Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapamycin‐loaded poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and potential application in corneal transplantation

Allograft rejection is the major cause of corneal graft failure. To inhibit corneal allograft rejection, rapamycin as a novel immunosuppressive agent has been discovered. However, the high water insolubility and low bioavailability of rapamycin has strongly hindered its application in the clinical setting. In this paper, we attempted to develop a novel rapamycin nano‐formulation using poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCEC) nanoparticles as carrier by an emulsion evaporation method for potential application in corneal transplantation.
The Economics of Savings Groups

Poor households worldwide rely on savings groups (SGs) to satisfy their financial needs, yet very little is known about these groups' ability to meet them. In this paper we develop a theoretical model illustrating the basic trade-offs in the functioning of SGs, and present stylized facts derived from the financial accounts of a sample of Ugandan SGs. The main conclusion from the theoretical model is that SGs lack a mechanism to ensure that supply of internal funds equals its demand. Consequently, SGs may be unable to generate sufficient funds to meet the demand for loans of their members. The model also highlights the importance of encouraging early savings, that can be lent out multiple times and ease the rationing of funds. Empirically, we find that groups do generate a significant flow of funds between members and provide a high return on savings. However, we also confirm the main theoretical predictions by showing that loans are rationed for a large fraction of the lending cycle. We conclude by discussing ways in which this mismatch between demand and supply of funds can be improved.
Association analysis between gene variants of the tyrosine hydroxylase and the serotonin transporter in borderline personality disorder

Abstract objectives. For patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), we previously reported an independent effect of the catechol-o-methyl-transferase (COMT) low-activity (Met158) allele and an interaction with the low-expression allele of the deletion/insertion (short/long or S/L, resp.) polymorphism in the serotonin transporter-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR). The purpose of the present study was to extend these findings to the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) Val81Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), the 5-HTTLPR S/L polymorphism incorporating the recently described functional A/G SNP within the long allele of the 5-HTTLPR (rs25531) as well as the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism within intron 2 of the serotonin transporter gene (STin2). Methods. In 156 Caucasian BPD patients and 152 healthy controls, we tested for association between BPD and the TH Val81Met SNP, the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 polymorphism, the STin2, the interaction of the TH Val81Met SNP with the tri-allelic 5-HTTLPR/rs25531, the interaction of the TH Val81Met SNP with STin2. Results. Between BPD patients and controls, we observed a slight over-representation of the TH Met81Met genotype in BPD patients compared to controls, but no statistically significant differences in genotype distribution of the individual markers after adjusting for multiple testing. Logistic regression analysis showed a lack of interaction between the TH Val81Met and the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 as well as between the TH Val81Met and the STin2 polymorphism. Conclusions. These data do not suggest independent or interactive effects of the TH Val81Met, the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531, or the STin2 polymorphisms in BPD.
Star formation in metal-poor gas clouds

Observations of molecular clouds in metal-poor environments typically find that they have much higher star formation rates than one would expect based on their observed CO luminosities and the molecular gas masses that are inferred from them. This finding can be understood if one assumes that the conversion factor between CO luminosity and H2 mass is much larger in these low-metallicity systems than in nearby molecular clouds. However, it is unclear whether this is the only factor at work, or whether the star formation rate of the clouds is directly sensitive to the metallicity of the gas. To investigate this, we have performed numerical simulations of the coupled dynamical, chemical and thermal evolution of model clouds with metallicities ranging from 0.01 to 1 Z⊙. We find that the star formation rate in our model clouds has little sensitivity to the metallicity. Reducing the metallicity of the gas by two orders of magnitude delays the onset of star formation in the clouds by no more than a cloud free-fall time and reduces the time-averaged star formation rate by at most a factor of 2. On the other hand, the chemical state of the clouds is highly sensitive to the metallicity, and at the lowest metallicities, the clouds are completely dominated by atomic gas. Our results not only confirm that the CO-to-H2 conversion factor in these systems depends strongly on the metallicity, but also show that the precise value is highly time-dependent, as the integrated CO luminosity of the most metal poor clouds is dominated by emission from short-lived gravitationally collapsing regions. Finally, we find evidence that the star formation rate per unit H2 mass increases with decreasing metallicity, owing to the much smaller H2 fractions present in our low-metallicity clouds.
Integrating non-drug treatments in early schizophrenia

