Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in Expression of Toll-Like Receptors and Their Reactivities in Dendritic Cells in BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice

ABSTRACT We have previously reported that differences in early production of interleukin 12 (IL-12) by dendritic cells (DC) underlies the difference between the susceptibilities to Listeria monocytogenes of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. To elucidate mechanisms for the different abilities of DC to produce cytokine in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, we examined Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression by DC and their responses in vitro to known microbial ligands for TLRs. We found that DC isolated from the spleens of naive C57BL/6 mice preferentially expressed TLR9 mRNA, whereas DC from naive BALB/c mice strongly expressed TLR2, -4, -5, and -6 mRNAs. C57BL/6 DC produced a higher level of IL-12p40 in response to the ligands for TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide), TLR2 (lipoprotein), and TLR9 (CpG), whereas BALB/c DC responded to these ligands by producing a larger amount of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. C57BL/6 DC expressed higher levels of CD40 and Stat4 than BALB/c DC did, suggesting that naive C57BL/6 mice contained more-mature subsets of DC than naive BALB/c mice. Differences in reactivities of DC to microbial molecules through TLRs may be associated with susceptibility and resistance to Listeria infection in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.
Survival after repeat hepatic resection for recurrent colorectal metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS This is a retrospective study examining survival of patients undergoing repeat hepatic resection for recurrent colorectal metastases. METHODOLOGY The records of 41 patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer were reviewed. Curative resections (negative resection margin and no extrahepatic disease) were attempted in all patients. Recurrence developed in 26 (63%) patients, with disease being confined to the liver in 16 (39%) patients. Ten of them (24%) underwent hepatic resection and make up the study population. RESULTS Ten patients (4 women, 6 men; mean age: 62 years, range: 50-82 years) developed recurrence confined to the liver at the median interval of 16 months (range: 5-34 months) after the first hepatectomy. In 6 patients the recurrent cancer(s) involved both the area near the resection line and remote sites from the site of the first hepatic resection. In 3 patients recurrent cancer(s) was located at sites remote from the first liver resection. In 1 patient the recurrent cancer was located in the same area as the original hepatic resection. Three formal hepatectomies and seven non-anatomical (wedge) resections were performed. The mean blood loss was 900 cc (range: 100-2700 cc); the mean hospital stay was 19 days (range: 8-34 days). There was no perioperative mortality. Morbidity was 20%. Four patients died of recurrent disease, with a mean disease-free survival of 13 months (range: 5-21 months). Two patients had a second recurrence resected at 10 and 24 months, respectively, after the second hepatic resection. One of these 2 patients had a fourth hepatic resection for hepatic recurrence and is still alive with no evidence of disease. Six patients are alive, 4 of them without evidence of disease, with a median follow-up time of 30 months (range: 22-64 months). Actuarial 4-year specific survival was 44%. Actuarial disease-free survival at 4 years was 18%. CONCLUSIONS In appropriately selected patients, repeat hepatic resection for colorectal metastases is a worthwhile treatment. Mortality, morbidity, and survival are similar to those following the initial resection.
The Research on Post-Merger Brand Strategies of Chinese Local Brands' Cross-Border M&A - From Weaker Brands Perspective

In this financial crisis, Chinese Local Brands (CLB) M&A many foreign famous and strong brands to accelerate their internationalization. However, "the weaker mergers the stronger" of cross-border M&A leads to consumers' cognitive dissonance (CCD). The extant research concerned is silent on the cross-border M&A of the weaker brands on stronger ones. Thus, based on cognitive assonance and customer-based brand equity (CBBE) theories, this study, from weaker brands perspective, find the way how to attenuate the CCD on the stronger ones. Consequently, it uses focus group, in-depth interview, and experiments to shed light on brand strategies to mitigate CCD, i.e., maintaining country of origin, price and one brand of stronger acquired brands like those before the merger, and its solution mechanism to enhance brand equities of the merger and acquired, that is, brand fitness mediates the interaction effects between brand identity strategy and supporting marketing programs on brand equity of stronger acquired brands. The conclusions enrich the research on cross-border brand strategy and CLB internationalization and offer vital implications for the prevalent cross- border M&A of CLB at present.
Microwave-Assisted Techniques (MATs); a Quick Way to Extract a Fragrance: A Review

