Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Barium‐sensitive and ‐insensitive Components of the Action of Thyrotropin‐releasing Hormone on Lumbar Motoneurons of the Rat Isolated Spinal Cord

The electrophysiological action of thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) on rat spinal motoneurons was studied in vitro using single‐electrode voltage‐ and current‐clamp techniques. In current‐clamp conditions TRH elicited a slowly developing depolarization, associated with a large input resistance increase and sustained neuronal firing; the primary metabolites of TRH were ineffective. Under voltage‐clamp conditions in the presence of tetrodotoxin, TRH evoked a large inward current (ITRH; peaking at approximately –40 mV) associated with a large input conductance fall. Only 44% of cells displayed ITRH reversal; when the chord conductance values of these cells were plotted against membrane potential, a bell‐shaped relation occurred, indicating voltage‐dependent block by TRH of a persistent conductance active over a wide range of membrane potentials. ITRH reversal values were shifted to more positive levels in high K+ solution in Nernstian fashion; hence a large proportion of the TRH response is suggested to be mediated by the block of a K+ conductance (IK(T)). IK(T) (and its voltage‐dependent block by TRH) was resistant to certain K+ channel antagonists (tetraethylammonium, Cs+, 4‐aminopyridine or apamin), but was depressed by Ba2+. The Ba2+‐resistant fraction of ITRH was attenuated by Cd2+, Mn2+ or Co2+, indicating that it probably involved a Ca2+‐sensitive inward current. Concomitant application of Ba2+ and Cd2+ induced a near‐total block of the response to TRH. It is suggested that suppression of IK(T), associated with the onset of a Ca2+‐sensitive current, can explain the excitatory effect of TRH on rat spinal motoneurons.
Estimated Prevalence of Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) represents a strong risk for development of premature coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the majority of patients with FH are undiagnosed and the prevalence likely represents an underestimate in most countries. In Japan, the possible contribution of FH to the development of CAD may be higher because of the low incidence of CAD among the general population. We estimated the prevalence of heterozygous FH by measuring Achilles tendon thickness (ATT) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A total of 359 patients suffering from ACS were enrolled in this multicenter registration study. Heterozygous FH was defined according to the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society. After excluding 63 patients because of missing ATT data or plasma triglyceride levels that were 4.5 mmol/L or more, 296 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. The number of patients with ATT of 9 mm or more was 53 (17.9%). They were significantly younger and had significantly higher LDL cholesterol levels than patients with an ATT less than 9 mm. The prevalence of heterozygous FH was 5.7% (1/17.5) and more prominent in younger patients who were less than 60 years old (7.8%). In patients with ATT of 9 mm or more, approximately 1 in 3.5 fulfilled the criteria for heterozygous FH.We demonstrated the usefulness of measuring ATT by radiography and the high prevalence of heterozygous FH in patients with ACS in Japan, especially in younger patients who were less than 60 years old.
Optical spectroscopy shows that the normal state of URu2Si2 is an anomalous Fermi liquid

Fermi showed that, as a result of their quantum nature, electrons form a gas of particles whose temperature and density follow the so-called Fermi distribution. As shown by Landau, in a metal the electrons continue to act like free quantum mechanical particles with enhanced masses, despite their strong Coulomb interaction with each other and the positive background ions. This state of matter, the Landau–Fermi liquid, is recognized experimentally by an electrical resistivity that is proportional to the square of the absolute temperature plus a term proportional to the square of the frequency of the applied field. Calculations show that, if electron-electron scattering dominates the resistivity in a Landau–Fermi liquid, the ratio of the two terms, b, has the universal value of b = 4. We find that in the normal state of the heavy Fermion metal URu2Si2, instead of the Fermi liquid value of 4, the coefficient b = 1 ± 0.1. This unexpected result implies that the electrons in this material are experiencing a unique scattering process. This scattering is intrinsic and we suggest that the uranium f electrons do not hybridize to form a coherent Fermi liquid but instead act like a dense array of elastic impurities, interacting incoherently with the charge carriers. This behavior is not restricted to URu2Si2. Fermi liquid-like states with b ≠ 4 have been observed in a number of disparate systems, but the significance of this result has not been recognized.
Is newest always best? Firm-level evidence to challenge a focus on high-capability technological (product or process) innovation

ABSTRACT This paper sets out to address a gap in the empirical literature on the importance of ‘low-capability’ innovation for firms. The study is framed around discussion of the conceptual bias that remains in policy and academic literature towards a narrow subset of technological (product or process) innovation labelled ‘high-capability’ innovation in this paper. The paper argues that this bias influences the public and business community's understanding of the term ‘innovation’ and has implications for innovation measurement, research, policy and strategy. The study uses data from an economy-wide, regional innovation survey based on the Oslo manual, and includes 648 innovative firms covering all industry sectors. The paper combines elements of both subject and object approaches to innovation measurement, using data from an open-ended survey question to explore the alignment between what firms report as their ‘most important innovation’ (MII) and firm capabilities for introducing ‘high-capability’ technological innovation. Results show that a substantial share of firms report an MII that is a ‘low-capability’ innovation, including those firms with high R&D intensity, those with novel technological innovation, and firms in more innovative sectors of manufacturing and knowledge intensive business services. The paper discusses the implications of this result for future innovation measurement and research.
Model of oxygen transport limitations in hollow fiber bioreactors

