Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by endogenous nitric oxide: A critical step in Fas signaling

We have found that activation of human adult T cell leukemia (Jurkat) cells with anti-Fas Ab leads, in a concentration-dependent manner, to an early burst of production of nitric oxide (NO), which inhibits cell respiration. This results in mitochondrial hyperpolarization, dependent on the hydrolysis of glycolytic ATP by the F1Fo-ATPase acting in reverse mode. During this early phase of activation, there is a transient release of superoxide anion. All these processes can be prevented by an inhibitor of NO synthase. Approximately 2 h after stimulation with anti-Fas Ab, a distinct second phase can be detected. This comprises a concentration-dependent collapse in mitochondrial membrane potential, a second wave of free radical production, and activation of caspase-8 leading to apoptosis. This second phase is abolished by an inhibitor of caspase activation. In contrast, inhibition of NO synthesis leads to an enhancement and acceleration of these latter processes, suggesting that the early NO-dependent phase represents a protective mechanism. The significance of the two phases in relation to cell survival and death remains to be studied.
Co-Administration of Vaccination with DNA Encoding T Cell Epitope on the Der p and BCG Inhibited Airway Remodeling in a Murine Model of Chronic Asthma

Therapeutic modalities of airway remodeling in asthma have proved to be unsuccessful regarding reversing the previously established chronic airway changes. Recently, the potential of plasmid DNA to inhibit the Th2 immune response has been demonstrated in animal models of asthma. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunization also induced immunomodulation, which appeared to be reliant on the properties of the interferon-gamma that was produced. Mice were immunized with house dust mite extract (HDM). At the 3 week point, we injected BCG subcutaneously into mice on three successive weeks. One week after the BCG injection, we immunized mice with the DNA plasmid encoding for murine T-cell epitope on Dermatophagoide pteronyssinus 2 thrice weekly. At 9 weeks after immunization, we measured airway responsiveness. Twenty four hours later, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage and histological examinations. Co-administration of DNA vaccination and BCG resulted in a partial suppression of the overproduction of goblet cells and the thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle in ongoing allergic responses. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the number of total cells and eosinophils was reduced, and regarding the change of cytokines, the concentration of IL-4 was also decreased, but interferon-gamma was increased in the co-administration group, opposed to the asthma group. These results suggest that co-administration of vaccination with the DNA encoding T-cell epitope and BCG are effective regarding ongoing allergic response and might constitute an ideal method for combating allergic disease in the future.
Do Atypical Antipsychotics Really Enhance Smoking Reduction More Than Typical Ones?: The Effects of Antipsychotics on Smoking Reduction in Patients With Schizophrenia

AbstractWhether atypical antipsychotics (AAs) can enhance smoking reduction in schizophrenic patients remains controversial because of methodological limitations in existing studies. This study explored whether certain types of antipsychotics predict smoking reduction in schizophrenic patients. Three hundred eight smoking, predominantly male schizophrenic patients (271/308 [88.9%]) participated in an 8-week open-label study with antismoking medications (high-dose, low-dose nicotine transdermal patch and bupropion). Antipsychotics were classified into (1) typical antipsychotics (TAs) and (2) AAs, including multiacting receptor-targeted antipsychotics (clozapine, olanzapine, and quetiapine), serotonin-dopamine antagonists (risperidone), D2/D3 receptor antagonists (amisulpride), and partial dopamine receptor agonists (aripiprazole). A general linear model was used to explore whether types of antipsychotic predict changes in the number of cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) and the score of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) while controlling for confounding factors. The type of antipsychotic (TAs or AAs) was not significantly associated with smoking cessation (n = 21; &khgr;2 = 1.8; df = 4; P = 0.77). Regarding smoking reduction, the type of antipsychotic was significantly predictive of a change in the CPD (P = 0.027; partial eta square = 0.055) and FTND scores (P = 0.002; partial eta square = 0.073). The 95% confidence intervals of the estimated means of change in the CPD and FTND scores did not contain zero only among subjects on TAs or clozapine.These findings suggest that TAs and clozapine enhance smoking reduction compared with nonclozapine atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenic patients. The mechanisms underlying the effects of various antipsychotics on smoking reduction remain unclear and warrant future study.
Parkin-proven disease

