Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of solid lipid nanoparticles containing total flavonoid extract from Dracocephalum moldavica L. and their therapeutic effect against myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

Total flavonoid extract from Dracocephalum moldavica L. (TFDM) contains effective components of D. moldavica L. that have myocardial protective function. However, the cardioprotection function of TFDM is undesirable due to its poor solubility. In order to improve the solubility and efficacy of TFDM, we developed TFDM-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (TFDM-SLNs) and optimized the formulation of TFDM-SLNs using central composite design and response surface methodology. The physicochemical properties of TFDM-SLNs were characterized, and the pharmacodynamics was investigated using the myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury model in rats. The nanoparticles of optimal formulation for TFDM-SLNs were spherical in shape with the average particle size of 104.83 nm and had a uniform size distribution with the polydispersity index value of 0.201. TFDM-SLNs also had a negative zeta potential of −28.7 mV to ensure the stability of the TFDM-SLNs emulsion system. The results of pharmacodynamics demonstrated that both TFDM and TFDM-SLN groups afforded myocardial protection, and the protective effect of TFDM-SLNs was significantly superior to that of TFDM alone, based on the infarct area, histopathological examination, cardiac enzyme levels and inflammatory factors in serum. Due to the optimal quality and the better myocardial protective effect, TFDM-SLNs are expected to become a safe and effective nanocarrier for the oral delivery of TFDM.
DIETS OF SWIFT FOXES (VULPES VELOX) IN CONTINUOUS AND FRAGMENTED PRAIRIE IN NORTHWESTERN TEXAS

Abstract Distribution of the swift fox (Vulpes velox) has declined dramatically since the 1800s, and suggested causes of this decline are habitat fragmentation and transformation due to agricultural expansion. However, impacts of fragmentation and human-altered habitats on swift foxes still are not well understood. To better understand what effects these factors have on diets of swift foxes, scats were collected in northwestern Texas at two study sites, one of continuous native prairie and one representing fragmented native prairie interspersed with agricultural and fields in the Conservation Reserve Program. Leporids, a potential food source, were surveyed seasonally on both sites. Diets of swift foxes differed between sites; insects were consumed more on continuous prairie, whereas mammals, birds, and crops were consumed more on fragmented prairie. Size of populations of leporids were 2–3 times higher on fragmented prairie, and swift foxes responded by consuming more leporids on fragmented (11.1% frequency occurrence) than continuous (3.8%) prairie. Dietary diversity was greater on fragmented prairie during both years of the study. Differences in diets between sites suggested that the swift fox is an adaptable and opportunistic feeder, able to exploit a variety of food resources, probably in relation to availability of food. We suggest that compared to continuous native prairie, fragmented prairie can offer swift foxes a more diverse prey base, at least within the mosaic of native prairie, agricultural, and fields that are in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Reunion: Complexity-Effective Multicore Redundancy

To protect processor logic from soft errors, multicore redundant architectures execute two copies of a program on separate cores of a chip multiprocessor (CMP). Maintaining identical instruction streams is challenging because redundant cores operate independently, yet must still receive the same inputs (e.g., load values and shared-memory invalidations). Past proposals strictly replicate load values across two cores, requiring significant changes to the highly-optimized core. We make the key observation that, in the common case, both cores load identical values without special hardware. When the cores do receive different load values (e.g., due to a data race), the same mechanisms employed for soft error detection and recovery can correct the difference. This observation permits designs that relax input replication, while still providing correct redundant execution. In this paper, we present Reunion, an execution model that provides relaxed input replication and preserves the existing memory interface, coherence protocols, and consistency models. We evaluate a CMP-based implementation of the Reunion execution model with full-system, cycle-accurate simulation. We show that the performance overhead of relaxed input replication is only 5% and 6% for commercial and scientific workloads, respectively
Evaluation of paraoxonase activity in patients with mixed connective tissue disease.

