Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carvedilol Inhibits Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Activation in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis: Possibilities of Cardioprotective Application

Aims: Acute myocarditis is a potentially lethal inflammatory heart disease that frequently precedes the development of dilated cardiomyopathy and subsequent heart failure. At present, there is no effective standardized therapy for acute myocarditis, besides the optimal care of heart failure and arrhythmias in accordance with evidence-based guidelines and specific etiology-driven therapy for infectious myocarditis. Carvedilol has been shown to be cardioprotective by reducing cardiac pro-inflammatory cytokines present in oxidative stress in certain heart diseases. However, effects of carvedilol administration in acute myocarditis with its impact on matrix metalloproteinases’ (MMPs) activation have not been elucidated. Methods and Results: Carvedilol in 3 doses (2, 10, and 30 mg/kg) was given daily to 3 study groups of rats (n = 8) with experimental autoimmune myocarditis by gastric gavage for 3 weeks. In comparison to untreated rats (n = 8) with induced myocarditis, carvedilol significantly prevented the left ventricle enlargement and/or systolic dysfunction depending on the dose in study groups. Performed zymography showed enhanced MMP-2 activity in untreated rats, while carvedilol administration reduced alterations. This was accompanied by prevention of troponin I release and myofilaments degradation in cardiac muscle tissue. Additionally, severe inflammatory cell infiltration was detected in the nontreated group. Carvedilol in all doses tested, had no impact on severity of inflammation. The severity of inflammation did not differ between study groups and in relation to the untreated group. Conclusions: The protective effects of carvedilol on heart function observed in the acute phase of experimental autoimmune myocarditis seem to be associated with its ability to decrease MMP-2 activity and subsequently prevent degradation of myofilaments and release of troponin I while not related to suppression of inflammation.
Non‐compliance in contact lens wear

Non‐compliance is emerging as a critical issue in the contact lens field. This problem has been studied at depth in general health care situations and is seen as the responsibility of both practitioner and patient (client) working in a health care partnership. The contact lens practitioner and patient present a specific case for the study of non‐compliance in areas such as hygiene, solution use, appointment attendance and wearing limes. From 40 to 91% of contact lens patients have been reported as non‐compliant in the use of recommended care and maintenance regimens and many of these are confused or ignorant about their behaviour. In order to arrive at a general set of conclusions from the studies published to date, it is important to understand the methodology of each study, its purpose, the definition of non‐compliance used and the way the results were analyzed and described. This review summarizes the research into non‐compliance in the contact tens field to date. A set of general conclusions is drawn and a model for compliance in the context of contact tens practice is proposed.
Potential role of superantigen induced activation of cell mediated immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.

an inflammatory cell infiltrate into the diseased tissue with increased numbers of T cells in the mucosa.3 4 Immunophenotyping of T cells has failed to show any gross abnormalities in inflammatory bowel disease: the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ cells being similar in diseased and normal tissue4-6 and there are no obvious defects in function.7 The use of monoclonal antibodies to markers of T cell activation, however, has shown considerable changes in T cells in Crohn's disease compared with normal controls. There is a shift from CD45RA to CD45RO expression in cells from the lamina propria of patients with Crohn's disease,8 a phenomenon associated with antigen driven T cell activation.9 In addition, T cell and macrophage populations from the peripheral blood, mucosa, and lamina propria of patients with Crohn's disease contain
The Impact of Cumulative Maternal Trauma and Diagnosis on Parenting Behavior

This study examines the relative contributions of cumulative maternal trauma, substance use, depressive and posttraumatic stress diagnoses on parental abuse potential, punitiveness, and psychological and physical aggression in a sample of 176 urban mothers. Participants were categorized into four groups: substance use (n = 41), depressed (n = 40), comorbid (n = 47), and control (n = 48). Participants in the three diagnostic groups reported significantly greater interpersonal trauma exposure than did controls. Hierarchical regressions reveal that cumulative trauma is a significant predictor of all parenting outcomes, even after controlling for demographic and diagnostic variables. Substance use and depression are significantly related to abuse potential, and PTSD is significantly negatively related to physical discipline, with no other significant associations between diagnostic status and parenting outcomes. These findings add to an important growing literature examining the impact of cumulative trauma on parental functioning. Implications for future research and parenting interventions are discussed.
FEMALE HETEROGAMETY AND SPECIATION: REDUCED INTROGRESSION OF THE Z CHROMOSOME BETWEEN TWO SPECIES OF NIGHTINGALES

