Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A visual causal exploration framework case study: a torrential rain and a flash flood in Kobe city

Extreme weather events, such as unexpected and sudden torrential rains, have received increasing attention by the specialists as well as ordinary people due to the possibility of causing severe material damages and human losses. Computational climate scientists have been working on high-resolution time-varying, multivariate numerical simulations of this kind of short-term event, which is still hard to predict. Local governments of the natural disaster prone countries, like Japan, usually possess disaster management sectors, responsible for storing the disaster related data and analysis results. In this paper, we present a visualization framework for enabling the interactive exploration of the causality, such as of the disasters and the related extreme weather events. The end users will be able to identify the spatio-temporal regions where there is a strong strength of cause-effect relationships. As a case study, we studied the unexpected torrential rain occurred in the city of Kobe, in 2008, where a flash flood, in the urban area, caused some human losses. We utilized high-resolution computational climate simulation results executed on a supercomputer, and the measured river level data obtained from the Civil Engineering Office of Kobe City. We expected that this kind of tool can assist the specialists for better understanding the cause-effect relationships between the extreme weather and the related disasters, as well as, the local government policy makers in the adaptation policies for the disaster risk reductions.
Interleukin-3-Deficient Mice Have Increased Resistance to Blood-Stage Malaria

ABSTRACT The contribution of interleukin-3 (IL-3), a hematopoietic growth factor and immunoregulatory cytokine, to resistance to blood-stage malaria was investigated by infecting IL-3-deficient (knockout [KO]) mice with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Male IL-3 KO mice, but not female mice, were more resistant to infection than wild-type (WT) mice, as evidenced by lower peak parasitemia and prolonged survival. Both male and female IL-3 KO mice had increased splenomegaly and were more anemic than corresponding WT mice. Anemia was compensated for by an increase in bone marrow and splenic erythropoiesis in IL-3 KO mice, as evidenced by higher levels of erythroid progenitors. Plasma levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and CXCL9 (monokine induced by IFN-γ [MIG]) were found to be significantly reduced in IL-3 KO mice during early stages of infection. In contrast, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels were significantly higher, and the percentage of peripheral blood neutrophils lower, in infected IL-3 KO mice than in WT counterparts. Overall, our results indicate that IL-3 plays a critical role in suppressing protective immunity to P. berghei NK65 infection and that it is involved in inhibiting the development of splenomegaly, anemia, and erythropoiesis. IL-3 also influences IFN-γ, CXCL9, and G-CSF production in response to infection. The abnormal responses seen in infected IL-3 KO mice may be due to the lack of IL-3 during development, to the lack of IL-3 in the infected mature mice, or to both.
Self-reports of health-care utilization: Diary or questionnaire?

Objectives: The feasibility and convergent validity of a cost diary and a cost questionnaire was investigated. Methods: Data were obtained as part of a cost-utility analysis alongside a multicenter clinical trial in patients with resectable rectal cancer. A sample of 107 patients from 30 hospitals was asked to keep a weekly diary during the first 3 months after surgery, and a monthly diary from 3 to 12 months after surgery. A second sample of seventy-two patients from twenty-eight hospitals in the trial received a questionnaire at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, referring to the previous 3 or 6 months. Format and items of the questions were similar and included a wide range of medical and nonmedical items and costs after hospitalization for surgery. Results: Small differences were found with respect to nonresponse (range, 79 to 86 percent) and missing questions (range, 1 to 6 percent between the diary and questionnaire). For most estimates of volumes of care and of costs, the diary and questionnaire did not differ significantly. Total 3-month nonhospital costs were €1,860, €1,280, and €1,050 in the diary sample and €1,860, €1,090, and €840 in the questionnaire sample at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, respectively (p =.50). However, with respect to open questions, the diary sample tended to report significantly more care. Conclusions: For the assessment of health-care utilization in economic evaluations alongside clinical trials, a cost questionnaire with structured closed questions may replace a cost diary for recall periods up to 6 months.
Solid waste characterisation study in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone, Mexico

