Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gliotoxin stimulates the apoptosis of human and rat hepatic stellate cells and enhances the resolution of liver fibrosis in rats.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis and stimulating their apoptosis could be an effective treatment for liver fibrosis. METHODS Activated HSCs, hepatocytes, and rats with liver fibrosis were treated with gliotoxin. RESULTS Addition of gliotoxin to activated (alpha-smooth muscle actin positive) rat and human HSCs resulted in morphologic alterations typical of apoptosis. Within 2-3 hours of incubation, caspase 3 activity was markedly induced and caspase inhibitor 1 (Z-VAD-FMK)-sensitive oligonucleosome-length DNA fragments were detectable by gel electrophoresis of low molecular weight DNA. Apoptosis was widespread as judged by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling staining in both rat and human HSCs at concentrations that had no effect on the viability of rat hepatocytes. Gliotoxin treatment significantly reduced the number of activated stellate cells and mean thickness of bridging fibrotic septae in livers from rats treated with carbon tetrachloride. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate proof-of-concept that by up-regulating HSC apoptosis, the extent of fibrosis can be decreased in inflammatory liver injury.
Caspase inhibitors increase short‐term survival of progenitor‐cell progeny in the adult rat dentate gyrus following status epilepticus

The dentate gyrus (DG) is one of the few regions in the brain that continues to produce new neurons throughout adulthood. Seizures not only increase neurogenesis, but also lead to death of DG neurons. We investigated the relationship between cell death and neurogenesis following seizures in the DG of adult rats by blocking caspases, which are key components of apoptotic cell death. Multiple intracerebroventricular infusions of caspase inhibitors (pancaspase inhibitor zVADfmk, and caspase 3 and 9 inhibitor) prior to, just after, 1 day after, and 1 week following 2 h of lithium–pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus reduced the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated fluorescein‐dUTP nick‐end labelled (TUNEL) cells and increased the number of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) ‐stained proliferated cells in the subgranular zone at 1 week. The caspase inhibitor‐treated group did not differ from control at 2 days or 5 weeks following the epileptic insult. Our findings suggest that caspases modulate seizure‐induced neurogenesis in the DG, probably by regulating apoptosis of newly born neurons, and that this action can be suppressed transiently by caspase inhibitors. Furthermore, although previous studies have indicated that increased neuronal death can trigger neurogenesis, we show here that reduction in apoptotic death may be associated with increased neurogenesis.
Subjective and Objective Evaluations of Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Veterans with Hypertension

Objectives: The congruence between self-rated health and objective health was examined for associations with health factors related to hypertension (health behaviors, medication barriers, and perceived blood-pressure control). Methods: The Charlson Comorbidity Index was cross classified with self-rated health, producing four health-congruence groups: good health realists, poor health realists, health optimists, and health pessimists. Data for this study were obtained from 588 hypertensive veterans (mean age = 63) at baseline of a clinical trial to improve blood-pressure control before randomization to an intervention. Results: Optimists had higher perceived control of their hypertension when compared to pessimists. Additionally, optimists had higher levels of exercise and fewer medication barriers when compared to poor health realists. Discussion: Health congruence classification could be a useful tool to alert practitioners of patients who may be having difficulties managing their hypertension.
High performance work systems and employee well-being: a two stage study of a rural Australian hospital.

PURPOSE This paper aims to explore the attitudes of managers and employees to high performance work practices (HPWS) in a medium sized rural Australian hospital. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The study consists of two stages. Stage one involved a qualitative investigation consisting of interviews and focus group sessions with senior, middle and line management at the hospital. Bowen and Ostroffs framework was used to examine how strategic HRM was understood, interpreted and operationalised across the management hierarchy. Stage one investigates the views of managers concerning the implementation of strategic HRM/HPWS. Stage two consisted of a questionnaire administered to all hospital employees. The mediation effects of social identification on the relationship between high performance work systems and affective commitment and job satisfaction are examined. The purpose of stage two was to investigate the views and effects of SHRM/HPWS on employees. It should be noted that HPWS and strategic HRM are used inter-changeably in this paper. FINDINGS At the management level the importance of distinctiveness, consistency and consensus in the interpretation of strategic HRM/HPWS practices across the organization was discovered. Findings indicate that social identification mediates the relationship between HPWS and affective commitment and also mediates the relationship between HPWS and job satisfaction. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS High performance work systems may play a crucial role facilitating social identification at the unit level. Such practices and management support is likely to provide benefits in terms of high performing committed employees. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The paper argues that team leaders and managers play a key role in building social identification within the team and that organizations need to understand this role and provide recognition, reward, education and support to their middle and lower managers.
Electron holography observation of vortex lattices in a superconductor.

