Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Myotubularin and PtdIns3P remodel the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle in vivo

Summary The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a specialized form of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in skeletal muscle and is essential for calcium homeostasis. The mechanisms involved in SR remodeling and maintenance of SR subdomains are elusive. In this study, we identified myotubularin (MTM1), a phosphoinositide phosphatase mutated in X-linked centronuclear myopathy (XLCNM, or myotubular myopathy), as a key regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-monophosphate (PtdIns3P) levels at the SR. MTM1 is predominantly located at the SR cisternae of the muscle triads, and Mtm1-deficient mouse muscles and myoblasts from XLCNM patients exhibit abnormal SR/ER networks. In vivo modulation of MTM1 enzymatic activity in skeletal muscle using ectopic expression of wild-type or a dead-phosphatase MTM1 protein leads to differential SR remodeling. Active MTM1 is associated with flat membrane stacks, whereas dead-phosphatase MTM1 mutant promotes highly curved cubic membranes originating from the SR and enriched in PtdIns3P. Overexpression of a tandem FYVE domain with high affinity for PtdIns3P alters the shape of the SR cisternae at the triad. Our findings, supported by the parallel analysis of the Mtm1-null mouse and an in vivo study, reveal a direct function of MTM1 enzymatic activity in SR remodeling and a key role for PtdIns3P in promoting SR membrane curvature in skeletal muscle. We propose that alteration in SR remodeling is a primary cause of X-linked centronuclear myopathy. The tight regulation of PtdIns3P on specific membrane subdomains may be a general mechanism to control membrane curvature.
The European Parliament after Brexit

The allocation of seats in the European Parliament (EP) according to the Treaty of Lisbon, must comply with the principle of degressive proportionality. The rule can be either in the form of rounded degressive proportionality or unrounded degressive proportionality. This paper deals with expected compositions of the EP after the likely exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union bodies. We present the allocations of seats among the member states generated by means of simulation algorithms selected from the literature. These allocations are mostly unrounded degressively proportional, whereas using the approach developed in previous papers and considering all feasible allocations, we always achieve rounded degressively proportional allocations. We discuss the attained results and indicate the most appropriate allocation and methodology. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.uk
Rubber hand illusion using invisible tactile stimulus

Rubber hand illusion (RHI) is an illusion that a subject perceives a rubber hand as his/her own hand. When a subject is given tactile stimulation on his/her hand without visual cues and fake hands visually stimulated at the same time, the subject feels as if the fake rubber hand is his/her real hand. In this paper, we evaluate RHI caused by invisible tactile stimulus of airborne ultrasound tactile display (AUTD) and effect of existence of a screen. We use a tactile projector system to display both invisible tactile stimulus and a visible projected animation image. Based on our experiment, we show the following two main findings. 1) Invisible tactile feedback of ultrasound can be used to lead RHI provided the stimulus synchronized with a projected visual image. 2) Removal of a screen did not affect to the strength of RHI so much. Our experiment result also shows that removing the screen enhances the sense of two hands ownership than a general situation.
Television Singing Competitions Create Stars?: An Empirical Evidence from the Digital Music Chart

After the success of American Idol, television singing competitions have become widespread and popular around the world. Although this format has had a substantial influence on the music market of many countries, few studies have quantified this influence. This study examines whether musicians from singing competitions (contestants) earned more money through digital music sales than did other musicians (non-contestants). We used a unique dataset that summed sales from the top 200 monthly digital music chart of South Korea between 2011 and 2014. We analyze the duration that a song has been listed on the charts, and the number of the song sold during this tenure, considering several variables such as gender and seasonality. Our findings indicate that songs by contestants stayed on the charts longer and yielded larger sales than did those of non-contestants. The insights gained in this study will provide guidance to record companies who are considering recording contracts with contest winners.
Local infusion of ascorbate augments NO‐dependent cutaneous vasodilatation during intense exercise in the heat

