Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nouvelles méthodes d'analyse de stabilité intégrées à la C. A. O : des circuits monolithiques micro-ondes non linéaires

Le theme essentiel de cette these concerne l'analyse de la stabilite lineaire et non lineaire des circuits electroniques et plus particulierement des circuits monolithiques microondes. L'objectif de ce travail consiste a etablir un formalisme de stabilite rigoureux susceptible de s'adapter a n'importe quel environnement c. A. O. De conception. Le formalisme se base sur la transposition des principes de stabilite lies a l'automatique dans le domaine specifique des microondes. La generalisation du principe de retour de niveau dans les conditions d'equilibrage permet de resoudre les problemes de conditionnement du determinant (lies au formalisme conventionnel de stabilite). Le formalisme a ete defini theoriquement puis implante dans l'environnement c. A. O. De libra et mds. Il permet l'etude de stabilite d'un point de polarisation quelconque et celle d'un regime grand signal rf pour des circuits complexes, autonomes ou non-autonomes. L'etude et la caracterisation experimentale de circuits mmics complexes et varies ont permis de valider cette methodologie dans le domaine lineaire, oscillateur en anneau, amplificateur bande c, amplificateur large bande et non lineaire : transistor multi-doigts, amplificateur bande ku, oscillateur controle en tension.
Influence of G-protein β-Polypeptide 3 C825T Polymorphism on Antihypertensive Response to Telmisartan and Amlodipine in Chinese Patients

Background:G-protein &bgr;-polypeptide 3 (GNB3) is a &bgr; subunit isoform of G-protein that plays important role in signal transduction of membrane G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The GNB3 splice variant C825T (rs5443) is associated with risk for essential hypertension (EH) and efficacy of therapeutic drugs targeting GPCRs. It is unknown whether the polymorphism is associated with blood pressure (BP) response to telmisartan or amlodipine, two widely prescribed antihypertensive drugs. Methods:A total of 93 subjects initially diagnosed as EH were recruited and underwent a 4-week treatment with telmisartan (42 patients) or amlodipine (51 patients) monotherapy. Both baseline and after-treatment BP were measured. GNB3 C825T polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results:Baseline systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were comparable among C825T genotypes in both telmisartan and amlodipine treatment groups. Patients with the CT or TT genotypes showed significantly lower body mass index (BMI) as compared with CC homozygotes in both groups (P < 0.05, respectively). GNB3 825TT homozygotes showed significantly higher after-treatment DBP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) than those carrying at least one 825C allele (P < 0.01) in the telmisartan treatment group. No difference in after-treatment SBP, DBP, and MAP levels among C825T genotypes was observed in the amlodipine treatment group. No significant difference in absolute changes in BP levels was observed among the genotypes in either treatment group. Conclusion:The GNB3 C825T splice variant is associated with the DBP-lowering effect of telmisartan but not amlodipine in Chinese EH patients.
Role of a ribosomal RNA phosphate oxygen during the EF-G–triggered GTP hydrolysis

