Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased sensitivity to lipolytic hormones of adenylate cyclase in fat cells of diabetic rats.

1 Adenylate cyclase in fat-cell ghosts from streptozotocin-diabetic rats is 34% lower than in normal rats. Relative to the basal activity, maximal stimulation by epinephrine and isoproterenol is 10-fold in normal and 14-fold in diabetic fat cells, whereas maximal stimulation by fluoride is 7-fold in both states. 2 The sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to epinephrine and isoproterenol is increased in fat-cell ghosts from diabetic rats: the concentrations of these catecholamines required for half-maximal activation of adenylate cyclase is three times lower in diabetic than in normal cells. In contrast, half-maximal stimulation by fluoride occurs at the same concentration in both states. 3 Epinephrine-induced activation of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase and of lipolysis correlate with the activation of adenylate cyclase. The epinephrine concentration required for half-maximal activation of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase and of lipolysis is three times lower in diabetic than in normal cells. 4 Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity is increased 55% in fat-cell homogenates and fat-cell ghosts from diabetic rats. Phosphodiesterase is, therefore, unlikely to be involved in the mechanism causing the ‘hypersensitivity phenomenon’. 5 The sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to adrenocorticotropin is increased 10-fold in fat-cell ghosts from diabetic rats. However, no correlation between adrenocorticotropin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and lipolysis is observed. Concentrations required to elicit the first measurable activation of adenylate cyclase stimulate glycerol production maximally. Stimulation of glycerol production starts at 100-fold lower concentrations than stimulation of adenylate cyclase. 6 Insulin treatment of diabetic rats for 24 h reduces the response of adenylate cyclase to both epinephrine and adrenocorticotropin as compared with saline-treated diabetic animals. It is concluded that the increased sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to epinephrine in diabetic fat-cells is responsible for the enhanced lipolytic sensitivity to this hormone. Increased sensitivity of adenylate cyclase may be due to a change in the binding affinity of the hormone receptor or to altered properties of the coupling mechanism between the receptor and the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase.
Design and Modeling of a Patterned-Electret-Based Energy Harvester for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are applications where energy harvesting may prove useful as a power source. In this paper, we present the design, modeling, and simulation of a microscale energy harvester for TPMS systems, located on the inner liner of the car tire. We discuss design considerations for electret-based energy harvesters and present a specific design. An electrical equivalent circuit model with parameters extracted from finite element analysis is presented and used to predict the performance of the device using both measured tire vibrations and colored noise. We find that sufficient power for the TPMS application can be generated at 50 km/h driving speed with a device with a 400 μm × 3.8 mm × 4.34 mm silicon proof mass.
A multi-objective evolutionary algorithm for protein structure prediction with immune operators

Genetic algorithms (GA) are often well suited for optimisation problems involving several conflicting objectives. It is more suitable to model the protein structure prediction problem as a multi-objective optimisation problem since the potential energy functions used in the literature to evaluate the conformation of a protein are based on the calculations of two different interaction energies: local (bond atoms) and non-local (non-bond atoms) and experiments have shown that those types of interactions are in conflict, by using the potential energy function, Chemistry at Harvard Macromolecular Mechanics. In this paper, we have modified the immune inspired Pareto archived evolutionary strategy (I-PAES) algorithm and denoted it as MI-PAES. It can effectively exploit some prior knowledge about the hydrophobic interactions, which is one of the most important driving forces in protein folding to make vaccines. The proposed MI-PAES is comparable with other evolutionary algorithms proposed in literature, both in terms of best solution found and the computational time and often results in much better search ability than that of the canonical GA.
Lactoferrin and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most important neonatal problem in nursery which is associated with high neonatal mortality and morbidity. NEC also leads to various long term complications, including short bowel syndrome, systemic infection, eye problems, nutritional deficiency and neurodevelopmental impairments. Lactoferrin (LF) is a component of breast milk and multiple actions that includes antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-fungal, enhance immunity and various other actions. A few studies have been completed and a number of trails are going on for evaluation of efficacy and safety of LF in the prevention of NEC. In future, LF prophylaxis and therapy may have a significant impact in improving clinical outcomes of vulnerable premature infants. This review analyse the role of LF in prevention and reduction severity of NEC in preterm infants, with emphasis on mechanism of action, recent studies and current studies going on all over the world.
Minimum wage policy and domestic workers in Zambia

