerate recoveries. After establishing existence, uniqueness and global stability of the steady state, we identify in particular five key results and predictions, and we provide a quantitative assessment. First, larger financial frictions in financial intermediation may increase banker wealth although total capital is depressed. Second, negative shocks to bank equity cause considerably larger downturns than comparable shocks to household wealth, but their persistence is similar. Third, temporary worsening of shocks to financial frictions (called "trust shocks") induces divergent reactions of household wealth and bank equity, causes a boom in the banking sector, and possibly in the economy – after an initial bust. Fourth, the model replicates typical patterns of financing over the business cycle: procyclical bank leverage, procyclical bank lending, and counter-cyclical bond financing. Finally, a combination of bailouts and dividend-payout-restrictions ensures a rapid build-up of bank equity after a slump in the banking sector and increases total production.