Axial and radial oxygen depletion are believed to be critical scale‐limiting factors in the design of cell culture hollow fiber bioreactors. A mathematical analysis of oxygen depletion has been performed in order to develop effectiveness factor plots to aid in the scaling of hollow fiber bioreactors with cells immobilized in the shell‐side. Considerations of the lumen mass transport resistances and the axial gradients were added to previous analyses of this immobilization geometry. An order of magnitude analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the shell‐side convective fluxes on the oxygen transport. A modified Thiele modulus and a lumen and membrane resistance factor have been derived from the model. Use of these terms in the effectiveness factor plots results in a considerable simplification of the presentation and use of the model. Design criteria such as fiber dimensions and spacing, reactor lengths, and recycle flow rates can be selected using these plots. Model predictions of the oxygen limitations were compared to experimental measurements of the axial cell distributions in a severely oxygen limited hollow fiber bioreactor. Despite considerable uncertainty in our parameters and nonidealities in hollow fiber geometry, the cell distribution correlated well with the modeling results.
Comparison of Waterless Hand Antisepsis Agents at Short Application Times: Raising the Flag of Concern

Abstract Objective: Although alcohol-based hand rinses and gels have recommended application times of 30 to 60 seconds, healthcare workers usually take much less time for hand hygiene. We compared the efficacies of four alcohol-based hand rubs produced in Europe (hand rinses A, B, and C and one gel formulation) with the efficacy of the European Norm 1500 (EN 1500) reference waterless hand antisepsis agent (60% 2-propanol) at short application times. Design: Comparative crossover study. Setting: Infection Control Program laboratory of a large tertiary-care teaching hospital. Participants: Twelve healthy volunteers. Intervention: Measurement of residual bacterial counts and log reduction factors following inoculation of fingertips with Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442, and a clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecalis. Results: All hand rinses satisfied EN 1500 standards following a single application for 15 and 30 seconds, but reduction factors for the gel formulation were significantly lower for all tested organisms (all P < .025). Conclusions: Under stringent conditions similar to clinical practice, all three hand rinses proved to be more efficacious than the marketed alcohol-based gel in reducing bacterial counts on hands. Further studies are necessary to determine the in vivo efficacy of alcohol-based gels and whether they are as efficacious as alcohol-based rinses in reducing the transmission of nosocomial infections.
Group Motion Control of Multi-agent Systems Based on Complex Network

Multi-agent systems (MAS) are, nowadays, an important research area within Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Motivated by recent advances in synchronization theory of complex dynamical network, this paper develops a general methods of controller design for formation reaching and group motion controlling of the MAS. A novel motion model of MAS is presented at first.Based on this model, the design method of decentralized controller for each agent is investigated. The stability properties of the system is also analyzed in detail.In this control scheme the topology of the control interconnections is fixed and invariant.The control policy ensures that all agents eventually move in group formation with desired group motion dynamics while at same time avoid collisions.In the end,the validity of this scheme is supported by computer simulation.
2D semiconductors towards high-performance ultraviolet photodetection

The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials has enriched building blocks for next-generation optoelectronic or electronic systems, with great concern on their utilization in various photodetection devices. Particularly, the continuous exhibition of appealing physical properties for this growing material system firmly supports their application in ultrasensitive and ultrafast detection of light extending to the ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Moreover, these light sensors enable the further integration with other optoelectronic materials, by taking advantage of the available silicon electronic or optoelectronic technique methodology. Here, we discuss the recent progress in the field of ultraviolet light sensors that are established on 2D semiconductors, including the potential materials, synthesis, device fabrication and several representative 2D UV photodetectors. Finally, we take a look at the challenges to be overcome and the future developments of this research field.
Industrialization and Social Mobility in Korea

This study intends to investigate the patterns of intergenerational mobility among Korean men and to assess the extent to which the Korean case shows distinctiveness within the framework of the core model proposed by Erikson and Goldthorpe (1992a). The greater dissimilarity between origins and destinations associated with massive movement of labor forces out of farm origins, and in the process the predominance of upward over downward mobility are distinctive features of Korea compared to England, France, and Sweden. More importantly, Korean society shows substantial deviations from the core model as four effects among original eight effects in the core more turn out to be non-significant. Finally, the analysis of the log-multiplicative layer effect model even suggests that the overall level of fluidity appears higher in Korea relative to the three European countries.
Community discovery and analysis in blogspace

