Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of control over the ethanol consumption: differential transcriptional regulation in prefrontal cortex

Abstract Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex multifactorial disease with heritability of ∼50% and corresponds to the state in which the body triggers a reinforcement or reward compulsive behavior due to ethanol consumption, even when faced with negative consequences. Although several studies have shown the impact of high ethanol intake on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) gene expression, few have addressed the relationship between the patterns of gene expression underlying the compulsive behaviour associated with relapsing. In this study, we used a chronic three-bottle free-choice mouse model to investigate the PFC transcriptome in three different groups of mice drinkers: ‘Light drinkers’ (preference for water throughout the experiment); ‘Heavy drinkers’ (preference for ethanol with a non-compulsive intake), and ‘Inflexible drinkers’ (preference for ethanol with a compulsive drinking component). Our aim was to correlate the intake patterns observed in this model with gene expression changes in the PFC, a brain region critical for the development and maintenance of alcohol addiction. We found that the Camk2a gene showed a downregulated profile only in the Inflexible when compared to the Light drinkers group, the Camk2n1 and Pkp2 genes showed an upregulated profile only in the Inflexible drinkers when compared to the Control group, and the Gja1 gene showed an upregulated profile in the Light and Inflexible drinkers when compared to the Control group. These different transcription patterns have been associated to the presence of alcohol, in the Camk2n1 and Gja1 genes; to the amount of ethanol consumed, in the Camk2a gene; and to the loss of control in the alcohol consumption, in the Pkp2 gene. Here, we provide, for the first time, the potential involvement of the Pkp2 gene in the compulsivity and loss of control over the voluntary ethanol consumption.
Choice and competition in publicly funded health care

Abstract: There are four basic models of health service delivery: those that rely on trust, on command and control, on voice, and on choice and competition. All have their merits and demerits; but there are both theoretical and empirical arguments for preferring choice and competition in many situations. However, the relevant policies do have to be properly designed.
Initial clinical experience in MR imaging of the brain with a fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery pulse sequence.

PURPOSE To evaluate fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) technique for imaging brain abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS A fast FLAIR sequence was developed that provided 36 5-mm contiguous sections in 5 minutes 8 seconds. Resulting images were compared with dual-echo T2-weighted spin-echo images of 41 consecutive patients with brain abnormalities. RESULTS Contrast and contrast-to-noise ratios (C/Ns) (for contrast between the lesion and background and between the lesion and cerebrospinal fluid) for fast FLAIR exceeded the corresponding values for T2-weighted spin-echo images for all but the second-echo lesion-to-background C/N. Fast FLAIR provided equivalent or greater overall lesion conspicuity and enabled greater lesion detection in 98% and 100%, respectively, of the evaluations. Fast FLAIR images more often had image artifact, but this did not interfere with image interpretation in a significantly (P < or = .05) greater number of evaluations. CONCLUSION Fast FLAIR provides images that are superior to proton-density- and T2-weighted images for many image quality criteria.
SIMPLE AND RAPID HPLC METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS QUANTIFICATION OF LEVODOPA AND CARBIDOPA IN A FAST DISINTEGRATING TABLET FORMULATION

Objective: Fast disintegrating tablets (FDTs) are found helpful in dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) especially in Parkinson patients. Levodopa is still the first choice in Parkinson disease treatment and is co-administered by carbidopa for better efficacy. Methods: In the present study, a rapid and simple isocratic Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of levodopa and carbidopa in optimized Fast Disintegrating Tablets (FDTs). The linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were determined. FDTs were prepared using direct compression, dry and wet granulation and were optimized for faster disintegration time. Tablets thickness, weight, hardness, friability, drug content and dissolution profile were also evaluated. Results: A RP-HPLC system with C18 column and mobile phase 90:10 (v/v) phosphate buffer: methanol was used. The method linearity was found to be within the concentration range of 3.125-50 μg/ml for levodopa, and 3.125-25 μg/ml for carbidopa. The intra and inter-day precision and accuracy were acceptable. LOD and LOQ of levodopa-carbidopa were 0.2-0.8 μg/ml and 0.5-2.4 μg/ml, respectively. The total chromatographic run time was 5 min. The optimized FDTs hardness was 3.81±0.4 and tablets were disintegrated within 30 sec. Levodopa and carbidopa were dissolved in dissolution media within 5 min. Conclusion: Results indicated that this method was suitable for simultaneous quantification of levodopa and carbidopa in the presence of different ingredients of a pharmaceutical solid dosage form. Therefore, this method could be applied in pharmaceutical quality control for rapid quantification of structurally similar substances with different physicochemical properties.
Nicorandil improves electrical remodelling, leading to the prevention of electrically induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia in a mouse model of desmin‐related cardiomyopathy

Transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing an arg120gly missense mutation in heat shock protein B5 (HSPB5; i.e. R120G TG mice) exhibit desmin‐related cardiomyopathy. Recently, the cardioprotective effect of nicorandil has been shown to prolong the survival of R120G TG mice. However, whether the TG mice exhibit ventricular arrhythmias and whether nicorandil can inhibit these arrhythmias remain unknown. In the present study we examined the effects of chronic nicorandil administration on ventricular electrical remodelling and arrhythmias in R120G TG mice. Mice were administered nicorandil (15 mg/kg per day) or vehicle (water) orally from 5 to 30 weeks of age. Electrocardiograms (ECG) and optical action potentials were recorded from R120G TG mouse hearts. In addition, the expression of ventricular connexin 43 and the cardiac Na+ channel Nav1.5 was examined in TG mice. All ECG parameters tested were prolonged in R120G TG compared with non‐transgenic (NTG) mice. Nicorandil improved the prolonged P, PQ and QRS intervals in R120G TG mice. Interestingly, impulse conduction slowing and increases in the expression of total and phosphorylated connexin 43 and Nav1.5 were observed in ventricles from R120G TG compared with NTG mice. Nicorandil improved ventricular impulse conduction slowing and normalized the increased protein expression levels of total and phosphorylated connexin 43, but not of Nav1.5, in R120G TG mouse hearts. Electrical rapid pacing at the ventricle induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) in six of eight R120G TG mouse hearts, but not in any of the eight nicorandil‐treated R120G TG mouse hearts (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that nicorandil inhibits cardiac electrical remodelling and that the prevention of VT by nicorandil is associated with normalization of connexin 43 expression in this model.
Interannual and seasonal variability of macroinvertebrates in monsoonal climate streams

The aim of this study was to assess the interannual and seasonal changes in the community composition, abundance and presence-absence of macroinvertebrates in the streams of the northwestern of Argentina. The importance of environmental variability in determining these changes was also analyzed. Macroinvertebrates were collected in eleven streams during high (March) and low (September) water periods during two years. Physical variables and water parameters were also recorded at each site. Community composition and abundance differed significantly between seasons, but the presence-absence data did not exhibit a clear pattern of seasonal change. Rapid recolonization of disturbed substrate could ensure the recuperation of benthic community. Small body sizes, short life cycles and continous reproduction could be important strategies that ensure the rapid resilience and persistence of macroinvertebrate assemblages in time.
WLC33-5: Second Order Statistics of Non-identical Nakagami Fading Channels with Maximal-Ratio Combining

In this paper, second order statistical parameters at the maximum ratio combining output of two independent but not necessarily identically distributed Nakagami-m channels are studied. Specifically, generalized expressions of level crossing rate and average fade duration of the combined received envelope are derived. Sample simulation results are presented to verify the correctness of the derived expressions. In addition, numerical results given to demonstrate the behavior of the combined received envelope.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS285, a Photosynthetic Strain Able To Establish Nod Factor-Dependent or Nod Factor-Independent Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes

ABSTRACT Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain ORS285, which is able to nodulate Aeschynomene legumes using two distinct strategies that differ in the requirement of Nod factors. The genome sequence information of this strain will help understanding of the different mechanisms of interaction of rhizobia with legumes.
Sphingolipids Are Required for the Stable Membrane Association of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Proteins in Yeast*

