Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of hypertonic solutions on calcium transients in frog twitch muscle fibres.

1. The effects of hypertonic solutions on excitation‐contraction (e.‐c.) coupling in frog skeletal muscle fibres were investigated using Arsenazo III to monitor intracellular calcium transients in voltage‐clamped fibres. 2. In solutions made hypertonic with sucrose or sodium chloride, the size of the Arsenazo signal evoked by a 5 ms depolarization to 0 mV was little altered by increases in tonicity up to about twice normal, but declined in higher tonicities, and was almost completely suppressed at 4 times normal tonicity. 3. The latency to onset of the Arsenazo signal was increased in hypertonic solutions (2.3 and 3.1 times normal tonicity), but the decay time constant of the signal was little changed with tonicities up to 2.3 times normal. 4. The rheobase potential for a just‐detectable Arsenazo signal was shifted about 4 mV more negative by increases in tonicity up to 2.3 times normal, but further increases reversed the direction of the shift, and in 3.95 times normal tonicity the rheobase was 10 mV more positive than in normal Ringer solution. 5. With short (less than 10 ms) pulse durations the depolarization needed to elicit a threshold Arsenazo signal increased steeply with increasing tonicity. Changes in the strength‐duration curve could be accounted for by an increase in the time constant for build‐up of a hypothetical coupler in the e. ‐c. coupling process. 6. Solutions of about twice normal tonicity are commonly used to suppress muscle contraction. Since the size of the Arsenazo signal was only slightly reduced by this tonicity, the main effect is presumably on the contractile proteins.
Fragile X syndrome: from molecular genetics to therapy

Fragile X syndrome, the main cause of inherited mental retardation, is caused by transcriptional silencing of the fragile X mental retardation gene, FMR1. Absence of the associated protein FMRP leads to the dysregulation of many genes creating a phenotype of ADHD, anxiety, epilepsy and autism. The core aim of this review is to summarise two decades of molecular research leading to the characterisation of cellular and molecular pathways involved in the pathology of this disease and as a consequence to the identification of two new promising targets for rational therapy of fragile X syndrome, namely the group 1 metabotrope glutamate receptors (Gp1 mGluRs) and the γ-amino butyric acid A receptors (GABAARs). As no current clinical treatments are directed specifically at the underlying neuronal defect due to absence of FMRP, this might open new powerful therapeutic strategies.
The Impact of Reimbursement Policy on Patient Welfare , Readmission Rate and Waiting Time in a Public Healthcare System : Fee-for-Service vs . Bundled Payment

This paper examines the impact of two reimbursement schemes on patient welfare, readmission rate, and waiting time in a three tiered public healthcare system comprising (a) a public funder who decides on the reimbursement rate to maximize patient welfare, (b) a public healthcare provider (HCP) who decides on the service rate (which affects readmission rate and operating cost), and (c) a pool of (waiting time sensitive) patients who decide whether or not to seek elective treatments. We focus our analysis on (1) a Fee-For-Service (FFS) scheme under which the HCP receives payment each time a patient is admitted (or readmitted); and (2) a Bundled Payment (BP) scheme under which the HCP receives a lump sum payment for the entire episode of care for each patient (regardless of the number of readmissions). By considering an M/M/1 queueing model with endogenous arrivals and readmissions, we analyze a three-stage Stackelberg game to determine the patient’s initial admission rate, the HCP’s service rate (which affects the readmission rate), and the funder’s reimbursement rate. This analysis enables us to compare the equilibrium outcomes (patient welfare, readmission rate and waiting time) associated with the FFS and BP schemes. We find that, when the patient pool is large, the BP scheme dominates in terms of higher patient welfare and lower readmission rate, but the FFS scheme dominates in terms of waiting time. However, when the patient pool is small, the BP scheme dominates the FFS scheme in all three performance measures.
Markers of left ventricular decompensation in aortic stenosis

Calcified aortic stenosis is a condition that affects the valve and the myocardium. As the valve narrows, left ventricular hypertrophy occurs initially as an adaptive mechanism to maintain cardiac output. Ultimately, the ventricle decompensates and patients transition towards heart failure and adverse events. Current guidelines recommend aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis and evidence of decompensation based on either symptoms or an impaired ejection fraction <50%. However, symptoms can be subjective and correlate only modestly with the severity of aortic stenosis whilst impaired ejection fraction is an advanced manifestation and often irreversible. In this review, the authors will discuss the pathophysiology of left ventricular hypertrophy and the transition to heart failure. Subsequently, the authors will examine novel biomarkers that may better identify the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure and therefore guide the optimal timing for aortic valve replacement.
Determinant Power of “Public Service Motivation” for “Job Satisfaction” and “Customer Service Orientation”: In Case of People’s Republic of China