Weblog has quickly evolved into a new information and knowledge dissemination channel. Yet it is not easy to discover weblog communities through keyword search. The main contribution of this paper is the study of weblog communities from the perspective of social network analysis. We proposed a new way of collecting and preparing data for weblog community discovery. The data collection stage focuses on gaining knowledge of the strength of social ties between weblogs. The strength of social ties and the clustering feature of social network guided the discovery of weblog communities.
Formulae for Estimating Skeletal Height in Modern South‐East Asians

Estimating stature in human skeletal remains of Asian ancestry is problematic for forensic anthropologists due to the paucity and uncertain suitability of regression formulae. To address this issue, our study analyzed 64 individuals from a modern skeletal collection of South‐East Asian origin and developed population‐specific ordinary least squares regression formulae to estimate skeletal height from each of the long bones of the upper and lower limbs, as well as from trunk length. Results indicate that the most accurate estimates of skeletal height from a single bone (as measured by standard error of the estimate—SEE) are from tibial length in males (SEE = 2.40 cm) and from humeral length in females (SEE = 2.59 cm), followed by femoral length (SEE = 2.84 cm). When multiple elements are considered, the combination of femoral and tibial length yields the best estimates in both sexes as well as combined sex samples (male SEE = 2.40 cm; female SEE = 2.77 cm; combined sex SEE = 2.54 cm).
Restricted gene flow and subpopulation differentiation in Silene dioica

The size of breeding units and the hierarchical population structure of the dioecious perennial herb Silene dioica were investigated on four closely situated island populations in the Skeppsvik Archipelago in northern Sweden. F-statistics analyses of nine polymorphic allozyme loci revealed that plants on single islands are divided into many small breeding units, between 0.2 m2 and 6 m2. Hierarchical analyses showed that levels of differentiation among subpopulations within islands (FPL=0.080) were about twice as high as among islands (FLT=0.048). These results are discussed in the light of what is known about pollen and seed movement in the archipelago.
Ensuring Data Integrity of OPF Module and Energy Database by Detecting Changes in Power Flow Patterns in Smart Grids

Recent studies show that smart grid is vulnerable to cyber anomalies. In this paper, an anomaly detection method is proposed to identify the abnormal patterns in the network power flows, which results from the accidental or deliberate changes of the database. The proposed method utilizes a multivariate time series statistical forecasting technique based on vector autoregressive model. To understand the power flow behavior of the system, a multiphase optimal power flow analysis is conducted. The proposed method is validated using IEEE Power Distribution System Analysis Subcommittee recommended 34-node and 123-node test systems. Three different experiments are performed to test the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Vulnerability and computational complexity issues of this paper are also addressed elaborately. Results obtained from this analysis show that the proposed method successfully captures the network anomalies at a high detection rate allowing only a few number of false alarms.
Incoming Influenza A Virus Evades Early Host Recognition, while Influenza B Virus Induces Interferon Expression Directly upon Entry

ABSTRACT The activation of the interferon (IFN) system, which is triggered largely by the recognition of viral nucleic acids, is one of the most important host defense reactions against viral infections. Although influenza A and B viruses, which both have segmented negative-strand RNA genomes, share major structural similarities, they have evolutionarily diverged, with total genetic incompatibility. Here we compare antiviral-inducing mechanisms during infections with type A and B influenza viruses in human dendritic cells. We observed that IFN responses are induced significantly faster in cells infected with influenza B virus than in cells infected with type A influenza virus and that the early induction of antiviral gene expression is mediated by the activation of the transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). We further demonstrate that influenza A virus infection activates IFN responses only after viral RNA (vRNA) synthesis, whereas influenza B virus induces IFN responses even if its infectivity is destroyed by UV treatment. Thus, initial viral transcription, replication, and viral protein synthesis are dispensable for influenza B virus-induced antiviral responses. Moreover, vRNA molecules from both type A and B viruses are equally potent activators of IFN induction, but incoming influenza B virus structures are recognized directly in the cytosol, while influenza A virus is able to evade early recognition. Collectively, our data provide new evidence of a novel antiviral evasion strategy for influenza A virus without a contribution of the viral NS1 protein, and this opens up new insights into different influenza virus pathogenicities.
Examining Cultural Worldview and Experience by International Tourists: A Case of Traditional House Stay

The purpose of the study was to investigate relationships between cultural worldview (CW), cultural experiential dimensions, and satisfaction among international travelers who stayed at Hanok, a traditional house in South Korea. Findings of the study show that respondents' CW and experience were significantly different with respect to the respondents' origin of residence. Americans and Europeans shared a similar CW, whereas Japanese and Chinese expressed a similar view on CW. The strong and significant prediction on satisfaction by all experience dimensions warranted the importance of experiential qualities of tourism products and services in the cultural tourism context.
Modelling Education Dynamics with Cliometrics Foundations

