Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proinflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Patients with Periodontal Disease

Objective. To evaluate the involvement of proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers in gingival tissue in individuals with chronic periodontitis. Subject and methods. Eighteen subjects were divided in two groups: experimental (age 52.9±5.0) and control (age 51.1±9.6). The activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase, nonenzymatic antioxidants: total glutathione and reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) were evaluated in gingival tissues from interproximal sites. Statistical differences between groups were determined by independent Student t test and P<. 05. Results. Individuals with periodontal disease exhibited a significant increase in the activities of MPO, GPx, GST, and also in TBARS and GSSG levels in gingival tissue compared to the control group (P<.05). Conclusion. The results of the present work showed an important correlation between oxidative stress biomarkers and periodontal disease.
Analysis of BeiDou Satellite Measurements with Code Multipath and Geometry-Free Ionosphere-Free Combinations

Using GNSS observable from some stations in the Asia-Pacific area, the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) and multipath combinations of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), as well as their variations with time and/or elevation were investigated and compared with those of GPS and Galileo. Provided the same elevation, the CNR of B1 observables is the lowest among the three BDS frequencies, while B3 is the highest. The code multipath combinations of BDS inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites are remarkably correlated with elevation, and the systematic “V” shape trends could be eliminated through between-station-differencing or modeling correction. Daily periodicity was found in the geometry-free ionosphere-free (GFIF) combinations of both BDS geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) and IGSO satellites. The variation range of carrier phase GFIF combinations of GEO satellites is −2.0 to 2.0 cm. The periodicity of carrier phase GFIF combination could be significantly mitigated through between-station differencing. Carrier phase GFIF combinations of BDS GEO and IGSO satellites might also contain delays related to satellites. Cross-correlation suggests that the GFIF combinations’ time series of some GEO satellites might vary according to their relative geometries with the sun.
Early Presentation With Angioedema and Urticaria in Cross-reactive Hypersensitivity to Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs Among Young, Asian, Atopic Children

Objective. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mainly ibuprofen, are used extensively among children as analgesic and antipyretic agents. Our initial survey in the Kendang Kerbau Children's Hospital in Singapore showed NSAIDs to be the second most common adverse drug reaction-causing medications among children of Asian descent. We attempted to characterize the clinical and epidemiologic profile of NSAID reactions in this group of patients. Methods. A retrospective case series from a hospital-based pediatric drug allergy clinic was studied. A diagnosis of NSAID hypersensitivity was made with a modified oral provocation test. Atopy was evaluated clinically and tested with a standard panel of skin-prick tests. We excluded from analysis patients with any unprovoked episodes of urticaria and/or angioedema, patients <1 year of age, and patients who refused a diagnostic challenge test. Results. Between March 1, 2003, and February 28, 2004, 24 patients, including 14 male patients (58%) and 18 Chinese patients (75%), with a mean age of 7.4 years (range: 1.4–14.4 years), were diagnosed as having cross-reactive NSAID hypersensitivity. A family history consistent with NSAID hypersensitivity was elicited for 17% of patients. None of the patients reported any episodes of angioedema/urticaria unrelated to NSAIDs. The median cumulative reaction-eliciting dose was 7.1 mg/kg. Facial angioedema developed for all patients (100%) and generalized urticaria for 38% of challenged patients, irrespective of age. There was no circulatory compromise, but respiratory symptoms of tachypnea, wheezing, and/or cough were documented for 42% of patients. A cross-reactive hypersensitivity response to acetaminophen was documented for 46% of our patients through their history and for 25% through diagnostic challenge. Compared with patients with suspected adverse drug reactions to antibiotics, patients in the NSAID group were older (7.4 vs 4.8 years) and more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma (odds ratio: 7.5; 95% confidence interval: 3.1–19). Conclusions. Early presentations of facial angioedema and urticaria are key features of dose- and potency-dependent, cross-reactive reactions to NSAIDs in a subpopulation of young, Asian, atopic children. Significant overlap with acetaminophen hypersensitivity, especially among very young patients, for whom the use of a cyclooxygenase-2-specific medication may not be feasible, severely limits options for medical antipyretic treatment.
ParamILS: An Automatic Algorithm Configuration Framework

