Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic properties of neurones in the dorsal cochlear nucleus of mice, in vitro.

1. Intracellular recordings were made from the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in slices of the cochlear nuclear complex. Probably the larger and most frequent cells were impaled. 2. The steady‐state current‐voltage (I‐V) properties of all cells impaled were nonlinear. The I‐V curve was steepest in the voltage range depolarized from the resting potential and most shallow when the cell was hyperpolarized from rest by more than about 10 mV. Thus, the inwardly rectifying I‐V characteristics of cells in the DCN distinguish them from those of ventral cochlear nuclear neurones (Oertel, 1983). 3. When depolarized with current, most cells fired trains of large, all‐or‐none action potentials. The undershoot after single spikes comprised an initial, fast component followed by a second, slower wave. A few cells (15%) generated bursts of smaller, graded spikes in addition to the large ones. 4. Repetitive firing evoked by depolarizing pulses of current was followed by an after‐hyperpolarization whose magnitude depended on the strength and duration of the preceding current pulse. 5. Blocking the large action potentials with tetrodotoxin (TTX) revealed Ca2+‐dependent spikes in all cells examined. 6. The steady‐state I‐V relationship became linear in the presence of TTX, suggesting that a persistent Na+ conductance probably mediates the inward rectification seen above the resting potential. 7. Muscarine at micromolar concentrations excited cells and increased their input resistance.
Community participation in Aedes aegypti control: a sociological perspective on five years of research in the health area ‘‘26 de Julio’’, Havana, Cuba

Objective: Effective dengue prevention and Aedes aegypti control is a priority for the Cuban health authorities. To enhance effectiveness, strategies oriented towards a more active involvement of communities in control activities are being tested. This paper presents a sociological perspective on a pilot project conducted in the health area ‘‘26 de Julio’’ (La Havana) in 1999–2004.
D ouble Teaching Optimization for Short Term Hydro Thermal Scheduling Problem

Abstracts: This paper presents an efficient and reliable new teaching based optimization algorithm for solving scheduling of hydro-thermal systems with cascaded reservoirs. Unlike the Teaching Learning Based Optimization, the Double Teaching Optimization (DTO) algorithm has two teaching phases i.e. the first teaching phase is identical with conventional TLBO algorithm preserving the inherent basics of it. The second teaching phase is the modified part considering students once again interact with the same teacher, who is the better than average students called double teaching phase. The feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated in five different cases of two standard test systems consisting of four cascaded hydro and thermal units. The findings of the proposed method are better than the results of other established methods reported in literature in terms of quality of solution and convergence characteristics.
Association between body mass index and erosive esophagitis: a meta-analysis.

AIM To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the determinants of the association between erosive esophagitis (EE) and body mass index (BMI). METHODS We identified the studies using PubMed. Studies were selected for analysis based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted from each study on the basis of predefined items. Meta-analyses were performed to verify the risk factors, such as obesity and gender. RESULTS Twenty-one studies were included in this systematic review. These studies demonstrated an association between increasing BMI and the presence of EE [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-1.88, overweight, odds ratio (OR) = 1.60, P value homogeneity = 0.003, 95% CI: 1.65-2.55, obese, OR = 2.05, P < 0.01]. The heterogeneity disappeared by stratifying for gender. No publication bias was observed in this meta-analysis by the Egger method. CONCLUSION This analysis demonstrates a positive association between BMI and the presence of EE, especially in males. The risk seems to progressively increase with increasing weight.
Emotional Aperture and Emotional Sequencing