Several lines of evidence suggest that the X chromosome plays a large role in intrinsic postzygotic isolation. The role of the Z chromosome in speciation is much less understood. To explore the role of the Z chromosome in reproductive isolation, we studied nucleotide variation in two closely related bird species, the Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) and the Common Nightingale (L. megarhynchos). These species are isolated by incomplete prezygotic isolation and female hybrid sterility. We sequenced introns of four Z‐linked and eight autosomal loci and analyzed patterns of polymorphism and divergence using a divergence‐with‐gene flow framework. Our results suggest that the nightingale species diverged approximately 1.8 Mya. We found strong evidence of gene flow after divergence in both directions, although more introgression occurred from L. megarhynchos into L. luscinia. Gene flow was significantly higher on the autosomes than on the Z chromosome. Our results support the idea that the Z chromosome plays an important role in intrinsic postzygotic isolation in birds, although it may also contribute to the evolution of prezygotic isolation through sexual selection. This highlights the similarities in the genetic basis of reproductive isolation between organisms with heterogametic males and organisms with heterogametic females during the early stages of speciation.
Headache as an Aura of Epilepsy: Video‐EEG Monitoring Study

Headache can be associated with epilepsy as a pre‐ictal, ictal, or post‐ictal phenomenon; however, studies of patients with headache as an epileptic aura are scarce. We performed the present study to investigate the incidence and characteristics of headache as an epileptic aura, via confirmation of electroencephalography (EEG) changes by video‐EEG monitoring.
Effects of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) pulp on growth performance and stress responses of growing cattle

The pulp of Morinda citrifolia (Noni), a Tahitian plant known to reduce stress and improve immunity in laboratory rats, was fed to growing cattle. Thirty crossbred beef calves (262 kg) were limit fed diets that were top-dressed with 0, 0.09, or 0.18% Noni pulp (DM basis) for 28 d. Every 4 d, cattle were weighed, bled, and assessed for subjective and objective excitability measures. Average daily gain increased linearly (P = 0.03) as the percentage of Noni increased in the diet. Noni-supplemented cattle gained more efficiently, as the G:F increased linearly (P = 0.04) with increasing Noni addition. Additionally, Noni-fed cattle had decreasing concentration of white blood cells with increased Noni supplementation (linear; P = 0.001). However, control cattle had similar serum cortisol concentrations to those fed Noni pulp (P = 0.16), and neither exit velocity nor subjective pen and chute excitability scores were affected (P ≥ 0.79) by the addition of Noni to the diet. Therefore, Noni has the potential to improve growth and health in weaned, growing cattle, but the mechanism of action of Noni in cattle is not known.
Parental Oral Health Literacy of children with severe early childhood caries in Hong Kong.

AIM To assess the parental oral health literacy of children with severe early childhood caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 315 children diagnosed with severe early childhood caries, and their parents were recruited to participate in the study. A clinical examination was conducted to assess the children's oral health status. Their parents were asked to complete a Hong Kong Oral Health Literacy Assessment Task for Paediatric Dentistry (HKOHLAT-P) questionnaire. RESULTS There were 311 complete responses (98.7% response rate). The mean age of children was 4.7 years (standard deviation (SD) =0.8). The mean decayed, missing filled teeth (dmft) score was 10.2 (SD = 4.5). Most of the children had unfilled dental caries (98.7%). About 72.7% of the parents had an education level of up to secondary school. More than half (61.7%) had a monthly family income of below HKD 20,000. Parents with a lower education level and income had a significantly lower HKOHLAT-P score (p<0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that a higher family income (p<0.05) and education level (p<0.05) predicted higher HKOHLAT-P scores. CONCLUSION The parental oral health literacy of children with severe early childhood caries was associated with their socio-economic background. Oral health education should be targeted towards the lower socio-economic groups.
Timely plant defenses protect against caterpillar herbivory

