Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Active Renal Tubular Efflux of Tenofovir

ABSTRACT Tenofovir (TFV) undergoes renal elimination by a combination of glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion. While transporter-mediated uptake of TFV from the blood into proximal-tubule cells has been well characterized, comparatively little is known about the efflux system responsible for transporting TFV into the lumen during active tubular secretion. Therefore, members of the ATP-binding cassette family of efflux pumps expressed at the apical side of proximal-tubule cells were studied for the ability to transport TFV. Studies in multiple independent in vitro systems show TFV not to be a substrate for P glycoprotein (Pgp) or multidrug resistance protein type 2 (MRP2). In contrast to Pgp and MRP2, TFV was observed to be a substrate for MRP4. TFV accumulated to fivefold lower levels in MRP4-overexpressing cells, and its accumulation could be increased by an MRP inhibitor. Furthermore, MRP4-overexpressing cells were found to be 2.0- to 2.5-fold less susceptible to cytotoxicity caused by TFV. ATP-dependent uptake of TFV was observed in membrane vesicles containing MRP4 but not in vesicles lacking the transporter. On the basis of these and previous results, the molecular transport pathway for the active tubular secretion of TFV through renal proximal-tubule cells involves uptake from the blood mediated by human organic anion transporters 1 and 3 and efflux into urine by MRP4. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of TFV active tubular secretion will facilitate the assessment of potential renal drug-drug interactions with coadministered agents.
Factors influencing decisions for using outside funds for farm investments and proprietor withdrawals by small-scale farmers in Abia state, Nigeria.

This study on factors influencing decisions for using outside funds for Farm investments and for proprietor withdrawals was carried out among rural small-scale farm households in Abia state, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of ninety (90) rural farm households of multi-type (varied) enterprises was carried out using cluster random sampling technique in three communities, each chosen from one of the three agricultural zones of the state. Results indicated rural household level variables that positively influenced decisions to source farm investment fund to include level of education, gender, membership of cooperative society, interest charge, land acquisition method, and ease of getting loan. Other factors that negatively influenced decisions include farming as major occupation, household savings, household size, and distance of farmers’ home to source of credit. Proprietor withdrawal decisions were positively influenced by household level variables like taking farming as major occupation, payment of school fees for children of farmers, and amount of credit so far repaid by a farm household. Other factors namely household size, being member of cooperative society or savings group, interest charges on loan, off-farm income, and household savings had negative influences on proprietor withdrawal decisions. We recommended that smallscale farmers should not borrow their start-up capital from outside their households but as their farm businesses stabilize, they could decide to take loans from outside to cover their working capital and/or expand their farms and be prepared to repay such loans according to contractual agreements.
Sxa2, a carboxypeptidase that degrades extracellular pheromone in fission yeast.

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe exists in one of two mating types (Plus or Minus) and conjugation between two haploid cells is controlled by the reciprocal action of diffusible mating pheromones (for review, see 1). Thus, a P-cell releases P-factor and responds to M-factor since it expresses the M-factor receptor while an M-cell releases M-factor and responds to P-factor. Exposure to pheromone causes changes that prepare the cell for mating but persistent stimulation does not cause a continuous response as the cells recover and adapt to the presence of the pheromone (2.3). One approach to understanding the recovery process is to characterise mutants that are unable to adapt to the pheromone.
Brain Death‐Induced Cardiac Contractile Dysfunction and Long‐term Cardiac Preservation Rat Heart Studies of the Effects of Hypophysectomy

