Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Downregulation of Kir4.1 inward rectifying potassium channel subunits by RNAi impairs potassium transfer and glutamate uptake by cultured cortical astrocytes

Glial cell‐mediated potassium and glutamate homeostases play important roles in the regulation of neuronal excitability. Diminished potassium and glutamate buffering capabilities of astrocytes result in hyperexcitability of neurons and abnormal synaptic transmission. The role of the different K+ channels in maintaining the membrane potential and buffering capabilities of cortical astrocytes has not yet been definitively determined due to the lack of specific K+ channel blockers. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of the inward‐rectifying K+ channel subunit Kir4.1 on potassium fluxes, glutamate uptake and membrane potential in cultured rat cortical astrocytes using RNAi, whole‐cell patch clamp and a colorimetric assay. The membrane potentials of control cortical astrocytes had a bimodal distribution with peaks at −68 and −41 mV. This distribution became unimodal after knockdown of Kir4.1, with the mean membrane potential being shifted in the depolarizing direction (peak at −45 mV). The ability of Kir4.1‐suppressed cells to mediate transmembrane potassium flow, as measured by the current response to voltage ramps or sequential application of different extracellular [K+], was dramatically impaired. In addition, glutamate uptake was inhibited by knock‐down of Kir4.1‐containing channels by RNA interference as well as by blockade of Kir channels with barium (100 μM). Together, these data indicate that Kir4.1 channels are primarily responsible for significant hyperpolarization of cortical astrocytes and are likely to play a major role in potassium buffering. Significant inhibition of glutamate clearance in astrocytes with knock‐down of Kir4.1 highlights the role of membrane hyperpolarization in this process. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Strategies to Reduce Sodium Consumption: A Food Industry Perspective

The global high prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease has raised concerns regarding the sodium content of the foods which we consume. Over 75% of sodium intake in industrialized diets is likely to come from processed and restaurant foods. Therefore international authorities, such as the World Health Organisation, are encouraging the food industry to reduce sodium levels in their products. Significant sodium reduction is not without complications as salt plays an important role in taste, and in some products is needed also for preservation and processing. The most promising sodium reduction strategy is to adapt the preference of consumers for saltiness by reducing sodium in products in small steps. However, this is a time-consuming approach that needs to be applied industry-wide in order to be effective. Therefore the food industry is also investigating solutions that will maintain the same perceived salt intensity at lower sodium levels. Each of these has specific advantages, disadvantages, and time lines for implementation. Currently applied approaches are resulting in sodium reduction between 20–30%. Further reduction will require new technologies. Research into the physiology of taste perception and salt receptors is an emerging area of science that is needed in order to achieve larger sodium reductions.
Türkiye’deki iç Denetim Profilinin Belirlenmesine ilişkin Bir Araştırma

In recent year internal auditing has been taken into account more importantantly because of some company failures and bankrupcies such as seen in giant firms Enron Worldcom and Parmalat Accordingly by the help of efficient working internal auditing system the flaws of the firms may be predetermined and necessary precuations may be held to prevent the failures Owing to the vital importance of internal auditing for the firms the internal auditing profile in Turkey has been evaluated Keywords: Internal Auditing Assurance Services Consulting Services
Rotavirus Infection Induces an Increase in Intracellular Calcium Concentration in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Role in Microvillar Actin Alteration

ABSTRACT Rotaviruses, which infect mature enterocytes of the small intestine, are recognized as the most important cause of viral gastroenteritis in young children. We have previously reported that rotavirus infection induces microvillar F-actin disassembly in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells (N. Jourdan, J. P. Brunet, C. Sapin, A. Blais, J. Cotte-Laffitte, F. Forestier, A. M. Quero, G. Trugnan, and A. L. Servin, J. Virol. 72:7228–7236, 1998). In this study, to determine the mechanism responsible for rotavirus-induced F-actin alteration, we investigated the effect of infection on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in Caco-2 cells, since Ca2+ is known to be a determinant factor for actin cytoskeleton regulation. As measured by quin2 fluorescence, viral replication induced a progressive increase in [Ca2+]i from 7 h postinfection, which was shown to be necessary and sufficient for microvillar F-actin disassembly. During the first hours of infection, the increase in [Ca2+]i was related only to an increase in Ca2+ permeability of plasmalemma. At a late stage of infection, [Ca2+]i elevation was due to both extracellular Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release from the intracellular organelles, mainly the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We noted that at this time the [Ca2+]i increase was partially related to a phospholipase C (PLC)-dependent mechanism, which probably explains the Ca2+ release from the ER. We also demonstrated for the first time that viral proteins or peptides, released into culture supernatants of rotavirus-infected Caco-2 cells, induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i of uninfected Caco-2 cells, by a PLC-dependent efflux of Ca2+from the ER and by extracellular Ca2+ influx. These supernatants induced a Ca2+-dependent microvillar F-actin alteration in uninfected Caco-2 cells, thus participating in rotavirus pathogenesis.
Checkpointing multicomputer applications

