Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Moderate or Heavy Alcohol Consumption on Circulating Adhesion Molecule Levels

Summary Epidemiological studies suggest that moderate but not heavy alcohol consumption provides protection against coronary heart disease. We assessed the relationship between alcohol consumption and serum levels of adhesion molecules involved in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis. One-hundred apparently healthy men with similar cardiovascular risk factors were divided into four groups according to ethanol intake. Moderate drinkers (20-40 g/day) showed lower serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels than abstainers (p <0.05; both), as well as lower serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin levels than heavy drinkers (p = 0.01; all). The latter also showed higher serum ICAM-1 and E-selectin levels than abstainers (p <0.001; both). We conclude that moderate drinkers show a significant reduction of soluble endothelial adhesion molecule levels compared to abstainers and heavy drinkers, that may contribute to the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption against atherosclerosis.
The influence of adenosine, ketamine, and morphine on experimentally induced ischemic pain in healthy volunteers.

Adenosine, intrathecally administered, produces antinociception in experimental studies on animals. The effect of intravenous (i.v.) adenosine on experimentally induced pain in humans has not been studied. The present single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in nine healthy volunteers. The pain-reducing effects of adenosine (70 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 i.v.), morphine (0.1 mg/kg i.v.), ketamine (0.1 mg/kg i.v.), adenosine + morphine, and adenosine + ketamine were compared to each other and to placebo in random order. Ischemic pain was induced by the submaximum effort tourniquet technique. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS, 0-100 mm). The sums of pain scores (SPS) were compared and found significantly 30%-40% lower for adenosine as well as for the other compounds and combinations (P < 0.03), compared to placebo. The number of subjects who reached VAS 100 within 30 min was significantly lower (P < 0.03) when receiving adenosine + morphine (0/9) and adenosine + ketamine (2/9) than when receiving placebo (7/9). This may indicate an additive effect on pain reduction when adenosine is given in combination with morphine or ketamine. In conclusion, the results indicate that i.v. adenosine, as well as morphine and ketamine, can reduce experimentally induced ischemic muscle pain in healthy volunteers.
Divalproex sodium in the management of post-herpetic neuralgia: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND Post-herpetic neuralgia is difficult to treat. Divalproex sodium (valproic acid and sodium valproate in molar ratio 1:1) has been used successfully in the management of various painful neuropathies. AIM To study the effectiveness and safety of divalproex sodium in the management of post-herpetic neuralgia. DESIGN Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. METHODS We enrolled 48 consecutively attending out-patients with post-herpetic neuralgia, out of whom three were excluded (two had insufficient pain, one withdrew consent). Quantification of pain was by Short Form-McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), visual analogue scale (VAS), present pain intensity score (PPI) and 11 point Likert scale (11 PLS) at the beginning of the study, after 2 weeks, 4 weeks and at the end of the study (8 weeks). We also assessed patients' global impression of change by questionnaire at the end of the study. RESULTS After 8 weeks treatment with 1000 mg/day divalproex sodium, there was significant reduction in pain: SF-MPQ, 20.47 +/- 2.29 to 11.90 +/- 6.52 (p < 0.0001); PPI 4.0 +/- 0.52 to 1.95 +/- 1.29 (p < 0.0001); VAS 70.17 +/- 9.21 to 31.27 +/- 29.74 (p < 0.0001) and 11 PLS 6.97 +/- 0.73 to 3.63 +/- 2.34 (p < 0.0001) in comparison to placebo (means +/- SEM). The 'global impression of change' questionnaire showed much or moderate improvement in pain in 58.2% of patients receiving divalproex vs. 14.8% of those receiving placebo. The drug was well tolerated by all patients, except one who developed severe vertigo after 10 days of treatment. DISCUSSION Divalproex sodium provides significant pain relief in patients of post-herpetic neuralgia, with very little incidence of adverse reactions. These data provide a basis for longer trials in a larger group of patients.
Research on the Cointegration Relationship between the Scale of Higher Education and Economic Growth in Fujian Province

Using the method of modern economic quantitative analysis and the statistical datum from 1978 to 2012,this paper makes an empirical analysis on the cointegration relationship between the scale of higher education and economic growth in Fujian. The results show that there is a long-term stable relationship between the scale of higher education and economic growth,the scale of higher education is an influencing factor to promote the long-term sustaining economic growth; the resilience of higher education scale in Fujian is higher than that of national higher education scale; there is the relationship of Granger causality between scale of higher education and economic growth. On this basis,countermeasures are put forward to expand steadily the scale of higher education,improve the quality of higher education and promote the sustainable coordinated rapid economic growth in Fujian Province.
A spiral-shaped harvester with an improved harvesting element and an adaptive storage circuit