BackgroundIschemic brain death induces cardiac contractile dysfunction, which may exclude the heart as a donor organ for transplantation; the mechanism is unknown. Since cerebral ischemia might alter pituitary function, we investigated the influence of hypophysectomy on basal contractile function, brain death-induced contractile malfunction, and the tolerance of the heart to hypothermic ischemic storage. Methods and ResultsRats were hypophysectomized and maintained for 5 days; during this time, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) fell to 70%o of its control value (92±8 versus 132±6 mm Hg, P<.05). Diastolic function of isolated blood-perfused hearts 5 days after hypophysectomy was severely impaired (left ventricular volume at 12 mm Hg of end-diastolic pressure was 141±20 versus 250±30 pL in sham-operated control rats; P<.05). Brain death in nonhypophysectomized rats resulted in a transient increase in mean arterial pressure (from 112±4 to 180±7 mm Hg within the first 30 seconds) followed by a rapid decline to less than 50% of the control value (54±3 mm Hg after 5 minutes, P<.05). Changes in cardiac function were comparable (cardiac index fell from 34±2 to 17±1 mL/min per 100 g body weight, and stroke volume index fell from 82±5 to 41±4 puL per beat per 100 g body weight within 10 minutes; P<.05). Brain death in hypophysectomized rats resulted in a similar (but attenuated) biphasic response with arterial pressure (already reduced to 82±9 mm Hg as a consequence of hypophysectomy) transiently increasing to 144±9 mm Hg after 30 seconds and then falling to 52±5 mm Hg by 5 minutes. Finally, we assessed the effects of coincident hypophysectomy and brain death on the ability of the heart to recover from 6 hours of hypothermic (4TC) ischemic storage. Brain death alone had no effect on the postischemic recovery of LVDP (133±14 versus 129±12 mm Hg at 8 mm Hg of end-diastolic pressure in the non-brain death group). LVDP in hearts from hypophysectomized rats with brain death recovered to only 84±13 mm Hg; however, this was virtually identical to the LVDP in hearts from hypophysectomized rats that had not been subjected to brain death (83±5 mm Hg) or had not even been exposed to hypothermic ischemia (83±10 mm Hg). ConclusionsHypophysectomy induces a deterioration of cardiac function that becomes apparent after 2 days. However, it does not exacerbate the cardiac dysfunction induced by brain death. Hearts from hypophysectomized animals, with or without brain death, recovered less well after prolonged hypothermic storage; nevertheless, the hearts recovered to preischemic levels, indicating that, although hypophysectomy impairs cardiac contractile function, it does not adversely influence the tolerance of the heart to hypothermic ischemia. Pituitary function may be an important factor in determining cardiac function without influencing resistance to ischemia or responses to brain injury.
Network coding based wideband compressed spectrum sensing

One of the fundamental components in cognitive radios (CRs) is spectrum sensing. For sensing the wide range of frequency bands, CRs need high sampling rate analog to digital converters (ADCs) which have to operate at or above the Nyquist rate. The high operating rate constitutes a major implementation challenge. Compressive sensing (CS) is a method that may overcome this problem. Sub-Nyquist rate can be used for CS recovery algorithms such as ℓ1-minimization. While boundary information of all frequency sub-bands is available, a more efficient recovery algorithm based on ℓ2/ℓ1-minimization can be used instead of ℓ1-minimization. In cognitive radio systems, network coding could be used for primary users (PUs) to increase packet transmissions. Furthermore, network coding provides a structure for vacant sub-bands of spectrum and makes the spectrum more predictable. Using this information that network coding provides us, we combine ℓ1-minimization and ℓ2/ℓ1-minimization algorithms with network coding for compressive spectrum sensing. Our methods require reduced signal sampling rate and result in improved false alarm (FA) and missed detection (MD) probabilities for idle band detection.
Overexpression of connective tissue growth factor/hypertrophic chondrocyte-specific gene product 24 decreases bone density in adult mice and induces dwarfism.

