Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of chemical and electrical synaptic transmission between single sensory cells and a motoneurone in the central nervous system of the leech

In leech ganglia, three sensory cells of different modality converge on a motoneurone, where they form chemical and electrical synapses. Each of these synapses behaves in a characteristic manner and the nature of the transmission mechanism has significant functional consequences for the operation of the reflexes. An analysis has been made of the effects of trains of impulses on synaptic transmission through these pathways, using frequencies that correspond to natural firing.
Reproducibility of 18F-FDG microPET Studies in Mouse Tumor Xenografts

18F-FDG has been used to image mouse xenograft models with small-animal PET for therapy response. However, the reproducibility of serial scans has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of 18F-FDG small-animal PET studies. Methods: Mouse tumor xenografts were formed with B16F10 murine melanoma cells. A 7-min small-animal PET scan was performed 1 h after a 3.7- to 7.4-MBq 18F-FDG injection via the tail vein. A second small-animal PET scan was performed 6 h later after reinjection of 18F-FDG. Twenty-five sets of studies were performed. Mean injected dose per gram (%ID/g) values were calculated from tumor regions of interest. The coefficient of variation (COV) from studies performed on the same day was calculated to determine the reproducibility. Activity from the second scans performed after 6 h were adjusted by subtracting the estimated residual activity from the first 18F-FDG injection. For 7 datasets, an additional scan immediately before the second injection was performed, and residual activity from this additional delayed scan was subtracted from the activity of the second injection. COVs of both subtraction methods were compared. Blood glucose values were measured at the time of injection and used to correct the %ID/g values. Results: The COV for the mean %ID/g between 18F-FDG small-animal PET scans performed on the same day 6 h apart was 15.4% ± 12.6%. The delayed scan subtraction method did not produce any significant change in the COV. Blood glucose correction increased the COV. The injected dose, tumor size, and body weight did not appear to contribute to the variability of the scans. Conclusion: 18F-FDG small-animal PET mouse xenograft studies were reproducible with moderately low variability. Therefore, serial small-animal PET studies may be performed with reasonable accuracy to measure tumor response to therapy.
Fzf1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a positive regulator of SSU1 transcription and its first zinc finger region is required for DNA binding

The FZF1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a five‐zinc‐finger transcription factor involved in sulphite tolerance. Previous work based on multicopy suppression analysis placed FZF1 upstream of SSU1, which encodes a plasma membrane protein and putative transporter also implicated in sulphite detoxification. Consistent with this analysis, Fzf1p was found to be a positive regulator of SSU1 transcription. The SSU1 promoter region involved in activation by FZF1 was defined, and the Fzf1 protein was shown to bind to it directly in vitro. Deletion of a single, amino‐terminal zinc finger of Fzf1p resulted in loss of DNA binding, while the fourth and fifth zinc fingers were found to be dispensable. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Are Employee Self-evaluations Helpful or Harmful When Employees Are Unaware of Their Marginal Contribution to Firm Welfare?

This study examines whether eliciting self-evaluations from employees in a compensation setting context leads to higher or lower employer welfare when employees are not aware of their marginal contribution to firm welfare. The literature suggests that providing employees with a voice in the compensation setting process leads to greater employee satisfaction with compensation and higher productive employee effort due to such factors as increased employee perception of procedural fairness. Contrary to this position I propose that providing employees a voice in the compensation setting process when employees are not aware of their marginal contribution to firm welfare has the unintended effect of leading to less employee satisfaction with compensation, which results in lower employer welfare. Such an effect is due to self-evaluations leading to greater employee overconfidence in their performance resulting from a motivated reasoning process. I present experimental evidence from comparing a control condition without self-evaluations to three different self-evaluation reporting conditions, finding evidence consistent with the premise that self-evaluations lead to lower employer welfare. Data on employee perception of performance when self-evaluations are elicited supports the proposed motivated reasoning process. My findings show a cost to self-evaluations that thus far has not been sufficiently considered in the literature and provide an explanation for why this cost occurs.
Beyond Outreach: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions

While the relationship between outreach and financial performance (CFP) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) is increasingly well researched, next to nothing is known about the relationship between broader measure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of MFIs and their CFP. In light of the social promise of microfinance, the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) is also very relevant. Based on in-depth social ratings conducted by MicroFinanza Rating, we investigate this relationship. We hypothesise that the relationship is parabolic instead of linear, as MFIs' funders and clients probably appreciate a degree of CSP but MFIs cannot devote all their cash to CSP. Specifically, we believe that external, competition oriented CSP indicator have an U-shaped relationship to CFP, while the relationship between CFP and internal, employee motivation oriented CSP indicators approximates an inverted U-shape. Our empirical results broadly confirm these hypotheses, whereby we find the convex relationship between competition oriented CSP and CFP to be more pronounced among for-profit MFIs. In contrast, the concave relationship between motivation oriented CSP and CFP appears to be stronger among non-profit MFIs. Our results imply that corporate social responsibility might be a crucial driver of MFI's financial success. Hence, MFIs, their investors and policy makers appear well advised to devote more attention to MFIs' corporate social responsibility.
Meningitis and Ventriculitis due to Nocardia araoensis Infection

