Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin sensitivity and hemodynamic responses to insulin in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The insulin-mediated vasodilator effect has been proposed as an important physiological determinant of insulin action on glucose disposal in normotensive humans. The present study was designed to further examine the acute regional hemodynamic effects of insulin in different vascular beds and to explore the relationships between insulin vascular effects and insulin sensitivity during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps in conscious normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The rats were instrumented with intravascular catheters and pulsed Doppler flow probes to measure blood pressure, heart rate, and regional blood flows. In WKY rats, the euglycemic infusion of insulin (4 and 16 mU.kg-1.min-1) causes vasodilations in renal and hindquarter vascular beds but no changes in mean blood pressure, heart rate, or superior mesenteric vascular conductance. In contrast, in SHR, the same doses of insulin produce vasoconstrictions in superior mesenteric and hindquarter vascular beds and, at high doses, increase blood pressure. Moreover, at the lower dose of insulin tested, we found a reduction in the insulin sensitivity index in the SHR compared with the WKY rats. The present findings provide further evidence for an association between insulin sensitivity and insulin-mediated hemodynamic responses.
Control system design for the starch mashing phase in the production of beer

The starch mashing phase, the first one in the brewing process, has a fundamental influence on the quality of the final product. In particular, a good temperature control can significantly reduce the product variability, and also improve the process eciency by (slightly) reducing the mashing phase duration. In this work, controloriented models of the mashing process, including biochemical reactions’ representation and energy balance equations, are used to synthesise and test some temperature control schemes. The mix of equation- and algorithm-based modelling allowed by Modelica allows to size the control equipment to the (nearly) final detail, including for example the comparison of dierent types of heating actuators.
Comparison of Visual Field Parameters in Early and Advanced Stages of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Without a History of Optic Neuritis

Abstract This study compared the visual field parameters of multiple sclerosis patients without optic neuritis in early versus advanced stage of the disease. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (early stage, n = 14) constituted of patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores <3 and group 2 (advanced stage, n = 13) constituted of patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores ≥3. Mean visual acuities in both groups were similar (p = 0.674). Mean sensitivity, mean defect, loss of variance, reliability factor parameters (Octopus 101 perimeter) of groups 1 and 2 were 24.17 ± 3.62, 21.81 ± 3.04; 4.14 ± 3.05, 6.49 ± 2.58; 21.61 ± 22.17, 33.31 ± 18.67; and 1.57 ± 2.79, 2.59 ± 3.09, respectively. Compared with group 1, mean sensitivity was significantly lower in group 2 (p = 0.013). Mean defect (p = 0.004) and loss of variance (p = 0.042) parameters in group 2 were significantly higher than in group 1. Mean reliability factor was similar between two groups (p = 0.211). Multiple scleorisis may alter visual field parameters without severe loss of visual acuity by possibly involving optic pathways other than optic nerve.
Molecular adaptation of cellular defences following preconditioning of the heart by repeated ischaemia.