The current study is an initiative to measure the impact of determinants of “Public Service Motivations” (PSM) and to understand its impact on employee’s job satisfaction and over the intentions of “Customer Service Orientation” among employees. The study was conducted in the most of the populated region of P.R. China. Specifically, the consumer banking sector was targeted. The “Self-sacrifice” of PSM observed strongest determinant while defining job satisfaction, and customer service orientation. The study concludes that “compensation” as a part and the bits of Public Service Motivations (PSM) observed with non-determining power for job satisfaction and customer service orientation in the case of Chinese context. In the nutshell, the PSM concluded as strong determinant to understand the job satisfaction and the public service motivation where self-sacrifice is the strongest predictor of PSM in micro level view.
Analysis of apparent optical properties and ocean color models using measurements of seawater constituents in New England continental shelf surface waters

Received 22 May 2003; revised 10 December 2003; accepted 14 January 2004; published 17 March 2004. [1] We used budgets of absorption (a), scattering (b), and backscattering (bb) for particles and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) to investigate sources of seasonal variations in apparent optical properties (AOPs) of New England continental shelf surface waters. Spectral a, b, and bb budgets for particles were estimated from flow cytometric measurements of eukaryotic pico/nanophytoplankton, Synechococcus, heterotrophic prokaryotes, detritus, and minerals; AOPs were modeled with Hydrolight radiative transfer software. For late summer and spring, our modeled values of the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd) and remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) were on average within 15% and 9%, respectively, of independent measurements. This close agreement allowed us to examine how different seawater constituents contributed to AOP variability. Higher values of Kd in the spring, compared to summer, were due to higher absorption by eukaryotic phytoplankton (aeuk) and CDOM (aCDOM), which coincided with higher nutrient levels and less stratified conditions than in the summer. Differences in the spectral shape of Rrs between the seasons were caused by a combination of differences in aeuk, aCDOM, and bb from non-phytoplankton particles (minerals and detritus combined). For nonphytoplankton bb the major seasonal difference was a higher inverse wavelength dependence in the summer due to the effects of small organic detritus. We applied two semianalytical ocean color models to our data, in order to evaluate whether the assumptions and parameterizations inherent in these models are applicable for New England shelf waters. We show how differences between observed and modeled chlorophyll a specific phytoplankton absorption, aCDOM, and non-phytoplankton bb cause errors in chlorophyll a concentration and IOPs retrieved from reflectance inversion models. INDEX TERMS: 4847 Oceanography: Biological and Chemical: Optics; 4219 Oceanography: General: Continental shelf processes; 4275 Oceanography: General: Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes (0689); 4227 Oceanography: General: Diurnal, seasonal, and annual cycles; KEYWORDS: optical properties, suspended particulate matter, ocean color Citation: Green, R. E. , and H. M. Sosik (2004), Analysis of apparent optical properties and ocean color models using measurements of seawater constituents in New England continental shelf surface waters, J. Geophys. Res., 109, C03026,
Does Earnings Quality Affect Information Asymmetry? Evidence from Trading Costs

Information asymmetry in financial markets relates to the idea that one party to a transaction has better information than the other. Since financial reporting involves the transmission of value relevant enterprise information, we investigate whether the quality of reported earnings can contribute to differentially informed financial market participants. Higher information asymmetry is costly as it increases the adverse selection risk for market participants and lowers liquidity. For a large sample of NYSE and NASDAQ firms, we show that (i) poor earnings quality is significantly and incrementally associated with higher information asymmetry, (ii) earnings quality disproportionately affects information asymmetry for firms with poor information environments, (iii) both innate and discretionary components of earnings quality increase information asymmetry, and (iv) poor earnings quality exacerbates the information asymmetry around earnings announcements. Our results suggest that the standard setters’ efforts to develop accounting standards that improve earnings quality should contribute to a better information environment for market participants and increase stock liquidity.
Spatial patterns of benthic invertebrate assemblages within atoll lagoons: importance of habitat heterogeneity and considerations for marine protected area design in French Polynesia