Ongoing sphingolipid synthesis is specifically required in vivo for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi transport of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. However, the sphingolipid intermediates that are required for transport nor their role(s) have been identified. Using stereoisomers of dihydrosphingosine, together with specific inhibitors and a mutant defective for sphingolipid synthesis, we now show that ceramides and/or inositol sphingolipids are indispensable for GPI-anchored protein transport. Furthermore, in the absence of sphingolipid synthesis, a significant fraction of GPI-anchored proteins is no longer associated tightly with the ER membrane. The loose membrane association is neither because of the lack of a GPI-anchor nor because of prolonged ER retention of GPI-anchored proteins. These results indicate that ceramides and/or inositol sphingolipids are required to stabilize the association of GPI-anchored proteins with membranes. They could act either by direct involvement as membrane components or as substrates for the remodeling of GPI lipid moieties.
Biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol-glycan (PI-G)-anchored membrane proteins in cell-free systems: PI-G is an obligatory cosubstrate for COOH-terminal processing of nascent proteins.

It is generally recognized that nascent proteins destined to be processed to a phosphatidylinositol-glycan (PI-G)-anchored membrane form contain a hydrophobic signal peptide at both their NH2 and COOH termini. In previous studies we showed that rough microsomal membranes (RM) prepared from CHO cells can carry out COOH-terminal processing. We have now investigated RM prepared from many additional cell types, including frog oocytes, B cells, and T cells, and found that all are competent with respect to COOH-terminal processing. Exceptions were certain mutant T cells that had been shown to be defective at various steps of PI-G anchor biosynthesis [Sugiyama, E. , De Gasperi, R. , Urakaze, M. , Chang, H. -M. , Thomas, L. J., Hyman, R. , Warren, C. D. & Yeh, E. T. H. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 12119-12122]. In one such defective mutant, COOH-terminal processing activity of RM could be restored either by transfecting the intact cells with the gene for the deficient step in PI-G synthesis or by adding PI-G extracts to the RM in vitro. Cleavage of the COOH-terminal signal peptide in the RM is therefore dependent on the presence of intact PI-G incorporated into the mature protein.
Factors associated with a history of childhood sexual experience in a nonclinical female population.

A nonclinical population of college women was surveyed concerning their history of childhood sexual experience, current symptoms, and demographic background. Sixteen percent of the 301 women in the sample reported a history of childhood sexual experience, and while they were not distinguishable demographically from their peers, they were distinguishable in reports of symptoms. Adults who had been victims of abuse as children reported significantly greater symptoms, generally indicative of depression, anxiety, and self-abusive behavior. Women whose experiences occurred within the family were at greater risk for disturbance than women whose experiences occurred outside the family. Clinical implications for children and adults are considered.
Adrenocorticotropin hyperresponse to the corticotropin-releasing hormone-mediated stimulus of naloxone in patients with myotonic dystrophy.

We previously showed that CRH-mediated stimuli, including exogenous CRH, cause ACTH hypersecretion in many myotonic dystrophy (DM) patients. We confirmed this by giving naloxone, a stimulator of endogenous CRH release, to a large number of DM patients and controls. DM patients, first degree relatives, and normal controls received i.v. naloxone at 1400 h, and blood was taken for ACTH (RIA) and cortisol (high pressure liquid chromatography) measurements from 15 min before to 120 min after naloxone treatment. DM patients had basal ACTH levels approximately twice those of controls, and their ACTH responses were 4 times those of controls. In contrast, DM basal cortisol levels were not significantly different from those of relatives and were slightly higher than those of normal subjects. Cortisol responses were similar in the three groups, probably due to attenuation at high levels of adrenocortical stimulation, although some patients with inappropriately low cortisol responses for their level of ACTH stimulation warrant further investigation. Nineteen of the 36 patients whose ACTH responses were greater than 3 SD above the normal mean were classed as hyperresponders. Seven patients, who were tested more than once, had reproducible responses relative to those of the normal subjects. We conclude that ACTH hypersecretion after CRH-mediated stimuli, including naloxone, is an inherent, but variable, feature of DM, caused by expression of the genetic mutation at the anterior pituitary. The mechanism is probably a defect in the intracellular pathway initiated by CRH-receptor interaction as a result of abnormal levels of a cAMP-dependent kinase, DMPK, the product of the gene undergoing mutation in DM.
Interleukin-1R antagonist gene and pre-natal smoke exposure are associated with childhood asthma

