Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voltammetric behaviour of morphine at a glassy carbon electrode and its determination in human serum by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection under basic conditions.

The electrochemical oxidation of morphine was studied at pH values of between 7.00 and 12.00 by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at a planar glassy carbon electrode. The peak potential was dependent on pH over the range 7.00-9.75; it was independent of pH above the latter value, indicating a pKa value of 9.75. The peak current was found to be independent of pH, ionic strength of phosphate buffer (0.02-0.1 mol dm-3) and percentage of acetonitrile (0-40% v/v). The oxidation was found to occur in three steps; these are considered to result from a one-electron oxidation of the phenoxide group, followed by a one-electron loss from the oxidation product, pseudomorphine, and finally a two-electron loss from a tertiary amine group. A simple method of analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography was developed which employed a column packed with a reversed-phase, pH-stable, octadecylsilane-modified silica. Separation was achieved with a mobile phase containing 20% v/v acetonitrile in 0.05 mol dm-3 phosphate buffer, pH 11.0. Amperometric detection was carried out with an applied potential of +0.45 V versus Ag-AgCl. The detection limit was 1.24 x 10(-13) mol of morphine injected. The detector gave a linear response from 1.2 x 10(-12) to 4.0 x 10(-10) mol of morphine injected. The extraction method required 0.5 ml of serum, and no solvent evaporation was needed. The recovery of morphine was 80.9%. The method gave a linear response to at least 15.0 x 10(-7) mol dm-3. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Diagnostic Assessment of Search Controls and Failure Modes in Many-Objective Evolutionary Optimization

The growing popularity of multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) for solving many-objective problems warrants the careful investigation of their search controls and failure modes. This study contributes a new diagnostic assessment framework for rigorously evaluating the effectiveness, reliability, efficiency, and controllability of MOEAs as well as identifying their search controls and failure modes. The framework is demonstrated using the recently introduced Borg MOEA, -NSGA-II, -MOEA, IBEA, OMOPSO, GDE3, MOEA/D, SPEA2, and NSGA-II on 33 instances of 18 test problems from the DTLZ, WFG, and CEC 2009 test suites. The diagnostic framework exploits Sobol's variance decomposition to provide guidance on the algorithms’ non-separable, multi-parameter controls when performing a many-objective search. This study represents one of the most comprehensive empirical assessments of MOEAs ever completed.
Improving Crop Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency via Biofertilization—A Global Meta-analysis

The application of microbial inoculants (biofertilizers) is a promising technology for future sustainable farming systems in view of rapidly decreasing phosphorus stocks and the need to more efficiently use available nitrogen (N). Various microbial taxa are currently used as biofertilizers, based on their capacity to access nutrients from fertilizers and soil stocks, to fix atmospheric nitrogen, to improve water uptake or to act as biocontrol agents. Despite the existence of a considerable knowledge on effects of specific taxa of biofertilizers, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the performance of biofertilizers with different traits such as phosphorus solubilization and N fixation applied to various crops at a global scale is missing. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify benefits of biofertilizers in terms of yield increase, nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency, based on 171 peer reviewed publications that met eligibility criteria. Major findings are: (i) the superiority of biofertilizer performance in dry climates over other climatic regions (yield response: dry climate +20.0 ± 1.7%, tropical climate +14.9 ± 1.2%, oceanic climate +10.0 ± 3.7%, continental climate +8.5 ± 2.4%); (ii) meta-regression analyses revealed that yield response due to biofertilizer application was generally small at low soil P levels; efficacy increased along higher soil P levels in the order arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), P solubilizers, and N fixers; (iii) meta-regressions showed that the success of inoculation with AMF was greater at low organic matter content and at neutral pH. Our comprehensive analysis provides a basis and guidance for proper choice and application of biofertilizers.
Biomechanical comparison of six suture configurations using a large diameter polyester prosthesis in the muscular process of the equine arytenoid cartilage.

OBJECTIVE To compare biomechanical properties of 6 suture configurations using a large diameter polyester prosthesis in the muscular process (MP) of the arytenoid cartilage and to determine failure mode. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION Cadaveric equine larynges (n=121). METHODS Suture configurations (4 single, 2 double) were inserted, and then constructs were tested in a single-cycle to failure at a 100 mm/min distraction. Load deformation curves were generated to assess the biomechanical properties of each construct. A 1-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean differences in construct failure force, cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) disarticulation force, and energy stored at failure. A 2-sample t-test was used to compare single versus double suture patterns and a Fisher's exact test was used to compare failure mode. RESULTS Both construct and CAJ failure force were significantly greater (P<.05) for double suture patterns compared with single suture patterns; however, there were no significant differences in energy stored at construct failure. Failure at the MP accounted for >or=50% of construct failures for 3 of the single suture patterns and 1 of the double suture patterns tested. The remaining 2 patterns had an increased frequency of clamp failures as well as failure of the cricoid cartilage. CONCLUSIONS Sutures that sufficiently engage the spine of the MP alone or in conjunction with a second suture were found to be biomechanically superior. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Engaging the spine of the MP appears to result in the most biomechanically sound laryngeal construct.
Regulation of Type I Interferon Gene Expression by Interferon Regulatory Factor-3*