We investigated spatial patterns of stony corals, molluscs and echinoderms among six habitat types within the lagoons of six atolls in the Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia). Percent cover (stony corals only), abundance and richness were recorded within habitat types delineated by specific geomorphological features. Among six habitat types defined a priori, four encompassed distinct assemblages of corals and molluscs: (1) pinnacles possessed maximum richness, abundance and coverage, (2) passes showed relatively high abundance and coverage, (3) lagoon floors were marked by the commonness of a few coral genera, and minimum mollusc abundance and richness, and (4) inner reef flat stations, independent of their location in front of spillways, motu or rim zones, had low cover, abundance, and richness. While habitat associations were similar for stony corals and molluscs, echinoderms were preferentially found on the inner reef flat facing the rim. Lowest echinoderm abundances and species richness were recorded on pinnacles and in the vicinity of the pass. Such small-scale spatial heterogeneity appears to be one of the distinctive characteristics of coral communities in French Polynesian reefs. These results, along with those of the TYPATOLL program, demonstrate the importance of both local and regional factors in determining the diversity and structure of coral assemblages. Habitat fidelity was weak: many species/genera were poorly represented among habitats and restricted to a few atolls, while others were present across all lagoons and habitats. Therefore, marine protected areas design based solely on representativeness will require the protecting the vast majority of lagoon habitats.
Genetic control of immune responsiveness to a glutamic acid, alanine, tyrosine copolymer in mice. I. Linkage of responsiveness to H-2 genotype.

Mice of various strains were immunized with a random terpolymer of glutamic acid60 alanine30 tyrosine10 (GAT10). The ability to produce significant anti-GAT10 antibody, detected by an antigen-binding assay, was possessed by mice of H-2a, H-2b, H-2d, H-2k histocompatibility alleles. Mice with H-2p and H-2s alleles were non-responders. Congenic mice that differed only at the H-2 locus responded according to their H-2 type.
Molecular characterisation of parvoviruses from domestic cats reveals emergence of newer variants in India

Objectives The present study was undertaken to characterise the viral polypeptide 2 (VP2) gene of parvovirus from domestic cats in India. Methods The faecal samples from diarrhoeic/healthy domestic cats were collected from different geographical regions of India for screening by PCR assay followed by sequence analysis of the VP2 gene. Results Canine parvovirus (CPV)/feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infections were found in 12 (11.3%) of 106 faecal samples tested. Two new CPV-2a (297Ala and Asn426) and three FPV strains were identified by VP2 gene analysis. Several unique and existing amino acid mutations were found, suggesting continuous evolution and emergence of newer variants. The phylogenetic analysis of the CPV sequences revealed that the two new CPV-2a strains from Mumbai (MC8) and Puducherry (P15) were clustered together in a single clade but had evolved independently and were ancestrally related to Chinese CPV-2a isolates. The FPV sequences (T-C-6 and T-C-1) from Thrissur, Kerala, formed a different clade (FPV clade) and were closely related to each other and had an ancestral relationship with an FPV isolate from the USA. Another FPV isolate from Goa (GC1) was positioned in the same clade but had evolved independently. Conclusions and relevance Detection of CPV in both diarrhoeic/healthy cats and the occurrence of FPV infection in a vaccinated cat provide new insights into parvovirus infections in cats in India.
Brand familiarity as a moderating factor in the ad and brand attitude relationship and advertising appeals

Abstract Studies examining the effects of advertising appeals have yielded conflicting results. Some have found that an emotional appeal is more persuasive than an informational appeal, while others have demonstrated the opposite. The objective of the current study was to explore a theoretical explanation for the conflicting results in advertising appeal research. The findings of this study support the theory that brand familiarity determines the effectiveness of advertising appeal. The study results additionally support the theory that attitudes toward the ad predict the consumer’s attitude toward the brand. In addition, the study found that brand familiarity moderates the strength of the relationship between ad attitude and brand attitude. Other aspects and the implications of these findings are discussed in this paper.
Influence of Production System on Animal Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, Environmental Impacts, Production Economics, and Consumer Preference for Beef

The overall objective of this study was to determine if the level of growth promotant technology used among production systems influence animal and carcass performance, meat quality, production economics, the environmental impact, and determine consumer preferences and perception. Angus 􀀁 Simmental steer calves (n =120) were stratified by birth date, birth weight, and dam age in a completely randomized design and assigned to one of four treatments: 1) no antibiotics (NA, receiving no technology); 2) non-hormone treated (NHTC, fed monensin and tylosin); 3) implant (IMPL, administered a series of three implants), and 4) implant plus fed a beta-agonist (IMBA, administered the same implant strategy as IMPL plus, fed ractopamine-HCI for the last 30 d prior to harvest). Animal weight, production expenses, and environmental factor data were collected from the production segments including: cow-calf, backgrounding, and finishing. During the finishing segment, animal feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), and efficiency was obtained. Carcass meat quality and yield performace was assessed. Striploins were collected for analyses post fabrication. Steaks were designated to specific postmortem aging periods, utilized for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), crude fat, and consumer sensory analyses. The consumer analyses evaluated beef production system information undisclosed and disclosed or simiply, without and later with information to assess palatability only, perception only, and perception plus palatability among untrained consumer panelists. IMPL had the greatest (P 0.05) and heavier (P 0.05). The actual branded carcass value was similar (P > 0.01) for NA and IMPL and greater (P 0.05). Excluding the cost of the calf, production costs were similar (P > 0.05) and lowest (P 0. 01) between NA and IMPL, which was greater (P 0.01). In the environmental analysis, IMPL reduced GHG (CO2e/kg HCW) emissions by 8%, energy use (MJ/kg HCW) by 6%, water use (kg H2O/kg HCW) by 6%, and reactive N loss (g N/kg HCW) by 6%. The IMBA reduced GHG emissions by 7%, energy use by 3%, and reactive N loss by 1%. Meat quality analyses for marbling score and crude fat among NA and NHTC did not differ (P > 0.05) but were greater (P 0.05) and lower in crude fat. Steaks from NA and NHTC did not differ (P > 0.05) for WBSF though were more tender (P ≤ 0.05) than IMPL and IMBA, which were similar (P > 0.05) and tougher (P ≤ 0.05). During the Undisclosed without Meat panel, NA was most preferred (P ≤ 0.05) and IMBA was least preferred (P ≤ 0.05) while NHTC and IMPL were…
Trichoscopic Findings of Erosive Pustular Dermatosis of the Scalp Associated with Gefitinib

