Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of three types of potassium current in cultured neurones of rat supraoptic nucleus area.

1. Whole‐cell, voltage‐clamp recordings were obtained from neurones of the supraoptic area of neonatal rats in dissociated cell culture. Recordings were made from neurones having the same morphology as those which were vasopressin or oxytocin immunoreactive. 2. Three types of voltage‐activated K+ current were identified on the basis of their kinetics, voltage sensitivities, Ca2+ dependence and pharmacology. The currents corresponded to the delayed rectifier current (IK), the A‐current (IA), and the Ca2+‐dependent current (IK(Ca] described in other neurones. 3. IK had a threshold of ‐40 mV, a sigmoidal time course of activation, and was sustained during voltage steps lasting less than 300 ms. The underlying conductance was voltage dependent reaching a maximum at +30 mV (mean maximum conductance 4.09 nS). The activation time constant was also voltage dependent declining exponentially from 4.5 ms at ‐30 mV to 1.8 ms at +50 mV. 4. IA was transient, and was activated from holding potentials negative to ‐70 mV; the maximum conductance (mean 5.9 nS) underlying the current was obtained at +10 mV. The activation and inactivation time constants were voltage dependent: the activation time constant declined exponentially between ‐40 mV (2.2 ms) and +40 mV (0.65 ms). 5. IK and IA were attenuated by the K+ channel blockers tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP). TEA blocked the conductance underlying IK but appeared to alter the kinetics of IA. In contrast, 4‐AP blocked the conductance underlying IA and, to a lesser extent, IK. 6. IK and IA were activated independently of external Ca2+ and the voltage activation of Ca2+ channels since these currents were recorded in the presence of Co2+, a Ca2+ channel blocker. 7. IK(Ca) was recorded only when Ca2+ (2 mM) was present in the external medium. From a holding potential of ‐30 mV, IK(Ca) had a threshold of ‐20 mV, was maximal at about +20 mV and declined at more positive potentials. This current was sustained during voltage steps lasting 100 ms and was abolished by addition of Co2+ (2 mM) to the medium. 8. The possible roles of the three K+ currents in regulating the characteristic firing behaviour of supraoptic neurones previously recorded in vivo and in vitro are discussed.
Impact of transducers configuration in a pilot sonoreactor used for nanocellulose production by ultrasound-assisted TEMPO oxidation

For the pulp and paper industry, it is generally believed that nanocellulose will open new market and increase mills profitability. Our research group as shown that the TEMPO - Sodium bromide - Sodium hypochlorite oxidation system, used in nanocellulose production, can be further optimized with the use of low frequency ultrasound. Therefore, a pilot scale flow-through sonoreactor (sonoreactor 1) compatible with such oxidation was developed and many publications were issued. In effort to further optimize the system; a new sonoreactor (sonoreactor 2) with variable transducer configuration was fabricated. The objective of this work is to study the sonochemical efficiency of the new transducer configuration and the impact on the oxidation efficiency. From the Weissler method (potassium iodine oxidation) experiments, free radicals production was found to be dependent on the transducers configuration. For a given frequency and power, the production rate is respectively greater for the star pattern, orthogonal and face to face configuration. However, the increased free radical production was found to have a more subtle effect on the oxidation efficiency, thus carboxylate content of the pulp.
Aging analysis of circuit timing considering NBTI and HCI

We present an aging analysis flow able to calculate the degraded circuit timing. To the best of our knowledge it is the first approach on gate level so far capable of analyzing the impact of the two dominant drift-related aging effects - NBTI and HCI - on complex digital circuits. The aging-aware gate model used to compute the aged circuit timing provides not just the cell delay degradation, but also the degradation of the output slope. To get more accurate results, the individual workload of a gate can be considered.
Lymphocyte response to blood transfusion in man.

Abstract In 15 of 17 patients who received fresh or stored blood as whole blood or packed cells, a fivefold or greater rise in atypical lymphocytes or in vitro 3H-thymidine incorporation by blood leukocytes (or both) occurred one week after transfusion. These values declined to pretransfusion levels by the third week. The mean leukocyte 3H-thymidine incorporation at one week in these 17 patients (1067 disintegrations per second) was significantly greater than that found in five patients undergoing surgery without transfusion (423 disintegrations per second) or with an autotransfusion (457 disintegrations per second), or in three patients receiving frozen-thawed, leukocyte-depleted blood (163 disintegrations per second). Lymphocytotoxic reactivity was also detected in the serum of six of 12 patients. The frequency and timing of this cellular activation and its absence after administration of leukocyte-depleted blood favor an immunologic response to HL-A antigens on the transfused leukocytes and platelets a.
Adverse drug reactions and off-label drug use in paediatric outpatients.

