Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Muscle Plasticity in Rat Following Spinal Transection and Chronic Intraspinal Microstimulation

Intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) employs electrical stimulation of the ventral grey matter to reactivate paralyzed skeletal muscle. This work evaluated the transformations in the quadriceps muscle that occurred following complete transection and chronic stimulation with ISMS or a standard nerve cuff (NCS). Stimulation was applied for 30 days, 4 h/day. Both methods induced significant increases in time-to-peak tension (ISMS 35%, NCS 25%) and half rise-time (ISMS 39%, NCS 25%) compared to intact controls (IC). Corresponding increases in type-IIA myosin heavy chain (MHC) and decreases in type-IID MHC were noted compared to IC. These results were unexpected because ISMS recruits motor units in a near-normal physiological order while NCS recruits motor units in a reversed order. Spinal cord transection and 30 days of stimulation did not alter either recruitment profile. The slope of the force recruitment curves obtained through ISMS following transection and 30 days of stimulation was similar to that obtained in intact animals, and 3.4-fold shallower than that obtained through NCS. The transformations observed in the current work are best explained by the near maximal level of motor unit recruitment, the total daily time of activity and the tonic nature of the stimulation paradigm.
Mode-locked fiber ring lasers with semiconductor optical amplifiers for repetition rates between 10 and 160 GHz

This thesis is on the development of high-speed pulsed lasers at wavelengths around 1.55 m for applications in the fiber optic communications field. The realization of future optical transmission systems and signal processing circuits will require such optical pulse sources, capable of producing picosecond pulses with a low timing jitter at repetition rates of tens or even hundreds of Gigahertz. Furthermore, versatile lasers that can operate at different wavelengths and repetition rates will be highly welcome in the broadband test and measurement field. The lasers developed in this thesis generate wavelength-tunable and nearly chirpfree pulses of picosecond and subpicosecond width at 10 to 160-GHz repetition rates. A novel scheme is proposed for this purpose, employing a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with integrated Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (MZI-SOA) as an optically controlled modulator in actively mode-locked fiber ring lasers. As a major benefit of the optical modulation scheme, these lasers are synchronized to an optical external clock. The timing jitter, which is an indicator for the quality of the synchronization, is small over very wide offset frequency ranges, and the jitter in excess to the external clock is low. Three key results should be particularly emphasized. First, a peak power of 3 W is obtained for 1.6 ps pulses at 10 GHz. This is the highest peak power from a laser in the 1.55 m range yet published at 10 GHz or above without amplification after the laser. Second, 740 fs wide pulses are generated, which to date is the shortest pulse width achieved with fiber ring lasers at 10 GHz or above without nonlinear compression. Third, wavelength tunability over more than 15 nm is demonstrated at 80 GHz. This is among the highest reported repetition rates at which wavelength tunability of any laser is reported. SOAs play a key role in the lasers of this thesis. A significant high-speed response of the SOA gain and phase is essential to operate the lasers at high repetition rates. Optical modulation of the SOA gain is demonstrated in pump-probe experiments at record rates of more than 270 GHz. The first measurements of the timedependence of the SOA phase at GHz-repetition rates are reported, and high phase shifts of more than at 10 GHz and at 40 GHz are observed in 1.5-mm long
Identification of C6‐ceramide‐interacting proteins in D6P2T Schwannoma cells

Ceramide is a bioactive molecule involved in numerous cell signaling pathways that are associated with cell cycle control, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis. Although substantial knowledge about ceramide‐regulated pathways has accumulated in the past decade, molecular mechanisms of ceramide action remain poorly understood, primarily due to limited information about ceramide‐binding proteins. In the present study, we used affinity purification with a synthetic biotin‐conjugated C6‐ceramide analogue and LC‐MS/MS to identify potential ceramide‐interacting proteins in D6P2T Schwannoma cells. The purification resulted in identification of 97 unique proteins. The identified proteins are involved in various cellular processes, including apoptosis, cellular stress, cell cycle, cell differentiation, signaling, transcription, translation, protein biogenesis, metabolism, and transport.
Linguistic and nonlinguistic factors determining proficiency of English as a foreign language: a cross-country analysis

This article is one of the first studies to use econometric techniques to examine the factors influencing proficiency of English as a foreign language. Specifically, this article aims to investigate, at cross-country level, the linguistic and nonlinguistic factors influencing the variation of proficiency in the use of English as a second language. As a proxy for English proficiency, we use the average Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores achieved by residents of a total of over 60 countries. The regression results suggest that linguistic factors such as historical affinity and similarity in word order between English and a given language have an influence on the proficiency in English achieved by people whose native language is not English. Among the nonlinguistic factors, expected years of schooling and degree of globalization have a positive relation with proficiency in English. These results seem robust, even when the computer-based TOEFL score is used in place of the paper-based TOEFL score and even when the overall score is replaced by the respective score in listening comprehension, structure and written expression, and reading comprehension.
Do Capital Flows Reflect Economic Fundamentals in Developing Countries?

