Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential upregulation of Nox homologues of NADPH oxidase by tumor necrosis factor-α in human aortic smooth muscle and embryonic kidney cells

NADPH oxidases are important sources of vascular superoxide, which has been linked to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Previously we demonstrated that the Nox4 subunit of NADPH oxidase is a critical catalytic component for superoxide production in quiescent vascular smooth muscle cells. In this study we sought to determine the role of Nox4 in superoxide production in human aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMC) and embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells under proinflammatory conditions. Incubation with tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α, 10 ng/ml) for 12h increased superoxide production in both cell types, whereas angiotensin II, platelet‐derived growth factor or interleukin‐1β had little effects. Superoxide production was completely abolished by the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenyline iodonium and apocynin, but not by inhibitors of xanthine oxidase, nitric oxide synthase or mitochondrial electron transport. TNF‐α upregulated the expression of Nox4 in AoSMC at both message and protein levels, while Nox1 and Nox2 were unchanged. In contrast, upregulation of Nox2 appeared to mediate the enhanced superoxide production by TNF‐α in HEK293 cells. We suggest that Nox4 may be involved in increased superoxide generation in vascular smooth muscle cells under proinflammatory conditions.
Hilbert-Huang Transform and Wavelet Transform for ECG Detection

HHT (Hilbert transform) and wavelet transform are both signal processing methods. This paper is based on HHT and wavelet transform to detect R peak. Firstly using wavelet transform to de-noise, then we are focus on using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to electrocardiogram (ECG) which can be decomposed into a limited number of IMF (intrinsic mode functions) . The R peaks are identified by adding the first three IMFs and applying a set of adaptive thresholds that are not limited to a strict range. Additionally, the new algorithm can successfully detect R peak for a wide variety of ECG shapes used in Physionet ECG database.
Tour operators and alternative tourism in Italy

Purpose – The paper sets out to analyses the approach of Southern Italian regions in the way they are developing different types of tourist products.Design/methodology/approach – In an attempt to measure tour operator preferences that impact the offer features, the tour operators' profiles have been traced, through a cluster analysis, in order to develop the market of new tourist products in Southern Italy.Findings – The findings prove that the attitude of foreign tourists in choosing Southern Italian destinations is influenced not only by seaside location and cultural products but also by alternative features, such as natural resources and enogastronomic traditions, which represent the differentiating and value‐creating elements of the basic product. Moreover, the accommodation chosen confirms international tour operator loyalty.Research limitations/implications – The cluster definition helps in identifying collective strategies to promote macro destinations, connecting similar places linked by tourist n.
Impact of Maximum Back-EMF Limits on the Performance Characteristics of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines

Interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous machines are vulnerable to uncontrolled generator (UCG) faults at high speed that can damage the inverter. One approach to reducing this risk is to impose limits on the maximum machine back-EMF voltage at top speed. This paper presents the results of a comparative design study that clarifies the nature and extent of the penalties imposed on the IPM machine metrics and performance characteristics as a result of imposing progressively tighter values of back-EMF voltage limits. As an alternative to limiting back-EMF and penalizing machine designs, this paper also investigates the effectiveness of the system-side protection approach to the same UCG fault problem
Class Based and Shared Resources Access Control for Distributed Video-on-Demand System

We are proposing an efficient admission control policy for Video-on-Demand (VOD) system. Traditional Admission control system uses either threshold or resource capacity to accept or reject any incoming request. The distinction of the proposed scheme from the previous work includes: (1) a new concept of integrating the both schemes (shared resource admission control and class base admission control) into one system, is introduced (2) another new concept of Probability, is introduced to access the shared resource (Ports, Bandwidth). In the proposed system, total capacity of VOD server (ports) is partitioned equal to the number of classes plus shared area. When a request arrives at VOD server, it will be admitted if there is capacity to its corresponding partition, otherwise we will check the capacity of shared area and admit it with some probability. If there is no capacity in shared area or no probability, the request will be rejected. The evaluation of the proposed system is done by the simulation model. Numbers of blocked requests are calculated for performance measure. It is observed from the simulation results that proposed admission control policy not only improves the performance of high-priority classes but also reduces a lot the total number of rejected requests.
An Optimization-based Approach to Software Development Process Tailoring

A major activity performed by the manager before starting a software project is tailoring its development process. Such activity requires information about the context under which the project will be executed, including organizational, project, and team characteristics. In addition, it also requires pondering many factors and evaluating all existing constraints. In this scenario, we claim that a balance between collaboration and discipline can be the drivers to tailor software development processes in order to meet project and organization needs. With the purpose of facilitating this balancing, it is possible to automate some of the steps to solve the problem, reducing the effort required to execute this task and improving the obtained process. Therefore, this work presents an optimization-based approach where the balancing in process tailoring is defined, modeled and briefly analyzed. This approach uses collaboration and discipline as utility functions to select the most appropriate process for a software development project, considering its current context.
Legitimacy and Compliance in Transnational Governance