AIMS To investigate the potential relationship between off-label drug use and increased risk of adverse drug reactions in paediatric outpatients. METHODS A prospective pharmacovigilance survey of drug prescribing in office based paediatricians was carried out in Haute-Garonne County (south west of France). RESULTS The study involved a sample of 1419 children under 16 years old. Forty-two percent of patients were exposed to at least one off-label prescription. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 1.41% (95% CI 0.79, 2.11). Off-label drug use was significantly associated with adverse drug reactions (relative risk 3.44; 95% CI 1.26, 9.38), particularly when it was due to an indication different than that defined in the Summary Product Characteristics (relative risk 4.42; 95% CI 1.60, 12.25). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest an increasing risk of adverse drug reactions related to off-label drug use. This risk would be acceptable if further studies prove the potential benefit of such a drug use.
Identification of individual genotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis from experimentally mixed serovars and mixed infections among trachoma patients

Genetic polymorphisms in the major outer membrane protein gene (omp-1) of Chlamydia trachomatis B and Ba serovars have been demonstrated in Tunisian isolates. A total of 15 of 27 unique sequence signatures or omp-1 genotypes were identified. However, differentiation of unique signatures from sequences that reflect those of strains involved in a mixed infection is necessary to define the molecular epidemiology of chlamydial ocular infections. We devised a strategy for identifying mixed infections by characterizing their effects on omp-1 genotyping. Various ratios of elementary bodies from organisms of serovars A, B, Ba, and C that cause trachoma were amplified by PCR and were subjected to automated and manual sequencing. Serovar-specific primers were also designed so that each serovar could be individually amplified and its omp-1 genotype unequivocally determined. One of 27 Tunisian samples showed a mixed infection with sequences comparable to those of serovars B and D. The omp-1 genotypes of organisms involved in mixed infections can be accurately identified by automated sequencing and will be useful for molecular epidemiologic studies of populations worldwide who live where trachoma is endemic.
Nitric Oxide Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor-β and Collagen Synthesis in Mesangial Cells

Culture of mesangial cells (MCs) in 5.6 vs. 30.0 mmol/1 glucose for 3 weeks induced a sustained increase in protein kinase C (PKC) activity, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 mRNA, bioactive TGF-β, and collagen synthesis. Nitric oxide (NO), generated exogenously by the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl, D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) or endogenously after the exposure of MC to interleukin-1β (IL-1β), suppressed bioactive TGF-β in MCs cultured in 5.6 or 30.0 mmol/1 glucose and suppressed or abolished increases in TGF-β1 mRNA and collagen synthesis induced by high concentrations of glucose or phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate without altering values obtained with normal glucose concentrations. SNAP had a transient suppressive effect on PKC activity, which may explain at least in part some of the actions of SNAP. The selective inhibitor of PKC, bisindolylmaleimide (GFX), mimicked NO action. The ability of SNAP and IL-lβ to suppress TGF-β and collagen synthesis was not mediated by cGMP, since the cGMP analog, 8-Br-PET-cGMP, did not mimic NO action and an antagonist of cGMP-dependent protein kinase, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPs, did not prevent the inhibitory actions of SNAP. N-ω-L-arginine methyl ester (NMMA) increased TGF-β in glomerular capillary endothelial cells (GCECs) and stimulated collagen synthesis by MC in a co-culture with GCECs. Captopril inhibited TGF-β and collagen synthesis and increased cGMP in co-cultures of GCECs and MCs. These effects of captopril were abolished by NMMA, implying mediation by NO. Thus, endogenous NO produced by GCECs may modulate TGF-β production by both GCECs and MCs and act to suppress matrix protein synthesis by MCs.
Prelimbic cortical BDNF is required for memory of learned fear but not extinction or innate fear

In the medial prefrontal cortex, the prelimbic area is emerging as a major modulator of fear behavior, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Using a selective neocortical knockout mouse, virally mediated prelimbic cortical-specific gene deletion, and pharmacological rescue with a TrkB agonist, we examined the role of a primary candidate mechanism, BDNF, in conditioned fear. We found consistently robust deficits in consolidation of cued fear but no effects on acquisition, expression of unlearned fear, sensorimotor function, and spatial learning. This deficit in learned fear in the BDNF knockout mice was rescued with systemic administration of a TrkB receptor agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone. These data indicate that prelimbic BDNF is critical for consolidation of learned fear memories, but it is not required for innate fear or extinction of fear. Moreover, use of site-specific, inducible BDNF deletions shows a powerful mechanism that may further our understanding of the pathophysiology of fear-related disorders.
Clustering scheme for cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks

For cognitive radio (CR), cooperation in spectrum sensing (SS) using energy detection can increase the detection of primary user signal. However, it also brings extra cooperative sensing overhead due to mutual exchange of large information among CR users. To reduce cooperative sensing overhead and improve sensing performance, the authors propose a novel clustering scheme consists of three stages: pruning, selecting, and clustering. In pruning stage, the CR users without sensing results will not join the following two stages; in the subsequent selecting stage, the CR user who has the most reliable sensing data is selected as the cluster header. For CR network, channel availability is an essence cause of cluster change. Hence, the authors proposed cluster constructing based on SS results correlation in the clustering stage. The simulation results show that the proposed clustering scheme not only has low overhead but also suit to perform in the low signal noise ratio environment.
Primary Cerebral Lymphoma: A Retrospective Study in 22 Immunocompetent Patients

Aims and background Primary CNS lymphomas are uncommon tumors in immunocompetent patients. We describe the radiological features that should orient towards performing a biopsy and analyze the results in our series of patients. Methods We reviewed 22 immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma admitted in our Institute between 1977 and 1997. The follow-up period ranged from 2 months (patient deceased) to 69 months. Fourteen patients underwent surgical removal of the tumor and the remainder a biopsy. All patients received radiotherapy and 8 patients radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Results Two of the 14 patients treated by surgical removal of the tumor died. There was no mortality related to biopsy procedures. Patients treated with radiotherapy had 1-year, 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 66%, 41.6% and 16.6%, compared to 87.5%, 62.5% and 50%, respectively, for patients who received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusions At present, there is no definite treatment for these highly malignant brain tumors. The most favorable results seem related to biopsy followed by radiotherapy plus chemotherapy versus surgical removal, which is related to a high risk of severe postoperative deficit for both the deep location and infiltrating nature of these lesions.
A Trust Model for Consumer Internet Shopping

E-commerce success, especially in the business-to-consumer area, is determined in part by whether consumers trust sellers and products they cannot see or touch, and electronic systems with which they have no previous experience. This paper describes a theoretical model for investigating the four main antecedent influences on consumer trust in Internet shopping, a major form of business-to-consumer e-commerce: trustworthiness of the Internet merchant, trustworthiness of the Internet as a shopping medium, infrastructural (contextual) factors (e.g., security, third-party certification), and other factors (e.g., company size, demographic variables). The antecedent variables are moderated by the individual consumer's degree of trust propensity, which reflects personality traits, culture, and experience. Based on the research model, a comprehensive set of hypotheses is formulated and a methodology for testing them is outlined. Some of the hypotheses are tested empirically to demonstrate the applicability of the theoretical model. The findings indicate that merchant integrity is a major positive determinant of consumer trust in Internet shopping, and that its effect is moderated by the individual consumer's trust propensity.
Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Breast Cancer

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is an unremitting adverse outcome associated with bisphosphonate therapy in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastases from solid tumors. Twelve patients who presented with exposed bone associated with bisphosphonates were reviewed to determine the type, dosage and duration of their bisphosphonate therapy, presenting findings, comorbidities and the event that incited the bone exposure. The discontinuation of bisphosphonate therapy has not helped reverse the presence of osteonecrosis, and the surgical manipulation of the involved site appears to worsen the underlying bone pathology. Hyperbaric oxygen, which has proven efficacious in other forms of osteonecrosis by establishing an oxygen gradient, is of no definitive benefit to patients with bisphosphonate-induced exposed bone. Antibiotic therapy is useful in controlling pain and swelling but ineffective in preventing the progression of the exposed bone. To date, prevention is the only currently possible therapeutic approach to the management of this complication.
Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour for Choosing Oral Hygiene Aids among Students of Management Institutes, Ghaziabad, India.

OBJECTIVE There is a lot of information available about various oral hygiene aids used for the maintenance of oral hygiene and the prevention of oral diseases but the reason why people choose a particular product is under-reported. This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of choosing oral hygiene aids among students of management institutes in Ghaziabad, India. METHOD A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five management institutes selected by simple random sampling and data were collected from 1224 students by self-administered structured validated questionnaire. RESULTS The study showed that toothbrush (96.8%) and toothpaste (95.2%) were the main products used for the maintenance of oral hygiene. The most commonly used brand dentifrices were Colgate and Close-Up (47%, 23.3%) and in toothbrush, Oral B and Colgate (48.4%, 30.9%), respectively. A particular brand of toothpaste was preferred by 66.4% of the subjects because of childhood and parental use, which was the most influential factor (56.9%). Bristle design was the main criterion for choosing a toothbrush (44.9%), followed by bristle consistency (33.1%). The most commonly used toothbrushes were of soft bristle consistency (51.2%) and 10.9% of the subjects did not know the type of bristle consistency present in their toothbrush. CONCLUSION Selection of oral hygiene products was based more on parental influence and there seems to be a lack of knowledge and awareness about how to choose a dentifrice and toothbrush.
Dynamic Pricing Through Data Sampling

