Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of insulin secretion and sensitivity in bangladeshi type 2 diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND The relative contribution of insulin secretion and sensitivity in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) vary from population to population due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease. The study was undertaken to evaluate the insulin secretory capacity and sensitivity in a Bangladeshi type 2 diabetic population and to explore the association of some of the anthropometric (BMI, WHR, MBP) and biochemical factors (glucose, lipids, HbA(1c)) known to modulate B-cell function and insulin action. METHODS Ninety three T2DM and 70 age-matched control subjects were studied for their fasting glucose, lipids, HbA(1c) (by HPLC) and C-peptide (by ELISA). Insulin secretion (HOMA B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA S) were calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). RESULTS Both insulin secretion and sensitivity were significantly reduced in diabetic as compared to control subjects (HOMA B%, geometric M +/- SD, 34.67 +/- 1.73 vs 104.71 +/- 1.34, p < 0.001; HOMA S%, 67.60 +/- 1.69 vs 85.11 +/- 1.54, p < 0.01). However, the discriminant function coefficient for HOMA B (1.142) was about 1.5 times higher than that for HOMA S (0.731). In T2DM, HOMA B had positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.362, p < 0.001) and inverse correlation with plasma glucose (r = - 0.701, p < 0.001) and HbA1c (r = - 0.612, p < 0.001). HOMA S was inversely correlated to BMI (r = - 0.274, p < 0.01), WHR (r = - 0.252, p < 0.05), plasma total cholesterol (r = - 0.240, p < 0.05) and triglycerides (r = 0.301, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both insulin secretory dysfunction and insulin resistance are present in Bangladeshi T2DM subjects, but B-cell dysfunction seems to be the predominant defect. BMI, plasma glucose and insulin are the major determinants of insulin secretory capacity; and generalized as well as central obesity, plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin are among the major determinants of insulin sensitivity in this population.
Hydrophobic plug functions as a gate in voltage-gated proton channels

Significance Voltage-gated proton (Hv1) channels play important roles in various physiological processes, such as the innate immune response. However, the mechanism by which this channel closes and opens its proton permeation pathways is unknown, due to the lack of structural information about the closed and open states of the channel. This study uses both simulation and experimental approaches to develop models of the closed and open states of the Hv1 channel. These models suggest a mechanism for how the channel closes and opens. The models also suggest a mechanism explaining why a blocker only binds to the open state of the channel. These structural models will be essential for future investigations of this channel and the development of new pharmacological blockers. Voltage-gated proton (Hv1) channels play important roles in the respiratory burst, in pH regulation, in spermatozoa, in apoptosis, and in cancer metastasis. Unlike other voltage-gated cation channels, the Hv1 channel lacks a centrally located pore formed by the assembly of subunits. Instead, the proton permeation pathway in the Hv1 channel is within the voltage-sensing domain of each subunit. The gating mechanism of this pathway is still unclear. Mutagenic and fluorescence studies suggest that the fourth transmembrane (TM) segment (S4) functions as a voltage sensor and that there is an outward movement of S4 during channel activation. Using thermodynamic mutant cycle analysis, we find that the conserved positively charged residues in S4 are stabilized by countercharges in the other TM segments both in the closed and open states. We constructed models of both the closed and open states of Hv1 channels that are consistent with the mutant cycle analysis. These structural models suggest that electrostatic interactions between TM segments in the closed state pull hydrophobic residues together to form a hydrophobic plug in the center of the voltage-sensing domain. Outward S4 movement during channel activation induces conformational changes that remove this hydrophobic plug and instead insert protonatable residues in the center of the channel that, together with water molecules, can form a hydrogen bond chain across the channel for proton permeation. This suggests that salt bridge networks and the hydrophobic plug function as the gate in Hv1 channels and that outward movement of S4 leads to the opening of this gate.
Increased nerve growth factor levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective: Increased sympathetic innervation has been reported in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR); however, the precise mechanisms involved are not yet clear. Nerve growth factor (NGF), a neurotrophic peptide in peripheral sympathetic neurons, is believed to contribute to this phenomenon. Methods: We measured the content of NGF in SHR and control Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats during development. Mesenteric artery, spleen, heart and sciatic nerve were isolated and homogenized. NGF content in the supernatant fractions was measured using a highly sensitive and specific two-site enzyme immunoassay. Results: At 3 weeks of age, SHR had a greater NGF content in the spleen, the sciatic nerve and the mesenteric artery than WKY rats. However, these differences disappeared completely at 12 weeks of age. Cardiac NGF content was slightly lower in 3-week-old SHR and, conversely, higher in 12-week-old SHR than in age-matched WKY rats. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, except for the heart, the SHR tissues observed overproduce NGF at a young age, leading to enhancement of peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity and the production of vasoconstrictive catecholamines.
The TV-Anytime Content Reference Identifier (CRID)

