Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inverse relationship between plasma cholestanol concentrations and bile acid synthesis in sitosterolemia.

We investigated the relationship between plasma cholestanol (5 alpha-dihydrocholesterol) concentrations and the activity and mRNA levels of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-controlling enzyme for bile acid synthesis, in three female sitosterolemic homozygotes. In this lipid storage disease, large amounts of plant sterols and cholestanol accumulate because of hyperabsorption and endogenous synthesis, respectively. Plasma cholestanol concentrations were 14 times greater in the three sitosterolemic homozygotes than the mean for five control subjects. To investigate the cholestanol biosynthetic pathway, tracer doses of two putative precursors, [1,2-3H]4-cholesten-3-one and [4-14C]7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol were injected intravenously into a homozygote, and radioactivity was sought in cholestanol, bile acids, cholesterol, and sitosterol fractions isolated from plasma and bile. Tritium was concentrated only in cholestanol; neither cholesterol, sitosterol nor bile acids were derived from [1,2-3H]4-cholesten-3-one. In contrast, bile acids were labeled exclusively with 14C from [4-14C]7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol; no 14C radioactivity was detected in cholestanol. Mathematical analysis of specific activity versus time curves for [3H]cholestanol revealed very slow decay, large exchangeable pools, and enhanced synthesis in the sitosterolemic homozygote. Measurements of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity were 39% lower in whole liver microsomes from three sitosterolemic homozygotes that contained 19% plant sterols as compared to the mean value for six control microsomal specimens that contained 0.1% plant sterols. Removal of the excess plant sterols from the microsomes, in vitro, normalized microsomal cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in the homozygotes but did not affect enzyme activity in the controls. Equal amounts of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA were detected in the livers of both control and sitosterolemic subjects. Bile acid malabsorption after ileal bypass surgery stimulated cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity 78% in sitosterolemic whole liver microsomes and reduced plasma cholesterol, sitosterol, and cholestanol levels 61%, 55% and 91%, respectively, producing a pronounced decrease in the cholestanol/cholesterol ratio without changing the sitosterol/cholesterol ratio. These results demonstrate that increased cholestanol is synthesized from 4-cholesten-3-one and not 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol in sitosterolemia. Enhanced pools and plasma concentrations are related inversely to hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. Competitive inhibition of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase by the large microsomal plant sterol pool diverts cholesterol into cholestanol. Alternatively, stimulating cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity after ileal bypass surgery markedly diminished plasma cholestanol levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Un modèle généralisé des déterminants des migrations internationales

A partir de developpements recents de la theorie des migrations, cet article propose un modele qui inclut a la fois les determinants traditionnels et nouveaux des migrations internationales. Une application empirique est egalement proposee concernant les migrations des pays tiers mediterraneens (ptm) vers l’Union europeenne (ue). Les resultats montrent que les migrations ne s’expliquent pas seulement par les ecarts de richesse entre pays. Elles dependent aussi d’une serie d’autres variables parmi lesquelles l’inegalite des revenus, les differences de taux de chomage et de cout de la vie entre les pays, le niveau d’education des migrants, les reseaux humains, les effets frontieres, les politiques migratoires ainsi que certaines variables non economiques, comme l’environnement, le climat et la religion.
Lower-bits cache for low power STT-RAM caches

As power-efficient design becomes more important, spin-transfer torque RAM (STT-RAM) has drawn a lot of attention due to its ability to meet both high performance and low power consumption. However, its high write energy incurs an increase of dynamic power consumption and may offset power saving due to its low static power. This paper proposes a novel technique called lower-bits caches for reducing write activities of STT-RAM L2 caches. Based on the observation that upper bits of data are not changed as frequently as lower bits in most applications, the technique tries to hide frequent bit changes in lower bits from the L2 cache. Experimental results show that our architecture reduced 25 percent of energy consumed by the L2 cache and slightly improved performance at the same time compared to the STT-RAM baseline.
Body composition profiles of elite American heptathletes.

This study characterized body composition profiles of elite American heptathletes and cross-validated skinfold (SKF) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) field method equations for estimation of percent body fat (%Fat) using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the criterion. Weight, height, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), bone mineral density (BMD), and %Fat were measured in 19 heptathletes using standard measurement protocols for DXA, SKFs and BIA. The ages, heights, and weights were respectively 25.5 +/- 3.5 years, 175.0 +/- 6.6 cm, 67.3 +/- 7.1 kg. DXA estimates of mean +/- SD values for body composition variables were 57.2 +/- 6.1 kg FFM, 10.1 +/- 2.6 kg FM, 114 +/- 7% BMD for age/racial reference group, and 15 +/- 3.0 %Fat. Ranges of bias values for %Fat (DXA minus SKF or BIA) were, respectively, -0.5 to 1.6% and -5.5 to -1.2%. Ranges for standard errors of estimate and total errors were, respectively, SKF 2.4-2.5%, 2.4 - 2.8% and BIA 3.0%, 5.0-6.5%. Regression analyses of the field methods on DXA were significant (p < .05) for all SKF equations but not BIA equations. This study demonstrates that elite American heptathletes are lean, have high levels of BMD, and that SKF equations provide more accurate estimates of %Fat relative to DXA than estimates from BIA equations.
Task-dependent recurrent dynamics in visual cortex