Significance Translational GTPases are key players in ribosomal protein synthesis. Their intrinsic GTPase activity is low and is stimulated by ribosome association. Although it has been shown by structural and biochemical studies that the sarcin-ricin loop of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) closely approaches the supposedly catalytic His of elongation factor (EF)-G and EF-Tu and thereby may contribute to GTP hydrolysis, the exact mechanism of activation remains unclear and is a matter of controversial debate. Using the atomic mutagenesis approach that allows incorporation of nonnatural 23S rRNA nucleotides into 70S particles, we show that a nonbridging phosphate oxygen of rRNA is key for GTP hydrolysis of translational GTPases. To date, this is only the second rRNA backbone residue shown to be critical in ribosome function. Elongation factor-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis is a key reaction during the ribosomal elongation cycle. Recent crystal structures of G proteins, such as elongation factor G (EF-G) bound to the ribosome, as well as many biochemical studies, provide evidence that the direct interaction of translational GTPases (trGTPases) with the sarcin-ricin loop (SRL) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is pivotal for hydrolysis. However, the precise mechanism remains elusive and is intensively debated. Based on the close proximity of the phosphate oxygen of A2662 of the SRL to the supposedly catalytic histidine of EF-G (His87), we probed this interaction by an atomic mutagenesis approach. We individually replaced either of the two nonbridging phosphate oxygens at A2662 with a methyl group by the introduction of a methylphosphonate instead of the natural phosphate in fully functional, reconstituted bacterial ribosomes. Our major finding was that only one of the two resulting diastereomers, the SP methylphosphonate, was compatible with efficient GTPase activation on EF-G. The same trend was observed for a second trGTPase, namely EF4 (LepA). In addition, we provide evidence that the negative charge of the A2662 phosphate group must be retained for uncompromised activity in GTP hydrolysis. In summary, our data strongly corroborate that the nonbridging proSP phosphate oxygen at the A2662 of the SRL is critically involved in the activation of GTP hydrolysis. A mechanistic scenario is supported in which positioning of the catalytically active, protonated His87 through electrostatic interactions with the A2662 phosphate group and H-bond networks are key features of ribosome-triggered activation of trGTPases.
Exploring three-year-old children in a primary child health care situation

In the Swedish Primary Child Health Care (PCHC) children participate in regular health visits. In these visits children as actors demonstrate their subjective maturity through bodily and verbal expressions. The aim of this study was to explore three-year-old children’s expressions when they take part as actors in a PCHC situation. An explorative design with a hermeneutic approach and video observations was used. Twenty-nine children participated. The findings exhibit a variation of expressions in the situation conceptualized as actions in a progression of states: from a state of getting ready to a state of being ready and further to a state where the child strengthens their own self. This progression is dynamic and coloured with the states of not being ready or of being adverse. The conceptualization of children’s expressions can contribute towards encouraging nurses’ sensitivity when inviting and guiding children in PCHC situations.
Clinical islet transplantation: where immunity and metabolism intersect?

Purpose of review The dramatic results of the Edmonton Protocol in 2000 triggered tremendous excitement over the application of pancreatic islet transplantation as a viable approach to achieving consistent insulin independence in type 1 diabetic patients. However, this optimism in the field was tempered by follow-up studies showing frequent attrition of graft function commonly requiring a return to exogenous insulin therapy within 1–3 years after transplant. The purpose of this review is to put these initial studies in perspective and to highlight progress and challenges in this important field. Recent findings Recent clinical and experimental findings demonstrate a progressive improvement in the function and durability of islet allografts. Induction therapies targeting T lymphocytes and costimulatory pathways have been highly effective at promoting islet transplant function. It is also apparent that islet injury associated with metabolic distress provides a nonimmune barrier to islet transplant outcomes. Summary Newer therapeutic interventions show great promise for attenuating the adaptive immune response to islet allografts. Also, clarifying the mechanisms of metabolic-related tissue distress may provide additional potential targets for improving islet graft outcomes.
International migration and development in mexican communities

The theoretical and empirical literature generally regards international migration as producing a cycle of dependency and stunted development in sending communities. Most migrants’ earnings are spent on consumption; few funds are channeled into productive investment. We argue that this view is misleading because it ignores the conditions under which productive investment is likely to be possible and profitable. We analyze the determinants of migrants’ savings and remittance decisions, using variables defined at the individual, household, community, and macroeconomic levels. We identify the conditions under which U.S. earnings are repatriated to Mexico as remittances and savings, and indicate the factors leading to their productive investment.
Three-wire investigation of a hybrid power filter with four-switch structure applied to the attenuation of 5th and 7th harmonics with reduced inverter power rating

This paper studies a hybrid filter formed by a single tuned LC filter per phase and a small-rated three-phase active filter, which are directly connected in series without any matching transformer. The required rating of the active filter is much smaller than that of a conventional standalone active filter would be and it comprises a four-switch H-bridge inverter connected to the three-wire system. The analytical procedure is verified by simulation results to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
On the renal basis for essential hypertension: nephron heterogeneity with discordant renin secretion and sodium excretion causing a hypertensive vasoconstriction-volume relationship.