This paper proposes a methodology for testing whether capital flows to developing countries are determined by economic fundamentals or by purely speculative forces. We use the intertemporal optimizing approach to current account determination as our benchmark for judging the behavior of capital flows. According to this approach, capital flows should act as a buffer to smooth consumption in the face of temporary shocks to national cash flow, defined as output less investment less government expenditures. The results are encouraging. For a large sample of developing countries, economic fundamentals are indeed found to be the most important determinant of capital flows.
Sustainable Development as Governance Reform Agenda: An Aggregation of Distinguished Challenges for Policy-Making

Sustainable development (SD) is commonly defined as development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations.This paper addresses the concept not with regard to economic, social or environmental policy challenges, but regarding its key implications for public governance. It shows that in terms of governance, SD requires horizontal integration of sectoral policies, closer co-operation between different tiers of government (vertical integration), integrating different stakeholders in decision-making (participation), considering different types of knowledge throughout the policy-making process (reflexivity), and balancing short- and long-term time scales (intergenerational equity). This paper contributes to the SD as well as the governance discourse in basic ways by aggregating these widely accepted normative SD principles to a comprehensive governance reform agenda. By doing so, it also highlights the considerable yet rarely noticed overlap between the discourses on SD and (good) governance.
Developing Capacity for Integrated Trauma-Related Behavioral Health Services for Women: Start-Up Costs from Five Community Sites

ABSTRACT Violence against women is a growing public health concern. Many community agencies are interested in expanding their service delivery capacity to better meet these needs, but little information is currently available about the costs of implementing comprehensive services for women who have experienced various types of trauma. This article responds to this need by presenting findings from a study of start-up costs incurred by five regionally-diverse sites in the Women, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Violence Study (Women's Study) during the initial two years of a 5-year federal demonstration grant. Using a cost-finding approach that included project-related expenditures without regard to the source of funding, information was obtained with a structured data collection instrument that was completed during in-person interviews with local project staff. Phase 1 start-up project costs ranged from $0.6 million to almost $1.2 million per site. Of the five sites, start-up costs were lowest in the two mixed urban/suburban settings, and highest in the two rural settings, where few of the project-related services had been in place prior to grant funding. Implications for public health interventions are highlighted.
Technical Advance: Surface plasmon resonance‐based analysis of CXCL12 binding using immobilized lentiviral particles

Use of SPR‐based biosensors is an established method for measuring molecular interactions. Their application to the study of GPCRs is nonetheless limited to detergent‐solubilized receptors that can then be reconstituted into a lipid environment. Using the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its specific ligand CXCL12, we outline here a highly reproducible biosensor method based on receptor presentation on the surface of lentiviral particles; the approach is simple and does not require the use of antibodies to achieve correct receptor orientation on the sensorchip surface. We measured the kinetic parameters of CXCR4/CXCL12 binding in a single step and in real time and evaluated the effect of GAG presentation of chemokines on this interaction. The data indicate that at low concentrations, soluble heparin modulates CXCR4/CXCL12 interaction and at high concentrations, abrogates binding. These observations suggest that in addition to their known role in modulating local chemokine availability, GAG affect the receptor/ligand interaction, although their influence on affinity parameters is very limited. The method will also be useful for quantifying these biomarkers in biological fluids and for the development of high‐throughput screening for their antagonists.
Selective CETP Inhibition and PPARα Agonism Increase HDL Cholesterol and Reduce LDL Cholesterol in Human ApoB100/Human CETP Transgenic Mice

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a key role in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism, but normal mice are deficient in CETP. In this study, transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein B 100 (ApoB-100) and human CETP (hApoB100/hCETP) were used to characterize the effects of CETP inhibition and peroxisome proliferator—activated receptor α (PPARα) agonism on lipid profiles. Torcetrapib (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg), a CETP inhibitor, fenofibrate (30 mg/kg), a weak PPARα agonist, and GW590735 (3 and 10 mg/kg), a potent and selective PPARα agonist were given orally for 14 days to hApoB100/hCETP mice and lipid profiles were assessed. The average percentages of HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol fractions in hApoB100/hCETP mice were 34.8%, 61.6%, and 3.6%, respectively, which is similar to those of normolipidemic humans. Both torcetrapib and fenofibrate significantly increased HDL cholesterol and reduced LDL cholesterol, and there was a tendency for torcetrapib to reduce VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides. GW590735 significantly increased HDL cholesterol, decreased LDL and VLDL cholesterol, and significantly reduced triglycerides. Maximal increases in HDL cholesterol were 37%, 53%, and 84% with fenofibrate, torcetrapib, and GW590735, respectively. These results, in mice that exhibit a more human-like lipid profile, demonstrate an improved lipid profile with torcetrapib, fenofibrate, and GW590735, and support the use of selective PPARα agonism for the treatment of lipid disorders. In addition, these data demonstrate the use of hApoB100/hCETP transgenic mice to identify, characterize, and screen compounds that increase HDL cholesterol.
Ballots and trade union democracy