OBJECTIVE The molecular mechanism of preconditioning the heart by repeated ischaemia was investigated by examining the expression of stress related and antioxidative genes and proteins. METHODS Isolated buffer-perfused rat hearts were made ischaemic for 5 min followed by 10 min of reperfusion (1 x PC). Another group of experiments was performed by repeating the ischaemia/reperfusion episode four times (4 x PC). Both 1 x PC and 4 x PC groups were reperfused for 60 min. Control experiments were performed by perfusing the hearts with buffer using the same time frame, but without ischaemia/reperfusion. The induction of the expression of two oncogenes (c-fos and c-myc), three heat shock protein (HSP) genes (HSP 27, HSP 70, and HSP 89 mRNAs) and two antioxidative enzyme genes (Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase mRNAs) by northern hybridisation, as well as the activities of four major antioxidative enzymes (SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) were examined in control and 1 x PC and 4 x PC hearts. In addition, 2-D gel electrophoresis of the proteins in all groups was performed to examine the induction of any new protein. Myocardial preservation was studied by examining left ventricular functions. RESULTS Northern hybridisation detected enhanced level of c-fos 2.2 kb mRNA and c-myc 2.4 kb mRNA in 4 x PC hearts after 60 min of reperfusion, induction being stronger for c-fos. 1 x PC hearts showed minimal expression of c-fos mRNA, but not c-myc mRNA. 4 x PC hearts also showed the induction of HSP 27, HSP 70, and HSP 89 mRNAs as well as catalase and Mn-SOD mRNAs, whereas 1 x PC hearts showed some induction of HSP 70 mRNA and catalase mRNA only. 2-D gel electrophoresis revealed the expression of 15-20 new proteins in 4 x PC hearts only. The activities of three major antioxidative enzymes, Mn-SOD, peroxisomal catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, but not Cu/Zn-SOD, cytosolic catalase, and glutathione reductase, were enhanced after 60 min of reperfusion in 4 x PC hearts only compared to both 1 x PC and baseline values. 4 x PC hearts, but not 1 x PC hearts, showed reduction of subsequent myocardial ischaemic and reperfusion injury. CONCLUSIONS Repeated ischaemia and reperfusion (4 x PC), and not 1 x PC, caused the induction of several stress related and antioxidant genes including HSP 27, 70, and 89 genes, Mn-SOD and catalase genes, and proto-oncogenes (c-fos and c-myc), as well as the expression of several stress inducible proteins and stimulation of three antioxidative enzymes. Mn-SOD, peroxisomal catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, simultaneously protecting the heart from subsequent ischaemia-reperfusion injury. The expression of stress inducible and antioxidant genes and stimulation of antioxidant enzyme activities may reflect the heart's response enabling it to survive against ischaemic stress by eliminating the oxidative assault.
Structural basis for the allosteric inhibitory mechanism of human kidney-type glutaminase (KGA) and its regulation by Raf-Mek-Erk signaling in cancer cell metabolism

Besides thriving on altered glucose metabolism, cancer cells undergo glutaminolysis to meet their energy demands. As the first enzyme in catalyzing glutaminolysis, human kidney-type glutaminase isoform (KGA) is becoming an attractive target for small molecules such as BPTES [bis-2-(5 phenylacetamido-1, 2, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl) ethyl sulfide], although the regulatory mechanism of KGA remains unknown. On the basis of crystal structures, we reveal that BPTES binds to an allosteric pocket at the dimer interface of KGA, triggering a dramatic conformational change of the key loop (Glu312-Pro329) near the catalytic site and rendering it inactive. The binding mode of BPTES on the hydrophobic pocket explains its specificity to KGA. Interestingly, KGA activity in cells is stimulated by EGF, and KGA associates with all three kinase components of the Raf-1/Mek2/Erk signaling module. However, the enhanced activity is abrogated by kinase-dead, dominant negative mutants of Raf-1 (Raf-1-K375M) and Mek2 (Mek2-K101A), protein phosphatase PP2A, and Mek-inhibitor U0126, indicative of phosphorylation-dependent regulation. Furthermore, treating cells that coexpressed Mek2-K101A and KGA with suboptimal level of BPTES leads to synergistic inhibition on cell proliferation. Consequently, mutating the crucial hydrophobic residues at this key loop abrogates KGA activity and cell proliferation, despite the binding of constitutive active Mek2-S222/226D. These studies therefore offer insights into (i) allosteric inhibition of KGA by BPTES, revealing the dynamic nature of KGA's active and inhibitory sites, and (ii) cross-talk and regulation of KGA activities by EGF-mediated Raf-Mek-Erk signaling. These findings will help in the design of better inhibitors and strategies for the treatment of cancers addicted with glutamine metabolism.
Impacto de depredación y selección de presa del lince ibérico y el zorro sobre el conejo