We propose herein that there are two functionally abnormal nephron populations in essential hypertension: (1) a group of ischemic nephrons with impaired sodium excretion which chronically hypersecrete renin. Numerically, these ischemic nephrons comprise a minor subgroup since most patients with essential hypertension exhibit no overt evidence of renal insufficiency. (2) In reaction to this, a more numerous group of normal nephrons appears in adaptive hypernatriuresis. They have an increased distal sodium supply and consequently, a chronically suppressed renin secretion. One difference between patients with renovascular hypertension and those with essential hypertension is the intermingling of these two populations of nephrons. In our hypothesis, the adapting hyperfiltering normal nephrons accomplish the hypernatriuresis in response to saline infusion, that is characteristic of all essential hypertension. However, the unsuppressed secretion of renin, that arises from the ischemic nephron population attenuates this compensatory natriuresis in the following ways: (1) by inappropriately acting on the hyperfiltering nephrons to enhance proximal tubular sodium reabsorption; (2) by activating TGF-mediated afferent constriction in these nephrons, and (3) simultaneously, the reactive secretion of renin from ischemic nephrons is diluted by non-participation of the adapting hypernatriuretic nephrons so that plasma renin settles at a level which is insufficient to fully compensate GFR in the ischemic nephrons. These adaptive responses provide a basis for the observation that the inhibition of renin activity with converting enzyme inhibitors in essential hypertension increases renal blood flow and sodium excretion. They also explain why converting enzyme inhibitors can effectively reduce blood pressure, even when renin levels are not absolutely elevated, since any circulating renin imposed upon the adapting hypernatriuretic nephrons inappropriately impairs their sodium excretion. In addition, the theory explains why basal renin secretion is either not suppressed or inadequately suppressed in patients with essential hypertension. As a result, whole kidney homeostatic function is compromised because individual nephrons are responding to their individual stimuli to fulfil their individual need, rather than acting in concert with other nephrons. The net effect of this uncoordinated response is to shift total renal function so that systemic arterial hypertension is sustained by abnormal sodium retention for the inappropriately high plasma renin level, or vice versa. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Dealcoholized Red Wine Decreases Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure and Increases Plasma Nitric Oxide: Short Communication

Rationale: Experimental studies have shown a potential blood pressure (BP) lowering effect of red wine polyphenols, whereas the effects of ethanol and polyphenols on BP in humans are not yet clear. Objective: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of red wine fractions (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) on BP and plasma nitric oxide (NO) in subjects at high cardiovascular risk. Methods and Results: Sixty-seven men at high cardiovascular risk were studied. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomized into 3 treatment periods in a crossover clinical trial, with a common background diet plus red wine (30g alcohol/day), the equivalent amount of dealcoholized red wine, or gin (30g alcohol/day), lasting 4 weeks each intervention. At baseline and after each intervention, anthropometrical parameters, BP and plasma NO were measured. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly after the dealcoholized red wine intervention and these changes correlated with increases in plasma NO. Conclusions: Dealcoholized red wine decreases systolic and diastolic BP. Our results point out through an NO-mediated mechanism. The daily consumption of dealcoholized red wine could be useful for the prevention of low to moderate hypertension. Trial registered at controlled-trials.com: ISRCTN88720134.
Absence of direction-specific cross-modal visual-auditory adaptation in motion-onset ERPs

1 Department of Experimental Audiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany 2 Department of Cognitive Psychology, Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany 3 Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Aging Research Group, Dortmund, Germany 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Visual Processing Laboratory, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany 5 Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
Regulation of Trigeminal Respiratory Motor Activity in the Brainstem

