Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Kinetics of O 6-Methylguanine and 7-Methylguanine Formation and Persistence in DMA of Rats Treated with Symmetrical Dimethylhydrazine 1

The rates of appearance and removal of 7-methylguanine and O'-rnethylguanine in DNA from rat liver, kidney, and colon were determined at various intervals up to 120 hr after i.p. administration of 10.2, 40.7, 81.5, or 163 mg 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH) per kg body weight (one-sixteenth, one-fourth, one-half, or one 50% lethal dose) using high-pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence spectrophotometry. In most cases, increasing doses of SDMH slowed the rate of methylation of DNA, especially of the liver; colon DNA was methylated at a faster rate than was liver DNA, and kidney DNA was methylated at the slowest rate following SDMH administration. Removal of O6-methylguanine was slow (half-life, 37 to 50 hr) when this base was present in liver DNA at concentrations above 400 ^mol/mol guanine; as the concentration fell below 300 /Â«noiO6-methylguanine per mol guanine, the removal rate more than doubled (half-life, 16 to 19 hr). Some evidence was obtained to suggest that in the first 12 hr after maximum DNA methylation following SDMH administration, a rapid time-de pendent removal of 7-methylguanine from liver and kidney but not colon DNA occurred. In these instances, then, the rates of formation and removal of aberrant methylated bases did not follow first-order kinetics.
A review on frequency synchronization in collaborative beamforming: A practical approach

Article history: Received 1 February 2017 Received in revised form 26 April 2017 Accepted 10 May 2017 Available online 11 May 2017 Coherent signal reception from distributed beamforming nodes of virtual antenna array formation requires frequency synchronization of the participating nodes. Signals at the target receiver are out of phase due to unsynchronized local oscillator’s (LO) reference signal of all the nodes in the systems. Practical cases of this problem are considered. In this article, a brief overview is presented of the need for the frequency synchronization and the resulting effect of mitigation avoidance. A variant of the closed-loop feedback algorithm is used to provide LO drifts information to the beamforming transmitters. These feedbacks are used to estimate, correct, and predict the nonlinear LO offsets that will result in near (0) phase offset of the received signal. The algorithms are implemented in software defined radio (SDR) and transmitted through the RF front end of devices like the NI 2920/N210 USRP.
Linear versus nonlinear relaxation: Consequences for reheating and thermalization.

We consider the case of a scalar field, the inflaton, coupled to both lighter scalars and fermions, and study the relaxation of the inflaton via particle production in both the linear and nonlinear regimes. This has an immediate appilcation to the reheating problem in inflationary universe models. The linear regime analysis offers a rationale for the standard approach to the reheating problem, but we make a distinction between relaxation and thermalization. We find that particle production when the inflaton starts in the {ital nonlinear} region is typically a far more efficient way of transferring energy out of the inflaton zero mode and into the quanta of the lighter scalar than single particle decay. For the nonlinear regime we takn into account self-consistently the evolution of the expectation value of the inflaton field coupled to the evolution of the quantum fluctuations. An exhaustive numerical analysis of the renormalized equations reveals that the distribution of produced particles is far from thermal, and exhibits the effect associated with open channels. In the fermionic case, Pauli blocking begins to hinder the transfer of energy into the fermion modes very early on in the evolution of the inflaton. We discuss the issue of thermalization andmore » estimate the reheating temperature to be proportional to the inflaton mass. Cosmological implications are discussed in particular for the Polonyi problem. {copyright} 1995 The American Physical Society. « less
Cannabis and Neurological Soft Signs in Schizophrenia: Absence of Relationship and Influence on Psychopathology

