Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
G-protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium current contributes to ventricular repolarization.

AIMS The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of G-protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium (GIRK) channels in the cardiac ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated that GIRK4 was localized in outer sarcolemmas and t-tubules in GIRK1 knockout (KO) mice, whereas GIRK4 labelling was not detected in GIRK4 KO mice. GIRK4 was localized in intercalated discs in rat ventricle, whereas it was expressed in intercalated discs and outer sarcolemmas in rat atrium. GIRK4 was localized in t-tubules and intercalated discs in human ventricular endocardium and epicardium, but absent in mid-myocardium. Electrophysiological recordings in rat ventricular tissue ex vivo showed that the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) and acetylcholine (ACh) shortened action potential duration (APD), and that the APD shortening was reversed by either the GIRK channel blocker tertiapin-Q, the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX or by the muscarinic M2 receptor antagonist AF-DX 116. Tertiapin-Q prolonged APD in the absence of the exogenous receptor activation. Furthermore, CPA and ACh decreased the effective refractory period and the effect was reversed by either tertiapin-Q, DPCPX or AF-DX 116. Receptor activation also hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential, an effect that was reversed by tertiapin-Q. In contrast, tertiapin-Q depolarized the resting membrane potential in the absence of the exogenous receptor activation. CONCLUSION Confocal microscopy shows that among species GIRK4 is differentially localized in the cardiac ventricle, and that it is heterogeneously expressed across human ventricular wall. Electrophysiological recordings reveal that GIRK current may contribute significantly to ventricular repolarization and thereby to cardiac electrical stability.
An Extraordinary Josephson Junction

The combination of symmetry breaking effects, such as those occurring in magnets and superconductors, with topological order may result in remarkable new physics. Recent theoretical studies suggest that, in certain superconductors, exotic quasiparticle excitations can emerge that behave like Majorana fermions, chargeneutral quasiparticles that are their own antiparticles. In Physical Review Letters, Jimmy Williams at Stanford University, California, and colleagues [1] combine the superconducting Josephson effect, which is a profound consequence of symmetry breaking, with topological order in hybrid superconductor-topological insulator structures. The structure investigated by the authors exhibits unconventional behavior that may be related to the emergence of Majorana states. In a Josephson junction, consisting of two superconductors separated by a thin nonsuperconducting barrier, symmetry breaking results in a supercurrent, i.e., a dissipationless current, that depends on the phase difference (φ1 − φ2) across the junction via the current-phase relation
Extreme Endurance Migration: What Is the Limit to Non-Stop Flight?

Migratory birds have a history of challenging conventional wisdom about the limits of their endurance. More than half a century ago, many ornithologists doubted that a non-stop flight of 860 km across the Gulf of Mexico was possible for migratory (humming) birds [1]. But circumstantial and more direct evidence gathered in the following decade revealed that the Gulf of Mexico is a mere ditch to migratory birds [2],[3], and that some are capable of non-stop flights of up to 5,000 km [4],[5]. And now migratory birds have given their observers reason to pause yet again. In the past year, Gill et al. [6] have provided direct evidence that a shorebird, the Alaskan bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri) (Figure 1), makes its eight-day, 11,000-km autumn migration from Alaska to New Zealand in one step, with no stopovers to rest or refuel. This roughly doubles the previous maximum direct flight distance in birds, challenging experts to square this remarkable marathon migration with our understanding of aerodynamic theory and endurance physiology. Figure 1 Bar-tailed godwits. Has this bird finally shattered the limits of long-distance, nonstop migratory flights, forcing researchers to rethink their theories and assumptions about flight and endurance? Or is it possible to show that such feats are possible given what we already understand about aerodynamic theory, metabolism, navigation, and evolution? Here I argue that we already have the tools in hand to understand how it can fly such a distance. What then are the limits to non-stop flight, and can we expect to see these records beaten in the future? Non-stop flights are common among migratory shorebirds (also known as waders) and often involve trans-oceanic crossings, with examples being American golden plovers (Pluvialis dominica) flying 4,000 km between Nova Scotia and South America [7], ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres) flying 4,000 km between the Pribilof Islands and Hawaii [8], and red knots (Calidris canutus) flying 4,800 km between the Wadden Sea and their breeding area on Taymyr [9]. The evidence that the flights are indeed non-stop has often been circumstantial up until now, being based on timing of departure and arrival at main staging sites and how long the journey might take given the amount of fuel accumulated before departure; it is only recently that satellite-based tags have become small enough to allow individual shorebirds to be directly tracked as they migrate [10]. This technique enabled Gill et al. [6] to make their recent observations, and there is more recent circumstantial evidence that sharp-tailed sandpipers (Calidris acuminata) make a similar non-stop flight [11] (Figure 2). Figure 2 Sharp-tailed sandpiper.
DIPLEXERS BASED ON MICROSTRIP LINE RESONATORS WITH LOADED ELEMENTS

