Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The cardiovascular response to passive movement is joint dependent

The cardiovascular responses to passive limb movement (PLM) at the knee are well established, however, responses to PLM at other joints involving smaller muscle volume are unknown. To compare the cardiovascular responses to passive movement at other joints, 10 participants underwent a PLM protocol in which the wrist, elbow, ankle, and knee joints were passively extended and flexed at 1 Hz for 1 min. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and arterial blood flow to that limb segment (BF) were measured and vascular conductance (VC) was calculated for a 30‐sec baseline period and for 3‐sec intervals throughout PLM protocols. PLM of the knee and elbow resulted in significant increases in BF and VC from baseline values with peak values 180% (P < 0.001) greater than baseline. PLM of the elbow resulted in significant increases in BF and VC from baseline values with peak values 109% and 115% (P < 0.001) greater than baseline, respectively. No changes in BF and VC were observed in the ankle and wrist. Furthermore, the greater increase in blood flow per limb segment volume in the thigh and upper arm (62.8 ± 36.5 and 55.5 ± 30.3 mL min−1 L−1, respectively) compared to the forearm and lower leg (23.6 ± 16.7 and 19.1 ± 10.3 mL min−1 L−1, respectively) indicates the limb volume is not solely responsible for the differences in the hyperemic responses. These data indicate that the use of PLM to assess vascular function or as a rehabilitation modality to maintain vascular health may be most appropriate for the muscles that span the elbow and knee.
The Effect of a Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Upper-Body Muscular Strength and Endurance

Abstract Dunkin, JE and Phillips, SM. The effect of a carbohydrate mouth rinse on upper-body muscular strength and endurance. J Strength Cond Res 31(7): 1948–1953, 2017—Carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinsing rapidly increases corticomotor output and maximal muscle force production, which could enhance muscular strength and endurance during resistance exercise. However, previous research has found no effect of CHO rinsing on muscular strength or endurance. The current study altered the CHO rinse composition and frequency and the muscular endurance test to further investigate the effects of a CHO mouth rinse on upper-body muscular strength and endurance. Twelve recreationally resistance-trained men (mean ± SD age 22 ± 1 year, height 179.2 ± 1.8 cm, body mass 80.9 ± 6.1 kg) completed a bench press protocol (1 repetition maximum [RM] test followed by repetitions to failure at 40% of 1RM) on 3 occasions. Subjects rinsed 25 ml of an 18% CHO solution or a placebo for 10 seconds before 1RM and repetitions to failure and completed a no-rinse control condition. Felt arousal (FA) was measured before and after each rinse, heart rate (HR) was measured before and after both exercise protocols, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after repetitions to failure. Rinsing did not influence 1RM (p = 0.680, = 0.03), repetitions to failure (p = 0.677, = 0.04), or exercise volume (load × reps; p = 0.600, = 0.05). There were no significant treatment effects on heart rate (p = 0.677, = 0.04), FA (p = 0.674, = 0.04) or rating of perceived exertion (p = 0.604, = 0.05). A CHO mouth rinse does not improve upper-body muscular strength or endurance.
Association of serum soluble leptin receptor and leptin levels with breast cancer

Background: Leptin plays a key role in the regulation of energy expenditure and is known to circulate in both free and bound forms. Soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) is a unique circulating form of leptin receptor that can bind to leptin. Leptin and leptin receptor have been implicated in processes leading to breast cancer initiation and progression. Our study was aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of sOB-R and leptin with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Serum leptin and sOB-R levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 100 women with breast cancer cases compared with 100 age and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls without cancer. Lipid profiles were measured by enzymatic method. Results: The median serum levels of sOB-R in controls were significantly higher than that in breast cancer cases (odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-188.2) versus (OR, 0.140; 95% CI = 0.09-98.1). Conversely, the median serum level of leptin in breast cancer cases was significantly higher than that in controls (OR, 67.90; 95% CI = 2.77-129.9) vs. (OR, 28.30; 95% CI = 0.60-113.1). Breast cancer was significantly associated with higher serum level of leptin (OR = 1.027, 95% CI = 1.017-1.038). Conversely, breast cancer was correlated with lower serum level of sOB-R (OR = 0.983, 95% CI = 0.969-0.997). Moreover, free leptin index (FLI) (leptin/sOB-R ratio) was associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.028, 95% CI = 1.015-1.042). The serum sOB-R level was negatively associated with leptin, BMI, and high density lipoprotein (r = −0.238, −0.186, and −0.168, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggested that FLI and serum leptin level rather than serum level of sOB-R was associated with the breast cancer.
Associations between airway hyperresponsiveness, obesity and lipoproteins in a longitudinal cohort

