Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mice overexpressing the cardiac sodium‐calcium exchanger: defects in excitation–contraction coupling

Homozygous overexpression of the cardiac Na+–Ca2+ exchanger causes cardiac hypertrophy and increases susceptibility to heart failure in response to stress. We studied the functional effects of homozygous overexpression of the exchanger at the cellular level in isolated mouse ventricular myocytes. Compared with patch‐clamped myocytes from wild‐type animals, non‐failing myocytes from homozygous transgenic mice exhibited increased cell capacitance (from 208 ± 16 pF to 260 ± 15 pF, P < 0.05). Intracellular Ca2+ oscillations were readily elicited in homozygous transgenic animals during depolarizations to +80 mV, consistent with rapid Ca2+ overload caused by reverse Na+–Ca2+ exchange. After normalization to cell capacitance, transgenic myocytes had significant increases in Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity (318%) and peak L‐type Ca2+ current (8.2 ± 0.7 pA pF−1 at 0 mV test potential) compared to wild‐type (5.8 ± 0.9 pA pF−1 at 0 mV, P < 0.02). The peak Ca2+ current amplitude and its rate of inactivation could be modulated by rapid reversible block of the exchanger. Thus, we describe an unexpected direct influence of Na+–Ca2+ exchange activity on the L‐type Ca2+ channel. Despite intact sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ content and larger peak L‐type Ca2+ currents, homozygous transgenic animals exhibited smaller Ca2+ transients (Δ[Ca2+]i= 466 ± 48 nm in transgenics versus 892 ± 104 nm in wild‐type, P < 0.0005) and substantially reduced gain of excitation–contraction coupling. These alterations in excitation–contraction coupling may underlie the tendency for these animals to develop heart failure following haemodynamic stress.
ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN AFRICAN BUFFALO HERDS

Following the recent invasion of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) into the Kruger National Park, South Africa, we conducted a study on the maintenance host, African buffalo, to investigate associations between BTB prevalence and calf:cow ratio, age structure, body condition, and endoparasite load. Statistical analyses compared herds of zero, medium (1- 40%), and high (.40%) BTB prevalence. To control for ecological variation across the park we collected data in northern, central, and southern regions and restricted some analyses to particular regions of the park. Body condition declined over the course of the 2001 dry season, and buffaloes in the southern region of the park, with the highest BTB prevalence, were in worse condition than buffaloes in the northern region (which receives less annual rainfall but is still virtually BTB-free). Herd-level analyses of the entire park, the south and central regions, and just the southern region all indicated that herds of higher BTB prevalence were in worse condition and lost condition faster through the dry season than herds of lower BTB prevalence. Fecal endoparasite egg counts increased during the dry season and were associated with both decreased body condition and increased BTB prev- alence. Although we did not detect any obvious effect of BTB on the age structure of the buffalo population, our findings indicate early symptoms of wider scale BTB-related eco- logical disturbances: buffalo herds with high BTB prevalence appear more vulnerable to drought (because of a decrease in body condition and an increase in endoparasite load), and because lions selectively kill weak buffaloes their prey base is accumulating a dispro- portionately high prevalence of BTB, to which lions are susceptible.
Specific variations of fatty acid composition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 induced by Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and relation with resistance to bactericidal activity

The role of membrane fatty acid composition in the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 to the bactericidal activity of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) was investigated. The strain was grown in a medium with increasing concentrations of a QAC, benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride (C14) and two non‐QACs, sodium dichloroisocyanurate and tri‐sodium phosphate. In the presence of C14 only, the strain was able to grow in concentrations higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration. As the strain adapted to C14, resistance to bactericidal activity of the same biocide increased. For the non‐QACs, no change was noted when cells were grown in the presence of biocides. The C14‐adapted cells showed variations in membrane fatty acid composition. A hierarchical clustering analysis was used to compare all fatty acid compositions of cultures in the presence, or not, of the three biocides used here and another QAC studied previously. The clusters obtained underlined specific variations of membrane fatty acids in response to the presence of QACs. Furthermore, with a simple linear regression analysis, a relationship was shown between the membrane fatty acids and the resistance developed by the strain against the bactericidal activity of C14.
A 38–46 GHz MMIC Doherty Power Amplifier Using Post-Distortion Linearization

