Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics and Intramuscular Bioavailability of a Single Dose of Butorphanol in Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)

Abstract Captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are susceptible to lameness resulting from foot and joint pain, including chronic arthritis. In the past, opioid analgesics, such as butorphanol, have been used clinically for pain management. However, dosages used in treating elephants were often extrapolated from data in horses, with no pharmacokinetic information on the specific agents used in elephant species. In this pharmacokinetic study, six adult captive Asian elephants (5 female, 1 male castrate) were administered a 0.015 mg/kg dose of butorphanol by both i.v. and i.m. routes. A complete crossover design was used with a 3-wk washout period between treatments. Serial blood samples were collected immediately prior to butorphanol administration and at 5, 10, 20, and 40 min and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after administration. The butorphanol analysis was performed using a validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrophotometric assay with a limit of quantitation of 0.025 ng/ml. The mean Cmax after i.m. administration was 7.9 ng/ml, with a corresponding Tmax of 40 min and t½ of 7.1 h. After i.v. administration, the mean Vdss was 1.4 L/kg and the mean Clp was 0.26 L/kg/h. Mean i.m. bioavailability was 37%. The results indicate that butorphanol used at 0.015 mg/kg i.m. or i.v. could be useful in elephants when given for pain control.
Salvage therapy for primary CNS lymphoma with a combination of rituximab and temozolomide

To the Editor: The article by Silberstein et al.1 is a good example of how evidenced-based treatment may lead not only to substandard but also expensive care. To be included in this frovatriptan study, women had to have regular menstrual cycles and be able to predict the onset of their menstrual associated migraine (MAM). Despite this selection, the benefit was modest: MAM persisted in 52% of the group receiving frovatriptan 2.5 mg QD, 41% of those receiving 2.5 mg BID, and 67% of the placebo group. The authors accurately conclude that frovatriptan 2.5 mg given prophylactically twice daily for 6 days was effective in reducing the incidence of MAM. This form of preventive treatment presents as many problems as benefits. How are these 41% of breakthrough MAMs to be treated? The most effective acute treatment of migraine is a rapidacting triptan. However, this option cannot be used because of safety concerns of mixing triptans. In this large group of patients in whom acute treatment will be needed, it is unlikely that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics or combination agents will provide adequate relief. This treatment, at a cost of over $2,200 per year, had a therapeutic gain of only 26% in reducing the incidence of MAM compared to placebo. This reduction is from approximately eight MAMs per year to about five per year at a cost of approximately $700 for each prevented MAM. As one-third of women selected for predictable cycles were inaccurate in their predictions, the treatment success in clinical practice may even be lower. Alternatives exist which are comparable to those demonstrated with frovatriptan but permit use of the most effective acute care migraine treatment (rapidly acting triptans) and at very favorable cost/benefit ratios. These alternative preventive treatments of MAM include hormonal strategies of continuous oral contraceptives or placebo-week augmentation of estrogen2 or the episodic use of NSAIDs. Probably because of their low cost, quality evidence of double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials is lacking. Evidence-based parameters are rapidly becoming the standard by which we are expected to practice. Largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry, this evidence too often reflects marketing needs rather than best practice.
Dynamic or Stable Interactions of Influenza Hemagglutinin Mutants with Coated Pits

Measurements of the lateral mobility of native and mutated membrane proteins, combined with treatments that alter clathrin lattice structure, are capable of characterizing their interactions with coated pits in live cells (Fire, E., Zwart, D. E., Roth, M. G., and Henis, Y. I.(1991) J. Cell Biol. 115, 1585-1594). To explore the dependence of these interactions on the internalization signal and the aggregation state of the protein, we have extended this approach to investigate the interactions between coated pits and several influenza hemagglutinin (HA) mutants, which differ in the internalization signals in their short cytoplasmic tails. The lack of internalization signals in the trimeric wild-type HA enables a direct comparison between specific internalization signals introduced singly in each mutant. We have selected for these studies HA mutants that showed different internalization rates and varied in their tendency to aggregate into complexes larger than trimers. Our results indicate that the mode of interaction with coated pits (transient association-dissociation versus stable entrapment) depends on the internalization signal and affects the internalization efficiency. Mutants that contain a strong internalization signal and undergo fast endocytosis were entrapped in coated pits for the entire duration of the lateral mobility measurement, suggesting stable association with (slow dissociation from) coated pits. A mutant with a suboptimal internalization signal, which was internalized 10-fold slower, exhibited transient interactions with coated pits. Both types of interactions disappeared or were significantly reduced upon disruption of the clathrin lattices under hypertonic conditions, and were modulated following the “freezing” of coated pits by cytosol acidification. Unlike the dependence on the cytoplasmic internalization signal, the interactions with coated pits did not depend on the aggregation state (measured by sucrose gradient centrifugation after solubilization in n-octylglucoside) of the mutants.
Dispersion Measurement in Optical Fibers Using Supercontinuum Pulses