Epidemiological data have linked obesity with an increased risk of asthma, but the mechanisms responsible for this relationship remain unknown. One possible mechanism, which has received little attention, could be the effect of cholesterol metabolism on airway smooth muscle function. The present study investigated the association between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine and body mass index (BMI) and plasma lipoproteins [low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol].
Challenges for Better thesis supervision

Background: Conduction of thesis by the students is one of their major academic activities. Thesis quality and acquired experiences are highly dependent on the supervision. Our study is aimed at identifing the challenges in thesis supervision from both students and faculty members point of view. Methods: This study was conducted using individual in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The participants were 43 students and faculty members selected by purposive sampling. It was carried out in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Data analysis was done concurrently with data gathering using content analysis method. Results: Our data analysis resulted in 162 codes, 17 subcategories and 4 major categories, "supervisory knowledge and skills", "atmosphere", "bylaws and regulations relating to supervision" and "monitoring and evaluation". Conclusion: This study showed that more attention and planning in needed for modifying related rules and regulations, qualitative and quantitative improvement in mentorship training, research atmosphere improvement and effective monitoring and evaluation in supervisory area.
Implicit Attitudes Toward Violence Among Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence

Whereas cognitive variables are hypothesized to play an important role in intimate partner violence (IPV) etiology and intervention, cognitive assessment methods have largely targeted offenders’ explicit, controlled cognitive processing using paper-and-pencil questionnaires prone to social desirability biases. Using an implicit measure of attitudes (the Implicit Association Test [IAT]), we assessed attitudes toward gender, violence, and the association between gender and violence among 50 men enrolled in an IPV treatment program and a comparison sample of 40 nonviolent (NV) men. Although no group differences were noted on explicit attitudinal measures, men in the IPV group showed more positive implicit attitudes regarding violence, and a more rapid association between women and violence. Among men in treatment for IPV, the attitudes toward violence IAT was significantly correlated with self/partner-reported IPV frequency. In accordance with social information processing models of aggression, these results suggest that aggressogenic attitudes are likely to operate automatically and with little conscious deliberation. As a result, clinicians and researchers must adapt assessment and intervention strategies to capture both implicit and explicit aspects of cognitive processing.
Scattering theory on SL(3)/SO(3): Connections with quantum 3‐body scattering

In this paper we continue our program of extending the methods of geometric scattering theory to encompass the analysis of the Laplacian on symmetric spaces of rank greater than 1 and their geometric perturbations. Our goal here is to explain how analysis of the Laplacian on the globally symmetric space SL(3, ℝ)/SO(3, ℝ) is very closely related to quantum three‐body scattering. In particular, we adapt geometric constructions from recent advances in that field by one of us (A.V.), as well as from a previous paper of ours concerning resolvents for product spaces, to give a precise description of the resolvent and the spherical functions on this space. Amongst the many technical advantages, these methods give results which are uniform up to the walls of the Weyl chambers.
Class I Histone Deacetylase Thd1p Affects Nuclear Integrity in Tetrahymena thermophila

ABSTRACT Class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) participate in the regulation of DNA-templated processes such as transcription and replication. Members of this class can act locally at specific sites, or they can act more globally, contributing to a baseline acetylation state, both of which actions may be important for genome maintenance and organization. We previously identified a macronuclear-specific class I HDAC in Tetrahymena thermophila called Thd1p, which is expressed early in the development of the macronucleus when it initially becomes transcriptionally active. To test the idea that Thd1p is important for global chromatin integrity in an active macronucleus, Tetrahymena cells reduced in expression of Thd1p were generated. We observed phenotypes that indicated loss of chromatin integrity in the mutant cells, including DNA fragmentation and extrusion of chromatin from the macronucleus, variable macronuclear size and shape, enlarged nucleoli, and reduced phosphorylation of histone H1 from bulk chromatin. Macronuclei in mutant cells also contained more DNA. This observation suggests a role for Thd1p in the control of nuclear DNA content, a previously undescribed role for class I HDACs. Together, these phenotypes implicate Thd1p in the maintenance of macronuclear integrity in multiple ways, probably through site-specific changes in histone acetylation since no change in the acetylation levels of bulk histones was detected in mutant cells.
Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN/CD147) as a novel regulator of myogenic cell differentiation

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are thought to play an important role in skeletal muscle cell growth and differentiation. In view of the MMP inducing function of EMMPRIN/CD147, its role in myogenic cell differentiation was investigated. EMMPRIN level increased during differentiation of both rat primary myoblasts derived from satellite cells and mouse C2.7 myogenic cells and was associated with an alteration in its molecular forms. In parallel, expression of pro‐MMP‐9 gradually decreased and that of pro‐MMP‐2 and active MMP‐2 increased. While small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibition of EMMPRIN expression accelerated cell differentiation, exogenously added recombinant EMMPRIN inhibited differentiation by an MMP‐mediated mechanism, as the MMP inhibitor marimastat abrogated EMMPRIN's effect. Our results further suggest that EMMPRIN regulates differentiation through an MMP activation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), a known inhibitor of myoblast's differentiation, as the increased activation and signaling of TGFβ by EMMPRIN was attenuated in the presence of marimastat. EMMPRIN inhibition may thus represent a novel strategy in the treatment of muscular degenerative disorders. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 141–149, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Forcing switch from short- to intermediate- and long-lived states of the αA domain generates LFA-1/ICAM-1 catch bonds.