This study examines the role of minimum wage policy in the working conditions of domestic workers in Zambia. The introduction of a minimum wage generally tends to improve domestic worker wages, although an increasing number of domestic workers in the labour market (excess supply) tends to maintain their vulnerability since it reduces their bargaining power. This paper identifies the key actors in domestic work and suggests a model for formalising it that focuses on maid centres (domestic worker agencies). This paper uses theories concerning the structure and agency of DWs, and discusses issues of asymmetries of power; but there are some differences between live-ins and live-outs. This is related to societal perceptions, as well as weak legal and institutional frameworks.
Agenda for Co-Creation Tourism Experience Research

In the experience economy, suppliers are in search of new ways to distinguish themselves and to fight for the customer's attention. Society's system of social ruling is making way for communicative self-steering. Dialogues between equal partners replace the traditional top down approach. Customers are therefore gaining more power and control. Product and company centric innovations are now being taken over by the co-creation experience as a basis for value and as the future of innovation. Glimpses of the co-creation experience are observed in a variety of realms but tourism is not yet mentioned as one of them. This is remarkable, as for many countries tourism is the number one income generator and for many in the developed world an essential part of their quality of life. Especially during free time people express their quest for ever more unique experiences reflecting their own personal stories. This article provides an innovative perspective on tourism in the experience economy based on the principle of co-creation with a central role for the human being. It contributes to the debate on tourism development and innovation and does not pretend to answer all questions raised. A research agenda is proposed at the end of this paper to invite both academic and business stakeholders to research and shape the future of the co-creation tourism experience in different project settings.
Cross-Shareholdings and Information Environment

We examine the relationship between cross-shareholdings and the information environment. This issue is important because the separation of ownership and control al- lows managers to act exclusively in their own interests. Despite numerous studies on the influences of other types of ownership structures, including family, institutional investor, and block ownership structures, little is known about how cross-shareholdings influence management incentives. We highlight the Japanese market, where cross-shareholding is historically one of the prominent ownership structures. Using a unique database detail- ing the level of cross-shareholdings, we find that higher cross-shareholdings relate to (1) greater information asymmetry in the market, (2) higher earnings quality, and (3) lower firm value. The results are consistent with the quiet life hypothesis, which predicts man- agement avoids difficult decisions and costly actions when isolated from market pressures.
Rotating Savings and Credit Associations: A Case Study of ‘Panampayattu’

ROSCA is a type of money exchange system which provides financial assistance to low income people by combining credit and savings and thereby improving the standard of living of the people. All ROSCAs are closely linked to informal financial sector during their inception and later most of the ROSCAs are brought forward to formal financial System. The present study focus on ‘Panampayattu, (a type of ROSCA prevailing in northern Malabar area in the Indian state of Kerala). The study shows that panampayattu has a huge scope to be the potential product in the product mix of financial institutions like banks. The study also lays out the comparative advantages of panampayattu with respect to other popular financial products in meeting the financial requirements of the low income people.
Gut Dysbiosis in Pancreatic Diseases: A Causative Factor and a Novel Therapeutic Target

Pancreatic-related disorders such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) impose a substantial challenge to human health and wellbeing. Even though our understanding of the initiation and progression of pancreatic diseases has broadened over time, no effective therapeutics is yet available for these disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis is closely related to human health and disease, and pancreatic diseases are no exception. Now much effort is under way to explore the correlation and eventually potential causation between the gut microbiome and the course of pancreatic diseases, as well as to develop novel preventive and/or therapeutic strategies of targeted microbiome modulation by probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for these multifactorial disorders. Attempts to dissect the intestinal microbial landscape and its metabolic profile might enable deep insight into a holistic picture of these complex conditions. This article aims to review the subtle yet intimate nexus loop between the gut microbiome and pancreatic diseases, with a particular focus on current evidence supporting the feasibility of preventing and controlling pancreatic diseases via microbiome-based therapeutics and therapies.
T Regulatory and Primed Uncommitted CD4 T Cells Express CD73, Which Suppresses Effector CD4 T Cells by Converting 5′-Adenosine Monophosphate to Adenosine1

CD73 (5′-ectonucleotidase) is expressed by two distinct mouse CD4 T cell populations: CD25+ (FoxP3+) T regulatory (Treg) cells that suppress T cell proliferation but do not secrete IL-2, and CD25− uncommitted primed precursor Th (Thpp) cells that secrete IL-2 but do not suppress in standard Treg suppressor assays. CD73 on both Treg and Thpp cells converted extracellular 5′-AMP to adenosine. Adenosine suppressed proliferation and cytokine secretion of Th1 and Th2 effector cells, even when target cells were activated by anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. This represents an additional suppressive mechanism of Treg cells and a previously unrecognized suppressive activity of Thpp cells. Infiltration of either Treg or Thpp cells at inflammatory sites could potentially convert 5′-AMP generated by neutrophils or dying cells into the anti-inflammatory mediator adenosine, thus dampening excessive immune reactions.
An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Retail Margins: The Role of Store-Brand Share