Summary There is a range of psychological interventions for established schizophrenia. These include family interventions, motivational interventions for substance misuse and for non-adherence to medication, cognitive remediation for neurocognitive deficits and cognitive–behavioural therapy for symptoms. Psychological interventions may explicitly target risk factors for poor outcome, such as substance use, or protective factors, such as adherence to medication, or be directed at specific symptoms or deficits. There is emerging evidence for efficacy of psychological treatments during, following and even prior to the first episode. Important areas for further study are how different treatment modalities can interact productively and patient and carer preferences for treatment. Many trials of psychological treatments have design flaws and this tends to overestimate the treatment effect.
Laparoscopic Gastric Banding: A Prospective, Randomized Study Comparing the Lapband and the SAGB: Early Results

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of laparoscopic gastric banding using 2 different bands (the Lapband [Bioenterics, Carpinteria, CA] and the SAGB [Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band; Obtech Medical, 6310 Zug, Switzerland]) in terms of weight loss and correction of comorbidities, short-and long-term complications, and improvement of quality of life in morbidly obese patients Summary Background Data:During the past 10 years, gastric banding has become 1 of the most common bariatric procedures, at least in Europe and Australia. Weight loss can be excellent, but it is not sufficient in a significant proportion of patients, and a number of long-term complications can develop. We hypothesized that the type of band could be of importance in the outcome. Methods:One hundred eighty morbidly obese patients were randomly assigned to receive the Lapband or the SAGB. All the procedures were performed by the same surgeon. The primary end point was weight loss, and secondary end points were correction of comorbidities, early- and long-term complications, importance of food restriction, and improvement of quality of life. Results:Initial weight loss was faster in the Lapband group, but weight loss was eventually identical in the 2 groups. There was a trend toward more early band-related complications and more band infections with the SAGB, but the study had limited power in that respect. Correction of comorbidities, food restriction, long-term complications, and improvement of quality of life were identical. Only 55% to 60% of the patients achieved an excess weight loss of at least 50% in both groups. There was no difference in the incidence of long-term complications. Conclusions:Gastric banding can be performed safely with the Lapband or the SAGB with similar short- and midterm results with respect to weight loss and morbidity. Only 50% to 60% of the patients will achieve sufficient weight loss, and close to 10% at least will develop severe long-term complications.
Sur les solutions exactes des équations du mouvement avec surface libre d'un liquide pesant

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Sur les solutions exactes des équations du mouvement avec surface libre d’un liquide pesant Robert Gerber
A dose-response study with nalbuphine hydrochloride for pain in patients after upper abdominal surgery.

Six male patients were studied on the morning following upper abdominal surgery for highly selective vagotomy. Nalbuphine hydrochloride was infused i.v. at different rates that increased progressively in each hour over a 4-h period. In the last 15 min of each hour, the plasma nalbuphine concentrations were almost steady (73-68, 71-82, 116-113 and 201-208 ng ml-1). Patients and an observer made hourly assessments of pain and sedation. Although the changes in the pain and sedation scores were not significant, the patients' mean pain scores increased when the mean plasma nalbuphine concentrations were greater (greater than 82 ng ml-1), which suggested that nalbuphine analgesia had been reversed. Nalbuphine caused sedation and possibly induced amnesia which could invalidate retrospective assessment, since the patients' assessment of analgesic efficacy at the end of the study was good. No cardiovascular depression or significant decrease in the ventilatory rate was recorded.
The Effects of Social Task Setting on Time Perception

This study investigates the effects of the social setting on prospective time estimation, how time is perceived when a task is performed (i) alone, (ii) with a collaborative, or (iii) with a competitive partner. N=90 participants were tested (30 in each condition). Participants performed a concurrent Simon task for three different durations (15, 30 and 45 seconds) which was followed by a time reproduction phase. Results revealed a main effect of social condition. Reproduction ratios in dual conditions were smaller than in the single condition and also smaller in the competitive condition compared to the cooperative condition. The results provide first evidence that social condition affects time estimation: time “flies” when we work together, in particular when we compete with a partner, showing that cognitive and social processes are heavily intertwined.
Investigation of the antinociceptive activity of buprenorphine in sheep

1 Buprenorphine given intravenously (6 μg kg−1) was examined for its antinociceptive activity in unrestrained sheep using devices to measure thermal and mechanical thresholds 2 The plasma levels of buprenorphine following intravenous injection over the time period of the antinociceptive testing were measured using a radioimmunoassay. 3 Buprenorphine produced a clear antinociceptive effect lasting for up to three and a half hours when measured by the thermal threshold test, but no detectable antinociception in the mechanical test. 4 The plasma levels of buprenorphine indicated that the drug was rapidly distributed in a manner not dissimilar to that reported in man, although individual animals showed a wide variation in some parameters. 5 When plasma levels of the drug were high (< 700 pg ml−1) during the first sixty minutes, no antinociceptive activity in the thermal test could be detected, which may be due to the slow receptor kinetics shown by this drug.
Intraocular pressure during a very high altitude climb.