Magnetic lines of force penetrating a superconducting Nb thin film have been directly observed by electron holography. The tilted specimen is examined in the «transmission» mode that allows the 2D magnetic flux distribution to be discerned in an interference micrograph. The phase distribution of the electron wave transmitted through the specimen has been quantitatively measured. It was found that a 2D array of tiny regions, where the phase distribution rapidly changed, coincided spatially with the spots observed by Lorentz microscopy, and, furthermore, these regions were identified to be quantized vortices each having a flux of h/2e by comparing with theoretical calculations
Transplantation of placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell-induced neural stem cells to treat spinal cord injury

Because of their strong proliferative capacity and multi-potency, placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells have gained interest as a cell source in the field of nerve damage repair. In the present study, human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells were induced to differentiate into neural stem cells, which were then transplanted into the spinal cord after local spinal cord injury in rats. The motor functional recovery and pathological changes in the injured spinal cord were observed for 3 successive weeks. The results showed that human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into neuron-like cells and that induced neural stem cells contribute to the restoration of injured spinal cord without causing transplant rejection. Thus, these cells promote the recovery of motor and sensory functions in a rat model of spinal cord injury. Therefore, human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells may be useful as seed cells during the repair of spinal cord injury.
The impact of shallow cover on tunnelling in soft soil

Shield tunnelling is used widely in constructing underground infrastructure in cities due to the ability to limit settlements and damage to existing buildings. However, in an environment with soft overburden and buildings on pile foundations, the tunnel is often designed well below the pile tip level. There are two reasons for doing this: to reduce interaction between tunnelling process and piles, and to avoid having to drive through old abandoned piles that are still present below the streets. This results in deep station boxes.
Minimal heparin/heparan sulfate sequences for binding to fibroblast growth factor-1.

The glycosaminoglycans heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) bind to fibroblast growth factor FGF1 and promote its dimerization, a proposed prerequisite for binding to a cellular receptor and triggering mitogenic signals. The problem of minimal structural requirements for heparin/HS sequences to bind FGF1 was approached by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI mass spectrometry studies using the three synthetic tetrasaccharides GlcNSO(3)6OR-IdoA2SO(3)-GlcNSO(3)6OR'-IdoA2SO(3)OPr (AA, R = R' = SO(3); BA, R = H, R' = SO(3); BB, R = R' = H; Pr, propyl). AA and BA significantly interact with the protein, whereas BB is practically inactive. The NMR spectra show that, whereas the interaction of AA primarily involves the GlcNSO(3)6SO(3)IdoA2SO(3) disaccharide moiety at its nonreducing end, residues at both the nonreducing (NR) and reducing side (R) appear to be involved in the weaker complex of BA. Furthermore, MALDI experiments show that, in addition to 1:1 protein:tetrasaccharide complexes, AA and BA are able to form 2:1 complexes, indicating that heparin/HS-induced dimerization of FGF1 requires only one 6-OSO(3) group per tetrasaccharide.
Current research highlights the effects of air pollutants on surrogate biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction in healthy children and young adults

Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Environment Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Child Health Promotion Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Epidemiology and Natural History of Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common viral pathogen that currently infects an estimated 4 million people worldwide, including 400 million who have chronic infection. Persons with chronic HBV infection are at a lifelong risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cirrhosis, or both. Many persons with HBV are unaware that they carry the infection, and, of those who are chronically infected, only a minority receives routine, scheduled follow-up to monitor their disease status. Persons from high-risk populations, especially immigrants from nations where hepatitis B is highly endemic, should be tested for HBV seromarkers and should be vaccinated if they are found to be negative. The natural history of chronic HBV is a dynamic one: patients can fluctuate between periods of active liver inflammation and periods of inactive disease. Disease progression is influenced by various factors, including viral genotype and specific mutations, demographic features, concurrent viral infections, and social and environmental factors. Recent data suggest that antiviral therapy can decrease the risk of liver decompensation and liver-related death and reduce the risk of HCC in selected individuals with active liver disease and severe fibrosis. Persons identified with chronic HBV infection need lifelong, regular monitoring for the development of active liver disease and HCC.
Anesthetic effect of intrauterine lidocaine plus naproxen sodium in endometrial biopsy.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of intrauterine lidocaine with oral naproxen sodium on pain perception of the patients during endometrial biopsy using the Pipelle instrument and to investigate their effects when used in combination. METHODS One-hundred twenty women were randomly assigned to receive either 5 mL of intrauterine 2% lidocaine or saline and either 550 mg of naproxen sodium or a similar-appearing placebo tablet. Subsequently, each woman completed a 10-cm visual analog scale for subjective pain experience and a physician scored visible signs of the women's distress during the procedure using a 3-point observer scale. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the 4 groups in age, vaginal parity, history of chronic pelvic pain, menopausal status, tenaculum use, previous endometrial biopsy, or difficulty in passing the cervical os. The mean pain scores of the women in the naproxen only (5.8 +/- 2.2) and lidocaine only (5.9 +/- 2.2) groups were not significantly different compared with placebo group (7.1 +/- 2.0). However, the mean pain score in the lidocaine plus naproxen group (4.6 +/- 1.8) compared with the placebo group showed significant reduction in pain (P <.05). Pain rated by the physician was significantly lower in the lidocaine plus naproxen group compared with other groups, and a significant correlation was noted between the visual analog pain score and the patients' distress recorded by the physician (r =.791, P <.001). One patient in the naproxen-only group had vasovagal syncope after the procedure. CONCLUSION Intrauterine lidocaine instillation significantly decreases pain associated with Pipelle endometrial biopsy when used in combination with oral naproxen sodium. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I
Provisional chapter Emerging GM 3 Regulated Biomarkers in Malignant Melanoma