Durante los anos 1995-96 y 97 en el parque Nacional de Donana, en la finca concodia como "Coto del Rey" (Huelva) se ha censado las poblaciones de lince iberico, zorro y conejo, a la par que realizado un estudio sobre la importancia del conejo en la dieta de ambos carnivoros. Con todo ello se determino el impacto de depredacion, medido como porcentaje de presas consumidas del total presente, asi como la seleccion de tamano de conejos que estos carnivoros efectuaron a lo largo del tiempo.
Physiology, Signaling, and Pharmacology of Galanin Peptides and Receptors: Three Decades of Emerging Diversity

Galanin was first identified 30 years ago as a "classic neuropeptide," with actions primarily as a modulator of neurotransmission in the brain and peripheral nervous system. Other structurally-related peptides—galanin-like peptide and alarin—with diverse biologic actions in brain and other tissues have since been identified, although, unlike galanin, their cognate receptors are currently unknown. Over the last two decades, in addition to many neuronal actions, a number of nonneuronal actions of galanin and other galanin family peptides have been described. These include actions associated with neural stem cells, nonneuronal cells in the brain such as glia, endocrine functions, effects on metabolism, energy homeostasis, and paracrine effects in bone. Substantial new data also indicate an emerging role for galanin in innate immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Galanin has been shown to regulate its numerous physiologic and pathophysiological processes through interactions with three G protein–coupled receptors, GAL1, GAL2, and GAL3, and signaling via multiple transduction pathways, including inhibition of cAMP/PKA (GAL1, GAL3) and stimulation of phospholipase C (GAL2). In this review, we emphasize the importance of novel galanin receptor–specific agonists and antagonists. Also, other approaches, including new transgenic mouse lines (such as a recently characterized GAL3 knockout mouse) represent, in combination with viral-based techniques, critical tools required to better evaluate galanin system physiology. These in turn will help identify potential targets of the galanin/galanin-receptor systems in a diverse range of human diseases, including pain, mood disorders, epilepsy, neurodegenerative conditions, diabetes, and cancer.
Screening for risk of readmission of patients aged 65 years and above after discharge from the emergency department: predictive value of four instruments

Objectives To compare the abilities of four different screening tools to predict return visits of older persons after they have been discharged from the emergency department (ED). Methods We assessed 83 short-term (discharged within 24 h) patients (aged 65 years and above) who visited the ED of the University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, from 15 October 2005 to 24 December 2005. The Identification of Seniors at Risk (ISAR), the Triage Risk Screening Tool (TRST), the eight-item questionnaire of Runciman, and the seven-item questionnaire of Rowland were administered at admission to screen the patients for risk factors of future ED readmission. By telephone follow-up 14, 30, and 90 days after discharge from the ED, we asked the patients (or their families) whether readmission had occurred since their initial discharge from the ED. Results Readmission rates were 10%, 15.8%, and 32.5% after 14, 30, and 90 days, respectively. When using three or more positive answers as the cutoff scores, the Rowland questionnaire proved to be the most accurate predictive tool with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 72%, and negative predictive value of 98% at 14 days after discharge. Thirty days after discharge, the sensitivity was 73%, specificity was 75%, and negative predictive value was 92%. Conclusion Repeat visits in older persons admitted to an ED seemed to be most accurately predicted by using the Rowland questionnaire, with an acceptable number of false positives. This instrument can be easily integrated into the standard nursing assessment.
Presence of New mecA and mph(C) Variants Conferring Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus spp. Isolated from the Skin of Horses before and after Clinic Admission