Objective: To compare and contrast clinical and genetic findings in six probands with parkinsonism with a parkin exon 3 438- to 477-bp deletion (Ex3Δ40) to search for evidence of a common founder. Method: Clinical review, parkin gene sequencing, dosage studies, and high-resolution genotype/haplotype analysis were performed. Results: All subjects had two or more signs consistent with a diagnosis of possible or probable PD with age at onset younger than 45 years (mean ± SD 29.3 ± 10.2 years, range 16 to 42 years). Affected individuals were either homozygotes, compound heterozygotes, or Ex3Δ40 carriers with one normal parkin allele. Haplotype analysis revealed both Ex3Δ40 and Ex7 924 C→T (R275W) mutations originated from common founders, the former most probably of Irish descent. Although three cases had Ex7 924 C→T (R275W) and Ex3Δ40 mutations, their clinical presentation and mode of inheritance were variable. Conclusion: Parkin mutations on common parkin haplotypes provide testable hypotheses of parkin function in genetically defined parkinsonism.
150-kD Oxygen-regulated Protein Is an Essential Factor for Insulin Release

Objective: This study was designed to show the induction and function of 150-kD oxygen-regulated protein (ORP150) in insulin secretion in vitro. Methods: A mouse β-cell line, MIN6 cells, was cultured in medium containing potassium channel openers or various concentrations of glucose (2-25 mmol/L). ORP150 expression was studied by reporter assay, Western blot, or Northern blot analysis, concomitantly with insulin secretion. In addition, MIN6 cells infected with ORP150 recombinant adenovirus were adopted to show the function of ORP150 in insulin release. Results: ORP150 expression in MIN6 cells was suppressed dose-dependently by the potassium channel opener diazoxide. Both low glucose (<2 mmol/L) and high glucose concentrations (25 mmol/L glucose) significantly induced more ORP150 expression compared with 10 mmol/L glucose. The treatment with diazoxide or infection of ORP150 antisense adenovirus suppressed ORP150 expression, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was effectively prevented. Conclusion: These findings show the involvement of ORP150 in insulin secretion in MIN6 cells.
Covering Mindanao: The Safety of Local vs. Non-local Journalists in the Field

ABSTRACT In this study, I examine the perilous conditions facing Filipino journalists covering the Mindanao region, focusing on differences in threats and dangers faced by those who are local to the region and those parachuting in from Manila. Using a qualitative approach, I have conducted one group interview with two local and two non-local journalists, and five in-depth one-to-one interviews with journalists and expert sources, in 2017. The study additionally draws on interviews with fourteen Filipino journalists and editors from 2014. The journalists perceive that safety differ depending on whether they are local to the conflict they cover or not. Safety issues are significant for the ways in which they operate in the field and decisions they make. Extra-judicial killings and impunity for perpetrators committing crimes against journalists perpetuate dangerous conditions particularly for local journalists, while kidnapping for ransom is among the greatest threats perceived by non-local journalists. In situations which non-local journalists can retreat, their local counterparts stay behind and face reprisals. Ethics is imperative to safety particularly for local journalists. Safety training should be tailored to and differentiate between security challenges. Collaboration between local and non-local journalists may improve their safety altogether, but media organisations must adequately compensate both.
Determination of the quality of stripe-marked and cracked eggs during storage