In this paper, microstrip line resonators with loaded elements are proposed and studied to design microstrip diplexer. To demonstrate the design ideas, the equivalent circuits of the proposed resonators are built and studied. It is found that the difierent loads on difierent positions of the proposed half-wavelength resonator make the resonator have difierent features, which will easily control the characteristic of the diplexers. And here, resistor, open stub, and shorted stub are used as loaded elements. It is found the resistor loaded on the center of the microstrip line resonator can extremely reduce the unloaded quality factor of even-mode resonant frequency, which can be used to suppress the harmonics of the diplexer. The loaded open stub not only can reduce the size of the diplexer, but also can control the frequency ratio between the fundamental frequency and second harmonic of a resonator, which can increases the frequency ratio between the two passbands of the diplexer. As for the loaded shorted stub, it can enlarge the size of the diplexer. To demonstrate the design ideas, three diplexers are presented. The comparisons between the loaded and unloaded diplexers are given. The experimental results agree well to the theoretical predictions and simulations.
Effects of R and S enantiomers and a racemic mixture of carprofen on the production and release of proteoglycan and prostaglandin E2 from equine chondrocytes and cartilage explants.

OBJECTIVE To examine effects of carprofen (enantiomers and a racemic mixture) on the metabolism of equine chondrocytes. SAMPLE POPULATION Cartilage from clinically normal horses. PROCEDURE Effects of carprofen on proteoglycan neosynthesis, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release and prostaglandin (PG) E2 production by unstimulated chondrocyte monolayers and cartilage explants were examined, as were similar variables in monolayers and explants exposed to carprofen and recombinant human interleukin 1beta (IL-1). Carprofen (enantiomers and racemic mixture) was used alone or along with IL-1 on monolayers and explant cultures. Medium was collected 48 to 96 hours later, and cartilage was digested. Proteoglycan synthesis was assessed as the amount of 35S-labeled proteoglycan in medium and digested cartilage. Total GAG content of the medium and digested cartilage was measured, and proteoglycan degradation was calculated. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure PGE2 production. RESULTS Carprofen significantly decreased PGE2 production by unstimulated chondrocytes and antagonized an IL-1-induced increase in PGE2 production. Carprofen significantly increased proteoglycan synthesis in unstimulated monolayers and explants. Concurrently, there was a decrease in GAG release by explants. Use of IL-1 significantly decreased proteoglycan synthesis, but the highest concentrations of carprofen partially reversed this effect in chondrocyte monolayers. CONCLUSIONS Carprofen had a potentially beneficial effect on proteoglycan metabolism of equine chondrocytes. This effect was sufficiently strong at the highest concentrations to overcome inhibitory effects of IL-1 on proteoglycan synthesis. Carprofen also inhibited PGE2 production by unstimulated and IL-1-stimulated chondrocytes. Carprofen induced these enantiomer-specific effects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Use of carprofen in osteoarthritic horses may induce beneficial changes in articular cartilage matrix.
General practitioners and clinical guidelines: a survey of knowledge, use and beliefs.

