Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulatory effect of synthetic kynurenic acid derivatives on the nitroglycerin-induced trigeminal activation and sensitization in rats

Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders. Its pathomechanism is only partially known and therapy is not always effective. In migraine, activation of trigeminal system plays an important role involving peptides/enzymes like calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα) and glutamate and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine (α7-nACh) receptors. Kynurenic acid is an endogenous antagonist of the above mentioned receptors, but its poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier limits its therapeutic potential, therefore in our experiments we investigated effect of its pro-drug, L-kynurenine (L-KYN) combined with probenecid (PROB) and two newly synthesized kynurenic acid amides (KYNAa1, KYNAa2) on kynurenic acid concentration of the central nervous system in rats and on morphological and behavioural changes induced by systemic administration of nitroglycerin (NTG), an animal model of migraine. Our results showed that kynurenic acid concentration in cervical part of spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis (C1-C2) - where most of the trigeminal nociceptors convey - was significantly increased one hour after L-KYN-PROB. Moreover, KYNAa2 also enhanced kynurenic acid levels suggesting that this new derivative, at least partially, transforms to kynurenic acid resulting in a possible direct and indirect action in the central nervous system. The significant decrease of CGRP and increase of c-Fos, nNOS and CaMKIIα four hours after NTG treatment in C1-C2 measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting reflect the activation and sensitization of the trigeminal system. These changes were attenuated by the pre-treatment with L-KYN-PROB, KYNAa1 and in a dose-dependent manner with KYNAa2 probably due to their effects on the target receptors of kynurenic acid located in the peripheral and central part of the trigeminal system. The NTG-induced lower ambulation distance demonstrated by Open Field Test may indicate pain condition in rats, which can not be observed after pre-treatment with KYNAa2. Furthermore, the KYNAa2 administration lowers the basic ambulation distance which can reflect its central effect. Our results suggest that by modulating the activation and sensitization of the trigeminal system in animals, kynurenic acid or its derivatives can be potential drug candidates in the treatment of headaches.
Crime, Criminology and Criminal Justice in Scotland

This survey of Scotland reviews: core Scottish criminal justice institutions; statistical trends in crime and punishment over the past 40 years; the history and politics of Scottish criminal justice; and the emergence of a distinctively Scottish criminology. In particular, it highlights the cross-cutting modalities of power and identity that have shaped both institutional and policy development and made strong linkages between knowledge and politics.
Dietary protein and(or) energy restriction in mares: plasma glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acid, and urea nitrogen responses to feeding, glucose, and epinephrine.

Sixteen light horse mares (8 to 9 yr of age; 457 to 579 kg BW) were fed Bermudagrass hay and a corn/cottonseed hull-based supplement formulated to contain either 100% (control) or 50% (restricted) of the protein and(or) energy requirements for maintenance in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Daily measurements of intake, BW, and plasma hormones and metabolites were made for 33 d. Plasma glucose, insulin, NEFA, and urea N were measured in hourly samples drawn on d 27, and parallel with an i.v. glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and epinephrine challenge on d 29. Energy restriction increased daily NEFA concentrations (P < .001) and urea N (P = .013), whereas protein restriction decreased (P = .002) urea N concentrations. These effects of protein and energy restriction occurred within 24 h and were consistent (day effect, P > .1) throughout the remaining 24 d. Normal meal consumption elevated plasma glucose, insulin, and urea N concentrations (time effect, P < .08). Plasma NEFA concentrations did not change after feeding in mares fed control energy, but decreased in mares fed restricted energy (energy x time interaction, P = .005). After IVGTT, areas under the curve for plasma glucose and insulin were smaller in mares fed restricted protein (P < .05), whereas glucose area was larger in mares fed restricted energy (P = .009). After epinephrine injection, energy restriction increased the initial magnitude of the NEFA response, but after 50 min, reduced plasma NEFA below pre-injection concentrations (energy x time interaction, P = .06). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Characteristics of Venous Thromboembolism in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in East Asian Ethnics

AbstractPancreatic cancer (PC) is known to be frequently associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although treatment and prophylaxis strategies for VTE in PC patients were updated recently, these were mainly based on data from Western populations and were not verified in East Asian ethnic populations.We investigated the clinical characteristics of VTE in East Asian PC patients. We reviewed electronic medical records (EMR) of 1334 patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 2005 to 2010 at single tertiary hospital in Korea. All the patients with newly diagnosed VTE were classified by anatomical site and manifestation of symptoms. The primary outcomes of interest were 2-year cumulative incidence of VTE events. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze associations between risk factors and clinical outcomes.A total of 1115 patients were eligible for enrollment. The 2-year cumulative VTE incidence was 9.2%. Major risk factors associated with VTE event were advanced cancer stage, major surgery, and poor performance status. Risk factors associated with mortality after PC diagnosis included advanced cancer stage, poor performance score, leukocytosis, and lower albumin level. The overall VTE did not affected mortality. However in subgroup analysis, symptomatic VTE and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary thromboembolism (DVT/PTE) showed worse prognosis than incidental or intra-abdominal VTE.The overall incidence of VTE events in Korean PC patients was lower than previous studies. Advanced cancer stage was the most important factor for VTE event and mortality. Unlike Western population group, VTE event did not affect overall prognosis after PC diagnosis. However, symptomatic VTE and DVT/PTE showed higher mortality after VTE event.
The Management Guru as Organizational Witchdoctor

