Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
cGMP Serves as an Extracellular Regulator of a Ca2+-Dependent K+ Channel in Immortalized Human Proximal Tubule Cells

Recently we showed that a K+ channel in immortalized human kidney epithelial (IHKE-1) cells derived from the proximal tubule is regulated by natriuretic peptides in cell-attached patches and directly regulated by cGMP in excised inside-out oriented membrane patches [1]. The patch clamp technique was used to investigate the regulatory effect of extracellular, non-membrane permeable cGMP on membrane voltage and the regulation of this K+ channel in outside-out oriented membrane patches. In 7 out of 7 experiments the membrane voltage of IHKE-1 cells depolarized by 3.9 ± 0.1 mV when the non-membrane permeable cGMP was added to the bath solution. In outside-out oriented membrane patches cGMP inhibited Po already at 1 µM (–12 ± 4%, n=7), at 0.1 mM inhibition of Po reached –39 ± 6% (n=14). cAMP (0.1 mM) only had a weak inhibitory effect (n=7). GTP and ATP (n=7 each) had no significant effect on Po from the outside. When cGMP was added to the pipette solution in experiments with outside-out oriented membranes cGMP still inhibited this K+ channel from the outside by 36 ± 6% (n=6). In 4 paired experiments 8-Br-cGMP (0.1 mM) showed a significantly higher inhibitory effect on Po compared to cGMP (0.1 mM). cGMP inhibits a K+ channel in human proximal tubule cells from the outside and may serve as an autocrine and paracrine regulatory factor in the kidney.
Quality-of-Service Implications of Enhanced Program Algorithms for Charge-Trapping NAND in Future Solid-State Drives

Three-dimensional nand memory devices based on charge trapping (CT) technology represent the most promising solution for hyperscaled solid-state drives (SSDs). However, the intrinsic low reliability offered by that storage medium leads to a high number of errors requiring an extensive use of complex error correction codes (ECCs) and advanced read algorithms such as read retry. This materializes in an overall reduction in the SSD's QoS. In order to limit the error number, enhanced program algorithms that are able to improve the reliability figures of CT memory devices have been introduced. In this paper, the impact of such program algorithms combined with read retry and the ECC is experimentally characterized on CT- nand arrays. The results are then exploited for cosimulations at the system level, assessing the reliability, performance, and QoS of future SSDs integrating CT-based memory devices.
Comorbidity and co-transmission of alcoholism, anxiety and depression

Synopsis This paper applies data from a family study of depression to assess patterns of comorbidity and co-transmission of alcoholism, anxiety disorders, and major depression. We found that all three disorders were strongly transmissible; however, alcoholism demonstrated the greatest degree of familial aggregation. The pairwise associations among depression, anxiety and alcoholism indicated that the traits are co-transmitted in families, especially depression and anxiety. Individual associations between traits (or comorbidity) were entirely explained by transmitted (perhaps genetic) agents, because the correlations between traits due to random environment were not significant. These findings have important implications for treatment, psychiatric nosology, and aetiological investigations of these conditions.
Assessing the Structural Fundamentals of Realized Risk Premiums

In investment-decision-making, it is customary to define economic regimes of high or low realized risk premiums with economic indicators such as inflation and growth. We generalize this discrete categorization to a continuous one by estimating a linear relation between economic fundamentals and realized standard and alternative risk premiums. Using a bootstrap method, we estimate that changes in macroeconomic indicators explain about 50% of the variation in realized risk premiums. We apply our estimates to comment on the implication of a prolonged low growth scenario on the prospective level of risk premiums.
Rebranding: the effect of team name changes on club revenue

ABSTRACT Research question: The purpose of this study is to explore the financial effect of four types of team name changes, three of which have not been previously studied. We do so in the context of development leagues where rebranding occurs with considerable frequency, thus affecting a great number of sport managers. Research methods: The effect of rebranding on club revenue was derived by combining the results of two analyses. The first used an economic demand equation to examine the attendance variations of 475 Minor League Baseball teams in 244 cities in the United States and Canada between 1980 and 2011 that engaged in one (or more) of four different types of name changes. The second examined changes in merchandise sales after a rebranding effort. Results and Findings: The results indicate that development teams fail to derive financial gains from adopting the names of their major league parent clubs. Instead, teams that abandon unique local names see large attendance decreases suggesting that local names generate greater brand awareness and brand image than their major league counterparts. The largest merchandise gains are generated by teams that adopt new, local names. Implications: These findings further our understanding of the outcomes of brand management and rebranding efforts by acknowledging that former and future names have varying levels of brand equity that have real effects on consumer purchasing behaviors and subsequent financial gains and losses.
Multi-view service-oriented rule merged business process modeling framework

