Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of exercise training on nitric oxide synthase in the kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Exercise training is known to have antihypertensive effects in humans and animals with hypertension, as well as to exhibit renal protective effects in animal models of hypertension and chronic renal failure. However, the mechanisms regulating these effects of exercise training remain unclear. The present study examined the effects of exercise training on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar‐Kyoto (WKY) rats. Male SHR and WKY rats were randomly divided into a sedentary group and a treadmill exercise group for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured every 2 weeks by the tail‐cuff method and urine and blood samples were collected after the exercise protocol. Nitric oxide synthase activity and protein expression and endothelial (e) NOS phosphorylation in the kidney were examined. Exercise training significantly lowered SBP, decreased urinary albumin excretion, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances levels and renal NADPH oxidase activity, and increased creatinine clearance in SHR. Exercise training significantly increased plasma and urinary nitrate/nitrite, NOS activity and eNOS and neuronal NOS expression, but decreased eNOS phosphorylation at Ser1177 and Thr495 in kidneys of SHR and WKY rats. Renal NOS may be involved in the antihypertensive and renal protective effects of exercise training in SHR.
In vivo reactions in mice and in vitro reactions in feline cells to implantable microchip transponders with different surface materials

Tissues of mice that had had microchip transponders with surfaces made of bioglass, bioglass with a polypropylene cap, parylene C, titanium or aluminium oxide inserted were examined histologically, and the growth of two lines of feline fibroblastoid cells around these transponders was examined in vitro. The results for bioglass and aluminium oxide were similar. In vitro, there were almost no cells around or on the transponders; in vivo, there was often granulomatous inflammation in the surrounding tissue. In the case of the bioglass, this reaction seemed to be induced by petrolatum, which was added by the manufacturer for technical reasons, rather than by the bioglass itself. In some of the mice, polypropylene caused a proliferation of granulation tissue. In vitro, the cellularity around the transponders was high, but only a moderate number of cells were found on the material. In vivo, around the parylene C transponders, there were occasionally small fragments of foreign material, surrounded by a foreign body reaction; in vitro, the results for parylene C resembled those for polypropylene. In vivo, particles of titanium were sometimes visible in the connective tissue adjacent to the titanium transponders, and sometimes accompanied by a foreign body reaction; in vitro, a confluent layer of cells developed on the transponders, with a high cellularity around them.
The Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors p19Ink4d and p27Kip1 Are Coexpressed in Select Retinal Cells and Act Cooperatively to Control Cell Cycle Exit

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (cdki's), including p19(Ink4d) and p27(Kip1), mediate exit from the cell cycle. To determine the function of these cdki's in regulating neurogenesis, we examined retina from wild-type, Ink4d-null, and Ink4d/Kip1-double null animals. Ink4d was expressed in progenitors and select neurons in the mature retina. Ink4d-null retina showed an extended period of proliferation, followed by apoptosis. Colabeling for p19(Ink4d) and p27(Kip1) revealed that a subpopulation of cells expressed both inhibitors. Deletion of Ink4d and Kip1 resulted in continued proliferation that was synergistic. This hyperproliferation led to an increase in number of horizontal cells and differentiated neurons reentering the cell cycle. Deletion of Ink4d and Kip1 also exacerbated the retinal dysplasia observed in Kip1-null mice, which was shown to be partly dependent on p53. These data indicate that select retinal cells express both p19(Ink4d) and p27(Kip1) and that they act cooperatively to ensure cell cycle exit.
Costs of Flower and Fruit Production in Tipularia Discolor (Orchidaceae)

The cost of reproduction may be an important constraint on the evolution of life history traits, yet it has seldom been adequately measured in plants. To demonstrate a net cost of reproductive structures one must show that their production has a negative effect on future growth. Using a summer—deciduous orchid, we compared subsequent growth of plants with no inflorescence, no fruits, few fruits ( 10). Greater investment in reproduction led to increasingly negative effects on future corm size and leaf area. The cost of an inflorescence without fruits was about one—half the cost of an inflorescence with few fruits. Each fruit cost the plant °2% of its total leaf area the next year. Natural pollination resulted in a mean of seven fruits per plant. Hand—pollination led to a dramatic increase in fruit set (up to 25 fruits per plant), and a large decrease in subsequent growth. Plants with many fruits were less likely to propagate vegetatively than those with few fruits. Also, plants with many fruits were less likely to flower the following year, probably because they were smaller than those with few fruits. The potential benefits of greater pollinator visitation are unclear because larger "clutch size" may not result in greater lifetime fecundity.
Tumorlike Lesions and Benign Tumors of the Hand and Wrist

