Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of Dihydropyridines on N-type Calcium Channel by Virtual Three-dimensional Pharmacophore Modeling

Abstract Currently, a new type of calcium channel blockers, which can inhibit not only L-type calcium channels abundantly expressed in vascular smooth muscles, but also N-type calcium channels that abound in the sympathetic nerve endings, have been developed. In this study, analysis on a like-for-like basis of the L- and N-type calcium channel-inhibitory activity of typical dihydropyridine-type calcium-channel blockers (DHPs) was performed. Moreover, to understand the differences of N-type calcium channel inhibition among DHPs, the binding of DHPs to the channel was investigated by means of hypothetical three-dimensional pharmacophore modeling using multiple calculated low-energy conformers of the DHPs. All of the tested compounds, i. e. cilnidipine (CAS 132203-70-4), efonidipine (CAS 111011-76-8), amlodipine (CAS 111470-99-6), benidipine (CAS 85387-35-5), azelnidipine (CAS 123524-52-7) and nifedipine (CAS 21829-25-4), potently inhibited the L-type calcium channel, whereas only cilnidipine inhibited the N-type calcium channel (IC50 value: 51.2 nM). A virtual three-dimensional structure of the N-type calcium channel was generated by using the structure of the peptide ω-conotoxin GVIA, a standard inhibitor of the channel, and cilnidipine was found to fit well into this pharmacophore model. Lipophilic potential maps of ω-conotoxin GVIA and cilnidipine supported this finding. Conformational overlay of cilnidipine and the other DHPs indicated that amlodipine and nifedipine were not compatible with the pharmacophore model because they did not contain an aromatic ring that was functionally equivalent to Tyr13 of ω-conotoxin GVIA. Azelnidipine, benidipine, and efonidipine, which have this type of aromatic ring, were not positively identified due to intrusions into the excluded volume. Estimation of virtual three-dimensional structures of proteins, such as ion channels, by using standard substrates and/or inhibitors may be a useful method to explore the mechanisms of pharmacological and toxicological effects of substrates and/or inhibitors, and to discover new drugs.
Interplay between low-temperature pathways and light reduction

Low temperature is one of the major factors that adversely affect crop yields by causing restraints on plant growth and productivity. However, most temperate plants have the ability to acclimate to cooler temperatures. Cold acclimation is a process which increases the freezing tolerance of an organism after exposure to low, non-freezing temperatures. The main trigger is a decrease in temperature levels, but light reduction has also been shown to have an important impact on acquired tolerance. Since the lowest temperatures are commonly reached during the night hours in winter time and is an annually recurring event, a favorable trait for plants is the possibility of sensing an imminent cold period. Consequently, extensive crosstalk between light- and temperature signaling pathways has been demonstrated and in this review interesting interaction points that have been previously reported in the literature are highlighted.
Particle Size Classification of Glass Particles Using Aerodynamic Jet Vectoring

An experimental demonstration of a new, non‐contact particle characterization technique called Aerodynamic Vectoring Particle Sorting (AVPS) is presented. AVPS uses secondary blowing and suction control flows–flows that are a fraction of the jet flow rate–to sharply change the direction of a planar, particle‐laden jet. As the jet is vectored, particles present in the flow experience a resultant drag force, dependent upon their size, that balances inertia. Since this balance determines the particle's trajectory, vectoring the flow leads to a separation of particles downstream. This simple, low‐pressure‐drop sorting technique classifies particles with less risk of damage or contamination than currently available sorting devices.
A VARIABLE-DENSITY PROJECTION METHOD FOR INTERFACIAL FLOWS

General second-order, variable-density, three-step and four-step projection methods are developed to simulate unsteady incompressible interfacial flows. A high-accuracy, variable-density RKCN projection method is presented, in which the three-stage, low-storage Runge-Kutta technique and second-order semi-implicit Crank-Nicholson technique are employed to temporally update the convective and diffusion terms, respectively. To reduce computation cost, a simplified version of the projection method is also presented, in which the pressure Poisson equation (PPE) is solved only at the last substage. The level set approach is employed to implicitly capture the interface for falling droplet flows. Three-dimensional bubble rising flows and two-dimensional falling droplet flows in a small closed channel are studied numerically via the present method. By the definition of the effective pressure, the flow mechanisms for falling droplet flows with different density ratios, viscosity ratios, Weber numbers, and Reynolds numbers are discussed.
Low rates of mother-to-child transmission of HIV following effective pregnancy interventions in the United Kingdom and Ireland, 2000–2006

