Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Increases the Efficacy of a Topical Formulation of Foscarnet against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Cutaneous Lesions in Mice

ABSTRACT The influence of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) on the efficacies of topical gel formulations of foscarnet against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) cutaneous infection has been evaluated in mice. A single application of the gel formulation containing 3% foscarnet given 24 h postinfection exerted only a modest effect on the development of herpetic skin lesions. Of prime interest, the addition of 5% SLS to this gel formulation markedly reduced the mean lesion score. The improved efficacy of the foscarnet formulation containing SLS could be attributed to an increased penetration of the antiviral agent into the epidermis. In vitro, SLS decreased in a concentration-dependent manner the infectivities of herpesviruses for Vero cells. SLS also inhibited the HSV-1 strain F-induced cytopathic effect. Combinations of foscarnet and SLS resulted in subsynergistic to subantagonistic effects, depending on the concentration used. Foscarnet in phosphate-buffered saline decreased in a dose-dependent manner the viability of cultured human skin fibroblasts. This toxic effect was markedly decreased when foscarnet was incorporated into the polymer matrix. The presence of SLS in the gel formulations did not alter the viabilities of these cells. The use of gel formulations containing foscarnet and SLS could represent an attractive approach to the treatment of herpetic mucocutaneous lesions, especially those caused by acyclovir-resistant strains.
Proposal on Multi agent Ants based Routing Algorithm for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Summary: Single path routing protocol, known as Ad Hoc On-demand Distance Vector, has been widely studied for mobile ad hoc networks. AODV needs a new route discovery whenever a path breaks. Such frequent route discoveries cause route discovery latency. To avoid such inefficiency, in this paper we present Multi agent Ants based Routing Algorithm (MARA), a new algorithm for routing in mobile ad hoc networks. The proposed hybrid protocol reduces route discovery latency and the end-toend delay by providing high connectivity without requiring much of the scarce network capacity. Multi agent Ants based Routing Algorithm (MARA), is based on ideas from Ant Colony Optimization with Multi agent systems technique. In simulation tests we show that Multi agent Ants based Routing Algorithm (MARA), can outperform AODV, one of the most important current state-of-the-art algorithms, both in terms of end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio.
Do emissions from ships have a significant impact on concentrations of nitrogen oxides in the marine boundary layer?

The potential impact of ship emissions on concentrations of nitrogen oxides and reactive nitrogen compounds in the marine boundary layer is assessed using a global chemical transport model. The model predicts significant enhancements of these compounds over large regions, especially over the northern midlatitude oceans. This result is consistent with a recently published study, though the impacts predicted here are more widespread and the peak enhancements are not as large. However, comparisons of model results with recent measurements over the central North Atlantic Ocean do not provide support for these model predictions. While one cannot completely overlook the possibility that emissions of nitrogen oxides from ships may be overestimated, our analysis suggests that there may be a gap in our understanding of the chemical evolution of ship plumes as they mix into the background atmosphere in the marine boundary layer. On a related note, it is also possible that the overestimate of the impacts of ships on nitrogen oxides in the marine boundary layer by global models is due to the lack of parameterized representations of plume dynamics and chemistry in these models.
A Prospective Comparison Study of MRI versus Small Bowel Follow-Through in Recurrent Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND:We aimed to determine the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with small bowel follow-through (SBFT) in the assessment of known Crohn's disease.METHODS:Subjects, over age 18 yr who were to undergo SBFT investigations to assess for complications or extent of Crohn's disease were eligible. SBFT was performed by a single radiologist (IB), and within 4 wk MRI was performed by a single radiologist (HG) who was blinded to the SBFT results. For MRI, oral contrast was 2% barium sulfate (1,350 mL). After unenhanced T1 weighted images and single shot fast spin echo T2 imaging, intravenous (IV) glucagon and gadolinium were given. Fast multiplanar spoiled-gradient recalled T1 coronal sequences were obtained followed by abdominal and pelvic axial images. MRI and SBFT were compared for extent of disease, presence of complications, and for identification of extraintestinal disease.RESULTS:Paired studies were undertaken within a mean of 22 days in 30 subjects. Ten studies were normal by both modalities and 8 studies showed similar extent of Crohn's disease. SBFT revealed additional information in 4, including a stricture in 1 and ileosigmoid fistulas in 2. MRI provided enhanced information in 8, including identifying active inflammation in strictured areas based on wall enhancement patterns, vasa recta changes, and lymphadenopathy.CONCLUSIONS:On the basis of cost and accessibility, SBFT may still be a first line procedure of choice in some centers without MRI, but MRI's advantages of no radiation and the potential to identify active inflammation in strictured areas, extraintestinal, and colorectal disease make it an attractive alternative.
Land Rights Insecurity and Temporary Migration in Rural China