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with disturbance of consciousness, fever and headache. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed pleocytosis with neutrophil predominance, increased protein and low glucose. CSF and blood cultures yielded negative results. Antibiotics and antituberculous drugs were started for meningitis. An antimycotic was also added. The patient died from transtentorial hernia 99 days after admission. Autopsy revealed meningitis, ventriculitis and brain abscess, and Nocardia araoensis was detected in pus from the left lateral ventricle. This appears to represent the first report of N. araoensis meningitis complicated by ventriculitis and brain abscess.
Is Judicial Inefficiency Increasing the House Property Market Weight in Spain? Evidence at the Local Level

Compared with the rest of the European countries the weight of the house property market in Spain is very high, which is consistent with the weakness of the tenancy market. In this context, it has often been argued that an inefficient judicial system, implying a cumbersome procedure to evict a non-paying tenant or simply needing a long period to execute a decision, may be an important determinant of the tenancy market weakness, as it constrains the effective supply by reducing the profitability of landlords. This research has studied this effect econometrically using a panel data approach and exploiting the differences in the judicial efficiency that exists among the Spanish provinces. After controlling for several other factors, this study concludes that the degree of inefficiency of the judicial system has a positive, although minor, impact on the differences in the property share among provinces in Spain.
Traditional and IS-enabled Customer Acquisition for an Internet Retailer: Why New Buyer Acquisition Varies over Geographies and by Method

We provide new insights into the efficacy of offline word-of-mouth (WOM) and magazine advertising (traditional acquisition methods) compared to online WOM and online search (IS-enabled acquisition methods). We study how three key factors—inter-customer proximity, price benefits, and convenience benefits—affect the performance of each acquisition method. We estimate a multivariate NBD model over new buyer counts at all US residential zip codes. All else equal, favorable local conditions for the three factors benefit WOM acquisitions most. WOM acquisitions rely on customer-to-customer communication and respond to factors that facilitate interaction. Second, traditional offline WOM is more effective than IS-enabled online WOM; since offline WOM recipients are co-located with senders they share the same benefits of shopping online. Third, traditional acquisition modes still matter for online retailers and are complementary—WOM acquisitions dominate in high-performing spatially-clustered markets and magazine advertising acquisitions dominate in low-performing spatially-dispersed markets. IS-enabled methods provide a relatively constant percentage contribution to customer acquisition. Lastly, we provide some evidence that using the model-based predictions to target specific markets leads to improvements in actual click-to-order rates, up to a factor of two.
Detecting Storm Eyes of Advertisement Based on Sina Weibo

With the development of micro-blog advertising industry, micro-blog ads present a new perspective to people. It is observed that the communication effect would be maximized only when the ads spread on optimization path consisted of some crucial nodes. Consequently we define these critical nodes as storm eyes of ads. Referring to the theory of the shortest path and scale-free characteristics of complex networks, we build a model to detect the storm eyes of ads based on the elements closely related to micro-blog ads, combined with the thought of dividing and conquering-merge. A detecting algorithm is proposed based on the model, the time complexity of which is just O (n). The dataset of our experiment obtained from SinaWeibo API has reached the number of 1 billion. And the results show that detection time is much less than artificial statistical approach on the premise of the algorithm with high detection accuracy.
Comparative Study of Hysteroscopy and 3D Ultrasound for Diagnosing Uterine Cavity Abnormalities.

Objective Hysteroscopy is the most accurate method for diagnosing intrauterine pathologies related to abnormal bleeding and infertility. The accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography and hysteroscopy were compared in identifying uterine cavity abnormalities. Material and Methods A total of 139 cases of abnormal uterine bleeding or infertility first had two-dimensional and 3D ultrasound performed before hysteroscopy. Findings on 3D ultrasound and hysteroscopy were compared, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio were calculated. Results Mean patients’ age was 36.5 (+/- SD 9.04). Three-dimensional ultrasound had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 96%, negative predictive value of 84%, likely ratio of 5,5, and accuracy of 90% in diagnosing uterine cavity abnormalities. Three-dimensional ultrasound had a high sensitivity and specificity for polyps (97% and 97%, respectively), congenital uterine malformations (100% and 99%, respectively) and submucous myoma (87% and 100%, respectively), but a low sensitivity and high specificity for uterine synechia (41% and 99%, respectively). Conclusions For diagnosing uterine cavity anomalies, 3D ultrasound is a useful tool and could replace diagnostic hysteroscopy for certain conditions, such as congenital uterine anomalies.
The Customer Resource Life Cycle: An Empirical Validation

