Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiological alterations in a murine model of chronic coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis

Introduction Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is known to induce acute and chronic myocarditis. Most infections are clinically unapparent but some patients suffer from ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Studies showed that acute CVB3 infection may cause impaired function of cardiac ion channels, creating a proarrhythmic substrate. However, it is unknown whether low level CVB3+ expression in myocytes may cause altered cardiac electrophysiology leading to VA. Methods Cellular electrophysiology was used to analyze cellular action potentials (APs) and occurrence of afterdepolarizations from isolated cardiomyocytes of wildtype (WT) and transgenic CVB3ΔVP0 (CVB3+) mice. Further, we studied surface ECGs, monophasic APs, ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) and inducibility of VAs in Langendorff-perfused whole hearts. All used cardiomyocytes and whole hearts originated from male mice. Results Cellular action potential duration (APD) in WT and CVB3+ myocytes was unchanged. No difference in mean occurrence or amplitude of afterdepolarizations in WT and CVB3+ myocytes was found. Interestingly, resting membrane potential in CVB3+ myocytes was significantly hyperpolarized (WT: -90.0±2.2 mV, n = 7; CVB3+: -114.1±3.0 mV, n = 14; p<0.005). Consistently, in Langendorff-perfused hearts, APDs were also not different between WT and CVB3+ whole hearts. Within both groups, we found a heart rate dependent shortening of ADP90 with increasing heart rate in Langendorff-perfused hearts. VERP was significantly prolonged in CVB3+ hearts compared to WT (WT: 36.0±2.7 ms, n = 5; CVB3+: 47.0±2.0 ms, n = 7; p = 0.018). Resting heart rate (HR) in Langendorff-perfused hearts was not significantly different between both genotypes. Electrical pacing protocols induced no VA in WT and CVB3+ hearts. Conclusion In CVB3+ mice, prolonged ventricular refractoriness and hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials in presence of unchanged APD were observed, suggesting that low level CVB3 expression does not promote VA by altered cardiac electrophysiology in this type of chronic myocarditis. These findings may suggest that other mechanisms such as chronic myocardial inflammation or fibrosis may account for arrhythmias observed in patients with chronic enteroviral myocarditis.
La relation entre honoraires d'audit et honoraires de conseil des auditeurs dans un contexte post-SOX : Le cas suisse

En Suisse, la fourniture simultanee de prestations d'audit et d'activites de conseil par les auditeurs est toujours permise. Avant que la loi Sarbanes-Oxley n'interdise aux reviseurs americains la fourniture de services non lies a l'audit, plusieurs etudes ont montre l'existence d'une relation positive entre les honoraires d'audit et ceux des activites de conseil. Profitant de l'obligation recente faite aux societes suisses cotees en bourse de publier le detail des honoraires payes a leurs auditeurs, ce papier examine si cette relation est verifiee dans ce pays. Les resultats obtenus sont semblables a ceux releves aux Etats-Unis avant l'interdiction des activites accessoires, alors que les caracteristiques institutionnelles des deux pays different fondamentalement.
Tratamiento de la obesidad infantil: Factores pronósticos asociados a una respuesta favorable

Introduccion: La obesidad infantil es el principal desafio nutricional actual en Chile; aun no se consigue una disminucion de las tasas de obesidad y sobrepeso, tras diferentes intentos por definir estrategias terapeuticas a largo plazo. Objetivo: Analizar factores familiares, clinicos o personales que pudieran servir como predictores de exito terapeutico en el control ambulatorio del nino obeso. Sujetos y metodo: Se siguio prospectivamente entre Enero y Agosto 2000, a 88 pacientes obesos de ambos sexos de 9,9 ± 3,3 anos. Se realizo anamnesis general y nutricional, evaluacion antropometrica ajustada por Tanner, encuesta de actividad fisica e ingesta, se solicitaron examenes de laboratorio y se efectuo educacion nutricional, alternando controles mensuales, grupales e individuales por nutricionista y medico. Se efectuo analisis univariado de los datos relacionando variaciones porcentuales de P/T o IMC con variables personales, familiares, antropometricas, bioquimicas y de actividad. Resultados: 48% abandono el control antes de los 6 meses de seguimiento; de los que continuaban, 65% bajo de peso sobre 5% de su IMC o P/T inicial (34% del total). Se encontro hipercolesterolemia sobre 200 mg/dL en 15% de los ninos e hipertension (P.A. Sd sobre Pc 95) en 10%. Solo la edad menor a 5 anos presento mejor asociacion con baja porcentual de peso (-5,85% en menor de 5 anos; -4,5% entre 5-10 anos; -3,83% sobre los 10 anos (p = 0,07), sin obtenerse asociacion con otros factores estudiados: edad y educacion materna, sexo, peso al nacer, tipo de familia, apreciacion de obesidad y control espontaneo. Conclusiones: Este tratamiento de la obesidad infantil presenta una alta tasa de abandono y con un 34% de respuesta favorable. La edad de los ninos menor a 5 anos es la unica variable asociada a respuesta favorable en terminos de baja de peso.
A dense comparative gene map between human chromosome 19q13.3→q13.4 and a homologous segment of swine chromosome 6

