Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leukotriene-mediated coronary vasoconstriction and loss of myocardial contractility evoked by low doses of Escherichia coli hemolysin in perfused rat hearts*

ObjectiveEscherichia coli hemolysin has been implicated as an important pathogenic factor in extraintestinal E. coli infections including sepsis. We investigated the effects of coronary administration of E. coli hemolysin on cardiac function in isolated rat hearts perfused at constant flow. DesignProspective, experimental study. SettingResearch laboratory at a university hospital. SubjectsIsolated hearts from male Wistar rats. InterventionsIsolated hearts were perfused with purified E. coli hemolysin for 60 min. Measurements and Main ResultsLow concentrations of the toxin in the perfusate (0.1–0.2 hemolytic units/mL) caused a dose-dependent coronary vasoconstriction with a marked increase in coronary perfusion pressure, which was paralleled by a decrease in left ventricular developed pressure (and the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure increase). Moreover, 0.2 hemolytic units/mL E. coli hemolysin evoked ventricular fibrillation within 10 mins of toxin application. These events were accompanied by the liberation of leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, and LTB4), thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2, and the cell necrosis markers lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase into the recirculating perfusate. The lipoxygenase inhibitor MK-886 fully blocked the toxin-induced coronary vasoconstrictor response and the loss of myocardial contractility and reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. In contrast to this, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin was entirely ineffective. In addition, E. coli hemolysin elicited an increase in heart weight and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, the latter again being suppressed by MK-886. ConclusionsLow doses of E. coli hemolysin cause strong coronary vasoconstriction, linked with loss of myocardial performance, release of cell injury enzymes, and electrical instability, with all events being largely attributable to toxin-elicited leukotriene generation in the coronary vasculature. Bacterial exotoxins such as E. coli hemolysin thus may be implicated in the cardiac abnormalities encountered in septic shock.
Solution-processable organic-inorganic hybrid hole injection layer for high efficiency phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

UNLABELLED The presence of a solution-processed hybrid PEDOT PSS-MoO3-based hole injection layer (HIL) promotes a good interfacial contact between the indium tin oxide anode and hole-transporting layer for efficient operation of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). This work reveals that the use of the hybrid HIL benefits the performance of phosphorescent OLEDs in two ways: (1) to assist in efficient hole injection, thereby improving power efficiency of OLEDs, and (2) to improve electron-hole current balance and suppression of interfacial defects at the organic/anode interface. The combined effects result in the power efficiency of 89.2 lm/W and external quantum efficiency of 23.9% for phosphorescent green OLEDs. The solution-processed hybrid PEDOT PSS-MoO3-based HIL is beneficial for application in solution-processed organic electronic devices.
High Levels of Resistance to Chlorantraniliprole Evolved in Field Populations of Plutella xylostella

ABSTRACT Chlorantraniliprole is the first commercial insecticide from a new class of chemistry, the anthranilic diamides. Chlorantraniliprole provides an effective alternative insecticide for control of Plutella xylostella (L.) populations resistant to other insecticides. Baseline susceptibility to chlorantraniliprole for P. xylostella was surveyed previously from 16 geographical populations sampled from China during 2008–2009, and the median lethal concentrations (LC50s) varied among populations from 1.8- to 8.9-fold higher than the LC50 of a susceptible strain (Roth). In the present work, 20 field populations of P. xylostella sampled in 2010–2011 from China were tested with laboratory bioassays to determine if resistance to chlorantraniliprole had evolved in the field. The LC50s of the 14 populations from northern China ranged from 1.7- to 5.4-fold compared with the LC50 of Roth, which indicates these populations remain reasonably susceptible to chlorantraniliprole. However, the LC50s of the six populations from southern China (Guangdong Province) were 2.6-, 12-, 18-, 81-, 140-, and 2,000-fold higher than the LC50 of Roth. The results showed that high levels of resistance to chlorantraniliprole had evolved in field populations from Guangdong Province of southern China. Intensive use and misuse of chlorantraniliprole may be responsible for the rapid evolution of high-level resistance in P. xylostella in this region. The implementation of resistance monitoring plans and resistance management strategies is urgently needed in China to preserve susceptibility to chlorantraniliprole in P. xylostella.
Feasibility of endobronchial ultrasound in mechanically ventilated patients.

