Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide mediates the beneficial effect of chronic naltrexone on cholestasis-induced memory impairment in male rats

Recent studies suggest an augmentation of endogenous opioids following bile duct ligation (BDL) and their pivotal role in the pathophysiology of cholestasis. In this study, the effect of naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, was determined on cholestasis-induced memory impairment and the possible involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in this effect. Male Albino-Wistar rats were randomized to sham-operated and BDL-operated groups. In each group, animals were treated for up to 28 days with saline; naltrexone (10 mg/kg); naltrexone and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor (3, 10 mg/kg); naltrexone and aminoguanidine, an inducible NOS inhibitor (100 mg/kg); or methylnaltrexone, a peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Spatial recognition memory was determined in a Y-maze task on the day before surgery and days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after surgery. Memory performance was impaired 14 days after BDL in cholestatic rats and was significantly reversed by chronic treatment with naltrexone at days 14, 21, and 28 after BDL. On day 21 after BDL, chronic L-NAME produced only a nonsignificant decrease in the beneficial effect of naltrexone, whereas on day 28, chronic administration of both L-NAME and aminoguanidine significantly reversed this effect of naltrexone. It is therefore shown in this study that naltrexone improves BDL-induced memory deficit in rats. We conclude that the memory impairment in cholestatic rats might be because of an increase in the level of endogenous opioids and that naltrexone improved the spatial recognition memory by antagonizing opioid receptors. The observation that the procognitive effect of naltrexone is counteracted either by general inhibition of NOS enzymes or by selective inhibition of inducible NOS suggests the nitrergic pathway as a probable mechanism involved in the amelioration of spatial recognition memory by naltrexone in BDL rats.
A fictitious domain approach to the direct numerical simulation of incompressible viscous flow past moving rigid bodies: application to particulate flow

Abstract In this article we discuss a methodology that allows the direct numerical simulation of incompressible viscous fluid flow past moving rigid bodies. The simulation methods rest essentially on the combination of: (a) Lagrange-multiplier-based fictitious domain methods which allow the fluid flow computations to be done in a fixed flow region. (b) Finite element approximations of the Navier–Stokes equations occurring in the global model. (c) Time discretizations by operator splitting schemes in order to treat optimally the various operators present in the model. The above methodology is particularly well suited to the direct numerical simulation of particulate flow, such as the flow of mixtures of rigid solid particles and incompressible viscous fluids, possibly non-Newtonian. We conclude this article with the presentation of the results of various numerical experiments, including the simulation of store separation for rigid airfoils and of sedimentation and fluidization phenomena in two and three dimensions.
Multiplexed Bead-Based Mesofluidic System for Detection of Food-Borne Pathogenic Bacteria

ABSTRACT In the present study, a simple and rapid multiplexed bead-based mesofluidic system (BMS) was developed for simultaneous detection of food-borne pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Enterobacter sakazakii, Shigella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter jejuni. This system is based on utilization of isothiocyanate-modified microbeads that are 250 μm in diameter, which were immobilized with specific amino-modified oligonucleotide probes and placed in polydimethylsiloxane microchannels. PCR products from the pathogens studied were pumped into microchannels to hybridize with the oligonucleotide-modified beads, and hybridization signals were detected using a conventional microarray scanner. The short sequences of nucleic acids (21 bases) and PCR products characteristic of bacterial pathogens could be detected at concentrations of 1 pM and 10 nM, respectively. The detection procedure could be performed in less than 30 min with high sensitivity and specificity. The assay was simple and fast, and the limits of quantification were in the range from 500 to 6,000 CFU/ml for the bacterial species studied. The feasibility of identification of food-borne bacteria was investigated with samples contaminated with bacteria, including milk, egg, and meat samples. The results demonstrated that the BMS method can be used for effective detection of multiple pathogens in different foodstuffs.
IMMUNOSTIMULATORY EFFECT OF IMMUNOSTIM PLUS - A STANDARDIZED FIXED COMBINATION OF SCHIZANDRA CHINENSIS WITH ELEUTHEROCOCCUS SENTICOSUS EXTRACTS ON LYMPHOCYTE-DEPENDENT CELLULAR IMMUNITY IN MICE

The in vivo effects of fructus Schizandrae and radix Eleutherococci combined extracts on various parameters of lymphocyte activity in Balb/c mice were studied. Feeding mice 300, 600 or 1200 µg of the extracts per day for 7 d, produced the activation of chemokinetic activity of spleen lymphocytes, enhancement of proliferative response of splenocytes and blood lymphocytes to mitogens, stimulation of the graftversus-host activity of splenic lymphocytes, and stimulation of SRBC antibody production.
Direct composite resin onlays: rationale and clinical application.

