Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphine reduces the threshold of remote ischemic preconditioning against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats: the role of opioid receptors.

OBJECTIVES Opioid receptors mediate the cardioprotection of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC). The authors tested the hypothesis that morphine reduces the threshold of cardioprotection produced by RIPC. METHODS A randomized, prospective study. SETTING A university research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS Anesthetized, open-chest, male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to 1 of 7 treatment groups. RIPC1 and RIPC3 were, respectively, induced by 1 or 3 cycles of 5 minutes of femoral artery ischemia interspersed with 5 minutes of reperfusion. Morphine (MOR, 0.1 mg/kg) and the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (NAL, 6 mg/kg) were administered 30 minutes before sustaining ischemia. MOR + RIPC1 and NAL + MOR + RIPC1 groups received the combination of MOR and RIPC1 in the absence or presence of NAL before coronary artery occlusion. Ischemia and reperfusion injury then were induced by 30 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Infarct size, as a percentage of the area at risk, was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium staining. RIPC3 and the combination of MOR and RIPC1 groups significantly reduced the infarct size compared with the control group. RIPC1, MOR, and NAL did not affect infarct size. NAL pretreatment reversed cardioprotection of the combination of MOR and RIPC1 treatments. CONCLUSIONS MOR reduces the threshold of RIPC, and opioid receptors mediate this augmentative effect.
DECISION BASED DATA FUSION TECHNIQUES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SETTLEMENT AREAS FROM MULTISENSOR SATELLITE DATA

Despite the population stagnation in many industrialized countries, we experience a steady sprawl of urban/suburban space. This fact is based on the migration out of the inner cities, increasing demands on living space, and set-aside of land for commercial developments. In developing countries, this urban growth occurs at dramatic speeds and costs to the environment. Often, planning offices have no or only outdated information about new settlements and their composition in their jurisdiction. The University of Osnabrueck’s Institute for Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing has developed a hierarchical method for decision based fusion to automate the delineation of new residential and commercial built-up area. The procedure is based on fusion techniques at the decision level using differently weighted parameters for texture, shape, and spectral characteristics. It was applied to multisensor satellite images from sensors such as SPOT-5, Kompsat 1, Landsat ETM, and Aster. Using this method, accuracies exceeding 90% could be achieved.
An updated and expanded assessment of PLS-SEM in information systems research

Following the call for awareness of accepted reporting practices by Ringle, Sarstedt, and Straub in 2012, the purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the use of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in Industrial Management & Data Systems (IMDS) and extend MIS Quarterly (MISQ) applications to include the period 2012-2014. ,Review of PLS-SEM applications in information systems (IS) studies published in IMDS and MISQ for the period 2010-2014 identifying a total of 57 articles reporting the use of or commenting on PLS-SEM. ,The results indicate an increased maturity of the IS field in using PLS-SEM for model complexity and formative measures and not just small sample sizes and non-normal data. ,Findings demonstrate the continued use and acceptance of PLS-SEM as an accepted research method within IS. PLS-SEM is discussed as the preferred SEM method when the research objective is prediction. ,This update on PLS-SEM use and recent developments will help authors to better understand and apply the method. Researchers are encouraged to engage in complete reporting procedures. ,Applications of PLS-SEM for exploratory research and theory development are increasing. IS scholars should continue to exercise sound practice by reporting reasons for using PLS-SEM and recognizing its wider applicability for research. Recommended reporting guidelines following Ringle et al. (2012) and Gefen et al. (2011) are included. Several important methodological updates are included as well.
Gestural introduction of Ground reference in L2 narrative discourse

Abstract In the field of second language acquisition (SLA) and use, learners' gestures have mainly been regarded as a type of communication strategy produced to replace missing words. However, the results of the analyses conducted here on the way in which Dutch learners of Japanese introduce Ground reference in speech and gesture in narrative show that the two modes of expression are closely related in L1 as well as in L2. First, cross-linguistic variation is observed in both modes of expression, with a tendency for native speakers of Japanese to allocate on-line attention to Ground in both speech and gesture. Second, Dutch learners of Japanese prefer to adopt rhetorical styles more similar to their L1 than the L2 target, and the accompanying gestures are more L1-like. Transfer of L1 to L2 in narrative and the relationship between speech and gesture will be discussed.
Effects of potassium channel modulators on myogenic spontaneous phasic contractile activity in human detrusor from neurogenic patients

To characterize the spontaneous contractile activity (SCA) developed by detrusor from patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) because the alteration of detrusor properties plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of detrusor overactivity, as well as to evaluate the role of KATP and KCa channels on this SCA because these channels regulate detrusor SCA in many species, including humans without overactive bladder (OAB).
PENGEMBANGAN PERANGKAT PEMBELAJARAN IPA BERBASIS PROBLEM BASED LEARNING DI SMP