ABSTRACT Because of the frequency of multiple antibiotic resistance, Staphylococcus species often represent a challenge in incisional infections of horses undergoing colic surgery. To investigate the evolution of antibiotic resistance patterns before and after preventative peri- and postoperative penicillin treatment, staphylococci were isolated from skin and wound samples at different times during hospitalization. Most staphylococci were normal skin commensals and belonged to the common coagulase-negative group. In some cases they turned out to be opportunistic pathogens present in wound infections. MICs were determined for 12 antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes were detected by microarray. At hospital admission, horses harbored staphylococci that were susceptible to antibiotics or resistant to one group of drugs, mainly due to the presence of new variants of the methicillin and macrolide resistance genes mecA and mph(C), respectively. After 3 days, the percentage of Staphylococcus isolates displaying antibiotic resistance, as well as the number of resistance genes per isolate, increased moderately in hospitalized horses without surgery or penicillin treatment but dramatically in hospitalized horses after colic surgery as well as penicillin treatment. Staphylococcus species displaying multiple resistance were found to harbor mainly genes conferring resistance to β-lactams (mecA and blaZ), aminoglycosides [str and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′)-Ia], and trimethoprim [dfr(A) and dfr(D)]. Additional genes conferring resistance to macrolides [mph(C), erm(C), and erm(B)], tetracycline [tet(K) and tet(M)], chloramphenicol [cat(pC221) and cat(pC223)], and streptothricin (sat4) appeared in several strains. Hospitalization and preventive penicillin use were shown to act as selection agents for multidrug-resistant commensal staphylococcal flora.
SYNTHESIS FOR MULTIVIEW VIDEO TRANSMISSION

The paper deals with prospective 3D video transmission systems that are needed for future video services like free viewpoint television or stereovision with autostreoscopic displays. Such systems possible would use transmission of a limited set of viewpoint video sequences. In a receiver, other necessary views have to be synthesized. The paper presents a hybrid technique for viewpoint video synthesis. The original idea is to synthesize a new virtual view from each of reference views separately and then merge them all into one view. In that way the problem of holes in synthesized views is omitted. Moreover, the paper presents the results of measurements (objective and subjective) of quality of synthesized video.
Effects of Stress on the Social Support Provided by Men and Women in Intimate Relationships

Although evolutionary and social-structural models predict that women will be more supportive than men in relationships, behavioral studies fail to confirm this difference. We predicted instead that gender differences in support will be moderated by stress, and that men will provide lower-quality support primarily when their stress is high. We predicted further that the detrimental effects of stress on men’s support will be more evident when men are responding to women’s emotionally toned expressions of stress than when men are responding to women’s affectively neutral expressions of stress. Stressed and unstressed men and women were observed providing support to a stressed relationship partner. While unstressed, men and women generally provided similar support to the stressed partner. While stressed, men provided lower-quality support than did comparably stressed women, but only in response to emotionally toned expressions of stress. Thus, gender differences in support may arise because women are better able than men to regulate other people’s emotional distress while managing stresses of their own.
Highly efficient dual band 2.45/5.85 GHz rectifier for RF energy harvesting applications in ISM band

A highly efficient single branch dual-band rectifier operating at 2.45GHz and 5.8 GHz for various Radio Frequency (RF) Energy harvesting applications is presented. The circuit consists of a voltage doubler, an impedance matching network, and a load resistor. The diode used for rectification is SMS-7630 by Skyworks and its selection has been justified by a comparative study of diodes. An extremely low loss microstrip line based dual band impedance transformer is used for impedance matching. The circuit has been designed on 1.57mm thick Rogers RT/duriod 5880 substrate because of its low dissipation factor. The power levels of interest are from −10 dBm to −30 dBm. The simulated conversion efficiency of the rectifier is 50.7% at 2.45 GHz and 20.1% at 5.8 GHz for a typical input power of −10 dBm, which are the highest reported efficiencies at this power level at these frequencies. The peak conversion efficiencies for the proposed rectifier are 57.1% for 2.45 GHz and 39.2% for 5.8 GHz. Measurements show good agreement with the simulated results. 21.71 uW DC power is harvested with this rectifier with an overall measured conversion efficiency of 23.26% for an input of −10.3dBm channel power.
Coupling of the pathway of sulphur oxidation to dioxygen reduction: characterization of a novel membrane‐bound thiosulphate:quinone oxidoreductase