The authors present a checkpointing scheme that is transparent, imposes overhead only during checkpoints, requires minimal message logging, and allows for quick resumption of execution from a checkpointed image. Since checkpointing multicomputer applications poses requirements different from those posed by checkpointing general distributed systems, existing distributed checkpointing schemes are inadequate for multicomputer checkpointing. The proposed checkpointing scheme makes use of special properties of multicomputer interconnection networks to satisfy this set of requirements. The proposed algorithm is efficient both when taking checkpoints and when recovering from checkpointed images. <<ETX>>
Arctigenin enhances chemosensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin through inhibition of the STAT3 signaling pathway

Arctigenin is a dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan isolated from Bardanae fructus, Arctium lappa L, Saussureamedusa, Torreya nucifera, and Ipomea cairica. It has been reported to exhibit anti‐inflammatory activities, which is mainly mediated through its inhibitory effect on nuclear transcription factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB). But the role of arctigenin in JAK‐STAT3 signaling pathways is still unclear. In present study, we investigated the effect of arctigenin on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway and evaluated whether suppression of STAT3 activity by arctigenin could sensitize cancer cells to a chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin. Our results show that arctigenin significantly suppressed both constitutively activated and IL‐6‐induced STAT3 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation in cancer cells. Inhibition of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation was found to be achieved through suppression of Src, JAK1, and JAK2, while suppression of STAT3 serine phosphorylation was mediated by inhibition of ERK activation. Pervanadate reversed the arctigenin‐induced downregulation of STAT3 activation, suggesting the involvement of a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Indeed, arctigenin can obviously induce the expression of the PTP SHP‐2. Furthermore, the constitutive activation level of STAT3 was found to be correlated to the resistance of cancer cells to cisplatin‐induced apoptosis. Arctigenin dramatically promoted cisplatin‐induced cell death in cancer cells, indicating that arctigenin enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin mainly via STAT3 suppression. These observations suggest a novel anticancer function of arctigenin and a potential therapeutic strategy of using arctigenin in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 2837–2849, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deep networks are efficient for circular manifolds

We present theoretical results showing that deep neural networks require fewer parameters than a shallow network to achieve similar accuracy results on a simple classification problem where the decision boundary is a circle in two dimensions. In particular, shallow networks require O(1/√ϵ) parameters compared to O(log2[1/ϵ]) for a deep network to achieve an error rate of ϵ.
The association of behavior and lifestyle factors with menstrual symptoms.

The present study examines the association of obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise with the prevalence of menstrual cycle disorders among 2912 women aboard U.S. Navy ships. Self-administered surveys obtained information on weight, height, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. Participants also indicated whether they experienced cramps or pain during their period requiring medication or time off work, bleeding between periods, excessive frequency of periods, heavy periods, periods lasting for longer than a week, scanty menstrual flow, and irregular periods during the past 90 days. Women ranged in age from 18 to 49 years, with an average of 26 years. After adjustment for age, race, and pay grade, current cigarette smoking was associated with increased risk of all menstrual symptoms and cycle disorders. As compared with nonsmokers, current smokers were at increased risk of cramps or pain requiring medication or time off work (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.25), bleeding between periods (OR = 1.22, CI = 1.09, 1.38), excessive frequency of periods (OR = 1.33, CI = 1.17, 1.51), heavy periods (OR = 1.17, CI = 1.06, 1.29), periods lasting longer than a week (OR = 1.31, CI = 1.16, 1.48), scanty flow (OR = 1.13, CI = 1.01, 1.29), and irregular periods (OR = 1.14, CI = 1.05, 1.24). Obesity, exercise, and alcohol consumption did not show consistent associations with menstrual symptoms or cycle disorders. Logistic regression models that included age, race, pay grade, and all behavioral and lifestyle variables indicated only cigarette smoking was associated with an increased risk of bleeding between periods (OR = 1.33, CI = 1.05, 1.68), excessive frequency of periods (OR = 1.38, CI = 1.21, 1.58), periods lasting longer than a week (OR = 1.45, CI = 1.13, 1.84), and irregular periods (OR = 1.25, CI = 1.05, 1.47). Although the lifestyle factors are all potentially modifiable, results suggest that only interventions targeted at smoking cessation might be useful in reducing the prevalence of menstrual symptoms, cycle disorders, and time lost from work.
Clindamycin as an Antimalarial Drug: Review of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials from the 1970s and 1980s have shown the efficacy, safety, and practicability of the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with clindamycin. Two reviews from the early 1990s have summarized these studies in detail ([24][1], [25][2]). Since then, interest in clindamycin as an
Single-End-Access Correlation-Domain Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensor Based on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We propose a single-end-access correlation-domain distributed fiber-optic sensor based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a polarization-maintaining optical fiber (PMF). Frequency-modulated pump and probe waves are launched into the same end of the PMF with orthogonal polarization states. Assisted by a polarization beam splitter and a polarization-maintaining isolator installed at the other end of the PMF, SBS interaction between the reflected probe wave and the forward pump wave is exclusively localized within the PMF. Unlike the previously-reported method based on placing a reflector at the far end of the fiber (Song , 2008), in which the measurement range is shortened to a half of the nominal value determined by the frequency modulation, as given in the work by Hotate and Hasegawa (2000), our new method maintains the range as the nominal value. Distributed sensing of temperature or strain is experimentally demonstrated with the measurement range/the spatial resolution of 200 m/16 cm, 56 m/5 cm, or 5.6 m/5 mm, respectively.
Constructive Dialogue Modelling - Speech Interaction and Rational Agents