Recent work demonstrates that nitric oxide (NO) contributes to cutaneous vasodilatation during moderate (400 W of metabolic heat production) but not high (700 W of metabolic heat production) intensity exercise bouts performed in the heat (35°C). The present study evaluated whether the impairment in NO‐dependent cutaneous vasodilatation was the result of a greater accumulation of reactive oxygen species during high (700 W of metabolic heat production) relative to moderate (500 W of metabolic heat production) intensity exercise. It was shown that local infusion of ascorbate (an anti‐oxidant) improves NO‐dependent forearm cutaneous vasodilatation during high intensity exercise in the heat. These findings provide novel insight into the physiological mechanisms governing cutaneous blood flow during exercise‐induced heat stress and provide direction for future research exploring whether oxidative stress underlies the impairments in heat dissipation that may occur in older adults, as well as in individuals with pathophysiological conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
Application of hemihepatic vascular occlusion with hanging maneuver in hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To evaluate the hemihepatic vascular occlusion with hanging maneuver in hepatectomy. METHODOLOGY Ninety-four cases of hepatectomy were analyzed retrospectively. All patients were randomized into 3 groups: Pringle maneuver was applied in Group 1 (n=40), hemihepatic inflow control was Group 2 (n=30) and complete hemihepatic vascular occlusion with hanging maneuver was applied in Group 3 (n=24). The clamping period, operation time, bleeding volume, blood transfusion volume, postoperative recovery of liver function and postoperative complications were compared among three groups. RESULTS The average times of clamping in Group 1 was 1.6 +/- 0.7, but only one clamping in Group 2 and 3. There were significant differences among three groups in bleeding volume as well. The postoperative serum ALT and total bilirubin (TBIL) in Group 2 and 3 were significantly lower than those of Group 1.5 patients died of liver failure after operation in Group 1. But liver failure or morbidity wasn't happened in Group 2 and 3. The rates of biliary leakage in Group 1 and 2 were more than that of Group 3. The hospitalization duration of Group 1 was significantly longer than those of Group 2 and 3. CONCLUSION Hemihepatic vascular occlusion with hanging maneuver, which can reduce bleeding volume and enhance the recovery of liver function, is safe and practicable, especially for patients with liver cirrhosis.
Barriers to expansive fiscal policy against the background of the macroeconomic situation of the euro area

Aim: In the article, the Author analyses the possibilities of instituting an expansive fiscal policy in individual euro zone countries. In addition, barriers to effective transmission of fiscal expansion to the level of real output in the euro zone economy will be identified against the background of economic theory. Results: The Author also show how the implementation of different strategies of monetary policy and exchange rate policy affect the effectiveness of the growth of the budget deficit in its impact on the economic growth rate.
Solanum nigrum Linn. water extract inhibits metastasis in mouse melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer notoriously resistant to current cancer therapies. Thus, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. Solanum nigrum Linn. , commonly used in Oriental medicine, has showed antineoplastic activity in human cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitive effect of S. nigrum Linn. water extract (SNWE) on melanoma metastasis and dissect the underlying mechanisms of SNWE actions. B16-F1 cells were analyzed for migrating and invasive abilities with SNWE treatment, and several putative targets involved in metastatic melanoma were examined. In parallel, primary mouse xenograft and lung metastasis of melanoma models were established to examine the therapeutic potential of SNWE. The results indicated SNWE significantly inhibited B16-F1 cell migration and invasion. Meanwhile, decreased Akt activity and PKCα, Ras, and NF-κB protein expressions were detected in dose-dependent manners. In line with this notion, >50% reduced tumor weight and lung metastatic nodules were observed in 1% SNWE fed mice. This was associated with reduced serum MMP-9 as well as Akt activity and PKCα, Ras, and NF-κB protein expressions. Thus, this work indicates SNWE has potential application for treating metastatic melanoma.
Determinants of Growth in Portuguese Small and Medium-Sized Hotels: Empirical Evidence Using Panel Data Models