Dear Editor, The safety profi le and diagnostic utility of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer,1 centrally located tumours, unknown hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy have been well established in elective diagnostic bronchoscopy; however, their safety and utility in intensive care units (ICU) has not been described before. We have found a new utility for both linear and radial EBUS in mechanically intubated patients in the ICU with undiagnosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and unresolved pneumonia.
Depth Recovery from Stereo Matching Using Coupled Random Fields. (Méthodes d'estimation de la profondeur par mise en correspondance stéréoscopique à l'aide de champs aléatoires couplés)

The depth of objects in 3-D scene can be recovered from a stereo image-pair by finding correspondences between the two views. This stereo matching task involves identifying the corresponding points in the left and the right images, which are the projections of the same scene point. The difference between the locations of the two corresponding points is the disparity, which is inversely related to the 3-D depth. In this thesis, we focus on Bayesian techniques that constrain the disparity estimates. In particular, these constraints involve explicit smoothness assumptions. However, there are further constraints that should be included, for example, the disparities should not be smoothed across object boundaries, the disparities should be consistent with geometric properties of the surface, and regions with similar colour should have similar disparities. The goal of this thesis is to incorporate such constraints using monocular cues and differential geometric information about the surface.To this end, this thesis considers two important problems associated with stereo matching; the first is localizing disparity discontinuities and second aims at recovering binocular disparities in accordance with the surface properties of the scene under consideration. We present a possible solution for each these problems. In order to deal with disparity discontinuities, we propose to cooperatively estimating disparities and object boundaries. This is motivated by the fact that the disparity discontinuities occur near object boundaries. The second one deals with recovering surface consistent disparities and surface normals by estimating the two simultaneously. 129
Economics of feeding pasteurized colostrum and pasteurized waste milk to dairy calves.

OBJECTIVE To estimate the marginal contribution of pasteurization of waste milk and colostrum to gross margin per calf at weaning and to estimate the minimum number of cattle on a dairy farm for pasteurization to be profitable. DESIGN Randomized, controlled, clinical trial. ANIMALS 300 Holstein calves. PROCEDURE The performance of calves fed pasteurized colostrum and waste milk was compared with the performance of calves fed nonpasteurized colostrum and waste milk. Costs, revenues, and gross margins for the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS Calves fed pasteurized colostrum and waste milk were worth an extra $8.13 in gross margin/calf, compared with calves fed nonpasteurized colostrum and waste milk. The minimum number of cattle for which feeding pasteurized colostrum and waste milk was calculated to be economically feasible was 315 calves/d (1,260-cow dairy farm). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS An economic benefit was associated with feeding pasteurized colostrum and waste milk. Additional benefits that may accrue include higher mean weight gain and lower mortality rate of calves as well as calves that have fewer days in which they are affected with diarrhea and pneumonia.
Detecting Early Functional Damage in Glaucoma Suspect and Ocular Hypertensive Patients With the Multifocal VEP Technique