&NA; A broad spectrum of tumorlike lesions and neoplasms can occur in the hand and wrist, although with somewhat less frequency than in other parts of the body. A thorough understanding of the differential diagnosis of these lesions and a comprehensive strategy for evaluation are central for effective care. Plain radiographs are diagnostic for most bony lesions, whereas magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary to help differentiate a benign soft‐tissue lesion from the rare malignant neoplasm. In spite of the complex anatomy, adherence to proper oncologic principles most often will lead to a satisfactory outcome.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Authorization and Survey Nonresponse Bias

ObjectivesTo extend earlier work (Beebe et al, Med Care. 2007;45:959–965) that demonstrated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act authorization form (HAF) introduced potential nonresponse bias (toward healthier respondents). Research DesignThe sample frame from the earlier experiment was linked to administrative medical record data, enabling the comparison of background and clinical characteristics of each set of respondents (HAF and No HAF) to the sample frame. SubjectsA total of 6939 individuals residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota who were mailed a survey in September 2005 assessing recent gastrointestinal symptoms with an embedded HAF experiment comprised the study population. MeasuresThe outcomes of interest were response status (survey returned vs. not) by HAF condition (randomized to receive HAF or not). Sociodemographic indicators included gender, age, and race. Health status was measured using the severity-weighted Charlson Score and utilization was measured using emergency room visits, hospital admissions, clinic office visits, and procedures. ResultsYounger and nonwhite residents were under-represented and those with more clinical office visits were over-represented in both conditions. Those responding to the survey in the HAF condition were significantly more likely to be in poor health compared with the population (27.3% with 2+ comorbidities vs. 24.6%, P=0.02). ConclusionsThe HAF did not influence the demographic composition of the respondents. However, in contrast to earlier findings based on self-reported health status (Beebe et al, Med Care. 2007;45:959–965), responders in the HAF condition were slightly sicker than in the non-HAF condition. The HAF may introduce a small amount of measurement error by suppressing reports of poor health. Furthermore, researchers should consider the effect of the HAF on resultant precision, respondent burden, and available financial resources.
Low-lying excited states in crystalline perylene

Significance Molecular solids are an important class of highly tunable, chemically diverse, cheap-to-process materials with promise for next-generation organic optoelectronics. Bound largely by noncovalent interactions, these materials harbor unique charge carrier generation and transport phenomena distinct from conventional semiconductors, an understanding of which requires a detailed description of the excited-state properties of molecular solids. Recent advances in synthetic techniques, ab initio theory, and spectroscopic measurements have enabled such a description, and here we perform quantitative theoretical calculations and high-resolution measurements on a high-quality single-crystal thin film of perylene, an exemplar molecular solid. We obtain excellent agreement between theory and experiment, and a clear picture of the low-lying excitations in perylene responsible for its distinctive optical properties. Organic materials are promising candidates for advanced optoelectronics and are used in light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics. However, the underlying mechanisms allowing the formation of excited states responsible for device functionality, such as exciton generation and charge separation, are insufficiently understood. This is partly due to the wide range of existing crystalline polymorphs depending on sample preparation conditions. Here, we determine the linear optical response of thin-film single-crystal perylene samples of distinct polymorphs in transmission and reflection geometries. The sample quality allows for unprecedented high-resolution spectroscopy, which offers an ideal opportunity for judicious comparison between theory and experiment. Excellent agreement with first-principles calculations for the absorption based on the GW plus Bethe–Salpeter equation (GW-BSE) approach of many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) is obtained, from which a clear picture of the low-lying excitations in perylene emerges, including evidence of an exciton–polariton stopband, as well as an assessment of the commonly used Tamm–Dancoff approximation to the GW-BSE approach. Our findings on this well-controlled system can guide understanding and development of advanced molecular solids and functionalization for applications.
The Effects of Volatile Anesthetics on Spontaneous Contractility of Isolated Human Pregnant Uterine Muscle: A Comparison Among Sevoflurane, Desflurane, Isoflurane, and Halothane

We examined the effects of equianesthetic concentrations of sevoflurane, desflurane, isoflurane, and halothane on the spontaneous contractility of isolated human pregnant uterine muscles. We also determined if their action was related to potassium channels. Uterine specimens were obtained from normal full-term pregnant women undergoing elective lower-segment cesarean delivery. Longitudinal muscle strips were mounted vertically in tissue chambers. Their isometric tension was recorded while they were exposed to 0.5–3 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of volatile anesthetics in the absence and presence of the high conductance calcium-activated potassium channel blocker, tetraethylammonium, or the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel (KATP)-blocker, glibenclamide. The anesthetics examined produced a dose-dependent depression of contractility. The inhibitory potency of sevoflurane and desflurane was comparable to, whereas that of isoflurane was smaller than, that of halothane: concentrations causing 50% inhibition of the contractile amplitude (ED50) were 1.72, 1.44, 2.35, and 1.66 MAC (P < 0.05), respectively. Tetraethylammonium and glibenclamide did not affect the uterine response to the anesthetics, except for glibenclamide, which attenuated the response to isoflurane. These results indicate that the volatile anesthetics have inhibitory effects on the contractility of the human uterus. The inhibitory effect of isoflurane may in part be mediated through activation of KATP channels.
Interaction Between the ENSO and the Asian Monsoon in a Coral Record of Tropical Climate