Ceramic full crowns can restore lost tooth structure, strength, and esthetics but remove about twice as much tooth as an onlay design. Onlay restorations can maintain facial enamel for long-term esthetics, preserve the dentogingival junction for optimum periodontal health, and use supragingival margins for predictable adhesive dentistry. Metallic onlays can create fracture strength 3 times that of a natural tooth and can be designed to be nonvisible, but this solution may not be esthetically acceptable to all patients. Porcelain and composite resin onlays are a solution for these patients. Porcelain onlays are fabricated indirectly at a dental laboratory or milled in the office, whereas composite resin onlays can be fabricated with either of the aforementioned techniques, created in-office on flexible polyvinyl siloxane models, or placed directly. Porcelain is a brittle material with a high modulus of elasticity, similar to that of enamel, and composite resin has a low modulus of elasticity, similar to that of dentin. Composite resin deforms more during function and transfers more compressive stress to dentin than does ceramic, which absorbs more of the masticatory stress. Magne & Knezevic found that indirect composite resin onlays—whether fabricated conventionally or via computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/ CAM)—had higher resistance to loading than CAD/CAM porcelain onlays, despite a lower elastic modulus. They concluded that the choice of composite resin versus porcelain may not be critical for average bite forces, as both materials withstood those, but may be relevant in the event of high forces from food trauma. Composite resin is more easily repaired if a fracture does occur and is less abrasive to the opposing tooth; porcelain retains its gloss better, accumulates less plaque, and is more wear resistant. Bottacchiari et al found that composite resin onlays were a durable restoration over 10 years. Direct composite resin onlays have been recommended in preference to crowns for posterior teeth undergoing comprehensive restoration. Indirect composite resins are composed of materials with the same chemistry as direct composite resin but are processed extraorally with light, heat, and pressure to improve their polymerization and wear resistance. It was anticipated that these indirect restorations would exhibit better marginal seal and less polymerization stress, since only the small cement volume is polymerized intraorally. However, multiple authors have found similar clinical results for wear resistance and marginal integrity with direct and indirect composite resins of inlay and onlay designs. Manhart
Economic Valuation of Reserves in Power Systems With High Penetration of Wind Power

This paper proposes a methodology to determine the required level of spinning and nonspinning reserves in a power system with a high penetration of wind power. The computation of the required reserve levels and their costs is achieved through a stochastic programming market-clearing model spanning a daily time horizon. This model considers the network constraints and takes into account the cost of both the load shedding and the wind spillage. The methodology proposed is illustrated using an example and a realistic case study. Some conclusions are finally drawn.
Molecular, biochemical end clinical aspects of peroxisomes biogenesis disorders

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Assessing the Exchange Rate Volatility as an External Shock to Chinese Economy

Theoretically, the rate of exchange is one of the major drivers of inflation that influences the wholesale price index (WPI) in countries where significant emphasis is put over import and export like China. In this paper, the exchange ratei¯s clustering volatility and its impulsiveness as an external shock to WPI is investigated on a set of time series data which represents 4,067 daily observation of Chinese Economy from August 12, 2004-September 30, 2015. The ordinary least square and weighted regression analysis reveal significant p-values of 0.000 for exchange rate that explain the WPI throughout the stated period. The autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model exhibit significant probability value of 0.000 and 0.044 respectively for WPI and the exchange rate. It is found that the previous daysi¯ volatility of WPI influences the future volatility of WPI as an internal shock in addition to the previous daysi¯ impulsiveness of the exchange rate which influences the future volatility of the WPI as an external shock. The testing models are thoroughly applied and their stability and validity are evidenced thereto.
Purification of an L-amino acid oxidase from Bungarus caeruleus (Indian krait) venom

Snake venoms are rich in enzymes such as phospholipase A2, proteolytic enzymes, hyaluronidases and phosphodiesterases, which are well characterized. However, L-amino acid oxidase (LAO EC.1.4.3.2) from snake venoms has not been extensively studied. A novel L-amino acid oxidase from Bungarus caeruleus venom was purified to homogeneity using a combination of ion-exchange by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex® G-100 column. The purified monomer of LAO showed a molecular mass of 55 ±1 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE. The specific activity of purified LAO was 6,230 ± 178 U/min/mg, versus 230 ± 3.0 U/min/mg for the whole desiccated venom, suggesting a 27-fold purification with a 25% yield. Optimal pH and temperature for maximum purified enzyme activity were 6.5 and 37oC, respectively. Platelet aggregation studies show that purified LAO inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation dose-dependently at 0.01 to 0.1 µM with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.04 µM, whereas at a 0.08 µM concentration it did not induce appreciable aggregation on normal platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The purified protein catalyzed oxidative deamination of L-amino acids while the most specific substrate was L-leucine. The purified LAO oxidizes only L-forms, but not D-forms of amino acids, to produce H2O2. The enzyme is important for the purification and determination of certain amino acids and for the preparation of α-keto acids.
Morphology, Characterization and Distribution of Retinal Photoreceptors in the South American (Lepidosiren paradoxa) and Spotted African (Protopterus dolloi) Lungfishes