PURPOSE Reports on intraocular pressure (IOP) changes at high altitudes have provided inconsistent and even conflicting RESULTS The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of very high altitude and different ascent profiles on IOP in relation to simultaneously occurring ophthalmic and systemic changes in a prospective study. METHODS This prospective study involved 25 healthy mountaineers who were randomly assigned to two different ascent profiles during a medical research expedition to Mt. Muztagh Ata (7,546 m/24,751 ft). Group 1 was allotted a shorter acclimatization time before ascent than was group 2. Besides IOP, oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), acute mountain sickness symptoms (AMS-c score), and optic disc appearance were assessed. Examinations were performed at 490 m/1,607 ft, 4,497 m/14,750 ft, 5,533 m/18,148 ft, and 6,265 m/20,549 ft above sea level. RESULTS Intraocular pressure in both groups showed small but statistically significant changes: an increase during ascent from 490 m/1,607 ft to 5,533 m/18,148 ft and then a continuous decrease during further ascent to 6,265 m/20,549 ft and on descent to 4,497 m/14,750 ft and to 490 m. Differences between groups were not significant. Multiple regression analysis (IOP-dependent variable) revealed a significant partial correlation coefficient of beta = -0.25 (P = 0.01) for SaO(2) and beta = -0.23 (P = 0.02) for acclimatization time. DISCUSSION Hypobaric hypoxia at very high altitude leads to small but statistically significant changes in IOP that are modulated by systemic oxygen saturation. Climbs to very high altitudes seem to be safe with regard to intraocular pressure changes.
Melioidosis, Singapore, 2003–2014

In contrast with northern Australia and Thailand, in Singapore the incidence of melioidosis and co-incidence of melioidosis and pneumonia have declined. Burkholderia pseudomallei deep abscesses increased 20.4% during 2003–2014. These trends could not be explained by the environmental and climatic factors conventionally ascribed to melioidosis.
Biochemical markers of liver fibrosis in patients infected by hepatitis C virus: longitudinal validation in a randomized trial

A liver fibrosis index was recently prospectively validated in a cross‐sectional study where patients infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) had only one biopsy and no longitudinal follow‐up. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the diagnostic value of this index in patients included in a randomized trial of interferon (IFN) using repeated measurements, two biopsies and hyaluronic acid as a comparative reference. One‐hundred and sixty‐five patients who had had two interpretable liver biopsies and at least one stored serum sample before IFN treatment were selected. Seventy‐eight patients received 3 MU of IFN‐α thrice weekly for 24 weeks and 87 followed a reinforced regimen for 48 weeks. A fibrosis index combining five biochemical markers (α2‐macroglobulin, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A1, γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and total bilirubin adjusted for gender and age) as well as hyaluronic acid was assessed on 461 samples available at baseline, at the end of treatment and at the end of follow‐up (72 weeks).
Shorter hospital stays and more rapid improvement among patients with schizophrenia and substance disorders.

OBJECTIVE Length of stay and treatment response of inpatients with acute schizophrenia were examined to determine whether differences existed between those with and without comorbid substance-related problems. METHODS The sample comprised 608 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder treated on hospital units with integrated dual diagnosis treatment. They were rated on admission and discharge by a psychiatrist using a structured clinical instrument. Patients with no substance-related problems were compared with those with moderate to severe problems using t tests, chi square tests, and analysis of variance. RESULTS When analyses controlled for age, gender, and other clinical variables, dually diagnosed patients were found to have improved markedly faster compared with patients without a dual diagnosis. Their hospital stays were 30 percent shorter on both voluntary and involuntary units. They also showed somewhat greater symptomatic improvement and no increase in 18-month readmission rates. On admission the dual diagnosis group was more likely to be younger, male, and homeless and more likely to be a danger to self and others. Severity of psychosis was the same at admission for the two groups, but the dually diagnosed patients were rated as less psychotic at discharge. CONCLUSIONS Dually diagnosed patients with schizophrenia appear to stabilize faster during acute hospitalization than those without a dual diagnosis. The authors hypothesize that substance abuse may temporarily amplify symptoms or that these patients may have a higher prevalence of better-prognosis schizophrenia. The availability of integrated dual-focus inpatient treatment and a well-developed outpatient system may also have helped these patients recover more rapidly.
Resolution of Primary Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Associated Coronavirus Infection Requires Stat1

