Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inotropic Effects of Non‐depolarizing Muscle Relaxants in Isolated Canine Heart Muscle

The inotropic effects of five non-depolarizing muscle relaxants were examined using an isolated canine heart muscle preparation. Except for fazadinium, all drugs were studied in their commercially available forms. d-Tubocurarine chloride (dTc) and metocurine iodide (MTC) produced dose-dependent decreases in isometric force (F) and the maximum velocity of force development (dF/dt) at concentrations greater than 22.5 × 10−3 g/L for dTc and greater than 15.0 × 10−3 g/L for MTC, concentrations which are 3 and 6 times higher than estimated clinical serum concentrations, respectively. Myocardial depression was about 3 times less with MTC than with dTc at equipotent concentrations. The degree of depression in F and dF/dt produced by MTC was almost identical with that produced by phenol, a preservative of MTC, indicating that MTC-induced myocardial depression may be due to the effect of the preservative. Pancuronium bromide (PC) produced a dose-dependent increase in F and dF/dt and decrease in the time to peak force. PC-induced changes in F, dF/dt, and time to peak force were inhibited by administration of propranolol 10−6 M. The results indicate that PC possesses a positive inotropic effect mediated by beta-adrenergic stimulation. Alcuronium chloride did not change F or dF/dt at concentrations from 5.0 × 10−3 to 60.0 × 10−3 g/L. Fazadinium bromide increased F and dF/dt slightly at a low concentration (1.875 × 10−2 g/L), but further increases in its concentration returned the values of F and dF/dt to control levels. F and dF/dt were not altered in vitro by concentrations of relaxants that would be anticipated in plasma in vivo in patients given clinically effective doses of 0.3 mg/kg of dTc, 0.1 mg/kg of MTC or PC, 0.2 mg/kg of alcuronium chloride, or 0.75 mg/kg of fazadinium bromide.
Testing Asset Pricing Theory on Six Hundred Years of Stock Returns: Prices and Dividends for the Bazacle Company from 1372 to 1946

We use the Bazacle company of Toulouse's unique historical experience as a laboratory to test asset pricing theory. The Bazacle company is the earliest documented shareholding corporation. Founded in 1372 and nationalized in 1946, it was a grain milling firm for most of its 600 year history. We collect share prices and dividends over its entire lifespan. The average dividend yield in real terms was slightly in excess of is 5% per annum, while the long-term price growth was near zero. The company's unique full-payout dividend policy allows us to estimate an asset pricing model with fundamentally persistent dividends and a time-varying risk correction. The model is not rejected by the data. Variations in expected future dividends are found to explain between one-sixth and one-third of variations in prices. Moreover, the risk correction is correlated with macroeconomic shocks, in particular with the volatility of grain prices.
STUDY ON THE METABOLIC IMPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL TRYPTOPHAN IN EXPOSED TO STRESS CHICKENS

MONEVA, P., S. POPOVA-RALCHEVA, D. GUDEV, V. SREDKOVA and I. YANCHEV, 2008. Study on the metabolic implication of supplemental tryptophan in exposed to stress chickens. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 14: 424-431 The effect of supplemental tryptophan (5g/1Kg -1 diet) on some indices of stress, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (H:L), leukocyte and erythrocyte numbers in chickens under stress induced by alternating periods of normal feeding with periods of feed and water withdrawal was investigated. Twenty chickens at the age of six weeks were randomly allocated into two groups- control and experimental. Experimental birds were deprived of feed and water and their legs tied for seventeen hours each day in four consecutive days. Body weight was registered on d 0 (baseline value), d 7 (preliminary period-free of stress) and on d 11 (experimental period). Blood samples were taken on d 0 and d 11. Relative weights of some immunobiological organs were also measured at the end of the experimental period. Supplemental tryptophan alleviated body weight decline, decreased spleen (P>0.05) and liver (P<0.05) relative weights, but had no significant effect on those of adrenal glands and bursa of Fabricius. Plasma urea levels were not influenced by supplemental tryptophan but plasma glucose levels declined by 14h and cholesterol levels by 17h in comparison with control group. Tryptophan supplementation prevented H: L ratio increment caused by stressor treatment. Leukocyte numbers and hematocrit values were not significantly influenced by tryptophan. Interleukin-1α response to stress declined in triptophan supplemented chickens by 14 h following the start of stressor treatment but corticosterone response was not influenced. Our results indicate that tryptophan is implicated in white blood cells dynamics and influences the pattern of the observed stress indices in chickens.
The Italian stallions of CLI “value care” delivery