The oxygen isotopic composition of a banded coral from the western equatorial Indian Ocean provides a 150-year-long history of the relation between the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and the Asian monsoon. Interannual cycles in the coral time series were found to correlate with Pacific coral and instrumental climate records, suggesting a consistent linkage across ocean basins, despite the changing frequency and amplitude of the ENSO. However, decadal variability that is characteristic of the monsoon system also dominates the coral record, which implies important interactions between tropical and midlatitude climate variability. One prominent manifestation of this interaction is the strong amplitude modulation of the quasi-biennial cycle.
Role of newly formed platelets in thrombus formation in rat after clopidogrel treatment: comparison to the reversible binding P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor

Summary Platelet P2Y12 receptors play an important role in arterial thrombosis by stimulating thrombus growth. Both irreversibly (clopidogrel) and reversibly binding (ticagrelor, AZD6140) P2Y12 antagonists are clinically used for restricted periods, but possible differences in platelet function recovery after drug cessation have not been investigated. We treated WKY rats with a single, high dose of 200 mg/kg clopidogrel or 40 mg/ kg ticagrelor. Blood was collected at different time points after treatment. Flow cytometry confirmed full platelet protection against ADP-induced αIIbβ3 activation shortly after clopidogrel or ticagrelor treatment. At later time points after clopidogrel treatment, a subpopulation of juvenile platelets appeared that was fully responsive to ADP. Addition of ticagrelor to clopidogrel-treated blood reduced αIIbβ3 activation of the unprotected platelets. In contrast, at later time points after ticagrelor treatment, all platelets gradually lost their protection against ADP activation. Perfusion experiments showed abolishment of thrombus formation shortly after clopidogrel or ticagrelor treatment. Thrombus formation on collagen was determined under high shear flow conditions. At later time points, large thrombi formed in the clopidogrel but not in the ticagrelor group, and unprotected, juvenile platelets preferentially incorporated into the formed thrombi. However, platelets from both groups were still similarly reduced in assays of whole blood aggregation. Conclusively, recovery of rat platelet function after ticagrelor differs mechanistically from that after clopidogrel. This difference is masked by conventional platelet aggregation methods, but is revealed by thrombus formation measurement under flow. Juvenile platelets formed at later time points after clopidogrel treatment promoted thrombus formation.
HLA-DR2 subtypes & immune responses in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES HLA-DR2 has been shown to be associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis and altered antibody and lymphocyte response in pulmonary tuberculosis. In the present study, the influence of DR2 subtypes on antibody titre and lymphocyte response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens (10 micrograms/ml) was studied in 22 patients with active pulmonary TB (ATB), 50 inactive (cured) TB (ITB) patients and 36 healthy control subjects. METHODS HLA-DR2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dot-blotted. Genotyping of DRB1*1501, *1502, *1503, *1601 and *1602 was carried out using sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOPs) and detected by chemiluminescence method. Antibody titre as well as lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) respectively. RESULTS The allele frequency of DRB1*1501 was significantly increased in pulmonary tuberculosis patients as compared to controls (P < 0.05). No marked difference in the antibody titre and lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens was observed between the DRB1 *1501, *1502 and *1503 positive or negative controls, ATB and ITB patients. DRB1 *1501 and *1502 positive as well as negative ATB patients showed a higher antibody titre as compared to controls and ITB patients. ITB patients with *1502 showed a higher lymphocyte response as compared to *1502 positive controls (P < 0.001) and ATB patients (P < 0.05). Similarly, an increased lymphocyte response was observed in *1501, and *1503 negative ITB patients compared to *1501 and *1503 negative controls and ATB patients. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The present study revealed that DRB1 *1501 may be associated either alone or with other DR2 alleles, with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis. None of the DR2 alleles influenced the antibody and lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens. This suggested that HLA-DR2 gene/gene products as a whole may influence the immune response in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Should Computer Scientists Experiment More?