This paper suggests that the work of management gurus resembles the performance of a witchdoctor. Central to the work of management gurus is the achievement of transformations of consciousness among their audiences of managers. The view of management gurus offered in this paper has three elements: (1) the key to understanding the power and impact of gurus is to see what they do as a performance; (2) that this performance is of a particular kind-that of a witchdoctor; (3) that management gurus act as the functional equivalents to witchdoctors in modern organizations. The paper argues that at the heart of the guru performance there lies a concern for, and an emphasis on, the irrational, emotional and symbolic aspects of organization. Successful gurus have always known and exploited what this article is arguing-that success depends upon the magic and mystery of the performance.
Transmuscular Course of the Medial Sural Cutaneous Nerve and its Clinical Implications

Variations of nerve are not only of anatomic and embryological interest but also of clinical importance. Their adequate knowledge will help in increasing surgical precision and decreasing morbidity. Anatomical variations in the formation of the sural nerve are common, although the topographical localization of this nerve is constant. In this report, we describe a case of an anomalous course of the medial sural cutaneous nerve which descended through the gastrocnemius via a tunnel formed within the muscle. Such anatomical variation of the sural nerve is clinically important when evaluating sensory axonal loss in distal axonal neuropathies since sural nerve mononeuropathy is less likely to occur.
Patterns of suspended particulate matter across the continental margin in the Canadian Beaufort Sea during summer

Abstract. The particulate beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm, cp(660), was measured in conjunction with properties of suspended particle assemblages in August 2009 within the Canadian Beaufort Sea continental margin, a region heavily influenced by freshwater and sediment discharge from the Mackenzie River, but also by sea ice melt. The mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) ranged from 0.04 to 140 g m−3, its composition varied from mineral to organic dominated, and the median particle diameter determined over the range 0.7–120 µm varied from 0.78 to 9.45 µm, with the fraction of particles <1 µm in surface waters reflecting the degree influenced by river water. Despite this range in particle characteristics, a strong relationship between SPM and cp(660) was found and used to determine SPM distributions across the shelf based on measurements of cp(660) taken during summer seasons of 2004, 2008, and 2009. SPM spatial patterns on the stratified shelf reflected the vertically sheared two-layer estuarine circulation and SPM sources (i.e., fluvial inputs, bottom resuspension, and biological productivity). Along-shelf winds generated lateral Ekman flows, isopycnal movements, and upwelling or downwelling at the shelf break. Cross-shelf transects measured during three summers illustrate how sea ice meltwater affects river plume extent, while the presence of meltwater on the shelf was associated with enhanced near-bottom SPM during return flow of upwelled Pacific-origin water. SPM decreased sharply past the shelf break with further transport of particulate matter occurring near the bottom and in interleaving nepheloid layers. These findings expand our knowledge of particle distributions in the Beaufort Sea controlled by river discharge, sea ice, and wind, each of which is sensitive to weather and climate variations.
The Determination of Socio-Economic Effects of Pomegranate Production in Sistan Region

Pomegranate is one of the most important economic products in the agricultural sector in Sistan region. This region due to dry weather, very low rainfall and frequent droughts and lack of resources for agriculture faces many problems. Hence, one way to increase agricultural production is to increase efficiency, So that it can help the economy of the region. In this study, the effectiveness of pomegranate gardens in Sistan region is considered as one of the main product. I used SFA method for data analysis. The data has been collected in Zabol, Zahak and Hirmand from 150 farmers in 2016-2017 year. The results show the technical efficiency of Zabol, Hirmand and Zahak cities are respectively 60, 55 and 67 percent. Also for the city of Zabol, age, experience, household size, number and size of garden plots for city of Zahak, experience, size of household and garden, for city of Hirmand, experience are significant impact on technical efficiency. Finally, with regard to the percentage of responding farmers, will provide suggestions for improving them.
Constrained work output of the moist atmospheric heat engine in a warming climate