Heme enzymes are ubiquitous in biology and catalyze a vast array of biological redox processes. The formation of high valent ferryl intermediates of the heme iron (known as Compounds I and Compound II) is implicated for a number of catalytic heme enzymes, but these species are formed only transiently and thus have proved somewhat elusive. In conse-quence, there has been conflicting evidence as to the nature of these ferryl intermediates in a number of different heme enzymes, in particular the precise nature of the bond between the heme iron and the bound oxygen atom. In this work, we present high resolution crystal structures of both Compound I and Compound II intermediates in two different heme peroxidase enzymes, cytochrome c peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, allowing direct and accurate comparison of the bonding interactions in the different intermediates. A consistent picture emerges across all structures, showing lengthening of the ferryl oxygen bond (and presumed protonation) on reduction of Compound I to Compound II. These data clarify long standing inconsistencies on the nature of the ferryl heme species in these intermediates.
Gene therapy and its implications in Periodontics

Gene therapy is a field of Biomedicine. With the advent of gene therapy in dentistry, significant progress has been made in the control of periodontal diseases and reconstruction of dento-alveolar apparatus. Implementation in periodontics include: -As a mode of tissue engineering with three approaches: cell, protein-based and gene delivery approach. -Genetic approach to Biofilm Antibiotic Resistance. Future strategies of gene therapy in preventing periodontal diseases: -Enhances host defense mechanism against infection by transfecting host cells with an antimicrobial peptide protein-encoding gene. -Periodontal vaccination. Gene therapy is one of the recent entrants and its applications in the field of periodontics are reviewed in general here.
Treatment of subsyndromal depressive symptoms in middle-age and older patients with schizophrenia: effect of age on response.

OBJECTIVE The authors hypothesized that age would moderate the response of patients with schizophrenia and subsyndromal depression (SSD) treated citalopram with depressive symptoms and other outcomes. Also, older patients would exhibit more side effects with citalopram. METHODS Participants of 40 years or older had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder with SSD. Patients randomly received flexible dosing of citalopram or placebo augmentation of their antipsychotic medication. Linear regression determined whether age had any moderating effect on depressive symptoms, global psychopathology, negative symptoms, mental functioning, and quality of life. Age-related side effects were examined. RESULTS There were no significant drug group by age interaction in depressive or psychotic symptoms, mental Short Form-12, or quality of life scores. Similarly, there were few age-related side effect differences. CONCLUSION Symptoms in younger and older patients with schizophrenia and SSD treated with citalopram seem to respond similarly. Adverse events do not seem to differ with age.
Managing the transition

This is the second article dealing with the changing nature of work, the previous one having been published in Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 35 No. 5. This deals with the managerial responsibilities for managing an organisation through a change process to maintain current levels of performance and to move towards the desired future state through dealing with the people issues involved in the change programme. It covers the issues of coping with change and uncertainty, the role of managers at times of change, motivating teams through the change process, anticipating problems and planning ways of handling them.
Dextromethorphan Efficiently Increases Bactericidal Activity, Attenuates Inflammatory Responses, and Prevents Group A Streptococcal Sepsis

ABSTRACT Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from mild throat and skin infections to severe invasive diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Dextromethorphan (DM), a dextrorotatory morphinan and a widely used antitussive drug, has recently been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of DM in GAS infection using an air pouch infection mouse model. Our results showed that DM treatment increased the survival rate of GAS-infected mice. Bacterial numbers in the air pouch were lower in mice treated with DM than in those infected with GAS alone. The bacterial elimination efficacy was associated with increased cell viability and bactericidal activity of air-pouch-infiltrating cells. Moreover, DM treatment prevented bacterial dissemination in the blood and reduced serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-1β and the chemokines monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), and RANTES. In addition, GAS-induced mouse liver injury was reduced by DM treatment. Taken together, DM can increase bacterial killing and reduce inflammatory responses to prevent sepsis in GAS infection. The consideration of DM as an adjunct treatment in combination with antibiotics against bacterial infection warrants further study.
bdbms - A Database Management System for Biological Data

Current database systems lack several specific functionalities that are needed by biological databases. bdbms is an extensible prototype database management system for supporting biological data. bdbms extends the current database systems with: (1) Annotation and provenance management, (2) Local dependency tracking, (3) Update authorization, and (4) Non-traditional and novel access methods. 1. I NTRODUCTION
Cured of Hodgkin lymphoma, but suffering a broken heart