Aim:In the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, avoidance of breastfeeding and alternative combinations of antiretroviral therapy regimen and mode of delivery are recommended according to maternal clinical status. The aim of this analysis was to explore the impact of different strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission at a population level. Design:Comprehensive national surveillance study. Methods:Pregnancies in diagnosed HIV-infected women in the UK and Ireland are notified to the National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood; infant infection status is subsequently reported. Factors associated with transmission in this observational study were explored for singleton births between 2000 and 2006. Results:The overall mother-to-child transmission rate was 1.2% (61/5151, 95% confidence interval: 0.9–1.5%), and 0.8% (40/4864) for women who received at least 14 days of antiretroviral therapy. Transmission rates following combinations recommended in British guidelines were 0.7% (17/2286) for highly active antiretroviral therapy with planned Caesarean section, 0.7% (4/559) for highly active antiretroviral therapy with planned vaginal delivery, and 0% (0/464) for zidovudine monotherapy with planned Caesarean section (P = 0.150). Longer duration of highly active antiretroviral therapy was associated with reduced transmission after adjusting for viral load, mode of delivery and sex (adjusted odds ratio = 0.90 per week of highly active antiretroviral therapy, P = 0.007). Among 2117 infants born to women on highly active antiretroviral therapy with viral load less than 50 copies/ml, only three (0.1%) were infected, two with evidence of in-utero transmission. Conclusion:Sustained low HIV transmission rates following different combinations of interventions in this large unselected population are encouraging. Current options for treatment and delivery offered to pregnant women according to British guidelines appear to be effective.
Low-cost alternatives such as agricultural waste rice husk , wheat bran , maize cob , industrial waste , red mud , benotite , kaolite , indigenous materials , clay , soil , and sawdust

The present paper aims to investigate the physical characteristics of sawdust relative to its use as an adsorbent for removal of an acid dye (Orange G) from aqueous solutions. The raw sawdust was sieved to have a uniform size and was activated by sulphuric acid by refluxing the content at 60 C for 4 h. Surface morphology and surface functional groups of both raw and modified sawdust samples were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR), and elemental analysis. All these analyses displayed significant change in the structure of the sawdust. The data obtained from batch adsorption experiments for the removal of the selected dye confirmed that adsorption characteristics of the modified sawdust were better than those of raw sawdust.
Concentrations of Striatal Catecholamines in Rats Given Manganese Chloride Through Drinking Water

Abstract: Male albino rats were exposed to manganese through drinking solution containing MnCl2·4H2O (1 mg/ml) in water. The contents of catecholamines, homovanillic acid, manganese and the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) were measured in the corpus striatum at different time intervals up to a period of 360 days. The contents of tyrosine in the corpus striatum and serum were also estimated. Manganese treatment produced an initial increase in the contents of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), homovanillic acid (H VA) and tyrosine in the corpus striatum. This was followed by a period when concentrations were almost normal (dopamine from 120 to 240 days, norepinephrine at 180 and 240 days and homovanillic acid at 240 days after manganese administration). Thereafter the contents of these substrates declined significantly at 300 and 360 days of treatment. However, these alterations were not correlated with the concentrations of manganese in this region, which gradually increased up to 240 days, and thereafter remained constant until the termination of the experiment. The underlying biochemical mechanisms of manganese‐induced sequential changes in the striatal contents of catecholamines have been discussed in relation to the development of psychiatric and neurological phases of manganese poisoning.
Finding Common Ground: The Importance of Place Attachment to Community Participation and Planning

This article draws connections between the environmental and community psychology literature on place attachment and meaning with the theory, research, and practice of community participation and planning. Each area of inquiry has much to offer the other, yet few links have been made between them. Typically, literature on place attachment focuses on individual feelings and experiences and has not placed these bonds in the larger, sociopolitical context in which planners operate. Conversely, the community planning literature emphasizes participation and empowerment, but overlooks emotional connections to place. Yet these attachments can motivate cooperative efforts to improve one’s community. Literature across disciplines is examined and synthesized to develop a framework for understanding the psychological dimensions of people’s interactions with community. An ecological model is then proposed that integrates multiple environmental domains and analysis levels. This model can accommodate place attachments and meaning as well as social and political aspects of community participation.
Morphology and responses to light of the somata, axons, and terminal regions of individual photoreceptors of the giant barnacle

1. The median eye of the giant barnacle, B. nubilus, comprises four large photoreceptor neurones which are visible under the dissecting microscope for almost their entire length. We have studied the structure of, and the responses to light recorded in, the somata, axons, and terminal regions of these neurones.
Dendritic Cells and Chronic Hepatitis Virus Carriers