Many organizations implement IT to compete more successfully. The Customer Resource Life Cycle (CRLC) has been proposed as a framework for explaining how they do this. The current research investigated their use of IT in CRLC activities for this purpose. Four hundred seventy two managers responded to an e-mail survey about an IT application in the context of the CRLC. Statistical tests validated the CRLC’s four stages. Requirements and Acquisition stages predicted Porter’s three generic competitive strategies. Retirement predicted only one strategy.
Pathways From HIV-Related Stigma to Antiretroviral Therapy Measures in the HIV Care Cascade for Women Living With HIV in Canada

Background: Associations between HIV-related stigma and reduced antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence are widely established, yet the mechanisms accounting for this relationship are underexplored. There has been less attention to HIV-related stigma and its associations with ART initiation and current ART use. We examined pathways from HIV-related stigma to ART initiation, current ART use, and ART adherence among women living with HIV in Canada. Methods: We used baseline survey data from a national cohort of women living with HIV in Canada (n = 1425). Structural equation modeling using weighted least squares estimation methods was conducted to test the direct effects of HIV-related stigma dimensions (personalized, negative self-image, and public attitudes) on ART initiation, current ART use, and 90% ART adherence, and indirect effects through depression and HIV disclosure concerns, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Results: In the final model, the direct paths from personalized stigma to ART initiation (&bgr; = −0.104, P < 0.05) and current ART use (&bgr; = −0.142, P < 0.01), and negative self-image to ART initiation (&bgr; = −0.113, P < 0.01) were significant, accounting for the mediation effects of depression and HIV disclosure concerns. Depression mediated the pathways from personalized stigma to ART adherence, and negative self-image to current ART use and ART adherence. Final model fit indices suggest that the model fit the data well [&khgr;2(25) = 90.251, P < 0.001; comparative fit index = 0.945; root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.044]. Conclusions: HIV-related stigma is associated with reduced likelihood of ART initiation and current ART use, and suboptimal ART adherence. To optimize the benefit of ART among women living with HIV, interventions should reduce HIV-related stigma and address depression.
Comparative Micromorphological Study on the Pectoralis Muscle in the Flying and non-Flying Birds

The pectoralis major muscle of twenty adult female fowl and pigeon were examined using histological, histochemical and transmission electron microscope "TEM" methods. In addition to morphometric, histomorphometric, and enzyme activity determination methods were also performed. The histological examination showed that the pectoralis major muscle fibers of fowl run in different directions with few blood capillaries and more distinct cross striations. The opposite picture was found in pigeon. Histochemical stains showed more pronounced glycogen granules and myoglobin in pigeon muscle. The calcium granules were unequally distributed in both fowl and pigeon muscle. Ultrastructurally, the muscle fibers of this muscle in the fowl had different thickness and wide sarcomeres with thin Z-lines. The reverse structure was present in case of pigeon. Large numerous electronlucent lipid droplets were observed in pigeon muscle and not observed in fowl. Morphometric parameters and statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between sarcomere length in both birds but significant differences were obtained in the muscle fiber diameter. The histomorphometrical analysis of the white fibers of the pectoralis major muscles revealed highly significant differences between the fowl and pigeon and found significant differences between the red ones. Signifcant differences between the level of lipase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes in this muscle of both birds were also recognized.
Maximum Likelihood DOA Estimator Based on Particle Filtering

Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) has been shown to be the best performance in Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation. However, the computational burden of a multidimensional grid search for MLE is very large. In order to resolve the question of computation burden, particle filtering methods are combined with maximum likelihood DOA estimator. A novel Maximum Likelihood DOA Estimator based on Particle Filtering (MLE-PF) is proposed. Numerical simulations illustrate the fact that MLE-PF keeps the perfect performance of MLE and reduces the computational complexity of MLE from O(LK) to O(K times Ns). Also MLE-PF performs better than MUSIC and MiniNorm, especially in low SNRs.
Efficient Surgical Cutting with Position-Based Dynamics