Thiosulphate is one of the products of the initial step of the elemental sulphur oxidation pathway in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus ambivalens. A novel thiosulphate:quinone oxidoreductase (TQO) activity was found in the membrane extracts of aerobically grown cells of this organism. The enzyme was purified 21‐fold from the solubilized membrane fraction. The TQO oxidized thiosulphate with tetrathionate as product and ferricyanide or decyl ubiquinone (DQ) as electron acceptors. The maximum specific activity with ferricyanide was 73.4 U (mg protein)−1 at 92°C and pH 6, with DQ it was 397 mU (mg protein)−1 at 80°C. The Km values were 2.6 mM for thiosulphate (kcat = 167 s−1), 3.4 mM for ferricyanide and 5.87 µM for DQ. The enzymic activity was inhibited by sulphite (Ki = 5 µM), metabisulphite, dithionite and TritonX‐100, but not by sulphate or tetrathionate. A mixture of caldariella quinone, sulfolobus quinone and menaquinone was non‐covalently bound to the protein. No other cofactors were detected. Oxygen consumption was measured in membrane fractions upon thiosulphate addition, thus linking thiosulphate oxidation to dioxygen reduction, in what constitutes a novel activity among Archaea. The holoenzyme was composed of two subunits of apparent molecular masses of 28 and 16 kDa. The larger subunit appeared to be glycosylated and was identical to DoxA, and the smaller was identical to DoxD. Both subunits had been described previously as a part of the terminal quinol:oxygen oxidoreductase complex (cytochrome aa3).
What is recalled after hearing a passage?

MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 Association (Psychological) ; Cognitive Processes; College students; *conceptual Schemes; *Listening Comprehension; *Prose; *Recall (Psychological); *Structural Analysis In order to determine what aspects of information from prose are available for recall after one presentation of a passage and what aspects are learned with additional presentations, two passages were divided into idea units. These units were placed in a logical hierarchical structure for each passage, and scores were assigned to the idea units on the basis of their position in the structure. Sixty-nine undergraduates were divided into three groups equally; each group heard the passages once, twice, or three times before recallingEffects of the logical structure were seen in the kinds of idea units remembered, the stability of these units in consecutive recalls, and the tendency for clustering of idea units on this basis. In addition, serial position, importance of idea units, and order of recall were examined with the recall data. It was found that units high in the logical hierarchy were recalled more frequently than those lower in the hierarchy, that subjects tended to recall groups of units from the passages which were related to one another in the hierarchical structure, and that the stability of each unit recall was substantially related to its position in the logical structure of the passage. Figures and a bibliography are included. (Author/AW) WHAT IS RECALLED AFTER HEARING A PASSAGE? U. S. DEPARTMENT OP HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE 31-1 E F EDUCATION THIS DO IOS L. fIr. 'RODUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERO OR ORGFN TIDN Oi;:131NATI,-C IT. PO:MS OF VILW OR OPINIONS SLid ELI DO Nur i%L,. ,LoantiILY REeRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. Bonnie J. F. Meyer and George W. McConkie
Fetoplacental discrepancy involving structural abnormalities of chromosome 8 detected by prenatal diagnosis

We describe the finding of three cell lines involving different structural abnormalities of chromosome 8 detected in a prenatal diagnosis. Chorionic villi sampling (CVS) was performed on a pregnant woman because of advanced maternal age. Semidirect cytogenetic analysis showed a mos46,XX,i(8q)/46,XX,del(8)(p11.2) karyotype, confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Amniocentesis was subsequently performed, and the karyotype obtained was 46,XX,dup(8)(p23p11.2). The pregnancy was terminated; pathologic findings included clubfeet, clenched left hand, subcutaneous edema and bilateral hydrocephalus. Molecular studies using chromosome 8 microsatellites performed on parents' blood and fetal tissues revealed a maternal meiotic origin of the inv dup(8p) with deletion of the distal p23 region and duplication of the remaining 8p. We propose a model to explain the cytogenetic findings, which includes a first maternal meiotic error giving rise to a large dicentric isochromosome 8 present in the ovum, a second error in one of the first zygote divisions with misdivision of the dicentric 8 giving rise to a cell line with del(8p) confined to the trophoblast and another cell line with inv dup(8p) confined to the fetal tissue and a third error in the trophoblast giving rise to a further cell line with isochromosome 8q. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.