Dialogue management technology has developed rapidly over the years resulting in real-time applications like telephony directories, timetable enquiries, and in-car applications. However, the current technology is still largely based on models that use rigid command language type interactions, and the users need to adapt their human communication strategies to the needs of the technology. As an increasing number of interactive ubiquitous applications will appear, challenges for interaction technology concern especially natural, more human-friendly communication. Recent research has focused on developing speech-based interactive systems that aim to increase the systems communicative competence. By including aspects of interaction beyond simple speech recognition and question-answer based interaction, applications with more conversational interfaces have become possible. New dialogue management technology needs to address the challenges in human-technology interaction, so that smart environments should not only enable user-controlled command interfaces but equip applications with a capability that affords easy and friendly interactions with the user. Dialogue Modelling: Speech Interaction and Rational Agents provides an overview of the current dialogue technology and research trends in spoken dialogue systems, presenting a coherent perspective of AI-based cooperative interaction management. The book complements existing research regarding human-computer interfaces, speech and language technology, and communication studies in general, bringing different view-points together and integrating them into a single point of reference. Constructive Dialogue Modelling: Presents a guide to spoken dialogue technology and current research trends. Provides an overview of human factors in dialogue systems and delivers a new metaphor for human-computer interaction and computer as agent. Explains the architecture of dialogue systems using examples from systems such as Interact and DUMAS Offers a comprehensive overview of original research into the new trends in speech dialogue technology in light of innovations such as ubiquitous computing. This book will provide essential reading for industrial designers and interface engineers, university researchers and teachers, computer scientists, human communication researchers, speech and language technologists, cognitive engineers/cognitive scientists, as well as social and media researchers, and psychologists. Advanced students and researchers in computer science, speech and language technologies, psychology and communication research will find this text of interest.
Linkages between Direct and Securitized Real Estate

Using data for the 1978-2008 period, this study presents evidence for cointegration between securitized (NAREIT) and direct (NCREIF) total return indices. Cointegration between the indices indicates that REITs and direct real estate are substitutable in the portfolio of a long-horizon buy-and-hold investor. Since the real estate indices are not found to be cointegrated with the stock market, REITs and direct real estate are likely to have similar long-term diversification benefits in a stock portfolio. In line with prior expectations, only direct real estate is found to currently adjust towards the cointegrating relation, with NAREIT returns leading NCREIF returns. However, giving support to the often stated argument regarding weaker informational efficiency of the REIT market prior to the "new REIT era", the results show evidence for the predictability of NAREIT returns during the 1980s. It is also found that at the beginning of the "new REIT era" a large and long-lasting deviation from the long-run relation between NAREIT and NCREIF emerged. However, there is no evidence of a permanent structural break in the long-run relation since the deviation appears to have been only temporary.
Modulation of human Nav1.7 channel gating by synthetic α-scorpion toxin OD1 and its analogs