The genes of the family of interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRF) encode DNA binding transcriptional factors that are involved in modulation of transcription of IFN and interferon-induced genes (ISG). The presence of IRF binding sites in the promoter region of IFNA and IFNB genes indicates that IRF factors recognizing these sites play an important role in the virus-mediated induction of these genes. We have described a novel human gene of this family, IRF-3, that is constitutively expressed in a variety of cell types. IRF-3 binds to the interferon-sensitive response element (ISRE) present in the ISG15 gene promoter and activates its transcriptional activity. In the present study, we examined whether IRF-3 can modulate transcriptional activity of IFNA and IFNB promoter regions. Our results demonstrate that IRF-3 can bind to the IRF-like binding sites present in the virus-inducible region of the IFNA4 promoter and to the PRDIII region of the IFNB promoter but cannot alone stimulate their transcriptional activity in the human cell line, 293. However, the fusion protein generated from the IRF-3 binding domain and the RelA(p65) activation domain effectively activates both IFNA4 and IFNB promoters. Cotransfection of IRF-3 and RelA(p65) expression plasmids activates the IFNBgene promoter but not the promoter of IFNA4 gene that does not contain the NF-kB binding site. Surprisingly, activation of the IFNA4 gene promoter by virus and IRF-1 in these cells was inhibited by IRF-3. These data indicate that in 293 cells IRF-3 does not stimulate expression of IFN genes but can cooperate with RelA(p65) to stimulate the IFNB promoter.
Dual contribution of surface charge and protein-binding affinity to the cytotoxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in nonphagocytic A549 cells and phagocytic THP-1 cells

ABSTRACT Knowledge that links the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NP) to their toxicity is key to evaluating and understanding mechanisms underlying toxicity and developing appropriate testing methods for NP; however, this is currently limited since only a small set of NP have been used, with typically poor control of their physical properties. In this study, eight types of polystyrene NP (PLNP) were synthesized with different functional groups, but all based on an identical core. In vitro cell-based assays were performed to determine the influence of changes in physicochemical properties, such as charge, hydrodynamic size, and protein binding potential, in relation to NP-mediated toxicity. The PLNP were incubated with nonphagocytic A549 cells or phagocytic differentiated THP-1 cells for 4 h with/without fetal bovine serum (FBS), followed by incubation for 20 h in FBS-supplemented medium with/without a washing step, to assess cell-type specificity and impact of protein corona formation. The effect of surface charge on cytotoxicity differed between A549 cells and THP-1 cells. In nonphagocytic A549 cells, the zeta potential of PLNP exhibited a negative correlation with cytotoxicity, partly due to the level of coronated protein that might affect cellular uptake. In phagocytic THP-1 cells, the zeta potential of PLNP showed a positive correlation with cytotoxicity but coronated protein levels displayed no marked association with cytotoxicity, owing to the professional uptake efficacy of phagocytic cells. The consistency of our data with THP-1 cells with the surface charge paradigm in nanotoxicology suggests that phagocytic cells are the predominant targets for lung inflammatory reactions induced by PLNP.
Cross-functional team processes and patient functional improvement.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that higher levels of participation and functioning in cross-functional psychiatric treatment teams will be related to improved patient outcomes. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Primary data were collected during the period 1992-1999. The study was conducted in 40 teams within units treating seriously mentally ill patients in 16 Veterans Affairs hospitals across the U.S. STUDY DESIGN A longitudinal, multilevel analysis assessed the relationship between individual- and team-level variables and patients' ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) over time. Team data were collected in 1992, 1994, and 1995. The number of times patient data were collected was dependent on the length of time the patient was treated and varied from 1 to 14 between 1992 and 1999. Key variables included: patients' ADL scores (the dependent variable); measures of team participation and team functioning; the number of days from baseline on which a patient's ADLs were assessed; and several control variables. DATA COLLECTION METHODS Team data were obtained via self-administered questionnaires distributed to staff on the study teams. Additional team data were obtained via questionnaires completed by unit directors contemporaneously with the staff survey. Patient data were collected by trained clinicians at regular intervals using a standard assessment instrument. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Results indicated that patients treated in teams with higher levels of staff participation experienced greater improvement in ADL over time. No differences in ADL change were noted for patients treated in teams with higher levels of team functioning. CONCLUSIONS Findings support our premise that team process has important implications for patient outcomes. The results suggest that the level of participation by the team as a whole may be a more important process attribute, in terms of patient improvements in ADLs, than the team's smooth functioning. These findings indicate the potential appropriateness of managerial interventions to encourage member investment in team processes.
A 24-Year Follow-Up Study of Blood Pressure Tracking from Childhood to Adulthood in Korea: The Kangwha Study