The human chromosome (HSA)19q region has been shown to correspond to swine chromosome (SSC) 6q11→q21 by bi-directional chromosomal painting and gene mapping. However, since the precise correspondence has not been determined, 26 genes localized in HSA19q13.3→q13.4 were assigned to the SSC6 region mainly by radiation hybrid (RH) mapping, and additionally, by somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) mapping, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Out of the 26 genes, 24 were assigned to a swine RH map with LOD scores greater than 6 (threshold of significance). The most likely order of the 24 genes along SSC6 was calculated by CarthaGene, revealing that the order is essentially the same as that in HSA19q13.3→q13.4. For AURKC and RPS5 giving LOD scores not greater than 6, SCHP mapping and FISH were additionally performed; SCHP mapping assigned AURKC and RPS5 to SSC6q22→q23 and SSC6q21, respectively, which is consistent with the observation of FISH. Consequently, all the genes (26 genes) examined in the present study were shown to localize in SSC6q12→q23, and the order of the genes along the chromosomes was shown to be essentially the same in swine and human, though several intrachromosomal rearrangements were observed between the species.
A Four-Channel 32-Gb/s Transceiver With Current-Recycling Output Driver and On-Chip AC Coupling in 65-nm CMOS Process

This brief describes the design of a four-channel 32-Gb/s serial link transmitter with a current-recycling output driver and an on-chip ac-coupled receiver. The proposed output driver significantly reduces power dissipation in the final stage of the transmitter by reusing the natural current flow through the four-channel outputs. It also eliminates the voltage regulation circuit and the current source circuitry for generating low-swing outputs. Since the four-channel outputs are stacked from the ground to the supply rail with different common-mode output levels, the receiver should include an ac-coupling circuit to establish the desired common-mode voltage level for the receive amplifier in each channel. A long-time constant is realized in the ac-coupling circuit with small on-chip capacitors. The prototype chip has been fabricated in the 65-nm low-power CMOS process, and the transmitter supports an output swing of 300 mVpp, diff at a data rate of 8 Gb/s. The four stacked output drivers only consume a total static power of 1.8 mW, and the overall transceiver, including an equalization of 7 dB, exhibits a normalized power dissipation of 2.04 mW/Gb/s.
Tropical Soils and Food Security: The Next 50 Years

An appreciation of the dynamism of the links between soil resources and society provides a platform for examining food security over the next 50 years. Interventions to reverse declining trends in food security must recognize the variable resilience and sensitivity of major tropical soil types. In most agro-ecosystems, declining crop yield is exponentially related to loss of soil quality. For the majority smallholder (subsistence) farmers, investments to reverse degradation are primarily driven by private benefit, socially or financially. “Tragedy of the commons” scenarios can be averted by pragmatic local solutions that help farmers to help themselves.
Types of Collagen in Breast Capsules

Representative sections of the capsules that envelop surgically implanted silicone were analyzed for their collagen content. The specimens were biopsied (as incidental procedures) as the opportunities arose. All four classes of capsules as codified clinically and those surrounding tissue expanders are represented. The ages of the capsules ranged from 6 weeks to 13 years. Eighteen specimens were examined by slab gel electrophoresis. Type I collagen predominated in all of the electrophoretic patterns. Type III collagen was consistently present in lesser concentrations. Type V collagen was consistently present as a small fraction. There was no evident correlation between the concentrations of the component collagens and the clinically assessed class of the capsules or of those from around tissue expanders, but there was a correlation to the age of the capsules. The electrophoretic patterns of the collagens of this study are indistinguishable from the (previously reported) analyses of (cutaneous) scar.
Changes in Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis and in Expression of Bcl-2 Protein During Long-Term Culture of Thymic Lymphoma