Because the rain falls and the wind blows Global warming is expected to intensify the hydrological cycle, but it might also make the atmosphere less energetic. Laliberté et al. modeled the atmosphere as a classical heat engine in order to evaluate how much energy it contains and how much work it can do (see the Perspective by Pauluis). They then used a global climate model to project how that might change as climate warms. Although the hydrological cycle may increase in intensity, it does so at the expense of its ability to do work, such as powering large-scale atmospheric circulation or fueling more very intense storms. Science, this issue p. 540; see also p. 475 A more intense hydrological cycle in a warmer world might make atmospheric circulation less energetic. [Also see Perspective by Pauluis] Incoming and outgoing solar radiation couple with heat exchange at Earth’s surface to drive weather patterns that redistribute heat and moisture around the globe, creating an atmospheric heat engine. Here, we investigate the engine’s work output using thermodynamic diagrams computed from reanalyzed observations and from a climate model simulation with anthropogenic forcing. We show that the work output is always less than that of an equivalent Carnot cycle and that it is constrained by the power necessary to maintain the hydrological cycle. In the climate simulation, the hydrological cycle increases more rapidly than the equivalent Carnot cycle. We conclude that the intensification of the hydrological cycle in warmer climates might limit the heat engine’s ability to generate work.
A qualitative study of in-home robotic telepresence for home care of community-living elderly subjects

We examined the requirements for robots in home telecare using two focus groups. The first comprised six healthcare professionals involved in geriatric care and the second comprised six elderly people with disabilities living in the community. The concept of an in-home telepresence robot was illustrated using a photograph of a mobile robot, and participants were then asked to suggest potential health care applications. Interview data derived from the transcript of each group discussion were analyzed using qualitative induction based on content analysis. The analyses yielded statements that were categorized under three themes: potential applications, usability issues and user requirements. Teleoperated mobile robotic systems in the home were thought to be useful in assisting multidisciplinary patient care through improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals, and offering respite and support to caregivers under certain conditions. The shift from a traditional hospital-centred model of care in geriatrics to a home-based model creates opportunities for using telepresence with mobile robotic systems in home telecare.
Rückgang der Einkommensungleichheit stockt

New analyses of personal income distribution in Germany, based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), show that the disparity in income distribution decreased in Germany in the period 2006-2010. However, this decline comes to a halt in 2011. The most influential forces for this development in 2011 is the anew increase in inequality of capital and labour income. Alongside, the relative poverty risk has reached a record high in 2009 with a rate of 15 percent. For the following two years this proportion is still rather high with about 14 percent. More importantly income mobility decreased since reunification in Germany. The chance to escape from relative poverty within a four years period has come down by 10 percentage points to only 46 percent in the last years. Die Ungleichheit der verfugbaren Einkommen in Deutschland ist nach dem Hohepunkt im Jahr 2005 leicht zuruckgegangen. Diese Tendenz hat sich jedoch zuletzt - im Jahr 2011 - nicht weiter fortgesetzt. Masgeblich dafur war die wieder gestiegene Ungleichheit der Markteinkommen und hier unter anderen der Kapitaleinkommen. Neben diesem Befund zeigen die aktualisierten Analysen zur personellen Einkommensverteilung auf Basis des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP), dass das Armutsrisiko nach einer langen Phase des Anstiegs nicht weiter gewachsen ist. Von sozialpolitisch ebenfalls groser Bedeutung ist die Einkommensmobilitat im zeitlichen Verlauf, das heist der Auf- oder Abstieg einzelner Personengruppen in der Einkommenshierarchie. Hier bestatigen die jungsten Analysen die Tendenz einer seit der Wiedervereinigung signifikant rucklaufigen Einkommensmobilitat. So ist die Chance, innerhalb eines Vierjahreszeitraums aus dem Armutsrisiko zu entkommen, in den vergangenen Jahren um zehn Prozentpunkte auf 46 Prozent gesunken.
The Role of Caprylate Ligand Ion on the Stabilization of Human Serum Albumin

Sodium caprylate was added to a pharmaceutical-grade human serum albumin (HSA) to stabilize the product. In this study we have aimed to establish how caprylate ligand protects HSA from thermal degradation. The fatty acid stabilizer was first removed from commercial HSA by charcoal treatment. Cleaned HSA was made to 10% w/v in pH 7.4 buffered solutions and doped with sodium caprylate in serial concentrations up to 0.16 mmol/g-protein. These solutions as well as a commercial HSA, human serum, and enriched-albumin fraction were subjected to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) within the temperature range of 37–90°C at a 5.0°C/min scanning rate. The globular size of the cleaned HSA solutions was measured by dynamic light scattering. The denaturing temperatures for albumin with sodium caprylate and a commercial one were significantly higher than for albumin only. It was found that the protein globules of cleaned HSA were not as stable as that of the native one due to aggregation, and the caprylate ion may reduce the aggregation by enlarging the globules’ electrical double layer. A rational approximation of the Lumry-Eyring protein denaturation model was used to treat DSC denaturing endotherms. The system turned from irreversible dominant Scheme: N→k3KP$$ N\overset{{\displaystyle {k}_3}K}{\to }P $$ to reversible dominant Scheme: N→k1P$$ N\overset{{\displaystyle {k}_1}}{\to }P $$ with the increase in caprylate concentration from null to ~0.08 mmol/g-protein. It was postulated that the caprylate ligand may decrease the rate of reversible unfolding as it binds to the IIIA domain which is prone to reversible unfolding/refolding and causes further difficulty for irreversible denaturation which, in turn, HSA can be stabilized.
Characteristics of Histidine Uptake by Human Placental Microvillous Membrane Vesicles