A piezoelectric energy harvester consists of a spiral-shaped piezoelectric bimorph to transfer mechanical energy into electric energy, an electrochemical battery to store the scavenged electric energy, and a rectifier together with a step-down dc-dc converter to connect the two components as an integrated system. A spiral-shaped harvesting structure is studied in this paper because it is very useful in the microminiaturization of advanced sensing technology. The aim of employing a step-down dc-dc converter in the storage circuit is to match the optimal output voltage of the piezoelectric bimorph with the battery voltage for efficient charging. In order to raise the output power density of a harvesting element, moreover, we apply a synchronized switch harvesting on inductor (SSHI) in parallel with the piezoelectric bimorph to artificially extend the closed-circuit interval of the rectifier. Numerical results show that the introduction of a dc-dc converter in the storage circuit or a SSHI in the harvesting structure can raise the charging efficiency several times higher than a harvester without a dc-dc converter or an SSHI
Heterologous Expression and Characterization of the Purified Oxygenase Component of Rhodococcus globerulusP6 Biphenyl Dioxygenase and of Chimeras Derived from It

ABSTRACT In this work, we have purified the His-tagged oxygenase (ht-oxygenase) component of Rhodococcus globerulus P6 biphenyl dioxygenase. The α or β subunit of P6 oxygenase was exchanged with the corresponding subunit of Pseudomonas sp. strain LB400 or of Comamonas testosteroni B-356 to create new chimeras that were purified ht-proteins and designated ht-αP6βP6, ht-αP6βLB400, ht-αP6βB-356, ht-αLB400βP6, and ht-αB-356βP6. ht-αP6βP6, ht-αP6βLB400, ht-αP6βB-356 were not expressed active in recombinant Escherichia coli cells carrying P6bphA1 and bphA2, P6 bphA1 and LB400bphE, or P6 bphA1 and B-356 bphEbecause the [2Fe-2S] Rieske cluster of P6 oxygenase α subunit was not assembled correctly in these clones. On the other hand ht-αLB400βP6 and ht-αB-356βP6 were produced active inE. coli. Furthermore, active purified ht-αP6βP6, ht-αP6βLB400, ht-αP6βB-356, showing typical spectra for Rieske-type proteins, were obtained from Pseudomonas putidaKT2440 carrying constructions derived from the new shuttle E. coli-Pseudomonas vector pEP31, designed to produce ht-proteins inPseudomonas. Analysis of the substrate selectivity pattern of these purified chimeras toward selected chlorobiphenyls indicate that the catalytic capacity of hybrid enzymes comprised of an α and a β subunit recruited from distinct biphenyl dioxygenases is not determined specifically by either one of the two subunits.
Feasibility and outcome of primary laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a comparison to laparotomic surgery in retrospective cohorts

Objectives To assess the feasibility and outcome of primary laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery on advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in comparison with conventional open surgery. Materials and Methods Patients undergoing primary laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery (LCS) from March 2007 to December 2016 were matched to controls treated with laparotomic cytoreduction during the same period. Procedural data and outcomes were analyzed. Results The LCS group (n = 64) and laparotomic group (n = 68) had similar age, BMI, stages, histologic type and grading. The LCS group exhibited significantly less operating time (P < 0.001), less intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001), and shorter time to recover postoperatively (P = 0.002). No statistical difference was observed for the number of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes dissected (P = 0.326 and P = 0.151). Significant difference was observed in satisfaction of the cytoreduction (95.3% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.008). No significant difference were observed either in intra-operative or in post-operative complications between the two groups (P = 0.250). Three patients in the LCS group experienced intra-operative complications (4.7%) and were all treated laparoscopically. The conversion rate was 3.1%. No significant differences were observed in the progression-free survival and overall survival between the two groups during the medium follow-up of 18 months (P = 0.236 and P = 0.216). The 2-year and 3-year progression-free survival was 67.9%, 55.5% in LCS group and 53.8%, 33.3% respectively in the control group. The 2-year and 3-year overall survival was 95.8%, 88.7% respectively in the LCS group and 89.0%, 83.7% in the control group. Conclusions Primary laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery in some strictly selected advanced stages of EOC patients was feasible and safe, resulting in oncologic outcomes not inferior to those in open surgery.
Analysis of electric and magnetic coupling components for spiral resonators used in wireless power transfer

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is required to be immune to the dielectric materials in its many potential applications. This paper evaluates the immunity of 3 kinds of spiral resonators by studying their electric and magnetic fields. The analysis of electric and magnetic fields is first carried on the single spiral resonator, and then on the coupled spiral resonators. It is shown that a lumped capacitor-connected and a double-spiral structure can effectively enclose the electric fields within them compared with a simple open spiral resonator. They have little electric field out of the resonator, and thus, they are immune to the dielectric materials.
Multilocus Sequence Analysis of Clinical “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” Strains from Europe