Objective Stripe marks, which occasionally occur on the shell, do not cause breakage to the shell and shell membranes of eggs. This study investigated the quality of intact eggs (IEs), minor stripe-marked eggs (MEs), severe stripe-marked eggs (SEs), and cracked eggs (CEs) during 3-week storage at 25°C. Methods Shell eggs were collected the day after being laid and were washed. Among them, eggs without any visual cracks or stripe marks on the shells were evaluated as IEs by the plant employees using candling in a darkened egg storage room; the remaining eggs exhibited some eggshell defects. At day 3, the eggs were further categorized into IEs, MEs, SEs, CEs, and broken eggs (BEs) on the basis of the description given. Except BEs, which were discarded, the remaining eggs were stored at 25°C (approximate relative humidity 50%) and then analyzed. Results Stripe marks were observed primarily within the first 3 days after washing. At day 3, CEs had significantly (p<0.05) lower Haugh unit values, but all eggs had grades AA or A, according to the United States Department of Agriculture standard. As storage time increased, differences in egg quality between groups were more obvious. IEs had the highest eggshell breaking strength. During storage, the total plate counts and pathogens, namely Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. , Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. , were not detectable in the internal content of IEs and SEs. Conclusion In conclusion, cracks degraded egg quality severely and minor stripe marks only slightly influenced the egg quality.
A differential correlation approach to blind DPSK symbol estimation

This paper presents a new method for the blind symbol estimation of digital communication signals under linearly distortive channels. The algorithm blindly recovers input user symbols by exploiting second order statistics of the channel output signal collected from two data windows of different size. It does not require an intermediate step of channel identification. Moreover, this differential correlation algorithm (DCA) can directly demodulate differentially encoded data without using the more costly Viterbi algorithm. This method is directly applicable to a class of time-varying channels. Simulation examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of this scheme.
Particle Swarm Optimization based Adaboost for face detection

This paper proposes a PSOAdaBoost algorithm incorporating Particle Swarm Optimization within an AdaBoost framework for face detection applications. The basic component of an AdaBoost detector is a weak classifier, consisting of a feature, selected by an exhaustive search mechanism, and a decision threshold. The proposed PSOAdaBoost computes the best feature and optimizes the threshold in one optimization process. Experiments between the proposed algorithm and AdaBoost (with exhaustive feature selection) suggest that PSOAdaBoost has better performance in terms of much less training time and better classification accuracy.
Genetic diversity of feline immunodeficiency virus: dual infection, recombination, and distinct evolutionary rates among envelope sequence clades

For the rapid genetic analysis of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), we developed a heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) that utilizes a PCR-amplified fragment of the FIV envelope gene spanning the third and fourth variable regions of the envelope surface protein coding sequence. Viral sequences were successfully amplified from blood specimens from 98 naturally infected cats from Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and the United States. Eighty were clearly assignable to the A or B envelope sequence subtypes. Three belonged to subtype C, one was dually infected with viruses harboring the A and B env subtypes, and several were categorized as outliers to any of the established subtypes or as probable intersubtype recombinants. Some geographic clustering was evident, with subtypes A and B found in greater frequency in the western and eastern regions of the United States, respectively. Subtypes A, B, and C were found on more than one continent, and countries with more than two samples analyzed contained at least two subtypes. The broadest representation of subtypes was found in Munich, Germany, where three subtypes and one virus that was not classifiable by HMA were found. Thirteen samples were selected for DNA sequence determination over the same region of env used for HMA. Analysis of all available FIV env sequences from this and previous studies revealed the existence of recombinant viruses generated from subtype A/B, B/D, and A/C envelope gene sequences. Subtype A env sequences were less diverse than subtype B sequences, although both groups had well-supported clusters. Furthermore, the mutational pattern giving rise to diversification in the two subtypes differed, with the subtype A viruses showing half as many synonymous site mutations compared to subtype B yet showing similar levels of nonsynonymous site changes. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that FIV-B is an older virus group and is possibly more host adapted than FIV-A.
Sero-prevalence of brucellosis in food animals in the Punjab, Pakistan.