Power, rule, and legitimacy have always been core concerns of political science. In the 1970s, when governability appeared to be problematic, legitimacy was discussed both in the context of policy research and by critics of the capitalist state. More recently interest turned to governance beyond the nation-state. The legitimacy of transnational (i.e., European and international) organizations, of international regimes and of the - hard or soft - law they formulate is held to be deficient because they are lacking in democratic legitimation. This discussion only rarely refers to Max Weber. This paper tries to show that returning to Max Weber can clarify some points in the discussion of legitimacy and compliance beyond the nation-state. Relating the alternatives to democratic legitimation to Weber's concept of legal legitimacy throws a new light on the presumed legitimacy deficit in transnational governance that makes it appear less dramatic. With Max Weber we can also develop a more sanguine view of the consequences of legitimacy deficits for compliance.
Inhibition of Poly-ADP-Ribosylation Fails to Increase Axonal Regeneration or Improve Functional Recovery after Adult Mammalian CNS Injury

Abstract After traumatic damage of the brain or spinal cord, many surviving neurons are disconnected, and recovery of function is limited by poor axon regeneration. Recent data have suggested that poly ADP-ribosylation plays a role in limiting axonal regrowth such that inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) may have therapeutic efficacy for neurological recovery after trauma. Here, we tested systemic administration of the PARP inhibitor, veliparib, and showed effective suppression of PARylation in the mouse CNS. After optic nerve crush injury or dorsal hemisection of the thoracic spinal cord in mice, treatment with veliparib at doses with pharmacodynamic action had no benefit for axonal regeneration or functional recovery. We considered whether PARP gene family specificity might play a role. In vitro mouse cerebral cortex axon regeneration experiments revealed that short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated suppression of PARP1 promoted axonal regeneration, whereas suppression of other PARP isoforms either had no effect or decreased regeneration. Therefore, we examined recovery from neurological trauma in mice lacking PARP1. No increase of axonal regeneration was observed in Parp1–/– mice after optic nerve crush injury or dorsal hemisection of the thoracic spinal cord, and there was no improvement in motor function recovery. Thus, comprehensive in vivo analysis reveals no indication that clinical PARP inhibitors will on their own provide benefit for recovery from CNS trauma.
Measuring Nontariff Trade Policies

This paper surveys and critiques various methods of measuring nontariff trade measures (NTMs) for the purpose of determining which seem most promising for facilitating the process of reducing the trade-distorting effects of such policies through multilateral negotiations. Four measurement methods are analyzed: price-impact measures, quantity-impact measures, frequency-type measures, and welfare measures. The general conclusion is that, despite a host of difficulties, theoretical and empirical analysis has progressed sufficiently far to enable reasonable measures of nontariff policies to be made that are useful for assessing relative sectoral protection across countries and monitoring changes in protection and subsidization levels over time. Tariff and subsidy equivalents, preferably determined by directly comparing distorted and non-distorted prices, are the most useful forms of measurement, since they focus on the price-distorting effects of NTMs and are also concepts with which public and private officials are already familiar. However, the various other types of measures can be valuable in supplementing the information obtained from tariff and subsidy equivalents.
Combining biochemical and ultrasonographic markers in predicting preeclampsia: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Early identification of pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia is a priority to implement preventive measures. Some biochemical and ultrasonographic parameters have shown promising predictive performance, but so far there is no clinically validated screening procedure. CONTENT Using a series of keywords, we reviewed electronic databases (Medline, Embase, all records to May 2009) reporting the performance of biological and ultrasonographic markers to predict preeclampsia, both single markers and combinations of markers. We analyzed the data according to gestational age and risk levels of the studied populations. We evaluated the methodological quality of included publications using QUADAS (quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies). We identified 37 relevant studies that assessed 71 different combinations of biochemical and ultrasonographic markers. Most studies were performed during the second trimester on small-scale high-risk populations with few cases of preeclampsia. Combinations of markers generally led to an increase in sensitivity and/or specificity compared with single markers. In low-risk populations, combinations including placental protein 13 (PP13), pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), a disintegrin and metalloprotease-12 (ADAM12), activin A, or inhibin A measured in first or early second trimester and uterine artery Doppler in second trimester appear promising (sensitivity 60%-80%, specificity >80%). In high-risk populations, the combination of PP13 and pulsatility index in first trimester showed 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity in a single study limited to severe preeclampsia. SUMMARY Combinations of biochemical and ultrasonographic markers improved the performance of early prediction of preeclampsia. From a perspective of integrative medicine, large population-based studies evaluating algorithms combining multiple markers are needed, if screening approaches are to be eventually implemented.
Foreign Entry Deterrence by the Dominant Local Firm in the Existence of a Rent-Seeking Bureaucracy

In this paper the authors examine the relationship between local corruption and multinational investment. They construct a model of regulatory capture that highlights the interaction between a corrupt regulator, a local dominant …rm and a multinational …rm. The model suggests that entry by a multinational could have a variety of effects or corruption, both positive and negative. These include: decreasing corruption and regulatory distortion by reducing available rents and diluting incentives for paying bribes; increasing corruption and regulatory distortion by creating “competition” for regulatory bias; and increasing corruption while reducing distortion through dissipative competition for the regulator.
The role of periodicity in perceiving speech in quiet and in background noise.