As sessile, photosynthetic organisms, plants benefit greatly from a circadian clock that adjusts their overall metabolism in anticipation of the highly predictable arrival of sunrise and sunset. Thus, it is not surprising that about one-third of all plant genes show evidence of circadian regulation in their expression patterns (1, 2). However, closer examination of this diurnally regulated transcription shows that it comprises not only the predictable genes involved in photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and water uptake but numerous genes with known functions in plant defense. Recent studies show that the success of pathogen infections is influenced by the plant circadian clock (3⇓–5). Accumulation of salicylic acid, a key signal for the induction of antimicrobial defenses, peaks at night and may lead to elevated pathogen resistance in the early morning. Cyclical accumulation of herbivore-induced plant metabolites (6), as well as reciprocal effects of plant secondary metabolism on the circadian clock (7), suggests that resistance to insect herbivory also should show diurnal regulation. This hypothesis is confirmed by a study in PNAS (8), which provides a previously undescribed avenue for studying plant-herbivore interactions by demonstrating that plants can benefit from synchrony in the pattern of diurnally regulated defenses and insect feeding behavior.
Endosomal Translocation of Vertebrate DNA Activates Dendritic Cells via TLR9-Dependent and -Independent Pathways 1

TLRs discriminate foreign from self via their specificity for pathogen-derived invariant ligands, an example being TLR9 recognizing bacterial unmethylated CpG motifs. In this study we report that endosomal translocation of CpG DNA via the natural endocytotic pathway is inefficient and highly saturable, whereas endosomal translocation of DNA complexed to the cationic lipid N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium methylsulfate (DOTAP) is not. Interestingly, DOTAP-mediated enhanced endosomal translocation of otherwise nonstimulatory vertebrate DNA or of certain noncanonical CpG motifs triggers robust dendritic cell activation in terms of both up-regulation of CD40/CD69 and cytokine production, such as type I IFN and IL-6. We report that the stimulatory activity of phosphorothioated noncanonical CpG oligodeoxynucleotides is TLR9 dependent, whereas phosphodiester DNA, such as vertebrate DNA, in addition trigger TLR9-independent pathways. We propose that the inefficiency of the natural route for DNA internalization hinders low affinity TLR9 ligands in endosomes to reach threshold concentrations required for TLR9 activation. Endosomal compartmentalization of TLR9 may thus reflect an evolutionary strategy to avoid TLR9 activation by self-DNA.
The ketogenic diet—update on recent clinical trials

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 100 years. Several cohort studies have emphasized its possible benefit, although use became less at the introduction of anticonvulsant medication. However, the KD has regained recognition over the past 15 years. Resources remain scarce and its availability for children may be limited. One argument has been the lack of evidence from suitably designed trials. Systematic reviews and meta‐analyses have revealed that studies are limited to class 3 and 4 data. A recently published randomized controlled trial has shown that the benefit of the KD is equivalent to any of the new anticonvulsant medications, emphasizing the need for more resources to ensure greater diet availability.
Non-idempotent intersection types for the Lambda-Calculus

This article explores the use of non-idempotent intersection types in the framework of the λ -calculus. Different topics are presented in a uniform framework: head normalization, weak normalization, weak head normalization, strong normalization, inhabitation, exact bounds and principal typings. The reducibility technique, traditionally used when working with idempotent types, is replaced in this framework by trivial combinatorial arguments.
Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor-/ 3-Induced Cataractous Changes in Lens Explants by Ocular Media and a 2-Macroglobuliii

Methods. Explants prepared from 21-day-old rats were cultured with TGF/? 2 with and without 50% bovine aqueous or vitreous or a2-macroglobulin. a2-macroglobulin was added to an aqueous concentrate, shown to contain endogenous TGF/3 activity by blocking with antiTGF/J. Explants were monitored by phase-contrast microscopy for 5 days and assessed in terms of capsule wrinkling, spindle-cell formation, blebbing, and cell loss. a2-macroglobulin in the ocular media was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis.
Prognostic factors predicting successful response to sildenafil after radical cystoprostatectomy