Background: Cannabis is a possible risk factor for the onset of schizophrenia and can induce neurocognitive, behavioural and motor co-ordination alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cannabis in the occurrence of neurological soft signs (NSS) and, considering that this drug has been related to positive symptoms, whereas NSS have been linked to negative symptoms, we also examined the role of clinical features. Methods: The study investigated NSS in 25 male cannabis-consuming and 25 male non-consuming schizophrenic patients, using the Neurological Evaluation Scale. Clinical features were studied using SANS and SAPS. Results: Significant differences emerged after comparison analysis, with more NSS in non-consuming patients. The SANS subscales Alogia and Anhedonia-asociality were also statistically significant in this group of patients. Discussion: If non-consuming patients show a higher incidence of both NSS and negative symptoms, which, according to the literature, seem to be associated, then these findings suggest that NSS are relatively independent from cannabis, but not from clinical features.
Orbital and adnexal cysticercosis

Orbital and adnexal cysticercosis is emerging as a far commoner disease than previously considered, both in endemic and nonendemic areas of cysticercosis. A review of the literature on orbital and adnexal cysticercosis found that it has a predilection for children and young adults with no definite sex predilection. The extraocular muscle form is the commonest type of orbital and adnexal cysticercosis. Lodgement of cysts in the subconjunctival space is another common site, followed by the eyelid, optic nerve, retro‐orbital space and lacrimal gland. Association of orbital cysticercosis with systemic cysticercosis is quite rare. The clinical manifestations of orbital or adnexal cysticercosis are entirely different and depend on the location, size, relation to adjacent structures and stage of evolution of the cyst. Diagnosis of cysticercosis is based mainly on orbital imaging because of its highly specific appearance. Tissue diagnosis is not essential for initiating treatment. Medical therapy is the recommended treatment for the extraocular muscle form and retro‐orbital cysticer‐cosis. Surgical removal is advocated for subconjunctival and eyelid cysticercosis. Because of the limited number of cases of optic nerve and lacrimal gland cysticercosis, their treatment is controversial.
Bryostatin-1 and IL-2 Synergize to Induce IFN-γ Expression in Human Peripheral Blood T Cells: Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy1

Bryostatin-1 (Bryo-1), a protein kinase C modulator with antineoplastic activity, may exert some of its antitumor activity through activation of the immune response. Studies in tumor-bearing hosts have indicated that the T cell response, particularly IFN-γ production, is impaired. To evaluate whether Bryo-1 plus IL-2 may affect the activation pattern of T cells, we investigated the expression of IFN-γ mRNA and protein in human primary T cells. Northern blot analysis and ELISAs demonstrated that Bryo-1 and IL-2 synergized to induce both IFN-γ mRNA and protein expression. This synergistic induction was seen within 3 h of treatment and with as little as 10 U/ml IL-2 and 1.0 ng/ml Bryo-1. In vitro transcription assays revealed that Bryo-1 plus IL-2 induced transcriptional activation of the IFN-γ gene. Furthermore, mRNA stability studies indicated that this treatment also enhanced the IFN-γ mRNA half-life. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responded to the treatment with IFN-γ expression. The induction of the IFN-γ expression was decreased by a specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, but not by a protein kinase C inhibitor. Our results demonstrate for the first time that Bryo-1 in combination with IL-2 control IFN-γ gene expression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels through a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent process. Given the pivotal role that IFN-γ plays in the orchestration of an effective Th1 type of response, our results suggest that Bryo-1 plus IL-2 may be a valuable combined therapy for cancer treatment.
Assessment of the Magnitude, Severity and Associated Factors of Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Patients Attending National Diabetes Referral Clinic at Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Hypoglycemia poses a barrier to optimum diabetes management especially among patients taking insulin therapy. However little is known about the magnitude and effect of hypoglycemia among diabetic patients in Ethiopia. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted on diabetic patients who were above 14 years of age and attending National Diabetic referral clinic at Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital, between June and August 2016. Results: The study involved 562 diabetic patients (194 T1DM and 368 T2DM). Previous episode of hypoglycemia was experienced by 61.2% (344) of the patients. Hypoglycemia was reported by 88% T1DM and 69% of insulin treated T2DM . There were 523 episodes of hypoglycemia reported by 186(33.1%) of the patients in the last month, out of which 40(5.9%) episodes were sever hypoglycemia reported by 26 (14%) of the patients. Female gender, higher BMI, low educational status and higher FBS were associated with higher reported incident of previous hypoglycemia (p<0.05). Although majority of the patients were on Insulin 381 (67.8%), FBS above 130mg/dl was recorded in 65% (363) of the patients. About 63.3 % patients reported that their hypoglycemia was precipitated by delayed meal. Out of the participant 152(44.2%) were unaware, 94(27.4%) had impaired awareness and only 98(28.4%) were fully aware of their hypoglycemic episodes. Conclusion: Hypoglycemia was experienced by the majority of diabetic patients involved in this study. Notably, the rate recorded among insulin treated T2DM patients was significantly higher than those on OHA alone. The study also revealed higher rate of sever hypoglycemic incidents in our patients. Continuous health education on SMBG practice and management of hypoglycemia is needed among diabetic patients in Ethiopia.
Reduction of dislocated hip prosthesis in the emergency department using conscious sedation: a prospective study

