Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of the T‐lymphocyte activation gene, F5, by mature neurons

F5 was first identified as an mRNA expressed by activated but not resting T‐lymphocytes. Subsequent studies suggested that it also is selectively expressed by mature neurons. Although the F5 protein coding sequence is highly conserved, the function of the F5‐encoded protein is unknown. The present studies were undertaken to define the anatomic distribution, cellular specificity, and developmental pattern of F5 mRNA expression in the mouse nervous system, addressing specifically the question of whether the expression pattern of F5 corresponds to that of known ligand‐receptor or signal‐transduction systems. The use of a nonradioactive in situ hybridization method and paraffin‐embedded sections provided excellent morphological preservation and a high degree of cellular resolution. F5 mRNA was detected in the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and retina in cells having the location and morphological features of neurons. Combined in situ hybridization histochemistry for F5 mRNA and immunofluorescence staining for cell‐specific markers confirmed that neurons expressed F5 mRNA but astrocytes did not. The neuronal expression of F5 mRNA had two interesting features. First, the level of expression appeared to correlate directly with the size of the neuronal perikarya, the length of the axonal projection, or the extent of dendritic arborization. Second, F5 mRNA appeared late in post‐natal development. These observations are of interest because of preliminary data suggesting that F5 may function as a substrate for protein kinase C, which demonstrates a similar expression pattern in the nervous system. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
'Malignant' middle cerebral artery territory infarction : Clinical course and prognostic signs

Background: Although the clinical features of space-occupying ischemic stroke are well known, there are limited prospective data on the clinical course of complete middle cerebral artery territory infarction and on the predisposing factors leading to subsequent herniation and brain death. Methods: The clinical course of patients with complete middle cerebral artery territory infarction, defined by computed tomography and vascular imaging, was evaluated. Initial clinical presentation was assessed by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale and the Glasgow Coma Scale. Serial computed tomography with measurement of midline and septum pellucidum shift and data on the presence and location of vascular occlusion by angiography or Doppler ultrasound were obtained directly after admission. Time course and outcome were analyzed with regard to the clinical findings on admission and at follow-up. The functional status of surviving patients was assessed using the Barthel Index. Results: Fifty-five patients with complete middle cerebral artery territory infarction caused by occlusion of either the distal intracranial carotid artery or the proximal middle cerebral artery trunk were studied. In all patients, embolic infarction was presumed. The mean Scandinavian Stroke Scale score on admission was 20, and the time course of deterioration varied between 2 and 5 days. Forty-nine patients required ventilator assistance during the acute stage of disease. Only 12 patients (22%) survived the infarct. The cause of death was transtentorial herniation with subsequent brain death in 43 patients. Survivors had a mean Barthel Index score of 60 (range, 45 to 70). Conclusions: The prognosis of complete middle cerebral artery territory stroke is very poor and can be estimated by early clinical and neuroradiological data within the first few hours after the onset of symptoms. A space-occupying mass effect develops rapidly and predictably over the initial 5 days after presentation. Herniation occurred as an end point in 43 (78%) of these patients.
The anticholinergic drug propiverine inhibits the protein kinase C activity in the rat urinary bladder.

UNLABELLED There is ample evidence that non-cholinergic protein kinase C (PKC) mediated signal transduction pathways are involved into regulation of bladder smooth muscle contractions. To evaluate whether the anticholinergic and calcium modulating drug propiverine exerts intracellular effects by inhibition of the PKC, male inbred LEW 1A rats were pretreated with 0.6, 2, 6 and 60 mg/kg body weight for 5 days. Furthermore, competition assays with partially purified PKC were performed with propiverine in vitro. The activities of the membrane-bound and soluble PKC were assessed by 32P enrichment of lysine-rich histone. RESULTS The active, membrane-bound PKC decreased by about 60% accompanied by increase of the soluble form after propiverine in doses above 0.6 mg/kg. 100 nM of the drug inhibited the PKC also in vitro whereas the propiverine metabolites M5 and M6 and atropine were without any effect. CONCLUSIONS Propiverine was identified to be an inhibitor of the protein kinase C. Its contribution to the noncholinergic control of hyperactive detrusor smooth muscle cells needs further investigation.
VLSI architecture for Rayleigh and Rician fading generators

In this paper, an architecture suitable for the VLSI implementation of mobile wireless communication channel (Rayleigh and Rician) emulator has been developed and its performance has been evaluated on FPGA platform. The emulator is based on mathematical model proposed by Xiao and Zheng for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. The proposed design models the mathematical model so as to make it suitable for VLSI implementation. The results obtained from the proposed FPGA implementation have been found satisfactory.
Automated Removal of EKG Artifact From EEG Data Using Independent Component Analysis and Continuous Wavelet Transformation

