Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Halothane and Methoxyflurane — A Comparison of Their Effects on Cardiac Pacemaker Fibers

Halothane and methoxyflurane have some very similar and some very different effects on primary and latent pacemaker fibers. On fibers of the sinoatrial node, halothane has a negative chronotropic action winch is not prevented by atropine. The effect of methoxyflurane is biphasic: an initial, brief acceleration precedes the negative chronotropic action. Both compounds can cause complete cessation of electrical activity of nodal fibers “ in vitro,” and this may occur with relatively low concentrations of methoxyflurane. Arrest of activity is not preceded by progressive slowing. Rather, it is associated with loss of excitability of the fiber at a time when there is only a modest reduction in rate. The effect is reversible. Halothane antagonizes the positive chronotropic action of epinephrine, while methoxyflurane has little effect There is one major difference between the effects of the two anesthetics on Purkinje fibers. Halothane depresses phase 4 depolarization and antagonizes the stimulant actions of epinephrine and ouabain—actions more characteristic of an antiarrhythmic agent. Methoxyflurane increases the rate of phase 4 depolarization and potentiates the action of epinephrine. In this respect, methoxyflurane resembles cyclopropane.
Modeling Effects of Temperature, Soil, Moisture, Nutrition and Variety As Determinants of Severity of Pythium Damping-Off and Root Disease in Subterranean Clover

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a critical pasture legume in Mediterranean regions of southern Australia and elsewhere, including Mediterranean-type climatic regions in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Pythium damping-off and root disease caused by Pythium irregulare is a significant threat to subterranean clover in Australia and a study was conducted to define how environmental factors (viz. temperature, soil type, moisture and nutrition) as well as variety, influence the extent of damping-off and root disease as well as subterranean clover productivity under challenge by this pathogen. Relationships were statistically modeled using linear and generalized linear models and boosted regression trees. Modeling found complex relationships between explanatory variables and the extent of Pythium damping-off and root rot. Linear modeling identified high-level (4 or 5-way) significant interactions for each dependent variable (dry shoot and root weight, emergence, tap and lateral root disease index). Furthermore, all explanatory variables (temperature, soil, moisture, nutrition, variety) were found significant as part of some interaction within these models. A significant five-way interaction between all explanatory variables was found for both dry shoot and root dry weights, and a four way interaction between temperature, soil, moisture, and nutrition was found for both tap and lateral root disease index. A second approach to modeling using boosted regression trees provided support for and helped clarify the complex nature of the relationships found in linear models. All explanatory variables showed at least 5% relative influence on each of the five dependent variables. All models indicated differences due to soil type, with the sand-based soil having either higher weights, greater emergence, or lower disease indices; while lowest weights and less emergence, as well as higher disease indices, were found for loam soil and low temperature. There was more severe tap and lateral root rot disease in higher moisture situations.
Kinetics of inflammatory response of astrocytes induced by TLR 3 and TLR4 ligation

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are sentinels of the innate immune system that recognize an array of exogenous and endogenous pathogenic molecules. The ligation of the receptors triggers inflammatory response necessary for pathogen elimination and for the healing process. In the present study we examined inflammatory response of astrocytes elicited by the ligation of TLR3 and TLR4. Astrocytic cultures established from newborn rat brains were exposed to double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the ligands for TLR3 and TLR4, respectively. The expression of cytokine genes was determined by RNase protection assay, and the generation of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by Griess technique. Both ligands upregulated the expression of several cytokines (i.e., IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNFα, GM‐CSF, LTβ, and TGFβ3) and downregulated the expression of MIF, but have no effect on the expression of IL‐2, IL‐3, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, TGFβ1, TGFβ2, TNFβ, and IFNγ. Although dsRNA upregulated the expression of IFNβ, LPS did not indicating that the TRIF‐dependent branch of TLR4 signaling is inactive in astrocytes. Proinflammatory response as seen from upregulated cytokine expression and NO generation reached a peak within the first day of exposure, and was subsequently abrogated. The cells also became refractory to subsequent stimulation by the ligands indicating the existence of negative feedback mechanisms that control proinflammatory response in astrocytes. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Uncanny Valley Effect