This letter describes the first demonstration of a fully integrated Doherty power amplifier (PA) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) with post-distortion linearization at millimeter-wave (MMW) frequency band. The Doherty amplifier MMIC, using a 0.15-mum GaAs HEMT process, achieves a small signal gain of 7dB from 38 to 46GHz with a compact chip size of 2mm2. The saturation output power of the Doherty amplifier is 21.8dBm. The similar topology between the Doherty amplifier and post-distortion linearization makes it possible to improve efficiency and linearity simultaneously in MMW PA designs. After gate bias optimization of the main and peaking amplifier, the drain efficiency improved 6% at 6-dB output back-off and the inter-modulation distortion (IMD) of quasi Doherty amplifier can be improved 18dB at 42GHz compared with the balanced amplifier operation
Assessing the Complex Evolution of Norms: The Rise of International Election Monitoring

Given that states have long considered elections a purely domestic matter, the dramatic growth of international election monitoring in the 1990s was remarkable. Why did states allow international organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to interfere and why did international election monitoring spread so quickly? Why did election monitoring become institutionalized in so many organizations? Perhaps most puzzling, why do countries invite monitors and nevertheless cheat? This article develops a rigorous method for investigating the causal mechanisms underlying the rise of election monitoring, and “norm cascades” more generally. The evolution and spread of norms, as with many other social processes, are complex combinations of normative, instrumental, and other constraints and causes of action. The rise of election monitoring has been driven by an interaction of instrumentalism, emergent norms, and fundamental power shifts in the international system. By dissecting this larger theoretical complexity into specific subclaims that can be empirically investigated, this article examines the role of each of these causal factors, their mutual tensions, and their interactive contributions to the evolution of election monitoring.Versions of this article were presented at annual meetings of the International Studies Association and the American Political Science Association, and at a conference at Northwestern University. I thank Michael Barnett, Valarie Bunce, Jeff Checkel, Gary Goertz, Ian Hurd, Bruce Jentleson, Peter Katzenstein, Fritz Mayer, Layna Mosley, Arturo Santa-Cruz, and three anonymous reviewers for comments on earlier drafts. I am grateful to Lenka Siroki and Valentino Nikolova for research assistance. This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0550111. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Clinical characteristics, treatment and survival outcomes in malignant pleural mesothelioma: an institutional experience in Turkey.

PURPOSE To compare treatment modalities and investigate potential prognostic factors for survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). METHODS The present study has investigated the data of 150 patients with MPM who were examined and treated in our center from 2005 to 2012. RESULTS The study included 87 male (58% and 63 female (42) patients. Surgical resection (pleurectomy/decortications (P/D), and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)) was performed in 32 (36.7%) patients; 87 patients (58%) received chemotherapy alone and 16 (10.7%) had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (trimodal treatment). The median progression free and overall survival (PFS and OS) for all patients were 10.6 and 14.8 months, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between the patients who received pemetrexed/cisplatin (N=54) and gemcitabine/cisplatin (N=28) in terms of PFS and OS (p=0.145, p=0.244, respectively). Also, no statistically significant difference was registered between operated and non operated patients (PFS and OS, p=0.416, p=0.095, respectively). There was no difference in both PFS and OS rates between patients who had P/D or EPP (p=0.87, p=0.652, respectively). Log rank analysis: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) (p=0.018), histology (p<0.001), stage (p<0.001) and leukocytosis (p=0.005) were found to be significant prognostic factors of OS. At multivariate analysis, ECOG PS (p=0.016) and stage (p<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSION Median OS was approximately 1 year. ECOG PS, histological type, stage and presence of leukocytosis were prognostic factors that affected both PFS and OS. EPP or P/D surgical options did not provide difference in terms of survival. Survival rates in patients who received a combination of platinum analogues with pemetrexed or gemcitabine as front-line chemotherapy were similar.
The relation between capital formation and economic growth: evidence from sub-Saharan African countries

This paper examines the causal relationship between capital formation and economic growth in Sub-Saharan African countries using recent panel cointegration and causality testing techniques. We find that causality is bi-directional, suggesting that higher economic growth leads to higher capital formation and that in turn, increases in capital formation results in higher economic growth. These results hold irrespective of whether capital formation is measured with private fixed capital formation or by gross capital formation.
The Minimum Wage and Employment Dynamics: Evidence from an Age Based Reform in Greece ⇤

This paper analyzes the employment effects and dynamics of the minimum wage using an age-based reform in Greece. In 2012 the minimum wage was reduced differentially for workers above and below the age of 25. Administrative labor force data, graphical evidence and a difference-in-difference approach are used to identify a negative effect on employment. The bulk of this effect is substitution from older workers to younger workers, however there is also a significant disemployment effect. Identifying elasticities of substitution and comparing younger to older workers yields an employment elasticity of between -. 28 and -. 46 for young workers. The result is present in several outcome variables including unemployment, full time employment, and hours worked and is robust to a number of specification and falsification tests. The employment effects of the reform are seen primarily through a reduced rate of new hires for workers with a higher minimum wage, with no effect on job destructions. Consistent with the predictions of the jobs ladder model, the group subject to the higher wage is less likely to transition to another job, or seek employment while on the job.
An Internal Dose Model of Incapacitation and Lethality Risk from Inhalation of Fire Gases