Alopecia associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy is a rare cutaneous side effect with the potential to progress to scarring alopecia. Thus, dermatologists should make an early diagnosis. We present the case of a 57-year-old Japanese female with scarring alopecia associated with gefitinib, which is an EGFR inhibitor, including trichoscopic findings. The patient treated with gefitinib for non-small cell lung cancer experienced skin rash and hair loss of the scalp. The scalp lesions appeared similar to erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp. Trichoscopic examination showed follicular keratotic plugging, milky red areas, white patches, hair shaft disorder, tapering hair, and absence of follicular opening. Histological examination showed ruptured hair follicles with a perifollicular infiltration of plasma cells, lymphocytes, and histiocytes. Oral minocycline and topical steroid treatment produced no improvement. With a reduction in the gefitinib dosage, alopecia gradually improved, although scarring remained. We consider these trichoscopic findings and suspect that follicular keratotic plugging might be a finding associated with scarring alopecia due to EGFR inhibitor therapy.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: Case report, technique and literature review

The obesity epidemic and its associated comorbidities have placed an enormous burden on healthcare system globally. The worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled from 6% in 1980 to 12% in 2008, with half of the rise occurring within two decades between 1980 and 2000, and the remaining half in 8 years between 2000 and 2008. This accelerated and increasing prevalence of obesity was largely driven by new cases from Asia, where its prevalence has historically been very low. In Malaysia, the National Health and Morbidity Survey estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity to be 48% in 2015, increasing from 39% just over a decade earlier. Conventional approaches, including lifestyle intervention and pharmacological therapies, lack efficacy and durability in the management of obesity. Bariatric surgery is a well-established procedure that provides significant, sustained weight loss but is little used due to its high costs, adverse events, low acceptance by patients as well as limited accessibility. Therefore, less invasive endoscopic bariatric therapies have emerged, bridging the existing gap in the currently available approaches to obesity. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a novel therapeutic endoscopic technique first reported by Abu Dayyeh et al. in 2013, which reduces the size of gastric reservoir by using full-thickness endoscopic suturing device. Recent studies have shown that this is a safe and technically feasible procedure resulting in significant weight loss. In this study, we reported the first case of ESG in Asia.
The Current State of Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work

Abstract While there is recent movement toward Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in social work, criticisms subsist regarding the profession's translation of research into viable practices. Evidence describing effective interventions exists, but research that addresses dissemination and implementation is generally lacking. This paper highlights existing literature on dissemination and explores the barriers, themes, and trends in EBP through eight expert interviews. The interviews reflect the issues described in the literature and provid additional insight to the process of implementation and dissemination of EBP. Findings from the literature and interviews are synthesized into research and practice recommendations. While there is a call for Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in social work and mental health services, there have also been a number of criticisms about the implementation of research findings into viable methods of practice. These barriers range from the egregious lag-time between research development to dissemination of evidence to practice settings to a veritable lack of support and training for community practitioners. There is a growing body of evidence describing effective interventions, but there is not a substantial body of work addressing the dissemination of these programs and other research findings for use in the field. This paper highlights some of the work around dissemination of EBPs in the field of social work with an emphasis on mental health services including an overview of the barriers to the use of evidence in practice and proposed models of conceptualization and implementation of EBP. To further highlight the current barriers, themes, and trends in EBP eight experts in the field of EBP were interviewed. The goal of the interviews was to survey the opinions of expert researchers in the area of EBP to supplement knowledge described in the literature. The experts' responses reflected many of the same issues described in the literature as well as additional information regarding their efforts toward determining the most viable options to address the barriers to implementing and disseminating EBP. Findings from the literature review and interviews are synthesized into recommendations for future research and practice efforts.