The key findings of a solid waste characterisation study conducted at the Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone, Mexico, are reported. Objectives of the study were to estimate the daily generation rate of household (HSW) and municipal solid waste (MSW), characterise and compare their composition by type of material, determine the proportion that HSW contributes to MSW, explore changes in MSW composition through time after final disposal, and estimate the types and amount of MSW that are sorted out for recycling at final disposal sites. HSW generated during seven days by a sample of 300 households chosen through a two-stage stratified sampling design was collected, weighed and classified. MSW entering the four local disposal sites was recorded for 12 weeks, and materials’ sorting was quantified. MSW samples taken by excavating trenches in two final disposal sites were also characterised. The average per capita daily HSW generation rate was 508 g. HSW mainly consisted of putrescible waste (53%), paper (10%) and plastic (9%). The average daily generation rate of MSW was 3119.2 metric tonnes. HSW represented 55.9% of MSW, and the main difference between HSW and MSW was a lower proportion of organic materials (53% vs. 16.5%, respectively). The major changes in MSW composition through time after final disposal, were the result of the quick decomposition of putrescible materials. Only 2.2% of total MSW generated in Guadalajara (mainly package waste) was sorted for recycling.
Development and Validation of the Korean Version of the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6K)

Purpose To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6K). Materials and Methods Participants were recruited from February 2013 to July 2013. The primary survey was conducted for 220 participants, and a follow-up was conducted 3 weeks (±1 week) after the primary survey. The FSFI-6K data were analyzed and compared to the reference values in the original FSFI. Results Of the 220 participants, 199 (90.5%) returned to follow-up, 18 (8.2%) had no further contact, and 3 (1.4%) declined to respond. The internal consistency of the FSFI-6K as measured by Cronbach's alpha was 0.888 and the reliability based on test-retest intraclass correlation was 0.606; these values were acceptable. The cutoff used for diagnosis of female sexual dysfunction by an receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was a score of 21; the sensitivity and specificity for this curve are 0.89 and 0.86, respectively. The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.948. Conclusion The FSFI-6K has high internal consistency and acceptable reliability. This validated questionnaire can be used for the Korean population.
Analysis of transcription factor expression during oogenesis and preimplantation development in mice

Summary The transition from a differentiated germ cell into a totipotent zygote during oogenesis and preimplantation development is critical to the creation of a new organism. During this period, cell characteristics change dynamically, suggesting that a global alteration of gene expression patterns occurs, which is regulated by global changes in various epigenetic factors. Among these, transcription factors (TFs) are essential in the direct regulation of transcription and also play important roles in determining cell characteristics. However, no comprehensive analysis of TFs from germ cells to embryos had been undertaken. We used mRNA amplification systems and microarrays to conduct a genomewide analysis of TFs at various stages of oogenesis and preimplantation development. The greatest alteration in TFs occurred between the 1- and 2-cell stages, at which time zygotic genome activation (ZGA) occurs. Our analysis of TFs classified by structure and function revealed several specific patterns of change. Basic transcription factors, which are the general components of transcription, increased transiently at the 2-cell stage, while homeodomain (HD) TFs were expressed specifically in the oocyte. TFs containing the Rel homology region (RHR) and Ets domains were expressed at a high level in 2-cell and blastocyst embryos. Thus, the global TF dynamics that occur during oogenesis and preimplantation development seem to regulate the transition from germ-cell-type to embryo-type gene expression.
Immediate release of ibuprofen from Fujicalin®-based fast-dissolving self-emulsifying tablets