The identification of performance-optimizing parameter settings is an important part of the development and application of algorithms. We describe an automatic framework for this algorithm configuration problem. More formally, we provide methods for optimizing a target algorithm's performance on a given class of problem instances by varying a set of ordinal and/or categorical parameters. We review a family of local-search-based algorithm configuration procedures and present novel techniques for accelerating them by adaptively limiting the time spent for evaluating individual configurations. We describe the results of a comprehensive experimental evaluation of our methods, based on the configuration of prominent complete and incomplete algorithms for SAT. We also present what is, to our knowledge, the first published work on automatically configuring the CPLEX mixed integer programming solver. All the algorithms we considered had default parameter settings that were manually identified with considerable effort. Nevertheless, using our automated algorithm configuration procedures, we achieved substantial and consistent performance improvements.
A unified approach to the study of general and palindromic compositions

We study many properties of compositions of integers by using the symbolic method, multivariate generating functions and Riordan arrays. In particular, we study palindromic compositions with respect to various parameters and present a bijection between walks, compositions and bit strings. The results obtained for compositions can thus be exported to the corresponding objects. We also present a conjecture about a combinatorial interpretation of an algebraic relation involving the number of compositions and the square of the number of palindromic compositions.
Modulatory effects of adiponectin on the polarization of tumor‐associated macrophages

The plasticity of macrophages with selective functional phenotypes partially arises in respective to their microenvironment. Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) may promote disease progression with tumor specific manner. Here we report that in pediatric malignant soft‐tissue tumors, the presence of TAMs and expression of adiponectin (APN) are heterogeneous. Both APN and TAMs had high expression in rhabdomyosarcoma, especially in the malignant subtype, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. To investigate the mode of action of APN on TAM activation, a murine MN/MCA1 sarcoma model was used. The Results revealed that exogenous APN had no effect on MN/MCA1 proliferation but tumor size was markedly reduced in apn−/− mice versus WT controls. The accumulation of TAMs in apn−/− mice was also reduced which correlated to downregulated serum levels of MCP‐1. Likewise, TAMs in apn−/− mice exhibited a M1‐like phenotype, characterized by increase in MHC IIhigh population and M1 phenotypic markers, such as iNOS gene and serum TNF‐α accompanied by a decrease in M2 markers, namely YM1 gene and serum IL‐10. In addition, APN deficiency increased the number of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and NK cells in tumors and reduced tumor metastasis. The altered phenotype of TAMs in apn−/− mice was associated with a marked decrease in phospho‐p38 and treatment with a p38 MAPK inhibitor significantly reduced tumor size and increased MHC II expression on TAMs in WT mice, implying p38 MAPK signaling pathway may contribute to APN‐mediated TAM polarization. Collectively, our findings suggest that APN may have a potential role in regulating soft tissue sarcoma growth.
α-Conotoxin PeIA[S9H,V10A,E14N] Potently and Selectively Blocks α6β2β3 versus α6β4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing α6 and β2 subunits modulate dopamine release in the basal ganglia and are therapeutically relevant targets for treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease and nicotine dependence. However, the expression profile of β2 and β4 subunits overlap in a variety of tissues including locus ceruleus, retina, hippocampus, dorsal root ganglia, and adrenal chromaffin cells. Ligands that bind α6β2 nAChRs also potently bind the closely related α6β4 subtype. To distinguish between these two subtypes, we synthesized novel analogs of a recently described α-conotoxin, PeIA. PeIA is a peptide antagonist that blocks several nAChR subtypes, including α6/α3β2β3 and α6/α3β4 nAChRs, with low nanomolar potency. We systematically mutated PeIA and evaluated the resulting analogs for enhanced potency and/or selectivity for α6/α3β2β3 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes (α6/α3 is a subunit chimera that contains the N-terminal ligand-binding domain of the α6 subunit). On the basis of these results, second-generation analogs were then synthesized. The final analog, PeIA[S9H,V10A,E14N], potently blocked acetylcholine-gated currents mediated by α6/α3β2β3 and α6/α3β4 nAChRs with IC50 values of 223 pM and 65 nM, respectively, yielding a >290-fold separation between the two subtypes. Kinetic studies of ligand binding to α6/α3β2β3 nAChRs yielded a koff of 0.096 ± 0.001 min−1 and a kon of 0.23 ± 0.019 min−1 M−9. The synthesis of PeIA[S9H,V10A,E14N] demonstrates that ligands can be developed to discriminate between α6β2 and α6β4 nAChRs.
Crystal structures of Zn2GeO4 cubic/tetragonal spinel and Zn2SiO4 modified spinel phases