OBJECTIVE Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease. The connection between inflammatory measures and atherosclerosis in MCTD has not been described. Paraoxonase (PON) is known to have an antioxidant function. We evaluated lipid profiles and PON activity in patients with MCTD. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with MCTD were enrolled. Patients had taken no antihyperlipidemic drugs in the past 2 months. Thirty healthy individuals served as controls. The mean age of patients was 51.2 +/- 9.5 years; disease duration was 11.0 +/- 7.2 years. PON activity was determined with spectrophotometry, von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen was investigated with the immunoturbidimetry method, and thrombomodulin and antiendothelial cell antibody (AECA) measurements were carried out by ELISA. RESULTS PON activity in patients with MCTD was significantly lower than in the controls (patients 118.5 +/- 64.6 U/l, controls 188.0 +/- 77.6; p < 0.001). Arylesterase activity was significantly reduced in patients (p < 0.001). Reduction of PON activity showed a close correlation with the age of the patients, duration of the disease, and vascular events (eye, cardiac, cerebral). There was a close association between the low PON activity and endothelial cell activation markers (thrombomodulin, vWF, AECA). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that in patients with MCTD there is an increased risk for atherosclerosis. In the development of atherosclerosis, besides the elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride, reduced PON concentrations and PON activity may play a crucial role.
Phospholipid scramblase 1 is required for β2‐glycoprotein I binding in hypoxia and reoxygenation‐induced endothelial inflammation

Multiple pathologic conditions, including hemorrhage, tumor angiogenesis, and ischemia‐reperfusion events, will result in hypoxia and subsequent reperfusion. Previous studies have analyzed the lipid changes within whole tissues and indicated that ischemia‐reperfusion altered tissue and cellular phospholipids. Using an in vitro cell culture model of hypoxia and reoxygenation, we examined the endothelial lipid changes. We hypothesized that phospholipid scramblase 1, a protein that regulates bilayer asymmetry, is involved in altering the phospholipids of endothelial cells during hypoxia, a component of ischemia, leading to β2‐glycoprotein I and IgM binding and subsequent lipid‐mediated, inflammatory responses. We have completed the first comprehensive study of steady‐state phospholipid scramblase 1 mRNA levels, protein expression, and activity under conditions of hypoxia and reoxygenation. Phospholipid scramblase 1 regulates phosphatidylserine exposure in response to oxygen stress, leading to β2‐glycoprotein I and IgM binding and lipid‐mediated, inflammatory responses.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Oxidative Stress Resistance in Drosophila melanogaster

Background Aerobic organisms are susceptible to damage by reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress resistance is a quantitative trait with population variation attributable to the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Drosophila melanogaster provides an ideal system to study the genetics of variation for resistance to oxidative stress. Methods and Findings We used 167 wild-derived inbred lines of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel for a genome-wide association study of acute oxidative stress resistance to two oxidizing agents, paraquat and menadione sodium bisulfite. We found significant genetic variation for both stressors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with variation in oxidative stress resistance were often sex-specific and agent-dependent, with a small subset common for both sexes or treatments. Associated SNPs had moderately large effects, with an inverse relationship between effect size and allele frequency. Linear models with up to 12 SNPs explained 67–79% and 56–66% of the phenotypic variance for resistance to paraquat and menadione sodium bisulfite, respectively. Many genes implicated were novel with no known role in oxidative stress resistance. Bioinformatics analyses revealed a cellular network comprising DNA metabolism and neuronal development, consistent with targets of oxidative stress-inducing agents. We confirmed associations of seven candidate genes associated with natural variation in oxidative stress resistance through mutational analysis. Conclusions We identified novel candidate genes associated with variation in resistance to oxidative stress that have context-dependent effects. These results form the basis for future translational studies to identify oxidative stress susceptibility/resistance genes that are evolutionary conserved and might play a role in human disease.
The Accumulation of Oleosins Determines the Size of Seed Oilbodies in Arabidopsis[W][OA]