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine. In the present study, association of the human IL1RN gene polymorphisms with asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio was tested and the data was stratified by environmental tobacco smoke exposure in order to investigate a gene-smoking interaction. In an unselected subset (n = 921) of the Isle of Wight birth (UK) cohort, which has previously been evaluated for asthma and related manifestations at ages 1, 2, 4 and 10 yrs, three IL1RN single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped. Logistic regression and repeated measurement models for tests of association using a representative SNP rs2234678 were used, as all SNPs tested were in strong linkage disequilibrium. In the overall analysis, the SNP rs2234678 was not associated with asthma. However, in the stratum with maternal smoking during pregnancy the rs2234678 GG genotype significantly increased the relative risk of asthma in children, both in analyses of repeated asthma occurrences and persistent asthma. In conclusion, the present results show that in the first decade of life, the gene–environment interaction of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism rs2234678 and maternal smoking during pregnancy increased the risk for childhood asthma.
Nocturnal hypoglycaemia in patients receiving conventional treatment with insulin

The prevalence of nocturnal biochemical hypoglycaemia--that is, blood glucose concentrations below 3 mmol/l (55 mg/100 ml)--was evaluated in a random sample of 58 insulin dependent diabetics receiving twice daily insulin. Seventeen patients had at least one blood glucose value below 3 mmol/l (55 mg/100 ml) and five a value below 2 mmol/l (36 mg/100 ml) during the night. Both bedtime (2300) and fasting morning (0700) blood glucose concentrations were significantly lower in the group with nocturnal hypoglycaemia compared with the group without (p less than 0.00001). If the bedtime blood glucose concentration was below 6 mmol/l (108 mg/100 ml) the risk of nocturnal hypoglycaemia was 80% (95% confidence limits 51-96%). If the bedtime blood glucose concentration was above 6 mmol/l the likelihood of hypoglycaemia not occurring during the night was 88% (74-96%). The mean glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration in the group with nocturnal biochemical hypoglycaemia (8.2 (range 5.0-12.4)%) was significantly lower than that in the group without (9.4(7.0-14.2)%) (p less than 0.02). The prevalence of nocturnal hypoglycaemia in the patients receiving twice daily insulin (29%) was compared with that in 15 patients receiving thrice daily insulin (47%) and was not found to be significantly different. The likelihood of this risk being greater with thrice daily insulin was, however, 88%. No patient with nocturnal biochemical hypoglycaemia woke up during the night with symptomatic hypoglycaemia. Nocturnal biochemical hypoglycaemia is common during twice daily treatment with insulin, and low values of HbA1c might be associated with a higher risk of such hypoglycaemia. The blood glucose concentration at bedtime is a significant predictor of nocturnal biochemical hypoglycaemia, and HbA1c values might be of help in identifying patients at risk.
Reply to Dr Sala-Blanch et al

bifurcation into the tibial and common peroneal nerves. Both nerves are clearly separate entities but are surrounded by a common external layer of tissue (paraneural sheath) that is distinct from the epineurium of each individual nerve. Local anesthetic has been administered through the common paraneural sheath and can be seen as a hypoechoic area outside the external boundary (the epineurium) of each nerve. CP indicates common peroneal nerve; T, tibial nerve. The arrowheads signal the common paraneural sheath investing both nerves. Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine • Volume 38, Number 5, September-October 2013 Letters to the Editor
Financial Time Series Segmentation based on Specialized Binary Tree Representation

—Segmentation is one of the fundamental components in time series data mining. One of the uses of the time series segmentation is trend analysis - to segment the time series into primitive trends like uptrend and downtrend. In this paper, a time series segmentation method based on a specialized binary tree representation scheme is proposed; this representation scheme is customized for financial time series to cater for its unique behaviors. The proposed segmentation method is based on the concept of data point importance and the location of the cutting points is already encoded in the representation scheme. Therefore, no additional effect is needed to determine the cutting points. One may find it particularly attractive in applications like stock data analysis. The unique behavior of the proposed segmentation method is demostrated by applying to financial time series.
Familial Apple Peel Jejunal Atresia with Helical Umbilical Cord Ulcerations in Three Consecutive Pregnancies