Gangliosides, GSLs, are expressed in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of animal cells and involved in a variety of functions, including serving as antigens, receptors for bacterial toxins, mediators of cell adhesion, and mediators and modulators of signal transduction. Moreover, the accumulated lines of evidence have shown that gangliosides play pivotal roles in cancer metastasis. As the first and simplest member in the metabolic series of the ganglioside family, GM3 is a metabolic precursor of more complex natural gangliosides, which in turn determines their contents and biological functions in cells and tissues. GM3 has been demon‐ strated to be involved in regulation of various processes including cell proliferation, differen‐ tiation, apoptosis, embryogenesis and oncogenesis, etc. However, it is difficult to understand the defined functional concepts of GM3 in cancer metastasis because GM3 indirectly exert their effects via regulating target genes.
Relative resistance of SGK1 knockout mice against chemical carcinogenesis

The serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1 was originally cloned from mammary tumor cells. SGK1 was found to be up‐regulated in a variety of tumors, but down‐regulated in several distinct tumors. Thus, evidence for a role of SGK1 in tumor growth remained conflicting. According to in vitro observations, SGK1 is up‐regulated by the oncogene β‐catenin and negatively regulates the proapoptotic transcription factor FOXO3a, which in turn stimulates transcription of the Bcl2‐interacting mediator BIM. This study aimed to define the role of SGK1 in colon carcinoma in vivo. SGK1 knockout mice (sgk1−/−) and their wild type littermates (sgk1+/+) were subjected to chemical cancerogenesis (intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine followed by three cycles of 30 g/L synthetic dextran sulfate sodium for 7 days). Moreover, SGK1 was silenced in HEK293 cells. FOXO3a and BIM protein abundance was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Following chemical cancerogenesis, sgk1−/−mice developed significantly less colonic tumors than sgk1+/+mice. According to Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, SGK1 deficiency enhanced the expression of FOXO3a and BIM both, in vitro and in vivo. SGK1 deficiency counteracts the development of colonic tumors, an effect at least in part due to up‐regulation of FOXO3a and BIM. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(7): 768–776, 2009
Effect of bonded restorations on the fracture resistance of root filled teeth.

AIM To evaluate the fracture resistance of root filled maxillary premolars restored with different techniques. METHODOLOGY One hundred and twenty single-rooted maxillary premolar teeth were divided randomly into six groups of 20 teeth and subjected to the following procedures: group 1: intact teeth. Group 2: endodontic access cavities prepared. Group 3: MOD cavities were prepared, root canals were filled and no restoration was placed. Group 4: teeth were prepared as group 3 and restored conventionally with amalgam. Group 5: teeth were prepared as group 3 and restored with amalgam using a bonding material. Group 6: teeth were prepared as group 3 and restored with composite resin using the same bonding material. Teeth were embedded in acrylic resin and the loads for fracture strength were applied vertically with a constant speed of 1 mm min(-1). Data were evaluated statistically with anova and Tukey's tests. RESULTS The mean force of fracture values were 1191.41, 599.86, 233.03, 494.72, 962.81 and 856.48 N for groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The fracture resistance of group 5 was similar to group 1 (P > 0.05). The mean force at fracture of group 5 and group 6 was not significantly different. The fracture resistance of groups 5 and 6 was significantly higher than group 4 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The group, restored with conventional amalgam, had the weakest resistance to fracture when compared with the bonded restorations. No statistically significant differences were found between the bonded amalgam and composite resin groups.
Symmetric homoclinic tangles in reversible systems