Critical Limb ischemia with long segment occlusive disease typically reserved for surgery can be treated with a high degree of success in expert centers via an endovascular approach Nitinol woven stents appear to have high patency with proper deployment in all PAD groups Increased early expense that is associated with decreased re‐intervention can be cost effective
HEPATITIS C AND ADDICTION: Retention rate and side effects in a prospective trial on hepatitis C treatment with pegylated interferon alpha‐2a and ribavirin in opioid‐dependent patients

Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection is present in 30 to 98% of intravenous drug users. Intravenous substance abuse represents the main route of HCV transmission in industrialized countries. A multi‐centre, randomized, controlled, prospective study assessed sustained virological response (SVR), adverse events such as depressive episodes and retention rate of HCV treatment in opioid‐dependent patients. Stabilized, opioid‐dependent patients with chronic HCV infection (genotype 2 or 3) received pegylated interferon alpha‐2a in combination with ribavirin 800 mg/day (Group A) or 400 mg/day (Group B). Participants were randomized, blocked and stratified by genotype and viral load. A standardized psychiatric assessment, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Van Zerssen's list of complaints were administered at each study visit. In 31 months, 300 opioid‐dependent patients were screened; 190 (63.3%) were hepatitis C antibody positive. According to study protocol, out of 75 ‘potential‐to‐treat’ patients with genotype 2 or 3, 17 stable patients (22.6%) were included in the study. All participants completed the study. Significant haemoglobin decreases occurred in both Groups A (P = 0.001) and B (P = 0.011). All the patients had an end‐of‐treatment (week 24) HCV RNA negativity. Fifteen (88.2%) achieved SVR at week 48. Overall, 52.9% developed depressive symptoms during treatment. Because of the prompt initiation of antidepressant medication at first appearance of depressive symptoms, no severe depressive episodes occurred. Our data show a high retention rate and reliability, and good viral response for both treatments. Hepatitis C treatment in stable opioid‐dependent patients was efficacious, suggesting that addiction clinics can offer antiviral therapy in combination with agonistic treatment as part of multi‐disciplinary treatment.
Predicting mild traumatic brain injury patients at risk of persistent symptoms in the Emergency Department

Abstract Objective: To identify factors that can predict which emergency department (ED) patients with mTBI are likely to develop persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Design: A matched case-control study was conducted at a Level 1 trauma centre between June 2006 and July 2009. Patients diagnosed with mTBI in the ED and diagnosed at a concussion management programme with at least one PPCS (85 cases) were compared to patients diagnosed with mTBI in the ED (340 controls) to determine if factors assessed at the time of ED presentation could predict patients likely to develop persistent symptoms. Results: Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression with variables indicating increased risk for PPCS (prior mTBI, history of depression, history of anxiety, multiple injury, forgetfulness/poor memory, noise sensitivity, or light sensitivity) resulted in a final predictive model including prior mTBI, history of anxiety, forgetfulness/poor memory and light sensitivity. The final model had a specificity of 87.9% and a sensitivity of 69.9%. Conclusions: A strong prediction model to identify those ED patients with mTBI at risk for PPCS was developed and could be easily implemented in the ED; therefore, helping to target those patients who would potentially benefit from close follow-up.
Thickness of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) predicts imiquimod efficacy: a proposal for a thickness‐based definition of sBCC