The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) scheme "CRID:" has been devised to allow references to current or future scheduled publications of broadcast media content over television distribution platforms and the Internet. The initial intended application is as an embedded link within scheduled programme description metadata that can be used by the home user or agent to associate a programme selection with the corresponding programme location information for subsequent automatic acquisition. This document reproduces the \%TV-Anytime CRID definition found in the \%TV-Anytime content referencing specification, and is published as an RFC for ease of access and registration with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). This memo provides information for the Internet community.
The role of confirmation bias in suspect interviews: A systematic evaluation

Purpose. The three studies presented in this paper systematically examined the effect of expectations of guilt on interviewer questioning style, confession, denial rates, and suspects' verbal behaviour during interview. Method. Undergraduate students were recruited to participate in the three studies. In Study 1, 61 participants formulated questions that they wanted to ask a suspect to determine whether or not they cheated on a task. Prior to formulating their questions, participants were led to believe that the suspect was likely to be guilty or innocent. In Study 2, 45 ‘innocent’ and ‘guilty’ participants were accused of cheating on a task and were interviewed with either guilt-presumptive questions or neutral questions. In the final study, 58 participants listened to a selection of audiotaped interviews from Study 2. They then rated various aspects of the suspects' verbal behaviour. Results. As hypothesized expectations of guilt resulted in the formulation of more guilt-presumptive questions even when participants were free to generate their own questions (Study 1). A significant association was found between suspect guilt/innocence and whether they confessed or denied, although there was no association between questioning style and confession or denial rates (Study 2). However, as expected, ratings of independent observers who listened to tape recordings of the suspect interviews indicated an influence of questioning style on the suspects' verbal behaviour whereby a self-fulfilling prophecy effect occurred (Study 3). Conclusions. These results indicate that expectations of guilt can indeed have an effect on questioning style and that this in-turn can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy effect.
Rapid Downregulation of NCX and PMCA in Hippocampal Neurons Following H2O2 Oxidative Stress

Abstract: Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCXs) and plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps (PMCAs) are crucial for intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and Ca2+ signaling. Elevated [Ca2+]i is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease and stroke. Here we studied the short‐term effect of oxidative stress on the plasma membrane Ca2+ extrusion systems in hippocampal neurons (HN) and found that after 2–3 h exposure to 300 μM H2O2, all NCXs and PMCAs were significantly downregulated at the RNA (NCX) and protein (PMCA) level. Rapid internalization and aggregation of the PMCA was also observed. Our data show that the plasma membrane calcium extrusion systems are sensitive early targets of neurotoxic oxidative stress.
Study of Molecular Interactions among Esters, Toluene and Aniline using Ultrasonic Technique

Abstract The interactions of esters (ethyl acrylate and ethyl benzoate) with common binary of toluene + aniline were studied using ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity measurements at 303, 308 and 313K. From the experimental data, the acoustical parameters such as adiabatic compressibility (β), free length (Lf), free volume (Vf), internal pressure (πi), acoustic impedance (Z) and their excess values were estimated using standard relation. The results of these parameters are attributed to weak hydrogen bond between solute and solvent molecules. Keywords : Ultrasonic study; ternary mixtures; acoustical parameters; molecular interaction 1 Department of Physics, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar – 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India; 2 Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar – 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India Please Cite This Article As: R. Ezhil Pavai, S. Renuka, L. Balu and P. Vasantharani. 2010. Study of Molecular Interactions among Esters, Toluene and Aniline using Ultrasonic Technique. J. Exp. Sci. 1(6):21-24
Genetically‐associated variations in the destribution of dentate granule cell synapses upon the pyramidal cell dendrites in mouse hippocampus

The Ammonic system of inbred mouse strains was examined with light and electron microscopic methods in order to determine whether genetically‐associated variations occur in the distribution of dentate granule cell synapses (mossy fiber boutons) upon the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in Regio Inferior. The results of this investigation showed that both qualitative and quantitative variations of the mossy fiber system occur among the strains examined. The most striking variation was seen in strain BALB/cJ. These mice are unique in that their mossy fibers do not form an appreciable infrapyramidal synaptic field, but form an extensive intrapyramidal synaptic field instead. In marked contrast, SM/J mice exhibit an extensive development of infrapyramidal mossy fiber boutons while their intrapyramidal mossy fiber synaptic field, when present at all, is limited to a very small portion of Regio Inferior adjacent to the hilus of Area Dentata.
Therapeutic monitoring of experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis by ultrafast computerized tomography, a novel, noninvasive method for measuring responses to antifungal therapy