BACKGROUND Clinical practice guidelines are being developed for a variety of reasons. To date, there has been little investigation of the perspectives of those who are recommended to use them. AIM The survey reported here set out to investigate how familiar general practitioners are with a range of published guidelines, to assess whether they have used them, and to describe their attitudes to the guidelines and the methods of implementing them. METHOD A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 559 general practitioners in the North and Yorkshire region in March 1995. Questions were organized around the topics of: knowledge; use; practice change; beliefs; pressure felt to use the guidelines; and methods of implementation. Basic classificatory data on gender; year of qualification; partnership and fundholding status were also collected. RESULTS Replies were received from 300 doctors (54%). Knowledge and use of the three selected guidelines varied, but was generally towards the 'high' end of the scale. Doctors showed a high degree of homogeneity in their attitudes to guidelines, which were generally positive. Only single-handed practitioners varied from this pattern of responses. Most of the pressure to use the guidelines was felt to come from the Department of Health, and the least pressure from patients. Doctors felt that the methods of implementation that involved them in educational events and discussion with colleagues were most likely to have an impact on them. CONCLUSION General practitioners are receptive to guideline initiatives, and their views are in line with existing or proposed implementation strategies. More investigation of the concept of 'use' is needed.
Dieting, body weight, body image and self‐esteem in young women: doctors' dilemmas

Many young women feel that body image and exercise are important for their self‐esteem, want to lose weight, are afraid they might gain weight, and feel fat. Interventions that improve self‐esteem, encourage communication and help adolescents to be supportive of each other may prevent some of these women from developing eating disorders. If an eating disorder is suspected, it may be useful for physicians to ask about fear of loss of control over the body, eating, weight and shape; and preoccupation with food, eating, nutrition, body weight and shape, as these issues may differentiate those at greater risk.
An economic damage model for large-scale Internet attacks

Companies that rely on the Internet for their daily business are challenged by uncontrolled massive worm spreading and the lurking threat of large-scale distributed denial of service attacks. We present a new model and methodology, which allows a company to qualitatively and quantitatively estimate possible financial losses due to partial or complete interruption of Internet connectivity. Our systems engineering approach is based on an in-depth analysis of the Internet dependence of different types of enterprises and on interviews with Swiss telcos, backbone and Internet service providers. A discussion of sample scenarios illustrates the flexibility and applicability of our model.
The use of cellulose strips to study organic matter decomposition in boreal forested soils

This paper addresses the use of cellulose strips (softwood pulp) as a method for studying the decomposition of soil organic matter. The eight study sites were located in four forested catchments in Finland (between 61°-69°N). The sites comprised mineral soil and peat soil plots subjected to minimal anthropogenic influence. The cellulose strips were placed on the soil surface, on the surface and covered with litter, and in the subsurface (0-5 cm) for 49 weeks and the weight loss measured. Significant, positive correlations were found between the weight loss of cellulose strips and the weight loss of local Scots pine needle litter (up to r = 0.98, p < 0.001), and between the weight loss of cellulose strips and basal respiration (up to r = 0.65, p = 0.007). The cellulose strip method can be easily and successfully used to measure cumulative decomposition activity over a period of time.
jQMultiTouch: lightweight toolkit and development framework for multi-touch/multi-device web interfaces

Application developers currently have to deal with the increased proliferation of new touch devices and the diversity in terms of both the native platform support for common gesture-based interactions and touch input sensing and processing techniques, in particular, for custom multi-touch behaviours. This paper presents jQMultiTouch - a lightweight web toolkit and development framework for multi-touch interfaces that can run on many different devices and platforms. jQMultiTouch is inspired from the popular jQuery toolkit for implementing interfaces in a device-independent way based on client-side web technologies. Similar to jQuery, the framework resolves cross-browser compatibility issues and implementation differences between device platforms by providing a uniform method for the specification of multi-touch interface elements and associated behaviours that seamlessly translate to browser-specific code. At the core of jQMultiTouch is a novel input stream query language for filtering and processing touch event data based on an extensible set of match predicates and aggregate functions. We demonstrate design simplicity for developers along several example applications and discuss performance, scalability and portability of the framework.
Managing fatigue in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome: challenges and solutions