According to the analysis of business process modeling technology and business process execution technology, a business process modeling framework named REPC (Rule-Merged Event-driven Process Chain) has been proposed to solve lack of process semantics such as business rule in transformation from business process modeling to business process execution. Through service-oriented Enterprise Resource Meta-model the semantics of basic elements in process model are modeled. And on the basis of resource models business rules are modeled. Finally the business rules are integrated with business process model to maintain the semantics of process model completely. With the implementation of a prototype of the REPC-based modeling platform and a purchase process example, the correctness and the practical usability of the modeling framework has been verified. REPC provides a new framework for business process modeling in SOA information system.
A State-Independent Linear Power Flow Model With Accurate Estimation of Voltage Magnitude

Linearized power flow models are of great interest in power system studies such as contingency analyses and reliability assessments, especially for large-scale systems. One of the most popular models—the classical DC power flow model—is widely used and praised for its state independence, robustness, and computational efficiency. Despite its advantages, however, the DC power flow model fails to consider reactive power or bus voltage magnitude. This paper closes this gap by proposing a decoupled linearized power flow (DLPF) model with respect to voltage magnitude and phase angle. The model is state independent but is distinguished by its high accuracy in voltage magnitude. Moreover, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of the DLPF model with the purpose of accelerating its computation speed, leading to the fast DLPF (FDLPF) model. The approximation that is applied to obtain the FDLPF model from the DLPF model is justified by a theoretical derivation and numerical tests. The proposed methods are provably accurate and robust for several cases, including radial distribution systems, meshed large-scale transmission systems and ill-conditioned systems. Finally, expressions for sensitivity with regard to MW flow and bus voltage are provided as a potential application.
Horizontal and Vertical Diff erentiation in School Competition with Vouchers

Competition between two schools is considered in a Hotelling-type framework with schools being differentiated by their choices of location and effort. Enrolment, influenced by peer effects, responds to these characteristics of schools, and both segregated and nonsegregated equilibria (in terms of peer-group quality across schools) are possible. It is shown that while non-segregation induces competition in terms of effort, segregation entrenches the advantaged school undermining both schools’ effort incentives. Horizontal differentiation, moreover, seems to go together with non-segregation.
Nonlinear interface between the piezoelectric harvesting structure and the modulating circuit of an energy harvester with a real storage battery

This paper studies the performance of an energy harvester with a piezoelectric bimorph (PB) and a real electrochemical battery (ECB), both are connected as an integrated system through a rectified dc-dc converter (DDC). A vibrating PB can scavenge energy from the operating environment by the electromechanical coupling. A DDC can effectively match the optimal output voltage of the harvesting structure to the battery voltage. To raise the output power density of PB, a synchronized switch harvesting inductor (SSHI) is used in parallel with the harvesting structure to reverse the voltage through charge transfer between the output electrodes at the transition moments from closed-to open-circuit. Voltage reversal results in earlier arrival of rectifier conduction because the output voltage phases of any two adjacent closed-circuit states are just opposite each other. In principle, a PB is with a smaller, flexural stiffness under closed-circuit condition than under open-circuit condition. Thus, the PB subjected to longer closed-circuit condition will be easier to be accelerated. A larger flexural velocity makes the PB to deflect with larger amplitude, which implies that more mechanical energy will be converted into an electric one. Nonlinear interface between the vibrating PB and the modulating circuit is analyzed in detail, and the effects of SSHI and DDC on the charging efficiency of the storage battery are researched numerically. It was found that the introduction of a DDC in the modulating circuit and an SSHI in the harvesting structure can raise the charging efficiency by several times.
Pneumothorax as a Presenting Clinical Manifestation of Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Pulmonary metastases are not encountered commonly in patients with prostate cancer. Pulmonary metastases with pneumothorax as a presenting clinical manifestation in newly diagnosed prostate cancer are very rare. Here, we present the case of an 82-year-old patient who was admitted to our center with a chief complaint of worsening dyspnea over the past few days. The chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed left pneumothorax and bilateral lung opacities as well as generalized lymphadenopathy and diffuse bony metastases. After a series of workup including cervical lymph node biopsy with immunohistochemical staining, abdomen CT, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), he was proved to have prostate cancer with multiple lung, bone and lymph node metastases. This case is reported because of the rarity for a prostate carcinoma presented clinically with an unusual pulmonary manifestation.
Entrepreneurial Search, Innovation, and Initiative: The Stage, Network, and Level Analysis

Drawing on the lean startup model, network theory, institutional theory, learning theory, and symbiosis view, this dissertation examines three important issues of entrepreneurship. This dissertation consists of three essays, each focusing on one specific aspect of entrepreneurship, namely: stage, network, and subsidiary initiative. Based on the lean startup model, the first essay focuses on the development processes of startups and the dominant cognition an entrepreneur might use at each stage. The second essay proposes an appropriateness perspective to examine the optimal configuration of network characteristics, learning experience, and legal environment that is most conducive to innovation performance. The third essay focuses on the relationship between informal institutional distance and subsidiary initiatives, investigating how the trust between headquarters and subsidiary mediates the relationship and how communication effectiveness moderates such relationship. As a whole, these three essays address important questions of entrepreneurship at different levels.
The alpha (α)-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, attenuates the blood pressure and splanchnic blood flow responses to intraduodenal sucrose in older adults.