A mathematical model for estimating the likelihood of incapacitation and lethality from the inhalation of toxic gases is presented. The model computes an internal dose, equal to retained toxic gas per body mass, which is used to extrapolate outcomes across species. Account is taken for ventilation changes due to species, activity, and chemical response. The internal dose is correlated with each outcome using a cumulative, log-normal, probability distribution, which allows the estimation of tolerances for any population incidence. No internal interactions of gases are modeled and probabilities are combined independently. The model compares favorably with combined gas and large animal data.
Innis Lecture: Environmental Crises: Past, Present, and Future

Environmental crises are distinguished by rapid and largely unexpected changes in environmental quality that are difficult if not impossible to reverse. Examples would be major extinctions and significant degradations of an ecosystem. I argue there are three preconditions for crisis: failures in governance, an ecological system exhibiting a tipping point, and an economy/environment interaction with positive feedbacks. I develop a simple model to illustrate how a crisis may arise, and draw on our knowledge of past and present crises to highlight the mechanisms involved. I then speculate as to whether climate change is indeed a crisis in the making.
Is global e-trade really workable?: The mediation effect of the e-marketplace on business performance in China

Intermediation is a primary subject in the field of global e-business management. Although many businesses now have been launched as e-business directly within the internet era and thus have a born-in global reach, the professional support of intermediaries can enhance business performance for all participants of a collaborative network. This type of mediation effect could be derive from systematic infrastructural provisions, or from the invisible governance inherent to trust. This study analyzes the mediation effect with an emphasis on the latter view. In China, there are many bottlenecks in the infrastructure or hardware of global e-commerce, or e-trade, whereas some e-marketplaces, such as Alibaba.com, have thrived. The principal objective of this study was to test empirically the success factors of this type of business performance in electronic-based export intermediary firms (e-EIFs) in China, based on a total systematic structural equation model (SEM). SEM has advantages in examining the causal relationship between mediation variables such as trust or e-MP services and business performance. Our results demonstrate the positive mediating impact of trust on e-MP business performance. Key words: Electronic-based export intermediary firms (e-EIFs), mediation, trust, business performance, structural equation model (SEM), China.
Achieving organizational effectiveness through promotion of women into managerial positions: HRM practice focus

Drawing on the literature of three streams of management studies - human resource management (HRM), women in management and organizational effectiveness - a model was developed bringing these perspectives together into a single comprehensive framework. The model suggests positive associations between HRM practices, fairness in promotion and organizational effectiveness. A survey was conducted among 102 Israeli organizations, which represented a 44 per cent response rate. The findings indicate a significant and positive association between high-quality HRM and fairness in the promotion of women in organizations. Fairness in the promotion of women into managerial ranks was also found to be associated with higher organizational effectiveness. Implications for management and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Motor control of skid steered robotic vehicle

This paper deals with control system of skid steered robotic vehicle. Skid steering offers very simple way to achieve good traction on rough terrain. On the other hand it is difficult to precisely control the speed and the position of the vehicle. The presented solution uses modern approaches to control drives of the robotic vehicle such as visual odometry with stereo camera in combination with precise fiber-optic gyroscope. Designed control system is compatible with actually most popular robotic framework named Robotic Operation System (ROS).
Optimal Clustering in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks: Acoustic, EM and FSO Communication Compliant Technique

With a wide scope for exploration and research, underwater wireless sensor network (UWSN) is a fast growing research area in current scenario. UWSNs need energy efficient designing approach, because underwater sensor nodes are battery driven. Also the deployed batteries cannot be easily recharged by non-conventional energy resources, like solar energies. Clustering is an effective technique to design an energy efficient UWSNs. Due to the sparse deployment of nodes and dynamic nature of the channel, the clustering characteristics of UWSNs are different from those of terrestrial wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we focused on optimal clustering for UWSNs which are compliant with any one of the acoustic, free space optical (FSO) and electromagnetic (EM) wave-based communication techniques. Besides, we proposed an energy dissipation model of sensor node for FSO and EM wave-based communication and compared with the contemporary energy dissipation model for acoustic-based communication. In particular, the suitability of the above three techniques for underwater communication is investigated and their performance is compared on the basis of energy consumption and optimal clustering.
Macular recovery time recorded by nyctometry ‐ a screening method for selection of patients who are at risk of developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Abstract a 5‐year study on the predictive value of the macular recovery time, as recorded by nyctometry, in the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus has been completed. Seventyseven patients with a median age of 30,8 years and a median duration of the disease of 15,8 years participated. In the follow‐up period, 16 out of 20 patients initially showing abnormally prolonged macular recovery time had developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy the median duration from the initial investigation to the diagnosis of retinal neovascularization being 34 months. Contrary to this finding, only 4 out of 57 patients initially showing normal macular recovery had advanced into proliferative retinopathy, and the median duration until diagnosis of this condition was 45 months. It is concluded that nyctometry can serve as an easily performed screening method in selecting those at risk of developing proliferative retinopathy within a few years.
A Web-enabled Database of Human Gene Expression Controlled Annotations for Gene List Functional Evaluation