Computer scientists and practitioners defend their lack of experimentation with a wide range of arguments. Some arguments suggest that experimentation is inappropriate, too difficult, useless, and even harmful. This article discusses several such arguments to illustrate the importance of experimentation for computer science. It considers how the software industry is beginning to value experiments, because results may give a company a three- to five-year lead over the competition.
The non-market value of reclaimed wastewater for use in agriculture: a contingent valuation approach

The reuse of treated water for agricultural irrigation is considered a promising option in regions facing water scarcity problems and there is an increasing number of reuse projects going on in southern European countries. The aim of this paper is to estimate the non-market benefits that society attaches to the use of reclaimed wastewater for agricultural purposes, as part of the economic assessment needed to evaluate the viability of this water management option. For this purpose, a contingent valuation study has been developed in the Segura River Basin in south-eastern Spain, interviewing 352 individuals from a representative sample of the basin’s population. Results show that the use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation has significant non-market environmental benefits (mean willingness to pay of €5.13 per month per household, which adds up to a total annual value of €23.3 million). In terms of volume, these benefits represent €0.31 m ‐3 . Therefore, it can be concluded that the non-market benefits of using reclaimed wastewater for agriculture justify its implementation, as they overcome the average treatment costs of €0.16-0.26 m ‐3 . Additionally, the analysis of preference heterogeneity suggests that the use of reclaimed wastewater in agriculture is more acceptable to people if they are made aware of their current payment for water sanitation. The inclusion of these non-market benefits in the overall assessment of water policy options will lead to better informed and more efficient water management decisions. Additional key words: environmental benefits; irrigation; Segura Basin; Spain; Water Framework Directive. Resumen Valor no de mercado del uso de agua depurada en agricultura: una aproximacion por valoracion contingente El uso de aguas depuradas en la agricultura es considerado una opcion prometedora para aquellas zonas que presentan problemas de escasez y de ahi el creciente numero de proyectos de reutilizacion del agua llevados a cabo en los paises del sur de Europa. El objetivo de este trabajo es estimar los beneficios no de mercado que la sociedad otorga al uso de aguas depuradas para uso agricola, como parte de la valoracion economica necesaria para conocer la via
Early Onset of Drinking as a Predictor of Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol-Related Problems in College

A survey of 4,202 students enrolled in the State University System of Florida from 1986 to 1988 showed that 14 percent started drinking in elementary school, 34 percent started in middle school, 45 percent in high school, and 7 percent in college. A General Linear Models analysis of variance procedure showed that the time of first drink significantly predicted the quantity-frequency of alcohol consumption and the incidence of alcohol-related problems reported by students in college. Students who started to drink while in elementary and middle school reported significantly higher levels of consumption and problems than those who started drinking while in high school or college.
CD1d-Associated Expression of NF-κB and Cardiac Dysfunction in Diabetic and Obese Mice

In patients with obesity and diabetes mellitus, abnormal production of inflammatory factors may result in cardiovascular dysfunction. In the current study, we tested the impact of CD1d-mediated innate immune responses on the expression and activation of NFκB in the hearts of adipose diabetic (db/db) mice. Splenocytes from adult db/db and CD1d-knockout mice of both genders and their wild-type, C57BL/6 and Balb/C counterparts were examined for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF-α receptor type 1. The percentage of natural killer T (NKT) cells in CD3+ T cells was compared with that in nondiabetic control mice. Despite the absence of inflammatory infiltrates, the hearts of db/db mice showed alterations in TNF-α receptor-1 and NFκB activity, including increased expression of both the NFκB p52 and p65 subunits. In the hearts of CD1d-knockout mice, p52 expression was reduced, while p65 expression remained largely unchanged. On echocardiography, the ratio of E to A transmitral flow velocities (an indicator of diastolic function) was significantly decreased in db/db mice after they swam for 30 minutes. These results provide evidence for CD1d-mediated NFκB activation and diastolic dysfunction in the hearts of db/db mice. Therefore, CD1d-associated abnormalities of innate immune responses and TNF-α production in splenic tissue may contribute to NFκB activation and cardiac dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.
Prevalence of Leptospira infection in aborted pigs in Northern Ireland

During an investigation of pig abortions and stillbirths in Northern Ireland, leptospires were isolated from 55 of the 78 litters examined. Strains belonging to four serogroups (Australis, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Hebdomadis and Autumnalis) were recovered but leptospires of the Australis serogroup accounted for 91 per cent of the isolates. Two serovars of the Australis group bratislava and muenchen, were identified.
Cost Effectiveness and Health Benefits of Domestic Radon Remediation Programmes - An Update

Abstract. The cost of remedial work and the radon level reduction achieved in a series of domestic properties in Northamptonshire have been the subject of study by our group for some years, as Northamptonshire was declared as a Radon Affected Area in 1992. Previous analysis, which relied on estimations of the total number of affected houses extrapolated from National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) test data, suggested that a testing and remediation programme in Northamptonshire could be justified. The NRPB has continued to initiate and collate radon testing, and published further results in 2003. These results include predictions of the total affected houses, which are lower than those previously assumed. Recently, the ECRS computer software programme has permitted calculation of individual risk, rather than a population average. These predictions have profound effects on our previous analysis particularly since only limited numbers of householders test their homes, and even fewer remediate if they discover raised levels.