The capacity for flexible sensory-action association in animals has been related to context-dependent attractor dynamics outside the sensory cortices. Here we report a line of evidence that flexibly modulated attractor dynamics during task switching are already present in the higher visual cortex in macaque monkeys. With a nonlinear decoding approach, we can extract the particular aspect of the neural population response that reflects the task-induced emergence of bistable attractor dynamics in a neural population, which could be obscured by standard unsupervised dimensionality reductions such as PCA. The dynamical modulation selectively increases the information relevant to task demands, indicating that such modulation is beneficial for perceptual decisions. A computational model that features nonlinear recurrent interaction among neurons with a task-dependent background input replicates the key properties observed in the experimental data. These results suggest that the context-dependent attractor dynamics involving the sensory cortex can underlie flexible perceptual abilities.
Effect of intravenous transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on neurotransmitters and synapsins in rats with spinal cord injury

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, purified and cultured in vitro by Percoll density gradient centrifugation combined with the cell adherence method. Passages 3–5 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were transplanted into rats with traumatic spinal cord injury via the caudal vein. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores indicate that neurological function of experimental rats was significantly improved over transplantation time (1–5 weeks). Expressions of choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and synapsins in the damaged spinal cord of rats was significantly increased after transplantation, determined by immunofluorescence staining and laser confocal scanning microscopy. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells that had migrated into the damaged area of rats in the experimental group began to express choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and synapsins, 3 weeks after transplantation. The Basso-Beattie- Bresnahan scores positively correlated with expression of choline acetyltransferase and synapsins. Experimental findings indicate that intravenously transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells traverse into the damaged spinal cord of rats, promote expression of choline acetyltransferase, glutamic acid decarboxylase and synapsins, and improve nerve function in rats with spinal cord injury.
A mouse model of a human congenital disorder of glycosylation caused by loss of PMM2

The most common congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG), phosphomannomutase 2 (PMM2)-CDG, is caused by mutations in PMM2 that limit availability of mannose precursors required for protein N-glycosylation. The disorder has no therapy and there are no models to test new treatments. We generated compound heterozygous mice with the R137H and F115L mutations in Pmm2 that correspond to the most prevalent alleles found in patients with PMM2-CDG. Many Pmm2R137H/F115L mice died prenatally, while survivors had significantly stunted growth. These animals and cells derived from them showed protein glycosylation deficiencies similar to those found in patients with PMM2-CDG. Growth-related glycoproteins insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1, IGF binding protein-3 and acid-labile subunit, along with antithrombin III, were all deficient in Pmm2R137H/F115L mice, but their levels in heterozygous mice were comparable to wild-type (WT) littermates. These imbalances, resulting from defective glycosylation, are likely the cause of the stunted growth seen both in our model and in PMM2-CDG patients. Both Pmm2R137H/F115L mouse and PMM2-CDG patient-derived fibroblasts displayed reductions in PMM activity, guanosine diphosphate mannose, lipid-linked oligosaccharide precursor and total cellular protein glycosylation, along with hypoglycosylation of a new endogenous biomarker, glycoprotein 130 (gp130). Over-expression of WT-PMM2 in patient-derived fibroblasts rescued all these defects, showing that restoration of mutant PMM2 activity is a viable therapeutic strategy. This functional mouse model of PMM2-CDG, in vitro assays and identification of the novel gp130 biomarker all shed light on the human disease, and moreover, provide the essential tools to test potential therapeutics for this untreatable disease.
Estimativa de Curva de Phillips para o Brasil com preços desagregados

This article presents estimations of Phillips Curves for Brazil based on disaggregated price data with the use of three stage least squares estimation method. This approach alleviates the problem generated by the small amount of data available for the Brazilian economy while allowing a more detailed analysis of inflation dynamics. Regressions are performed with the use of the data on utilization of industrial capacity generated by FGV thus avoiding the usual problem of low significance of the estimated parameter for the output gap. Variations of the basic model are estimated to evaluate the different modeling choices adopted by the literature such as long run verticality and non-linear exchange rate pass-through coefficient. Also the impact of political instability in the second semester of 2002 is assessed. One of the results is that in general it is not possible to reject long-run verticality so that this is an apparently appropriate working hypothesis for the Brazilian economy.
Supply chain drivers that foster the development of green initiatives in an emerging economy