Modern biomolecular high-throughput technologies can produce experimental results made of lists of hundreds of candidate interesting genes in the condition under study. These lists need to be biologically interpreted to achieve a better knowledge of the patho-physiological phenomena involved in the studied conditions. To reach this goal, several functional, structural, and phenotypic annotations are available within heterogeneous and widely distributed databanks. Among them, gene expression information is a useful resource to better understand gene functions. We previously developed GFINDer, a Web server that aggregates genomic annotations sparsely available in numerous databanks accessible via the Internet and allows performing statistical analysis of functional and phenotypic annotations of gene lists. To take full advantage of gene expression information provided by eVOC ontologies, we imported them in the GFINDer system. For this purpose and to keep updated such information in the GFINDer database when new releases of them are available, we designed and implemented specific parsing and updating procedures. Moreover, we developed new GFINDer modules that allow annotating human nucleotide sequences with the imported eVOC controlled information on their expression features in order to explore and statistically analyze them.
CD44‐independent hepatocyte growth factor/c‐Met autocrine loop promotes malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor cell invasion in vitro

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are invasive peripheral nerve neoplasms that express both the receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The combined expression of these proteins has been implicated in tumor cell growth and metastasis. However, HGF/c‐Met autocrine activity requires the presence of a serine protease, the HGF activator (HGFA), and, in some cells, the CD44 transmembrane glycoprotein. Here, we found that HGFA, HGF, c‐Met, and CD44 are coexpressed in MPNSTs but their localization did not correlate with increased cell proliferation. The ST8814 MPNST cell line also expresses all of these proteins, can convert pro‐HGF to active HGF, and exhibits constitutive c‐Met phosphorylation. Blocking c‐Met activity or expression inhibits the invasive behavior of these cells but not their proliferation. Interestingly, although a CD44 splice variant contributes to MPNST cell invasion and interacts with c‐Met and HGF in ST8814 cells, it is not required for c‐Met activation. These data indicate that an HGF/c‐Met autocrine loop can promote MPNST invasion through a CD44‐independent mechanism and suggest that c‐Met, HGFA, and HGF are potential molecular targets to inhibit MPNST metastasis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Does dependency rate really impede savings? Some Sub-Saharan African evidence

This study examines whether the age dependency ratio exerts a negative effect on the domestic savings rates. We test this issue for 16 African countries using annual data. The empirical analysis was conducted using the bounds test of cointegration of Pesaran et al. (2001) and the modified Granger causality test due to Toda and Yamamoto (1995). The advantage of using these two approaches is that they both avoid the pre-testing bias associated with standard unit root and cointegration tests. The bounds test indicates evidence of cointegration for 11 countries. Further, results from causality analysis reveal that dependency ratio causes savings rate negatively in nine countries, and positively in two countries. Overall, our findings support the view that changes in non-working population size are important in explaining the future path of the domestic savings rate in Africa. Key words: Savings, dependency rates, bounds testing, cointegration, granger causality.
Atomistic Visualization of Mesoscopic Whole‐Cell Simulations Using Ray‐Casted Instancing

Molecular visualization is an important tool for analysing the results of biochemical simulations. With modern GPU ray casting approaches, it is only possible to render several million of atoms interactively unless advanced acceleration methods are employed. Whole‐cell simulations consist of at least several billion atoms even for simplified cell models. However, many instances of only a few different proteins occur in the intracellular environment, which can be exploited to fit the data into the graphics memory. For each protein species, one model is stored and rendered once per instance. The proposed method exploits recent algorithmic advances for particle rendering and the repetitive nature of intracellular proteins to visualize dynamic results from mesoscopic simulations of cellular transport processes. We present two out‐of‐core optimizations for the interactive visualization of data sets composed of billions of atoms as well as details on the data preparation and the employed rendering techniques. Furthermore, we apply advanced shading methods to improve the image quality including methods to enhance depth and shape perception besides non‐photorealistic rendering methods. We also show that the method can be used to render scenes that are composed of triangulated instances, not only implicit surfaces.