Connective tissue growth factor/hypertrophic chondrocyte-specific gene product 24 (CTGF/Hcs24) is a multifunctional growth factor for fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, we established transgenic (Tg) mice that overproduce CTGF/Hcs24 under the control of mouse type XI collagen promoter. Tg mice could develop and their embryonic and neonatal growth occurred normally. But they showed dwarfism within a few months of birth. X-ray analysis revealed that their bone density was decreased compared with normal mice. The femurs in the hindlimbs in particular showed an apparent low density. These results indicated that overexpression of CTGF/Hcs24 affects certain steps of endochondral ossification. In addition, the testes were much smaller than normal and fertility was affected in Tg mice, indicating that CTGF/Hcs24 may also regulate the embryonic development of the testis.
Bioelectrical thoracic impedance role in the management of hypertension

Currently hypertension is considered the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the relationship between BP and risk of cardiovascular events is continuous, consistent and independent of other risk factors. In the absence of hemodynamic information, the clinician is unable to appreciate the lack of response to treatment in terms of patient compliance. Hemodynamic treatment of hypertension involves manipulating hemodynamic modulators whose deviations are identified by HOTMAN system that uses electrical bioimpedance method (BET).
Waiting times for cancer patients in England after general practitioners' referrals: retrospective national survey

This paper was first posted on www.bmj. com on 13 March 2000 Britain fares rather badly in international comparisons of cancer patients' survival rates. Relative survival rates in England and Wales1 are generally lower than in Europe, 2 which in turn are lower than rates in the United States.3 The differences between England and Wales and the rest of Western Europe in survival rates for colon cancer and female breast cancer arise primarily in the first six months after diagnosis, suggesting that these differences may relate to later presentation or delays in treatment for British patients. Given this background, the government has pledged to “end waiting times for cancer surgery, thereby helping thousands of women waiting for breast cancer treatment. ” The assumption is that reduced waiting …
Evidence in support of a scalar implicature account of plurality.

There is increasing evidence that the plural is semantically unmarked for number such that a plural can be interpreted as meaning "at least one. " The 2 experiments reported here used a picture matching paradigm to investigate the conceptual representations built during the comprehension of sentences with plural definite descriptions (e.g., leaves). In Experiment 1, participants read sentences that specified that the objects in the plural were spatially distributed (scattered leaves), spatially grouped (a pile of leaves), or neutral with respect to spatial distribution. After reading the sentence, participants saw a picture that either contained multiple spatially distributed objects, multiple spatially grouped objects, or a single object. In Experiment 2, the sentential context specified a large, uncountable set size, a small set size, or was neutral with respect to set size. The picture that followed either depicted a large set size, a small set size, or a single object. Participants read each sentence and then judged whether the picture was of an object that was in the sentence. Both experiments provided evidence that even when comprehenders build detailed conceptual representations for plural definite descriptions, they have still activated the singular interpretation of the plural. These data are consistent with an account of the plural in which the plural is semantically unmarked for number and the plural meaning is derived via a scalar implicature. (PsycINFO Database Record
Competing in the Presence of Privacy Concerns: A Model of the Market for Customer Information

There is "no free disposal" (NFD) in the consumption of online personalization services, as this activity inherently involves sharing of personal and preference information that creates disutilities to the consumer. Not only are more services not necessarily better for the consumer, but these services are also provided for free as firms extract value from the usage of consumer information rather than from directly pricing the services. Further, the services themselves may be provided to a consumer as a fixed-length toolbar/deskbar (fixed-services strategy) or with the option of choosing a subset of the portfolio of services offered (variable-services strategy). This paper models a duopoly of firms that are heterogeneous in their marginal value for consumer information (MVI) and interact through a two-stage dynamic game, where the firms choose a fixed- or variable-services strategy in the first stage and their level of services of-fering in the second. After examining a series of subgame equilibria, we arrive at distinct subgame-perfect Nash equilibriua (SPNEs) that allows us to characterize competition between firms of different MVI endowments. Our findings suggest that while there is no SPNE in a duopoly of two small firms, when one firm is small and the large, there is a unique SPNE in pure strategies where both firms offer fixed-services such that they segment the market. As the differences in their valuations increase, the larger firm continues to offer fixed-services while smaller firm enjoys the option of offering variable services. A duopoly of large firms results always results in symmetric SPNE; both firms offer variable services as long as one firm has very large MVI and both offer fixed-services otherwise. Interestingly while the former is consumer welfare maximizing, the latter results in a third of the market (consisting of privacy seekers) not being served. Our results lead to important managerial and policy implications, as well as interesting extensions to the existing location models.
Spiral ganglion loss outpaces inner hair cell loss in endolymphatic hydrops