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui: (1) kelayakan perangkat pembelajaran IPA berbasisproblem based learning dalam pembelajaran IPA di SMP dan (2) perbedaan keterampilan memecahkanmasalah dan scientiﬁ c attitude antara pembelajaran yang menggunakan perangkat berbasis problembased learning dengan pembelajaran menggunakan perangkat konvensional. Penelitian inimenggunakan metode Research and Development (R&D) yang dikembangkan oleh Borg & Gall.Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa: (1) perangkat pembelajaran yang dikembangkan sudahlayak digunakan berdasarkan pada hasil validasi ahli, uji coba terbatas, uji coba lapangan yang sesuaidengan problem based learning, sehingga telah teruji secara teoritis dan empiris dan (2) terdapatperbedaan nilai keterampilan memecahkan masalah dan scientiﬁ c attitude antara pembelajaranyang menggunakan perangkat berbasis problem based learning dengan pembelajaran menggunakanperangkat konvensional
INFLUENCE OF THE ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE POLYMORPHISM ON THE PROGRESSION OF AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE AND IgA NEPHROPATHY

Background: The reason of variability of clinical course and progression to end-stage renal failure (ESRF) of two widespread chronic nephropathies–-autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and IgA nephropathy (IGAN) is not clear. The endothelial dysfunction is considered in the number of factors possibly influencing the prognosis of these nephropathies. Our study tried to verify the hypothesis that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene polymorphisms in intron 4 could have some relevance to the progression of ADPKD and/or IgA nephropathy. Methods: We examined 128 Czech patients with ADPKD (62 males, 66 females) and 93 patients with IGAN (51 males, 42 females). As a control group we used 100 genetically unrelated healthy subjects (50 men, 50 women, mean age 51.2 ± 8.2). The genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were separated on 1.5% agarose gel and visualized by ultraviolet transillumination. We compared homozygous subjects for ecNOSb allele with homozygous and heterozygous subjects for ecNOSa allele. Results: The frequencies of ecNOSa/b + a/a and ecNOSb/b genotypes were 19% (19/100) and 81% (81/100) in the control group. The frequencies of ecNOSa/b + a/a and ecNOSb/b genotypes in ADPKD patients were: 26.6% (8/30) and 73.4% (22/30) in ADPKD patients with normal renal function, 30% (9/30) and 70% (21/30) in ADPKD with ESRF, 35.2% (18/51) and 64.8% (33/51) in young ADPKD patients, 60% (12/20) and 40% (8/20) in ADPKD patients with ESRF later than in 62 years. In IGAN the frequencies of ecNOSa/b + a/a and ecNOSb/b genotypes were 24% (12/50) and 76% (38/50) in IgA with normal renal function and 20.9 % (9/43) and 79.1% (38/43) in IgA with ESRF. Conclusion: Both in ADPKD and IGAN groups there was no significant difference in the frequencies of ecNOS genotypes between patients with normal renal function and age matched patients with ESRF and between patients with normal renal function and control group. The frequency of ecNOS a allele was significantly higher in a number limited group ADPKD patients with ESRF later than in 62 years (Chi-square test p < 0.05). This higher frequency of a allele among ADPKD patients with later onset of ESRF could suggest the trend of positive influence of a allele in ADPKD patients.
Discussions of Cancer Clinical Trials with the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service

Clinical trials are essential for the development of new and effective treatments for cancer; however, participation rates are low. One reason for this is lack of knowledge about clinical trials. This study assessed how often clinical trials are discussed on calls to National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS). The authors quantitatively analyzed 283,094 calls to the CIS (1-800-4-CANCER) over 3 years (2006–2008). They calculated descriptive statistics and multivariate regressions to determine whether specific caller characteristics are associated with the presence of a clinical trials discussion. In addition, 2 focus groups were conducted with CIS information specialists (n = 12) to provide insight into the findings. The authors found that approximately 9.3% of CIS calls discussed clinical trials, with higher percentages for patients (12.5%) and family members (15.4%). Calls with Hispanics, Blacks, and Spanish speakers were less likely to include a conversation. For all cancers, patients who are in treatment or experiencing a recurrence were statistically significantly more likely to discuss clinical trials. CIS information specialists reported callers’ limited knowledge of clinical trials. The CIS has the unique ability to make a substantial effect in educating patients about clinical trials as an option in cancer treatment and care.
Human bioavailability of flavanols and phenolic acids from cocoa-nut creams enriched with free or microencapsulated cocoa polyphenols