Purpose – Sustainability and environmental issues are among the most pressing concerns for modern humanity, governments and environmentally conscious business organizations. Green supply chain management has been acknowledged as a key factor to promote organizational sustainability. Green supply chain management is evolving into an important approach for organizations in emerging economies to manage their environmental responsibility. Yet, despite their importance for easing environmental degradation and providing economic benefits, study of the drivers that influence green supply chain initiatives in an emerging economy is still an under‐researched area. Using survey data collected from ISO 14001 certified organizations from Malaysia, the purpose of this paper is to propose that the drivers that motivate firms to adopt green supply chain management can be measured by a second‐order construct related to the implementation of the firm's green supply chain initiatives.Design/methodology/approach – Structura.
Changing Patterns of Matchmaking: The Indian Online Matrimonial Market

Abstract Indian matrimonial websites, as a new and popular medium for seeking marriage partners, have millions of users and have become increasingly important in India's marriage market as of the late 1990s. Despite their traditional approach, evident in their structure and design, these online spaces nevertheless reflect new dimensions of media usage and choice of partners. They show the active intervention of people in their own future planning. By assuming a basic connection between the growing media access and profound changes within contemporary Indian society, this article links media-based changes in matchmaking to an overall social change in post-liberalization India. With new lifestyles and social realities, notions regarding marriage, love, and gender roles are gradually being reworked. The analysis of the online matrimonial market and how it has been appropriated, offers remarkable insights into these dimensions of social change. Ninety percent of India's marriages are still termed as ‘arranged,’ as opposed to the category of ‘love marriage. ’ But the varied ways in which many young Indians engage with matrimonial media show that this dichotomy of terms needs urgent revision. Increasing social, physical, and media mobilities serve in manifold ways as a key factor in social change, particularly with regard to women and marriage. The pervasive gender image of the “New Indian Woman’ is an influential role model in online representations as well as in personal narratives. She combines a modern lifestyle with cultural rootedness and makes way for new forms of subjectivity and agency. In the context of changing patterns and concepts, the ideological difference between agency and choice with regard to decision-making in matchmaking emerges as another crucial point for discussion. While agency emphasizes the capacity to act, choice is connoted by a consumerist viewpoint. But the explicitly new aspect about a medialised marriage market is the progressively interactive nature of online matrimonial media.
Satisfaction of elderly individuals with hearing aids in the first six months of use.

PURPOSE To analyze the hearing aid satisfaction after one, three and six months of use. METHODS Longitudinal study with 22 elderly individuals who participated in a selection and adaptation process for sound amplification devices in a high complexity health service. The study was carried out at the institution on the day of hearing aid fitting and on the follow-up appointments after one, three and six months of fitting. The data is part of the application of the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire. In order to assess the consistency of the items composing the positive effects category of the SADL survey after one, three and six months of hearing aid use, the Cronbach's coefficient alpha was used. RESULTS There were improvements to the SADL scores in the period between the first use of the hearing aid and the following six months. Cronbach's coefficient alpha was calculated excluding questions 9 and 10, simultaneously. The coefficient values were 0.75 after a month, 0.69 after three months, and 0.81 after six months. Questions 9 (Do you feel more confident when you use hearing aids? ) and 10 (The sounds that you hear with your hearing aids are normal? ) created inconsistency in the assessment after one and three months of amplification use. CONCLUSION The results obtained with the SADL indicate a high level of satisfaction. The averages for positive effects, negative effects, and global score were different after one, three and six months of hearing aid use.
New product development and early supplier involvement (ESI): the drivers of ESI adoption

This paper reports the results of an empirical study that probed the adoption of early supplier involvement (ESI) in the product development process. ESI is defined as a form of vertical co-operation in which manufacturers involve suppliers at an early stage in the product development/innovation process, generally at the level of concept and design. Previous research has shown that Western automobile manufacturers obtained significant benefits by emulating the ESI practices of their Japanese competitors; the bulk of research knowledge is, in fact, located in this domain. This study focused on a group of assembly-based industries outside the automotive setting to determine if the adoption and benefits of ESI are found in other domains as well. Twenty-five companies in three non-automotive industries participated in the research. A model of ESI adoption was developed and tested, and an ESI index created to determine the degree to which this practice was applied. The results reveal, among other things, that the level of ESI practice is strongly related to a higher number of supplier base initiatives, lower product integration, broader supplier scope and a higher proportion of parts purchased. Significant results were also obtained in comparisons between industry sectors and geographic regions (USA, Western Europe and Japan). We suggest that promising directions for future research include broad-based samples across industrial sectors and industry-focused empirical study.
Knowledge creation during cross-functional projects: lessons from a case study of a French bank