Like most other developing countries, China experiences huge migration outflows from rural areas. Their most striking characteristic is a high geographical and temporal mobility. Rural migrants keep going back and forth between origin villages and destination areas. In this paper, we show that this temporary feature of migration can be linked to land rights insecurity. As village land ownership remains collective and as land use rights can be periodically reallocated, individual out-migration can result in deprivation of those rights. Moreover, the intensity of this insecurity varies according to the village-level management of land and the contractual status of land plots. We use these variations to identify the effect of land rights insecurity on migration behavior. Empirical results based on representative 2002 rural data demonstrate substantial impact.
Transforming managerial practice: Beyond the achiever stage

This paper provides new evidence to support the link between adult developmental theory and the capacities leaders need to transform organizations. Interviews with seventeen managers and professionals, ten of whom were measured in the relatively rare Strategist developmental stage, confirm that the personal capabilities associated with this stage are especially relevant to the exercise of transformational leadership, that is, leadership resulting in second order organizational change. Developmental theory is introduced in relation to the individual's readiness to undertake transformational leadership. Illustrations from the work experiences of the Strategists, compared with the others, are used as a basis for eleven hypotheses about the Strategists' work styles (1) in leading subordinates, (2) in working with their superiors, and (3) in forming and implementing action initiatives. Implications are suggested for managerial and organizational development. Research in Organizational Change and Development, Volume 5, pages 143-173. Copyright © 1991 by JAI Press Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. ISBN: 1-55938-250-3
MrgX Is Not Essential for Cell Growth and Development in the Mouse

ABSTRACT MRGX is one of the members of MORF4/MRG family of transcriptional regulators, which are involved in cell growth regulation and cellular senescence. We have shown that MRGX and MRG15 associate with Rb in nucleoprotein complexes and regulate B-myb promoter activity. To elucidate the functions of MRGX and to explore its potential role in modulating cell growth in vivo, we have generated MrgX-deficient mice. Characterization of the expression pattern of mouse MrgX demonstrated it was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues of adult mice and also during embryogenesis and overlapped with its homolog Mrg15. MRGX and MRG15 proteins localize predominantly to the chromatin fraction in the nucleus, although a small amount of both proteins localized to the nuclear matrix. Whereas disruption of Mrg15 results in embryonic lethality, absence of MrgX did not impair mouse development and MrgX null mice are healthy and fertile. MrgX-deficient and wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) also had similar growth rates and showed no differences in cell cycle-related gene expression in response to serum stimulation. Mrg15 expression in MrgX-deficient tissues and MEFs was not upregulated compared with wild-type tissues and MEFs. MRG15 is highly conserved with orthologs present from humans to yeast and is essential for survival of mice. In contrast, MRGX, which evolved later, is expressed only in vertebrates, suggesting that the lack of phenotype of MrgX-deficient mice is secondary to a compensatory effect by the evolutionarily conserved MRG15 protein but not vice versa.
Computer Anxiety and Communication Apprehension: Relationship and Introductory College Course Effects

College students enrolled in either an introductory level computer course or a basic public speaking course completed the Computer Attitude Scale (measuring computer anxiety, liking, confidence, and usefulness) and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension — 24 (a measure of communication apprehension) during the first and last weeks of a semester. Pre-and post-course measures were obtained from 181 students (90 speech and 91 computer students). Among the major results of the study were the following. A small significant positive relationship (r = .22) was found between computer anxiety and communication apprehension. The examined introductory computer and public speaking courses appear to have no effect on common elements between the two types of anxiety. However, completion of the basic public speaking course lowered communication apprehension; completion of the basic computer course increased computer anxiety. A recommendation is made that the issue of anxiety be acknowledged and addressed in introductory computer courses.
Finding consensus among words: lattice-based word error minimization

We describe a new algorithm for finding the hypothesis in a recognition lattice that is expected to minimize the word error rate (WER). Our approach thus overcomes the mismatch between the word-based performance metric and the standard MAP scoring paradigm that is sentence-based, and that can lead to sub-optimal recognition results. To this end we first find a complete alignment of all words in the recognition lattice, identifying mutually supporting and competing word hypotheses. Finally, a new sentence hypothesis is formed by concatenating the words with maximal posterior probabilities. Experimentally, this approach leads to a significant WER reduction in a large vocabulary recognition task.
Rehabilitation counselors' perceptions of importance and competence of assistive technology