The Uncanny Valley Effect (UVE) first emerged as a warning against making industrial robots appear so highly human-like that they could unsettle the real humans around them. It proposed a specific pattern of negative emotional responses to entities that were almost but not quite human, and has been proposed as the reason why some entities such as dolls, mannequins and zombies may appear unsettling. The aim of this thesis was to move beyond an anecdotal explanation to understand more about the perception of near-human faces, and how this compares to the perception of human and non-human faces. The aims were to explore the relationship between the human-likeness of faces and emotional responses to them, to understand reactions to and descriptions of near-human faces, to explore aspects of how near-human faces are processed and to explore whether mismatched emotional expressions might contribute to the perception of some near-human faces as eerie. Five studies were carried out using face images whose human-likeness was systematically controlled or measured. A non-linear relationship between human-likeness and eeriness was found, but the near-human faces were not always the eeriest images. Near-human faces were found to be subject to the effects of inversion, and inversion was found to heighten perceptions of eeriness. Faces were created which contained mismatched emotional expressions, and the blends combining happy faces with angry or fearful eyes were rated as the most eerie. Incongruities between aspects of appearance or behaviour had been cited as explanations for the UVE in the past but this thesis presents the first evidence that differences in eeriness may result from incongruities between emotional expressions. Directions for future research have been suggested to explore these findings in a wider context and to understand more about the UVE.
In Vitro Whole-Blood Analysis of Cellular Immunity in Patients with Active Coccidioidomycosis by Using the Antigen Preparation T27K

ABSTRACT Measurement of cellular immunity in human coccidioidomycosis has important diagnostic and prognostic implications. The coccidioidin skin test has been the standard for the measurement of this, but it is not available in the United States. We examined the utility of measuring surface expression of CD69 on T lymphocytes in whole blood incubated with the coccidioidal antigen preparation T27K as an alternative to the skin test. Seventy donors with active coccidioidomycosis were studied. The mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD69 expression on CD3 lymphocytes in response to T27K was 28.61 ± 1.77, significantly greater than the control response of 11.45 ± 0.78 (P < 0.001). The MFI CD69 response to T27K above that for the control (MFI CD69 above control) was 6.35 ± 2.18 for seven subjects with disseminated coccidioidomycosis who were studied within 5 months of diagnosis. This was significantly below the value of 20.17 ± 3.17 for 18 subjects with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis studied within 5 months of diagnosis and the value of 19.58 ± 2.91 for 27 subjects with disseminated coccidioidomycosis studied after 5 months of diagnosis (for both, P < 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between coccidioidal clinical score and MFI CD69 above control for all 34 subjects with disseminated coccidioidomycosis (r = 0.362; P = 0.036) but not for the 36 subjects with pulmonary disease (r < 0.001; P = 0.993). Among 30 subjects for whom data were available, there was a highly significant association between the MFI CD69 above control and the supernatant concentrations of gamma interferon, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (for all, P < 0.001), but not for IL-4, IL-5, or IL-10. These data indicate that in vitro assessment of CD69 expression on T lymphocytes by using T27K may be a useful measure of cellular immune response among subjects with active coccidioidomycosis.
Uncovered Interest Parity: Cross-Sectional Evidence

This paper proposes a different empirical approach to estimate the UIP by analyzing a large number of cross-country bilateral exchange rates using cross-section analysis. Different from conventional time-series UIP, cross-sectional UIP is examined with single equation estimation and panel regression model estimation. The exchange rates analyzed here include a broad spectrum of countries: developed, developing, low inflation and high inflation countries. Based on the empirical evidence, there does not appear to be a well-publicized UIP puzzle for cross-sectional UIP, and the slope estimates remain largely between zero and one throughout the sample periods, with a few exceptions. Evidence of UIP is more clear for low inflation countries than for high inflation countries. As interest rate maturity becomes longer, UIP relationship becomes weaker.
Precisely-timed dopamine signals establish distinct kinematic representations of skilled movements

Brain dopamine is critical for normal motor control, as evidenced by its importance in Parkinson Disease and related disorders. Current hypotheses are that dopamine influences motor control by “invigorating” movements and regulating motor learning. Most evidence for these aspects of dopamine function comes from simple tasks (e.g., lever pressing). Therefore, the influence of dopamine on motor skills requiring multi-joint coordination is unknown. To determine the effects of precisely-timed dopamine manipulations on the performance of a complex, finely coordinated dexterous skill, we optogenetically stimulated or inhibited midbrain dopamine neurons as rats performed a skilled reaching task. We found that reach kinematics and coordination between gross and fine movements progressively changed with repeated manipulations. However, once established, rats transitioned abruptly between aberrant and baseline reach kinematics in a dopamine-dependent manner. These results suggest that precisely-timed dopamine signals have immediate and long-term influences on motor skill performance, distinct from simply “invigorating” movement.
Comparison of Body Habitus in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Enrolled in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management With Normative Values From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objective: To investigate the correlation between body mass in- dex (BMI) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure in a large population of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Patients and MethOds: The BMI of patients with group 1 PAH enrolled in the Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) was compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to clarify whether obesity is linked with PAH. The diagnosis of PAH was defined in REVEAL by right-sided heart catheterization. Differences in BMI and the percentage of patients considered obese (BMI ≥30) and underweight (BMI <18.5) in various subgroups of patients enrolled in REVEAL from March 30, 2006, through September 11, 2007, were determined. Results: Mean BMI was no different for patients with PAH (n=2141) than for the NHANES normal comparison group; how-ever, the proportion of obese and underweight patients was increased in patients with PAH. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that subgroups with idiopathic PAH and those with PAH associ- ated with drugs and toxins had both higher BMI and percentage of obese patients, whereas 3 other subgroups (those with PAH asso- ciated with congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, and human immunodeficiency virus) had lower mean BMI. cOnclusiOn: Mean BMI
Helical assembly in the MyD 88 – IRAK 4 – IRAK 2 complex in TLR / IL-1 R signalling

