Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of Inflammation, DNA Damage and Apoptosis in Rat Heart after Oral Exposure to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and the Cardioprotective Role of α-lipoic Acid and Vitamin E

Abstract Although zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) are being used on a wide scale in the world consumer market, their potential hazards on humans remain largely unknown. The present study was aimed at investigating the oral toxicity of ZnO-NP in 2 dose regimen (600 mg/kg and 1 g/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days) in rats. In addition, the protective role of either α-lipoic acid (Lipo) or vitamin E (Vit E) against this cardiotoxic effect of ZnO-NPs was assessed. Results revealed that, co-administration of Lipo (200 mg/Kg body weight) or Vit E (100 mg/Kg body weight) daily for 3 weeks to rats intoxicated with ZnO-NPs (in either of the 2 dose regimen) significantly ameliorated the cardiotoxic effect of these nanoparticles. As, both agents significantly reduced the increase in serum cardiac injury markers including troponin-T, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and myoglobin. Additionally, Lipo and Vit E significantly decreased the increase in serum pro-inflammatory biomarkers level including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Moreover, either of the 2 used agents successfully alleviated the alteration in nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ZnO-NPs in sera of intoxicated group. They also significantly reduced the increase in cardiac calcium concentration and the consequent oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, as well as the increase in cardiac caspase-3 activity of intoxicated rats. Conclusively, these results indicate that early treatment with either α-lipoic acid or vitamin E may offer protection against cardiac tissue injury induced by the deleterious toxic impacts of ZnO–NPs.
In vivo middle cerebral artery plaque imaging by high-resolution MRI

Middle cerebral artery (MCA) atherosclerosis is currently diagnosed by indirect angiographic methods. The authors used high-resolution MRI (HR-MRI) to study MCA stenosis in six patients. At the level of stenosis, an MCA plaque was clearly delineated and significantly measured vs nonatherosclerotic MCA segments, showing that HR-MRI is an accurate direct imaging method.
Efficient Receive Antenna Selection Algorithms and Framework for Transmit Zero-Forcing Beamforming

MIMO wireless downlinks using transmit zero-forcing beamforming (TZFBF) with MT transmit antennas can serve up to K=MT receivers, each equipped with one antenna. To maximize the sum rate, waterfilling can be used. It is shown that unlike classical waterfilling, TZFBF waterfilling cannot simply drop the poorer spatial modes during optimization. Instead, receive antenna selection (RAS) must be incorporated and achieving the maximum sum rate requires an exhaustive search over Sigma|S|(MTC|S|) iterations to find the optimal subset S of active receivers where |S| = 1,. ,MT. In principle, a separate RAS algorithm can be used in conjunction with waterfilling to reduce the exponential complexity O(2M T) of the exhaustive search to linear complexity O(MT). We develop optimization algorithms that emulate classical waterfilling by progressively reducing the effects of poor spatial modes in MT iterations. They do so by performing RAS jointly during the waterfilling process at little additional complexity. By avoiding a separate RAS process, complexity is thus further reduced. For the typical case where K>MT, we propose a 2-phase framework that helps reduce the overall complexity while meeting the TZFBF dimensional constraints. Numerical results over different channel conditions are given
Active immunization against (Pro3)GIP improves metabolic status in high‐fat‐fed mice

