Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A ganglion-blocking action of the toxin isolated from Japanese ivory shell (Babylonia japonica).

The first case of a food-poisoning caused by an ingestion of carnivorous gastropod, Japanese ivory shell (Babylonia japonica) occurred in Niigata prefecture, 1957 (1, 2) and a similar case followed in Shizuoka pre fecture, 1965 (3). Both cases occurred sporadically, although the symptoms on subjects in Shizuoka prefecture were considerably different from those in Niigata. On the other hand, Hashimoto and his co-laboratorians (4,5) isolated a toxic substance from the Japanese ivory shell collected at the district of Numazu in Shizuoka prefecture. This substance is a yellow pig ment, soluble in water, slightly in methanol and ethanol and insoluble in most fat-solvents. It is unstable to heat, especially in an alkaline medium, dialyzable through a cellophane membrane and not steam distilled. The purified toxin shows negative reaction to ninhydrin, biuret and Dragendorff's reagents. This paper described studies on pharmacological properties of the Japanese ivory shell toxin (IS-toxin). The effects of IS-toxin on tracheal respirations and blood pressures in femoral artery in cats and rabbits were measured by conventional methods. The animals were anesthetized by subcutaneous injection of 1 g/kg of urethane. When 5-10 beg/kg of IS-toxin was administered intravenously, respiration was depressed and blood pressure was lowered. These ffects lasted for a fairly long time. The lowered blood pressure induced by the toxin was not raised after administration of dimethylphenyl-piperazinium (DMPP) (50 or 100 pg/kg, i.v.) but raised significantly by norepinephrine (5pg/kg, ix.). In these data, the toxin was assumed to have a ganglion blocking action, then effect of the toxin on the cat superior cervical sympathetic ganglion was studied. The cats were previously given lg/kg urethane intraperitoneally and maintained under artificial respiration throughout the experiment. Contractions of the nictitating membrane were recorded isometrically b a force-displacement transducer. The nictitating membrane was loaded by 5 g of initial tension and its contraction was induced by electrical stimulation to both pre and post-ganglionic nerves. A 0.2 ml volume of saline solution of drugs was injected into the lingual artery by using a polyethylen cannula so as to be injected into the superior cervical ganglion (6). Each drugs was tested in three cats. IS-toxin injected into either the femoral vein (2.5-5,ug/kg) or the lingual artery (0.5-2 pg/kg) decreased or abolished the contractile response of the nictitating membrane to the pre-ganglionic nerve stimulation, but it did not alter the response to the post-ganglionic nerve stimulation. Further, the toxin given intravenously in the same dose decreased or abolished a contraction i duced by dimethylphenyl-piperazinum (DMPP) (7) and by candicine (8). The vaso-pressor response to these drugs were also abolished by IS-toxin. The toxin, however, did not modify response to norepinephrine
Ultrastructure of a human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non‐neoplastic liver

Ultrastructural study of a hepatoma and surrounding normal liver revealed the following points of interest. In spite of the fact that under light microscopy this seemed to be a very well‐differentiated tumor, at the ultramicroscopic level the cells showed an inability to form desmosomes, lysosomes and vascular poles. No sinusoids lined with endothelial and Kupffer cells were detected either. These features were interpreted as a failure of full differentiation and some loss of function characteristic of tumor cells. The changes in the surrounding liver parallel those seen in the livers of rats bearing subcutaneous carcinogen‐induced sarcoma for in both these instances there occurs a marked increase in lysosomes, dilatation of mitochondria and the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. Other interesting findings were the occurrence of giant mitochondria (2 to 5μ), monoparticulate intranuclear glycogen and many areas of focal cytoplasmic degeneration the evolution of which has been traced.
Current Inbred and Hybrid Rat and Mouse Models for Gereontological Research.

Animal models are commonly used in aging research because they allow researchers to obtain data that are difficult or impossible to obtain from humans. Some studies that can, in principle, be done in humans are much easier to do in animals because of their shorter life spans. For example, measurements of changes over entire life spans, which would take many decades to complete in humans, can be accomplished in rodents in 2 to 3 years. Other kinds of experiments cannot, even in principle, be done with humans. Using rodents, researchers can manipulate breeding, extract tissues, administer bioactive agents, control diets, and perform surgical manipulations—procedures that would be unethical or excessively hazardous using humans. Rats and mice are the species of choice for most animal aging studies for a number of reasons: Techniques for breeding and housing them are well developed; they age rapidly; and a very large body of knowledge about their biology and behavior exists, which provides a solid base for future advances. Rats and mice thus provide indispensable tools for the study of mammalian aging and the development of methods for ameliorating aging-related diseases in humans. The scientific issue is not whether to study rats and mice but instead, which rats and mice should be studied. The discussion that follows reviews the factors that determine the choice of strain and species. This discussion is limited to mice and rats; other species are discussed by Sprott and Austad(1996).
Standard surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia is safe for patients over 75 years: Analysis of 100 cases from a high-volume urologic center

