Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced contraction and altered frequency response of isolated ventricular myocytes from patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND Previous work has failed to demonstrate reduced maximal contraction of isolated ventricular myocytes from failing human hearts compared with nonfailing control hearts. The effect of alterations in stimulation frequency and temperature on the contraction of isolated ventricular myocytes has been investigated. Left ventricular myocytes were isolated from the hearts of patients with severe heart failure undergoing heart transplantation and compared with myocytes isolated from myocardial biopsies from patients with coronary disease but preserved left ventricular systolic function or from myocytes from rejected donor hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS Myocytes were exposed to either a maximally activating level of extracellular calcium at 37 degrees C or to 2 mmol/L calcium at 32 degrees C. There was no significant difference in the contraction amplitude between myocytes from failing and nonfailing hearts at 0.2 Hz. With increasing stimulation frequency, there was a reduction in contraction amplitude in cells from failing hearts relative to control hearts in both maximal calcium from 0.33 Hz (4.5% versus 6.6%) to 1.4 Hz (3.9% versus 8.8%) (ANCOVA, P < .001) and at 2 mmol/L calcium from 0.50 Hz (2.3% versus 3.5%) to 1.4 Hz (1.8% versus 3.9%) (ANCOVA, P < .001). The time to peak contraction and the times to 50% and 90% relaxation were prolonged in myocytes from failing hearts at stimulation rate of 0.2 Hz (P < .01), but only the time to 50% relaxation was prolonged at 1.0 Hz (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Reduced contraction, slowed relaxation, and impaired frequency response occurring at the level of the individual ventricular myocyte can be demonstrated in human heart failure. This demonstrates that disruption of myocyte function can contribute to both the systolic and the diastolic abnormalities that occur in the failing human heart.
The association of meniscal pathologic changes with cartilage loss in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of meniscal tears and meniscal malposition as risk factors for subsequent cartilage loss in subjects with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS Study subjects were patients with symptomatic knee OA from the Boston Osteoarthritis of the Knee Study. Baseline assessments included knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with followup MRI at 15 and 30 months. Cartilage and meniscal damage were scored on MRI in the medial and lateral tibiofemoral joints using the semiquantitative whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score. Tibiofemoral cartilage was scored on MR images of all 5 plates of each tibiofemoral joint, and the meniscal position was measured using eFilm Workstation software. A proportional odds logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations was used to assess the effect of each predictor (meniscal position factor and meniscal damage as dichotomous predictors in each model) on cartilage loss in each of the 5 plates within a compartment. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), tibial width, and sex. RESULTS We assessed 257 subjects whose mean +/- SD age was 66.6 +/- 9.2 years and BMI was 31.5 +/- 5.7 kg/m2; 42% of subjects were female, and 77% of knees had a Kellgren/Lawrence radiographic severity grade > or = 2. In the medial tibiofemoral joint, each measure of meniscal malposition was associated with an increased risk of cartilage loss. There was also a strong association between meniscal damage and cartilage loss. Since meniscal coverage and meniscal height diminished with subluxation, less coverage and reduced height also increased the risk of cartilage loss. CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of an intact and functioning meniscus in patients with symptomatic knee OA, since the findings demonstrate that loss of this function has important consequences for cartilage loss.
Positional constraints on the initial rise in French

A basic constituent of French intonation is the Accentual Phrase (AP), which includes two distinct tonal events: a final LH* accentual rise and an initial LHi rise. A previous study had shown a difference between the rising movements according to the the position of the AP within the intonational phrase (IP): prenuclear (P, IP-initial) versus nuclear (N, IPfinal). The present paper explains this difference through the occurrence of a LHi in P position which does not occur in N position. Specifically, we tested whether LHi can occur adjacent to LH* within the AP and whether the occurrence of LHi triggers initial strengthening of the onset consonant independent of its status (as a liaison consonant or not). Four native speakers of French read target words varying as to their distribution within the intonation phrase as well as to the segmental nature of the target syllable onset (/k/ onset versus /z/ liaison). Results confirm that LHi can be immediately adjacent to LH* within the AP, but only in P position and that the height of its H target is influenced by onset consonant type. The results are discuss relative to the phonological status of the initial rise and the phonological structure of the nuclear pitch accent in our data.
Ultra high speed Full Adders