The numerous analogies in the literature on economics between monetary theory and education policy lead me to propose a new model inspired by the work of Dornbusch [1976] and transposed to a context of ‘diploma inflation’. Supposing the required job skills rigid in the short run, I show a significant over-education phenomenon and an overshooting of the wage penalties in starting jobs. After formal education has been completed, the new graduate cohorts, despite a more significant level of initial training and better salary prospects have to face, paradoxically and in comparison with the previous generations, a higher over-education extent over a long period.
Photodynamic Inactivation of Bacillus Spores, Mediated by Phenothiazinium Dyes

ABSTRACT Spore formation is a sophisticated mechanism by which some bacteria survive conditions of stress and starvation by producing a multilayered protective capsule enclosing their condensed DNA. Spores are highly resistant to damage by heat, radiation, and commonly employed antibacterial agents. Previously, spores have also been shown to be resistant to photodynamic inactivation using dyes and light that easily destroy the corresponding vegetative bacteria. We have discovered that Bacillus spores are susceptible to photoinactivation by phenothiazinium dyes and low doses of red light. Dimethylmethylene blue, methylene blue, new methylene blue, and toluidine blue O are all effective, while alternative photosensitizers such as Rose Bengal, polylysine chlorin(e6) conjugate, a tricationic porphyrin, and a benzoporphyrin derivative, which easily kill vegetative cells, are ineffective. Spores of Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis are most susceptible, B. subtilis and B. atrophaeus are also killed, and B. megaterium is resistant. Photoinactivation is most effective when excess dye is washed from the spores, showing that the dye binds to the spores and that excess dye in solution can quench light delivery. The relatively mild conditions needed for spore killing could have applications for treating wounds contaminated by anthrax spores, for which conventional sporicides would have unacceptable tissue toxicity.
MSP-1 Malaria Pseudopeptide Analogs: Biological and Immunological Significance and Three-Dimensional Structure

Abstract Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (MSP-1) has been considered as a malaria vaccine candidate. It is processed during the Plasmodium falciparum invasion process of red blood cells (RBCs). A conserved MSP-1 C-terminal peptide was identified as a high-activity erythrocyte binding peptide (HAEBP) termed 1585. Since conserved HAEBPs are neither antigenic nor immunogenic we decided to assess the significance of a single peptide bond replacement in 1585. Thus, two pseudopeptides were obtained by introducing a ψ[CH2-NH] reduced amide isoster into the 1585 critical binding motif. The pseudopeptides bound to different HLA-DR alleles, suggesting that backbone modifications affect MHC-II binding patterns. Pseudopeptide antibodies inhibit in vitro parasite RBC invasion by recognizing MSP-1. Each pseudopeptide-induced antibody shows distinct recognition patterns. 1H-NMR studies demonstrated that isoster bonds modulate the pseudopeptides structure and thus their immunological properties, therefore representing a possible subunit malaria vaccine component.
Accurate Sine-Wave Amplitude Measurements Using Nonlinearly Quantized Data

The estimation of the amplitude of a sine wave from the sequence of its quantized samples is a typical problem in instrumentation and measurement. A standard approach for its solution makes use of a least squares estimator (LSE) that, however, does not perform optimally in the presence of quantization errors. In fact, if the quantization error cannot be modeled as an additive noise source, as it often happens in practice, the LSE returns biased estimates. In this paper, we consider the estimation of the amplitude of a noisy sine wave after quantization. The proposed technique is based on a uniform distribution of signal phases and it does not require that the quantizer has equally spaced transition levels. The experimental results show that this technique removes the estimation bias associated with the usage of the LSE and that it is sufficiently robust with respect to small uncertainties in the known values of transition levels.
Effect of Puberty on Insulinlike Growth Factor I and HbA1 in Type I Diabetes

Objective To assess the effect of puberty on the relationship between glycemic control and insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) levels in children with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus. Research Design and Methods Simultaneous HbA1 and plasma IGF-I levels were determined in 71 prepubertal (Tanner stage I) and 112 pubertal (Tanner stages II-V) subjects aged 2.7–17.8 yr. Results Overall, IGF-I levels were positively correlated with both age (r = 0.31, P < 0.001) and Tanner stage (r = 0.32, P < 0.001) but only weakly associated with HbA1 values (r = −0.16, P = 0.025). A strong negative association existed between IGF-I and HbA1 levels (r = −0.45, P < 0.001) in the pubertal subjects, but no such association was apparent in the prepubertal subjects. Multiple regression analyses disclosed a significant independent negative association between IGF-I and HbA1 levels in the pubertal group (P < 0.001) but not in the prepubertal group. Conclusions Glycemic control appears to strongly influence IGF-I levels only after the onset of puberty.