Aim: Ablation of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor signalling can prevent many of the metabolic abnormalities associated with dietary‐induced obesity‐diabetes. The present study was designed to assess the ability of active immunization against (Pro3)GIP to counter metabolic dysfunction associated with diet‐induced obesity in high‐fat‐fed mice.
Effects of replacing milk and soybean products with wheat glutens on digestibility of nutrients and growth performance in nursery pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the nutritional value of wheat gluten (WG) for weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, 72 pigs (4.2 kg average BW) were used in a N metabolism experiment. Treatments were 1) casein-corn-based control; 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) Diet 1 with flash-dried WG, spray-dried WG, two enzyme-modified (to increase solubility) WG, and soybean meal (SBM) used to replace casein, respectively. The diet with casein had the greatest apparent N digestibility and apparent biological value (P < .002), and diets with WG had greater apparent N digestibility than the diet with SBM (P < .01). In Exp. 2, 180 pigs (5.6 kg average BW) were used. Treatments for d 0 to 14 were 1) dried skim milk (DSM)-dried whey-SBM-based control; 2, 3, 4 and 5) Diet 1 with the DSM replaced by lactose and flash-dried, spray-dried, and enzyme-modified WG (ModWG), and soybean protein isolate (SPI), respectively. All pigs were fed a common diet from d 14 to 35. For d 0 to 14, pigs fed diets with WG had greater gain/feed than those fed SPI (P < .01), and for d 14 to 35, pigs fed spray-dried WG and ModWG had greater ADG (P < .04) than pigs fed flash-dried WG. In Exp. 3, 180 pigs (5.7 kg average BW) were used. Treatments for d 0 to 14 were 1) DSM-dried whey-SBM-based control; 2) spray-dried WG and lactose replacing DSM; and 3) spray-dried WG replacing SBM. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Brachial Artery Catheterization: An Assessment of Use Patterns and Associated Complications

BACKGROUND:Although studies have compared safety and outcomes of radial artery cannulation with other arterial catheterization locations, there is insufficient information describing brachial artery catheterization. In this study, we characterized the perioperative use patterns and the complication rates associated with brachial arterial catheterization and compared these outcomes with radial artery catheterization. METHODS:We performed a retrospective analysis of adult patients (age ≥18 years) undergoing surgical procedures at an academic medical center from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2011. An institutional database containing information on anesthetic care was queried to identify all brachial artery catheterizations. Baseline characteristics, details relating to the surgical and catheterization procedures, and catheter-related complications were collected and compared with a random sample of patients receiving radial artery catheterization. RESULTS:We identified 858 patients receiving brachial catheterization perioperatively. An additional 3432 patients receiving radial catheterization were identified. Patients receiving brachial catheterization were more often women, had a lower body mass index, had more comorbidities, and had longer anesthetic and catheterization durations. Three vascular complications were identified in the cohort receiving brachial artery catheterization compared with 1 patient with a peripheral neuropathy in the radial artery catheterization cohort (unadjusted complication incidence [95% confidence intervals] brachial artery catheterization, 0.35% [0.12%–1.02%] vs radial artery catheterization, 0.03% [0.005%–0.16%], respectively; P = 0.030; relative risk [95% confidence interval] = 12.0 [1.7–83.4]). There were no catheter-related bloodstream infections. CONCLUSIONS:We found that brachial artery catheterization is used in more medically complex patients and for longer duration than radial artery catheterizations. Although the limited number of adverse outcomes precluded statistical adjustments in this investigation, the observed differences in complication rates between cannulation methods suggest that brachial artery catheterization may be a suitable alternative to radial artery catheterization in patients with complex medical comorbidities.
Phase I Trial of a CD8+ T-Cell Peptide Epitope-Based Vaccine for Infectious Mononucleosis

ABSTRACT A single blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center phase I clinical trial of a CD8+ T-cell peptide epitope vaccine against infectious mononucleosis was conducted with 14 HLA B*0801-positive, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative adults. The vaccine comprised the HLA B*0801-restricted peptide epitope FLRGRAYGL and tetanus toxoid formulated in a water-in-oil adjuvant, Montanide ISA 720. FLRGRAYGL-specific responses were detected in 8/9 peptide-vaccine recipients and 0/4 placebo vaccine recipients by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assay and/or limiting-dilution analysis. The same T-cell receptor Vβ CDR3 sequence that is found in FLRGRAYGL-specific T cells from most EBV-seropositive individuals could also be detected in the peripheral blood of vaccine recipients. The vaccine was well tolerated, with the main side effect being mild to moderate injection site reactions. After a 2- to 12-year follow-up, 1/2 placebo vaccinees who acquired EBV developed infectious mononucleosis, whereas 4/4 vaccinees who acquired EBV after completing peptide vaccination seroconverted asymptomatically. Single-epitope vaccination did not predispose individuals to disease, nor did it significantly influence development of a normal repertoire of EBV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses following seroconversion.
Potentiation of human natural killer cell cytotoxicity by Salmonella bacteria is an interferon- and interleukin-2-independent process that utilizes CD2 and CD18 structures in the effector phase