Many individuals infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are unable to clear these viruses following an acute infection and become chronically infected. There are more than 400 million HBV and HCV carriers in the world and a considerable number of these patients would eventually develop more severe complications like liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is not clearly known how an individual develops a chronic hepatitis virus carrier state; however, a defective immune response of the host is thought to play a critical role in the underlying pathogenetic mechanism. On the other hand, dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, are widely distributed in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. Recognition of the microbes or microbial antigens by DCs is one of critical events for the initiation of an immune response. DCs also play a cardinal role during the progression and termination of an immune response. The aim of this overview is to provide information regarding the role of DCs in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis due to HBV and HCV in humans and in animal models of HBV and HCV carrier states. First, we summarize our current understanding of the pathogenesis of hepatitis virus carrier states and also of general properties of DCs. Next, we discuss the data on the phenotypes and functions of DCs in both human and murine HBV and HCV carriers. We also discuss vaccine therapy in murine HBV carriers because activation of DCs due to vaccination-initiated HBsAg-specific immune responses in HBV transgenic mice (HBV-Tg), which in turn resulted in complete clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen and decreased levels of HBV DNA in some HBV-Tg. Finally, we discuss the extracted questions and future research directions.
Potentially inappropriate medication use: the Beers' Criteria used among older adults with depressive symptoms.

INTRODUCTION The ageing population means prescribing for chronic illnesses in older people is expected to rise. Comorbidities and compromised organ function may complicate prescribing and increase medication-related risks. Comorbid depression in older people is highly prevalent and complicates medication prescribing decisions. AIM To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in a community-dwelling population of older adults with depressive symptoms. METHODS The medications of 191 community-dwelling older people selected because of depressive symptoms for a randomised trial were reviewed and assessed using the modified version of the Beers' Criteria. The association between inappropriate medication use and various population characteristics was assessed using Chi-square statistics and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The mean age was 81 (±4.3) years and 59% were women. The median number of medications used was 6 (range 1-21 medications). The most commonly prescribed potentially inappropriate medications were amitriptyline, dextropropoxyphene, quinine and benzodiazepines. Almost half (49%) of the participants were prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication; 29% were considered to suffer significant depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale ≥5) and no differences were found in the number of inappropriate medications used between those with and without significant depressive symptoms (Chi-square 0.005 p=0.54). DISCUSSION Potentially inappropriate medication use, as per the modified Beers' Criteria, is very common among community-dwelling older people with depressive symptoms. However, the utility of the Beers' Criteria is lessened by lack of clinical correlation. Ongoing research to examine outcomes related to apparent inappropriate medication use is needed.
A 46pJ/pulse analog front-end in 130nm CMOS for UWB impulse radio receivers

This paper presents an integrated ultra-low power analog frontend architecture for UWB impulse radio receivers. The receiver is targeted towards applications like wireless sensor networks and body-area networks typically requiring ultra energy-efficient, low data-rate communication over a relative short range. The proposed receiver implements pulse correlation in the analog domain to severely relax the power consumption of the ADCpsilas and digital backend. Furthermore a fully integrated prototype of the analog front-end, containing an analog pulse correlator, a linear-in-dB variable gain amplifier and a 4-bit ADC, is demonstrated. Several design decisions and techniques, like correlation with a windowed LO instead of with a matched template, exploiting the duty-cycled nature of the system, operation in the sub-1 GHz band as well as careful circuit design are employed to reach ultra-low power consumption. The analog front-end was manufactured in 130 nm CMOS and the active circuit area measures only 600 mum times 730 mum. A maximum channel conversion gain of 50 dB can be achieved. The AFE consumes 1.44 mA at 1.2 V power supply and operates at a pulse rate of 37.5 Mpulses per second. This corresponds to an energy consumption of 46 pJ/pulse which is by far best-in-class. A wireless link over more than 3.5 m in an office-like environment has been demonstrated which makes the proposed receiver well suited for the targeted applications.
Acute effects of ethanol on sex hormones in non-alcoholic men and women.

Chronic alcohol consumption has long been known to interfere with reproductive function and sexual behavior, but specific effects of acute alcohol ingestion on sex hormones have been studied only recently. An attempt is made in this review to summarize and explain conflicting results from studies of the acute effects of alcohol on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, with healthy non-alcoholic men and women as subjects. In men, moderate to high doses of ethanol have been reported to suppress plasma testosterone. Although some clinical studies have not supported this observation, considerable evidence documents direct alcohol inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis in the testis. After alcohol ingestion, plasma LH remains unchanged or increases, probably because of reduced androgen negative feedback. In analogous studies with women during the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, alcohol does not decrease plasma estradiol or alter LH levels. Furthermore, it has been reported that plasma levels of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone increase during alcohol treatment in the midluteal phase, while gonadotropins tend to decrease. Alcohol has no effect on LH secretion in post-menopausal women. Because reports on the acute effects of alcohol in men have not been consistent, it remains to be determined if acute alcohol effects in men and women are really different. In men, provocative tests of gonadotropin response to LHRH stimulation were normal during periods of intoxication and hangover, indicating that ethanol has no significant direct effect on LH secretion at the pituitary level. It seems more likely that alcohol changes plasma levels of sex steroids by altering hepatic, gonadal, and possibly adrenal metabolism. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Review of Experience with Retinopathy of Prematurity from the Pavia Registry (1990-1993)