Purpose A number of longitudinal studies have tracked blood pressure over time in children and adults. Although there are a few blood pressure tracking studies for Asian populations, they are all relatively short-term studies with around only 10 years of follow-up. Accordingly, we assessed the stability of blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood over a 24-year follow-up period among participants in the Kangwha Study. Materials and Methods The Kangwha Study was a community-based prospective cohort study that started in 1986 in Kangwha County, South Korea. The study dataset included 14 blood pressure measurements over a 24-year period from 266 (123 male and 143 female) participants who completed the 2010 examination. All participants were 7 years old when the study began and were followed for the next 24 years. Results The tracking coefficient (95% confidence interval) for systolic blood pressure was 0.81 (0.52-1.11) in men and 0.72 (0.51-0.92) in women; diastolic blood pressure was 0.53 (0.26-0.80) in men and 0.33 (0.15-0.52) in women. After adjusting for body mass index, the tracking coefficient for systolic blood pressure was 0.68 (0.39-0.97) in men and 0.67 (0.44-0.89) in women; diastolic blood pressure was 0.51 (0.24-0.78) in men and 0.33 (0.15-0.51) in women. All tracking coefficients were statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion In this 24-year longitudinal study, we confirmed the stability of blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood for participants in the Kangwha Study.
Protective role of DLa-lipoic acid against adriamycin-induced cardiac lipid peroxidation

The cytoprotective activity of a-lipoic acid against free radical toxicity manifested during adriamycin (ADR)induced cardiotoxicity has been investigated. ADR is a potent antitumour drug known to cause severe cardiotoxicity. Although ADR generates free radicals, the role of these radicals in the development of cardiac toxicity is still not well understood. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of chronic ADR treatment on the cellular defence mechanism against free radicals and the effect of a-lipoic acid supplementation on ADR-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats. The increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of serum myocardial enzymes, namely lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinephosphokinase, associated with the decrease in activities of enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx, G6PD and GR) and non-enzymatic (GSH, Vit C and Vit E) antioxidants levels were the salient features observed in ADR-induced cardiotoxicity. Lipoic acid pretreated groups showed significant increase in activities of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels. These observations highlight the antioxidant property ofa-lipoic acid and its cytoprotective action against ADR-induced cardiotoxicity.
Changes in properties and neurosteroid regulation of GABAergic synapses in the supraoptic nucleus during the mammalian female reproductive cycle

1 GABAA receptor‐mediated synaptic innervation of oxytocin neurones in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) was analysed in adult female rats going through their first reproductive cycle by recording the spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) at six stages of female reproduction. 2 During pregnancy we observed a reduction in the interval between monoquantal sIPSCs. The synaptic current amplitude, current decay and neurosteroid sensitivity of postsynaptic GABAA receptors observed at this stage were not distinguishable from those measured in virgin stage SON. 3 Upon parturition an increase in monoquantal synaptic current decay occurred, whereas potentiation by the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone (3α‐OH‐DHP) was suppressed. 4 Throughout a substantial part of the lactation period the decay of synaptic currents remained attenuated, whilst the potentiation by 3α‐OH‐DHP remained suppressed. 5 Several weeks after the end of lactation sIPSC intervals, their current decay velocity as well as the potentiation by 3α‐OH‐DHP were restored to pre‐pregnancy levels, which is indicative of the cyclical nature of synaptic plasticity in the adult SON. 6 Competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that virgin animals expressed α1 and α2 GABAA receptor subunit mRNA at a relative ratio of 2 : 1 compared with β‐actin. After pregnancy both α1 and α2 subunit mRNA levels were transiently increased, although at a relative ratio of 1 : 4, in line with the hypothesis that α2 plays a large role in postsynaptic receptor functioning. During post‐lactation both α subunits were downregulated. 7 We propose that synaptic remodelling in the SON during pregnancy includes changes in the putative number of GABA release sites per neurone. At parturition, and during the two consecutive weeks of lactation, a subtype of postsynaptic GABAA receptors was observed, distinct from the one being expressed before and during pregnancy. Synaptic current densities, calculated in order to compare the impact of synaptic inhibition, showed that, in particular, the differences in 3α‐OH‐DHP potentiation of these two distinct GABAA receptor subtypes produce robust shifts in the impact of synaptic inhibition of oxytocin neurones at the different stages of female reproduction.
Analysis of end-of-life content in nursing textbooks.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To determine the amount and types of content regarding pain and end-of-life (EOL) care included in major textbooks used in nursing education. DESIGN Descriptive. SAMPLE 50 texts (45,683 pages) selected from a potential of more than 700 texts. METHODS Content analysis and quantification of nine essential areas of EOL care content present in the texts. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Nine areas of EOL care: palliative care defined; quality of life, pain; other symptom assessment/management; communication with dying patients and families; role/needs of family caregivers in EOL care; death; issues of policy, ethics, and law; and bereavement. FINDINGS Only 2% of the overall content and 1.4% of chapters in nursing texts were related to EOL care. Based on the analysis, many deficiencies were identified in the texts, including inaccurate information and a lack of information regarding critical EOL topics. CONCLUSIONS Nursing texts contain limited content regarding EOL care. Increased attention to this area is essential in preparing nurses to care for patients at EOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nursing practice is based on the foundation of nursing education. Changes in nursing school curriculum and provision of continuing education for practicing nurses are essential for improved EOL care.
Myocardial Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: New Insights from Tissue Doppler and Strain Imaging