The Thatcher government has pledged to bring in statutory provision for ballots in certain trade union elections and for the calling of industrial action. This book examines the current use of ballots in union elections and their effect on participation and leadership selection. Previous discussion of trade union ballots has been based upon unfounded assumptions, limited evidence and incorrect inference from American experience. This is the first analysis of the role of ballots in union elections and collective bargaining based on empirical research in Britain. The authors show how ballots are, at the moment, underused and only one of the ways in which unions consult their members. They also explore the circumstances likely to lead to balloting under current legislation and its consequences. The book provides a most detailed look at the history, current practice and future possibilities for the use of ballots in trade unions. It will inform both the industrial relations and legal practitioner and teacher, as well as those, on both sides of the industrial fence, seeking either to promote or ward off change in industrial union practice.
Impact of Alcohol on Vestibular Function in Relation to the Legal Limit of 0.25 mg/l Breath Alcohol Concentration

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alcohol on sacculocollic and vestibulo-ocular reflex systems, when the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) is close to the legal limit of 0.25 mg/l. Twenty healthy male volunteers underwent vestibular evoked myogenic potential and caloric coupled with visual suppression tests. These tests were conducted prior to imbibing alcohol at a dosage of 0.5 g/kg to achieve a peak BrAC of around 0.25 mg/l. Once the peak BrAC was reached, these tests were performed again. Predosing and postdosing analytical results were compared, as were those with BrAC levels ≧ 0.25 mg/l and <0.25 mg/l. After ingesting alcohol, 36 ears (90%) showed vestibular evoked myogenic potential responses, with a significantly increased latency of peak p13. The mean slow-phase velocity of caloric nystagmus in 40 ears after dosing was significantly reduced, and that with BrAC ≧0.25 mg/l was significantly less than that with BrAC <0.25 mg/l. Likewise, the visual suppression index decreased considerably after alcohol ingestion. In conclusion, from the perspective of vestibular function, the 0.25-mg/l BrAC limit gains clinical significance, because the vestibulo-ocular reflex performance deteriorates further, when the BrAC exceeds 0.25 mg/l. However, impaired performance of sacculocollic reflex and vestibulocerebellar interaction has occurred, when the BrAC was <0.25 mg/l, suggesting that a lower legal threshold is appropriate.
Legal Costs as Barriers to Trade

Recent evidence shows that the 'home bias puzzle' in international trade may be associated with the mere presence of national borders (McCallum (1995)). In this paper we provide a theoretical framework to explain why borders may matter so much for trade. Our argument is that even between perfectly integrated and similar countries the legal system differs, so that legal costs are higher when business is done abroad. Using a matching model of trade, we show that legal costs asymmetry produce home bias in an essentially different way than traditional trade costs. To estimate the relevance of legal costs in displacing trade we estimate gravity equations augmented with variables capturing the extent of legal asymmetries. Evidence from inter-national trade across OECD countries and intra-national trade across French support the view that legal asymmetries act as relevant obstacles to trade.
Soluble P‐selectin levels, P‐selectin polymorphisms and cardiovascular disease

Summary. P‐selectin is a member of the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules which are important in the transient attachment of leukocytes to endothelial cells and platelets. A number of polymorphisms in the gene encoding P‐selectin have been identified. Objectives were to investigate the relationship of soluble P (sP)‐selectin with P‐selectin gene polymorphisms and coronary artery disease (CAD). Two hundred and forty‐nine patients, with extent of CAD characterized by ≥50% stenosis in one or more coronary arteries, and 252 healthy controls were studied. Soluble P‐selectin was significantly higher in the patients than controls after adjustment for age, sex and smoking [patients 49.8 (47.5–52.1) ng mL−1; controls 46.7 (44.5–49.1) ng mL−1, P = 0.03). There was no association of sP‐selectin with myocardial infarction (MI) or presence of ≥50% stenosis. The −1817 T/C, −1969 G/A and −2123 C/G (but not the Thr715Pro) polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium. The Thr715Pro polymorphism was significantly associated with sP‐selectin even after adjustment for covariates [TT 48.9 (46.9–50.0) ng mL−1; TP + PP 40.7 (38.1–43.6) ng mL−1, P < 0.0001]. A significant interaction of Thr715Pro and smoking status was identified in the determination of sP‐selectin levels. There was no significant association of genotype at any of the polymorphism in relation to MI or stenosis. The Thr715Pro polymorphisms is associated with plasma sP‐selectin. This association is modulated by smoking, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
In vivo 3D high-spatial-resolution MR imaging of intraplaque hemorrhage.