Incubation of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) with glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria stimulated in the supernatant the production of interferon (IFN), which proved to be mainly IFN-gamma. Even though IFN-gamma was produced upon exposure of LGL to bacteria, anti-IFN-gamma antibodies failed to interfere with induction of cytotoxicity by bacterial contact. Anti-IFN-gamma receptor antibodies had no effect on the induction of activated killing by bacterial contact either. We also tested the effect of anti-IFN-alpha antibody, but it failed to interfere with induction of cytotoxicity by bacterial contact. No interleukin-2 (IL-2) was detected in the culture supernatant of bacterially activated LGL by the mouse HT2 cell assay, nor did we detect any IL-2 mRNA in bacterially activated LGL by Northern RNA blot assay. Neutralizing anti-IL-2 antiserum had no effect on the induction of activated killing by bacterial contact, and recombinant IL-4 did not interfere with the induction of activated killing. We then studied the membrane structures involved in bacterially activated killing. Anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody did not interfere with the induction phase of bacterially activated killing. However, both anti-CD18 and anti-CD2 antibodies inhibited the effector phase of bacterially activated killing. The effector pathways utilized by activated LGL depended on the mode of activation in that even though bacterially activated LGL were sometimes blocked by anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody, recombinant-IL-2-stimulated LGL were not. In conclusion, our present results suggest that there may be mediators other than exogenously secreted IFNs and IL-2 which are responsible for the induction of activated killing after bacterial contact. CD18 and CD2 structures were shown to be involved in the effector phase of bacterially activated killing.
Enzyme catalysis by entropy without Circe effect

Significance One of the most influential hypotheses regarding enzyme catalysis is Jencks’s so-called Circe effect, in which the catalytic power is usually equated to proper alignment of substrates, bringing reacting groups into close proximity, and restriction of substrate motions. The entropic penalty associated with climbing the activation barrier could then be diminished because it has already been paid upon substrate binding. The enzyme cytidine deaminase appears to be the perfect example of this behavior. Here, we use extensive computer simulations to obtain thermodynamic activation parameters for this reaction. The very large activation entropy difference between the enzyme reaction and the uncatalyzed process is, however, found to be attributable to a change of reaction mechanism rather than the Circe effect. Entropic effects have often been invoked to explain the extraordinary catalytic power of enzymes. In particular, the hypothesis that enzymes can use part of the substrate-binding free energy to reduce the entropic penalty associated with the subsequent chemical transformation has been very influential. The enzymatic reaction of cytidine deaminase appears to be a distinct example. Here, substrate binding is associated with a significant entropy loss that closely matches the activation entropy penalty for the uncatalyzed reaction in water, whereas the activation entropy for the rate-limiting catalytic step in the enzyme is close to zero. Herein, we report extensive computer simulations of the cytidine deaminase reaction and its temperature dependence. The energetics of the catalytic reaction is first evaluated by density functional theory calculations. These results are then used to parametrize an empirical valence bond description of the reaction, which allows efficient sampling by molecular dynamics simulations and computation of Arrhenius plots. The thermodynamic activation parameters calculated by this approach are in excellent agreement with experimental data and indeed show an activation entropy close to zero for the rate-limiting transition state. However, the origin of this effect is a change of reaction mechanism compared the uncatalyzed reaction. The enzyme operates by hydroxide ion attack, which is intrinsically associated with a favorable activation entropy. Hence, this has little to do with utilization of binding free energy to pay the entropic penalty but rather reflects how a preorganized active site can stabilize a reaction path that is not operational in solution.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Suppresses Proinflammatory NFκB Activation through GSK3β Inactivation in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells*