Lymphomagenesis is a multistep process progressively freeing transformed thymocytes from external r egulatory signals, i.e. thymic developmental program controlling growth, differentiatio n or apoptosis. Here we report that cells of thymic lymphoma overexpressing Ras/Raf proteins, initially resistant t o TCR-dependent a poptosis but sensitive to dexamethasoneand etoposide-induced cell death, became insensitive to dexamethasone a fter long-time culture. That transition correlated with a strong increase in the expression o f the anti-apoptotic B cl-2 protein. Interestingly, lymphoma cells were still sensitive to p53-mediated apoptosi s induced by etoposide. It suggests that the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2 is correlated with a resistance to gluco corticoid-induced a poptosis but not to p53-mediated apoptosis. The sequence of mutations in the process of lymph omagenesis seems t o be composed of at least 3 main hits which equip the cells with independence from external mit ogenic signals (activation of Ras/Raf), resistance to inducers of apoptosis (activation of Bcl-2) and generation of cellular heterogeneity (deletion of p53) important in tumor progression.
Role of PUF‐8/PUF Protein in Stem Cell Control, Sperm‐Oocyte Decision and Cell Fate Reprogramming

Pumilio and FBF (PUF) proteins are conserved stem cell regulators that maintain germline stem cells (GSCs) in worms and flies. Moreover, they are also present in vertebrate stem cells. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has multiple PUF proteins with specialized roles. Among them, PUF‐8 protein controls multiple cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, sperm‐oocyte decision, and cell fate reprogramming, depending on the genetic context in the C. elegans germline. In this review, we describe the possible mechanisms of how PUF‐8 protein systematically controls multiple cellular processes in the C. elegans germline. Since PUF proteins are evolutionarily conserved, we suggest that a similar mechanism may be involved in controlling stem cell regulation and differentiation in other organisms, including humans. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1306–1311, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ciencias, sociologías e historias contingentes

Thomas Kuhn revolucionó la sociología de las ciencias con su concepto del «cambio de paradigma» (paradigm shift), que puso en duda la objetividad de las teorías científicas y las hizo cómplices de las ideologías dominantes de sus épocas (Kuhn 1978, 1979, 2006). Algo parecido ocurre con los intentos de analizar e interpretar la actualidad china y de proyectar su evolución futura –y las consecuencias para el resto del mundo. Si los marcos teóricos desarrollados en Euroamérica son objetivos y universales, deberían servir para analizar los fenómenos chinos. Si son contingentes, si sirven únicamente para analizar los fenómenos que son resultado de la historia y de la sociología euroamericanas, corren el riesgo de analizar los fenómenos chinos equivocadamente o de manera parcial e incompleta (o incluso de manera interesada y por lo tanto, sesgada) y de malinterpretarlos (con consecuencias potencialmente peligrosas).
Monitoring and Management of Anticoagulation in Children Requiring Extracorporeal Circulation

Pharmacologic manipulation of hemostasis is a prerequisite for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to prevent clot formation in the extracorporeal circuit. Children who require surgical correction of congenital heart defects are at increased risk for prolonged and excessive bleeding after separation from CPB. Heparin remains the anticoagulant of choice for surgery requiring CPB. Traditional regimens of empiric heparin dosing and a fixed-dose ratio of protamine to heparin for reversal of anticoagulation do not account for individual differences in the half-life of heparin, clearance of heparin, and duration of CPB, particularly in children. In addition, the use of prolongation of the activated clotting time (ACT) as a measure of adequate anticoagulation does not account for alterations in ACT by factors unrelated to heparin activity, including hemodilution and hypothermia, that are frequently present during CPB. This manuscript reviews the pitfalls in the management of anticoagulation for children undergoing surgery that requires CPB. Pertinent literature related to the use of aprotinin, a serine protease inhibitor that has been shown to improve hemostasis during and after CPB, is discussed. It is hoped that this article will provide a practical guideline for the rational management of anticoagulation in children with congenital heart disease undergoing CPB surgery.
Pathophysiologie des Vorhofflimmerns