The electrical potential produced by the cardiac activity sometimes contaminates electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, resulting in spiky activities that are referred to as electrocardiographic (EKG) artifact. For a variety of reasons it is often desirable to automatically detect and remove these artifacts. Especially, for accurate source localization of epileptic spikes in an EEG recording from a patient with epilepsy, it is of great importance to remove any concurrent artifact. Due to similarities in morphology between the EKG artifacts and epileptic spikes, any automated artifact removal algorithm must have an extremely low false-positive rate in addition to a high detection rate. In this paper, an automated algorithm for removal of EKG artifact is proposed that satisfies such criteria. The proposed method, which uses combines independent component analysis and continuous wavelet transformation, uses both temporal and spatial characteristics of EKG related potentials to identify and remove the artifacts. The method outperforms algorithms that use general statistical features such as entropy and kurtosis for artifact rejection.
Perpetuities in Fair Leader Election Algorithms

We consider a broad class of fair leader election algorithms, and study the duration of contestants (the number of rounds a randomly selected contestant stays in the competition) and the overall cost of the algorithm. We give sufficient conditions for the duration to have a geometric limit distribution (a perpetuity built from Bernoulli random variables), and for the limiting distribution of the total cost (after suitable normalization) to be a perpetuity. For the duration, the proof is established via convergence (to 0) of the first-order Wasserstein distance from the geometric limit. For the normalized overall cost, the method of proof is also convergence of the first-order Wasserstein distance, augmented with an argument based on a contraction mapping in the first-order Wasserstein metric space to show that the limit approaches a unique fixed-point solution of a perpetuity distributional equation. The use of these two steps is commonly referred to as the contraction method.
Exploring the Balance between DNA Pressure and Capsid Stability in Herpesviruses and Phages

ABSTRACT We have recently shown in both herpesviruses and phages that packaged viral DNA creates a pressure of tens of atmospheres pushing against the interior capsid wall. For the first time, using differential scanning microcalorimetry, we directly measured the energy powering the release of pressurized DNA from the capsid. Furthermore, using a new calorimetric assay to accurately determine the temperature inducing DNA release, we found a direct influence of internal DNA pressure on the stability of the viral particle. We show that the balance of forces between the DNA pressure and capsid strength, required for DNA retention between rounds of infection, is conserved between evolutionarily diverse bacterial viruses (phages λ and P22), as well as a eukaryotic virus, human herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1). Our data also suggest that the portal vertex in these viruses is the weakest point in the overall capsid structure and presents the Achilles heel of the virus's stability. Comparison between these viral systems shows that viruses with higher DNA packing density (resulting in higher capsid pressure) have inherently stronger capsid structures, preventing spontaneous genome release prior to infection. This force balance is of key importance for viral survival and replication. Investigating the ways to disrupt this balance can lead to development of new mutation-resistant antivirals. IMPORTANCE A virus can generally be described as a nucleic acid genome contained within a protective protein shell, called the capsid. For many double-stranded DNA viruses, confinement of the large DNA molecule within the small protein capsid results in an energetically stressed DNA state exerting tens of atmospheres of pressures on the inner capsid wall. We show that stability of viral particles (which directly relates to infectivity) is strongly influenced by the state of the packaged genome. Using scanning calorimetry on a bacterial virus (phage λ) as an experimental model system, we investigated the thermodynamics of genome release associated with destabilizing the viral particle. Furthermore, we compare the influence of tight genome confinement on the relative stability for diverse bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. These comparisons reveal an evolutionarily conserved force balance between the capsid stability and the density of the packaged genome.
Preliminary analysis of a legged robot designed to climb vertical surfaces

This paper presents the kinematic analysis of a hexapod climbing robot relying on the use of dry adhesion. Kinematics equations are validated in both multi-body software simulation and robotic platform test. A particular trajectory of the legs, conceived to minimize force required to detach the robotic feet from a vertical wall, is proposed and tested. Further study is performed based on data acquired by forces exerted on the tip of each robotic leg during locomotion. Experimental results proved the correctness of kinematic analysis and its potential use for optimizing gait and adhesion features during wall climbing.
Human resources management and performance in the hotel industry: The role of the commitment and satisfaction of managers versus supervisors