BACKGROUND Postprandial hypotension is an important problem in the elderly and may be triggered by the increase in splanchnic blood flow induced by a meal. Acarbose attenuates the fall in blood pressure (BP) induced by oral sucrose and may be useful in the management of postprandial hypotension. It is not known whether the effect of acarbose on postprandial BP reflects slowing of gastric emptying and/or carbohydrate absorption nor whether acarbose affects splanchnic blood flow. We examined the effects of intraduodenal (ID) acarbose on the BP, heart rate, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow, and glycemic and insulin responses to ID sucrose in older participants--this approach excluded any "gastric" effect of acarbose. METHODS Eight healthy participants (four male and four female, age 66-77 years) received an ID infusion of sucrose (~6 kcal/min), with or without acarbose (100 mg), over 60 minutes. BP, heart rate, SMA flow, blood glucose, and serum insulin were measured. RESULTS Acarbose markedly attenuated the falls in systolic (p < .01) and diastolic (p < .05) BP and rises in heart rate (p < .05), SMA flow (p < .05), blood glucose (p < .01), and serum insulin (p < .05). The maximum fall in systolic BP and peak SMA flow was inversely related on the control day (r(2) = -. 53, p < . 05) but not with acarbose (r(2) = . 03, p = . 70). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that in healthy older participants receiving ID sucrose, (a) acarbose markedly attenuates the hypotensive response by slowing carbohydrate absorption and attenuating the rise in splanchnic blood flow and (b) the fall in BP is related to the concomitant increase in SMA flow.
Treating Hyperinsulinemia with Momordica charantia

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a novel nutraceutical mainly containing the extract of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and α-lipoic acid for the treatment of patients with hyperinsulinemia. Methods: Pilot prospective open-label cohort trial including 11 patients with hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance. The concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, glucose, haemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, triglycerids, gamma- glutamyltransferase, and C-reactive protein were measured in blood take between 3 and 4 hours after dinner. Results: One and 4 months after initiation of treatment there was a significant decrease of the concentrations of Insulin (to average 25% of initial value), C-peptide (to average 44% of initial value), glucose, hemoglobin A1c and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Clinical significance: Treatment of patients with hyperinsulinemia, with or without diabetes or metabolic syndrome, using a novel nutraceutical containing Momordica charantia and α-lipoic acid dramatically reduced insulin resistance and may have improved non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Elastic Scaling of e-Infrastructures to Support Data-Intensive Research Collaborations

For many research endeavours, e-Infrastructures need to provide predictable, on-demand access to large-scale computational resources with high data availability. These need to scale with the research communities requirements and use. One example of such an e-Infrastructure is the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN -- www.aurin.org.au) project, which supports Australia-wide research in and across the urban and built environment. This paper describes the architecture of the AURIN infrastructure and its support for access to distributed (federated) and highly heterogeneous data sets from a wide range of providers. We present how this architecture solution leverages the intersection of high throughput computing (HTC), infrastructure as a service (IaaS) Cloud services and big data technologies including use of NoSQL resources. The driving concept in this architecture and the focus of this paper is the ability for scaling up or down depending on resource demands at any given time. This is done automatically and on demand avoiding either under-or over-utilization of resources. This resource-optimization-driven infrastructure has been designed to ensure that peak loads can be predicted and successfully coped with, as well as avoid wasting resources during non-peak times. This overall management strategy has resulted in an e-Infrastructure that provides a flexible, evolving research environment that scales with research needs, rather than providing a rigid (static) end product.
Economics of wage premia and wage rigidity