In den vergangenen Jahren sind wesentliche neue Erkenntnisse zur Pathophysiologie des Vorhofflimmerns (VHF) gewonnen geworden. Untersuchungen konnten zeigen, dass VHF selbst elektrophysiologische Veranderungen im Vorhofgewebe induziert, die zur Aufrechterhaltung der Arrhythmie beitragen. Kardiale (ventrikulare) Grunderkrankungen fuhren uber Aktivierung des Angiotensin-II-Systems in den Vorhofen zur Fibrosebildung, wodurch ein „arrhythmogenes Substrat“ fur VHF entsteht. Die Wechselwirkungen zwischen diesen strukturellen und elektrischen Veranderungen (Remodeling) sind auserst komplex. Diese Ubersichtarbeit fasst die wesentlichen pathophysiologischen Aspekte des VHF zusammen, stellt – so dies moglich ist – einen Zusammenhang zu der kardialen Grunderkrankung her und zeigt hierdurch auch neue Strategien zur antiarrhythmischen Therapie auf.
Advancements in top-down proteomics.

Advancements in Top-Down Proteomics Hu Zhou, Zhibing Ning, Amanda E. Starr, Mohamed Abu-Farha, and Daniel Figeys* Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H8M5 Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China 201203 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman 15462, Kuwait
D-STATCOM applied to single-phase distribution networks: Modeling and control

This paper proposes a digital control system for a voltage-controlled D-STATCOM applied to single-phase low voltage distribution networks. This system is especially suited for long rural distribution lines with problems to comply with voltage levels standards. The voltage regulator consists of a single-phase voltage-source PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) inverter connected in parallel with the point of common coupling (PCC) through a second-order low-pass filter. The proposed control system is composed of three loops: an active damping loop, a control loop to regulate the PCC voltage and a dc bus voltage control loop. Experimental results are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed system.
Evaluación de la confiabilidad y la estructura factorial de tres escalas de procrastinación crónica

Este estudio explora la confiabilidad y estructura de tres escalas que evaluan la procrastinacion cronica: Escala de procrastinacion General (EPG, Lay, 1986) Inventario de Procrastinacion para adultos (IPA, McCown & Johnson como se cita en Ferrari, Johnson & McCown, 1995) y Escala de Procrastinacion en la Toma de Decisiones (PTD, Mann, 1982). La mustra estuvo compuesta por 514 adultos entre 20 y 65 anos de Lima Metropolitana. Las tres escalas mostraron altos niveles de consistencia interna y los analisis factoriales indicaron una solucion de tres factores para EPG e IPA y un solo factor para PTD. Un analisis factorial de segundo orden sugirio la existencia de un solo factor a la base de las agrupaciones de los itemes de las escalas EPG e IPA. No se observaron diferencias teoricamente relevantes en la procrastinacion cronica segun sexo, edad y nivel de instruccion, sin embargo, el estrato socio-economico indico mayores niveles de procrastinacion cronica en el sector mas pobre.
NKT Cell Stimulation with Glycolipid Antigen In Vivo: Costimulation-Dependent Expansion, Bim-Dependent Contraction, and Hyporesponsiveness to Further Antigenic Challenge1

Activation of NKT cells using the glycolipid α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) has availed many investigations into their immunoregulatory and therapeutic potential. However, it remains unclear how they respond to stimulation in vivo, which costimulatory pathways are important, and what factors (e.g., Ag availability and activation-induced cell death) limit their response. We have explored these questions in the context of an in vivo model of NKT cell dynamics spanning activation, population expansion, and subsequent contraction. Neither the B7/CD28 nor the CD40/CD40L costimulatory pathway was necessary for cytokine production by activated NKT cells, either early (2 h) or late (3 days) after initial stimulation, but both pathways were necessary for normal proliferative expansion of NKT cells in vivo. The proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim was necessary for normal contraction of the NKT cell population between days 3–9 after stimulation, suggesting that the pool size is regulated by apoptotic death, similar to that of conventional T cells. Ag availability was not the limiting factor for NKT cell expansion in vivo, and a second α-GalCer injection induced a very blunted response, whereby cytokine production was reduced and further expansion did not occur. This appeared to be a form of anergy that was intrinsic to NKT cells and was not associated with inhibitory NK receptor signaling. Furthermore, NKT cells from mice prechallenged with α-GalCer in vivo showed little cytokine production and reduced proliferation in vitro. In summary, this study significantly enhances our understanding of how NKT cells respond to primary and secondary antigenic challenge in vivo.
Water pricing: Analysis of differential impacts on heterogeneous farmers