Neuronal toxicity is thought to be important in Meniere's disease and experimental endolymphatic hydrops (ELH). This study quantifies the relationship between neuronal degeneration and hair cell degeneration in ELH to evaluate the hypothesis that a primary neural insult would yield greater loss in the spiral ganglion than at the inner hair cell level.
The SSPNet-Mobile Corpus: Social Signal Processing Over Mobile Phones.

This article presents the SSPNet-Mobile Corpus, a collection of 60 mobile phone calls between unacquainted individuals (120 subjects). The corpus is designed to support research on non-verbal behavior and it has been manually annotated into conversational topics and behavioral events (laughter, fillers, back-channel, etc.). Furthermore, the corpus includes, for each subject, psychometric questionnaires measuring personality, conflict attitude and interpersonal attraction. Besides presenting the main characteristics of the corpus (scenario, subjects, experimental protocol, sensing approach, psychometric measurements), the paper reviews the main results obtained so far using the data.
Essays on auctions

The past few decades have witnessed a remarkable expansion of auctions activities. From the sales of mobile-phone licenses and industrial goods, to the privatization of formerly state-owned enterprises, auction mechanisms have been employed to enhance revenue and efficiency in otherwise imperfectly competitive markets. This thesis incorporates the risk attitudes of the auction participants, as well as the possibility of collusion among the bidders, into the existing auction models and offers an in-depth analysis of several important topics. It shows how the seller’s optimal reserve price is endogenously affected by the participants’ risk preferences, how the use of premium tactics helps deter collusion, and how the outcome of an auction varies with the practical situations in terms of efficiency, expected revenue, and the expected utilities of the seller and buyers. While offering new insights into the competitive bidding behavior and the resulting performance of various auction policies in these more general situations, the thesis also contains some theoretical results that are of interest on their own.
Unified MPC strategy for idle-speed control, vehicle start-up and gearing applied to an Automated Manual Transmission

Abstract A real-time Model Predictive Control (MPC) is proposed for controlling the behavior of an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The underlying formulation shows a unified approach that handles different modes: idle-speed control, vehicle start-up, gearing up and down. Sub-optimal solutions are computed on line using an adaptive reduced dimensional parametrization that is directly linked to the accelerator pedal position. Transmission stability constraints are explicitly handled as well as saturations on the control inputs. The proposed control is tested both in simulation and on line in a city car demonstrator equipped with a natural gas engine.
Interface Electronics for Tactile Sensors Based on Piezoelectric Polymers

In this paper, we propose a novel design approach for the interface electronics of piezoelectric polymer tactile sensing systems. An interface electronics prototype based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components having the same operating principle as the proposed approach has been fabricated. The system has been validated by using an experimental setup, where electrical and electromechanical characterization are carried out. The interface electronics measures charge of about 0.15 pC for applied forces as low as 12.5 mN at the working frequency of 27 Hz. The experimental average sensitivity of the system is 0.6 pC/kPa in the frequency range from 10 to 250 Hz. Long term goal is to miniaturize the interface electronics for the development of embedded tactile systems in prosthetic and robotic applications.
Marketing Capability, Strategy and Business Performance in Emerging Markets of Pakistan

In this project an attempt has been made to demonstrate a positive relationship between marketing capabilities and Strategy using Porters framework and corporate performance in an emerging/developing market of Pakistan. This paper reports a study that marketing practice regulates the relationship between marketing capabilities & Strategy using Porters framework and business performance. In turn, the type of marketing practice adopted is moderated by the market served. Various studies have suggested that marketing capabilities & Strategy using Porters framework influences business performance. These discussions are summarized by a theoretical model and a series of theoretical propositions. The results suggest that Marketing Capabilities and Strategy frame exist in the business environment of Pakistan but there is a weak relationship with firm performance.
Detection of Histone H2AX Phosphorylation on Ser‐139 as an Indicator of DNA Damage (DNA Double‐Strand Breaks)