ABSTRACT: L-histidine is an essential amino acid. Its fetal-to-maternal blood concentration ratio is high, suggesting active placental transport. In this study, human placental microvillous membrane vesicles were used to characterize L-histidine transport, heretofore not evaluated in human tissue. L-Histidine uptake by microvillous membrane vesicles was stimulated by an inward sodium gradient, leading to an “overshoot,” followed by apparent equilibration. Linear uptake at 22° C was limited to the 1st min. The initial sodium-dependent uptake rate was proportional to the sodium concentration in the medium. The sodium-dependent uptake was markedly diminished or lost when potassium, cesium, or choline was substituted for sodium but not lithium. Replacement of chloride with sulfate or gluconate had little effect. Sodium-stimulated Lhistidine uptake was further stimulated by an outward potassium gradient (inside-negative) in the presence of valinomycin. Sodium-dependent uptake kinetic constants for L-histidine were: Km=0.44 ± 0.18 mM: Vmax = 536 ± 94 nmol/mg/30 s (mean ± SD). 2-(methylamino) isobutyric acid did not inhibite L-histidine uptake. Conversely, L-histidine noncompetitively inhibited sodium-dependent uptake of 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid and Lcysteine. L-glutamine competitively inhibited sodium-dependent L-histidine uptake. L-histidine uptake was stimulated by preloading the vesicles with either L-histidine or L-glutamine (transstimulation). L-histidine uptake was not sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide treatment but was strongly inhibited by low pH. These findings suggest that L-histidine is transported in the human placenta by a specific sodium-dependent system similar to the “N” system described in rodent hepatocytes. Furthermore, the ready availability of placental tissue may make it a useful resource for studies of human epithelial transport biology.
Using Micro-Computed Tomography to Evaluate the Dynamics of Orthodontically Induced Root Resorption Repair in a Rat Model

Objective To observe dynamic changes in root resorption repair, tooth movement relapse and alveolar bone microstructure following the application of orthodontic force. Materials and Methods Forces of 20 g, 50 g or 100 g were delivered to the left maxillary first molars of fifteen 10-week-old rats for 14 days. Each rat was subjected to micro-computed tomography scanning at 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 28 and 42 days after force removal. The root resorption crater volume, tooth movement relapse and alveolar bone microarchitecture were measured at each time point. Results From day 3 to day 14, the root resorption volume decreased significantly in each group. In the 20-g force group, the root resorption volume gradually stabilized after 14 days, whereas in the 50-g and 100-g force groups, it stabilized after 28 days. In all groups, tooth movement relapsed significantly from day 0 to day 14 and then remained stable. From day 3 to day 10, the 20-g group exhibited faster relapse than the 50-g and 100-g groups. In all groups, the structure model index and trabecular separation decreased slowly from day 0 to day 10 and eventually stabilized. Trabecular number increased slowly from day 0 to day 7 and then stabilized. Conclusions The initial stage of root resorption repair did not change significantly and was followed by a dramatic repair period before stabilizing. The most serious tooth movement relapse occurred immediately after the appliance was removed, and then the tooth completely returned to the original position.
Designing jobs to do good: Dimensions and psychological consequences of prosocial job characteristics

Although employees are increasingly interested in jobs that enable them to do good, we know relatively little about how jobs are structured to provide these opportunities. To fill this gap, I report three studies that examine the dimensions and psychological consequences of two prosocial job characteristics that enable employees to make a positive difference in the lives of other people. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated strong psychometric properties of self-report measures of job opportunities for impact on and contact with beneficiaries. In Study 2 I examine the mechanisms through which prosocial job characteristics are linked to a stronger motivation to do good among public service and telephone solicitation employees. In Study 3, multitrait-multimethod matrices using observer ratings of job descriptions supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the prosocial job characteristics. I discuss implications for theory and research in positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship, job design, and prosocial behavior.
Ivermectin-Responsive Demodex Infestation during Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

We report the case of a 56-year-old HIV-seropositive man who presented a facial Demodex infection developed 2 months after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The Demodex infection was confirmed by scrapings and histopathologic examination and by the dramatic response to antiparasitic treatment with oral ivermectin associated with 5% permethrin cream.