Strifler, Matthias Economics of wage premia and wage rigidity Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2017, p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Business and Economics ISSN 1457-1986; 176) ISBN 978-951-39-7023-9 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-7024-6 (PDF) Finnish summary Diss. The focus of this dissertation is on the effects of speci c employer characteristics on wages and wage rigidity and how these characteristics enter the wage-setting process. The dissertation includes an introductory chapter and ve separate essays. The introduction provides motivation, background on the main keywords and an overview of the thesis. Chapters two and three study how internal references affect wages and wage rigidity from a theoretical perspective. The fourth chapter estimates the effect of rm size on wages in the Finnish labor market. Chapter ve develops on the preceding and analyses how pro t sharing schemes affect the rm size premium. Chapter six studies how internal references can induce pro t sharing and wage rigidity from an empirical perspective. Chapter two analyses how fairness considerations of workers affect the union wagesetting process and ultimately on wages, employment and wage rigidity. Fairness is modeled as internal reference where workers compare wages to rm productivity respectively pro tability. If the internal reference is high relative to the outside option, wage pressure results through a productivity/pro tability premium as well as real wage rigidity. The third chapter reviews the core research on internal references and wage rigidity. With one exception it suggests that internal references unambiguously increase wage rigidity. In contrast, this chapter provides analytical proofs, calibration results and impulse response functions which show that the effect is ambiguous. The effect of the internal reference relative to the external reference determines whether wage rigidity increases or decreases. Chapter four explores the relationship between wages and rm size in the Finnish labor market. Using a large register data set the effect of rm size is found to be negligible after controlling for a large set of worker and rm characteristics and across different identi cation strategies. Chapter ve analyzes the interaction of the rm size wage premium and pro t sharing schemes. A simple theoretical analysis shows that the rm-size wage premium decreases in the presence of pro t sharing. Using a rich linked employer-employee data set the empirical analysis shows that besides pro t sharing, assortative matching and monopsony behavior decrease the rm size premium. The sixth chapter analyses the connection between pro t sharing and wage rigidity where pro ts per worker are measured directly through the balance sheet panel. Pro t endogeneity is accounted for by instrumentation as well as the self-selection of rms in different categories of pro tability. Pro ts are shared if positive or increasing while there is no downward adjustment of wages if pro ts are negative or decreasing. This nding suggests that pro ts per worker function as internal reference.
Altered Immune Function in Human Newborns after Prenatal Administration of Betamethasone: Enhanced Natural Killer Cell Activity and Decreased T Cell Proliferation in Cord Blood

During the course of human pregnancy, glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is given when preterm delivery is expected. This treatment is successful in stimulating the development of the fetal lung. However, in animal studies, a number of side effects of perinatal GC treatment have been described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in humans the effects of antenatal GC treatment on development of the immune system. In addition, we examined the development of immune reactivity in infants born preterm and at term who did not receive GC treatment antenatally. We tested mitogen-induced T cell proliferation, natural killer cell activity, and lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6 production in cord blood samples. We found that there is a significant effect of gestational age on the capacity of T cells to proliferate and of natural killer cells to kill K562 tumor cells. The capacity to produce IL-6 does not change between gestational age 26 and 41 wk. Moreover, our results show that antenatal treatment with GC does have immunomodulatory effects: T cell proliferation is decreased in infants born very preterm (gestational age 26-31 wk) as well as in infants born between 32 and 36 wk of gestation. In contrast, the activity of natural killer cells is only increased in GC-treated infants born between 26 and 31 wk. We did not observe a significant effect of antenatal GC treatment on the capacity to produce IL-6.
Good News About the Effects of Bad Old-Age Stereotypes

The study investigates whether the confrontation with negative, age-stereotyped information leads to a deterioration of older adults' self-perceptions as suggested by the labeling theory, or whether older adults protect their self-perceptions against deterioration as suggested by theories of the resilience of the aging self. Self perceptions, as well as peer-perception of other older adults in general were assessed in a pre-post design. In the experimental group, 60 older adults received negative information about competence in old age. The control group of 40 older adults received neutral information. In the experimental condition, the general perceptions of other older adults worsened whereas their self-perception improved. In the control condition, only small changes emerged. Furthermore, the change of self-perceptions varied by the perceived applicability of the negative information for oneself. We conclude that older adults use negative age stereotypes more as a standard of reference for downward comparison rather than integrating them into their self-perceptions.
An improved background modeling algorithm based on the codebook model

As an effective background subtraction algorithm, the basic codebook model algorithm has many disadvantages. Such as too many parameters, background was mismatched as foreground, the slow speed of the background model updating, affected by noises. An improved codebook model algorithm is proposed in this article. The mean and variance cubic (MVC) of the pixel value in RGB color space was applied to judge whether the input matches one of the codewords or not; the mean and variance of codeword is updated by dynamic learning rate which is correlated to the frequency of the codeword has occurred; Layered modeling technique was proposed to update codebook adaptively; meanwhile the frequency of the codeword has occurred was also used as one of the criteria to judge whether absorbing a codeword into the codebook model. Experiment results show that the algorithm proposed can segment moving objects under complicated scenes which could include dynamic background and illumination change, can absorb variations into the background model quickly, can be used to real-time foreground-background segmentation.