PurposeTo determine whether the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) technique can detect early functional damage in ocular hypertensive (OHT) and glaucoma suspect (GS) patients with normal standard achromatic automated perimetry (SAP) results. Patients and MethodsTwenty-five GS patients (25 eyes), 25 patients with OHT (25 eyes), and 50 normal controls (50 eyes) were enrolled in this study. All GS, OHT and normal control eyes had normal SAP as defined by a pattern standard deviation and mean deviation within the 95% confidence interval and a glaucoma hemifield test within normal limits on the Humphrey visual field 24-2 program. Eyes with GS had optic disc changes consistent with glaucoma with or without raised intraocular pressure (IOP), and eyes with OHT showed no evidence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and IOPs ≥22 mm Hg. Monocular mfVEPs were obtained from both eyes of each subject using a pattern-reversal dartboard array with 60 sectors. The entire display had a radius of 22.3 degrees. The mfVEPs, for each eye, were defined as abnormal when either the monocular or interocular probability plot had a cluster of 3 or more contiguous points with P<0.05 and at least 2 of these points with P<0.01. ResultsThe mfVEP results were abnormal in 4% of the eyes from normal subjects. Abnormal mfVEPs were detected in 20% of the eyes of GS patients and 16% of the eyes of OHT patients. Significantly more mfVEP abnormalities were detected in GS patients than in normal controls. However, there was no significant difference in mfVEP results between OHT patients and normal controls. ConclusionsThe mfVEP technique can detect visual field deficits in a minority of eyes with glaucomatous optic disks and normal SAP results.
Fair, Clear, Good to Redeem: The effect of consumer perception of fairness and transparency on coupon redemption

FAIR, CLEAR, GOOD TO REDEEM: THE EFFECT OF CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY ON COUPON REDEMPTION Khalil Rohani Advisor: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. Vinay Kanetkar Previous research has looked at the monetary factors as the main influence on coupon usage behaviour. Relatively little work has been done to understand consumers’ perception of fairness and transparency towards coupon usage. The objective of this research is to investigate how consumers’ perceptions of fairness and transparency affect coupon redemption intention and
Corporate Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Context of Stakeholder Pressures: An Empirical Analysis of Reporting Activity and Completeness

In this study, we shed light on the practice of disclosure of quantitative Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by companies in Europe. We develop a classification of reporting completeness based on three dominant voluntary reporting guidelines. We find that from 2005 through 2009 only 15 percent of companies that disclose GHG emissions report them in a manner that we consider complete with respect to scope of emissions, type of emissions, and reporting boundary. We subsequently examine whether proxies for exposure to climate change concerns from different stakeholder groups influence the existence and, separately, the completeness of quantitative GHG emissions disclosure. Controlling for factors representing companies’ resources to report, the results of our logistic regression analyses provide evidence that while external stakeholder pressure is a determinant of the existence of GHG emissions disclosure, it is not substantially related to the disclosure completeness. Our findings are consistent with stakeholder theory in that companies appear to respond to stakeholder pressure to report GHG emissions. Results are also consistent with legitimacy theory arguments in that firms may be using incomplete reporting of GHG data, presumably due to the voluntary nature of the disclosure practice, as a symbolic act to maintain legitimacy in the face of the exposures. We conclude that bringing corporate GHG emissions disclosure in line with recommended guidelines will require either more direct stakeholder pressure or, perhaps, a mandated disclosure regime.
An Overview of Currently Available Antimalarials.

BACKGROUND Despite the substantial progress over the time, malaria remains a major public health concern and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. Resistance to the available antimalarial therapy increases threat to the global public health. OBJECTIVE Overview of currently available antimalarials. METHOD Literary survey. RESULTS The summarized data about different types of antimalarial therapies and their efficiency and modes of action. CONCLUSION Despite the seemingly large number of the drugs currently available for malaria treatment, this arsenal is limited due to the narrow variation of their mechanism of action.
Simvastatin Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration in Human Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Malignant human anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is pertinacious to conventional therapies. The present study investigated the anti-cancer activity of simvastatin and its underlying regulatory mechanism in cultured ATC cells. Simvastatin (0–20 μM) concentration-dependently reduced cell viability and relative colony formation. Depletions of mevalonate (MEV) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGpp) by simvastatin induced G1 arrest and increased apoptotic cell populations at the sub-G1 phase. Adding MEV and GGpp prevented the simvastatin-inhibited cell proliferation. Immunoblotting analysis illustrated that simvastatin diminished the activation of RhoA and Rac1 protein, and this effect was prevented by pre-treatment with MEV and GGpp. Simvastatin increased the levels of p21cip and p27kip proteins and reduced the levels of hyperphosphorylated-Rb, E2F1 and CCND1 proteins. Adding GGpp abolished the simvastatin-increased levels of p27kip protein, and the GGpp-caused effect was abolished by Skp2 inhibition. Introduction of Cyr61 siRNA into ATC cells prevented the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-enhanced cell migration. The EGF-induced increases of Cyr61 protein expression and cell migration were prevented by simvastatin. Taken together, these results suggest that simvastatin induced ATC proliferation inhibition through the deactivation of RhoA/Rac1 protein and overexpression of p21cip and p27kip, and migration inhibition through the abrogation of Cyr61 protein expression.
GDNF reverses priming for dyskinesia in MPTP‐treated, l‐DOPA‐primed common marmosets