Apple peel deformity is a rare form of upper intestinal atresia of unknown etiology. Umbilical cord ulcers can occur secondary to reflux of gastric juice and bile as a result of the atresia and can cause lethal intrauterine hemorrhage. The authors report 3 instances of congenital apple peel jejunal atresia with helical umbilical cord ulcers afflicting all female offspring in consecutive pregnancies in a single nonconsanguineous family. There was no hemorrhage from the cord ulcers, but all 3 pregnancies resulted in perinatal death. Although familial occurrence is known, our case series is probably the 1st from the Indian subcontinent and warrants further research into the genetic mechanisms and possible ethnic differences of congenital upper intestinal atresia. The causation of sudden fetal demise in the absence of antecedent cord hemorrhage remains elusive.
PENGARUH MANAJEMEN KEPALA SEKOLAH DAN PROFESIONALISME GURU TERHADAP KINERJA GURU

This study determined the effect of headmaster management and teacher professionalism on teacher’s performance. This research used quantitative methods with correlational type of research. The population of this study were 309 teachers Tanjung Raja Public Elementary School. The research sample was 76 people. Data collection techniques using documents and questionnaires. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and multiple regression techniques. The results of the study show that (1) school principal management influences the performance of teachers; (2) teacher professionalism does not affect the performance of teachers; (3) school management and teacher professionalism do not affect the performance of teachers.
Efficacy of a novel brush head in the comparison of two power toothbrushes on removal of plaque and naturally occurring extrinsic stain.

OBJECTIVES To compare the safety and efficacy of an oscillating/pulsating power toothbrush (Oral-B ProfessionalCareTM 7000; PC 7000) fitted with either the standard FlexiSoft (PC 7000/EB17) brush head or the novel Pro Polisher (PC 7000/ EB-Prophy) and a high-frequency toothbrush (Philips Sonicare Elite; SE), in their relative ability to remove plaque and naturally occurring extrinsic dental stain over a six-week period. METHODS This randomised, examiner-blind, parallel group study involved 90 healthy subjects from a general population. All subjects received a baseline plaque (Turesky et al. modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index), stain (Lobene Stain Index) and tooth shade (VITAPAN Shade Guide) [Vita] assessment and an oral tissue examination. After training in the use of their randomly assigned device, subjects were instructed to brush twice daily for 2 min and returned after 3, 4 and 6 weeks of product use for a repeat of each clinical assessment. RESULTS Reductions from baseline in mean plaque and extrinsic dental stain scores were significant at Weeks 3, 4 and 6 in all three treatment groups. By Week 6, mean reductions from baseline in whole mouth plaque scores were 32%, 27% and 14% in the PC 7000/EB-Prophy, PC 7000/EB17 and SE groups, respectivety. For the body of the tooth, mean reductions from baseline at Week 6 in total stain were 89%, 89% and 80%, respectively. Between treatment group comparisons consistently revealed that the PC 7000 toothbrush plus the EB-Prophy or EB17 brush head removed significantly more plaque and extrinsic stain (total stain, stain area and stain intensity) than the SE toothbrush at 3, 4 and 6 weeks. The EB-Prophy group had a greater proportion of subjects showing a 2-3+ change in Vita shade scores at each time point compared to the other two brushes; at Week 6 the proportions were 67% in the PC 7000/EB-Prophy group, 30% in the PC 7000/EB17 group, and 7% in the SE group. The PC 7000/EB17, PC 7000/EB-Prophy and the SE were found to be safe as used in the study. CONCLUSIONS The oscillating/rotating/pulsating PC 7000 (fitted with either the standard EB17 or novel EB-Prophy brush head) is more effective at removal of plaque and naturally occurring extrinsic tooth stain, and the PC 7000 plus EB-Prophy in the improvement of tooth shade, than the high-frequency SE toothbrush.