ABSTRACT Intranasal inhalation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) in the immunocompetent mouse strain 129SvEv resulted in infection of conducting airway epithelial cells followed by rapid clearance of virus from the lungs and the development of self-limited bronchiolitis. Animals resistant to the effects of interferons by virtue of a deficiency in Stat1 demonstrated a markedly different course following intranasal inhalation of SARS CoV, one characterized by replication of virus in lungs and progressively worsening pulmonary disease with inflammation of small airways and alveoli and systemic spread of the virus to livers and spleens.
The Multilayered Interlaced Network (MIN) in the sporoplasm of the Microsporidium Anncaliia algerae is derived from Golgi

This study provides evidence for the Golgi‐like activity of the multilayered interlaced network (MIN) and new ultrastructural observations of the MIN in the sporoplasm of Anncaliia algerae, a microsporidium that infects both insects and humans. The MIN is attached to the end of the polar tubule upon extrusion from the germinating spore. It surrounds the sporoplasm, immediately below its plasma membrane, and most likely maintains the integrity of the sporoplasm, as it is pulled through the everting polar tube. Furthermore, the MIN appears to deposit its dense contents on the surface of the sporoplasm within minutes of spore discharge thickening the plasma membrane. This thickening is characteristic of the developmental stages of the genus Anncaliia. The current study utilizes transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme histochemistry, and high voltage TEM (HVEM) with 3D tomographic reconstruction to both visualize the structure of the MIN and demonstrate that the MIN is a Golgi‐related structure. The presence of developmentally regulated Golgi in the Microsporidia has been previously documented. The current study extends our understanding of the microsporidial Golgi and is consistent with the MIN being involved in the extracellular secretion in Anncaliia algerae. This report further illustrates the unique morphology of the MIN as illustrated by HVEM using 3D tomography.
Low costs and high-efficiency electric machines

This paper present a novel method for reducing or complete canceling some space harmonics of low order in the air-gap flux density of electric machines with fractional slots, tooth-concentrated winding using magnetic flux barriers in the stator teeth region. Furthermore, the new method increase simultaneously the efficiency of the working harmonic and with this the power density of the electric machine. The presented technique is applied to a PM machine with 12-teeth/14-poles single layer concentrated winding during designing of an electric machine for automotive application. Compared with the conventional design it show enormous improvements on the machine performances; the new PM machine design is characterized with high efficiency and high power density.
Proton Block and Voltage Gating Are Potassium-dependent in the Cardiac Leak Channel Kcnk3*

Potassium leak conductances were recently revealed to exist as independent molecular entities. Here, the genomic structure, cardiac localization, and biophysical properties of a murine example are considered. Kcnk3 subunits have two pore-forming P domains and unique functional attributes. At steady state, Kcnk3 channels behave like open, potassium-selective, transmembrane holes that are inhibited by physiological levels of proton. With voltage steps, Kcnk3 channels open and close in two phases, one appears to be immediate and one is time-dependent (τ = ∼5 ms). Both proton block and gating are potassium-sensitive; this produces an anomalous increase in outward flux as external potassium levels rise because of decreased proton block. Single Kcnk3 channels open across the physiological voltage range; hence they are “leak” conductances; however, they open only briefly and rarely even after exposure to agents that activate other potassium channels.
Application of Non-Ionic and Ionic Contrast Media to the External Vessel Surface

ALMEN & WIEDEMAN ( 1 9 6 8 ) used direct microscopic observation of the microvasculature in the bat wing to determine some of the effects of contrast media on these vessels. Topical application of contrast media (diatrizoate, iothalamate, metrizoate) stopped the normal spontaneous contractile activity of veins and lymphatic vessels and aggregated red blood cells with reduction of blood flow through the minor vessels. Effects of contrast media were compared with those of hypertonic solutions of sodium chloride and mannitol. In equiosmolal con­ centrations all the compared solutions had similar effects. It was concluded that the alterations in vascular smooth muscle behaviour and the intravascular ag­ gregation of red blood cells were related to the high osmolality of the contrast media. Furthermore, it was concluded that effects caused by high osmolality could be reduced only by the synthesis of contrast media with a lower osmolality in relation to their iodine concentration in aqueous solution. This led to the suggestion (ALMEN 1 9 6 9 ) that a 50 per cent decrease in os­ molality of the contrast media could be achieved by the synthesis of non-ionic