This unit describes immunocytochemical detection of phosphorylated histone H2AX for revealing the presence of DNA double‐strand breaks. Double‐strand breaks indicate DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation or by treatment with antitumor drugs such as DNA topoisomerase inhibitors. However, double‐strand breaks can also be intrinsic, occurring in healthy, nontreated cells for a variety of reasons, and are generated in the course of DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells. The unit presents strategies to distinguish radiation‐ or drug‐induced breaks from those intrinsically formed in untreated cells or associated with apoptosis. The protocol describes the immunocytochemical detection of histone H2AX phosphorylated on Ser‐139 combined with measurement of DNA content to identify cells that have DNA double‐strand breaks and to concurrently assess their cell cycle phase. The detection is based on indirect immunofluorescence using a FITC‐labeled secondary antibody, and DNA is counterstained with propidium iodide (PI). Cellular RNA, which may be stained by PI, is removed with RNase A.
Newly-Constructed Simplified Single-Phase Multistring Multilevel Inverter Topology for Distributed Energy Resources

In the microgrid system, the distributed energy resource (DER)-based single-phase inverter is usually adopted. In order to reduce conversion losses, the key is to save costs and size by removing any kind of transformer as well as reducing the power devices. The objective of this letter is to study a novel five-level multistring inverter topology for DERs-based dc/ac conversion system. In this study, a high step-up converter is introduced as a front-end stage to improve the conversion efficiency of conventional boost converters and to stabilize the output dc voltage of various DERs such as photovoltaic and fuel cell modules for use with the simplified multilevel inverter. The simplified multilevel inverter requires only six active switches instead of the eight required in the conventional cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter. In addition, two active switches are operated at the line frequency. The studied multistring inverter topology offers strong advantages such as improved output waveforms, smaller filter size, and lower electromagnetic interference and total harmonics distortion. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
Comparison of two cotside methods for the detection of hypoglycaemia among neonates in Nepal.

AIMS: To compare two cotside methods of blood glucose measurement (HemoCue and Reflolux II) against a standard laboratory method for the detection of neonatal hypoglycaemia in a developing country maternity hospital where hypoglycaemia is common. METHODS: 94 newborn infants and 75 of their mothers had blood glucose assessed on the same venous sample using three different methods in the Special Care Baby Unit and postnatal wards, Prasuti Griha Maternity Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal: HemoCue and Reflolux II at the cotside; Roche Ultimate glucose oxidase method (GOM) in the laboratory. RESULTS: The mean (SD) values for blood glucose in newborn infants were GOM 2.5 (1.1) mmol/l; Reflolux II 2.1 (0.9); and HemoCue 4.2 (1.2). For mothers the values were GOM 5.3 (1.2) mmol/l; Reflolux II 3.6 (1.2); and HemoCue 5.6 (1.0). Bland-Altman plots showed that Reflolux II consistently underreads GOM blood glucose in neonates by 0.5 mmol/l (SD 0.7) and that HemoCue overreads glucose by 1.7 mmol/l (SD 0.8). For the detection of hypoglycaemia (< 2.0 mmol/l), Reflolux II achieved a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 62%, and a likelihood ratio of 2.2. HemoCue produced a sensitivity of 0% and a specificity of 100% using measured values. If 2.0 mmol were subtracted from all Hemocue values this rose to 81% and 68% and a likelihood ratio of 2.5. CONCLUSION: Although more accurate than Reflolux II for the measurement of blood glucose in mothers, HemoCue overreads glucose concentrations in neonates and is therefore potentially dangerous as a screening method for neonatal hypoglycaemia. Reflolux II is useful as a screening method for high risk infants (low birthweight, post-term) and could achieve a post-test probability of detecting hypoglycaemia in a high risk setting like Nepal of 50-60%.