The chromatic dispersion of an optical fiber is measured using a time-of-flight technique, based on temporally and spectrally resolving a dispersed broadband pulse, on which a spectral fringe pattern has been imposed using an etalon. The technique employs broadband supercontinuum radiation, generated by launching picosecond pulses from a fiber laser into a photonic-crystal fiber. It allows the dispersion of highly dispersive optical fibers and components to be measured with a high spectral resolution over a wide wavelength region. The technique is demonstrated by measuring the dispersion of a dispersion-compensating module over its entire 400-nm transmission band with a subnanometer spectral resolution
The AdS / CFT correspondence and a new positive energy conjecture for general relativity

We examine the AdS-CFT correspondence when gauge theory is considered on a compactified space with supersymmetry-breaking boundary conditions. We find that the corresponding supergravity solution has a negative energy, in agreement with the expected negative Casimir energy in the field theory. The stability of the gauge theory would imply that this supergravity solution has minimum energy among all solutions with the same boundary conditions. Hence we are led to conjecture a new positive energy theorem for asymptotically locally anti--de Sitter spacetimes. We show that the candidate minimum energy solution is stable against all quadratic fluctuations of the metric.
Node Placement Analysis for Overlay Networks in IoT Applications

The Internet of Things (IoT), which combines identification, sensing, computing, and communication technologies, is considered one of the major trends in information and communication technologies. Communication performance is critical for IoT applications. According to previous research, an internet-based overlay model is feasible for the implementation of the IoT. One important issue in the overlay routing model is the overlay node placement problem (ONPP). Once the size of overlay node set is fixed to a particular number k, the ONPP changes to k-ONPP. In this work, the IoT-based overlay node placement problem is formulized and analyzed. The major contributions of the paper include providing the time complexity of multi hop k-ONPP and its theoretical limit boundary of approximation ratio and proposing a local search algorithm. Furthermore, the time complexity and approximation ratio boundary of the local search algorithm are given. The proposed local search algorithm is evaluated by both time and efficiency where efficiency refers to the degree of approximation of algorithm results with optimal solutions. Another algorithm, TAG, is used for comparison. Finally, a simulation experiment based on network simulator EstiNet is provided. The experimental results show network delay benefits from the proposed method.
Prostaglandin E2 promotes MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma cell survival via β-catenin stabilization

Amplification of MYCN is the most well‐known prognostic marker of neuroblastoma risk classification, but still is only observed in 25% of cases. Recent evidence points to the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elevating ligand prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and β‐catenin as two novel players in neuroblastoma. Here, we aimed to define the potential role of PGE2 and cAMP and its potential interplay with β‐catenin, both of which may converge on neuroblastoma cell behaviour. Gain and loss of β‐catenin function, PGE2, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin and pharmacological inhibition of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) were studied in two human neuroblastoma cell lines without MYCN amplification. Our findings show that PGE2 enhanced cell viability through the EP4 receptor and cAMP elevation, whereas COX‐2 inhibitors attenuated cell viability. Interestingly, PGE2 and forskolin promoted glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibition, β‐catenin phosphorylation at the protein kinase A target residue ser675, β‐catenin nuclear translocation and TCF‐dependent gene transcription. Ectopic expression of a degradation‐resistant β‐catenin mutant enhances neuroblastoma cell viability and inhibition of β‐catenin with XAV939 prevented PGE2‐induced cell viability. Finally, we show increased β‐catenin expression in human high‐risk neuroblastoma tissue without MYCN amplification. Our data indicate that PGE2 enhances neuroblastoma cell viability, a process which may involve cAMP‐mediated β‐catenin stabilization, and suggest that this pathway is of relevance to high‐risk neuroblastoma without MYCN amplification.
Epidemiology and clinical presentation of stroke in Upper Egypt (desert area)

Background Stroke is a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Four out of five strokes occur in the low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to find lifetime prevalence of stroke in Upper Egypt and to identify clinical presentations and possible risk factors of stroke in this population. Methods This is a door-to-door (every door) study conducted on all inhabitants in Al Kharga district (representative of western desert) and Al Quseir city (representative of eastern desert). The study was conducted in two stages, and every stage consisted of three phases (screening, diagnostic, and investigatory). Results The total lifetime prevalence of stroke was 8.5/1,000 in the population aged 20 years and more. It increased with advancing age and was higher among males than females among all age groups except in the childbearing period (20 years to <40 years of age). Lifetime prevalence of ischemic stroke (7.2/1,000) was higher than hemorrhagic stroke (1.1/1,000). Hemiparesis and hemiplegia were the commonest presentation of stroke. Headache, vomiting, and vertigo were found to be significantly more common accompaniments of hemorrhagic stroke. The most common risk factor was hypertension, followed by hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion The total lifetime prevalence of stroke in the population aged 20 years and more in Upper Egypt (desert area) lies within the range that is recorded in developing countries. Clinical presentation and risk factors are similar to those recorded from developing and developed countries.
Spectral Efficiency and Outage Performance for Hybrid D2D-Infrastructure Uplink Cooperation