PURPOSE To apply magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), as compared with histologic analysis as the reference standard, to detect T1 hyperintense intraplaque signal and to test the hypothesis that T1 hyperintense material represents blood products (methemoglobin). MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and patient informed consent were obtained. Eleven patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were examined with MR imaging of IPH, and MR images were assessed for T1 hyperintense intraplaque signal. A total of 160 images per patient were available for coregistration with corresponding histologic slices. Because of endarterectomy specimen size and degradation and processing artifacts, only 97 images were coregistered to corresponding histologic slices. A grid that consisted of 16 segments was overlaid on images for correlation of MR images and histologic slices. Only one of 16 segments was chosen randomly per slide and used in the analysis. Agreement between MR images and histologic slices was measured with the Cohen kappa statistic. RESULTS Strong agreement was seen between MR images and histologic slices, with T1-weighted high signal intensity corresponding to hemorrhagic material (kappa = 0.7-0.8). There was a low 2% false-negative rate for the detection of hemorrhage on the basis of T1-weighted hyperintensity (two of 97 measured segments). The results of diagnostic tests for T1 hyperintense detection of hemorrhage were as follows: sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value of 70%, and negative predictive value of 100% for reader 1 and sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 88%, positive predictive value of 78%, and negative predictive value of 97% for reader 2. CONCLUSION With its high spatial resolution, MR imaging of IPH permits detection of plaque hemorrhage location, resulting in strong agreement between imaging and histologic findings.
Is the Future American? Or, Can Left Politics Preserve European Welfare States from Erosion through Growing ‘Racial’ Diversity?

The welfare state is the distinctive contribution of Europe to the modern world. Other places do market capitalism better, and democracy, art and culture at least as well. However, the future of the European welfare state is in question, as a result of economic globalisation, pressures from population ageing and other social changes and the dominance of an EU primarily committed to creating an open market to rival that of the US. An important recent critique of the welfare state project argues that social cohesion and diversity are simply incompatible – with the implication, that as Europe grows more diverse, welfare states will wither. An influential variant of this argument uses statistical modelling to support the argument that greater ethnic diversity accounts for the failure of the US to develop political support for a welfare state on European lines (and implies that Europe's future is American). This article demonstrates that the model used fails to take into account the significance of left politics in European countries. The evidence is that the left substantially counteracts the impact of greater diversity on welfare states in Europe. The case that increased migration will undermine popular commitment to social spending is not proven.
Vaccination against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis by using Leishmania major antigen/liposomes. Optimization and assessment of the requirement for intravenous immunization.

Efficacy of vaccination against cutaneous leishmaniasis in highly susceptible BALB/c mice was assessed comparatively by using radiation-attenuated promastigotes and colloidal Ag mixtures generated from a mixed Leishmania major (LV39) isolate (SLV39) and from a virulent cloned line (SVJ2) derived from the Jericho 2 L. major isolate. Dehydration-rehydration vesicle (DRV) liposomes were used as adjuvants. In optimization experiments phospholipid composition of DRV was varied, and the distearoyl derivative (DSPC) (liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature (Tc) 54 degrees C) of egg lecithin L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine was found to be superior to the dipalmitoyl derivative (DPPC, Tc 41.5 degrees C) and underivatized L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (Tc -10 degrees C). The criteria studied were in vivo priming for a secondary in vitro proliferative response and the prepatency of lesion onset after L. major challenge of mice immunized once i.v. A single s.c. immunization with SLV39 either free or entrapped within DSPC liposomes primed spleen cells to produce significant levels of IL-3 when stimulated with SLV39 in vitro. In contrast, the i.v. route of immunization with the same Ag preparations led to little or no IL-3 production by the spleen cells. Despite development of significant T cell activation, both SLV39 and SVJ2 administered s.c. , either free or entrapped within liposomes, were not protective. However, i.v. immunization four times with SVJ2 entrapped within DSPC liposomes induced a level of resistance comparable with that of 2 x 10(7) gamma-irradiated promastigotes in the stringent BALB/c L. major model. Although significant, protection conferred after i.v. immunization with SLV39/DSPC liposomes was less effective. These data therefore show that DSPC/DRV liposomes, although a good adjuvant for inducing protective immunity to cutaneous leishmaniasis, are not able to overcome the requirement for an i.v. route of immunization with the leishmanial Ag preparation. Additionally, they demonstrate a correlation between IL-3 secretion and non-protection. They also suggest that SVJ2 represents a better source of protective Ag than SLV39.