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to determine the complications of standard surgical treatments among patients over 75 years in a high-volume urologic center. METHODS: We analyzed 100 consecutive patients older than 75 years who had undergone transurethral prostatic resection of the prostate or open prostatectomy for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia from January 2008 to March 2010. We analyzed patient age, prostate volume, prostate-specific antigen level, international prostatic symptom score, quality of life score, urinary retention, co-morbidities, surgical technique and satisfaction with treatment. RESULTS: Median age was 79 years. Forty-eight patients had undergone transurethral prostatic resection of the prostate, and 52 had undergone open prostatectomy. The median International Prostatic Symptom Score was 20, the median prostate volume was 83 g, 51% were using an indwelling bladder catheter, and the median prostate-specific antigen level was 5.0 ng/ml. The most common comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes and coronary disease. After a median follow-up period of 17 months, most patients were satisfied. Complications were present in 20% of cases. The most common urological complication was urethral stenosis, followed by bladder neck sclerosis, urinary fistula, late macroscopic hematuria and persistent urinary incontinence. The most common clinical complication was myocardial infarction, followed by acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Incidental carcinoma of the prostate was present in 6% of cases. One case had urothelial bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Standard surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia are safe and satisfactory among the elderly. Complications are infrequent, and urethral stenosis is the most common. No clinical variable is associated with the occurrence of complications.
Serum hepcidin-25 levels in patients with chronic kidney disease are independent of glomerular filtration rate.

BACKGROUND Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron homeostasis and levels are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hepcidin may explain the often observed imbalance in iron metabolism in patients with CKD. We evaluated the influence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on serum levels of hepcidin-25 and its isoforms in patients with renal dysfunction. METHODS Serum levels of the biologically active hepcidin-25 and its isoforms were determined in CKD and dialysis patients by a mass spectrometry-based assay. RESULTS In 83 patients with CKD not requiring dialysis, serum hepcidin-25 levels were not significantly increased (5.1 nM versus 4.2 nM, P = 0.30) and positively correlated with ferritin (r = 0.74, P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed ferritin to be the only significant predictor of hepcidin-25 levels. Serum hepcidin-25 levels were not dependent on eGFR. In contrast, hepcidin-20 and total hepcidin levels showed an independent significant inverse correlation with eGFR. In 48 haemodialysis patients, median hepcidin-25 levels were significantly higher than in CKD patients (9.4 nM versus 5.1 nM, P < 0.001) and again strongly correlated with ferritin (r = 0.79, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS eGFR is not a major determinant of serum hepcidin-25 levels. In contrast, the hepcidin isoforms hepcidin-20 and hepcidin-22 accumulate in patients with renal impairment.
Development of a transient large strain contact method for biological heart valve simulations

A new 2D method to implement transient contact using Comsol Multiphysics (finite element analysis software that enables multiphysics simulations) is described, which is based on Hertzian contact. This method is compared to the existing (default) contact method that does not enable real transient simulations, but instead performs steady-state solutions where time is a constant. The two types of contact modelling have been applied to simple 2D biological heart valve models, undergoing strains in the region of 10% under 20 kPa pressure (applied over 0.3 s). Both the methods predicted comparable stress patterns, locations of peak stresses, deformations and directions of principal stress. The default contact method predicted slightly greater contact stresses, but spreads over a shorter surface length than the new contact method. The default contact method is useful for contact systems with little transient dependency, due to ease of use. However, where transient conditions are important the new contact method is preferred.
Using linguistic features to measure presence in computer-mediated communication

We propose a method of measuring people's sense of presence in computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems) based on linguistic features of their dialogues. We create variations in presence by asking participants to collaborate on physical tasks in four CMC conditions. We then correlate self-reported feelings of presence with the use of specific linguistic features. Regression analyses show that 30% of the variance in self-reported presence can be accounted for by a small number of task-independent linguistic features. Even better prediction can be obtained when self-reported coordination is added to the regression equation. We conclude that linguistic measures of presence have value for studies of CMC.
On Achievable Rates and Complexity of LDPC Codes for Parallel Channels: Information-Theoretic Bounds and Applications

The paper presents bounds on the achievable rates and the decoding complexity per iteration of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. It is assumed that the communication of these codes takes place over statistically independent parallel channels where these channels are memoryless, binary-input and output-symmetric. The bounds are applied to punctured LDPC codes. A diagram concludes our discussion by showing interconnections between the theorems in this paper and some previously reported results
Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni without the Stool : Comparison of Three Diagnostic Tests to Detect Schiostosoma mansoni Infection from Filtered Urine in Zambia