We study a dynamic pricing problem, where a firm offers a product to be sold over a fixed time horizon. The firm has a given initial inventory level, but there is uncertainty about the demand for the product in each time period. The objective of the firm is to determine a dynamic pricing strategy that maximizes revenue over the entire selling season. We develop a tractable optimization model that directly uses demand data, therefore creating a practical decision tool. We show numerically that regret-based objectives can perform well when compared with average revenue maximization. This modeling approach could be particularly important for risk-averse managers with limited access to historical data or information about the true demand distribution. Finally, we provide theoretical performance guarantees for this sampling-based solution.
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository

This paper introduces six graphical principles for 3 0 network displays. These are justified with examples from GraphVisualizer3D, a system developed by the authors to investigate the problems of 3 0 visualization of information networks. GraphVisualizer3D enables the exploration of sulface color, surface texture, object shape, arc shape and labeling conventions.
Using the Math in Everyday Life to Improve Student Learning

Preparing middle school students for the mathematics portion of standardized tests without “teaching to the test” may sound challenging and implausible. Building students’ confidence and competence for test taking by way of mathematics homework may also sound unrealistic. However, in this age of high-stakes testing, teachers must find ways to weave test preparation into their routine instructional practices without compromising the depth or breadth of the curriculum (Turner, 2009). In this article, I share the impact a weekly mathematics homework assignment had on students’ self-confidence and self-perceived competence with test taking. Each week, fifth grade students wrote about an authentic experience they had outside school that required them to use mathematics. They described the situation for which the mathematics was necessary and communicated not only an answer to their problem but also an explanation of how they approached and solved it. Originally, there were two explicit goals for the assignment, neither of which pertained to test preparation. The first was to develop students’ ability to recognize, appreciate, apply, and communicate about mathematics used outside the classroom. The second was for students to see themselves as competent and functional mathematicians, independent of, or perhaps in spite of, their success with school mathematics. Near the end of the school year, students reflected on the assignment in an impromptu and candid whole-group discussion. In this discussion, they unexpectedly shared the positive impact they believed the assignment had on their confidence and competence going into the period of intensive standardized testing in spring. In this article, I situate the Math in Everyday Life (MIEL) assignment within the relevant literature and describe its implementation. I share students’ reflections about the assignment, provide examples of students’ work as it progressed over time, and offer an analysis of the outcomes of the assignment. Finally, I discuss ways MIEL can be used to enhance classroom practice and to address middle level mathematics curriculum standards.
Intracisternal administration of NR2 antagonists attenuates facial formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in rats.

AIMS To examine the antinociceptive effects of N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR2 subunit antagonists in a rat model of the facial formalin test. METHODS Experiments were carried out on adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220 to 280 g. Anesthetized rats were individually mounted on a stereotaxic frame and a polyethylene tube was implanted for intracisternal injection and, 72 hours later, formalin tests were performed. NMDA receptor antagonists were administered intracisternally 10 minutes prior to subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin (50 MicroL) into the vibrissal pad. RESULTS The intracisternal administration of 25, 50, or 100 Microg of memantine, an antagonist that acts at the NMDA ion channel site, significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the second phase of the behavioral responses to formalin. Intracisternal administration of a range of doses of 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid, a glycine site antagonist, or DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate (AP-5), a nonselective NMDA site antagonist, produced significant antinociceptive effects in the second phase. Intracisternal administration of 1, 2.5, or 5 Microg of (2R,4S)-4-(3 Phosphonopropyl)-2-piperidine_carboxylic acid (PPPA), a competitive NR2A antagonist, significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the second phase, while only the highest dose of PPPA (5 Microg) significantly suppressed the number of scratches in the first phase. The antinociceptive effects of intracisternal injection of (alphaR, betaS)-alpha-(4Hydroxyphenyl)-_ methyl-4-(phenylmethyl)-1-Piperidinepropanol maleate(Ro 25-6981), a selective NR2B antagonist, were similar to those of PPPA. Injection of memantine, AP-5, Ro 25-6981, or vehicle did not result in any motor dysfunction. A low dose of PPPA (1 microg) or 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (2.5 microg) did not affect motor function. However, higher doses of PPPA and 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid produced motor dysfunction. CONCLUSION The present results suggest that central NR2 subunits play an important role in orofacial nociceptive transmission. Moreover, this data also indicate that targeted inhibition of the NMDA receptor NR2 subunit is a potentially important new treatment approach for inflammatory pain originating in the orofacial area.