In recent years Microwave-Assisted Techniques (MATs) have been introduced as a new process design and operation for essential oils extraction, representing a viable alternative to conventional old-type methods of distillation which are routinely used for the isolation of essential oils from herbs, flowers and spices prior to gas chromatographic analysis. The novelty of the technique lies in a microwave heating source generating a mixture of boiling solvent with the raw plant material settled above (or drenched inside). Several variations of distillation techniques are evaluated in terms of substantial energy saving, rapidity, product yield, cleanliness and product quality. Results confirm the effectiveness of MATs, which allow extraction of essential oils in shorter extraction time (up-to 9 times faster), using “greener” procedures and provide a higher quality essential oil with better sensory and antioxidant properties.
PAMA-programmable analog multiplexer array

This paper describes PAMA (Programmable Analog Multiplexer Array), a reconfigurable platform for exploring the intrinsic evolution of analog hardware. The reconfigurable platform consists of integrated circuits whose internal connections can be programmed by the user. The platform characteristics are discussed, such as it's flexibility, once the discrete components can be of any type (fine or coarse grained). This latest PAMA version described in this paper presents some advantages concerning the prototype platform which was first used to intrinsically evolve circuits. The Analog Reconfigurable Circuit allows more component terminals, allowing the evolution of a great number of circuits and the circuit evaluation time has decreased considerably.
Environmental Context Effects on Impulsivity and Subjective Craving in Caffeinated Alcohol Users

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT EFFECTS ON IMPULSIVITY AND SUBJECTIVE CRAVING IN CAFFEINATED ALCOHOL USERS Amy L. Stamates Old Dominion University, 2015 Director: Dr. Cathy Lau-Barraco Caffeinated alcohol beverages (CAB) (e.g., vodka and Red Bull, rum and Coke) have become increasingly popular among young drinkers. Research indicates that consumption of caffeinated alcohol is associated with higher reports of injuries requiring medical attention, engaging in more risky behaviors, and achieving greater levels of intoxication. As such, consumers of CAB are a population that may be at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related harms. Although CAB drinkers have been shown to exhibit more impulsive behavior, little research has examined impulse control in this population or other mechanisms that may contribute to alcohol-related risks for these individuals. It has been suggested that environmental cues may trigger craving and drinking through the influence on impulsivity. Thus, a bar context may elicit greater impulsivity, which in turn, increases one’s craving for alcohol or CAB. Consequently, the present study sought: (1) to determine the influence of an environmental context (i.e., bar simulated lab) on subjective ratings of craving (i.e., alcohol craving, CABspecific craving), and (2) to examine behavioral impulsivity as a mediator of the influence of environmental context on subjective cravings in a sample of moderate to heavy drinkers that consume CAB. Participants were 135 (66.7% female) college CAB drinkers. Using a betweensubjects design, participants were randomized into either the experimental (i.e., simulated bar) condition or control (i.e., neutral context) condition and completed measures of alcohol use, CAB use, trait impulsivity, state impulsivity, and subjective craving for alcohol and CAB. Findings revealed that participants in the experimental condition, as compared to those in the neutral condition, reported more subjective craving for alcohol, but not for CAB. The association between environmental context and subjective craving for alcohol was not mediated by state-level changes in impulsivity. Trait impulsivity was positively associated with alcohol and CAB craving at each time point, in both conditions. Therefore, the current investigation suggests that consumers of CAB may be sensitive to alcohol-related cues as indicated by greater responses in alcohol craving. However, state impulsivity did not explain this association. Future research may benefit from examining other potential mechanisms that explain the relationship between context and craving among CAB consumers.
Morphological and histochemical changes in the epididymis of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) subjected to short photoperiod