Activation of NFκB is a fundamental cellular event central to all inflammatory diseases. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates both acute and chronic inflammation in a multitude of organ systems through modulating NFκB activity; nevertheless, the exact molecular mechanism remains uncertain. Here we report that HGF through inactivation of GSK3β suppresses NFκB p65 phosphorylation specifically at position Ser-468. The Ser-468 of RelA/p65 situates in a GSK3β consensus motif and could be directly phosphorylated by GSK3β both in vivo and in vitro, signifying Ser-468 of RelA/p65 as a putative substrate for GSK3β. In addition, the C terminus of RelA/p65 harbors a highly conserved domain homologue of the consensus docking sequence for GSK3β. Moreover, this domain was required for efficient phosphorylation of Ser-468 and was indispensable for the physical interaction between RelA/p65 and GSK3β. HGF substantially intercepted this interaction by inactivating GSK3β. Functionally, phosphorylation of Ser-468 of RelA/p65 was required for the induced expression of a particular subset of proinflammatory NFκB-dependent genes. Diminished phosphorylation at Ser-468 by HGF resulted in a gene-specific inhibition of these genes' expression. The action of HGF on proinflammatory NFκB activation was consistently mimicked by a selective GSK3β inhibitor or GSK3β knockdown by RNA interference but largely abrogated in cells expressing the mutant uninhibitable GSK3β. Collectively, our findings suggest that HGF has a potent suppressive effect on NFκB activation, which is mediated by GSK3β, an important signaling transducer controlling RelA/p65 phosphorylation specificity and directing the transcription of selective proinflammatory cytokines implicated in inflammatory kidney disease.
Apoptosis and necrosis: two distinct events induced, respectively, by mild and intense insults with N-methyl-D-aspartate or nitric oxide/superoxide in cortical cell cultures.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neurotoxicity may depend, in part, on the generation of nitric oxide (NO.) and superoxide anion (O2.-), which react to form peroxynitrite (OONO-). This form of neurotoxicity is thought to contribute to a final common pathway of injury in a wide variety of acute and chronic neurologic disorders, including focal ischemia, trauma, epilepsy, Huntington disease, Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral scelerosis, AIDS dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report that exposure of cortical neurons to relatively short durations or low concentrations of NMDA, S-nitrosocysteine, or 3-morpholinosydnonimine, which generate low levels of peroxynitrite, induces a delayed form of neurotoxicity predominated by apoptotic features. Pretreatment with superoxide dismutase and catalase to scavenge O2. - partially prevents the apoptotic process triggered by S-nitrosocysteine or 3-morpholinosydnonimine. In contrast, intense exposure to high concentrations of NMDA or peroxynitrite induces necrotic cell damage characterized by acute swelling and lysis, which cannot be ameliorated by superoxide dismutase and catalase. Thus, depending on the intensity of the initial insult, NMDA or nitric oxide/superoxide can result in either apoptotic or necrotic neuronal cell damage.
Deep Gestalt Reasoning Model: Interpreting Electrophysiological Signals Related to Cognition

We are to join deep input-output processing and Gestalt Laws driven cognition under deterministic world assumption. We consider every feedforward input-output system as a sensor: including units performing holistic recognition. A mathematical theorem is also a sensor: it senses the consequences upon receiving its conditions. Systems seeking consistencies between the outputs of sensor are cognitive units. Such units are involved in cognition. Sensor and cognitive units complement each other. We argue that the goal of learning is to turn components of the cognitive system into feedforward holistic units for gaining speed in cognition. We put forth a model for self-training of the holistic units. We connect our concepts to certain electrophysiological signals and cognitive phenomena, including evoked response potentials, working memory, and consciousness. We demonstrate the working of the two complementary systems on low level situation analysis in videos.
Impact of extended lymphadenectomy on morbidity and regional recurrence-free survival in melanoma patients