Abstract Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) patients identify fatigue as their most important symptom and the one most difficult to cope with, but there are still many challenges and few solutions to manage this debilitating symptom. Promising pharmacological treatments, such as rituximab, have failed in more stringent tests including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis. While non-pharmacological interventions may be safer, less costly, and address other common comorbidities, to date only aerobic exercise seems to be effective at reducing fatigue in pSS. All interventions, pharmacological or not, need to be tested in high-quality RCTs. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of fatigue management in pSS and discuss potential opportunities for future research.
Rap1a activation by CalDAG‐GEFI and p38 MAPK is involved in E‐selectin‐dependent slow leukocyte rolling

Rolling leukocytes are exposed to different adhesion molecules and chemokines. Neutrophils rolling on E‐selectin induce integrin αLβ2‐mediated slow rolling on ICAM‐1 by activating a phospholipase C (PLC)γ2‐dependent and a separate PI3Kγ‐dependent pathway. E‐selectin‐signaling cooperates with chemokine signaling to recruit neutrophils into inflamed tissues. However, the distal signaling pathway linking PLCγ2 (Plcg2) to αLβ2‐activation is unknown. To identify this pathway, we used different Tat‐fusion‐mutants and gene‐deficient mice in intravital microscopy, autoperfused flow chamber, peritonitis, and biochemical studies. We found that the small GTPase Rap1 is activated following E‐selectin engagement and that blocking Rap1a in Pik3cg−/− mice by a dominant‐negative Tat‐fusion mutant completely abolished E‐selectin‐mediated slow rolling. We identified CalDAG‐GEFI (Rasgrp2) and p38 MAPK as key signaling intermediates between PLCγ2 and Rap1a. Gαi‐independent leukocyte adhesion to and transmigration through endothelial cells in inflamed postcapillary venules of the cremaster muscle were completely abolished in Rasgrp2−/− mice. The physiological importance of CalDAG‐GEFI in E‐selectin‐dependent integrin activation is shown by complete inhibition of neutrophil recruitment into the inflamed peritoneal cavity of Rasgrp2−/− leukocytes treated with pertussis toxin to block Gαi‐signaling. Our data demonstrate that Rap1a activation by p38 MAPK and CalDAG‐GEFI is involved in E‐selectin‐dependent slow rolling and leukocyte recruitment.
Multileader WAN Paxos: Ruling the Archipelago with Fast Consensus

WPaxos is a multileader Paxos protocol that provides low-latency and high-throughput consensus across widearea network (WAN) deployments. Unlike statically partitioned multiple Paxos deployments, WPaxos perpetually adapts to the changing access locality through object stealing. Multiple concurrent leaders coinciding in different zones steal ownership of objects from each other using phase-1 of Paxos, and then use phase-2 to commit update-requests on these objects locally until they are stolen by other leaders. To achieve zone-local phase2 commits, WPaxos adopts the flexible quorums idea in a novel manner, and appoints phase-2 acceptors to be at the same zone as their respective leaders. The perpetual dynamic partitioning of the object-space and emphasis on zone-local commits allow WPaxos to significantly outperform leaderless approaches, such as EPaxos, while maintaining the same consistency guarantees. We implemented WPaxos and evaluated it on WAN deployments across 5 AWS regions using the benchmarks introduced in the EPaxos work. Our results show that, for a ∼70% access locality workload, WPaxos achieves 2.4 times faster average request latency and 3.9 times faster median latency than EPaxos due to the reduction in WAN communication. For a ∼90% access locality workload, WPaxos improves further and achieves 6 times faster average request latency and 59 times faster median latency than EPaxos.
A novel cis AB allele derived from a B allele through a single point mutation