MyD88, IRAK4 and IRAK2 are critical signalling mediators of the TLR/IL1-R superfamily. Here we report the crystal structure of the MyD88–IRAK4–IRAK2 death domain (DD) complex, which surprisingly reveals a left-handed helical oligomer that consists of 6 MyD88, 4 IRAK4 and 4 IRAK2 DDs. Assembly of this helical signalling tower is hierarchical, in which MyD88 recruits IRAK4 and the MyD88–IRAK4 complex recruits the IRAK4 substrates IRAK2 or the related IRAK1. Formation of these Myddosome complexes brings the kinase domains of IRAKs into proximity for phosphorylation and activation. Composite binding sites are required for recruitment of the individual DDs in the complex, which are confirmed by mutagenesis and previously identified signalling mutations. Specificities in Myddosome formation are dictated by both molecular complementarity and correspondence of surface electrostatics. The MyD88–IRAK4–IRAK2 complex provides a template for Toll signalling in Drosophila and an elegant mechanism for versatile assembly and regulation of DD complexes in signal transduction.
Optimizing poly‐l‐lactic acid use

Injectable devices are less invasive than surgical interventions for restoring youthful contours. Sculptra® (Dermik Laboratories, Bridgewater, NJ, USA, a business of sanofi aventis U.S. LLC) contains poly‐l‐lactic acid (PLLA), which is thought to elicit in vivo collagen production around the injected implant, producing new volume gradually over time, and with effects lasting up to 2 years. Correct reconstitution and preparation of PLLA, as well as injection technique, are essential to ensure optimal outcomes and reduce adverse events. This article provides an overview of injectable devices, specifically focusing on PLLA in cosmetic application and optimal administration techniques to maximize efficacy and duration of effect.
Influence of Environmental Factors on Activity Patterns of Incisitermes minor (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in Naturally Infested Logs

ABSTRACT Acoustic emission (AE) activity patterns were measured from seven loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ] logs, five containing live western drywood termite [Incisitermes minor (Hagen) ] infestations, and two without an active drywood termite infestation. AE activity, as well as temperature, were monitored every 3 min under unrestricted ambient conditions in a small wooden building, under unrestricted ambient conditions but in constant darkness, or in a temperaturecontrolled cabined under constant darkness. Logs with active drywood termite infestations displayed similar diurnal cycles of AE activity that closely followed temperature with a peak of AE activity late in the afternoon (1700–1800 hours). When light was excluded from the building, a circadian pattern continued and apparently was driven by temperature. When the seven logs were kept at a relatively constant temperature (≈23 ±0.9°C) and constant darkness, the pattern of activity was closely correlated with temperature, even with minimal changes in temperature. Temperature is the primary driver of activity of these drywood termites, but the effects are different when temperature is increasing or decreasing. At constant temperature, AE activity was highly correlated with the number of termites in the logs. The possible implications of these findings on our understanding of drywood termite biology and how this information may affect inspections and posttreatment evaluations are discussed.
A Study of Some Mechanical Properties of Iraqi Palm Fiber-PVA Composite by Ultrasonic

The PVA-Palm fiber composite polymer membranes were prepared by sol-gel casting method with different ratios of concentration, in order to study the mechanical properties of these composite ultrasonic measurements of variable frequencies (25,30,35,40,45 and 50 kHz) were performed , these properties are ultrasonic velocity ,density ,compressibility ,specific acoustic impedance ,relaxation time, relaxation amplitude , bulk modulus, shear viscosity ,absorption coefficient and transmittance. Results shows that all these properties were decreasing with concentration of palm fiber in composite ; so palm powder keep the degradations polymer chain isolated and their roots not interact again to forming entanglement interactions, this reason made these vales reduced except that scattering were dominant so we pointed that this composite more effective to reflect and scattered ultrasonic waves.
Firm Size, Earnings, and Displacement Risk