ABSTRACT “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” is the tick-borne agent of neoehrlichiosis, an infectious disease that primarily affects immunocompromised patients. So far, the genetic variability of “Ca. Neoehrlichia” has been studied only by comparing 16S rRNA genes and groEL operon sequences. We describe the development and use of a multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) protocol to characterize the genetic diversity of clinical “Ca. Neoehrlichia” strains in Europe and their relatedness to other species within the Anaplasmataceae family. Six genes were selected: ftsZ, clpB, gatB, lipA, groEL, and 16S rRNA. Each MLSA locus was amplified by real-time PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees of MLSA locus relatedness were constructed from aligned sequences. Blood samples from 12 patients with confirmed “Ca. Neoehrlichia” infection from Sweden (n = 9), the Czech Republic (n = 2), and Germany (n = 1) were analyzed with the MLSA protocol. Three of the Swedish strains exhibited identical lipA sequences, while the lipA sequences of the strains from the other nine patients were identical to each other. One of the Czech strains had one differing nucleotide in the clpB sequence from the sequences of the other 11 strains. All 12 strains had identical sequences for the genes 16S rRNA, ftsZ, gatB, and groEL. According to the MLSA, among the Anaplasmataceae, “Ca. Neoehrlichia” is most closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium, less so to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and least to Wolbachia endosymbionts. To conclude, three sequence types of infectious “Ca. Neoehrlichia” were identified: one in the west of Sweden, one in the Czech Republic, and one spread throughout Europe.
Translation of three mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 subgenomic RNAs in Xenopus laevis oocytes

We have purified the seven virus-specific RNAs which were previously shown to be induced in Sac(-) cells upon infection with mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (W. J. M. Spaan, P. J. M. Rottier, M. C. Horzinek, and B. A. M. van der Zeijst, Virology 108:424-434, 1981). The individual RNAs, prepared by agarose gel electrophoresis of the polyadenylated RNA fraction from infected cells, were obtained pure, except for the preparations of RNAs 4, 5, and 6, which contained some contamination of RNA 7. The RNAs were microinjected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, and after incubation of these cells in the presence of [35S]methionine, the proteins synthesized were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Whereas no translation products of RNAs 1, 2, 4, and 5 were detected, the synthesis of virus-specific polypeptides coded by RNAs 3, 6, and 7 was observed. RNA 7 (0.6 X 10(6) daltons) directed the synthesis of a 54,000-molecular-weight polypeptide which comigrated with viral nucleocapsid protein and which was immunoprecipitated by antiserum from mice that had been infected with the virus. RNA 6 (0.9 X 10(6) daltons) directed the synthesis of three polypeptides with molecular weights of 24,000, 25,500, and 26,500, which migrated with the same electrophoretic mobilities as three low-molecular-weight virion polypeptides. After injection of RNA 3 (3.0 X 10(6) daltons), a polypeptide with a molecular weight of about 150,000 was immunoprecipitated. This polypeptide had no counterpart in the virion, but comigrated with a virus-specific glycoprotein present in infected cells which is immunoprecipitated by a rabbit antiserum against the mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 structural proteins. This antiserum could also immunoprecipitate the translation products of RNAs 3, 6, and 7. These results indicate that RNAs 3, 6, and 7 encode viral structural proteins. The significance of the data with respect to the strategy of coronavirus replication is discussed.
Significant prognostic factors for completely resected pN2 non-small cell lung cancer without neoadjuvant therapy.

PURPOSE To identify prognostic factors for pathologic N2 (pN2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated by surgical resection. METHODS Between 1990 and 2009, 287 patients with pN2 NSCLC underwent curative resection at the Cancer Institute Hospital without preoperative treatment. RESULTS The 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 46%, 55% and 24%, respectively. The median follow-up time was 80 months. Multivariate analysis identified four independent predictors for poor OS: multiple-zone mediastinal lymph node metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.616; p = 0.003); ipsilateral intrapulmonary metastasis (HR, 1.042; p = 0.002); tumor size >30 mm (HR, 1.013; p = 0.002); and clinical stage N1 or N2 (HR, 1.051; p = 0.030). Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors for poor RFS: multiple-zone mediastinal lymph node metastasis (HR, 1.457; p = 0.011); ipsilateral intrapulmonary metastasis (HR, 1.040; p = 0.002); and tumor size >30 mm (HR, 1.008; p = 0.032). CONCLUSION Multiple-zone mediastinal lymph node metastasis, ipsilateral intrapulmonary metastasis, and tumor size >30 mm were common independent prognostic factors of OS, CSS, and RFS in pN2 NSCLC.
Diffusion of active tracers in fluctuating fields

The problem of a particle diffusion in a fluctuating scalar field is studied. In contrast to most studies of advection diffusion in random fields, ours analyzes the case where the particle position is also coupled to the dynamics of the field. Physical realizations of this problem are numerous and range from the diffusion of proteins in fluctuating membranes to the diffusion of localized magnetic fields in spin systems. We present exact results for the diffusion constant of particles diffusing in dynamical Gaussian fields in the adiabatic limit, where the field evolution is much faster than the particle diffusion. In addition we compute the diffusion constant perturbatively, in the weak coupling limit, when the interaction of the particle with the field is small, using a Kubo-type relation. Finally we construct a simple toy model which can be solved exactly, and which extrapolates between the adiabatic limit, for fields with rapid dynamics, and the limit where the field is quenched or frozen.
Oral treatment with live Lactobacillus reuteri inhibits the allergic airway response in mice.