This prospective observational study aimed to determine the rate of success of reduction of dislocated hip prostheses using conscious sedation. In 101 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department between August 2000 and February 2003 with a dislocated hip prosthesis, reduction was attempted using conscious sedation. The outcome measures of the study were (a) rate of success of the attempted reductions (b) rate of complication of the sedation or the procedure, and (c) rate of success in the three subgroups (based on degree of dislocation). The overall success rate was 62% (95% CI 53% to 71%). There were six complications: five related to sedation and one was a mild foot drop. The mean time to attempted reduction using conscious sedation was 1.83 hours and for an equivalent group who were excluded and subsequently required general anaesthesia the mean time was 10.9 hours. Reduction of isolated unilateral prosthetic hip dislocation using conscious sedation in the emergency department is safe and has a reasonable success rate. Prosthetic hip reduction can be attempted more quickly using conscious sedation than when awaiting general anaesthesia.
Biological Activities of Curcuma longa

There are several data in the literature indicating a great variety of pharmacological activities of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), which exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-human immunodeficiency virus, anti-bacteria, antioxidant effects and nematocidal activities. Curcumin is a major component in Curcuma longa L. , being responsible for its biological actions. Other extracts of this plant has been showing potency too. In vitro, curcumin exhibits anti-parasitic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal effects; and also inhibits carcinogenesis and cancer growth. In vivo, there are experiments showing the anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory potency of curcumin and extracts of C. longa L. by parenteral and oral application in animal models. In this present work we make an overview of the pharmacological activities of C. longa L. , showing its importance.
Taxonomic, phylogenetic, and ecological diversity of methanogenic Archaea.

Methanogens are strict anaerobes which share a complex biochemistry for methane synthesis as part of their energy metabolism. The discovery of the unique biochemical and genetic properties of these organisms led to the concept of Archaebacteria at the end of the seventies and the proposal in 1990 for the domain Archaea. A number of studies have provided evidence that they are of economic value. The successive petroleum crisis since 1973 has led to great interest in alternative forms of energy, including recovery of methane via anaerobic digestion of wastes. Improvements in the design of digestors have been made possible by advances in understanding the ecology and physiology of methanogens. In the cattle industry, the knowledge of the fermentation processes in the rumen demonstrated a net loss of energy via the methanogenesis, and inhibitors such as Rumensin have been developed to enhance meat yields. Oil companies try to distinguish between natural gas produced by methanogens or by the thermocatalytic reactions associated with petroleum generation. Finally, studies on the global distribution of methane in the earth's atmosphere are increasing due to the sudden awareness of its possible role in the enhancement of the greenhouse effect from CO2 accumulation, and on the reversal of stratospheric ozone depletion. Due to these reasons reviews on their taxonomy and ecology, metabolism, energetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology have been published. The most recent compilation on methanogens is the book edited by Ferry. This paper summarizes the recent knowledge of methanogenic Archaea with emphasis on their taxonomy and ecology.
Carotid intima‐media thickness and cerebrovascular reactivity in long‐term type 1 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the leading risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases. Both macro‐ and microvascular damage may occur. The aim of the present work was to assess intima‐media thickness as well as cerebral vasoreactivity in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
Prostaglandin E2 enhances Th17 responses via modulation of IL‐17 and IFN‐γ production by memory CD4+ T cells