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy in the white population. It is an important driver of healthcare costs and causes significant morbidity. Topical imiquimod is a good noninvasive treatment alternative for surgical excision in superficial BCC (sBCC). However, there are currently no uniform histological definitions of sBCC. A definition based on tumour thickness might be a good alternative.
Amyloid β peptides mediate hypoxic augmentation of Ca2+ channels

Clinical studies indicate that neurodegeneration caused by Alzheimer's amyloid β peptide (AβP) formation can be triggered or induced by prolonged (chronic) hypoxia. Here, we demonstrate that 24‐h culture of PC12 cells in 10% O2 leads to induction of a Cd2+‐resistant Ca2+ influx pathway and selective potentiation of l‐type Ca2+ current. Both effects were suppressed or prevented by a monoclonal antibody raised against the N′‐terminus of AβP, and were fully mimicked by AβP1−40 and AβP1−42, but not by AβP40−1. Potentiation of l‐type currents was also induced by exposure to AβP25−35. Our results indicate that hypoxia induces enhancement of Ca2+ channels, which is mediated by increased AβP formation.
The Body, Its Emotions, the Self, and Consciousness

This article proposes a means for better understanding the self and consciousness. Data indicate that the basic "emotional brain" continually computes potential survival risk against reward to rank consequent "emotion scores" for all sensory inputs. These scores compete to yield winner-takes-all outcomes that determine the choice of attention or action. This mechanism prevails regardless of whether the competing options gain their emotion scores through a rational or an intuitive pathway. There is no need to postulate any homunculus or inner self in control of such choice; indeed, our belief in a first-person self in overall control is wrong. The self is a passive construct arising from each individual's social development, where language acquisition vastly heightens communication and awareness not only outwardly, but also inwardly, as if to a controlling "inner I. " However, when society comes to hold the maturing being accountable for his or her actions, the brain must respond, and it does so in the only way it can, by deeming that this passive, inner self-construct act as if it were the active self in charge. Consciousness emerges when the language-based output of the higher brain is referred for ownership to this artificial self-construct.
Hardy Personality: A Potential Link with Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Hardiness is a personality construct which is assumed to protect the individual from stress-induced illness. Although widely accepted, hardiness has shown only modest relations with the development of illness. Examining the components of hardiness indicates apparent consistency with organizational citizenship behaviors such as obedience, participation, and loyalty. This study investigated the potential relations between hardiness and organizational citizenship behavior, using Kobasa's Personal Views Survey, and Van Dyne, Graham, and Diensch's citizenship measure. Subjects were 129 unionized employees whose mean age was 37 yr. ; 58% were men. Correlations and regressions indicated that scores for total hardiness and its components of commitment and control were linked to citizenship behaviors. Differential relationships were identified between hardiness and citizenship behavior for individuals with high versus low scores on hardy personality. Hardiness appears to have a positive association with organizational effectiveness through its link to citizenship behavior and consequendy may have more implications for organizational behavior than for health.
The Sociology of the Radical Right