Analogous to the well-documented firm size-wage differential, there also exists a differential in layoff risk according to firm size. Using Austrian data I discuss several reasons for this puzzle, including on-the-job training and workers' heterogeneity. If less stable (and also less able) workers select themselves into small, unstable, and low-paying firms, predicted layoff risk of workers can be used as a proxy for heterogeneity of workers and therefore be included in wage regressions. Doing this, one half of the size earnings premium can be explained. Copyright 2001 by Oxford University Press.
Glutamine metabolism in ovine splanchnic tissues: effects of infusion of ammonium bicarbonate or amino acids into the abomasum

This study investigates the effects of increased NH3 or amino acid supply on glutamine utilisation and production by the splanchnic tissues of fed sheep. Six sheep, prepared with vascular catheters in the aorta, mesenteric, portal and hepatic veins, were fed grass pellets to 1·1×energy maintenance requirements. Each treatment involved a 4 d abomasal infusion, of either ammonium bicarbonate (AMM; 23·4 μmol/kg0·75 per min), water (CONT), or a mixture of amino acids that excluded glutamine and glutamate (AA; 46·8 μmol amino acid-N/kg0·75 per min). The treatments simulated nutritional extremes in terms of the balance of absorbed N. Kinetics across the whole gut and the liver were monitored during an intra-jugular infusion of [5-15N]glutamine. Blood flow across the whole gut or liver were unaffected by treatment. Both AMM and AA infusions doubled the hepatic release of urea-N compared with CONT (P<0·02). AA infusion decreased arterial glutamine concentration by 26 % (P<0·01) and 23 % (P<0·05) compared with AMM and CONT respectively. Despite this, whole-body glutamine flux was not affected by treatment. In contrast, AMM infusion increased hepatic glutamine production by 40 % compared with CONT (P<0·02). This provided a mechanism to ensure NH3 supply to the periphery was maintained within the normal low physiological levels. Hepatic glutamine utilisation tended to increase during AA infusion, probably to ensure equal inflows of N to the ornithine cycle. Between 6 and 10 % of NH3 absorbed across the digestive tract was derived from the amido-N of glutamine. Overall, splanchnic glutamine utilisation accounted for 45–70 % of whole-body glutamine flux.
NATURAL SELECTION: THE IMPACT OF SEMANTIC IMPAIRMENT ON LEXICAL AND OBJECT DECISION

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the impact of semantic deficits on the recognition of words and objects as real/familiar. Two-alternative forced-choice tasks of lexical decision and object decision were each administered to a case series of patients with semantic dementia. In both tasks, the critical manipulation was whether the real word or object was more or less “natural” (i.e., typical of its domain) than the nonword or nonobject with which it was paired. For lexical decision, typicality of the words and nonwords was manipulated in terms of bigram and trigram frequencies of the letter strings. For object decision, high typicality in real and chimeric objects consisted in having only or mainly visual features that are standard for objects in that category. This manipulation of relative typicality of real and made-up stimuli exerted a dramatic influence on the patients' success in both lexical and object decision. The patients' strong tendency towards “natural selection” was further modulated by both the frequency/familiarity of the real words/objects and the degree of semantic degradation of the individual patients. This outcome is in line with the authors' model of semantic knowledge and the impact of its degradation on a wide range of cognitive behaviour.
Single-Molecule Micromanipulation Studies of Methylated DNA

Cytosine methylated at the 5-carbon position is the most widely studied reversible DNA modification. Prior findings indicate that methylation can alter mechanical properties. However, those findings were qualitative and sometimes contradictory, leaving many aspects unclear. By applying single-molecule magnetic force spectroscopy techniques allowing for direct manipulation and dynamic observation of DNA mechanics and mechanically driven strand separation, we investigated how CpG and non-CpG cytosine methylation affects DNA micromechanical properties. We quantitatively characterized DNA stiffness using persistence length measurements from force-extension curves in the nanoscale length regime and demonstrated that cytosine methylation results in increased DNA flexibility (i.e., decreased persistence length). In addition, we observed the preferential formation of plectonemes over unwound single-stranded “bubbles” of DNA, under physiologically relevant stretching forces and supercoiling densities. The stiffness and high structural stability of methylated DNA is likely to have significant consequences on the recruitment of proteins recognizing cytosine methylation and DNA packaging. Statement of Significance Despite countless structural and functional studies of DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mark in higher organisms, research towards the understanding of DNA intrinsic structural properties in the context of methylation layout representing different epigenetic landscapes is still in its initial stage. We utilize single molecule spectroscopy to analyze the effect of sparse symmetric and asymmetric 5-mC modification on the mechanical stability of long double-stranded DNA. Our findings establish that at physiologically relevant forces and supercoiling densities increased DNA flexibility of non-CpG methylated DNA translates to the high structural stability.