The authors develop and test a model of the key determinants of margins that retailers earn on national brands and store brands. They particularly focus on the impact of store-brand share on percentage margin, dollar margin per unit, and total dollar margin of the retailer. The authors find not only that percentage retail margins on store brands are higher than on national brands but also that high store-brand share enables retailers to earn higher percentage margins on national brands. However, the dollar margin per unit may be smaller for store brands because of their lower retail price. Furthermore, heavy store-brand users contribute much less to the total dollar profit of the retailer than do light store-brand users. The authors conclude that it is important for retailers to retain a balance between store brands and national brands to attract and retain the most profitable customers.
Dyadic discord at baseline is associated with lack of remission in the acute treatment of chronic depression

Background Dyadic discord, while common in depression, has not been specifically evaluated as an outcome predictor in chronic major depressive disorder. This study investigated pretreatment dyadic discord as a predictor of non-remission and its relationship to depressive symptom change during acute treatment for chronic depression. Method Out-patients with chronic depression were randomized to 12 weeks of treatment with nefazodone, the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy or their combination. Measures included the Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS) and the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology – Self Report (IDS-SR30). Of 681 original patients, 316 were partnered and 171 of these completed a baseline and exit MAS, and at least one post-baseline IDS-SR30. MAS scores were analysed as continuous and categorical variables (‘dyadic discord’ v. ‘no dyadic discord’ defined as an MAS score >2.36. Remission was defined as an IDS-SR30 of ⩽14 at exit (equivalent to a 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression of ⩽7). Results Patients with dyadic discord at baseline had lower remission rates (34.1%) than those without dyadic discord (61.2%) (all three treatment groups) (χ2=12.6, df=1, p=0.0004). MAS scores improved significantly with each of the treatments, although the change was reduced by controlling for improvement in depression. Depression remission at exit was associated with less dyadic discord at exit than non-remission for all three groups [for total sample, 1.8 v. 2.4, t(169)=7.3, p<0.0001]. Conclusions Dyadic discord in chronically depressed patients is predictive of a lower likelihood of remission of depression. Couple therapy for those with dyadic discord may increase remission rates.
Public services and performance management: the High Performance Working Inventory

The advent of performance metrics over the past two decades has heralded a cultural shift in the way public service bodies and institutions have been managed. As a result, all public service provision is now subjected to government led performance indicators, standards of service delivery and practice. At the heart of such mechanisms, aspirations towards excellence within the provision of services sit with strategic leadership and people centered issues. High Performance Working (HPW) is an approach that enshrines the need for organisations to embrace an adaptive strategy in the selection and application of different organisational variables and the people resources they employ; aspirations public sector institutions have had to meet in the face of central government calls for efficiency gains and accountability. The “bundles of practice” that public service organisations choose potentially determine whether they meet the needs of their mission, vision and values in their quest for public accountability. This paper will therefore discuss the issue of performance management and measurement in the public sector. It will then present the HPW Inventory that can be used to assist public sector organisations assess their current performance against core HPW “bundles of practice”.
Queues, customer characteristics and policies for managing waiting‐lines in supermarkets

Shoppers leaving four supermarket outlets (two in one of London’s most prosperous boroughs and two in London’s poorest) were questioned about their attitudes towards having to wait in queues, including express checkout lines. The list of interview questions incorporated items designed to assess whether customers possessed Type A or Type B personality traits. It emerged that although Type A inclination did help explain certain shoppers’ perspectives on waiting‐in‐line, customers’ locations in either a rich or a poor neighbourhood and their subjective evaluations of whether their families were better‐off or worse‐off than other families in the area were more influential as determinants of attitudes concerning queues.
Advancements in Digital Protection of Power Transformers

This paper presents a brief introduction to the emergence of differential protection of power transformers. In this paper, the techniques used in implementing the 2nd harmonic restraint, the artificial neural network (ANN) and the latest wavelet packet transform-based disturbance detection and classification are reviewed. Moreover, the response of these different protection techniques is simulated for the same conditions. Finally, a comparison between these techniques is made and to identify the technique that offers the optimal power transformer protection. A list of references provide a state-of-the-art survey of significant as well as some incremental contributions in chronological order of appearance over the past 50 years.
Heterogeneity of action potential waveforms and potassium currents in rat ventricle.