Lungfishes are the closest living relatives of the ancestors to all terrestrial vertebrates and have remained relatively unchanged since the early Lochkovin period (410 mya). Lungfishes, therefore, represent a critical stage in vertebrate evolution and their sensory neurobiology is of considerable interest. This study examines the ultrastructure of the retina of two species of lungfishes: the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa and the spotted African lungfish, Protopterus dolloi in an attempt to assess variations in photoreception in these two ancient groups of sarcopterygian (lobe-finned) fishes. In juvenile P. dolloi, the retina contains one rod and two cone photoreceptor types (one containing a red oil droplet), while only one rod and one cone photoreceptor type is present in adult L. paradoxa. Both species lack double cones. The large size and inclusion of oil droplets in both species apart from one of the cone photoreceptor types in P. dolloi suggests that L. paradoxa and P. dolloi are adapted for increasing sensitivity. However, the complement of photoreceptor types suggests that there may be a major difference in the capacity to discriminate colour (dichromatic and monochromatic photoreception in P. dolloi and L. paradoxa, respectively). This study suggests that the visual needs of these two species may differ.
The Effects of Anti-Poverty Tax Policy on Child and Adolescent BMI and Obesity

Background: There is substantial evidence for higher household income being associated with lower levels of child and adolescent obesity in industrialized countries. However, there is little known about whether anti-poverty policy can be expected to decrease obesity. The objective of our analysis is to determine whether increases in income due to changes in tax policy are associated with lower levels of BMI and obesity for children living in those households, and whether there are heterogeneous effects of that policy based on maternal characteristics and regional food prices. Methods: We examined the associations of changes in both the state and federal amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) over time on child and adolescent BMI, overweight and obesity. We examined this using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth using fixed effect regression models. Our calculation of EITC benefits were based on lagged household characteristics in order to avoid biased estimates due to selection into receiving the EITC. Results: Increases of $1000 in the EITC were associated with decreases in child BMI percentile (4.7, 95% CI -6.4, -3.1). While impacts were similar by gender, they were stronger for children age 2-10 (-8.0, 95% CI (-10, -5.5) as compared to children age 11 to 18 (-1.5, 95% CI -3.3, 0.22). There were some modest, but not statistically significant, differences in association by regional food prices. When controlling for year fixed effects, associations were diminished and confidence intervals included the null, although the coefficient for girls was consistent with lower BMI for girls (-2.2, 95% CI -4.7, 0.35). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with their being no negative impacts of the EITC on child BMI and obesity, and with beneficial impacts among some groups.
[Clinical investigation of outbreak of nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome].

OBJECTIVE To summarize and analyze the clinical manifestation, diagnosis and therapeutic strategy of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and its characteristics of outbreak in hospital via infection transmission cluster associated with SARS patients. METHODS (1) Two hospitalized community acquired SARS cases with their clinical data and epidemiologically linked transmission clusters in our hospital were analyzed; (2) The clinical data from 41 SARS cases were summarized. RESULTS (1) The contagiousness of SARS virus in SARS patients was extremely strong, especially in their acute stage. (2) The majority of clinical manifestations were fever (100% cases), and there were no obvious respiratory symptoms in more than half of the patients (53.7%) at early SARS stage (day 1 to day 3), accompanied by leucopenia(52.6%) and lymphopenia (68.4%). (3) Timely administration of Ribavirin, Methylprednisolone, immunoenhancer (such as interferon alpha-2b, thymosin-alpha1) to SARS patients was efficacious to certain extent in controlling the development of the disease. CONCLUSION It is very important for clinicians to pay great attention to protect themselves from infection of SARS. Early discovery of SARS, early isolation of SARS patients, and early treatment are very helpful to improving patient's prognosis and controlling SARS overspread.
Promoting basal levels of autophagy in the nervous system enhances longevity and oxidant resistance in adult Drosophila

Autophagy is involved with the turnover of intracellular components and the management of stress responses. Genetic studies in mice have shown that suppression of neuronal autophagy can lead to the accumulation of protein aggregates and neurodegeneration. However, no study has shown that increasing autophagic gene expression can be beneficial to an aging nervous system. Here we demonstrate that expression of several autophagy genes is reduced in Drosophila neural tissues as a normal part of aging. The age-dependent suppression of autophagy occurs concomitantly with the accumulation of insoluble ubiquitinated proteins (IUP), a marker of neuronal aging and degeneration. Mutations in the Atg8a gene (autophagy-related 8a) result in reduced lifespan, IUP accumulation and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. In contrast, enhanced Atg8a expression in older fly brains extends the average adult lifespan by 56% and promotes resistance to oxidative stress and the accumulation of ubiquitinated and oxidized proteins. These data indicate that genetic or age-dependent suppression of autophagy is closely associated with the buildup of cellular damage in neurons and a reduced lifespan, while maintaining the expression of a rate-limiting autophagy gene prevents the age-dependent accumulation of damage in neurons and promotes longevity.
Diagnosis for organizational knowledge creation: an ontological shift SECI model