RATIONALE Clinical trials have demonstrated that probiotics may be effective in the treatment and prevention of atopic disease in children but there have been few reports of therapeutic effects of oral probiotics outside the gastrointestinal tract. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effect of two probiotic organisms on the response to antigen challenge in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. METHODS We used an ovalbumin-sensitized asthma model in BALB/c and Toll-like receptor 9-deficient mice. Animals were treated with probiotic organisms via gavaging needle before antigen challenge. After antigen challenge, airway responsiveness to methacholine, influx of inflammatory cells to the lung, and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assessed. RESULTS Oral treatment with live Lactobacillus reuteri but not Lactobacillus salivarius significantly attenuated the influx of eosinophils to the airway lumen and parenchyma and reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, IL-5, and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of antigen-challenged animals, but there was no change in eotaxin or IL-10. L. reuteri but not L. salivarius also decreased allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. These responses were dependent on Toll-like receptor 9 and were associated with increased activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Killed organisms did not mimic the ability of the live L. reuteri to attenuate inflammation or airway hyperresponsiveness. CONCLUSION Oral treatment with live L. reuteri can attenuate major characteristics of an asthmatic response in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. These results suggest that oral treatment with specific live probiotic strains may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of allergic airway disease.
Evaluation of Splenic Embolization in Patients with Portal Hypertension and Hypersplenism

Twenty-five patients with hypersplenism caused by portal hypertension were treated by repeated partial splenic embolization. Fourteen surviving patients were followed for up to six years showing a good response on peripheral blood count and bleeding tendency. Three patients died in connection with the treatment and another eight died within half a year because of the underlying liver disease. The discomfort and complications of fever, pain, pleural effusion, and abscess formation and the possibility to avoid these by repeated partial embolization under antibiotic cover are discussed. The results are compared with reports in the reviewed actual literature and the splenic embolization is given a place among the means of a successful selective symptomatic treatment of partial hypertension.
Psychosocial Intervention for Women with Primary, Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Comparison between Participants and Non-Participants

Background: Despite improvements in the medical treatment of breast cancer, resulting in better prognoses, women diagnosed with the illness often experience psychosocial problems. As a result, many psychosocial intervention programs have been developed, usually with positive results. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two 12-week psychosocial intervention programs for women with a primary, non-metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in comparison to women who were on a waiting list for these interventions for 3 months. Methods: Sixty-nine women with primary, non-metastatic breast cancer, but otherwise without psychosocial problems, were randomized to a group of patients treated with the intervention program (group psychotherapy or social support group) or a control group (on a waiting list). Differences between both groups in psychosocial adjustment, social support and coping at the short-term follow-up were described in this study. Results: Women who participated in the group intervention programs did not differ from women in the control group regarding psychosocial adjustment at the end of the study. Women who participated in the social support groups reported to receive more social support from others not very close to them. They also used more palliative coping than women from the psychotherapy group. Conclusions: Apparently, women who are being diagnosed with breast cancer, but otherwise have no psychosocial adjustment problems following the diagnosis, do not especially benefit from a short-term intervention program compared to women in the control group.
Velocity Slip and Temperature Jump in Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics

Hypersonic vehicles experience different flow regimes during flight due to changes in atmospheric density. Computational fluid dynamics, although relatively computationally inexpensive, is not physically accurate in areas of highly nonequilibrium flows. The direct simulation Monte Carlo method, although physically accurate for all flow regimes, is relatively computationally expensive. In a continuing effort to understand the performance of computational fluid dynamics and direct simulation Monte Carlo in hypersonic flows, the current study investigates the effect of continuum breakdown on surface aerothermodynamic properties (pressure, shear stress, and heat transfer rate) of a cylinder in Mach-10 and Mach-25 flows of argon gas for several different flow regimes, from the continuum to a rarefied gas. Several different velocity-slip and temperature-jump boundary conditions are examined for use with the computational fluid dynamics method. Computational fluid dynamics and direct simulation Monte Carlo solutions are obtained at each condition. Total drag and peak heat transfer rate predictions by computational fluid dynamics remain within about 6% of the direct simulation Monte Carlo predictions for all regimes considered, with the Gokcen-type slip condition giving the best results.