Failure to recognize and regulate agitated organizational members’ emotions triggered by strategic change can undermine a firm’s performance. Organizational processes that detect, recognize, and respond appropriately to members’ emotional responses are likely to enhance their receptivity to the change and facilitate strategic renewal. We develop a theory posited to improve members’ receptivity to strategic change by introducing two novel concepts: emotional aperture and emotional sequencing. Emotional aperture involves the ability to recognize patterns in the distribution of specific emotions in groups and thus complements and extends emotional intelligence abilities focused on recognizing individual emotional expressions. Emotional sequencing involves attending to patterns of emotions, detected through emotional aperture, in a way that integrates the temporal dimensions that underlie members’ affective experiences during strategic change. Employing these two concepts, leaders can facilitate strategic renewal in their organizations.
Reciprocal control of lncRNA-BCAT1 and β-catenin pathway reveals lncRNA-BCAT1 long non-coding RNA acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer

β-catenin plays a major role in tumor development and progression. The present study found that β-catenin was upregulated in 30 samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue as compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Analysis of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles using the GSE18560 and GSE44097 datasets, which were generated via the Affymetrix plus 2.0 microarray platform and downloaded from the GEO database, revealed 20 differentially expressed lncRNAs following β-catenin knockdown. We focused on AK091631, a novel lncRNA, which we named lncRNA-β-catenin associated transcript 1 (LncRNA-BCAT1). lncRNA-BCAT1 expression was decreased in CRC tissues, and was negatively associated with β-catenin in both CRC tissues and cell lines. lncRNA-BCAT1 overexpression suppressed CRC cell growth and invasion by downregulating cyclin D1, c-Myc, and MMP-2. These results suggest that lncRNA-BCAT1 overexpression inhibits CRC cell growth and invasion via Wnt/β-catenin pathway blockade, and that lncRNA-BCAT1 is repressed by Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This evidence suggests that lncRNA-BCAT1 is a tumor suppressor and that lncRNA-BCAT1 may be an effective prognostic biomarker in CRC.
The neural substrates of affective processing in depressed patients treated with venlafaxine.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to probe the neural circuitry associated with reactivity to negative and positive affective stimuli in patients with major depressive disorder before treatment and after 2 and 8 weeks of treatment with venlafaxine. Relations between baseline neural activation and response to treatment were also evaluated. METHOD Patients with major depressive disorder (N=12) and healthy comparison subjects (N=5) were scanned on three occasions, during which trials of alternating blocks of affective and neutral pictorial visual stimuli were presented. Symptoms were evaluated at each testing occasion, and both groups completed self-report measures of mood. Statistical parametric mapping was used to examine the fMRI data with a focus on the group-by-time interactions. RESULTS Patients showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms with treatment. Group-by-time interactions in response to the negative versus neutral stimuli were found in the left insular cortex and the left anterior cingulate. At baseline, both groups showed bilateral activation in the visual cortices, lateral prefrontal cortex, and amygdala in response to the negative versus neutral stimuli, with patients showing greater activation in the visual cortex and less activation in the left lateral prefrontal cortex. Patients with greater relative anterior cingulate activation at baseline in response to the negative versus neutral stimuli showed the most robust treatment response. CONCLUSIONS The findings underscore the importance of the neural circuitry activated by negative affect in depression and indicate that components of this circuitry can be changed within 2 weeks of treatment with antidepressant medication.
Smart simulation using collaborative formal and simulation engines

We present Ketchum, a tool that was developed to improve the productivity of simulation-based functional verification by providing two capabilities: (1) automatic test generation and (2) unreachability analysis. Given a set of "interesting" signals in the design under test (DUT), automatic test generation creates input stimuli that drive the DUT through as many different combinations (called coverage states) of these signals as possible to thoroughly exercise the DUT. Unreachability analysis identifies as many unreachable coverage states as possible.
Effect of multiple doses of losartan on the pharmacokinetics of single doses of digoxin in healthy volunteers.