Knowledge management issues are of paramount importance for the success of projects. The purpose of this research is to provide new insights into the question of knowledge creation during cross-functional projects. Adopting a constructionist approach, we propose a conceptual framework of the knowledge creation process during a project. This model considers four steps in the knowledge creation process based on the links between the epistemological level (tacit/explicit) and ontological level (individual/organisational). A qualitative case study of an information system project in the French banking sector shows that the intrinsic characteristics of both the organisation and the project are relevant to analyse knowledge creation. We also put the light on the prominent role of gatekeepers and the necessity to develop ad hoc and complementary tools to manage knowledge during a project depending on the phases of the process.
Poly[[dodecaaquahexakis(μ2-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato)tricopper(II)diytterbium(III)] dihydrate]

The asymmetric unit of the title heterometallic coordination polymer, {[Cu3Yb2(C7H3NO4)6(H2O)12]·2H2O}n, contains one YbIII and two CuII atoms. The CuII atom that is located on an inversion center is N,O-chelated by two pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate (pdc) anions in a square-planar geometry; the Cu atom located on a general position is N,O-chelated by two pdc anions in the basal plane and is further coordinated by a water O atom at the apical position in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The Yb(III) atom is eight coordinated in a distorted square-antiprismatic geometry formed by three carboxylate O atoms from three pdc anions and five water molecules. The pdc anions bridge adjacent Yb(III) and Cu(III) atoms, forming a three-dimensional polymeric structure. The crystal structure contains extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. π–π stacking is present in the crystal structure, the shortest centroid–centroid distance between parallel pyridine rings of adjacent molecules being 3.646 (3) Å.
Blind signal separation with a projection pursuit index

Blind signal separation (BSS) is a powerful technique for separation of mixed signals with weak assumptions on the incoming signals. The objectives of BSS are analogous to the objectives of exploratory projection pursuit which is widely used in the statistical community for finding structure in high dimensional data sets. In this paper, we adapt exploratory projection pursuit for BSS. First, we introduce exploratory projection pursuit and the associated projection pursuit index (PPI). We adapt the PPI for application to BSS. We also investigate the order of approximation required to achieve satisfactory separation using the PPI, and compare its performance to a maximum-likelihood BSS technique using a Gram-Charlier expansion.
MWCNTS array incorporated nanochannel with charge-selectivity for high efficient biomolecule preconcentration

This paper presents a study of electrokinetic transport in a nano-fluidic chip that allows for the selection and pre-concentration of molecular mixtures by a high density multi-wall carbon nanotubes array (MCNTs) in nano-channels. Parylene (poly(p-xylylene) was deposited on MWCNTs walls as a dielectric material, the surface charge characters and density could adjusted when an induced polarizes filed was applied. The MCNTs array was used as an induced-surface charge filter to attract the charged molecules on the wall surface by van der Waals and electrostatic force. The surface charge of MCNTs is inversely proportional to the channel wall thickness and proportional to the dielectric constant of Parylene thin layer as well as the applied external electric-field. The competition between electroosmotic dragging force and nonlinear electrophoretic forces induced by polarization effect is suggested responsible for the setup of two preconcentration regimes at both cathodic and anodic sides of the nanochannel. A 105–6 folds high concentration capability of FITC-labelied IgG has been achieved in 15 min in this device which is not easily carried out by standard MEMS process. The fabrication of this device with direct growth of MWCNTs inside nanochannel is first reported to apply to electro-preconcentration.
The Liquidity Premium in the Money Market: A Comparison of the German Mark Period and the Euro Area

Abstract This paper investigates to what extent the expectations hypothesis of the term structure (EHTS) of interest rates receives some support since the launch of the European single currency. Empirical evidence shows that in general this theory applies to most European countries, and to Germany in particular. The objective of this paper thus is twofold. First, the EHTS for the German money market and for a larger sample including the German mark period and the euro money market is tested in order to check whether the results for the former are affected by the new financial environment since January 1999. Second, the implications of the results for the monetary policy assessment are discussed. We estimate cointegrating vector autoregressive models in order to quantify the level of the liquidity premium. The results suggest that financial markets do not consider the monetary policy of the European Central Bank simply as the one prevailing during the German period.
Decomposing Income Inequality in The Arab Region

The main objective of this paper is to perform a decomposition analysis of the level of inequality between socioeconomic groups and geopolitical regions of each country to better our understanding of the contribution of each socioeconomic group to overall inequality. This paper will fill in an important gap of knowledge of inequality patterns in the Arab region, by drawing a rough picture of monetary inequality. Our results show that differences in mean income across groups are much larger in Tunisia, Morocco and mainly Yemen and accounts for a much larger proportion of overall inequality.