The ability of normal-hearing listeners to perceive sentences in quiet and in background noise was investigated in a variety of conditions mixing the presence and absence of periodicity (i.e., voicing) in both target and masker. Experiment 1 showed that in quiet, aperiodic noise-vocoded speech and speech with a natural amount of periodicity were equally intelligible, while fully periodic speech was much harder to understand. In Experiments 2 and 3, speech reception thresholds for these targets were measured in the presence of four different maskers: speech-shaped noise, harmonic complexes with a dynamically varying F0 contour, and 10 Hz amplitude-modulated versions of both. For experiment 2, results of experiment 1 were used to identify conditions with equal intelligibility in quiet, while in experiment 3 target intelligibility in quiet was near ceiling. In the presence of a masker, periodicity in the target speech mattered little, but listeners strongly benefited from periodicity in the masker. Substantial fluctuating-masker benefits required the target speech to be almost perfectly intelligible in quiet. In summary, results suggest that the ability to exploit periodicity cues may be an even more important factor when attempting to understand speech embedded in noise than the ability to benefit from masker fluctuations.
Explicit analysis of channel mismatch effects in time-interleaved ADC systems

A time-interleaved A-D converter (ADC) system is an effective way to implement a high-sampling-rate ADC with relatively slow circuits. In the system, several channel ADCs operate at interleaved sampling times as if they were effectively a single ADC operating at a much higher sampling rate. However, mismatches such as offset, gain mismatches among channel ADCs as well as timing skew of the clocks distributed to them degrade S/N of the ADC system as a whole. This paper analyzes the channel mismatch effects in the time-interleaved ADC system. Previous analysis showed the effect for each mismatch individually, however in this paper we derive explicit formulas for the mismatch effects when all of offset, gain and timing mismatches exist together. We have clarified that the gain and timing mismatch effects interact with each other but the offset mismatch effect is independent from them, and this can be seen clearly in frequency domain. We also discuss the bandwidth mismatch effect. The derived formulas can be used for calibration algorithms to compensate for the channel mismatch effects.
AUTONOMIC CONTROL OF HEART RATE AFTER EXERCISE IN TRAINED WRESTLERS

The objective of this study was to establish differences in vagal reactivation, through heart rate recovery and heart rate variability post exercise, in Brazilian jiu-jitsu wrestlers (BJJW). A total of 18 male athletes were evaluated, ten highly trained (HT) and eight moderately trained (MT), who performed a maximum incremental test. At the end of the exercise, the R-R intervals were recorded during the first minute of recovery. We calculated heart rate recovery (HRR60s), and performed linear and non-linear (standard deviation of instantaneous beat-to-beat R-R interval variability – SD1) analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), using the tachogram of the first minute of recovery divided into four segments of 15 s each (0-15 s, 15-30 s, 30-45 s, 45-60 s). Between HT and MT individuals, there were statistically significant differences in HRR60s (p <0.05) and in the non linear analysis of HRV from SD130-45s (p <0.05) and SD145-60s (p <0.05). The results of this research suggest that heart rate kinetics during the first minute after exercise are related to training level and can be used as an index for autonomic cardiovascular control in BJJW.
GLOBALISATION AND NIGERIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETING

The emergence of internet, electronic mailing, telecommunication, trade liberation and openness, and computer technologies in the context of today’s world has led to expanding information environment that have reduced the world to a global village. In these contemporary times and the world over, there has been phenomenal metamorphosis in virtually all aspects of the society. It is a common held view that globalization holds the key to rapid international marketing growth and development. Yet Nigeria is undoubtedly facing a number of challenges that have to do with the consolidation of the gains of globalization. Therefore, Nigeria does not benefit much from globalisaiton. The objective of this paper is to determine the co-integration between globalization and the extent of Nigeria participation in international marketing. To achieve the objective of the study the researcher examined the co-integration between trade openness and liberation, and international marketing using co-integration model for analysis. The study used secondary data. Empirical evidences point to no co-integration between globalization and Nigeria’s involvement in international marketing. Nigeria is less integrated with the rest of the world in terms of global marketing. It has been suggested that for Nigeria to be linked to global marketing system, there is need to develop programme and implement strong and stable political, social and economic strategies.
Aspects of Intellectual Capital Evaluation