In this retrospective study we analysed the prevalence of retino-pathy of prematurity (ROP) and its sequelae in a sample of premature infants with birth weight less than 1500 grams. From 1 January 1990 to 31 October 1993, we studied 160 surviving premature infants with very low birth weight (< 1.500 g) referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the I.R. C.C. S. Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Thirty percent of these infants suffered from ROP, and 13.7%, with severe ROP, underwent cryotherapy. These latter had very-very low birth weight (<1.000 g) and low gestational age (<28 weeks). Follow-up of 69 infants at 12 months for retinal sequelae, refraction defects, bin-ocular vision and ocular motility impairments gave the following results: 1) strabismus 20.3%; 2) >3D hyperopia 3%; 3) myopia 30.4%; 4) >5D myopia 3.7%. The incidence of refraction and ocular motility anomalies in patients with acute ROP with spontaneous remission was similar to that of unaffected premature infants. Conversely, in the patients treated with cryotherapy the incidence of strabismus and >5D myopia was greater than for untreated infants: 30% vs 15.4% (n.s.) and 14.7% vs 0% (p=0.05), respectively. Cryotherapy was successful in 91.9% of cases and in 37.8% of cases the cicatricial sequelae were limited to peripheral chorioretinal scars.
A case of involuntary spasm movements in amputation stump

Painful jumping stump is characterized by persistent choreiform or myoclonic involuntary movements and severe neuropathic pain in the stump of a limb following amputation. This syndrome is also defined as„ trepidation du moignon‟, convulsive movements of the stump” or“jumpy stump”. The pathophysiology and etiology have not yet been clearly defined. We describe a seventy four year old man, who has severe neuropathic pain and involuntary muscle contractions in the amputation stump. We suggest that, there is a need for further clinical and electrophysiological investigations in order to understand that exact mechanisms play a role in the devolopment of the disorder.
Vascular tumors of the female genital tract: a clinicopathological study of nine cases.

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological features of nine unusual vascular tumors of the female genital tract and to investigate the problems in the differential diagnosis from other genital lesions. MATERIAL-METHODS In a review of 15,000 specimens of the female genital system examined in our Laboratory during the last decade, nine cases of vascular tumors were found. RESULTS A capillary hemangioma of the endometrium, one capillary and one cavernous hemangioma of the cervix, six vulva lesions (one capillary, and one cavernous hemangioma and four angiokeratomas) and one hemangiosarcoma of the mons pubis in a 76-year-old patient were diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS The differential diagnosis of the vascular tumors must be made mainly from endometriotic lesions and melanomas. Immunohistochemistry (S-100, CD31, CD34, CKS, EMA) aid in the diagnosis. Local excision is adequate for the benign vascular lesions.
The effect of metabolic inhibitors on the fatigue of the action potential in single muscle fibres

Myelinated nerve fibres and squid nerve axons can carry action potentials at high frequencies for long periods of time. Muscle fibres, however, fail to respond to every stimulus after one to several seconds when stimulated at 50-100 shocks/sec. This is difficult to understand since the underlying ionic movements which generate action potentials are very similar in these tissues. Bergmans (1959), who described the fatigue phenomenon in muscle fibres, pointed out that the relatively small change in internal concentrations of Na and K during activity could hardly account for this effect. He tentatively suggested that a reduction in energy resources during a tetanus causes fatigue. Experiments described in this paper, however, show that rather the opposite is true. Fibres whose energy resources had been exhausted by continuous stimulation or blocked by metabolic inhibitors and which were in contracture or unable to contract behaved like nerve fibres, i.e. they showed comparatively little fatigue. This observation suggests that processes connected with contraction and its activation cause the rapid decline in the height of the action potential. The present paper gives a description of the fatigue phenomenon and the effect of metabolic inhibitors and hypertonic solutions on it. Single isolated fibres were used to avoid an extracellular accumulation of potassium which occurs in isolated bundles of fibres when they are stimulated at high frequencies. Preliminary accounts of some of the experiments described here were given at meetings of the Physiological Society (Cook, Hodgkin & Liittgau, 1963; Liittgau, 1964).