The contribution of Th1 and Th17 cells in chronic inflammatory conditions leading to autoimmunity remains highly controversial. In inflamed tissues, production of prostaglandins by COX‐2 has been proposed to favor Th17 responses indirectly by increasing IL‐23 and blocking IL‐12 release from APC. We report here that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can directly modulate cytokine production by human memory CD4+ T cells. TCR triggering in the presence of PGE2 increased IL‐17 and reduced IFN‐γ production by freshly isolated memory T cells or T‐cell clones. PGE2 triggered the EP2 and EP4 receptors expressed on T cells leading to a rapid increase of retinoic‐acid‐related orphan receptor‐γt (ROR‐γt) and decrease of T‐cell‐specific T‐box transcription factor 21 (T‐bet) mRNA. Moreover, PGE2 promoted the selective enrichment of IL‐17‐producing cells by differentially modulating the proliferation of memory T‐cell subsets in vitro. Taken together our results indicate that T‐cell effector function is a direct target for PGE2 modulation and suggest a novel mechanism by which inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis, such as COX‐2 inhibitors, exert their anti‐inflammatory effect.
Supplemental Instruction: Whom Does it Serve?

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is today a well-known academic assistance program that provides help for students in “difficult” courses. SI has repeatedly been shown to decrease the percentage of failures in the course as well as increasing course grades for students who attended SI sessions. Although SI is open for all students, its main objective is to come to terms with students’ high failure rates and retention problems. And even if SI has been shown to reduce failure rates and increase reenrollment figures, surprisingly few studies have been devoted to determine how well it benefits students with different prior academic ability. These studies tend to show that “weaker” students benefit from SI. The results for “average” and “strong” students are not as clear. The present study focuses on the benefit of SI for “weak”, “average,” and “strong” first-year engineering students in a calculus course. The results show that all three groups benefit from SI and that the failure rates among students with low prior mathematics achievement who had high SI attendance are almost as low as for students with high prior mathematics achievement who do not attend SI.
Opioid and nonopioid components independently contribute to the mechanism of action of tramadol, an 'atypical' opioid analgesic.