Using dynamic panel estimators, based on a sample of 177 small-and medium-sized Portuguese hotels for the period 2000–2009, this paper studies the determinants of growth in small- and medium-sized Portuguese hotels. The multiple empirical evidence obtained allows the authors to conclude that: (a) small hotels grow more quickly than large ones, but only for lower levels of size; (b) age and the financial crisis of 2008 are restrictive determinants of growth in small- and medium-sized Portuguese hotels; and (c) cash flow, government subsidies and labour productivity are positive determinants of growth in small- and medium-sized Portuguese hotels. The authors also find that the financial crisis has increased the importance of cash flow and government subsidies for increased growth in small- and medium-sized Portuguese hotels. Finally, the financial crisis of 2008 has contributed to the role of debt and interest paid as restrictive determinants of growth in these hotels.
FLOCK: a method for quick mapping of admixture without source samples

Identifying and estimating individual and/or population admixture is a very common objective in evolution and conservation biology. There are many situations where samples from one or many of the putatively hybridizing entities are not available or easily identified. Here we describe FLOCK, a new method especially designed to provide spatial and/or temporal admixture maps in the absence of one or several source samples. FLOCK is a non‐Bayesian method and therefore differs substantially from previous clustering algorithms. Its working principle is repeated re‐allocation of all collected specimens (total sample) to the k subsamples, each re‐allocation being more effective than the previous one in attracting genetically similar individuals. This snowball effect, more formally referred to as a positive feedback mechanism, makes FLOCK an efficient and quick sorting process. The usage of FLOCK is illustrated with two empirical situations which have been thoroughly analysed previously with other approaches. A number of simulations were run to better assess the power of the FLOCK algorithm. Performance comparisons were made between the FLOCK and Structure algorithms. When non‐negligible numbers of pure genotypes were present, the two performed equally well. However, FLOCK proved significantly more powerful in the absence of pure genotypes. Moreover, FLOCK showed more potential for fast processing. Run times were shown to increase linearly with size of total sample and with size of k, the number of reference samples from which admixture mapping is performed.
Random entry forestry: timber management in a time of species conservation

In this paper we propose a timber management scheme which mimics the patchy stand structure of a fire climax forest and has the desirable characteristic of retaining stands of trees of very old ages. We go on to do a preliminary economic analysis and determine that if management is taking place under the restriction that a certain fraction of the forest must be of at least some given age then this approach may be far superior to standard single age rotation schemes.
The level of serum anti-Müllerian hormone correlates with vitamin D status in men and women but not in boys.

CONTEXT Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a gonad-specific hormone, which is extensively used as a marker of gonadal status. The level of serum AMH has a high variance in similar individuals for reasons that are unknown. The AMH gene promoter contains a vitamin D response element that may cause vitamin D status to influence serum AMH levels. AIM The objective of the study was to determine whether serum levels of AMH are related to 25-hydroxyitamin D [25(OH)D)] status. SETTING This was a correlative and intervention study. PARTICIPANTS Three cohorts of participants were analyzed; mature men (n = 113), premenopausal women (n = 33), and 5- to 6-yr-old boys (n = 74). Women were given a daily supplement of ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, or a placebo for 6 months and provided baseline and posttreatment blood samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Serum AMH and 25(OH)D were measured and analyzed for covariation. RESULTS Serum AMH positively correlated with 25(OH)D in men (r = 0.22, P = 0.02) but not boys. Both 25(OH)D and AMH levels exhibited seasonal variation in women, with an 18% decrease in AMH levels in winter compared with summer (P = 0.01). Change in AMH level correlated with the initial AMH level and the magnitude of change in vitamin D levels (r = 0.36, P = 0.004). Cholecalciferol supplementation prevented seasonal AMH change. CONCLUSION Vitamin D may be a positive regulator of AMH production in adults, and vitamin D deficiency may confound clinical decisions based on AMH. Vitamin D deficiency should be considered when serum AMH levels are obtained for diagnosis.
Cystic malformation of cystic duct: 10 cases and review of literature.