This article analyses possible aspects of intellectual capital evaluation in Lithuanian companies. The first part of the article presents interpretation of the definition of an intellectual capital. The latter concept is analysed according to its description basis and possible control methods.Also, it presents the structure of intellectual capital disclosing the main aspects of intellectual capital evaluation. In the second part notably great attention is paid to the intellectual capital evaluation aspects identifying main problems and presenting possible ways for their solution. By presenting general intellectual capital measuring and evaluation models and indices, it is aimed to apply the latter for evaluation of the intellectual capital of Lithuanian companies. While carrying out the research, the data of questionnaire inquiry, expert (ranging of indices of intellectual capital) evaluation and multi-criteria method were referred to. The results of the research have revealed that the index of the intellectual capital in the investigated small (9 employees) and medium (90 employees) companies differs. The received rate value in the small company equals to 0.398, i.e. low evaluation and respectively in the medium company it is 0.704, i.e. medium evaluation. In such case it can be stated that the result of intellectual capital evaluation is conditioned by the size of the company, its activity and view of the managers themselves on the demand for intellectual capital measuring. Expedience of intellectual capital measuring and evaluation could be determined by the attitude that the latter is directly related to acquiring and maintaining the competitive advantage.
TRANSGENIC MICE DEMONSTRATE THAT EPITHELIAL HOMING OF y/b T CELLS IS DETERMINED BY CELL LINEAGES INDEPENDENT OF T CELL RECEPTOR SPECIFICITY

The search for the genes encoding the TCR-a/6 led to the identification of the third rearranging gene, TCRy (1-3), which in turn led to the realization of the occurrence of second TCR, TCR-y/6 (4-6). One of the most intriguing features of y/b T cells is the compartmentalization of their subsets with different TCR repertoires to various epithelia. Thus, most T cells associated with epidermis, which are referred to as dendritic epidermal cells (DEC)' (7, 8), bear TCRs encoded by a particular pair of y and 5 genes containing V5y and V16 gene segments (9). Likewise, most of the long-studied intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) of the gut (for a review see reference 10) turned out to be composed of y/b T cells bearing TCRs whose y subunits are preferentially encoded by V7-containing y genes (11, 12). Yet, an-other subset of y/b T cells with TCRs encoded by aparticular the homing properties ofy/b T cells with predetermined TCRs using the transgenic mouse technique. The results suggest that the homing specificities of these T cells do not depend on their TCR repertoires, but are determined by differentiation pro-grams that may link the rearrangement of particular y and b gene segments with the expression of particular homing receptors. In addition, our analysis of the IEL-y/b in normal, nude, and transgenic mice using an antiTCRy/b mAb (14) suggests that Thy-1 is a differentiation marker, while CD8 is an activation marker of this T cell subset. 2, 8136, 5010, 3A10) antibodies. In the case of noncoupled mAbs, the secondary reagent used was a mouse-absorbed goat anti-hamster Ig antiserum coupled to FITC (GAH Ig-FITC) (Caltag, San Francisco, CA). In the case of biotinylated antibodies, the secondary reagent was streptavidin coupled to phycoerythrin (Becton Dickinson & Co.). After staining, cells were resuspended in PBS-propidium iodide (0.5 p,g/ml) solution and subjected to flow cyto-metric analysis using a FACSCAN apparatus. In all cases, dead cells, mostly composed of residual epithelial cells, were gated out on the FL3 channel.
Estrogen receptor β: an overview and update

The discovery of a second estrogen receptor (ER), designated ERβ (NR3A2), has redefined our knowledge about the mechanisms underlying cellular signaling by estrogens and has broad implications for our understanding of regulation of estrogen-responsive tissues. Highly variable and even contrasting effects of estrogens in different tissues seem to be at least partially explained by different estrogen signaling pathways, involving ERα (NR3A1) and/or ERβ. To date, two key conclusions can be drawn from the significant body of work carried out on the specific roles of the two receptor subtypes in diverse estrogen target tissues. First, ERα and ERβ have different biological functions, as indicated by their specific expression patterns and the distinct phenotypes observed in ERα and ERβ knockout (αERKO and βERKO) mice. Second, ERα and ERβ appear to have overlapping but also unique sets of downstream target genes, as judged from a set of microarray experiments. Thus, ERα and ERβ have different transcriptional activities in certain ligand, cell-type, and promoter contexts, which may help to explain some of the major differences in their tissue-specific biological actions. The phenotypes observed for βERKO mice have suggested certain therapeutic areas to be further explored. The development of ERβ-selective ligands active in animal disease models indicates new avenues for clinical exploration. ERβ agonists are being explored and validated as drugs for a growing number of indications. Hopefully, some ERβ targeted drugs will prove to be efficient in enhancing human health.