REHABILITATION COUNSELORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF IMPORTANCE AND COMPETENCE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY By Hung Jen Kuo Assistive technology (AT) has been identified as one of the most effective interventions for rehabilitation purposes of individuals with disabilities. Due to the positive potentials, assistive technology has attracted tremendous attention among the rehabilitation counselors during the past decades. As a result, numerous AT devices have been created and research has been conducted attempting to improve quality of lives of individuals with disabilities. While many successful rehabilitation stories were revealed by AT assisted individuals, the implementation of AT does not always equal to successes. In fact, the high AT abandon rate has been a critical issue for the rehabilitation counselors. One of the identified reasons for the high AT abandon rate is the mismatch between the person and the device. In order to increase successful rate and decrease the possibility of mismatch, training specifically designed for building rehabilitation counselors’ AT skills is needed. However, despite the recognition of AT training needs, very few master level rehabilitation counseling programs offer stand-alone AT classes to their students. Reasons for the missing of designated AT training include the lack of time, financial resource and manpower among these programs. Therefore, in order to design the AT training with the constraints these programs have, it is crucial to learn what the most important AT knowledge and skills are for the rehabilitation counselors. As a response to the current issue, this study focused on exploring current certified rehabilitation counselors’ (CRC) perception of importance and competence in relation to their AT knowledge and skills. A sample of 242 CRCs was randomly drawn from the database of
The Cardiovascular Effects of Metformin: Conventional and New Insights

Cite this article: Batchuluun B, Sonoda N, Takayanagi R, Inoguchi T (2014) The Cardiovascular Effects of Metformin: Conventional and New Insights. J Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2(2): 1035. *Corresponding author Noriyuki Sonoda, Department of Internal Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan, Tel: +81-92-6425284; Fax: +81-92-642-5287; Email:
Effect of screen size on multimedia vocabulary learning

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three different screen sizes (small, medium and large) and two types of multimedia instruction (text only and text with pictorial annotation) on vocabulary learning. One hundred thirty-five Korean middle school students learning English as a foreign language were randomly distributed into six groups and were given a pretest, a self-study multimedia instruction, a posttest and a retention test online. The pretest, posttest and retention test were identical and included 30 vocabulary questions. Results show that the large screen multimedia instruction helped the students to learn English vocabulary more effectively than the small screen instruction as demonstrated on both the posttest and retention test. However, there was little difference in vocabulary learning between the text-only and text-with-pictorial annotation instructions. Although visual perception can be influenced by each learner's expectations and knowledge, using a smaller screen for instruction causes more challenges for learners to perceive and comprehend vocabulary learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ANALYSIS OF ANTIBIOTIC USE AND MISUSE IN CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED WITH RSV INFECTION. † 653

OBJECTIVE To determine the extent of, rationale for and acquisition cost of antibiotic use in a cohort of children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) secondary to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). DESIGN Prospective, observational cohort study. SUBJECTS Patients younger than two years of age admitted to a tertiary care paediatric hospital with a clinical diagnosis of LRI and positive direct immunoflourescence microscopy and/or viral culture for RSV were eligible. Patients older than two years with underlying cardiac abnormalities, respiratory disease or immunosuppression were also eligible. Patients were enrolled as part of the Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC) study of RSV-related LRI. RESULTS One hundred and fifty-two patients were enrolled between January 1 and April 30, 1993. Median age was 5.6 months (range 0.2 to 151 months); the male to female ratio was 1.6:1. Morbidity was comparable with that of previously reported cohorts, and no patients died. Sixty-seven (44%) patients received an antibiotic before hospitalization, and ninety-two (60.5%) received at least one antibiotic during hospitalization. Of those receiving antibiotics in hospital, 65 were given oral and 44 intravenous preparations. Reasons for antibiotic prescription during hospitalization were otitis media (37%), 'pneumonia' (31%) and suspected sepsis (9%). Twenty-three per cent had no documented reason. In patients started on intravenous antibiotics, only 32% (14) had the medication discontinued once RSV infection was confirmed. Of the remaining 30 patients, 10 had positive blood (16.6%) or urine (16.6%) cultures, and 15 (50%) had no clearly defined bacterial etiology or rationale documented. Eighty-eight per cent of patients who received ribavirin also received an antibiotic compared with 55% of patients who did not receive ribavirin (P<0.005). The total medication cost of the administered antibiotics was CDN$4,578.16. Eleven adverse events were recorded in children given antibiotics, of which 10 (91%) were in those receiving intravenous preparations. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that a high percentage of children admitted to hospital with LRI secondary to RSV received antibiotics in the absence of a clearly defined bacterial coinfection. Physician education strategies should stress discontinuation of antibiotic therapy once RSV infection is diagnosed. This may diminish the development of resistant bacteria, reduce health care costs and minimize the potential for adverse events associated with inappropriate antibiotic use.
SIRT6 exhibits nucleosome-dependent deacetylase activity

The SIRT6 deacetylase is a key regulator of mammalian genome stability, metabolism and lifespan. Previous studies indicated that SIRT6 exhibits poor deacetylase activity in vitro. Here, we explored the specific conditions that allow SIRT6 to function as a significant deacetylase. We show that SIRT6 associates with the nucleosome and deacetylates histones H3 and H4 when they are packaged as nucleosomes, but not as free histones. In contrast, SIRT1 shows the opposite characteristics. Thus, our results show that SIRT6 activity is nucleosome dependent, and suggest that its binding to the nucleosome might convert it into an active structure.
Ten lessons learned from conducting an adherence intervention trial