We investigated the role of the oilbody proteins in developing and germinating Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. Seed oilbodies are simple organelles comprising a matrix of triacylglycerol surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer embedded and covered with unique proteins called oleosins. Indirect observations have suggested that oleosins maintain oilbodies as small single units preventing their coalescence during seed desiccation. To understand the role of oleosins during seed development or germination, we created lines of Arabidopsis in which a major oleosin is ablated or severely attenuated. This was achieved using RNA interference techniques and through the use of a T-DNA insertional event, which appears to interrupt the major (18 kD) seed oleosin gene of Arabidopsis and results in ablation of expression. Oleosin suppression resulted in an aberrant phenotype of embryo cells that contain unusually large oilbodies that are not normally observed in seeds. Changes in the size of oilbodies caused disruption of storage organelles, altering accumulation of lipids and proteins and causing delay in germination. The aberrant phenotypes were reversed by reintroducing a recombinant oleosin. Based on this direct evidence, we have shown that oleosins are important proteins in seed tissue for controlling oilbody structure and lipid accumulation.
The Role of Noncognitive Skills in Explaining Cognitive Test Scores

AbstractThis paper examines whether noncognitive skills â€” measures both by personality traits andeconomic preference parameters â€” influence cognitive tests performance. The basic idea isthat noncognitive skills might affect the effort people put into a test to obtain good results. We experimentally varied the rewards for questions in a cognitive test to measure to what extent people are sensitive to financial incentives. To distinguish increased mental effort from extra time investments we also varied the questionâ€™ time constraints. Subjects withfavorable personality traits such as high performance-motivation and an internal locus of control perform relatively well in the absence of rewards; consistent with a model in which trying as hard as you can is the best strategy. In contrast, favorable economic preference parameters (low discount rate, low risk aversion) are associated with increases in time investments when incentives are introduced, consistent with a rational economic model in which people only invest when there are monetary returns. The main conclusion is that individual behavior at cognitive tests depends on noncognitive skills.
Alterations of Diffusion Kurtosis and Neurite Density Measures in Deep Grey Matter and White Matter in Parkinson’s Disease

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), pathological microstructural changes occur and such changes might be detected using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). However, it is unclear whether dMRI improves PD diagnosis or helps differentiating between phenotypes, such as postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) and tremor dominant (TD) PD. We included 105 patients with PD and 44 healthy controls (HC), all of whom underwent dMRI as part of the prospective Swedish BioFINDER study. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and neurite density imaging (NDI) analyses were performed using regions of interest in the basal ganglia, the thalamus, the pons and the midbrain as well as tractography of selected white matter tracts. In the putamen, the PD group showed increased mean diffusivity (MD) (p = .003), decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) (p = .001) and decreased mean kurtosis (MK), compared to HC (p = .024). High MD and a low MK in the putamen were associated with more severe motor and cognitive symptomatology (p < .05). Also, patients with PIGD exhibited increased MD in the putamen compared to the TD patients (p = .009). In the thalamus, MD was increased (p = .001) and FA was decreased (p = .032) in PD compared to HC. Increased MD and decreased FA correlated negatively with motor speed and balance (p < .05). In the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), MD (p = .019) and fiso were increased in PD compared to HC (p = .03). These changes correlated negatively with motor speed (p < .002) and balance (p < .037). However, most of the observed changes in PD were also present in cases with either multiple system atrophy (n = 11) or progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 10). In conclusion, PD patients exhibit microstructural changes in the putamen, the thalamus, and the SLF, which are associated with worse disease severity. However, the dMRI changes are not sufficiently specific to improve the diagnostic work-up of PD. Longitudinal studies should evaluate whether dMRI measures can be used to track disease progression.
Genetic architecture of motives for leisure‐time physical activity: a twin study