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra and degeneration of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum. Although l‐DOPA treatment provides the most effective symptomatic relief for PD it does not prevent the progression of the disease, and its long‐term use is associated with the onset of dyskinesia. In rodent and primate studies, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) may prevent 6‐OHDA‐ or MPTP‐induced nigral degeneration and so may be beneficial in the treatment of PD. In this study, we investigate the effects of GDNF on the expression of dyskinesia in l‐DOPA‐primed MPTP‐treated common marmosets, exhibiting dyskinesia. GDNF or saline was administered by two intraventricular injections, 4 weeks apart, to MPTP‐treated, l‐DOPA‐treated common marmosets primed to exhibit dyskinesia. Prior to GDNF or saline administration, all animals displayed marked dyskinesia when treated with l‐DOPA. GDNF administration produced a significant improvement in motor disability and, following the second injection of GDNF, a significant improvement in the locomotor activity was observed. Following the administration of l‐DOPA there was a greater reversal of disability and a reduction in the intensity of l‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia in GDNF‐treated animals compared to saline‐treated controls. However, there was no significant difference in l‐DOPA's ability to increase locomotor activity between GDNF‐treated and saline‐treated animals. GDNF treatment caused a significant increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive neurons in the substantia nigra, but no change in [3H]mazindol binding to dopamine terminals was found in the striatum of GDNF‐treated animals compared to saline‐treated controls. In GDNF‐treated animals a small but significant reduction in enkephalin mRNA was observed in the caudate nucleus but not in the putamen or the nucleus accumbens. Substance P mRNA expression was equally reduced in the caudate nucleus and the putamen of the GDNF‐treated animals but not in the nucleus accumbens. Intraventricular administration of GDNF improved MPTP‐induced disability and reversed dopamine cell loss in the substantia nigra. GDNF also diminished l‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia, which may relate to its ability to partly restore nigral dopaminergic transmission or to modify the activity of striatal output pathways.
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Enzymatically Induced Degradation of the Nucleus Pulposus of Intervertebral Discs