Received: Revised: Accepted: May 17, 2014 June 13, 2014 June 19, 2014 Aim of the present study was to know the prevalence of brucellosis in food animals in relation to various risk factors through different diagnostic tests. For this purpose, 2375 serum samples were collected from December, 2010 to December, 2012. Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) were applied for initial screening, positive samples were subjected to enzyme linked immunosorbant assays (i-ELISA and c-ELISA) for confirmation. The data thus collected was interpreted and subjected to Binary Logistic Regression Analysis to know the difference among various groups based on species, sex, age, body weight and parity. Through RBPT and SAT, the higher prevalence of caprine brucellosis was recorded as compared to the buffaloes, camel, cattle and sheep. Prevalence of brucellosis was higher in buffaloes through both types of ELISAs as compared to other food animals. No animal was found positive for brucellosis in camel population. The prevalence of brucellosis was not associated with sex of animals. Sero-prevalence was higher in mature animals as compared to the younger ones in all food animals. The other risk factors like body weight and parity also affected the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in all species.
Martian Atmospheric Erosion Rates

Mars was once wet but is now dry, and the fate of its ancient carbon dioxide atmosphere is one of the biggest puzzles in martian planetology. We have measured the current loss rate due to the solar wind interaction for different species: Q(O+) = 1.6·1023 per second = 4 grams per second (g s–1), Q(O +2) = 1.5·1023 s–1 = 8 g s–1, and Q(CO +2) = 8·1022 s–1 = 6 g s–1 in the energy range of 30 to 30,000 electron volts per charge. These rates can be propagated backward over a period of 3.5 billion years, resulting in the total removal of 0.2 to 4 millibar of carbon dioxide and a few centimeters of water. The escape rate is low, and thus one has to continue searching for water reservoirs and carbon dioxide stores on or beneath the planetary surface and investigate other escape channels.
Isoflurane preconditioning‐induced cardio‐protection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Background and objectives: Ischaemic preconditioning is commonly regarded as one of the most powerful protective mechanisms against a subsequent lethal ischaemic injury during coronary artery bypass graft surgery but is not practiced routinely. Experimentally, isoflurane, a commonly used volatile anaesthetic agent, provides myocardial protection through a signal transduction cascade that is remarkably similar to the pathways identified in ischaemic preconditioning. The aim of our study was to investigate whether pre‐ischaemic administration of isoflurane exerted protection against prolonged ischaemia with functional recovery and reduced necrosis among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: Forty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft operations were prospectively randomized into the control or isoflurane groups. In the isoflurane group, isoflurane 2.5 minimum alveolar concentration was administered for 15 min followed by a 5‐min washout period before aortic cross‐clamping. The control group received a time‐matched period of isoflurane‐free cardiopulmonary bypass. The conduction of anaesthesia and surgery were standardized in all patients. Haemodynamic data, troponin I release and inotropic support were measured and recorded perioperatively. Results: There were no adverse effects related to isoflurane administration. In the isoflurane group, the mean cardiac index after cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly higher than the pre‐bypass value (P < 0.05), whereas no difference was found in the control group. At 15 min after cardiopulmonary bypass and 6 h after surgery, the changes in cardiac index and stroke volume index were significantly higher in the isoflurane group than in the control group (P < 0.05). There was a consistently lower release of troponin I in the isoflurane group compared to the control group. Compared to the controls, the mean troponin I level was significantly reduced in the isoflurane group at 24 h after surgery (P = 0.042). Conclusions: The present results support the preconditioning effect of isoflurane in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery as clinically feasible and providing optimal cardiac protection.
Antithrombotic agents after peripheral transluminal angioplasty: a review of the studies, methods and evidence for their use.