Clinical practice research provides a unique opportunity to care for a diverse patient population in various health care system settings. Federal study of Adherence to Medications in the Elderly (FAME) was the first prospective observational and randomized controlled trial to implement effective strategies to enhance medication adherence and health outcomes in older patients using polypharmacy. Ten lessons learned from conducting this adherence intervention trial are described: (1) Link the trial to existing clinical work, (2) Begin with a thorough understanding of medication adherence, (3) Ensure that trial highlights individualized intervention, (4) Tailor inclusion criteria and study duration to target population, (5) Employ a range of outcomes linked to meaningful clinical effects, (6) Win the support of the multidisciplinary team and the administration, (7) Promote team work, (8) Consider the potential limitations, (9) Seize the grant opportunities, and (10) Share the findings.
Non-Vital Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Express Myeloperoxidase on their Surface

The heme-containing enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) becomes expressed to the cell surface of non-vital polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) as evidenced by flow cytometry analysis and confocal fluorescence microscopy. While only a very small percentage of freshly isolated cells was able to bind the MPO antibody, PMN suspensions cultured for 36 h or longer time periods contained an increasing number of cells able to interact with these antibodies. Two distinct patterns of fluorescence for the MPO antibodies were observed. Antibodies were localised either in surface patches or distributed over the whole cell body. The latter type dominated in cell samples cultured for more than three days, while the first type was predominantly found in samples cultured for lower time periods. We observed also two peaks for fluorescence distribution by flow cytometry after addition of MPO antibodies to PMNs. Myeloperoxidase was localised at phosphatidylserine epitopes at the surface of non-vital PMNs as evidenced by coincubation with fluorescent MPO antibodies and FITC-labelled annexin V. Myeloperoxidase bound to the outer surface of PMNs uses hydrogen peroxide as a substrate as shown by appearance of an intense chemiluminescence using the impermeable luminescent protein Pholasin. Thus, myeloperoxidase becomes expressed to the surface of non-vital polymorphonuclear leukocytes colocalised with phosphatidylserine that may indicate a role of myeloperoxidase in apoptosis of PMNs.
Hm optimization with spatial constraints

A generalized X, synthesis problem where non-euclidian spatial norms on the disturbances and output error are used is posed and solved. The solution takes the form of a linear matrix inequality. Some problems which fall into this class are presented. In particular, solutions are presented to two problems: a variant of %, synthesis where norm constraints on each component of the disturbance can be imposed, and synthesis for a certain class of robust performance problems.
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in mammals

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in mammalian cells generally degrades mRNAs that terminate translation more than 50-55 nucleotides upstream of a splicing-generated exon-exon junction (reviewed in [Maquat, 2004a][1]; [Nagy and Maquat, 1998][2]). Notably, dependence on exon-exon junctions
Hierarchical Organization of Segmentation in Non-Functional Action Sequences

Both folk and scientific taxonomies of behavior distinguish between instrumental and ritual behavior. Recent studies indicate that behaviors dominated by ritual features tend to increase cognitive load by focusing attentional and working memory resources on low-level perceptual details and psycho-physics. In contrast to the general consensus on anthropology and the study of religion, one study did not find any modulation effect of expectations (e.g., cultural information or priors) on cognitive load. It has, therefore, been suggested that the increase reflects a perceptual mechanism that drives categorization of ritual behavior. The present study investigated how an increase in cognitive load elicited by ritual behavior can influence hierarchically-related representations of actions and if expectation can modulate such hierarchical action representations. The study found that hierarchical alignment during segmentation of actions with ritual features was reduced in comparison to instrumental actions but that expectations only vaguely modulate this reduction. It is argued that these results lend support to the resource depletion model ritual behavior.
Synergism of Obesity Genes With Hepatic Steroid Sulfotransferases to Mediate Diabetes in Mice

Sulfotransferases controlling the intrahepatic ratio of active androgens to estrogens represent key determinants of whether an obesity mutation will be diabetogenic in C57BL/KsJ female mice. Three unlinked genes (diabetes [db], obese [ob], and fat [fat]) all produced comparable obesity in C57BL/KsJ females, but only the fat mutation was not diabetogenic. The fat gene was incapable of eliciting virilizing changes in hepatic sulfotransferase activity, whereas both db and ob accelerated estrogen and suppressed androgen sulfation. Northern-blot analysis confirmed anomalous suppression of hepatic androgen sulfotransferase transcription in db and ob but not fat females. These findings suggest the utility of obesity genes in analyzing the interaction between hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, and diabetes.