Pulmonary infiltrates in neutropenic hosts with invasive aspergillosis are due to vascular invasion and hemorrhagic infarction. In order to measure the effect of antifungal compounds on this organism-mediated tissue injury, we monitored the course of pulmonary infiltrates by serial ultrafast computerized tomography (UFCT) in persistently granulocytopenic rabbits with experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The course of pulmonary lesions measured by serial UFCT scans was compared with those measured by conventional chest radiography, histopathological resolution of lesions, and microbiological clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus. Treatment groups included either amphotericin B colloidal dispersion in dosages of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg of body weight per day intravenously or conventional desoxycholate amphotericin B at 1 mg/kg/day intravenously. Therapeutic monitoring of pulmonary lesions by UFCT demonstrated a significant dose-response relationship. Lesions continued to progress in untreated controls, whereas lesions in treated rabbits initially increased and then decreased in response to antifungal therapy in a dosage-dependent manner (P < or = 0.05 to P < or = 0.005, depending upon the groups compared). This same trend of resolution of lesions in response to antifungal therapy was also demonstrated by postmortem examination and by microbiological clearance of the organism. These data indicated that amphotericin B colloidal dispersion at 5 and 10 mg/kg/day exerted a more rapid rate of clearance of lesions than conventional amphotericin B. UFCT was more sensitive than conventional chest radiography in detecting lesions due to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (P < 0.05 to P < 0.005, depending upon the groups compared). These findings establish a correlation among UFCT-defined lesions, microbiological response, and resolution of pathologically defined lesions in experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Serial monitoring of UFCT-defined lesions of aspergillosis provides a novel system for determining the antifungal response of organism-mediated tissue injury.
Equilibrium of force of subpleural alveoli: implications to lung mechanics.

FLICKER, ELLIOTT, AND JEN-SHIH LEE. Equilibrium of force of subpleural alveoli: ir@ications fo lung mechanics. J. Appl. Physiol. 36(3) : 366-374. 1974. -We have examined the alveolar structure near the pleural surface to determine the role of tissue force and surface tension in lung mechanics. We determined that, for pleural surface to be in static equilibrium, the transpleural pressure is given by PL = Pt + T(L/A), where Pt is the pressure derived from the stretching of the alveolar tissue, T is the surface tension at the surfactant-air interface, L is the average projected perimeter of alveoli onto the pleural surface, and A is the average projected alveolar area onto the pleural surface. By taking photomicrographs of the pleural surface of excised dogs’ lower lobes at different air inflated states, the measured L/A ratio can best be fitted by the following equation
Multi-site six month outcome study of complex psychiatric patients evaluated with addition of brain SPECT imaging.

BACKGROUND Psychiatric diagnoses are made primarily through clinical histories, with psychiatrists searching for DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)-driven symptom clusters, and outcomes for patients have not substantially improved in decades for many disorders. PRIMARY STUDY OBJECTIVE In this study, the research team examined the outcome impact of the addition of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to the assessment of complex patients. DESIGN The research team designed a multisite, prospective, 6-mo outcome study. The study was completed after final outcome measures were obtained on 500 participants. SETTING The study occurred in four psychiatric clinics, the Amen Clinics in Newport Beach and San Francisco, CA; Bellevue, WA; and Reston, VA. PARTICIPANTS Participants were new outpatients at the four clinics who were entered into the study between January 2011 and August 2012. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES Evaluations included (1) histories, (2) mental-status examinations, (3) a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV), (4) the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), (5) the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), (6) the Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), and (7) brain SPECT scans during rest and concentration. At 6 mo, standardized outcome measurements were readministered (BDI-II, BSI, QOLI), and the research team asked questions about improvement and compliance. RESULTS Seventy-five percent of participants reported significant clinical improvement; 55% reported being "very compliant," 41% "somewhat compliant," and 4% "noncompliant. " Significant improvements were observed across all three assessments: (1) BDI, 360 out of 500 (72%) participants decreased, mean difference=-6.92; (2) BSI, 367 out of 461 (80%) participants decreased, mean difference=-0.39. ; (3) QOLI, 427 (85%) of participants improved) at 6 mo (Hotelling T2=460; P<.0001), mean difference=+1.65. Net improvement was measured at 81% (n=405). CONCLUSIONS To the research team's knowledge, this study is the first outcome study of complex psychiatric patients using SPECT as an additional diagnostic tool and demonstrating significant improvement. Further studies comparing the addition of brain SPECT to "treatment as usual" groups are warranted.
Varying role of vitamin D deficiency in the etiology of rickets in young children vs. adolescents in northern India.