BACKGROUND: The very rare cis AB phenotype, first described in 1964, corresponds to a special ABO allele encoding a glycosyltransferase that is capable of synthesizing both A and B substances. Until now, gene sequences of only two cis AB alleles were partially characterized. One involved the A1*02 allele with a single nonsynonymous substitution at codon 268, whereas the second arose from a single nonsynonymous substitution at codon 266 in exon 7 of a B1*01 allele.
Application of evolutionary artificial potential field in robot soccer system

Evolutionary artificial potential field (EAPF) functions are utilized for mobile robot navigation in a microrobot soccer (MiroSot) environment. In a micro-robot soccer system the robots are monitored using an overhead CCD Camera, making it suitable for real time application of the EAPF functions. The effectiveness of the EAPF functions in real time mobile robot navigation are verified through experimentation. The EAPF functions proposed were tested in different scenarios related to ball tracking and ball kicking, while facing competition from other robots.
A case of rescuing a patient with acute cardiovascular instability from sudden and massive intraoperative pulmonary thromboembolism by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

An intraoperative pulmonary thromboembolism is hard to diagnose and a lethal disease that could lead to the death. In addition, cardiac arrest caused by this makes it difficult to revive the patient due to the difficulty of removing its cause, the pulmonary thromboembolism. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation which was introduced in 1950s and showed higher survival rate when performed in general cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The authors would like to report our experience with cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device on a patient in a cardiac arrest state caused by pulmonary thromboembolism during orthopedic surgery.
Inequality and Growth in a Panel of Countries *

Evidence from a broad panel of countries shows little overall relation between income inequality and rates of growth and investment. However, for growth, higher inequality tends to retard growth in poor countries and encourage growth in richer places. The Kuznets curve—whereby inequality first increases and later decreases during the process of economic development—emerges as a clear empirical regularity. However, this relation does not explain the bulk of variations in inequality across countries or over time. *This research has been supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. An earlier version of this paper was presented at a conference at the American Enterprise Institute. I am grateful for excellent research assistance from Silvana Tenreyro and for
Lipid Profile Before and After Renal Transplantation—A Longitudinal Study

Background. The data on lipid profile in renal transplant recipients from the Indian subcontinent is scant. Methods. Lipid profile was studied in 30 consecutive patients of end stage renal disease before renal transplantation (0 month) and prospectively posttransplantation at 1, 3, and 6 months. The results were compared with 30, age and sex matched, healthy controls. All the patients received triple immunosuppression (prednisolone, azathioprine and cyclosporine). Results. Pretransplantation, the hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia was present in 20% and 7% of the patients and the difference (elevation) in the mean values of various lipid fractions was not significant compared to healthy controls except a fall in HDL (p<.01). After renal transplantation, there was a significant elevation in the mean values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol at 1, 3, and 6 months. HDL cholesterol levels remained significantly lower as compared to healthy controls. Although, the mean values of serum triglycerides and cholesterol were significantly higher in diabetic end stage renal disease compared to nondiabetic ESRD, however there was insignificant difference in the lipid profile amongst diabetic and nondiabetic renal allograft recipients. Conclusion. Our data shows distinct elevation in the lipids and lipoproteins after renal transplantation and immunosuppressive drugs seem to be the culprit.
Search shortcuts: driving users towards their goals

Giving suggestions to users of Web-based services is a common practice aimed at enhancing their navigation experience. Major Web Search Engines usually provide "Suggestions" under the form of queries that are, to some extent, related to the current query typed by the user, and the knowledge learned from the past usage of the system. In this work we introduce "Search Shortcuts" as "Successful" queries allowed, in the past, users to satisfy their information needs. Differently from conventional suggestion techniques, our search shortcuts allows to evaluate effectiveness by exploiting a simple train-and-test approach. We have applied several Collaborative Filtering algorithms to this problem, evaluating them on a real query log data. We generate the shortcuts from all user sessions belonging to the testing set, and measure the quality of the shortcuts suggested by considering the similarity between them and the navigational user behavior.