Crystal structures of the cubic and tetragonal spinel phases of Zn2GeO4 and the modified spinel phase of Zn2SiO4 were refined by Rietveld analysis of synchrotron powder X–ray diffraction data. The Zn2GeO4 cubic spinel phase was found to have an inverse spinel configuration. The Zn2GeO4 tetragonal spinel phase is isostructural to Zn2TiO4, where half of Zn occupies the tetrahedral site, and the remaining Zn and Ge are ordered in two octahedral sites. In the modified spinel phase of Zn2SiO4, Zn occupies the octahedral sites. Independent individual cation–oxygen distances in the Zn2GeO4 tetragonal spinel and Zn2SiO4 modified spinel phases were calculated using the bond valence repartition method, and are in reasonable agreement with the refined structures.
Seizure detection using wavelet decomposition of the prediction error signal from a single channel of intra-cranial EEG

This paper presents a novel patient-specific algorithm for detection of seizures in epileptic patients from a single-channel intra-cranial electroencephaolograph (iEEG) recording. Instead of extracting features from the EEG signal, first the EEG signal is filtered by a prediction error filter (PEF) to compute a prediction error signal. A two-level wavelet decomposition of the prediction error signal leads to two detail signals and one approximate signal. Eight features are extracted every one second using a 2-second window with a 50% overlap. These features are input to two different types of classifiers: a linear support vector machine (SVM) classifier and an AdaBoost classifier. The algorithm is tested using the intra-cranial EEG (iEEG) from the Freiburg database. It is shown that the proposed algorithm can achieve a sensitivity of 95.0% and an average false positive rate (FPR) of 0.124 per hour, using the linear SVM classifier. The AdaBoost classifier achieves a sensitivity of 98.75% and an average FPR of 0.075 per hour. These results are obtained with leave-one-out cross-validation. In addition, for 13 out of 18 patients, the AdaBoost classifier requires only one feature, while it requires 4 features for the remaining 5 patients.
Combination Therapy of Metformin and Statin May Decrease Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Diabetic Patients in Asia

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that metformin or statins may decrease hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in diabetic patients. Accordingly, this article evaluates whether combination therapy may further reduce HCC.Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, excluding those with history of malignancy prior to the date of DM diagnosis, were recruited to a DM cohort. DM patients developed HCC as the cancer cohort and the date for HCC diagnosis as index date. Non-cancer cohort was frequency matched with 4:1 according to age, sex, DM-year, and index date as case group from DM cohort.Patients who were treated with statins showed a 63% decreased risk of HCC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.27–0.49). Patients who consumed simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin significantly decreased risk for HCC (OR = 0.32, 0.31, and 0.22; 95% CI = 0.18–0.58, 0.19–0.52, and 0.08–0.61, respectively). Metformin combinations with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin may decrease HCC (OR = 0.30, 0.30, and 0.24; 95% CI = 0.15–0.59, 0.16–0.54, and 0.08–0.70, respectively). The comorbidities for HCC were decreased by consuming simvastatin and atorvastatin (OR = 0.31 and 0.29; 95% CI = 0.14–0.67 and 0.15–0.57, respectively). Only combination therapy of metformin and simvastatin may significantly decreased HCC comorbidities (OR = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.11–0.60) in our study.In Asia, not all metformin combinations with statins may reduce the incidence of HCC and not all of this kind of combination therapy may decrease the HCC comorbidities.
Age, Sex, and Finish Time as Determinants of Pacing in the Marathon