1. Losartan (DuP 753, MK-954) is a novel, potent and highly selective AT1 angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The effect of multiple oral doses of losartan on digoxin pharmacokinetics was evaluated in healthy male subjects. 2. In a double-blind and randomized fashion, subjects received 50 mg losartan or placebo once daily for 15 days in each period. At least 7 days elapsed between the two treatment periods. On days 4 and 11 of each period, subjects also received a single 0.5 mg dose of digoxin intravenously and orally respectively. 3. Eleven of 13 subjects completed the study. Side effects were mild and transient (12 out of 13 subjects reported at least one adverse experience). During the study, no laboratory abnormalities were noted. 4. Multiple oral doses of losartan (50 mg daily) did not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of 0.5 mg of digoxin i.v. AUC(0.48h) of immunoreactive digoxin during losartan 28.8 +/- 2.9 vs 28.5 +/- 3.9 ng ml-1 h during placebo; not significant, and 96 h urinary excretion [% dose] during losartan 54.0 +/- 7.2 vs 51.9 +/- 6.5% during placebo; not significant). Geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) for AUC and urinary excretion were respectively, 1.03 (0.98, 1.08) and 1.09 (0.98, 1.21). 5. Multiple oral doses of losartan did not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of oral digoxin AUC(0.48 h) during losartan 23.6 +/- 3.7 ng ml-1 h vs 22.4 +/- 2.6 ng ml-1 h during placebo; not significant, Cmax 3.5 +/- 0.7 ng ml-1 with vs 3.1 +/- 0.5 ng ml-1 without losartan; not significant and tmax 0.6 +/- 0.2 h with vs 0.9 +/- 0.7 h without losartan; not significant, and 96 h urinary excretion [% dose] during losartan 51.2 +/- 6.3 vs 46.3 +/- 2.4% during placebo; not significant). Geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) for AUC and urinary excretion were respectively, 1.06 (0.98, 1.14) and 1.12 (0.97, 1.28). 6. We conclude that multiple oral doses of losartan (50 mg daily) do not alter the pharmacokinetics of immunoreactive digoxin, following either intravenous or oral digoxin. Furthermore, the co-administration of digoxin with losartan is well tolerated by healthy male volunteers.
Passive and Facilitated Transport in Nuclear Pore Complexes Is Largely Uncoupled*

Nuclear pore complexes provide the sole gateway for the exchange of material between nucleus and cytoplasm of interphase eukaryotic cells. They support two modes of transport: passive diffusion of ions, metabolites, and intermediate-sized macromolecules and facilitated, receptor-mediated translocation of proteins, RNA, and ribonucleoprotein complexes. It is generally assumed that both modes of transport occur through a single diffusion channel located within the central pore of the nuclear pore complex. To test this hypothesis, we studied the mutual effects between transporting molecules utilizing either the same or different modes of translocation. We find that the two modes of transport do not interfere with each other, but molecules utilizing a particular mode of transport do hinder motion of others utilizing the same pathway. We therefore conclude that the two modes of transport are largely segregated.
A Social Norms Approach to Preventing Binge Drinking at Colleges and Universities.

Contents Acknowledgments We wish to thank the individuals listed below for reviewing draft manuscripts for this publication. We appreciate the comments they provided to help us ensure that this publication has solid scientific foundation and contains clear messages. To the extent we achieved that goal, the credit is theirs. To the extent we didn't, the fault is ours. Anyone may use or reproduce, for non-commercial purposes, all material in this volume, except quoted passages from copyrighted sources, without permission from Education Development Center. Citation of the source is appreciated. Prevention has offered a range of services and publications to support prevention efforts at colleges and universities across the country. The Center's activities and products reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to prevention that is based on the use of multiple strategies designed to have a large-scale impact on the entire student body and the campus and community environment. The Center's goal is to influence and change detrimental campus norms and myths and to prevent the negative consequences related to alcohol and other drug use. All Center activities are guided by an emphasis on proactive prevention, which aims to prevent problems before they arise by changing the campus environment and social climate to one of low tolerance for illegal alcohol and other drug use and abuse. Center activities and publications stress building capacity across the spectrum of institutions of higher education to develop and maintain prevention efforts. The Center relies on research-based methods for its training, technical assistance, and publications. This publication represents one piece in a comprehensive approach to prevention at institutions of higher education (IHEs). The concepts and approaches described should be viewed in the broader context of prevention theory and approaches affirmed by the U.S. Department of Education and implemented by The Center in its training, technical assistance , publications, and evaluation activities.
Thematic orders and the comprehension of subject-extracted relative clauses in Mandarin Chinese