European water policy requires all EU Member States to implement volumetric water pricing at rates that roughly cover the total costs of providing water services. The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology that will enable us to analyze the differential impact that a water pricing policy for irrigation would have on heterogeneous farmers of an irrigated area. For this purpose, multiattribute utility theory (MAUT) mathematical programming models were used. The methodology is implemented on a representative area in the Duero Valley in Spain. Our results show the usefulness of differential analysis in evaluating the impact of a water pricing policy. From them we observe significant differences in the evolution of agricultural incomes and estimate the cost recovery by the state, the demand for farm labor, and the consumption of agrochemicals resulting from the rise in water price between the various groups of farmers established within the analyzed irrigated area.
Extremes and Integrated Risk Management

Extremes and Integrated Risk Management -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS Introduction Paul Embrechts and The Bell Curve is Wrong: So What Paul Embrechts BASIC EXTREME VALUE THEORY 1 Extreme Value Theory for Risk Managers Alexander J. McNeil 2 Measuring Risk with Extreme Value Theory Richard L. Smith 3 Adaptive Threshold Selection in Tail Index Estimation Jan Beirlant and Gunther Matthys 4 Pitfalls and Opportunities in the Use of Extreme Value Theory in Risk Management Francis X. Diebold, Til Schuermann and John D. Stroughair 5 Modelling Multivariate Extremes Paul Embrechts, Laurens de Haan and Xin Huang RISK MEASURES AND EXTREME VALUE THEORY 6 Correlation: Pitfalls and Alternatives Paul Embrechts, Alex McNeil and Daniel Straumann 7 Thinking Coherently Philippe Artzner, Freddy Delbaen, Jean-Marc Eber and David Heath APPLICATIONS TO FINANCE 8 Value-at-Risk and Extreme Returns Jon Danielsson and Casper G. de Vries 9 Reading the Riskometer Alexander J. McNeil 10 Extreme Value Theory: An Empirical Analysis of Equity Risk John Gavin 11 From Value at Risk to Stress Testing: the Extreme Value Approach Fran? ois M. Longin 12 Is it Really Long Memory We See in Financial Returns? Catalin Starica and Thomas Mikosch 13 Multivariate Extremes for Foreign Exchange Data Catalin Starica 14 Spill-overs in Financial Markets Stefan Straetmans 15 Modelling and Measuring Operational Risk Marcelo Cruz, Rodney Coleman and Gerry Salkin APPLICATIONS TO INSURANCE 16 Extreme Value Statistics and Wind Storm Losses: A Case Study Holger Rootz? n and Nader Tajvidi 17 Bayesian Risk Analysis Richard L. Smith and Dougal Goodman 18 Developing Scenarios for Future Extreme Losses Using the POT Method Alexander J. McNeil and Thomas Saladin
Bilateral Gain-Compensated Negative Group Delay Circuit

We present a symmetric reciprocal (bilateral) gain-compensated negative group delay circuit, operating at 310 MHz and exhibiting a group delay of -0.5 ns. The circuit allows the conditionally stable gain-compensated propagation in both directions. The analytically predicted results are validated with frequency domain measurements, and stability is examined. Application of the circuit to a bilateral, gain-compensated constant phase shifter design is demonstrated.
Unzipping bird feathers

The bird feather vane can be separated into two parts by pulling the barbs apart. The original state can be re-established easily by lightly stroking through the feather. Hooklets responsible for holding vane barbs together are not damaged by multiple zipping and unzipping cycles. Because numerous microhooks keep the integrity of the feather, their properties are of great interest for understanding mechanics of the entire feather structure. This study was undertaken to estimate the separation force of single hooklets and their arrays using force measurement of an unzipping feather vane. The hooklets usually separate in some number synchronously (20 on average) with the highest observed separation force of 1.74 mN (average force 0.27 mN), whereas the single hooklet separation force was 14 μN. A simple numerical model was suggested for a better understanding of zipping and unzipping behaviour in feathers. The model demonstrates features similar to those observed in experiments.