Two novel 1-bit Full Adder cells based on Majority Function and the similarity between the minterms of the Cout and Sum functions, are proposed. The cells offer higher speed and less Power-Delay Product (PDP) than the conventional and current implementations of the 1-bit Full Adder cells especially in low voltages. All the input patterns are used for simulation to obtain the delay and the power consumption parameters. Simulations demonstrate improvement in terms of PDP and significant improvement in terms of speed.
Mathematical Investigation and Analysis of Regional Signal Coverage in Mobile Communication

According to the characteristics and actual conditions of signal coverage, coverage is analyzed in different regions such as plains, mountains and urban areas. Signal is weak in plain, which needs to extend coverage. Stations can be alternately erected in roads and their surrounding areas. The signal being covered in mountain area with less base stations is considered. Interference of urban coverage should be reduced and coverage between the high-rise building and the basement properly handled. Coverage of the signal is mathematically analyzed, and the rectangular mathematical coverage system and physical coverage grid are formed. The coverage functions are selected after the shape of coverage is determined. In the process of displacement coverage of effective mobile signal, the displacement function of the physical coverage is deduced. The entire first and second order approximations are carried out on constant function during physical coverage.
Languages at Risk : A Case Study from Sierra Leone

This paper seeks to address two issues. First, it seeks to provide evidence against the claim that “West African languages are generally holding their own in the face of globalization and the homogenizing forces of the twenty-first century” (Blench 2007:156). Secondly, it contributes to the current debate on the issue of whether indigenous languages (Brenzinger, Heine & Sommer 1991, Grenoble & Whaley 1998, Mufwene 2003, Batibo 2005) or ex-colonial languages (Crystal 2000, Adegbija 2001), among others), pose the greatest threat to the continued existence of other indigenous languages in Africa. I examine the language situation in Sierra Leone as a case study and argue that both indigenous languages (Mende, Temne, Limba and Krio) and languages of colonization (English and French) as well as Arabic, equally pose a major threat to the survival of minority languages in Sierra Leone. The paper is divided into four sections. In section 2, I present an overview of the language situation in Sierra Leone, mapping out languages that are viable, dead or facing threats of extinction. I then discuss the factors that militate against the continued existence of indigenous languages in Sierra Leone in section 3. Section 4 is the conclusion.
Model selection and Bayesian methods in statistical genetics: Summary of Group 11 contributions to Genetic Analysis Workshop 15

The research presented in group 11 of the Genetic Analysis Workshop 15 (GAW15) falls into two major themes: Model selection approaches for gene mapping (both Bayesian and Frequentist); and other Bayesian methods. These methods either allow relaxation of some of the common assumptions, such as mode of inheritance, for studying complicated genetic systems, or allow incorporation of additional information into the model. Over half of the groups applied model selection methods on all three data sets, using models in which genetic markers were used as predictors for linkage, phenotype expression, or transmission to an affected offspring. Most groups employed variations of Stochastic Search Variable Selection as the model selection method of choice. A brief review of this class of methods is given in this summary paper, followed by highlights of other methods and overall summaries of each contribution to the GAW15 presentation group 11. These group contributions exhibit the value of framing genetic problems in terms of model selection, and highlight the impact of variable selection for gene mapping. Genet. Epidemiol. 31(Suppl. 1):S96–S102, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
New Multi-Particle Systems for Colon-Targeted Meloxicam

Meloxicam (MLX) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) from the Oxicam family. This group of NSAIDs has been highly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and post-operative inflammation and is known as good antioxidants. Recently, their activity in chemoprevention, chemo-suppression, UV-sensitization and UVprotection was also identified. MLX has been described as a COX-2 selective inhibitor. Its use has some advantages regarding to its selectivity, namely, less adverse effects as gastrointestinal aggression and anticlotting activity. As MLX is better absorbed in colon and its properties against colon cancer and colonic inflammatory diseases are being studied, it is interesting to investigate a new MLX formulation for colonic delivery. We are studying the solubility and the dissolution of different combined formulations at pH 1.2, 6.8 and 7.4 to mimic their absorbance in the colon. These formulations are composed by different excipients that provide pH and time-dependent deliveries such as cellulose (Metolose®) and methacrylic acid esters with quaternary ammonium groups (EUDRAGIT® RS 30D, EUDRAGIT® FS 30D and EUDRAGIT® NM 30D).
Theoretical and Experimental Investigations into Novel Oxynitride Discovery in the GaN-TiO2 System at High Pressure