Study Design. The structural integrity of the nucleus pulposus (NP) of intervertebral discs was targeted by enzyme-specific degradations to correlate their effects to the magnetic resonance (MR) signal. Objective. To develop quantitative MR imaging as an accurate and noninvasive diagnostic tool to better understand and treat disc degeneration. Summary of Background Data. Quantitative MR analysis has been previously shown to reflect not only the disc matrix composition, but also the structural integrity of the disc matrix. Further work is required to identify the contribution of the structural integrity versus the matrix composition to the MR signal. Methods. The bovine coccygeal NPs were injected with either enzyme or buffer, incubated at 37°C as static, unloaded and closed 3-disc segments, and analyzed by a 1.5-Tesla MR scanner to measure MR parameters. Results. Collagenase degradation of the NP significantly decreased the relaxation times, slightly decreased the magnetization transfer ratio, and slightly increased the apparent diffusion coefficient. Targeting the proteoglycan and/or hyaluronan integrity by trypsin and hyaluronidase did not significantly affect the MR parameters, except for an increase in the apparent diffusion coefficient of the disc after trypsin treatment. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that changes in the structural integrity of matrix proteins can be assessed by quantitative MR.
Systolic pulmonary artery pressure and echocardiographic measurements in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and echocardiographic findings in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). METHODS Thirty (8 male, 22 female, mean age 47.4+/-10.5 yr) consecutive patients with euthyroid HT and 30 (9 male, 21 female, mean age 46.4+/-10.7 yr) healthy controls were included in the study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed for all patients and levels of thyroid hormones, thyroid autoantibodies, glucose, insulin, urea, and creatinine were compared. RESULTS There were no significant differences in sex, age, body mass index, serum free T4, serum TSH, lipid profiles between patients and controls. Mean SPAP in patients with euthyroid HT were significantly higher than in controls (31.6+/-5.0 vs 25.6+/-4.5 mmHg, p=0.005). Late diastolic transmitral velocity and isovolumic relaxation time were also significantly higher in patients in comparison to controls. In addition, euthyroid HT patients with tricuspid or mitral regurgitation had a higher grade. Correlation between SPAP and antithyroid antibodies and TSH, however, was not significant in this population. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary arterial pressure is higher in patients with euthyroid HT. There may be a relationship between elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and autoimmune thyroid disease independent from thyroid function status. However, further investigations are needed to determine the exact mechanism of association between autoimmune thyroid diseases and pulmonary hypertension.
The role of resources in achieving target competitive positions

Competitive positioning has become an essential component of modern marketing management. For a firm to target effective positions for its products and services, it needs to decide on the market segment (where it will compete) as well as the differential advantage it will emphasise (how it will compete). Until recently, empirical research on positioning has received little attention, while substantial insight has been gained with respect to the concept of competitive positioning. Furthermore, Hooley, Moller and Broderick (1998) have highlighted the lack of empirical studies relative to theoretical ones related to positioning in general and to the relationship between positioning and the different components of each competitive positioning that a firm might choose. This study focuses on product competitive positioning in over‐the‐counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals in the British market. It was found that certain resources underpin specific competitive positions.
Protecting the myocardium: A role for the &bgr;2 adrenergic receptor in the heart

ObjectiveThe sympathetic nervous system enhances cardiac muscle function by activating &bgr; adrenergic receptors (&bgr;ARs). Recent studies suggest that chronic &bgr;AR stimulation is detrimental, however, and that it may play a role in the clinical deterioration of patients with congestive heart failure. To examine the impact of chronic &bgr;1AR and &bgr;2AR subtype stimulation individually, we studied the cardiovascular effects of catecholamine infusions in &bgr;AR subtype knockout mice (&bgr;1KO, &bgr;2KO). DesignProspective, randomized, experimental study. SettingAnimal research laboratory. Subjects&bgr;1KO and &bgr;2KO mice and wild-type controls. InterventionsThe animals were subjected to 2 wks of continuous infusion of the &bgr;AR agonist isoproterenol. Analyses of cardiac function and structure were performed during and 3 days after completion of the infusions. Functional studies included graded exercise treadmill testing, in vivo assessments of left ventricular function using Mikro-Tip catheter transducers, right ventricular pressure measurements, and analyses of organ weight to body weight ratios. Structural studies included heart weight measurements, assessments of myocyte ultrastructure using electron microscopy, and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling staining to quantitate myocyte apoptosis. Measurements and Main ResultsWe found that isoproterenol-treated &bgr;2KO mice experienced greater mortality rates (p = .001, chi-square test using Fisher’s exact method) and increased myocyte apoptosis at 3- and 7-day time points (p = .04 and p = .0007, respectively, two-way analysis of variance). ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that in vivo &bgr;2AR activation is antiapoptotic and contributes to myocardial protection.