Human bioavailability of cocoa flavanols and phenolic acids from a cocoa-nut cream (CC) and from CC enriched with a 1·5 % (w/w) cocoa polyphenol extract in free form (FPC) or encapsulated with a gastric-resistant high-amylose maize starch (EPC), was studied. In a randomised cross-over protocol, with 1-week wash-out in between, twelve healthy volunteers had three portions/d of each cream, providing approximately 190 μmol/d of total flavanols and 12 μmol/d of total phenolic acids with CC and 385 and 28 μmol/d with both FPC and EPC, respectively. Blood, urine and faecal samples were analysed by HPLC/MS/MS. Serum (epi)catechin was absent at baseline and after CC consumption, while 22·1 (sem 2·62) and 1·59 (sem 0·22) nmol (P <0·05) were found after FPC and EPC, respectively. The EPC increased faecal excretion of total flavanols compared to FPC (151·0 (sem 54·6) v. 28·0 (sem 14·0) nmol; P <0·05). Within 6 h after consumption, serum phenolic acid content was 50-fold higher than (epi)catechin; no difference between CC and FPC was observed, but a significant reduction after EPC (1954 (sem 236·3) and 1459 (sem 137·6) v. 726·8 (sem 73·4) nmol, P <0·05) was recorded. Short-term phenolic acid urinary excretions were significantly higher after FPC than CC and EPC, the values being 11·4 (sem 5·1) v. 3·1 (sem 1·7) and 0·9 (sem 0·5) μmol, respectively. Faecal phenolic acids were approximately 60-fold reduced after FPC (8·1 (sem 0·13) nmol) and EPC (14·7 (sem 2·7) nmol) consumption compared to CC (641·4 (sem 99·1) nmol) consumption. The data demonstrated that: (i) (epi)catechin was absorbed from CC; (ii) cocoa polyphenols' consumption increased circulating phenolic acids; and (iii) encapsulated ingredient increased flavanol delivering into the gut. Further studies should evaluate whether encapsulated cocoa polyphenols may be a functional prebiotic ingredient.
Essentialist beliefs about sexuality-related categories / Creencias esencialistas sobre diferentes categorías relacionadas con la sexualidad

Abstract People form essentialist beliefs about social categories as a strategy to organize their world and to make sense of the similarities and differences between different categories. This research examines four dimensions of essentialist thinking (biological basis, immutability, clarity of discreteness and informativeness) across different sexuality-related categories. Specifically, the categories of gays, lesbians, transsexuals, paedophiles, rapists and prostitutes were studied. Results show that essentialist beliefs of the six categories vary across dimensions and that essentialist dimensions function independently. Therefore, we discuss the relative usefulness of taking a global measurement as opposed to analysing the dimensions of essentialism separately.
Temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor‐β in the healing patellar ligament of the rat

We investigated the temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor‐β in the healing patellar ligament of the rat by immunohistochemistry. The mid‐portion of the medial half of the patellar ligament in 14‐week‐old male Wistar rats was cut transversely with a scalpel. On day 1 after ligament injury, diffuse staining for transforming growth factor‐β was observed in the extracellular matrix filling the wound, and the staining in the adjacent ligament tissue was as weak as it was in the normal ligament. On day 3, the intensity of the diffuse extracellular staining decreased, and the staining was observed in correspondence with the cellular distribution in the wound site and in the adjacent uninjured ligament tissue. On day 7, the intense staining was widely distributed over the whole length of the ligament tissue. On day 28, the staining for transforming growth factor‐β was still observed at the wound site and in the adjacent uninjured ligament tissue, where the staining was reduced in intensity but still stronger than it was in the normal ligament. On day 56, the expression of transforming growth factor‐β was still detectable at the wound site: however, in the adjacent uninjured ligament tissue, it had almost subsided to the normal level. The results of the present study suggest that ligament healing may be accompanied by extensive changes in the expression of transforming growth factor‐β over the whole length of ligament tissue.
Temporal Estimates of Effective Population Size in Species With Overlapping Generations

The standard temporal method for estimating effective population size (Ne) assumes that generations are discrete, but it is routinely applied to species with overlapping generations. We evaluated bias in the estimates \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \({\hat{N}}_{\mathrm{e}}\) \end{document} caused by violation of this assumption, using simulated data for three model species: humans (type I survival), sparrow (type II), and barnacle (type III). We verify a previous proposal by Felsenstein that weighting individuals by reproductive value is the correct way to calculate parametric population allele frequencies, in which case the rate of change in age-structured populations conforms to that predicted by discrete-generation models. When the standard temporal method is applied to age-structured species, typical sampling regimes (sampling only newborns or adults; randomly sampling the entire population) do not yield properly weighted allele frequencies and result in biased \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \({\hat{N}}_{\mathrm{e}}\) \end{document}. The direction and magnitude of the bias are shown to depend on the sampling method and the species' life history. Results for populations that grow (or decline) at a constant rate paralleled those for populations of constant size. If sufficient demographic data are available and certain sampling restrictions are met, the Jorde–Ryman modification of the temporal method can be applied to any species with overlapping generations. Alternatively, spacing the temporal samples many generations apart maximizes the drift signal compared to sampling biases associated with age structure.
It’s Not the Size of the Boat or the Motion of the Ocean