We employed ab initio evolutionary algorithm USPEX to speed up the discovery of a novel oxynitride in the binary system of GaN-TiO2 using high-pressure synthesis. A 1:2 mixture of GaN and nanocrystalline TiO2 (anatase) was reacted under 1 GPa of pressure and at 1200 °C in a piston cylinder apparatus to produce a mixture of TiO2 (rutile) and an unknown phase. From the initial analysis of high resolution neutron and X-ray diffraction data, it is isomorphic with monoclinic V2GaO5 with a unit cell composition of Ga10Ti8O28N2 with the following parameters: monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 17.823(1) A, b = 2.9970(1) A, c = 9.4205(5) A, β = 98.446(3)°; Volume = 497.74(3) A3. Further, a joint rietveld refinement revealed two distinct regimes—A Ti-rich block and a Ga-rich block. The Ti-rich block consists of four edge-shared octahedra and contains a site which is about 60% occupied by N; this site is bonded to four Ti. The remainder of the block consists of edge linked Ti-octahedral chains linked to the TiN/TiO fragments at octahedral corners partially occupied by nitrogen. The Ga-block contains two symmetry independent octahedral sites, occupied mostly by Ga, and a pure Ga-centered tetrahedral site bonded mostly to oxygen.
The connection between Delta Scuti stars and close binary parameters

THESIS: The Connection between Delta Scuti Stars and Close Binary Parameters STUDENT: Garrison H. Turner DEGREE: Master of Science COLLEGE: Science and Humanities DATE: July, 2011 PAGES: 76 With recent advances in CCD technology, it has become possible to detect lowamplitude variability in stars. Thus, the number of low-amplitude variables has increased at an exceptional rate over the past decade. Many of these low-amplitude variables are pulsating stars such as Delta Scuti or Gamma Doradus stars, whose periods are on the orders of hours and days, respectively. One particular place where these variables are being found is in close binary systems. A close binary system has two components separated on the order of tens of solar radii and whose periods are on the order of days. Eclipsing binary systems occur when the orbital plane of the system is aligned such that the stars eclipse each other with respect to Earth’s line of sight. Soydugan et al. (2006) presented a paper in which a small number of eclipsing systems with a Delta Scuti-type pulsating component were analyzed. The group derived an observational relationship between the pulsation and orbital periods, thus indicating a physical phenomenon. The proposed project herein will seek to further determine whether there is a statistically significant relationship between the pulsation period and orbital parameters of close binary systems with a Delta Scuti-type pulsating component by searching for such pulsations in close binary systems using the method of high-precision CCD photometry.
Telomere‐associated chromosome breakage in fission yeast results in variegated expression of adjacent genes.

The sequence requirements for in vivo telomere function in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, have been investigated. A 258 bp tract of previously characterized cloned fission yeast terminal repeats adjacent to 800 bp of telomere‐associated sequences is sufficient to seed new telomeres onto linearized ars‐containing plasmids when introduced into cells. The resulting transformants contain unrearranged, acentric, linear episomes. Cloned telomeres, with and without telomere‐associated sequences adjacent to the 258 bp terminal repeats, were utilized to introduce chromosome breaks at specific sites in a non‐essential minichromosome. Truncated minichromosome derivatives were recovered containing the ura4 or ade6 gene adjacent to a newly formed telomere. These telomeres exert reversible position effects on the expression of the adjacent ura4 or ade6 genes.
Receding Horizon Voltage Control in LV Networks with Energy Storage