The aim of this study was to estimate the contribution of genetic and environmental influences on motives for engaging in leisure‐time physical activity. The participants were obtained from the FinnTwin16 study. A modified version of the Recreational Exercise Motivation Measure was used to assess the motives for leisure‐time physical activity in 2542 twin individuals (mean age of 34.1 years). Linear structural equation modeling was used to investigate the genetic and environmental influences on motive dimensions. The highest heritability estimates were found for the motive dimensions of “enjoyment” [men 33% (95% CI 23–43%), women 53% (95% CI 45–60%)] and “affiliation” [men 39% (95% CI 0.28–0.49%), women 35% (95% CI 0.25–0.43%)]. The lowest heritability estimates were found for others’ expectations [men 13% (95% CI 0.04–0.25%), women 15% (95% CI 0.07–0.24%)]. Unique environmental influences explained the remaining variances, which ranged from 47% to 87%. The heritability estimates for summary variables of intrinsic and extrinsic motives were 36% and 32% for men and 40% and 24% for women, respectively. In conclusion, genetic factors contribute to motives for leisure‐time physical activity. However, the genetic effects are, at most, moderate, implying the greater relative role of environmental factors.
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability during Yoga-Based Alternate Nostril Breathing Practice and Breath Awareness

Background Previous research has shown a reduction in blood pressure (BP) immediately after the practice of alternate nostril yoga breathing (ANYB) in normal healthy male volunteers and in hypertensive patients of both sexes. The BP during ANYB has not been recorded. Material/Methods Participants were 26 male volunteers (group mean age ±SD, 23.8±3.5 years). We assessed (1) heart rate variability, (2) non-invasive arterial BP, and (3) respiration rate, during (a) ANYB and (b) breath awareness (BAW) sessions. Each session was 25 minutes. We performed assessments at 3 time points: Pre (5 minutes), during (15 minutes; for ANYB or BAW) and Post (5 minutes). A naïve-to-yoga control group (n=15 males, mean age ±SD 26.1±4.0 years) were assessed while seated quietly for 25 minutes. Results During ANYB there was a significant decrease (repeated measures ANOVA) in systolic BP and respiration rate; while RMSSD (the square root of the mean of the sum of squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals) and NN50 (the number of interval differences of successive normal to normal intervals greater than 50 ms) significantly increased. During BAW respiration rate decreased. In contrast, respiration rate increased during the control state. ANYB and BAW were significantly different (2-factor ANOVA) in RMSSD and respiration rate. BAW and control were different with respect to respiration rate. Conclusions The results suggest that vagal activity increased during and after ANYB, which could have contributed to the decrease in BP and changes in the HRV.
Acute and Chronic Brain Injury in United States National Team Soccer Players

We designed a study to determine whether chronic encephalopathy occurs in elite, active soccer players resulting from repetitive heading of the soccer ball. Studies have suggested that the cumulative effects of heading a ball can cause a chronic brain syndrome similar to dementia pugilistica, which is seen in profes sional boxers. Twenty of 25 members of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team training camp (average age, 24.9; average years of soccer, 17.7), who com pleted a questionnaire on head injury symptoms and had magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, were compared with 20 age-matched male elite track ath letes. The soccer players were surveyed about playing position, teams, number of headers, acute head inju ries, and years of playing experience. An exposure index to headers was developed to assess a dose- response effect of chronic heading. The soccer and track groups were questioned regarding alcohol use and history of acute head traumas. Questionnaire anal ysis and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated no statistical differences between the two groups. Among the soccer players, symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging findings did not correlate with age, years of play, exposure index results, or number of headers. However, reported head injury symptoms, especially in soccer players, correlated with histories of prior acute head injuries (r = 0.63). These findings suggest that any evidence of encephalopathy in soccer players relates more to acute head injuries received playing soccer than from repetitive heading.
Patient-controlled epidural analgesia with fentanyl and bupivacaine provides better analgesia than intravenous morphine patient-controlled analgesia for early thoracotomy pain.