Diagnosis for intestinal Schistosoma mansoni lacks sensitivity and is arduous to conduct. The standard diagnostic tests, Kato-Katz (KK) and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) both lack sensitivity and with KK, require obtaining, transporting, and examining fresh stool. We compared diagnostic efficacy of KK, CCA, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect S. mansoni infection (species-specific DNA) from 89 filtered urine samples collected in Zambia. The PCR was the strongest indicator of positive cases with sensitivity and specificity of 100% in comparison to CCA (67% and 60%) and KK (50% and 100%). High positive and negative predictive values (100%) were also indicative of robustness of PCR. The same pattern was observed when stratified for sex and age group-specific analysis. Diagnosis of S. mansoni from filtered urine samples by PCR is an effective means to detect low intensity infection and would enhance the effectiveness of surveillance and control programs of schistosomiasis.
Development of a Chinese Superstitious Belief Scale

Traditional Western superstitious beliefs, such as black cats and the number 13 bringing bad luck, may not be applicable to different cultures. This study develops a Chinese Superstitious Belief Scale by conducting two studies with 363 and 395 participants, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis was used to construct the scale and then structural equation modeling was applied to verify its reliability and validity. The scale contains six dimensions, Homonym, Traditional customs, Power of crystal, Horoscope, feng-shui, and luck for gambling. Findings are helpful for understanding the difference between Chinese superstitions and the traditional Western superstitions and permits subsequent development of sociopsychological theories on correlates and effects of Chinese superstitions.
Leptin is an effective treatment for hypothalamic amenorrhea

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral endocrine axes, leading to infertility and bone loss, and usually is caused by chronic energy deficiency secondary to strenuous exercise and/or decreased food intake. Energy deficiency also leads to hypoleptinemia, which has been proposed, on the basis of observational studies as well as an open-label study, to mediate the neuroendocrine abnormalities associated with this condition. To prove definitively a causal role of leptin in the pathogenesis of HA, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of human recombinant leptin (metreleptin) in replacement doses over 36 wk in women with HA. We assessed its effects on reproductive outcomes, neuroendocrine function, and bone metabolism. Leptin replacement resulted in recovery of menstruation and corrected the abnormalities in the gonadal, thyroid, growth hormone, and adrenal axes. We also demonstrated changes in markers of bone metabolism suggestive of bone formation, but no changes in bone mineral density were detected over the short duration of this study. If these data are confirmed, metreleptin administration in replacement doses to normalize circulating leptin levels may prove to be a safe and effective therapy for women with HA.
Hypertrophic olivary degeneration: metaanalysis of the temporal evolution of MR findings.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is usually caused by a lesion in the triangle of Guillain and Mollaret and presents clinically as palatal tremor. Although the imaging features have been well described, the temporal course of hypertrophy and T2 signal increase in the inferior olivary nucleus (ION) has not been fully characterized. Our purpose was to evaluate the time course of MR imaging features of HOD caused by a lesion within the triangle of Guillain and Mollaret. METHODS The temporal progression of HOD in 45 patients with symptomatic palatal tremor was obtained by extrapolation of combined MR imaging data from six patients treated at our institution and 39 patients reported in the literature. The MR examinations and reports were reviewed for presence of hyperintense signal in the ION on T2-weighted images, hypertrophy of the ION, and an inciting lesion in the triangle of Guillain and Mollaret. The interval between the MR examination and the inciting lesion was determined. RESULTS Increased olivary signal on T2-weighted images first appeared 1 month after the inciting lesion and persisted for at least 3 to 4 years. Olivary hypertrophy initially developed 6 months after the acute event and resolved by 3 to 4 years. CONCLUSION Visible changes on MR images in the ION in patients with a lesion in the triangle of Guillain and Mollaret correlate well with the described sequential histopathologic findings.
Structure, Morphology and Reducibility of Epitaxial Cerium Oxide Ultrathin Films and Nanostructures

Cerium oxide is a very interesting material that finds applications in many different fields, such as catalysis, energy conversion, and biomedicine. An interesting approach to unravel the complexity of real systems and obtain an improved understanding of cerium oxide-based materials is represented by the study of model systems in the form of epitaxial ultrathin films or nanostructures supported on single crystalline substrates. These materials often show interesting novel properties, induced by spatial confinement and by the interaction with the supporting substrate, and their understanding requires the use of advanced experimental techniques combined with computational modeling. Recent experimental and theoretical studies performed within this field are examined and discussed here, with emphasis on the new perspectives introduced in view of the optimization of cerium oxide-based materials for application in different fields.
Corrections and Retraction