March, DS, Vanderburgh, PM, Titlebaum, PJ, and Hoops, ML. Age, sex, and finish time as determinants of pacing in the marathon. J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 386-391, 2011-Previous researchers have suggested that faster marathoners tend to run at a more consistent pace compared with slower runners. None has examined the influence of sex and age on pacing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the simultaneous influences of age, sex, and run time on marathon pacing. Pacing was defined as the mean velocity of the last 9.7 km divided by that of the first 32.5 km (closer to 1.0 indicates better pacing). Subjects were 186 men and 133 women marathoners from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 races of a midwestern U.S. marathon. The course was a 1.6 km (1 mile) loop with pace markers throughout, thus facilitating pacing strategy. Each 1.6-km split time was measured electronically by way of shoe chip. The ambient temperature (never above 5°C) ensured that hyperthermia, a condition known to substantially slow marathon times and affect pacing, was not likely a factor. Multiple regression analysis indicated that age, sex, and run time (p < 0.01 for each) were simultaneously independent determinants of pacing. The lack of any 2- or 3-way interactions (p > 0.05 for each) suggests that the effects of 1 independent variable is not dependent upon the levels of others. We conclude that older, women, and faster are better pacers than younger, men, and slower marathoners, respectively. Coaches can use these findings to overcome such tendencies and increase the odds of more optimal pacing.
Responses of Pulmonary Allograft and Cheek Pouch Arterioles in the Hamster to Alterations in Extravascular Pressure in Different Oxygen Environments

The responses to changes in trangmural pressure were investigated in pulmonary allo-graft and cheek pouch arterioles in two oxygen environments. Neonatal hamster lung tissue was transplanted into adult hamster cheek pouches. After vasculaxization (8–10 days), pulmonary and cheek pouch vessels were observed by intravital microscopy in hamsters anesthetized with pentobarbital. By gassing the suffusion solution (bicarbonate-buffered Ringer's) (pH 7.4 at 35–37°C) with either low oxygen (95% N2/6% CO2) or high oxygen (75% N2/5% CO2/20% O2) and after sealing the top of the chamber, extravascular pressure was altered by varying the fluid volume of the closed chamber. Changes in arteriolar diameters in response to positive and negative square-wave pressure pulses were quantified using a video micrometer and close-circuit TV system. Pulmonary arterioles showed a passive dilation or constriction in response to increases or decreases in transmural pressure (±20 mm Hg). These responses were not altered either by changes in Po2 or nitroprusside. In contrast, cheek pouch arterioles showed myogenic responses by constricting when transmural pressure was increased and vice versa. These responses were potentiated at high Po2 and abolished with nitroprusside. It is concluded that a myogenic response is dominant in cheek pouch arterioles but not in pulmonary arterioles under these conditions. These latter observations are consistent with results obtained from isolated, intact lung.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON THE EVOLUTION OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL RATES IN PASSERINES

Abstract The reasons why growth and developmental rates vary widely among species have remained unclear. Previous examinations of possible environmental influences on growth rates of birds yielded few correlations, leading to suggestions that young may be growing at maximum rates allowed within physiological constraints. However, estimations of growth rates can be confounded by variation in relative developmental stage at fledging. Here, we re-estimate growth rates to control for developmental stage. We used these data to examine the potential covariation of growth and development with environmental variation across a sample of 115 North American passerines. Contrary to previous results, we found that growth rates of altricial nestlings were strongly positively correlated to daily nest predation rates, even after controlling for adult body mass and phylogeny. In addition, nestlings of species under stronger predation pressure remained in the nest for a shorter period, and they left the nest at lower body mass relative to adult body mass. Thus, nestlings both grew faster and left the nest at an earlier developmental stage in species with higher risk of predation. Growth patterns were also related to food, clutch size, and latitude. These results support a view that growth and developmental rates of altricial nestlings are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions experienced by species, and they generally lend support to an adaptive view of interspecific variation in growth and developmental rates.
Work and family conflict in academic science: Patterns and predictors among women and men in research universities