BACKGROUND Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) were studied in terms of analgesic efficacy, respiratory function and side effects after thoracic surgery for 24h. PCEA using fentanyl and bupivacaine as compared to IVPCA using morphine provides better pain relief both at rest and during coughing and is associated with fewer side effects. AIMS To compare IVPCA and PCEA in terms of analgesic efficacy, respiratory function and side effects after thoracic surgery. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Tertiary care teaching hospital. Prospective, randomized and open study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty ASA-I or II patients undergoing thoracotomy were assigned randomly to receive either IVPCA using morphine or PCEA using fentanyl and bupivacaine combination postoperatively. No background infusion was administered in either group. Postoperative evaluation included pain intensity both at rest and during coughing, degree of sedation, arterial blood gas, forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), presence of side effects such as nausea/vomiting and pruritus at 0, 2, 8, 12 and 24h. The primary outcome of the study was the percentage of patients with analgesia failure defined as VAS>30 despite three consecutive PCA boluses requiring rescue analgesia with intravenous fentanyl. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data were analyzed using t -test, chi2 test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS Significantly less number of patients required rescue analgesia in PCEA group ( P< 0.05). Pain relief was better both at rest and during coughing ( P< 0.05) in PCEA group as compared to IVPCA. Patients in the PCEA group were less sedated and had fewer incidences of side effects, i.e. nausea/vomiting and pruritus. Postoperative FVC and PEFR were reduced significantly compared to baseline only in IVPCA group ( P< 0.05). CONCLUSION After thoracic surgery, PCEA using fentanyl and bupivacaine as compared to IVPCA using morphine provides better pain relief both at rest and during coughing and associated with fewer side effects.
Regular Article: A New Discrete Velocity Method for Navier–Stokes Equations

The relation between the lattice Boltzmann method, which has recently become popular, and the kinetic schemes, which are routinely used in computational fluid dynamics, is explored. A new discrete velocity method for the numerical solution of Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible fluid flow is presented by combining both the approaches. The new scheme can be interpreted as a pseudo-compressibility method and, for a particular choice of parameters, this interpretation carries over to the lattice Boltzmann method.
Junction Formation via Direct Bonding of Si and 6H-SiC

Si wafers were directly bonded to 6H-SiC wafers without the formation of an intermediate layer. Heterojunctions of n-Si/n-SiC and p-Si/n-SiC exhibited ohmic and rectifying characteristics, respectively, as expected based on their band lineups. Band bending of Si at the bonded interface was observed for Si/semi-insulating 6H-SiC heterointerfaces. This band bending can be explained by either heterojunction formation based on Anderson’s model or the existence of negative charge with a density of ~2 × 1010 cm−2 at the Si/SiC interface.
Sonic hedgehog expression correlates with fundic gland differentiation in the adult gastrointestinal tract

Background: Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is an important endodermal morphogenetic signal during the development of the vertebrate gut. It controls gastrointestinal patterning in general, and gastric gland formation in particular. We have previously shown that Shh regulates gastric gland proliferation in the adult but detailed analysis of its expression along the adult gastrointestinal tract has never been undertaken. We therefore studied Shh expression along the normal human and rodent adult gastrointestinal tract as well as in intestinal metaplasia of the stomach, gastric and intestinal metaplasia of the oesophagus, and gastric heterotopia in Meckel’s diverticulum. Methods: The studies were performed with in situ hybridisation and by immunohistochemistry using an antibody that recognises the Shh precursor form. Results: We found that in the normal gastrointestinal tract, high levels of Shh were expressed in the fundic glands of the stomach. Shh expression was also found in fundic gland metaplasia and heterotopia. However, Shh expression was lost in intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. Conclusion: We found a strong correlation between Shh expression and fundic gland differentiation. Our current study therefore provides evidence that in addition to its role in gastric epithelial development, Shh plays a unique role in gastric epithelial differentiation in adults.