Background: Drug release from a solid form of self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) has greatly been limited due to strong adsorption and physical interaction with carriers. To facilitate drug release process in the stomach, an acid-soluble powderizing carrier, Fujicalin® was evaluated together with different disintegrants and hydrophilic lubricants. Method: Immediate-release self-emulsifying tablets (IR-SETs) of ibuprofen (IBU) was prepared with solidified SEDDS of IBU, various disintegrants, and lubricants, and drug release was evaluated to develop IR-SET that can release IBU with a similar IBU release rate to that obtained with liquid SEDDS. Results: The liquid SEDDS consisted of Capryol 90, Cremophor EL, Labrasol, and IBU at a ratio of 3:4:3:3, and was solidified with various adsorbents. The powderized SEDDS was tabletted by a direct compression. Fujicalin®-based SEDDS tablets demonstrated remarkably higher dissolution rate of IBU compared with Neusilin® and Neosyl®-based SEDDS tablets. The IR-SET formula of IBU prepared with Fujicalin® as an adsorbent, Polyplasdone® as a disintegrant, and sodium bicarbonate as a co-disintegrant showed over 90% of initially loaded dose of IBU released within 5 min in a stimulated gastric juice (pH 1.2), exhibiting almost equivalent rate of IBU release to that shown by liquid SEDDS. The particle size analysis revealed no significant differences in droplet sizes of the microemulsions formed from liquid (116 nm) and IR-SET (110 nm). Conclusion: The novel IR-SET can be promising as a fast-releasing SEDDS tablet of IBU for fast onset of action.
Mechanisms of protection by melatonin against acetaminophen‐induced liver injury in mice

Abstract: The present study was performed to determine whether melatonin protects mouse liver against severe damage induced by acetaminophen (APAP) administration and where melatonin primarily functions in the metabolic pathway of APAP to protect mouse liver against APAP‐induced injury. Treatment of mice with melatonin (50 or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) 8 or 4 hr before APAP administration (750 mg/kg, p.o.) suppressed the increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in a dose‐ and a time‐dependent manner. Melatonin treatment (100 mg/kg, p.o.) 4 hr before APAP administration remarkably inhibited centrilobular hepatic necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration and increases in hepatic lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity, an index of tissue neutrophil infiltration, as well as release of nitric oxide and interleukin‐6 into blood circulation at 9 hr after APAP administration. However, melatonin neither affected hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) content nor spared hepatic GSH consumption by APAP treatment. Moreover, pretreatment with melatonin 4 hr before APAP administration did not influence the induction of hepatic heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) by APAP and melatonin alone did not induce HSP70 in mouse liver. These results indicate that exogenously administered melatonin exhibits a potent hepatoprotective effect against APAP‐induced hepatic damage probably downstream of the activity of cytochrome P450 2E1, which works upstream of GSH conjugation in the pathway of APAP metabolism, via its anti‐nitrosative and anti‐inflammatory activities in addition to its antioxidant activity.
Study of potential systemic oxidative stress animal models for the evaluation of antioxidant activity: status of lipid peroxidation and fat‐soluble antioxidants

Although many compounds have already been tested in‐vitro to determine their antioxidant profile, it is necessary to investigate the in‐vivo effect of potential antioxidants. However, representative models of systemic oxidative stress have been poorly studied. Here, different potential systemic oxidative stress animal models have been investigated. These included a vitamin E‐deficient rat, a diabetic rat and an atherosclerotic rabbit model. Plasma/serum malondialdehyde was measured as a parameter of oxidative damage. Plasma/serum fat‐soluble antioxidants were determined as markers of antioxidant defence. We demonstrated that vitamin E‐deficient rats were not suitable as a model of systemic oxidative stress, whereas diabetic and atherosclerotic animals showed increased systemic oxidative damage, as reflected by significantly augmented plasma/serum malondialdehyde. Moreover, plasma coenzyme Q9 increased by 80% in diabetic rats, confirming systemic oxidative stress. In view of these observations and economically favouring factors, the diabetic rat appeared to be the most appropriate systemic oxidative stress model. These findings have provided important information concerning systemic oxidative stress animal models for the in‐vivo study of antioxidants.
Evaluation of a generic albuterol metered-dose inhaler: importance of priming the MDI.