Tramadol hydrochloride produced dose-related antinociception in mouse abdominal constriction [ED50 = 1.9 (1.2-2.6) mg/kg i.p.], hot-plate [48 degrees C, ED50 = 21.4 (18.4-25.3) mg/kg s.c. ; 55 degrees C, ED50 = 33.1 (28.2-39.1) mg/kg s.c. ] and tail-flick [ED50 = 22.8 (19.2-30.1) mg/kg s.c. ] tests. Tramadol also displayed antinociceptive activity in the rat air-induced abdominal constriction [ED50 = 1.7 (0.7-3.2) mg/kg p.o. ] and hot-plate [51 degrees C, ED50 = 19.5 (10.3-27.5) mg/kg i.p.] tests. The antinociceptive activity of tramadol in the mouse tail-flick test was completely antagonized by naloxone, suggesting an opioid mechanism of action. Consistent with this, tramadol bound with modest affinity to opioid mu receptors and with weak affinity to delta and kappa receptors, with Ki values of 2.1, 57.6 and 42.7 microM, respectively. The pA2 value for naloxone obtained with tramadol in the mouse tail-flick test was 7.76 and was not statistically different from that obtained with morphine (7.94). In CXBK mice, tramadol, like morphine, was devoid of antinociceptive activity after intracerebroventricular administration, suggesting that the opioid component of tramadol-induced antinociception is mediated by the mu-opioid receptor. In contrast to the mouse tail-flick test and unlike morphine or codeine, tramadol-induced antinociception in the mouse abdominal constriction, mouse hot-plate (48 degrees or 55 degrees C) or rat hot-plate tests was only partially antagonized by naloxone, implicating a nonopioid component. Further examination of the neurochemical profile of tramadol revealed that, unlike morphine, it also inhibited the uptake of norepinephrine (Ki = 0.79 microM) and serotonin (0.99 microM). The possibility that this additional activity contributes to the antinociceptive activity of tramadol was supported by the finding that systemically administered yohimbine or ritanserin blocked the antinociception produced by intrathecal administration of tramadol, but not morphine, in the rat tail-flick test. These results suggest that tramadol-induced antinociception is mediated by opioid (mu) and nonopioid (inhibition of monoamine uptake) mechanisms. This hypothesis is consistent with the clinical experience of a wide separation between analgesia and typical opioid side effects.
PBP3 inhibition elicits adaptive responses in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Adaptive evolution depends on both the genetic variability in a population of organisms and the selection of the better adapted genotypes. However, for the fittest variants to be selected they must survive over a sufficient period under the new conditions. Bacteria are often exposed to different types of stress in nature, including antibiotics. We analysed the global expression profiles of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in response to ceftazidime, a PBP3 inhibitor, at different concentrations and times. PBP3 inhibition exerts a global impact on the transcription of a large number of genes. From an adaptive perspective, it is noteworthy the induction of several SOS genes, as well as adaptation, protection and antibiotic resistance genes. Intriguingly, transcription of pyocin genes, previously described as SOS‐regulated, was repressed upon PBP3 inhibition. Ciprofloxacin, an SOS inducer, produced transcriptional induction of pyocins. Our results indicate that: (i) the SOS responses resulting from treatments with these two antibiotics cause only partially overlapping transcription profiles; (ii) PBP3 and DNA‐gyrase inhibition produce opposite effects on transcription of pyocin genes. Consequently, ceftazidime decreases ciprofloxacin toxicity; (iii) error‐prone DNA‐polymerase DinB is induced by PBP3 inhibition but not by DNA‐gyrase inhibition; (iv) PBP3 inhibition causes induced mutagenesis; (v) ceftazidime upregulates several antibiotic‐resistance and adaptation genes; and (vi) ceftazidime concentrations thought previously to be lethal are not, as most cells treated with ceftazidime remain alive and recover their capacity to form colonies. Thus, transcriptional changes demonstrated in this work are likely to be adaptively relevant to cells that survive.
Individual Differences and Decision-making Using Various Levels of Aggregation of Information

Abstract:This research investigated the effects of aggregation level on decisionmaking performance and confidence. The study made use of experienced territory managers as subjects. As part of their regular job responsibilities, they had all carried out a task closely resembling the one in this experiment. The research sought to identify patterns of decision-making suggesting that individual differences play an important role. With an average of 6.8 years of experience, 104 territory managers in a manufacturing firm planned the coming year’s product distribution. Each manager received reports for two hypothetical territories that differed in their level of aggregation. Confidence in their plans was related to experience and to decisionmaking style, but not to preference. Decision-makers almost always preferred detailed data, while summary data appeared to better serve heuristic planners and detailed data better served analytic planners.
Induction of De Novo Subcortical Actin Filament Assembly by Treponema denticola Major Outer Sheath Protein

ABSTRACT Treponema denticola and its major outer sheath protein (Msp) induce actin reorganization in fibroblasts. We adapted a barbed-end labeling/imaging assay to monitor Msp-induced subcortical actin filament assembly in neutrophils and fibroblasts. Msp, at an actin-reorganizing concentration, inhibited migration of these dissimilar cell types, whose cytoskeletal functions in locomotion and phagocytosis are crucial for immunity and healing of peripheral infections.