AIM To evaluate cystic malformations of the cystic duct. METHODS Over a 2-year period, we came across 10 cases of cystic malformation of the cystic duct among patients who were investigated in our radiology department with ultrasonography, multidetector computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging for abdominal complaints. Radiological diagnosis of cystic malformation of the cystic duct was made on the basis of a dilated, nonvascular cystic structure near the porta hepatis, and visualization of a clear communication with either the gallbladder, normal caliber cystic duct and/or common bile duct (CBD) on at least one imaging modality. RESULTS Four of 10 patients had saccular dilatation of the cystic duct. Six patients had fusiform dilatation of the cystic duct, and two of these had only mild fusiform dilatation. Two patients had associated CBD dilatation and one had associated cystic duct calculi and malignancy. CONCLUSION Cystic malformations of the cystic duct should be recognized as a distinct type of choledochal cyst and should be added as type VI cyst in Todani's classification.
PAX7 mutation in a syndrome of failure to thrive, hypotonia, and global neurodevelopmental delay

PAX7 encodes a transcription factor essential in neural crest formation, myogenesis, and pituitary lineage specification. Pax7 null mice fail to thrive and exhibit muscle weakness, dying within 3 weeks. We describe a human autosomal‐recessive syndrome, with failure to thrive, severe global developmental delay, microcephaly, axial hypotonia, pyramidal signs, dystonic postures, seizures, irritability, and self‐mutilation. Aside from low blood carnitine levels, biochemical and metabolic screen was normal, with growth hormone deficiency in one patient. Electromyography was normal, with no specific findings in brain MRI/MRS yet nondemonstrable neuropituitary, a finding of unclear significance. Muscle biopsy showed unaffected overall organization of muscle fibers, yet positive fetal alpha myosin staining, suggesting regeneration. Homozygosity mapping with whole‐exome sequencing identified a single disease‐associated mutation in PAX7, segregating as expected in the kindred with no homozygosity in 200 ethnically matched controls. Transfection experiments showed that the PAX7 splice‐site mutation putatively causes nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay affecting onlyPAX7 isoform 3. This isoform, expressed specifically in brain, skeletal muscle and testes, is the sole Pax7 variant normally found in mice. The human muscle phenotype is in line with that in conditional Pax7 null mutant mice, where initial aberrant histological findings resolve postnatally through muscle regeneration.
Failure processes of young manufacturing micro firms in Europe

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out which different failure processes exist among the young manufacturing micro firms, and whether the representation of those processes differs first, in European countries, and second, among exporting and non-exporting firms. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on financial data of 1,216 manufacturing micro firms from European countries. Failure processes have been detected with a two stage-method: by extracting latent dimensions from financial variables with factor analysis, and then, by clustering the established factor scores. Findings With firms’ age, the number of different failure processes reduces from four to two. Strong evidence was found about the dominance of different failure processes in different countries for most firm age groups. Failure processes are not strongly associated with (non-)exporting. Originality/value This paper is the first one determining young manufacturing micro firms’ failure processes and comparing the representation of those processes in different firm subsets, either based on their country of origin or (non-)exporting behavior. Moreover, previous studies have not encompassed specific sectors, young or very small firms.
Use of stroke distance in the early detection of simulated blood loss.

OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of simulated and mild actual hemorrhage on parameters used traditionally to assess hemorrhaging patients: heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and Shock Index (SI = HR/systolic BP), with stroke distance (SD) measured ultrasonically as an index of cardiac stroke volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hemorrhage was simulated in 19 healthy volunteers by the application of graded lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) (0, -20, -40, and -60 mm Hg) to pool blood in the lower body and reduce venous return. Measurements were also made before and after a standard blood donation (450 mL) in nine healthy volunteers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS SD decreased significantly and progressively from the baseline level of 23.8+/-5.7 cm (mean+/-SD) at each level of LBNP: by 3.4+/-1.9, 7.4+/-2.5, and 11.8+/-3.2 cm at LBNP of -20, -40, and -60 mm Hg, respectively. Neither HR nor SI changed significantly at the lowest level of LBNP (-20 mm Hg), but they showed progressive, significant increases thereafter. Mean BP did not change significantly at any level of LBNP. Similarly, after a controlled hemorrhage of 450 mL, SD decreased significantly by 3.3+/-1.6 cm from 22.2+/-2.8 cm, whereas HR and SI remained unchanged and mean BP increased slightly. CONCLUSION Changes in SD may provide an earlier indication of progressive blood loss than either HR or BP alone or in combination.
Communication, support and psychosocial work environment affecting psychological distress among working women aged 20 to 39 years in Japan

When compared with their older counterparts, younger women are more likely to have depressive symptoms because they more often experience interrupted work history and a heavy childrearing burden. The purposes of the present study were 1) to investigate the possible association of psychosocial work environment with psychological distress and 2) to examine the way by which communication and support in the workplace affect to psychological distress among young women. We studied 198 women aged 20 to 39 yr in a cross-sectional study. The Kessler Scale-10 (K10 Scale) was used to examine psychological distress. In employees who experienced interpersonal conflict, those who had little or no conversations with their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 4.2), and those who received little or no support from their supervisor and/or co-workers had a significantly increased risk of psychological distress (OR, 3.8) compared to those who had more frequent communication and received more support. Harmonious communication in the workplace can help prevent psychological distress among employees, which in turn may enable them to be satisfied with their work.
Pneumonia due to Chlamydia pneumoniae in children: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment

The term “atypical” pneumonia has been used to differentiate infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, and other related organisms from pneumonia caused by classic bacteria, the prototype being Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, recent studies demonstrated that the clinical presentation of pneumonia due to atypical pathogens cannot readily be differentiated from those caused by “typical” bacteria. This is further complicated by the observation that coinfections with atypical pathogens and other bacteria are frequent. Nonetheless, the term “atypical” can be useful, as these organisms share a number of characteristics that separate them from “typical” bacteria. They are either obligate or facultative intracellular parasites that cannot be isolated using routine microbiologic methods. The most commonly used method of diagnosis of these infections is serology, which has significant limitations. Although C. pneumoniae is now recognized worldwide as a common cause of respiratory infections in adults and children, major gaps remain in our knowledge of the biology of this organism and how it causes disease, in major part due to the lack of readily available, standardized diagnostic methods. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:384–390. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of Intraoperative Hydrodebrider Treatment on Postoperative Sinonasal Inflammation

Background The impact of intraoperative hydrodebrider sinus irrigation (HSI) during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on postoperative inflammation, endoscopy, and patient-reported outcomes has not been studied. Methods A clinical trial of 12 patients with symmetric chronic rhinosinusitis were prospectively randomized to HSI on one side after undergoing bilateral ESS. The contralateral side was not treated with any irrigation and served as an internal control. Preoperative computed tomography, endoscopic, 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and symptom visual analog scale (VAS) scores for each side were obtained. At 1 and 3 months postsurgery, endoscopy, SNOT-22, and sinus VAS were recorded. Sinonasal mucus levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-17a, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha were measured at the time of surgery, 1 and 3 months, postoperatively, from each side. Results VAS scores improved on both sides (p < 0.05) and SNOT-22 improved at all postoperative time points (p < 0.05). Endoscopic scores of HSI-treated sides did not improve compared with baseline. HSI had no additional significant impact on postoperative VAS at any time point. HSI significantly decreased IL-17a levels when compared with the control side at 1 month (p = 0.034) and 3 months ( = 0.031). No significant change was seen in TNF-alpha, IL-6, or IL-10 on either side at any time point. Conclusion Intraoperative HSI at the time of ESS failed to establish any improvement in postoperative endoscopy or most local cytokine levels after ESS.