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the effects of high-commitment human resources (HR) practices on organisational performance through the commitment and satisfaction of both managers and supervisors. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was carried out, based on the perceptions of 68 managers and 296 supervisors at four- and five-star hotels in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Findings The results obtained reveal that: high-commitment HR practices have a positive and significant effect on the commitment and satisfaction of both groups; managers’ commitment and satisfaction do not lead to improved organisational performance; however, supervisors’ commitment and satisfaction do lead to better economic results because of an improvement in customer results. Practical implications This research revealed that it is important for hotel companies to adopt high-commitment HR practices because these practices contribute to managers’ and supervisors’ affective connection to the company, leading them to feel positively satisfied with their jobs. In addition, hotels should focus on supervisors because they feel more customer-oriented and tend to stay longer in the company, which probably leads them to better meet the needs of customers, allowing hotels to obtain better economic results. Originality/value This study contributes to HR management in the hotel industry by obtaining the views of two key informants – managers and supervisors – about the implementation of HR practices and their own levels of commitment and satisfaction.
A Cascade Multilevel Inverter Using a Single Fuel Cell Stack DC Source

A method is presented showing that each phase of a three-phase cascade multilevel inverter can be implemented using only a single fuel cell stack and capacitors as the DC sources. Currently, each phase of three-phase cascade multilevel inverter requires n DC sources for 2n+1 levels. In this work, a scheme is proposed that allows the use of a single fuel cell stack as the first DC source (or the battery supplied by the fuel cell stack) with the remaining n − 1 DC sources being capacitors. It is shown that one can simultaneously maintain the DC voltage level of the capacitors and choose a fundamental frequency switching pattern to produce a nearly sinusoidal three-phase output. This scheme therefore provides the capability to produce higher voltages at higher speeds (where they are needed) with a fundamental switching scheme which has inherent low switching losses.
FOXO Transcription Factors as Regulators of Immune Homeostasis: Molecules to Die for?

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity has been demonstrated to be critical for correct lymphocyte function. The molecular targets of this lipid kinase have been the subject of extensive research, and many functional effects of PI3K activation are thought to be mediated by the serine-threonine kinase protein kinase B (PKB/c-akt). Genetic analyses in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans have identified a novel PI3K-regulated signaling pathway that regulates organism lifespan through inhibition of a Forkhead (FOX) transcription factor, DAF-16. Recent studies have subsequently revealed an evolutionarily conserved signaling module in higher eukaryotes in which PKB can directly phosphorylate and inactive a family of Forkhead box class O (FOXO) transcription factors. Phosphorylation results in nuclear exclusion and inhibition of transcription. FOXO transcription factors have been found to play critical roles in regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and control of oxidative stress. This occurs through both activation and repression of target gene expression by multiple mechanisms. Here the regulation and function of these transcription factors is discussed with specific relevance to immune homeostasis. A greater understanding of the regulation and function of this signaling pathway in lymphocytes may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for immune diseases.
Angiotensin II receptor 1 involved in the central pressor response induced by interleukin-1 beta in the paraventricular nucleus

Abstract Objective: To investigate the possible participation of angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1 receptor) in pressor response induced by IL-1β in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus. Methods: The experiments were performed on adult Wistar rats. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded during microinjection of different doses of IL-1β, IL-1β together with Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, or Ang II pre-treated with IL-1β into PVN. Rats microinjected with saline were served as controls in all experiments. Results: Microinjection of IL-1β (0.1 or 0.2 ng) resulted in increases in blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner, and the pressor effect caused by administration of IL-1β (0.2 ng) could be attenuated by pre-treatment with AT1 receptor antagonist (100 ng Losartan). A subpressor dose of IL-1β (0.05 ng) could augment the pressor response induced by microinjection of Ang II (10 ng). Discussion: The present results provide support that central infusion of IL-1β increases blood pressure and the pressor response requires stimulation of AT1 receptors. It is also shown that IL-1β has the effect of increasing the magnitude of pressor response induced by Ang II in PVN.
GH1-family 6-P-β-glucosidases from human microbiome lactic acid bacteria

The crystal structures of two 6-P-β-glucosidases from the GH1 family were determined in the apo form and in the presence of a 6′-P-salicin substrate, of the reaction product 6-P-β-glucose and of glucose corresponding to the aglycon molecule. The presence of natural ligands enabled the definition of the structural elements responsible for the recognition and hydrolysis of 6′-P-β-glucosides.
Effect of Meal Macronutrient and Energy Content on Human Performance