During the past two decades, the radical right has reemerged as an electoral force in Western Europe, as well as in other stable democracies such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Aside from discussing the ideology of this party family and how it relates to older forms of right-wing radicalism and extremism, such as fascism, this review deals with the question of how the emergence of radical right-wing parties can be explained and why such parties have been considerably more successful among voters in some countries than in others. Possible explanations are grouped into two parts: The first consists of so-called demand-centered explanations, that is, explanations that focus on changing preferences, beliefs, and attitudes among voters. The second consists of so-called supply-side explanations, that is, explanations that focus on political opportunity structures and party organizational factors.
Evidence for a Role of Frataxin in Pancreatic Islets Isolated from Multi-Organ Donors with and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Frataxin (FXN) is a mitochondrial protein involved in iron metabolism and in the modulation of reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species production. No information is currently available as for the role of frataxin in isolated human pancreatic islets. We studied islets from pancreases of multi-organ donors with (T2DM) and without (Ctrl) Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In these islets, we determined FXN gene and protein expression by qualitative and quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR, nitrotyrosine concentration, and insulin release in response to glucose stimulation (SI). FXN gene and protein were expressed in human islets, though the level of expression was much lower in T2DM islets. The latter also had lower insulin release and higher concentration of nitrotyrosine. A positive correlation was apparent between SI and FXN gene expression, while a negative correlation was found between nitrotyrosine islet concentration and FXN expression. Transfection of Ctrl islets with siRNA FXN caused reduction of FXN expression, increase of nitrotyrosine concentration, and reduction of insulin release. In conclusion, in human pancreatic islets FXN contributes to regulation of oxidative stress and insulin release in response to glucose. In islets from T2DM patients FXN expression is reduced while oxidative stress is increased and insulin release in response to glucose impaired.
Ocular Health Assessment of Cocoa Farmers in a Rural Community in Ghana

ABSTRACT Cocoa farming provides employment for over 800,000 households in rural Ghana, with the country currently touted as the second largest producer of cocoa worldwide. Agriculture is one of the riskiest occupations for the eyes due to the numerous ocular hazards on farms. The authors conducted an ocular health assessment among cocoa farmers at Mfuom, a rural community in the Central Region of Ghana, to examine the ocular health status and the ocular safety measures used by cocoa farmers. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate demographic characteristics, ocular injuries, and utilization of eye care services and ocular protection, and a clinical examination was used to evaluate their ocular status. Cocoa farmers were at high risk for ocular injuries and farm-related vision disorders and utilized eye care services and ocular protection poorly. Ocular condition identified were mainly refractive error (28.6%), cataract (20.0%), glaucoma (11.7%), conjunctivitis (13%), pterygium (2.7%), and cornea opacity (2.2%). There is a need for the introduction of an interventional eye care program to help address the ocular health challenges identified among the farmers. This can be done through collaborative efforts by educational institutions, government, and other role players in the agricultural industry to improve the quality of life of the vulnerable cocoa farmers in rural Ghana.
Children's trauma and adjustment reactions to violent and nonviolent war experiences.

OBJECTIVE According to most studies, more than half of children exposed to war meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although we know that children are adversely affected by atrocities of war, we do not know which specific war events are associated with children's stress reactions. For example, it is unclear whether differences exist in response to violent versus nonviolent war-trauma experiences. This study examined the relationship of violent and nonviolent war experiences to children's trauma reactions and adjustment in a group of children from Bosnia. METHOD During the 1994 siege in Sarajevo, 791 children aged 6 to 16 years participated in a study of trauma experience and response, in which assessment questionnaires (Impact of Event Scale, PTSD Reaction Index, Children's Depression Inventory, Child Behavior Checklist, and War Experience Questionnaire) were completed by children and their teachers. RESULTS In this sample 41% had clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Children were adversely affected by exposure to both violent and nonviolent war-traumas. An additive effect of trauma exposure on trauma reactions was also found. However, many war experiences were not associated with children's adjustment and trauma reactions. CONCLUSIONS Additive effects of violence and deprivations during war may overwhelm the coping skills of children and leave them vulnerable to externalizing and internalizing adjustment difficulties and symptoms of PTSD.
Proceedings: Improved performance in some dysnomic states after human ventrolateral thalamic stimulation.