We propose a time-division uplink transmission scheme that is applicable to future-generation cellular systems by introducing hybrid device-to-device (D2D) and infrastructure cooperation. Compared with existing frequency-division schemes, the proposed time-division scheme achieves the same or better spectral efficiency and outage performance with simpler signals and shorter decoding delay. These advantages come from sending a different message in each transmission block without block Markovity as in existing schemes. Using time-division, the proposed scheme divides each transmission frame into three phases with variable duration. The two user equipment units (UEs) partially exchange their information in the first two phases and then cooperatively transmit to the base station (BS) in the third phase. We further formulate the end-to-end outage probabilities, considering outages at both UEs and the BS. We analyze this outage performance in Rayleigh fading environment assuming full channel state information (CSI) at receivers and limited CSI at transmitters. Results show that user cooperation improves the achievable rate region even under half-duplex transmission. Moreover, as the received SNR increases, this uplink cooperation significantly reduces outage probabilities and achieves the full diversity order despite additional outages at the UEs. These characteristics make the proposed scheme appealing for deployment in future cellular networks.
The Relationship Between University Student Commitment Profiles and Behavior: Exploring the Nature of Context Effects

Theoretical concepts from the organizational behavior literature, including commitment, are rarely used to help explain university student behavior. The benefits of doing so might include the development of a synthesis of knowledge about the behavior of students in an organizational setting. Such a synthesis is important because it will help extend organizational commitment literature to student samples and will help explain student behavior as a result of their commitment. As such, the purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to test theoretical propositions advanced by Meyer and Herscovitch concerning the interactive effects of affective, normative, and continuance commitment on students’ focal and discretionary behaviors and (b) to provide an exploratory examination of the notion of a commitment profile “context effect” for normative commitment for students in a university setting. Study measures were gathered from a sample of 287 undergraduate business students. Results showed support for interactive effects of the three components of commitment for both focal and discretionary behavior. Results also showed support for commitment profile differences and for the existence of a normative commitment context effect.
Narratives of Self-Help of Cyberporn Dependents

This paper focuses on 2,000 messages sent by 302 participants in an Italian self-help Internet community for cyberporn dependents (noallapornodipendenza) founded in 2003. Through anonymous surfing, participants form a support community which takes them on a safe journey of self-expression and emotional involvement based on the principle of “like cures like. ” This study uses a qualitative text analysis to depict the key narratives of these cyberporn users and isolate major patterns of sharing, coping, and recovery. Similarities with encounter group strategies for other types of addiction are discussed.
Social skills, psychological well-being, and the mediating role of perceived stress

Abstract Social skills were predicted to be associated with two indicators of psychological well-being: reduced symptoms of depression and life-satisfaction. Social skills were also predicted to be associated with a reduction in the experience of stress. This reduced stress experience was hypothesized to explain the social skills–well-being association. These predictions were tested in a sample of 500 university students who provided self-reports of social skills, well-being (depression and life satisfaction), and stress. Results supported the hypothesized relationship between social skills and greater well-being, as well as social skills and lower levels of perceived stress. The lower perceptions of stress that accompany higher levels of social skills mediated the association between social skills and depression as well as life satisfaction.
MASSIVE: a collaborative virtual environment for teleconferencing

We describe a prototype virtual reality teleconferencing system called MASSIVE which has been developed as part of our on-going research into collaborative virtual environments. This system allows multiple users to communicate using arbitrary combinations of audio, graphics, and text media over local and wide area networks. Communication is controlled by a so-called spatial model of interaction so that one user's perception of another user is sensitive to their relative positions and orientations. The key concept in this spatial model is the (quantitative) awareness which one object has of another. This is controlled by the observing object's focus and the observed object's nimbus, which describe regions of interest and projection, respectively. Each object's aura defines the total region within which it interacts. This is applied independently in each medium. The system (and the spatial model which it implements) is intended to provide a flexible and natural environment for the spatial mediation of conversation. The model also provides a basis for scaling to relatively large numbers of users. Our design goals include supporting heterogeneity, scalability, spatial mediation, balance of power, and multiple concurrent meetings; MASSIVE meets all of these goals. Our initial experiences show the importance of audio in collaborative VR, and they raise issues about field of view for graphical users, speed of navigation, quality of embodiment, varying perceptions of space, and scalability.
Cyclin D1 and MLH1 levels in laryngeal cancer are linked to chromosomal imbalance.