The pyrrhic victory of curing patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) only to have them succumb to the toxicity of therapy provokes us to understand the origins and characteristics of that toxicity in order to prevent it. The spectrum of cardiovascular sequelae engendered by anthracycline and radiation therapy (RT), both independently and in combination, must be dissected into its components and risk factors. In this issue of Leukemia and Lymphoma, Myrehaug et al., unequivocally demonstrate that clinically significant morbidities result from modern treatment of HL, and lead us further down the road to understanding them [1]. The impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HL survivors does require periodic redefinition, due to changes in HL therapy that are causative for CVD. A recent report on 1474 five-year HL survivors treated in the Netherlands between 1965 and 1995 showed a 3–5-fold increased incidence of CVD compared with the general population, suggesting that 66–80% of all CVD in that HL population was due to therapy [2]. In reports from Stanford (2498 patients) [3] and the Joint Center for Radiation Oncology (794 patients) [4], CVD accounted for 16% and 13.7% of deaths, respectively. Thus, it is clear that RT which includes cardiac structures and anthracycline chemotherapy can cause irreversible and fatal cardiac damage. Confirming the independent importance of anthracycline chemotherapy is a recent report by Moser et al. in which the absolute excess risk (AER) in 476 Dutch and Belgian patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with at least six cycles of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in four EORTC trials (1980–1999) had a cumulative incidence of CVD of 12% at 5 years, and 22% at 10 years [5]. Although many survivors appear well, they may be compensating, either physiologically or by altering their lifestyles, for some degree of heart damage. In a recent editorial by Ewer and Lenihan, we are reminded that the heart has substantial reserves, making it virtually impossible to appreciate subclinical damage with the usual methods [6]. That is, by the time traditional functional endpoints become abnormal following treatment with cytotoxic therapy, the myocardium has undergone sufficient damage to exceed its ability to compensate. Thus, we may be falsely reassured by reports that do not detail clinically overt consequences of therapy. In this report by Myrehaug et al., we are provided exactly this type of information.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Predicting the Clinical Outcome of Delayed Encephalopathy of Acute Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between neuropsychiatric outcomes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). Methodsand Materials: 66 patients and 60 healthy controls were included in this study. Median fractional anisotropy (FA) of the white matter (WM) bilaterally was compared between patients and healthy controls. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was assessed at 4-6 months following DEACMP. The association between the GOS score and FA variables was explored using the Spearman rank correlation. Results: The FA values in WM were reduced in patients with DEACMP compared with those in the volunteers. Of the 66 patients, 21 (31.8%) achieved a good outcome (GOS-5), 26 (36.4%) had moderate disability (GOS-4), 14 (21.2%) had severe disability (GOS-3), 5 (7.6%) were in a vegetative state (GOS-2), and none of the patients died (GOS-1). The FA values in the WM in patients with DEACMP correlated significantly with GOS. Conclusion: DTI may be a valuable tool for assessing the severity of brain injury and may be a predictor of outcome in patients with delayed encephalopathy of acute carbon monoxide poisoning. DTI may be a valuable tool for assessing the severity of tissue injury and may be a predictor of outcome.
Interrogative suggestibility, compliance and false confessions among prisoners and their relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms

Background Interrogative suggestibility and compliance are important psychological vulnerabilities during interrogation. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of suggestibility and compliance with childhood and current symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Compliance has not been studied previously in relation to ADHD. A further aim was to investigate the relationship between ADHD and the reporting of having made a false confession to the police. Method The participants were 90 male prisoners, all of whom had completed the Gudjonsson Suggestibility and Compliance Scales (GSS and GCS) within 10 days of admission to the prison. Childhood ADHD symptoms were screened by the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and current adult symptoms by the DSM-IV Checklist criteria for ADHD. Results Half of the prisoners (50%) were found on screening to meet criteria for ADHD in childhood and, of those, over half (60%) were either fully symptomatic or in partial remission of their symptoms. ADHD symptoms were found to be significantly associated with compliance, but not with suggestibility. The relationship with compliance was stronger (effect size) in relation to current than childhood symptoms. The ADHD symptomatic groups were significantly more likely to claim that they had made a false confession to the police in the past. Conclusions The findings raise important questions about the potential vulnerability of adults with ADHD symptoms in terms of their ability to cope with interrogation.
α5β1‐Integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643) effective in rabbit trabeculectomy model

Glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) fails due to fibrosis. The α5β1‐integrin plays a pivotal role in fibrosis, angiogenesis and inflammation. This is the first experiment evaluating the prevention of fibrosis after GFS by a specific small molecule α5β1‐integrin inhibitor (CLT‐28643).