Objective. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular involvement is frequently underestimated by routine imaging techniques. Our aim was to determine if new echocardiographic imaging modalities like tissue Doppler (TDI), strain rate (SRR), and strain (SRI) imaging detect abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) function in asymptomatic patients with SLE. Methods. Sixty-seven young patients with SLE (mean age 42 ± 10 yrs) without typical symptoms or signs of heart failure or angina, and a matched healthy control group (n = 40), underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography, TDI, SRR, and SRI imaging of the LV as well as assessment of disease characteristics. Results. Despite findings within the normal range on routine standard 2-dimensional echocardiography, SLE was associated with significantly impaired systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities of the LV measured by TDI [mean global TDI: systolic (s): 2.9 ± 0.9 vs 3.9 ± 0.7 cm/s, p < 0.05; early (e): 4.3 ± 1.5 vs 6.3 ± 1.3 cm/s, p < 0.05; late (a): 2.9 ± 0.8 vs 3.4 ± 0.8 cm/s, p < 0.05; values ± SD); SRR (s: −0.8 ± 0.1 vs −1.1 ± 0.1 s−1; e: 1.1 ± 0.2 vs 1.6 ± 0.3 s−1; a: 0.7 ± 0.1 vs 1.0 ± 0.2 s−1; all p < 0.05); and SR (−15.11 ± 2.2% vs −19.7 ± 1.9%; p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Further, elevated disease activity, measured with the ECLAM and the SLEDAI score, resulted in significantly lower values for LV longitudinal function measured by SRR and SR, but not by TDI. Conclusion. SLE is associated with a significant impairment of systolic and diastolic LV longitudinal function in patients without cardiac symptoms. New imaging modalities provide earlier insight into cardiovascular involvement in SLE and seem to be superior to standard echocardiography to detect subclinical myocardial disease.
Sialoadhesin promotes neuroinflammation‐related disease progression in two mouse models of CLN disease

CLN diseases are mostly fatal lysosomal storage diseases that lead to neurodegeneration in the CNS. We have previously shown that CD8+ T‐lymphocytes contribute to axonal perturbation and neuron loss in the CNS of Ppt1−/− mice, a model of CLN1 disease. We now investigated the role of the inflammation‐related cell adhesion molecule sialoadhesin (Sn) in Ppt1−/− and Cln3−/− mice, a model of the most frequent form, CLN3 disease. Microglia/macrophages in the CNS of both models showed an upregulation of Sn and markers for proinflammatory M1 polarization and antigen presentation. Sn+ microglia/macrophages associated with SMI32+ axonal spheroids and CD8+ T‐lymphocytes. To analyze their pathogenic impact, we crossbred both models with Sn‐deficient mice and scored axonal degeneration and neuronal integrity using immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and optical coherence tomography. Degenerative alterations in the retinotectal pathway of Ppt1−/−Sn−/− and Cln3−/−Sn−/− mice were significantly reduced. Ppt1−/−Sn−/− mice also showed a substantially improved clinical phenotype and extended lifespan, attenuated numbers of M1‐polarized microglia/macrophages and reduced expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines. This was accompanied by an increased frequency of CD8+CD122+ T‐lymphocytes in the CNS of Ppt1−/−Sn−/− mice, the regulatory phenotype of which was demonstrated by impaired survival of CD8+CD122− effector T‐lymphocytes in co‐culture experiments. We show for the first time that increased Sn expression on microglia/macrophages contributes to neural perturbation in two distinct models of CLN disease. Our data also indicate that a rarely described CD8+CD122+ T‐cell population can regulate the corresponding diseases. These studies provide insights into CLN pathogenesis and may guide in designing immuno‐regulatory treatment strategies. GLIA 2016;64:792–809