Purpose – This paper intends to propose an “ontological shift SECI model” as a tool to diagnose organizations in the context of knowledge creation, and thereby support the management of knowledge creation‐related projects.Design/methodology/approach – This research's hypothesis is based on existing knowledge creation theories and is tested using a case study methodology. The authors first examine the model in a completed project in order to test its validity and second, apply it in Company A's software project to demonstrate its feasibility and usefulness.Findings – In any given project, knowledge creation activities occur in various ontological entities – individual, group, organization or social‐network. The diagnosis tool, which proved to be useful in this paper, traces such ontological shifts and makes visible all key activities of a knowledge creation project. These activities form an “ontological shift model” and trace an “activity map” which exposes underlying enablers and barriers, and provides vi.
Fundamental study on curved folded dipole antenna

As a fundamental study of the helmet antenna for disasters operated at 150 MHz, a circular planar folded dipole antenna has been examined. To begin with the helmet antenna structure is constituted by bending a dipole antenna into the shape of the circle on the plane for simplicity. As a result, it is made clear that adjusting the impedance of the helmet antenna is possible by changing the distance of the antenna tip since the impedance transformation of the dipole antenna can easily be achieved. In addition, it is confirmed that the resonant frequency can be lowered by adjusting the antenna elements on the limited circular plane[1][2].
Enzyme Changes in Flight Muscle Correlated with Aging and Flight Ability in the Male Housefly

Magnesium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity in the giant mitochondria (sarcosomes) of the flight muscle of aging male houseflies decreases concomitantly with failure in flight as reflected in the loss of wings during the second week of adult life. Preceding the loss of wings, however, there is a rapid decline in the activity of an α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase which is located in the extramitochondrial fraction and is dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
Studies on the growth and feeding of Tetrahymena pyriformis in axenic and monoxenic culture.

SUMMARY: The specific growth and feeding rates of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL grown axenically in proteose-peptone yeast-extract medium and mono-xenically in suspensions of the bacterium Klebsiella aerogenes were studied. The relation between the initial concentration of substrate, whether bacteria or soluble organic complexes, and the maximum yield of ciliates was linear, although some inhibition was noted at higher substrate concentrations. The effective yields of Tetrahymena are 9.1% (carbon to carbon) in axenic cultures and 50% (dry-weight bacteria to dry-weight ciliate) in monoxenic cultures. The maximum growth rates at 25° in axenic and monoxenic cultures were 0.20 and 0.22 hr-1, respectively. Carbon balance studies on axenic cultures suggested that of the carbon utilized during growth 36.5% was incorporated into the Tetrahymena and 69% was respired. The removal rates of K. aerogenes from suspension by T. pyriformis were studied and there was evidence which suggested that the individual feeding rate of a ciliate was governed by the concentration of ciliates as well as the concentration of bacteria present. From these observations a model for ciliate feeding was derived.
An Evaluation of Algorithms for Identifying Metastatic Breast, Lung, or Colorectal Cancer in Administrative Claims Data

Background:Administrative health care claims data are used for epidemiologic, health services, and outcomes cancer research and thus play a significant role in policy. Cancer stage, which is often a major driver of cost and clinical outcomes, is not typically included in claims data. Objectives:Evaluate algorithms used in a dataset of cancer patients to identify patients with metastatic breast (BC), lung (LC), or colorectal (CRC) cancer using claims data. Methods:Clinical data on BC, LC, or CRC patients (between January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2010) were linked to a health care claims database. Inclusion required health plan enrollment ≥3 months before initial cancer diagnosis date. Algorithms were used in the claims database to identify patients’ disease status, which was compared with physician-reported metastases. Generic and tumor-specific algorithms were evaluated using ICD-9 codes, varying diagnosis time frames, and including/excluding other tumors. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity were assessed. Results:The linked databases included 14,480 patients; of whom, 32%, 17%, and 14.2% had metastatic BC, LC, and CRC, respectively, at diagnosis and met inclusion criteria. Nontumor-specific algorithms had lower specificity than tumor-specific algorithms. Tumor-specific algorithms’ sensitivity and specificity were 53% and 99% for BC, 55% and 85% for LC, and 59% and 98% for CRC, respectively. Conclusions:Algorithms to distinguish metastatic BC, LC, and CRC from locally advanced disease should use tumor-specific primary cancer codes with 2 claims for the specific primary cancer >30–42 days apart to reduce misclassification. These performed best overall in specificity, positive predictive values, and overall accuracy to identify metastatic cancer in a health care claims database.