Simulations of cuts on deformable bodies have been an active research subject for more than two decades. However, previous works based on finite element methods and mass spring meshes cannot scale to complex surgical scenarios. This article presents a novel method that uses position-based dynamics (PBD) for mesh-free cutting simulation. The proposed solutions include a method to efficiently render force feedback while cutting, an efficient heat diffusion model to simulate electrocautery, and a novel adaptive skinning scheme based on oriented particles.https://extras.computer. org/extra/mcg2017030024s1.mp4
Comparative Proteome Analysis of the Outer Membrane Proteins of in Vitro‐Induced Multi‐Drug Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Antimicrobial‐resistant gonococcus has been a major problem in sexually transmitted disease control. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were suggested to have influence on its resistance to antibiotics. So, in this work, we provide a proteomic analysis tool for examining the OMPs of N. gonorrhoeae and also provide a comparative analysis of the OMPs between the susceptible parent strain (92WT) and the resistance‐induced isogenic mutant (92mu13) to determine the OMPs responsible for resistance. The 2‐D gel spots of 92mu13 differed from 92WT particularly in porin, pilus secretion protein (PilQ) and enzymes. PilQ expression in 92mu13 was considerably reduced by abrupt termination at nucleotide 2,112. This made it difficult to form a high molecular mass (HMM) pore at the outer membrane; it is suspected that reduction of PilQ serves a role in antibiotic resistance in N. gonorrhoeae. The amount of porin was not changed but its isoelectric point (pI) shifted to a basic region, which is caused by the alteration of an amino acid of porin and it is suggested to relate to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Differential regulation of the enzymes involved in metabolism was found in 92mu13, believed to represent an adaptation of N. gonorrhoeae to the antibiotic environment.
Laser-Based Optical System for Reactive Radical Concentration Measurements in Plasmas and Flames

Abstract : Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) funding was used to assemble a multi-purpose optical diagnostic system for in-situ radical concentration measurements in plasma and combustion systems. The system was configured to allow two-dimensional measurements (using a single wavelength) of important radical concentrations in stationary or time-averaged plasma and flame conditions, to make simultaneous nanosecond-resolved single point measurements at this wavelength, and to collect one-dimensional information about the spectral lines in rotational bands for the species of interest. The' system consisted of a Nd:YAG pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO), a Raman spectrometer, two intensified CCD cameras, and associated optics.
Cardiac output by pulse contour analysis does not match the increase measured by rebreathing during human spaceflight.

Pulse contour analysis of the noninvasive finger arterial pressure waveform provides a convenient means to estimate cardiac output (Q̇). The method has been compared with standard methods under a range of conditions but never before during spaceflight. We compared pulse contour analysis with the Modelflow algorithm to estimates of Q̇ obtained by rebreathing during preflight baseline testing and during the final month of long-duration spaceflight in nine healthy male astronauts. By Modelflow analysis, stroke volume was greater in supine baseline than seated baseline or inflight. Heart rate was reduced in supine baseline so that there were no differences in Q̇ by Modelflow estimate between the supine (7.02 ± 1.31 l/min, means ± SD), seated (6.60 ± 1.95 l/min), or inflight (5.91 ± 1.15 l/min) conditions. In contrast, rebreathing estimates of Q̇ increased from seated baseline (4.76 ± 0.67 l/min) to inflight (7.00 ± 1.39 l/min, significant interaction effect of method and spaceflight, P < 0.001). Pulse contour analysis utilizes a three-element Windkessel model that incorporates parameters dependent on aortic pressure-area relationships that are assumed to represent the entire circulation. We propose that a large increase in vascular compliance in the splanchnic circulation invalidates the model under conditions of spaceflight. Future spaceflight research measuring cardiac function needs to consider this important limitation for assessing absolute values of Q̇ and stroke volume.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Noninvasive assessment of cardiac function during human spaceflight is an important tool to monitor astronaut health. This study demonstrated that pulse contour analysis of finger arterial blood pressure to estimate cardiac output failed to track the 46% increase measured by a rebreathing method. These results strongly suggest that alternative methods not dependent on pulse contour analysis are required to track cardiac function in spaceflight.
Current investigations into carbon nanotubes for biomedical application

The nano-dimensionality of nature has logically given rise to the interest in using nanomaterials in the biomedical field. Currently, a lot of investigations into carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as one of the typical nanomaterials, are being made for biomedical application. In this review, five parts, such as cellular functions induced by CNTs, apatite formation on CNTs, CNT-based tissue engineering scaffold, functionalized CNTs for the delivery of genes and drugs and CNT-based biosensors, are stated, which might indicate that CNTs, with a range of unique properties, appear suited as a biomaterial and may become a useful tool for tissue engineering. However, everything has two parts and CNTs is not an exception. There are still concerns about cytotoxicity and biodegradation of CNTs. Chemical fictionalization may be one of the effective ways to improve the ‘disadvantages’ and utilize the ‘advantages’ of CNTs. One of their ‘disadvantages’, unbiodegradable property, may be utilized by creating monitors in in vivo-engineered tissues or nanosized CNT-based biosensors. Other promising research points, for example proteins adsorbed on CNTs, use of CNTs in combination with other biomaterials to achieve the goals of tissue engineering, mineralization of CNTs and standard toxicological tests for CNTs, are also described in the conclusion and perspectives part.