BIOPHYSICS. For the article ‘‘Microviscometry reveals reduced blood viscosity and altered shear rate and shear stress profiles in microvessels after hemodilution,’’ by David S. Long, Michael L. Smith, Axel R. Pries, Klaus Ley, and Edward R. Damiano, which appeared in issue 27, July 6, 2004, of Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (101, 10060–10065; first published June 25, 2004; 10.1073 pnas.0402937101), the first two authors, David S. Long and Michael L. Smith, contributed equally to this work.
Batch-iFDD for Representation Expansion in Large MDPs

Matching pursuit (MP) methods are a promising class of feature construction algorithms for value function approximation. Yet existing MP methods require creating a pool of potential features, mandating expert knowledge or enumeration of a large feature pool, both of which hinder scalability. This paper introduces batch incremental feature dependency discovery (Batch-iFDD) as an MP method that inherits a provable convergence property. Additionally, Batch-iFDD does not require a large pool of features, leading to lower computational complexity. Empirical policy evaluation results across three domains with up to one million states highlight the scalability of Batch-iFDD over the previous state of the art MP algorithm.
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION AND METABOLISM OF NEWLY ABSORBED VITAMIN A IN THE RAT.

SUMMARY Chylomicrons containing newly absorbed labeled vitamin A were injected intravenously into normal intact rats, and the tissue distribution of radioactivity was observed for several days. Chylomicrons were used so that the vitamin could be administered physiologically, in the form in which it is normally absorbed. ‘The total recovery of lipid-soluble radioactivity in the entire animal varied from 92% after 17 min to 63% after 24 hr to 56% after 6 days. At all times approximately two-thirds of the recovered radioactivity was found in the liver. Substantial amounts of radioactivity were also found in the kidneys and in the total depot fat, and small but significant amounts of labeled vitamin A were found in the plasma, small intestine, lungs, and adrenals. After 8 hr, labeled retinyl esters predominated in all tissues except plasma, with small aniounts of labeled retinol also being present. Quantitatively significant amounts of labeled retinal or retinoic acid were not observed. The composition of labeled retinyl esters was remarkable in showing a consistent predominance of saturated esters in all tissues. Marked differences were, however, seen in the relative amounts of labeled retinyl palmitate and stearate in different tissues. During the first 24 hr 3.7% of the injected radioactivity was excreted as expired COS, 3.5% was excreted as water-soluble compounds in the urine, and 8.7y0 was excreted in the bile. The biliary metabolites apparently consisted of a heterogeneous mixture of polar compounds, some of which were present as glucuronic acid conjugates.
Control of Signaling in a MAP-kinase Pathway by an RNA-Binding Protein

Signaling-protein mRNAs tend to have long untranslated regions (UTRs) containing binding sites for RNA-binding proteins regulating gene expression. Here we show that a PUF-family RNA-binding protein, Mpt5, represses the yeast MAP-kinase pathway controlling differentiation to the filamentous form. Mpt5 represses the protein levels of two pathway components, the Ste7 MAP-kinase kinase and the Tec1 transcriptional activator, and negatively regulates the kinase activity of the Kss1 MAP kinase. Moreover, Mpt5 specifically inhibits the output of the pathway in the absence of stimuli, and thereby prevents inappropriate cell differentiation. The results provide an example of what may be a genome-scale level of regulation at the interface of signaling networks and protein-RNA binding networks.
Enhancement of antibiotic activity by efflux inhibitors against multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates from Brazil

Drug resistant tuberculosis continues to increase and new approaches for its treatment are necessary. The identification of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates presenting efflux as part of their resistant phenotype has a major impact in tuberculosis treatment. In this work, we used a checkerboard procedure combined with the tetrazolium microplate-based assay (TEMA) to study single combinations between antituberculosis drugs and efflux inhibitors (EIs) against multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates using the fully susceptible strain H37Rv as reference. Efflux activity was studied on a real-time basis by a fluorometric method that uses ethidium bromide as efflux substrate. Quantification of efflux pump genes mRNA transcriptional levels were performed by RT-qPCR. The fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) indicated synergistic activity for the interactions between isoniazid, rifampicin, amikacin, ofloxacin, and ethidium bromide plus the EIs verapamil, thioridazine and chlorpromazine. The FICs ranged from 0.25, indicating a four-fold reduction on the MICs, to 0.015, 64-fold reduction. The detection of active efflux by real-time fluorometry showed that all strains presented intrinsic efflux activity that contributes to the overall resistance which can be inhibited in the presence of the EIs. The quantification of the mRNA levels of the most important efflux pump genes on these strains shows that they are intrinsically predisposed to expel toxic compounds as the exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics were not necessary to increase the pump mRNA levels when compared with the non-exposed counterpart. The results obtained in this study confirm that the intrinsic efflux activity contributes to the overall resistance in multidrug resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and that the inhibition of efflux pumps by the EIs can enhance the clinical effect of antibiotics that are their substrates.