BACKGROUND Carcinogenesis results from the accumulation of genetic alterations forming a functional network leading to genetic instability as a cardinal feature. Thus, the hypothesis that down-regulation of MLH1 in combination with aberrant cell cycle control may contribute to chromosomal instability in LSCC was tested. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-two patients, diagnosed with primary LSCC, none of whom had a history of hereditary cancer, were evaluated by comparative genomics. The expression of selected proteins controlling the cell cycle and mismatch repair was assessed with immunostaining. RESULTS In our set, 1720 chromosomal imbalances were found, as well as altered protein synthesis including a decrease in RB1 and CDKN2A (10.2% and 44% of cases, respectively), an increase in CCND1 (47%) and a decrease in MLH1 (22.7%). Variation analysis correlating proteins, chromosomal imbalances and clinicohistopathological features of disease disclosed an association between chromosomal gains, low histopathological grade of tumour and CCND1 over-expression accompanied by a decrease in MLH1 expression (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION CCND1 and MLH1 seem functionally interconnected in regard to chromosomal imbalances in larynx cancer.
Multisensory Mathematics for Children With Mild Disabilities

I examined the effects of a multisensory program (the TOUCH MATIP program1; Bullock, Pierce, & McClellan, 1989) on the acquisition of addition and subtraction skills by students with mild disabilities. I taught three elementary students with mild disabilities (learning disabilities and mental handicaps) to use the TOUCH MATH counting technique for addition and subtraction problems within the context of a multiple-probe design across math skills. Target skills included (a) adding two-digit numbers with regrouping, (b) adding columns of two-digit numbers with regroup- ing, (c) subtracting single-digit numbers from numbers up to 18, (d) subtracting two-digit numbers with regrouping, and (e) subtracting three-digit numbers with regrouping. Results showed significant gains in acquisition of target skills for all three subjects. Maintenance and generalization results also were observed in that the subjects maintained mastery-level performance on all skills and generalized the TOUCH MATH strategies to novel math.
Sex Offender Community Notification and Community Stratification

Community notification laws have been passed by the federal government and legislature of every state. At the very least, these laws require local law enforcement officials to publicize the personal and residential information of known sex offenders. Although researchers and other social commentators have begun to assess the effects of community notification on targeted sex offenders and on criminal justice practices and practitioners, the potential consequences of the policy for different types of communities have received only scant attention. Using sex offender registry and US Census data for two states (Nebraska and Oklahoma), we examine the relationship between community characteristics and the residential patterns of sex offenders. Findings from mapping and regression analyses suggest a greater concentration of sex offenders in disadvantaged communities than in more affluent communities. To the extent that community notification allows residents of more affluent communities to mobilize resources in order to remove identified sex offenders, it may increase the geographical clustering of these offenders in areas already facing a greater risk and having fewer resources to manage the problem. Implications of findings in terms of “concentrated disadvantage” are discussed.
Melarsoprol versus eflornithine for treating late-stage Gambian trypanosomiasis in the Republic of the Congo.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of melarsoprol and eflornithine in treating late-stage Gambian trypanosomiasis in the Republic of the Congo. METHODS We analysed the outcomes of death during treatment and relapse within 1 year of discharge for 288 patients treated with eflornithine, 311 patients treated with the standard melarsoprol regimen and 62 patients treated with a short-course (10-day) melarsoprol regimen between April 2001 and April 2005. FINDINGS A total of 1.7% (5/288) of patients treated with eflornithine died compared with 4.8% (15/311) of those treated with standard melarsoprol and 6.5% (4/62) of those treated with short-course melarsoprol. Patients treated with eflornithine tended to be younger and were more likely to have trypanosomes or higher white blood cell counts in their cerebrospinal fluid. The cumulated incidence of relapse among patients who attended at least one follow-up visit 1 year after discharge was 8.1% (11/136) for those treated with eflornithine, 14% (36/258) for those treated with standard melarsoprol and 15.5% (9/58) for those treated with shortcourse melarsoprol. In a multivariate analysis, when compared with eflornithine, standard melarsoprol was found to be a risk factor for both death (odds ratio (OR) = 2.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-8.00) and relapse (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.47; 95% CI = 1.22-5.03); when compared with eflornithine, short-course melarsoprol was also found to be a risk factor for death (OR = 3.90; 95% CI = 1.02-14.98) and relapse (HR = 6.65; 95% CI = 2.61-16.94). CONCLUSION The effectiveness of melarsoprol treatment appears to have diminished. Eflornithine seems to be a better first-line therapy for treating late-stage Gambian trypanosomiasis in the Republic of the Congo.