Objectives. To assess the efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED) following radical cystectomy (RC) and to define the different prognostic factors predicting the response to sildenafil in such a challenging group of patients. Material and methods. One hundred patients with ED following RC participated in an open-label, non-randomized, prospective, dose-escalation study. The median age of the patients was 53 years and the mean period after RC was 80.7±54.8 months. The study duration was 12 weeks, comprising a 4-week run-in period followed by two active treatment periods of 4 weeks each with 50 and 100 mg of sildenafil. Patients were assessed by means of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire at baseline and after each treatment period. At the end of the study, the Global Efficacy Assessment Question was used to evaluate treatment satisfaction. Factors affecting the patient's response to sildenafil were assessed by means of uni- and multivariate analysis. Results. The entire study group was suffering from severe ED at baseline, with a mean erectile function (EF) domain score of 6.5±0.93. EF scores improved to 12.2±7.76 and 18±10.3 with 50 and 100 mg of sildenafil, respectively. Sildenafil therapy significantly improved the ability of many patients to achieve and maintain an erection. The mean scores for question 3 of the IIEF were 1±0.14, 2.1±1.4 and 3±1.8 at baseline and with 50 and 100 mg of sildenafil, respectively, while the corresponding scores for question 4 were 1±0.10, 1.9±1.35 and 3±1.85. The satisfaction rate was 54%. The response was dose-dependent but the incidence of adverse effects increased from 6% with 50 mg of sildenafil to 34% with 100 mg. In univariate analysis, tumor histology and grade and postoperative partial tumescence were found to significantly impact the patient's response to sildenafil. In multivariate analysis, postoperative partial tumescence was the only independent predictive variable. Conclusions. Sildenafil was found to be a safe and satisfactory treatment for post-RC ED. The effect was dose-related. Patients with postoperative partial tumescence were the best responders.
Sites of antibody production in the guinea-pig; the relation between in vitro synthesis of anti-ovalbumin and gamma-globulin and distribution of antibody-containing plasma cells.

of antibody-containing cells in tissue sections Sections stained for anti-ovalbumin were scanned under the fluorescence microscope using a 3-65 mm. oil-immersion objective and a x 4 ocular, into which was incorporated a divided square field of 6 mm. side. The total area of section seen within the boundaries of this square was 0-0324 sq. mm. The cells within an area of 30-60 squares were counted and results were expressed as counts per unit square. Since the distribution of such antibody-containing cells is not uniform throughout a lymph node, such counts only gave a very rough indication of relative cell densities. Moreover, counts made in that portion of a bisected node which is sectioned and studied morphologically can give only a vague idea of the numbers of celLs in the other portion which was incubated in vitro.
Carbon Nanotube Ring Oscillator for Detecting Ionized Radiation

In this paper, we have explored the feasibility of a carbon nanotube (CNT) ring oscillator (RO) for detecting ionized radiation. The effect of ion irradiation on the oscillation frequency of CNT-based RO is considered using the displacement damage dose (DDD) methodology. The analytical model of the irradiated resistance of metallic single-walled CNT (SWCNT) has been developed and verified by experimental data for increasing DDD from 10 to 10 MeV/g. We have found that 100 times increase in the DDD from 10 to 10 MeV/g results in nearly 20 times increase in propagation delay of an input signal passing through 500 nm metallic SWCNT, which can be easily read. It is also found that an order of magnitude increase in the length of SWCNT results in approximately an order of magnitude decrease in the minimum range of detectable DDD considering the oscillation frequency of CNT RO as the output of the proposed radiation detector. As carbon nanotube with the record length of 50 cm has been reported, it is very promising for detecting much lower radiation.
Can the theory of planned behaviour predict maintenance of a frequently repeated behaviour?