Abstract Introdurction: Current guidelines for malignant melanoma do not set a concrete cutoff limit for the number of lymph nodes to be resected during regional lymph node dissection (LND). Here, we investigate if extended LND (ext-LND) has an impact on surgical morbidity and oncological outcome in melanoma patients. Material and methods: A total of 245 melanoma patients receiving axillary or inguinal LND in curative intention were investigated retrospectively. Ext-LND was defined as axillary LND with 20 or more and inguinal LND with 10 or more resected lymph nodes. Surgical morbidity and regional recurrence-free survival were investigated. Results: Ext-LND did not lead to increased surgical morbidity in the overall study collective. After ext-LND, 55.4% of the patients experienced one of the investigated complications compared to 46.2% in the limited LND group (p = .2113). There was no difference in the occurrence of lymphatic fistula, wound infection, severe bleeding or neurological complications. In addition, patients with positive lymph node status showed improved regional recurrence-free survival following ext-LND (p = .0425). Conclusion: Ext-LND can be considered a quality marker of LND in melanoma patients.
Hiénidos y cánidos de los yacimientos de Incarcal (Girona, NE de la Península Ibérica): una aproximación a la paleobiología del hiénido del Pleistoceno inferior

Los primeros restos fosiles descritos en las dolinas del Pleistoceno inferior de Incarcal corresponden a elementos atribuidos a Pachycrocuta brevirostis. Durante las excavaciones programadas llevadas a cabo en anos posteriores en los diferentes yacimientos, se recupero material de este hienido en los embudos Incarcal I e Incarcal V. En este articulo se describen estos restos fosiles y, a partir de las observaciones realizadas, se apuntan hipotesis de trabajo sobre aspectos relacionados con los habitos de caza, dominancia entre especies, cleptoparasitismo y transporte de carronas, entre otros aspectos. En relacion al canido, debido al hecho de corresponder a un individuo juvenil, su presencia solo es indicativa de un nuevo taxon, sin poder llegar a mayor determinacion taxonomica.
[Unilateral Solar Maculopathy after Gazing at Solar Eclipse].

A 43-year-old male patient with unilateral metamorphosia presented after gazing at an eclipse with only one eye. Damage of the macula was demonstrated funduscopically, with OCT and angiography. Six weeks after initial presentation and oral methylprednisolone therapy (40 mg/d for 10 days), the symptoms and the morphological changes decreased. Solar retinopathy is a photochemical alteration of the retina, usually seen after sun gazing. In younger patients, it mostly presents as bilateral solar maculopathy. Some patients exhibit partial or total recovery.
Bedside diagnosis of influenzavirus infections in hospitalized children.

OBJECTIVE For preventing nosocomial influenza infections and to facilitate prompt antiviral therapy, an accessible, rapid diagnostic method for influenzavirus is needed. We evaluated the performance of a lateral-flow immunoassay (QuickVue Influenza Test) completed at the bedside of hospitalized children during the influenza season. METHODS All children who were evaluated at a large teaching hospital during the 1999 to 2000 influenza season were eligible if they were 1) younger than 19 years and hospitalized with respiratory symptoms or 2) younger than 3 years and hospitalized with fever. Each study child had 2 nasal swabs obtained--1 for influenzavirus culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the other for the QuickVue Influenza Test. The performance of the rapid diagnostic test was compared with the results of culture or PCR for influenza A or B. RESULTS Of 303 eligible children, 233 (77%) were enrolled. In this population, 19 children had culture- and/or PCR-confirmed influenza A infection, prevalence of 8%. The QuickVue Influenza Test had a sensitivity of 74%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value of 74%, and negative predictive value of 98%. CONCLUSIONS Among children hospitalized with fever/respiratory symptoms during the influenza season, negative bedside QuickVue Influenza Tests indicated very low likelihood of influenza infection, whereas positive tests greatly increased the probability of influenza-associated illness.
Sex Differences in Aggression in Real-World Settings: A Meta-Analytic Review

Meta-analytic reviews of sex differences in aggression from real-world settings are described. They cover self-reports, observations, peer reports, and teacher reports of overall direct, physical, verbal, and indirect forms of aggression, as well as (for self-reports) trait anger. Findings are related to sexual selection theory and social role theory. Direct, especially physical, aggression was more common in males and females at all ages sampled, was consistent across cultures, and occurred from early childhood on, showing a peak between 20 and 30 years. Anger showed no sex differences. Higher female indirect aggression was limited to later childhood and adolescence and varied with method of measurement. The overall pattern indicated males’ greater use of costly methods of aggression rather than a threshold difference in anger.