This article addresses work–family conflict as reported among women and men academic scientists in data systematically collected across fields of study in nine US research universities. Arguing that academic science is a particularly revealing case for studying work–family conflict, the article addresses: (1) the bi-directional conflict of work with family, and family with work, reported among the scientists; (2) the ways that higher, compared with lower, conflict, is predicted by key features of family, academic rank, and departments/institutions; and (3) patterns and predictors of work–family conflict that vary, as well as converge, by gender. Results point to notable differences, and commonalties, by gender, in factors affecting interference in both directions of work–family conflict reported by scientists. These findings have implications for understandings of how marriage and children, senior compared with junior academic rank, and departmental climates shape work–family conflict among women and men in US academic science.
Reliability of Real-Time Video Smartphone for Assessing National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scores in Acute Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose— Telestroke reduces acute stroke care disparities between urban stroke centers and rural hospitals. Current technologies used to conduct remote patient assessments have high start-up costs, yet they cannot consistently establish quality timely connections. Smartphones can be used for high-quality video teleconferencing. They are inexpensive and ubiquitous among health care providers. We aimed to study the reliability of high-quality video teleconferencing using smartphones for conducting the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Methods— Two vascular neurologists assessed 100 stroke patients with the NIHSS. The remote vascular neurologists assessed subjects using smartphone videoconferencing with the assistance of a bedside medical aide. The bedside vascular neurologists scored patients contemporaneously. Each vascular neurologists was blinded to the other’s NIHSS scores. We tested the inter-method agreement and physician satisfaction with the device. Results— We demonstrated high total NIHSS score correlation between the methods (r=0.949; P<0.001). The mean total NIHSS scores for bedside and remote assessments were 7.93±8.10 and 7.28±7.85, with ranges, of 0 to 35 and 0 to 37, respectively. Eight categories had high agreement: level of consciousness (questions), level of consciousness (commands), visual fields, motor left and right (arm and leg), and best language. Six categories had moderate agreement: level of consciousness (consciousness), best gaze, facial palsy, sensory, dysarthria, and extinction/inattention. Ataxia had poor agreement. There was high physician satisfaction with the smartphone. Conclusions— Smartphone high-quality video teleconferencing is reliable, easy to use, affordable for telestroke NIHSS administration, and has high physician satisfaction.
Loop Diuretics Have Anxiolytic Effects in Rat Models of Conditioned Anxiety

A number of antiepileptic medications that modulate GABAA mediated synaptic transmission are anxiolytic. The loop diuretics furosemide (Lasix) and bumetanide (Bumex) are thought to have antiepileptic properties. These drugs also modulate GABAA mediated signalling through their antagonism of cation-chloride cotransporters. Given that loop diuretics may act as antiepileptic drugs that modulate GABAergic signalling, we sought to investigate whether they also mediate anxiolytic effects. Here we report the first investigation of the anxiolytic effects of these drugs in rat models of anxiety. Furosemide and bumetanide were tested in adult rats for their anxiolytic effects using four standard anxiety models: 1) contextual fear conditioning; 2) fear-potentiated startle; 3) elevated plus maze, and 4) open-field test. Furosemide and bumetanide significantly reduced conditioned anxiety in the contextual fear-conditioning and fear-potentiated startle models. At the tested doses, neither compound had significant anxiolytic effects on unconditioned anxiety in the elevated plus maze and open-field test models. These observations suggest that loop diuretics elicit significant anxiolytic effects in rat models of conditioned anxiety. Since loop diuretics are antagonists of the NKCC1 and KCC2 cotransporters, these results implicate the cation-chloride cotransport system as possible molecular mechanism involved in anxiety, and as novel pharmacological target for the development of anxiolytics. In view of these findings, and since furosemide and bumetanide are safe and well tolerated drugs, the clinical potential of loop diuretics for treating some types of anxiety disorders deserves further investigation.