OBJECTIVE to review published studies and assess the strength of the evidence for the use of antithrombotic agents for the prevention of re-occlusion after peripheral angioplasty. METHODS a literature search was performed. All randomised comparative studies with patency assessments or clinical endpoints were included. The methods and results of the studies were compared and evaluated. RESULTS eleven randomised trials were identified, six of them were double blind. The majority of patients included were those with femoropopliteal lesions. A significant benefit of aspirin in one placebo-controlled study is balanced by no apparent benefit in another study. No dose-dependent effect of aspirin in the range 50-1000 mg/day has been shown in any of the four studies investigating such an effect. None of the three studies comparing platelet inhibitors and oral anticoagulants have shown any differences in outcome and no other well-designed studies of anticoagulants have been reported. CONCLUSIONS evidence for a reduction in the likelihood of re-occlusion or restenosis after peripheral transluminal angioplasty with platelet inhibitors remains equivocal. Evidence for the efficacy of any other agent in this indication is also lacking.
Integration of wind-power and wave-power generation systems using a DC micro grid

In order to study uncertainty and intermittent characteristics of wind power and wave power, this paper proposes an integrated wind- and wave-power generation system fed to a power grid or connected with an isolated load using a DC micro grid. The studied integrated system consists of a wind-power generator, a wave-power generator, a bidirectional DC/DC converter, and a grid-tied inverter. An energy-storage device is connected to the DC side of the proposed DC micro grid through a bi-directional DC/DC converter. Both wind-and wave-power generation systems are modeled and simulated using the written program based on MATLAB/Simulink. Steady-state and dynamic responses of the studied system under various operating conditions are carried out. To examine the fundamental operating characteristics of the proposed integrated system, a laboratory-scale platform is also established. The experimental results reveal that the studied integrated system can maintain stable operation to supply power under different operating conditions using the proposed DC micro grid.
Comparison of end-systolic pressure-length relations and preload recruitable stroke work as indices of myocardial contractility in the conscious and anesthetized, chronically instrumented dog.

Development of an index of myocardial contractility that is both load independent and easily quantified in vivo has been a difficult task. Recently, three measures of contractile state have been advocated that appear to fulfill these requirements: the end-systolic pressure-length relationship (ESPLR), the ESPLR area, and regional preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW). Because the effects of halothane and isoflurane on these indices of contractility have yet to be studied, the purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of these volatile anesthetics on contractile function as evaluated via these techniques in chronically instrumented dogs. Because autonomic nervous system tone substantially influences systemic hemodynamics in vivo, experiments were performed in the presence of pharmacologic blockade of the autonomic nervous system. Four groups comprised the 36 experiments that were performed with nine dogs. Following inhalational induction, the dogs were maintained on 1.5 MAC and 2 MAC of halothane or isoflurane. Pressure-length loops were generated after 1 h of equilibration using preload reduction via partial inferior vena caval occlusion or afterload augmentation by a phenylephrine infusion. The PRSW and ESPLR were then calculated, respectively. Slope and length intercept variables obtained from the ESPLR failed to significantly change from control with increasing levels of anesthetic depth despite substantial decreases in other indices of contractility. However, combination of slope and length intercept parameters into the ESPLR area model proved to be a sensitive and easily calculable measure of depressed myocardial function. Similarly, regional PRSW slope precisely reflected changes in contractile state when halothane (62 +/- 10 for control to 30 +/- 6 erg.cm-2.10(-3). mm-1 at 2 MAC) or isoflurane (83 +/- 14 for control to 55 +/- 8 erg.cm-2.10(-3). mm-1 at 2 MAC) were administered. The PRSW slope also demonstrated a significant difference in depressed contractility when equianesthetic concentrations of halothane and isoflurane were compared (63 +/- 7% of control with halothane versus 86 +/- 4% of control with isoflurane at 1.5 MAC; 50 +/- 5% of control with halothane versus 70 +/- 6% of control with isoflurane at 2 MAC). The ESPLR area also accurately demonstrated the differential depression in contractile function suggested by recent in vitro studies when equianesthetic doses of halothane and isoflurane were compared in vivo. Therefore, while ESPLR slope and length intercept variables fail as indices of myocardial contractility, ESPLR area and regional PRSW slope were shown to be useful indicators of contractile state in the conscious and anesthetized dog.