OBJECTIVE The ionic mechanisms for differences in action potential waveforms in rat left ventricle were studied by recording L-type Ca2+ current, transient outward K+ current, and inwardly rectifying background K+ current in single myocytes. METHODS Single cells were obtained from adult rat hearts by enzymatic dispersion of tissue segments from the epicardium at the apex and the endocardium at the base of the left ventricle. Whole cell voltage clamp methods together with cell shortening measurements were used to identify the K+ currents involved in early and late repolarisation and to correlate changes in action potential shape with inotropic responses. 4-Aminopyridine was used to block the transient outward K+ current, I(t), to evaluate the contribution of this current to repolarisation. RESULTS Action potential recordings demonstrated that cells from endocardial tissue at the base of the left ventricle have a considerably longer action potential than those from epicardial tissue at the apex. 4-Aminopyridine had a much more pronounced action potential lengthening and inotropic effects on cells from epicardium than on myocytes from endocardium suggesting that I(t) is larger in the epicardium. Voltage clamp measurements confirmed this. In contrast, the L-type Ca2+ current, the resting membrane potential, and the inwardly rectifying background K+ current were very similar in these two regions of left ventricle. CONCLUSIONS One significant factor contributing to the heterogeneity of action potential waveforms in rat left ventricle is a differential distribution of a Ca+ independent transient outward K+ current, I(t). Regional differences in action potential duration have important implications for the gradient of repolarisation in rat left ventricle, for the genesis of the T wave of the electrocardiogram, and for both electrical and mechanical restitution (refractoriness).
Hindiii Polymorphism of Lipoprotein Lipase Gene and its Contribution to Coronary Artery Disease in Egyptians

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the main leading causes of death worldwide. The aim of this study is the detection of the HindIII polymorphism in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) to determine the importance of this mutation as a risk factor. The study included forty CAD patients and twenty healthy subjects. They were genotyped for HindIII LPL using polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique, and the findings were analyzed for association with CAD and with plasma levels of lipid parameters; total cholesterol (T- chol), low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL- C), high density lipoprotein - cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Patients with HindIII +ve allele were at higher risk of developing CAD than those with -ve allele (odd's ratio: 2.8 & 95% CI 0.89-8.92). Significant predictors of CAD were HDL- C followed by serum level of TG then LDL-C. In conclusion HindIII polymorphism in LPL gene was associated with CAD severity, due to its significant implication on lipid metabolism. Further studies are required, in particular looking at the influence on clinical outcome.
Cytokine Gene Expression During Infeetion of Miee Lacking CD4 and/or CD8 with Trypanosoma cruzi

The expression of lymphokine genes during infection of virulent (Tulahuén) or mild (CA‐I) strains of T. cruzi was studied in mice lacking CD4 and/or CD8 molecules. The increased susceptibility of CD4− and CD4−CD8− mice to infection with CA‐I or Tuiahuen was parallelled by diminished IFN‐γmRNA levels. Nitric oxide release and inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA accumulation by cells from Tulahuen infected CD4− mice was also diminished. CD8− (but not CD4−CD8− mice) showed an increased IL‐4 and IL‐10mRNA accumulation upon infection with both strains of T. cruzi. A Th2‐like’ response (higher IL‐4 and IL‐10mRNA to IFN‐γmRNA ratio), was also observed when cells from non‐infected CD8‐ mice were stimulated with T cell mitogens.
Shops and the City: Evidence on Local Externalities and Local Government Policy from Big Box Bankruptcies

Large retailers have significant positive spillovers on nearby businesses, and both private and public mechanisms exist to attract them. We estimate these externalities using detailed geographic establishment data and exogenous variation from national chain bankruptcies. We show that local government policy responds to the size of these spillovers. When political boundaries allow local governments to capture more of the gains from these large stores, governments are more likely to provide retail subsidies. However, these public incentives also crowd out private mechanisms that subsidize these stores and internalize their benefits. On net, we find no evidence that government subsidies affect the efficiency of these large retailers' location choice as measured by the size of the externalities at a given distance, rather than within a certain border.
Bond audit, a method for evaluating business relationships

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to create an audit method for analyzing and improving business relationships. This is accomplished by specifying bonds on a lower abstraction level than in earlier theory regarding bonds in order to classify the different types of bonds and analyze their strength.Design/methodology/approach – The findings are based on 14 case studies in seven different industries. The methodology used is systematic and based on the abductive approach. Qualitative interviews were conducted.Findings – Bonds were found to be important regulators of business relationships in this study. The main finding is that a bond audit can be used as a tool for analyzing business relationships and for consulting activity with the aim of strengthening or weakening business relationships.Practical implications – By influencing the bonds using bond management, companies can strengthen or weaken the business relationship.Originality/value – The paper describes an audit method for analyzing business rela.