The ever-growing penetration of low carbon technologies is causing important modifications of standard power flow patterns in electricity distribution grids. As a consequence, low voltage networks are frequently experiencing over- and undervoltages, resulting in a poor voltage quality at customers' premises. In this context, energy storage is deemed a key technology to meet power quality requirements. In this paper, a voltage control algorithm based on a receding horizon scheme is developed to operate the energy storage systems deployed in a low voltage network. The proposed procedure requires few measurements to forecast the future state of the network and anticipate possible voltage problems. The algorithm is applied to real data from an Italian low voltage network, consisting of demand and generation profiles which determine over- and undervoltages in the absence of voltage control. The obtained results highlight the potential of the proposed approach to reduce the amount of voltage violations over time.
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOMERONASAL ORGAN IN RABBIT

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is the peripheral receptors, with the ability to detect pheromones, and so it has a role in social behavior, sexual reactions and reproduction. The aim of this study was to designing, categorize, define and demonstrate the normal explaining of the onset time of first appearance and origin as well as developmental changes of vomeronasal organ of the rabbit and its allied structures. This study was carried out on 116 rabbit embryos and fetuses of both sexes. The specimens were obtained, from 14 normal and apparently healthy adult female rabbits. At days (D) 9-11 of pregnancy the nasal placode was invaginated to form the nasal (olfactory) pits. The primordia of the VNO was formed at the ventromedial area of this nasal pit. At D13, the VNO appeared as bilateral un-differentiated epithelial thickenings of the rostroventral part of nasal septum. At D14, the dorsomedial part of the epithelium was about a twice as thick as its ventrolateral part. At D16the VNO opened into the nasal cavity the miniature VNO nerve fascicles were appeared. At D18, VNO immature glands appeared in the dorsolateral part of the VNO the chondral plate was differentiated into chondroblasts. The lumen of the VNO was extremely increased in wide and closed to be oval lumen. At D20, the rostral opening of VNO duct opened directly into the floor of nasal cavity. The medial wall was thicker and had about 8-10 layers of stratified columnar and the lateral one consisted of 3-4 pseudostratified columnar cell layer. At D22, the of acini of the VNO glands determined at the dorsal commissure of the VNO duct. At D28, the lumen was lined by a thick medial mucosa with stratified olfactory like epithelium and thin ventrolateral respiratory epithelium. Key words fetus; vomeronasal organ; nerve; glands; olfactory epithelium; respiratory epithelium
Static load-length characteristics of aortic strips from hypertensive rabbits.

Elevated threshold and reduced sensitivity of aortic baroreceptors in hypertensive rabbits (Aars 1968) might be due to changes in the aortic wall, which is known to become stiffer in chronic hypertension.Since resetting of baroreceptors was present when studied a few days after development of hypertension, the static load-length relationship of circular aortic strips from the receptor area was investigated in vitro.The strips from the hypertensive rabbits were thicker than normal when stretched by 3 g, and had higher elastic modulus than the strips from normal rabbits.Although not strictly comparable to in vivo conditions, the results suggest that at the same blood pressure, the aortic baroreceptors would be less stimulated in the hypertensive than in the normal rabbit, and that a given elevation of mean blood pressure would produce a greater increase of baroreceptor activity in the normal than in the hypertensive animal.Thus, the changes demonstrated in the aortic wall after 3–15 days of arterial hypertension may explain the resetting of aortic nerve activity in the hypertensive rabbits.
The use of surgery for the treatment of prolactinomas.

Success with trans-sphenoidal surgery for microprolactinomas is good (57 to 93% cure rate) but tumours can recur. Conversely, the results of surgery for macroprolactinomas are not so good (14 to 39% cure rate) and cure is rarely effected when plasma prolactin levels are > 10 U/l. Surgical therapy for prolactinoma should be reserved for patients with dopaminergic resistance or intolerance and complications (e.g. haemorrhage and rhinorrhoea) to dopamine agonist therapy. Trans-sphenoidal surgery was used to treat 11 microprolactinoma patients who had compliance problems to dopaminergic therapy. Postoperative plasma prolactin levels were normal in all patients. During follow-up (range 0.5 to 8 years, mean 3.9 years) six patients remained normoprolactinaemic, four patients developed slightly elevated plasma prolactin levels ( < 0.7 U/l), and one patient developed a macroadenoma resistant to bromocriptine and CV 205-502. He underwent a second operation, followed by radiotherapy and bromocriptine. His plasma prolactin was reduced to 3.3 U/l. One patient with a prolactinoma extending into the left cavernous sinus had a tumour cyst in the left temporal lobe. During treatment with CV 205-502 he developed a haemorrhage in the tumour cyst necessitating craniotomy.
ESTUDIO AMBIENTAL Y SOCIAL COMPARATIVO DEL BOSQUE HUMEDO EN BASE AL CAMBIO DE USO DE SUELO ENTRE LA HUASTECA POTOSINA, MÉXICO Y LA MATA ATLÁNTICA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL.