The effects of planned meals, varying in carbohydrate (CHO), fat and caloric content, on psychomotor performance by male subjects with unrestricted access to commercially-available foods was investigated in two residential studies. In the first study, two groups of three subjects (n = 6) completed psychomotor tasks before and after consuming a lunch consisting of 431 or 844 kcal, with caloric differences produced through covert changes in either fat or CHO content. The effects of each of four lunch conditions (low-fat, high-fat, low-CHO, high-CHO) were determined for three consecutive days. In the second study, two groups of three subjects (n = 6) received breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack and completed psychomotor tasks after breakfast and lunch. Cumulative caloric content of the three eating occasions was approximately 700, 1200 or 1700 kcal (low, medium or high), again with differences resulting from covert changes primarily in either fat or CHO content. The effects of each of six food conditions were determined for two consecutive days. While changes in some aspects of performance were altered after meals, the effects were not related to the CHO, fat or caloric content of the meal. When subjects have unrestricted access to commercially-available foods, neither calories nor the relative fat or CHO content of normal meals influence human psychomotor task performance.
Explaining International Differences in Economic Institutions: A Critique of the “National Business System” as an Analytical Tool

The dramatic growth of the newly industrializing countries of Asia in the 1970s and 1980s attracted increasing attention to the institutional factors that supported this growth (Zysman and Tyson, 1983). Popular explanations of these national "economic miracles" were often couched in terms of national culture. Some commentators went even further and attributed the rise of the Asian economies in general to "Asian values" common to all these countries. Morishima (1982), for example, focusing on Japan, identified the root of these values with the Confucian ethic. These cultural explanations have been challenged by those who criticize the way they ignore standard economic factors (see Gray and Lundan, 1993). The critics argue, for example, that an abundant supply of labor to manufacturing industry, driven by a massive shift of population from the countryside to the towns, was a major stimulus to the growth of labor-intensive assembly operations. Trade liberalization and falling international transport costs promoted exports by encouraging foreign multinationals to base offshore processing in Asian countries. High rates of domestic saving, coupled with progressive financial deregulation and increased capital mobility, allowed these investments to be financed at low interest rates. Hence, Asian growth, it is suggested, can be explained quite simply in terms of purely economic factors that is, according to the neoclassical production function, increased inputs of labor and capital, when
European collaborative study of early‐onset bipolar disorder: Evidence for genetic heterogeneity on 2q14 according to age at onset

Bipolar disorder has a genetic component, but the mode of inheritance remains unclear. A previous genome scan conducted in 70 European families led to detect eight regions linked to bipolar disease. Here, we present an investigation of whether the phenotypic heterogeneity of the disorder corresponds to genetic heterogeneity in these regions using additional markers and an extended sample of families. The MLS statistic was used for linkage analyses. The predivided sample test and the maximum likelihood binomial methods were used to test genetic homogeneity between early‐onset bipolar type I (cut‐off of 22 years) and other types of the disorder (later onset of bipolar type I and early‐onset bipolar type II), using a total of 138 independent bipolar‐affected sib‐pairs. Analysis of the extended sample of families supports linkage in four regions (2q14, 3p14, 16p23, and 20p12) of the eight regions of linkage suggested by our previous genome scan. Heterogeneity testing revealed genetic heterogeneity between early and late‐onset bipolar type I in the 2q14 region (P = 0.0001). Only the early form of the bipolar disorder but not the late form appeared to be linked to this region. This region may therefore include a genetic factor either specifically involved in the early‐onset bipolar type I or only influencing the age at onset (AAO). Our findings illustrate that stratification according to AAO may be valuable for the identification of genetic vulnerability polymorphisms. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Issues and Prospects of microRNA-Based Biomarkers in Blood and Other Body Fluids

Cell-free circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood are good diagnostic biomarker candidates for various physiopathological conditions, including cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes and other diseases. Since their discovery in 2008 as blood biomarkers, the field has expanded rapidly with a number of important findings. Despite the initial optimistic views of their potential for clinical application, there are currently no circulating miRNA-based diagnostics in use. In this article, we review the status of circulating miRNAs, examine different analytical approaches, and address some of the challenges and opportunities.
On the Asymptotic Capacity of Dual-Aperture FSO Systems With Generalized Pointing Error Model

Free-space optical (FSO) communication systems are negatively affected by two physical phenomenon, namely, scintillation due to atmospheric turbulence and pointing errors. To quantify the effect of these two factors on FSO system performance, we need an effective mathematical model for them. In this paper, we propose and study a generalized pointing error model based on the Beckmann distribution. We then derive a generic expression of the asymptotic capacity of FSO systems under the joint impact of turbulence and generalized pointing error impairments. Finally, the asymptotic channel capacity formula is extended to quantify the FSO systems performance with selection and switched-and-stay diversity.