SURGERY FOR MOTOR TICS OF THE FACE AND NECK W. B. SCOVILLE (Hartford) described a series of cases of various forms of facial tic, including hemifacial spasm, bilateral blepharospasm, and platysma spasm, with the appropriate surgical measures for their correction. It was pointed out that these motor tics could be totally disabling and that psychiatric and drug treatment was often of no avail. Selective microsurgical section of the proximal submastoid portion of the 7th nerve was simple and safe. Mild partial return of the tic might occur two or more years after operation which might, however, be repeated. The operations could be done on one or both sides at one sitting without a noticeable scar and with a simpler approach than that which was required for selective operations distal to the parotid gland. Jannetta's technique of microsurgical decompression of the 7th nerve at the cerebellopontine angle was discussed. It was suggested that this technique was highly successful but it required considerable microsurgical expertise and carried with it some risk of unilateral hearing loss because of the vulnerability of the blood supply to the internal auditory artery in patients with hemifacial spasm. Stereotaxic lesions of the thalamus had proved unsatisfactory in the surgical treatment of spasmodic torticollis. In intractable cases of this condition, anterior cervical rhizotomy and spinal accessory nerve section constituted the treatment of choice, although selective unilateral section of the spinal accessory nerve in the neck was sufficient in early cases.
Características clínicas e qualidade de vida de fumantes em um centro de referência de abordagem e tratamento do tabagismo* Clinical characteristics and quality of life of smokers at a referral center for smoking cessation

Objective: To compare smokers and never smokers in terms of the following: quality of life; BMI; hospitalizations; functionality; family history of mental disorder; tobacco-related diseases; depression; and psychoactive substance use. Methods: We evaluated 167 smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation program at the Londrina State University Referral Center for Understanding and Treating Smoking, together with 272 never-smoking blood donors. We employed the following instruments, all validated for use in Brazil: a structured questionnaire for the collection of sociodemographic data; the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument, brief version (WHOQoL-BREF); and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. We also applied diagnostic criteria for the investigation of depressive disorders. Results: The mean age of the smokers and never smokers was, respectively, 45 and 44 years. Females predominated in both groups. Smokers more often presented with impaired work/domestic functionality, hospitalizations, depressive disorders, smoking in the household, sedative use and a family history of mental disorders, as well as scoring lower in all domains of the WHOQoL-BREF. The mean age at smoking onset was lower for smokers with depression or using psychoactive substances than for smokers without such comorbidities. Diabetes, arterial hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease and peptic ulcer were more common in smokers than in never smokers. The mean BMI was lower in the smokers than in the never smokers. Conclusions: This study suggests that, for smoking cessation programs, subgroups of smokers with specific characteristics (early age at smoking onset, tobacco-related diseases, depressive disorders and use of psychoactive substances) should be identified.
Production, purification, and characterization of botulinolysin, a thiol-activated hemolysin of Clostridium botulinum

A hemolysin, botulinolysin, produced by Clostridium botulinum was purified to homogeneity and characterized. First, a strain of C. botulinum type C, strain C-203 Tox, which produced a large amount of hemolysin, was selected, and optimal culture medium and conditions for its production of hemolysin were determined. The hemolysin produced in the culture supernatant of this strain under optimal conditions was purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel permeation chromatography, and SP-Toyopearl 650 M cation-exchange column chromatography, with a recovery of 12%. The purified hemolysin gave a single protein band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with and without sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The protein in this band in PAGE with SDS was estimated to have a molecular weight of 58,000 and was immunostained with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody. In PAGE without SDS, the hemolytic activity corresponded in position to the single protein band. The pI of the hemolysin was 8.4. Amino acid analysis of the purified hemolysin indicated the presence of four half-cystine residues per molecule. The purified hemolysin had a specific activity of 2,100 hemolytic units per microgram of protein on rabbit erythrocytes. It was activated by SH compounds, inhibited by cholesterol, and heat labile. The optimum pH for hemolysis was 6.0 to 7.0. Rabbit, human, and guinea pig erythrocytes were the most susceptible to the hemolysin, while sheep, mouse, rat, and chicken erythrocytes were much less susceptible. The purified hemolysin had a lethal effect in mice and was cytotoxic for some cultured cells: its 50% lethal dose in mice was 310 ng, and its 50% cytotoxic dose for Vero cells was 120 ng/ml.