We study the dynamics near transverse intersections of stable and unstable manifolds of sheets of symmetric periodic orbits in reversible systems. We prove that the dynamics near such homoclinic and heteroclinic intersections is not $C^1$ structurally stable. This is in marked contrast to the dynamics near transverse intersections in both general and conservative systems, which can be $C^1$ structurally stable. We further show that there are infinitely many sheets of symmetric periodic orbits near the homoclinic or heteroclinic orbits. We establish the robust occurrence of heterodimensional cycles, that is, heteroclinic cycles between hyperbolic periodic orbits of different index, near the transverse intersections. This is shown to imply the existence of hyperbolic horseshoes and infinitely many periodic orbits of different index, all near the transverse intersections.
THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS TO METHICILLIN AND SOME OTHER ANTIBIOTICS

IN recent investigations on some Isolates of Staphylo· coccus aureU8 resistant to both penicillin and methicillin, it was observed that the senstttvttv of the organisms to methicillin was markedly modified by the temperature at which the tests were carried out, whereas little or no such effect was obtained with methicillinsensitive Isolates. As no reports of this observation could be found in the literature, a limited investigation was carried out. Strains from three groups of staphylococci were tested: (i) strains sensitive to penicillin and methicillindesignated SS strains; (ii) strains resistant to penicillin but sensitive to methlcilltn-c-designated RS strains; (iii) strains resistant to penicillin and methicillin-designated RR strains. The sensitivity of the organisms to methicillin was measured by the disc method, the broth dilution method and the agar dilution method. As the opportunity was readily available with the disc method, discs of several antibiotics other than methicillin were included in the tests with all organisms. These were cloxacillin, cephaloridine, penicillin and chloramphenicol.
Theoretical and experimental studies of vibrational spectra of naphthalene and its cation

Raman and FTIR spectra of naphthalene and its cation have been systematically analyzed using ab-initio and density functional theory calculations. The optimized geometries, harmonic vibrational wave numbers and intensity of vibrational bands of naphthalene and its cation were calculated invoking different basis sets up to HF/6-311++G and B3LYP/6-311++G** level. Vibrational assignments have been made and calculated DFT frequencies and intensities of the naphthalene and its cation at B3LYP/6-311++G** levels and are found to be in better agreement with corresponding experimental values in comparison to previous results. The experimental and theoretical studies of neutral and ionized naphthalene have revealed an unexpected effect of the ionization on the vibrational spectra that lead to a dramatic reduction in intensities of CH stretching modes and concurrently large increase in the intensities of ring CC stretching and CH bending vibrations.
Efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole as adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder: overview of four short-term studies

ABSTRACT Background: There is a need for effective, safe and well-tolerated pharmacotherapies for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have inadequate response to antidepressant treatments (ADTs). This analysis aimed to summarize the short-term efficacy and safety of adjunctive brexpiprazole in adults with MDD. Research design and methods: A pooled analysis of data from the 6-week, randomized, double-blind treatment phases of four studies of adjunctive brexpiprazole 1–3 mg/day versus placebo in outpatients with MDD and inadequate response to ADTs (n = 1,853). Efficacy was measured by Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores, and safety by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: ADT + brexpiprazole 2–3 mg/day showed greater improvement in MADRS Total score from baseline to Week 6 than ADT + placebo (least squares mean difference: −2.15; confidence limits: −2.82, −1.48; p < 0.0001; Cohen’s d effect size: 0.33). TEAEs with incidence ≥5% with ADT + brexpiprazole 1–3 mg/day were akathisia (8.0% versus 2.6% with ADT + placebo), headache (5.8% versus 6.0%), and weight increased (5.8% versus 1.6%). Conclusions: Adjunctive brexpiprazole is an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment option for adult patients with MDD and inadequate response to ADTs. Study limitations included a lack of active comparator.
Content Downloading with the Assistance of Roadside Cars for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Plenty of multimedia contents such as traffic images, music, and movies pose great challenges for content downloading due to the high mobility of vehicles and intermittent connectivity for vehicular ad hoc networks. Roadside units or APs can improve the efficiency of content downloading but with the cost of large investments. In this paper, an efficient content downloading scheme is proposed with the assistance of parking clusters, which are formed by roadside parked cars. After receiving the downloading request, the parking clusters, which the downloader will travel through according to the estimated trajectory, will make a download scheduling for the downloader. Then the downloader acquires the content chunks while it drives through the parking clusters. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme achieves better performance than intervehicle approach and RSU based approach.