The trigeminal motor system participates in the control of respiration as well as suckling and mastication. However, the central mechanism underlying respiratory activity in trigeminal motoneurons is not well-understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate brainstem circuitry for rhythm generation and signal transmission of trigeminal respiratory activity in in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-spinal cord preparations. We further examined the role of midline-crossing trigeminal interneurons in the bilateral synchronization of respiratory and suckling activity in trigeminal motor nerves. The results of brainstem-sectioning experiments indicated that respiratory rhythms were generated in the medulla and ipsilaterally transmitted to trigeminal motoneurons in the pons. We conclude that the trigeminal motor system, as well as the hypoglossal and phrenic motor system, is regulated by medullary respiratory networks, and that pontine interactions between bilateral trigeminal interneurons are not critical for the generation or synchronization of trigeminal respiratory activity, but are crucial for trigeminal suckling activity.
Afferent pathways and efferent mechanisms in the bladder viscero-vascular reflex.

The afferent and efferent limbs of the bladder viscero-vascular reflex have been studied in cats under chloralose anaesthesia. The maximum change in arterial blood pressure in response to applied tension was obtained from the region of the trigone and bladder neck; lesser responses were obtained from all other regions of the bladder. The response to rapid bladder filling was little affectecd by hypogastric nerve section. Although it was much reduced after section of sacral posterior roots, it was not abolished until higher posterior roots had also been cut, sometimes Up to T 10. In the presence of an intact nervous system, during the early stages of slow bladder filling hind limb vasoconstriction occurred, but there was compensatory limb vasodilation and bradycardia so that no change in blood pressure occurred. Later in the course of filling changes in blood pressure occurred and were associated with vasoconstriction in fore as well as hind limbs and subsequently tachycardia. Occasionally with extreme distension cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular or nodlal extra systoles, appeared. There was less compensation when filling was faster, and no compensation after baroreceptor denervation. Cardiac denervation abolished the changes in heart rate, but the circulatory changes in the limbs were unaffected. It is concluded that bladder viscero-vascular reflexes are initiated mainly by tension changes in the region of the trigone and bladder neck; the afferent path can be either the hypogastric or pelvic splanchnic nerves, although the predominant route is the latter; and in the presence of intact baroreceptor reflexes, changes in the circulation occur early and before any alteration in the arterial blood pressure.
Aprendizado automático de relações semânticas entre tags de folksonomias.

As folksonomias tem despontado como ferramentas uteis de gerenciamento online de conteudo digital. A exemplo dos populares websites Delicious, Flickr e BibSonomy, diariamente os usuarios utilizam esses sistemas para efetuar upload de recursos web (e.g., url, fotos, videos e referencias bibliograﬁcas) e categoriza-los por meio de tags. A ausencia de relacoes semânticas do tipo sinonimia e hiperonimia/hiponimia no espaco de tags das folksonomias reduz a capacidade do usuario de encontrar recursos relevantes. Para mitigar esse problema, muitos trabalhos de pesquisa se apoiam na aplicacao de medidas de similaridade para deteccao de sinonimia e construcao automatica de hierarquias de tags por meio de algoritmos heuristicos. Nesta tese de doutorado, o problema de deteccao de sinonimia e hiperonimia/hiponimia entre pares de tags e modelado como um problema de classiﬁcacao em Aprendizado de Maquina. A partir da literatura, varias medidas de similaridade consideradas boas indicadoras de sinonimia e hiperonimia/hiponimia foram identiﬁcadas e empregadas como atributos de aprendizagem. A incidencia de um severo desbalanceamento e sobreposicao de classes motivou a investigacao de tecnicas de balanceamento para superar ambos os problemas. Resultados experimentais usando dados reais das folksonomias BibSonomy e Delicious mostraram que a abordagem proposta denominada CPDST supera em termos de acuracia o baseline de melhor desempenho nas tarefas de deteccao de sinonimia e hiperonimia/hiponimia. Tambem, aplicou-se a abordagem CPDST no contexto de geracao de listas de tags semanticamente relacionadas, com o intuito de prover acesso a recursos adicionais anotados com outros conceitos pertencentes ao dominio da busca. Alem da abordagem CPDST, foram propostos dois algoritmos fundamentados no acesso ao WordNet e ConceptNet para sugestao de listas especializadas com tags sinonimas e hiponimas. O resultado de uma avaliacao quantitativa demonstrou que a abordagem CPDST prove listas de tags relevantes em relacao as listas providas pelos metodos comparados.
Clustering with Minicolumnar Receptive Field Self-Organization c � 2004