The morphological involution and histochemical changes of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) epididymis induced by a short light period were investigated. Under short‐day conditions, the epididymis showed marked morphological changes including a decrease in luminal diameter, disappearance of spermatozoa, increase of interductal tissue, increase of intraepithelial lipofuscin deposits, the presence of phagolysosomes in the principal cells and macrophage‐like cells, and a considerable modification of most clear cells. With lectin histochemistry changes were found in the glycoconjugates of principal cells of the regressed epididymis, either a decrease (PNA, WGA, HPA and DBA) or an increase (MAA) in the affinity of lectins to the Golgi area, or a decrease (HPA) or an increase (PNA) in lectin binding to stereocilia. Both morphological and histochemical results showed that, under this light condition, the cauda epididymidis presented the most prominent alterations, and that the epididymis showed increased absorptive activity and a decreased synthesis of glycoproteins. All these changes are probably due to the decrease in testosterone levels.
Effects of simultaneous administration of desferrioxamine and tacrine in rats.

Tacrine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-aminoacridine), a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor, was effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In turn, desferrioxamine (DFO), a chelating agent with ability to chelate iron and aluminum (Al), produced a 50% decrease in the rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD. Since combined therapy with tacrine and DFO might be more effective than individual administration of these drugs for the treatment of AD patients, this study evaluated the toxic effects of concomitant administration of tacrine and DFO to rats. Three groups of 8 rats each received the following treatments for 8 w: 80 mg DFO/kg/d i.m. , 7.5 mg tacrine/kg/d po, or 80 mg DFO/kg/d i.m. +7.5 mg tacrine/kg/d po. A control group received distilled water by gavage daily and a 0.9% saline injection i.m. The administration of DFO + tacrine for 8 w did not increase most of the side effects caused by the individual DFO or tacrine administrations. These results open the possibility of considering the effectiveness of simultaneous administration of DFO and tacrine as a palliative treatment for AD patients.
β,γ‐Methylene ATP‐induced cAMP formation in C6Bu‐1 cells: involvement of local metabolism and subsequent stimulation of adenosine A2B receptor

The mechanism underlying β,γ‐methylene ATP (β,γ‐MeATP)‐induced cAMP elevation was investigated in rat glioma C6Bu‐1 cells. β,γ‐MeATP increased forskolin‐stimulated cAMP formation in a manner sensitive to both the P1 antagonist xanthine amine congener (XAC) and the P2 antagonist pyridoxalphosphate‐6‐azophenyl‐2′,4′‐disulfonic acid (PPADS). Adenosine deaminase (ADA; 1 U/mL), which abolished the adenosine‐induced response, did not eliminate the β,γ‐MeATP‐induced response. However, combination of ADA with α,β‐methylene ADP (α,β‐MeADP), an ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase inhibitor, blocked the β,γ‐MeATP‐induced response. AMP, the substrate for ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase, also induced cAMP formation in a manner sensitive to XAC and α,β‐MeADP inhibition. However, the AMP‐induced response was not blocked by PPADS. HPLC analyses revealed that adenosine was generated from β,γ‐MeATP and AMP. In addition, α,β‐MeADP inhibited the conversion of β,γ‐MeATP and AMP to adenosine, whereas PPADS blocked adenosine formation from β,γ‐MeATP but not from AMP. [3H]Adenosine generated from [3H]AMP was preserved on the cell surface environment even in the presence of ADA. The mRNAs for ecto‐phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase 1 (EC 3.1.4.1), ecto‐5′‐nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) and adenosine A2B receptor were detected by RT‐PCR. These results suggest that C6Bu‐1 cells possess ecto‐enzymes converting β,γ‐MeATP to adenosine, and the locally accumulated adenosine in this mechanism efficiently stimulates A2B receptors in a manner resistant to exogenous ADA.
RENAL PARENCHYMAL OXYGENATION AND HYPOXIA ADAPTATION IN ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY

1 The pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI), formally termed acute tubular necrosis, is complex and, phenotypically, may range from functional dysregulation without overt morphological features to literal tubular destruction. 2 Hypoxia results from imbalanced oxygen supply and consumption. Increasing evidence supports the view that regional renal hypoxia occurs in AKI irrespective of the underlying condition, even under circumstances basically believed to reflect ‘direct’ tubulotoxicity. However, at present, it is remains unclear whether hypoxia per se or, rather, re‐oxygenation (possibly through reactive oxygen species) causes AKI. 3 Data regarding renal hypoxia in the clinical situation of AKI are lacking and our current concepts regarding renal oxygenation during acute renal failure are presumptive and largely derived from experimental studies. 4 There is robust experimental evidence that AKI is often associated with altered intrarenal microcirculation and oxygenation. Furthermore, renal parenchymal oxygen deprivation seems to participate in the pathogenesis of experimental AKI, induced by exogenous nephrotoxins (such as contrast media, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs or amphotericin), sepsis, pigment and obstructive nephropathies. 5 Sub‐lethal cellular hypoxia engenders adaptational responses through hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIF). Forthcoming technologies to modulate the HIF system form a novel potential therapeutic approach for AKI.
A Reinterpretation of Some Earlier Evidence for Abstractiveness of Implicitly Acquired Knowledge

Reber and Lewis (1977) exposed subjects to a subset of letter strings generated from a synthetic grammar, then asked them to reorder scrambled letters to generate new grammatical strings. The distribution of the frequency of the bigrams composing their solutions correlated better with the frequency of the bigrams composing the full set of strings generated by the grammar than with the frequency of the bigrams composing the subset of strings displayed in the study phase. In his recent overview on implicit learning, Reber (1989) develops this experimental result into one of the main supports for his contention that studying grammatical letter strings gives access to the abstract structure of the grammar. However, this result can be accounted for by a set of biases inherent to the Reber and Lewis procedure. In the present experiment, a group of subjects learned from a list of the bigrams making up the study strings, a condition which precludes the abstraction of any high-level rules. The pattern of correlations outlined above also emerged in this condition, thus lending support to our re-interpretation.
Comparison of Different Trials of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage II Breast Cancer Using a Natural History Data Base

Prognostic factors and treatment were analyzed for 2,578 patients to assess the impact of various forms of adjuvant chemotherapy on the natural history of operable stage II (node-positive) breast cancer. The outcome after surgery alone (or with radiotherapy) was determined in 1,014 patients in the natural history data base (NHDB). Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of L-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM; 130 patients); cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluoro-uracil (CMF; 645 patients); doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC; 241 patients); CMF plus vincristine and prednisone (CMFVP; 263 patients); and 5-fluorouracil plus AC (FAC; 285 patients). L-PAM had minimal effect on relapse-free survival (RFS) compared to the NHDB, but all combination chemotherapy programs significantly improved RFS and survival compared to the NHDB. In women with 1–3 positive nodes, all combination chemotherapy programs produced similar results. In women with 4–9 positive nodes, the FAC regimen appeared to be associated with superior RFS compared to other programs, but all were superior to the NHDB. In women with 10 or more positive nodes, FAC was the only regimen associated with improved RFS. The use of a NHDB and known pretreatment characteristics, such as nodal status and tumor size, permits comparison of patients at similar risk of recurrence of breast cancer who have received adjuvant chemotherapy and provides leads for evaluation in future prospective clinical trials.
Growth rates are related to production efficiencies in juveniles of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus

Growth rates of newly-metamorphosed urchins from a single spawning event (three males and three females) were highly variable, despite being held en masse under identical environmental and nutritional conditions. As individuals reached ~5 mm diameter (0.07–0.10 g wet weight), they were placed in growth trials (23 dietary treatments containing various nutrient profiles). Elapsed time from the first individual entering the growth trials to the last individual entering was 121 days (N = 170 individuals). During the five-week growth trials, urchins were held individually and proffered a limiting ration to evaluate growth rate and production efficiency. Growth rates among individuals within each dietary treatment remained highly variable. Across all dietary treatments, individuals with an initially high growth rate (entering the study first) continued to grow at a faster rate than those with an initially low growth rate (entering the study at a later date), regardless of feed intake. Wet weight gain (ranging from 0.13–3.19 g, P <0.0001, R2 = 0.5801) and dry matter production efficiency (ranging from 25.2–180.5%, P = 0.0003, R2 = 0.6162) were negatively correlated with stocking date, regardless of dietary treatment. Although canalization of growth rate during en masse early post-metamorphic growth is possible, we hypothesize that intrinsic differences in growth rates are, in part, the result of differences (possibly genetic) in production efficiencies of individual Lytechinus variegatus. That is, some sea urchins are more efficient in converting feed to biomass. We further hypothesize that this variation may have evolved as an adaptive response to selective pressure related to food availability.
Disposition of Posaconazole following Single-Dose Oral Administration in Healthy Subjects