Research on psychological factors related to female sexual functioning has been growing in recent years. Our study draws on the existing sexual health literature and objectification theory to test a model of female sexual functioning. Using structural equation modeling, we examined the associations of body surveillance and internalization of cultural standards of beauty with appearance anxiety, depression, and sexual health (i.e., physical sexual functioning and subjective sexual well-being) in a sample of 426 sexually active, heterosexual, cisgender women. Further, we investigated the role of depression and appearance anxiety as mediators of the associations of body surveillance and internalization of cultural standards of beauty with sexual health. Our findings contribute to the growing body of empirical research that examines the role of sociocultural and psychological factors in female sexual functioning. Results suggest that depression and appearance anxiety fully mediated the relations of body surveillance with sexual well-being. However, internalization of cultural standards of beauty was not significant with any study outcomes. These findings expand on existing objectification theory literature by elucidating the associations of body surveillance and internalization of cultural standards of beauty with sexual functioning as well as by highlighting the importance of attending to body image, appearance anxiety, and depression when working clinically with women reporting concerns with their sexual functioning.
Distribution of Th1, Th2, and Th0 and the Th1/Th2 Cell Ratios in Human Peripheral and Endometrial T Cells

Saito S, Tsukaguchi N, Hasegawa T, Michimata T, Tsuda H, Narita N. Distribution of Th1, Th2, and Th0 and the Th1/Th2 cell ratios in human peripheral and endometrial T cells. AJRI 1999; 42:240–245 © Munksgaard, Copenhagen
A New Approach for Assessing the Required Tritium Breeding Ratio and Startup Inventory in Future Fusion Reactors

AbstractAccurately estimating the required tritium breeding ratio (TBR) λr in fusion reactor systems is necessary to guide fusion research and development and to assess the feasibility of fusion reactors as a self-sufficient energy source. This is especially true when one considers the limits imposed by the present-day breeding performance of breeder blanket candidates. Studies of this subject have been performed in the past, with particular emphasis on developing appropriate dynamic simulations of the fuel cycle. In the last few years, development of new dynamic and integrated fusion fuel cycle tritium computer codes has moved away from general residence-time models and instead incorporated more comprehensive and realistic models. Furthermore, detailed and rigorous computer codes that model the dynamic retention behavior of individual components inside the fuel cycle, in particular the torus plasma-facing components in a tokamak, have been vastly improved with uncertainties identified. A more efficient a.
Improving relevance feedback‐based query expansion by the use of a weighted word pairs approach

In this article, the use of a new term extraction method for query expansion (QE) in text retrieval is investigated. The new method expands the initial query with a structured representation made of weighted word pairs (WWP) extracted from a set of training documents (relevance feedback). Standard text retrieval systems can handle a WWP structure through custom Boolean weighted models. We experimented with both the explicit and pseudorelevance feedback schemas and compared the proposed term extraction method with others in the literature, such as KLD and RM3. Evaluations have been conducted on a number of test collections (Text REtrivel Conference [TREC]‐6, ‐7, ‐8, ‐9, and ‐10). Results demonstrated that the QE method based on this new structure outperforms the baseline.
“Either it isn’t or it’s not”: neg/aux contraction in British dialects

The source dialects in Britain are critical to disentangling the history and development of varieties in North America and elsewhere. One feature which appears to provide a critical diagnostic, particularly for situating dialects geographically in Britain, is negative (neg) vs. auxiliary (aux) contraction with be, have and will. Use of aux contraction is said to be more prevalent in northern varieties. Using the comparative method and quantitative methodology, this paper provides a quantitative analysis of this feature in eight British communities, two in the south, six in more northern areas. The comparative cross-variety approach provides a number of different lines of evidence which can then be used for testing similarities and differences across varieties. First, there is a dramatic difference between neg/aux contraction with be compared to the other auxiliaries that is consistent across all the communities. In every location be has aux contraction, and in each case it has higher rates of aux contraction than will or have. Second, all the Scots varieties have categorical aux contraction with be, just as would be expected from the historical record. However, there is a marked difference across the same varieties with will. Third, in the four locales where there is variation between neg and aux contraction the choice of form can be explained by the influence of the preceding phonological environment. In sum, neg/aux contraction is a poor diagnostic for distinguishing varieties of British English on broad geographic grounds. In contrast, at other levels of grammar (morphology and syntax) there are broad similarities across northern varieties. We conclude that the type of linguistic feature targeted for investigation plays a critical role in determining the similarities and differences amongst varieties.