El objetivo de la presente investigacion es analizar y comparar los cambios de uso del suelo en los bosques humedos, tomando para ello dos sitios de estudio con caracteristicas geograficas y ambientales similares, la Huasteca Potosina en el estado de San Luis Potosi, Mexico y la region serrana, parte del Bosque del Atlantico en el estado de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, ambos sitios de estudio con una posicion geografica cercana a los tropicos de Cancer y Capricornio respectivamente y ambos sitios marcados culturalmente por las colonizaciones espanola y portuguesa. En la actualidad los bosques que en ellos se desarrollan se encuentran en un estado critico de conservacion, la demanda por recursos forestales, la ganaderia y la agricultura han sido las principales causas de ello, sin embargo estos no son los unicos problemas presentes; en la Huasteca Potosina, desde antes de la llegada de los espanoles se encuentran asentados grupos etnicos con un fuerte vinculo por la tierra, mismos que en la actualidad presentan graves problemas economicos asi como un gran rezago social. Por su parte en los municipios del Bosque del Atlantico, el proceso de deforestacion ha sido el resultado de actividades economicas primarias desarrolladas desde siglos atras, mismas en las que fueron empleados grupos etnicos actualmente casi extintos. Sin embargo dichas actividades han cedido su posicion como eje economico de la region a la industria y a la prestacion de servicios generando una mejora economica. Finalmente otro punto de interes es la normatividad de ambos sitios de estudio en donde es posible apreciar un gran contraste, ya que para el caso de Mexico aunque existen disposiciones normativas referentes al cambio de uso de suelo, estas se encuentran inmersas en distintas leyes y normas, mientras que en el caso de la Mata Atlantica estas son mas especificas como un ejemplo esta la “Ley No 11.428, proteccion de la vegetacion nativa de la Mata Atlantica”, instrumento por el cual se busca preservarla asi como regular los posibles usos que en ella se desarrollen a lo largo de todos los estados y municipios en que se encuentra inmersa.
Delayed Clearance of Ehrlichia chaffeensis Infection in CD4+ T-Cell Knockout Mice†

ABSTRACT Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia chaffeensis. To examine the role of helper T cells in host resistance to this macrophage-tropic bacterium, we assessed E. chaffeensis infections in three mouse strains with differing functional levels of helper T cells. Wild-type, C57BL/6J mice resolved infections in approximately 2 weeks. Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) knockout, B6.129-Abbtm1 mice lacking helper T cells developed persistent infections that were not resolved even after several months. CD4+ T-cell-deficient, B6.129S6-Cd4tm1Knw mice cleared the infection, but the clearance took 2 weeks longer than it did for wild-type mice. C57BL/6J mice resolved infection more rapidly following a second experimental challenge, but B6.129S6-Cd4tm1Knw mice did not. The B6.129S6-Cd4tm1Knw mice also developed active E. chaffeensis-specific immunoglobulin G responses that were slightly lower in concentration and slower to develop than that observed in C57BL/6J mice. E. chaffeensis-specific cytotoxic T cells were not detected following a single bacterial challenge in any mouse strain, including wild-type C57BL/6J mice. However, the cytotoxic T-cell activity developed in all three mouse strains, including the MHCII and CD4+ T-cell knockouts, when challenged with a second E. chaffeensis infection. The data reported here suggest that the cell-mediated immunity, orchestrated by CD4+ T cells is critical for conferring rapid clearance of E. chaffeensis.