Abstract The present study used the theory of planned behaviour to predict self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients with type 1 diabetes. Sixty-four adult patients with type 1 diabetes completed a questionnaire assessing the variables of the TPB in addition to demographic variables and a measure of conscientiousness. Self-report measures of daily self-monitoring behaviour were obtained for a two-week period. The extended model predicted 46% of the variance in behavioural intention and 57% of variance in self-monitoring behaviour, suggesting that the TPB is able to predict useful levels of variance, comparable to initiation, even in familiar and frequently repeated maintenance behaviours. Implications of these results are discussed.
A mmWave Folded Substrate Integrated Waveguide in a 130-nm CMOS Process

A miniaturized millimeter-wave substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) in IBM 130-nm digital CMOS process is presented in this paper. The footprint of the interconnect is reduced compared with previous works using the folding technique. A current-loop transition structure is proposed in this paper that is built inside the SIW interconnect and excites its TE10 mode with minimal area overhead. A simulation-based comparison of T-FSIW and other planar transmission line structures reveals that the T-FSIW interconnect shows a much higher resonant quality factor. A prototype waveguide is designed and fabricated to operate with a cutoff frequency of 175 GHz. Furthermore, the current-loop excitation is optimized for the frequency range of 180–220 GHz. Simulation and experimental data are used to confirm the proposed interconnect approach.
Hepatozoon caimani in Caiman crocodilus yacare (Crocodylia, Alligatoridae) from North Pantanal, Brazil.

Hepatozoon species are the most common intracellular hemoparasite found in reptiles. Hepatozoon caimani, whose vectors are Culex mosquitoes, has been detected in a high prevalence among caimans in Brazil by blood smears examinations. The present work aimed to detect and characterize the Hepatozoon spp. found in 33 caimans (24 free-ranging and 9 captive; 28 males and 5 females) (Caiman crocodilus yacare) sampled at Poconé, North Pantanal, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, using blood smears examinations and molecular techniques. Hepatozoon spp. -gametocytes were found in 70.8% (17/24) and 88.8% (8/9) of blood smears from free-ranging and captive caimans, respectively. Hepatozoon spp. 18S rRNA DNA was found in 79.2% (19/24) and 88.8% (8/9) of free-ranging and captive caimans, respectively. Comparative analysis of parasitized and non-parasitized erythrocytes showed that all analyzed features were significantly different (P<0.05) for both linear and area dimensions. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA sequences grouped the Hepatozoon spp. sequences detected in the present study together with H. caimani, recently detected in caimans in southern Pantanal.
Health values of adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES To assess health values (utilities) in adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to evaluate how health status and clinical factors affect their health values. METHODS Adolescents 12 to 18 years of age completed the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2), and 3 health value measures: the visual analog scale (VAS), time tradeoff (TTO), and standard gamble (SG). Severity of illness was measured by percent of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) and frequency of pulmonary exacerbations. RESULTS The mean age (+/- SD) of the 65 adolescents was 15.1 (+/- 2.1) years; 53.8% were male; their mean FEV(1) was 72.8% (+/- 27.0%) predicted. The mean TTO utility was 0.96 (+/- 0.07) and the mean SG utility was 0.92 (+/- 0.15). In multivariable analysis, the General Health Perceptions domain from the CHQ was the only health status scale significantly associated with the VAS, TTO, and SG. No clinical or demographic measures were significantly related to both TTO and SG scores. CONCLUSIONS Direct utility assessment in adolescents with CF is feasible. Their TTO and SG utilities are generally high, indicating that they are willing to trade very little of their life expectancy or take more than a small risk of death to obtain perfect health. Their self-rated health perceptions are related to their health values, but, as in adult populations, only moderately so, indicating that health values are highly individualistic. Therefore, health values should be ascertained directly from adolescents.
Design and implementation of an integrated multi-functional autonomous parking system with Fuzzy logic controller

This paper presents an intelligent autonomous parking system with multi-functions. The integrated system consists of two sub-systems, namely the Fuzzy-Based Onboard System and control center. Unlike most current auto-parking experiments, this FBOS enables the car to perform both slot detection and parking under two different parking modes. Facilitated by the control center, real-time monitoring is also achieved to reduce chances of error.