The relative importance of calcium vs. vitamin D deficiency in the etiology of nutritional rickets in the tropics may be different in children compared with adolescents. We studied calcium intake, sun exposure, serum alkaline phosphatase, and 25 hydroxyvitamin D in 24 children and 16 adolescents with rickets/osteomalacia. The values were compared with those obtained in control subjects (34 children and 19 adolescents). We found that young children with rickets had lower calcium intake compared with controls (285 +/- 113 vs. 404 +/- 149 mg/day, p < 0.01), but similar sun exposure (55 +/- 28 vs. 56 +/- 23 min x m2/day) and 25 hydroxyvitamin D (49 +/- 38 vs. 61 +/- 36 nmol/l). Sixteen of 24 children with rickets had 25 hydroxyvitamin D above the rachitic range (> 25 nmol/l), in contrast to one of 16 adolescents. Adolescent patients had low calcium intake vs. controls (305 +/- 196 vs. 762 +/- 183 mg, p < 0.001), and lower sunshine exposure (16 +/- 15 vs. 27 +/- 17 min x m2/day, p < 0.01) and serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (12.6 +/- 7.1 vs. 46 +/- 45.4 nmol/l, p < 0.001). The odds ratio for developing rickets with a daily calcium intake below 300 mg was 4.8 (95 per cent CI, 1.9 - 12.4, p = 0.001). Subjects with rickets were randomized to receive 1 g calcium daily, with or without vitamin D. Children showed complete healing in 3 months, whether they received calcium alone or with vitamin D. Adolescents showed no response to calcium alone, but had complete healing with calcium and vitamin D in 3-9 months (mean 5.3 months). Thus deficient calcium intake is universal among children and adolescents with rickets/osteomalacia. Inadequate sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency are important in the etiology of adolescent osteomalacia.
Risk of tremor and impairment from tremor in relatives of patients with essential tremor: A community‐based family study

Essential tremor (ET) is a common condition that is present in as many as 23% of elderly individuals. Our objective was to determine the risk of ET and to study the impairment resulting from ET among relatives of ET cases compared to relatives of controls. ET cases and matched controls from the Washington Heights‐Inwood community, New York, and their first‐ and second‐degree relatives underwent a standardized tremor examination. The risk of having ET in relatives of cases vs relatives of controls was compared using Cox proportional hazards models. Five hundred ninety‐one subjects were examined (59 ET cases, 72 controls, 234 case relatives, and 226 control relatives). ET was present in 25 (22.5%) of the 111 first‐degree relatives of cases compared to 6 (5.6%) of 107 first‐degree relatives of controls [relative risk (RR) = 4.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.90–11.49, p = 0.0008]. RRs were higher in relatives of cases with onset ≤50 years than in those with later onset (RR = 10.38 vs 4.82). Sixteen (64%) of twenty‐five affected first‐degree case relatives exhibited moderate tremor while performing tasks such as writing, drinking, or pouring. Relatives of ET patients are five times more likely to develop the disease than are members of the population and ten times more likely if the proband's tremor began at an early age. The majority of the affected relatives can expect to experience impairment resulting from tremor.
Hb Indianapolis [β112 (G14) Cys→Arg] as the probable cause of moderate hemolytic anemia and renal damage in a Brazilian patient

Hemoglobin (Hb) Indianapolis [β112 (G14) Cys→Arg] is a rare and slightly unstable β‐globin variant. All carriers described to date were clinically normal with only mild reticulocytosis. We report here a case of a Brazilian patient in whom hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure were probably caused by the presence of this variant. Am. J. Hematol. , 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Circular spectrum mapping for intravoxel fiber structures based on high angular resolution apparent diffusion coefficients

A method is presented for mapping intravoxel fiber structures using spectral decomposition onto a circular distribution of measured apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). The zeroth‐, second‐, and fourth‐order harmonic components of the ADC distribution on the circle spanned by the major and median eigenvectors of the diffusion tensor can be used to provide quantitative indices for isotropic, linear, and fiber‐crossing diffusion, respectively. A diffusion‐weighted MRI technique with 90 encoding orientations was implemented to estimate the circular ADC distribution and calculate the circular spectrum. A digital phantom was used to simulate various diffusion patterns. Comparisons were made between the circular spectrum and regular DTI‐based index maps. The results indicated that the zeroth‐ and second‐order circular spectrum maps exhibited a strong consistency with the DTI‐based mean diffusivity and linear indices, respectively, and the fourth‐order circular spectrum map was able to identify the fiber crossings. MRI experiments were performed on seven healthy human brains using a 3T scanner. The in vivo fourth‐order maps showed significantly higher densities in several brain regions, including the corpus callosum, cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, corticospinal tract, and middle cerebellar peduncle, which indicated the existence of fiber crossings in these regions. Magn Reson Med 49:1077–1088, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.