This study investigates the comprehension of three kinds of subject-extracted relative clauses (SRs) in Mandarin Chinese: standard SRs, relative clauses involving the disposal ba construction (“disposal SRs”), and relative clauses involving the long passive bei constructions (“passive SRs”). In a self-paced reading experiment, the regions before the relativizer (where the sentential fragments are temporarily ambiguous) showed reading patterns consistent with expectation-based incremental processing: standard SRs, with the highest constructional frequency and the least complex syntactic structure, were processed faster than the other two variants. However, in the regions after the relativizer and the head noun where the existence of a relative clause is unambiguously indicated, a top-down global effect of thematic ordering was observed: passive SRs, whose thematic role order conforms to the canonical thematic order of Chinese, were read faster than both the standard SRs and the disposal SRs. Taken together, these results suggest that two expectation-based processing factors are involved in the comprehension of Chinese relative clauses, including both the structural probabilities of pre-relativizer constituents and the overall surface thematic orders in the relative clauses.
HIV-1 Latency: An Update of Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

The major obstacle towards HIV-1 eradication is the life-long persistence of the virus in reservoirs of latently infected cells. In these cells the proviral DNA is integrated in the host’s genome but it does not actively replicate, becoming invisible to the host immune system and unaffected by existing antiviral drugs. Rebound of viremia and recovery of systemic infection that follows interruption of therapy, necessitates life-long treatments with problems of compliance, toxicity, and untenable costs, especially in developing countries where the infection hits worst. Extensive research efforts have led to the proposal and preliminary testing of several anti-latency compounds, however, overall, eradication strategies have had, so far, limited clinical success while posing several risks for patients. This review will briefly summarize the more recent advances in the elucidation of mechanisms that regulates the establishment/maintenance of latency and therapeutic strategies currently under evaluation in order to eradicate HIV persistence.
Effect of Andrographolide on Gene Expression Profile and Intracellular Calcium in Primary Rat Myocardium Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract:Andrographolide (ANDRO) is a diterpene lactone compound with extensive biological effects, such as antibacterial, antitumor and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Until now, studies on the pharmacological functions of ANDRO are still in progress. However, little is known about the gene expression profile and calcium response of endothelial cells to ANDRO. In this study, we used a microarray technology to investigate the gene expression responses in primary rat myocardium microvascular endothelial cells treated with 10 &mgr;g/mL ANDRO. The expression of caveolin-1 and 1-phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase &dgr;3 was verified by RT-PCR and western blot. In addition, we investigated the effect of ANDRO on intracellular calcium induced by exogenous adenosine triphosphate and on inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide. Results showed that ANDRO treatment induced an abundance of differential expressed genes, exhibiting a multitarget regulatory effect. ANDRO significantly decreased caveolin-1 and phosphodiesterase &dgr;3 expression, lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6 and TNF-&agr; levels and expression of several chemokine genes, which are associated with reducing inflammation response and decreasing calcium release without affecting normal endothelia cell function, suggesting that ANDRO may be a potential candidate to treat cardiovascular diseases with less toxicity.
The Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM Fermentation on Antioxidant Properties of Selected in Vitro Sprout Culture of Orthosiphon aristatus (Java Tea) as a Model Study