ABSTRACT Posaconazole is a potent, broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent currently in clinical development for the treatment of refractory invasive fungal infections. Eight healthy male subjects received a single 399-mg (81.7 μCi) oral dose of [14C]posaconazole after consuming a high-fat breakfast. Urine, feces, and blood samples were collected for up to 336 h postdose and assayed for total radioactivity; plasma and urine samples were also assayed for parent drug. Posaconazole was orally bioavailable, with a median maximum posaconazole concentration in plasma achieved by 10 h postdose. Thereafter, posaconazole was slowly eliminated, with a mean half-life of 20 h. The greatest peak in the radioactivity profile of pooled plasma extracts was due to posaconazole, with smaller peaks due to a monoglucuronide, a diglucuronide, and a smaller fragment of the molecule. The mean total amount of radioactivity recovered was 91.1%; the cumulative excretion of radioactivity in feces and in urine was 76.9 and 14.0% of the dose, respectively. Most of the fecal radioactivity was associated with posaconazole, which accounted for 66.3% of the administered dose; however, urine contained only trace amounts of unchanged posaconazole. The radioactivity profile of pooled urine extracts included two monoglucuronide conjugates and a diglucuronide conjugate of posaconazole. These observations suggest that oxidative (phase 1) metabolism by cytochrome P450 isoforms represents only a minor route of elimination for posaconazole, and therefore cytochrome P450-mediated drug interactions should have a limited potential to impact posaconazole pharmacokinetics.
Thoracic epidural anesthesia increases mucosal perfusion in ileum of rats.

BACKGROUND Previous studies reported that thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) protected against a decrease in gastric intramucosal pH, suggesting that TEA increased gut mucosal perfusion. The current study examines the effects of TEA on ileal mucosa using intravital microscopy in anesthetized rats. METHODS Nineteen rats were equipped with epidural catheters, with the tip placed at T7 through T9. Rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. After midline abdominal incision, the ileum was prepared for intravital microscopy. Videomicroscopy on the ileal mucosa was performed before and after epidural infusion of 20 microliter of bupivacaine 0.4% (TEA group, n = 11 rats) or normal saline (control group, n = 8 rats). Microvascular blood flow in ileum mucosa was assessed offline using computerized image analysis. RESULTS Control rats exhibited unchanged mean arterial pressure and microvascular perfusion. During TEA, mean arterial pressure was decreased compared with the control group (93 +/- 10 vs. 105 +/- 9 mmHg; P < 0.05). Epidural bupivacaine increased red cell velocity in terminal arterioles from 888 +/- 202 to 1,215 +/- 268 micrometer/s (control, 793 +/- 250 to 741 +/- 195 micrometer/s; P < 0.001 between groups). Because arteriolar diameter was not affected, this increase in red cell velocity may represent an increase in arteriolar blood flow. Total intercapillary area (inversely related to perfused capillary density) was unchanged, but for the TEA group the difference between total intercapillary area and the intercapillary area calculated for continuously perfused capillaries was decreased compared with the control group (16 +/- 12 vs. 40 +/- 19%; P < 0.001), indicating a decrease in intermittent (stop-and-go) blood flow in the villus microcirculation. CONCLUSION Thoracic epidural anesthesia increased gut mucosal blood flow and reduced intermittent flow in the villus microcirculation in the presence of a decreased perfusion pressure.