ABSTRACT Nine different voltage-gated sodium channel isoforms are responsible for inducing and propagating action potentials in the mammalian nervous system. The Nav1.7 channel isoform plays an important role in conducting nociceptive signals. Specific mutations of this isoform may impair gating behavior of the channel resulting in several pain syndromes. In addition to channel mutations, similar or opposite changes in gating may be produced by spider and scorpion toxins binding to different parts of the voltage-gated sodium channel. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of the α-scorpion toxin OD1 and 2 synthetic toxin analogs on the gating properties of the Nav1.7 sodium channel. All toxins potently inhibited channel inactivation, however, both toxin analogs showed substantially increased potency by more than one order of magnitude when compared with that of wild-type OD1. The decay phase of the whole-cell Na+ current was substantially slower in the presence of toxins than in their absence. Single-channel recordings in the presence of the toxins revealed that Na+ current inactivation slowed due to prolonged flickering of the channel between open and closed states. Our findings support the voltage-sensor trapping model of α-scorpion toxin action, in which the toxin prevents a conformational change in the domain IV voltage sensor that normally leads to fast channel inactivation.
Long-Distance Dispersal of Plants

Long-distance dispersal (LDD) of plants poses challenges to research because it involves rare events driven by complex and highly stochastic processes. The current surge of renewed interest in LDD, motivated by growing recognition of its critical importance for natural populations and communities and for humanity, promises an improved, quantitatively derived understanding of LDD. To gain deep insights into the patterns, mechanisms, causes, and consequences of LDD, we must look beyond the standard dispersal vectors and the mean trend of the distribution of dispersal distances. “Nonstandard” mechanisms such as extreme climatic events and generalized LDD vectors seem to hold the greatest explanatory power for the drastic deviations from the mean trend, deviations that make the nearly impossible LDD a reality.
Where did you go wrong ? Errors , partial errors , and the nature information processing of human

Human performance is seldom perfect, and even when an overt response is correct it may be accompanied by partial-error activity that does not achieve the leve1 of a complete incorrect response. Partial errors can be detected in measures of the lateralized readiness potential, of the electromyogram, and of response force. Correct responses accompanied by partial errors tend to have slower reaction times than “clean” correct responses (because of response competition), and condition differences in reaction time can, on some occasions, be explained in terms of differences in the incidence of partial errors. In two-choice reaction time tasks, partial errors are more frequent when the imperative stimulus contains information that favors both responses, than when it contains information that favors only one response. The non-random nature of partial errors supports the inference that partial information about the stimulus is used to guide responses. A similar inference is supported by the observation that, in hybrid choice Go/No-go tasks, the kinds of partial errors that follow a No-go stimulus represent activation of the response that would have been correct had the stimulus been a Go stimulus. Finally, we note that the human processing system is capable of monitoring its own behavior and of initiating remedial actions if necessary. The activity of an error-detection system, as revealed by measures of the error-related negativity, is related to the degree to which responses are slowed after errors.
Public Management in the United Kingdom: A New Introduction

Public Management: Change or Continuity? The Politics and Theories of Public Management in Britain The Institutional Framework of Public Service Provision Delivering Public Services: Processes and Problems Strategic Management and Leadership Performance and Quality Management Financial Management and Economic Regulation Human Resource Management in the Public Services Regulation, Audit and Inspection inside Governance Conclusion: Public Management in the UK Today
Effect of pedaling technique on mechanical effectiveness and efficiency in cyclists.

PURPOSE To optimize endurance cycling performance, it is important to maximize efficiency. Power-measuring cranks and force-sensing pedals can be used to determine the mechanical effectiveness of cycling. From both a coaching and basic science perspective, it is of interest if a mechanically effective pedaling technique leads to greater efficiency. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different pedaling techniques on mechanical effectiveness and gross efficiency during steady-state cycling. METHODS Eight male cyclists exercised on a cycle ergometer at 90 rpm and 200 W using four different pedaling techniques: preferred pedaling; pedaling in circles; emphasizing the pull during the upstroke; and emphasizing the push during the downstroke. Each exercise bout lasted 6 min and was interspersed with 6 min of passive rest. We obtained mechanical effectiveness and gross efficiency using pedal-reaction forces and respiratory measures, respectively. RESULTS When the participants were instructed to pull on the pedal during the upstroke, mechanical effectiveness was greater (index of force effectiveness=62.4+/-9.8%) and gross efficiency was lower (gross efficiency=19.0+/-0.7%) compared with the other pedaling conditions (index of force effectiveness=48.2+/-5.1% and gross efficiency=20.2+/-0.6%; means and standard deviations collapsed across preferred, circling, and pushing conditions). Mechanical effectiveness and gross efficiency during the circling and pushing conditions did not differ significantly from the preferred pedaling condition. CONCLUSIONS Mechanical effectiveness is not indicative of gross efficiency across pedaling techniques. These results thereby provide coaches and athletes with useful information for interpreting measures of mechanical effectiveness.