High rosmarinic acid (RA) productivity has been achieved by applying jasmonic acid and yeast extract elicitors to the in vitro sprout culture of Orthosiphon aritatus (IOSC). The highest RA accumulation from three solvents was detected in IOSC after treatment with yeast extract (5 g/L). HPLC analysis clearly confirmed a drastic increase in RA subjected to yeast extract elicitation. Therefore, this yeast extract elicited IOSC was chosen for a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation study as a model system. This selected IOSC was subjected to different types of LAB fermentations (Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM) for different periods of time 24, 48 and 72 h. The LAB fermentations consisted of solid state fermentations (SSF) and liquid state fermentations (LSF) in a Digital Control Unit (DCU) fermenter system. The aim was to determine the effect of fermentation on the antioxidant properties of the plant extract. Results indicated that all types of LAB fermentation decreased the level of RA and total phenolics, however, a slight increase in total flavonoids and flavonols was observed in SSF samples. HPLC results confirmed that the longer the fermentation, the greater the reduction in RA content. The highest reduction was obtained in the sample of LSF inoculated with L. plantarum for a period of 72 h. The temperature of fermentation (37 °C) was predicted as contributing to the declining level in RA content. The loss in RA was concomitant with a loss of total antioxidant activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)-like activity). These results indicate that RA is the major contributor to the antioxidant activity of this plant.
Changes in biochemical and biophysical surfactant properties with cardiopulmonary bypass in children

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to characterize pulmonary surfactant properties in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. DesignProspective clinical trial. SettingUniversity hospital pediatric intensive care unit. PatientsFifty pediatric patients with congenital cardiac defects undergoing cardiovascular surgery with (n = 35) and without (n = 15) cardiopulmonary bypass procedure. InterventionsTracheal aspirates were collected by saline lavage during routine suctioning before (baseline) and after cardiopulmonary bypass, as well as 4, 8, and 24 hrs after admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Measurements and Main ResultsTotal protein and phospholipid concentrations were assessed in native tracheal aspirates, in large surfactant aggregates, and in small surfactant aggregates. Phospholipid profiles and phosphatidylcholine fatty acids; surfactant apoproteins SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay); and surface activity (Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer) were all analyzed in large surfactant aggregates. With cardiopulmonary bypass, an initial increase in total protein content was followed by an increase in phospholipid concentration in tracheal aspirates. Large surfactant aggregates decreased 4 hrs after cardiopulmonary bypass (4 hrs, 22.6 ± 5.6%; mean ± sem;p < .01 compared with baseline, 55.4 ± 9.2%) but recovered within 24 hrs. The phospholipid-protein ratio of large surfactant aggregates 24 hrs after cardiopulmonary bypass (1.2 ± 0.2;p < .01) was significantly decreased compared with baseline (2.9 ± 0.6). The relative amount of phosphatidylglycerol content in the large surfactant aggregates-fraction dropped linearly over time but other phospholipids remained mainly unchanged. Phosphatidylcholine fatty acid profiles remained unaffected by cardiopulmonary bypass. The relative content of SP-B and SP-C in large surfactant aggregates increased approximately three-fold compared with baseline. Altogether, our findings with recovered large surfactant aggregate/small surfactant aggregate ratios and increased phospholipid in tracheal aspirates after 24 hrs represent an approximately ten-fold increase in large surfactant aggregate-associated SP-B and SP-C compared with baseline. Only minor changes were detected in biophysical properties of large surfactant aggregates throughout the observation period. ConclusionsCardiopulmonary bypass procedure in children induces profound changes in the surfactant system involving both phospholipid and protein components; biophysical function may have been maintained by compensatory increase in SP-B and SP-C.
Group composition and conforming behavior in Japanese students

A recent report suggested that a radical change was occurring in the response of British students to the Asch-type conformity experiment. The present study of Japanese students, however, shows no such change; nor did it show any signs of anticonformity as reported earlier. In comparison with students of other countries, Japanese students showed less conformist responses to the stranger groups; and more conformist responses to the familiar groups, e.g. to their own university's sport clubs. These results seem to support the conclusion that response to the Asch-type experiment is not universal but rather reflects cultural and situational factors.