We study clustering, i.e., unsupervised data classification, by a model of the cortical macrocolumn. Continuous valued input vectors are encoded using a population place code. The macrocolumn model self-organizes its minicolumnar receptive fields (RFs) such that the input is hierarchically subdivided into increasingly finer classes. If input superpositions are used for training, the system is able to find an appropriate classification of the input and a suitable representation of input superpositions. Together with fast reaction times the model satisfies major requirements of biological information processing and distinguishes itself from other suggested models of continuous value processing in biological neural networks.
Sensory Assessment of Regional Analgesia in Humans: A Review of Methods and Applications

SENSORY assessment of regional analgesia is performed routinely for clinical purposes and also plays an important role in anesthesia and pain research. In the past years, new methods were developed and old methods were improved. Technological progress has allowed a more reliable delivery of different stimulation patterns and more advanced recordings of physiologic parameters related to nociceptive processing and modulation. Important developments include methods that explore the activation of different nerve fibers, models that activate specific spinal cord mechanisms (such as temporal summation), and methods that evaluate muscle and visceral pain. As a result of this new knowledge, the application of sensory testing of regional analgesia in humans must be redetermined. New indications of the use of these methods then can be provided. In the current article, we update the knowledge available in the field of sensory assessment of regional analgesia in humans. The aims are as follows: (1) to describe and analyze the methods, (2) to define the applications, (3) to provide evidence-based indications for the use of these methods in anesthesia and pain research, and (4) to define areas in which further research is needed.
Requirement of arginine for the replication of herpes virus.

Summary Arginine in the medium was essential for the replication of herpes simplex virus in RK13 cells. Virus adsorption, penetration and eclipse were not affected. When the medium of arginine-deficient infected cultures was exchanged for complete medium, virus growth resumed with the appearance of a near-synchronous infection. Resumption of virus growth was immediate if the exchange was made in the first 7 days, but if it was later a delay resulted which increased as the duration of deprivation increased. A threshold concentration of arginine was found for herpes virus growth. Virus yield was increased when the arginine concentration was raised over a limited range, but further addition of arginine did not continue to improve the yield. Undialysed calf serum could not be substituted successfully for arginine in herpes virus replication, although it supported cell growth and the replication of vaccinia and coxsackie B3 viruses.
Exciton dynamics in InxGa1-xAs/GaAs quantum-well heterostructures: Competition between capture and thermal emission.

In a carefully selected set of strained ${\mathrm{In}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As/GaAs quantum-well structures, we have studied experimentally and theoretically the competition between carrier collection from the GaAs barrier into the quantum wells and the inverse process, the thermal activated emission out of the wells into the barrier. Analyzing the temperature dependence of time-integrated photoluminescence measurements, we found excitons or electron-hole pairs to be emitted out of the well. A different sample geometry is used to demonstrate the importance of the barrier properties in the equilibrium of capture and thermal emission. Time-resolved experiments allow the determination of the typical time constants, namely the radiative and the nonradiative recombination lifetime as well as the emission time. A hydrodynamic model, including the diffusion in the barrier and the carrier capture and emission via LO phonons, was developed for a quantitative description of our experiments. With use of the experimental time constants, an excellent agreement between the time-integrated experiments and theory was found, giving evidence of the applicability of our model.