Since the patent on albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDI) expired in 1989, several manufacturers have developed generic products. In order to determine whether one generic albuterol MDI is equivalent to a reference product (Ventolin MDI), we compared the relative efficacy of two puffs (180 micrograms) of each inhaler in 17 intermittent or mild chronic adult asthmatics (FEV1 48% to 77% predicted) in a randomized, single-blind, crossover manner. The test dose was the first two puffs out of each canister. Pulmonary function was measured before each test dose and at frequent intervals over eight hours. Baseline FEV1 values on both study days were within 20%. The mean +/- SD peak effect was 80.5 +/- 15.5% of maximum achievable improvement in FEV1 after the generic compared with 92.2 +/- 8.8% after Ventolin (P = .006). The area under the curve (AUC) for this same measurement during the first four hours was 242 +/- 75%. hr-1 after the generic compared with 297 +/- 40%. hr-1 after Ventolin, a mean difference of 19% (P = .002). The study was then repeated with the MDI primed prior to the test dose (ie, two puffs were first discharged into a waste basket) in subjects willing to return for re-study (n = 11). There was no significant difference in AUC in the second study: 215 +/- 77%. hr-1 after generic and 228 +/- 82%. hr-1 after Ventolin (P = .65); however, there was only a 35% chance of detecting a 20% difference in AUC with this sample size. These data indicate that, without priming, an MDI may deliver less drug, and thereby less therapeutic effect. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pre‐harvest Interventions to Reduce the Shedding of E. coli O157 in the Faeces of Weaned Domestic Ruminants: A Systematic Review

Our objective was to use formal systematic review methods to evaluate the efficacy of interventions to reduce faecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157 in post‐weaned ruminants by increasing animal resistance. The methodology consisted of an extensive search to identify all potentially relevant research, screening of titles and abstracts for relevance to the research question, quality assessment of relevant research, extraction of data from research of sufficient quality, and qualitative summarization of results. The interventions evaluated included probiotics, vaccination, antimicrobials, sodium chlorate, bacteriophages and other feed additives. There was evidence of efficacy for the probiotic combination Lactobacillus acidophilus NP51 (NPC 747) and Propionibacterium freudenreichii and for sodium chlorate in feed or water. The effectiveness of vaccination varied among studies and among vaccine protocols and there was no consistent evidence to suggest that antibiotic use was associated with a decrease in faecal shedding of E. coli O157, or that current industry uses of antimicrobials were associated with increased faecal shedding. There were an insufficient number of studies available to address the effectiveness of bacteriophages and several other feed additives. In general, few of the primary studies evaluated the interventions under commercial housing conditions with a natural disease challenge, there were inconsistencies in the results among study designs and in some cases among studies within study designs, and a relatively large proportion of publications were excluded based on quality assessment criteria. Few studies reported on associations between the proposed intervention and production parameters, such as average daily gain and feed: gain ratio. While the results suggest that some interventions may be efficacious, there are knowledge gaps in our understanding of the efficacy of pre‐harvest interventions to increase animal resistance to E. coli O157 that require further targeted research.
Bottom-up engineering of the surface roughness of nanostructured cubic zirconia to control cell adhesion

Nanostructured cubic zirconia is a strategic material for biomedical applications since it combines superior structural and optical properties with a nanoscale morphology able to control cell adhesion and proliferation. We produced nanostructured cubic zirconia thin films at room temperature by supersonic cluster beam deposition of nanoparticles produced in the gas phase. Precise control of film roughness at the nanoscale is obtained by operating in a ballistic deposition regime. This allows one to study the influence of nanoroughness on cell adhesion, while keeping the surface chemistry constant. We evaluated cell adhesion on nanostructured zirconia with an osteoblast-like cell line using confocal laser scanning microscopy for detailed morphological and cytoskeleton studies. We demonstrated that the organization of cytoskeleton and focal adhesion formation can be controlled by varying the evolution of surface nanoroughness.
Size and shape of the sella turcica in subjects with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVES To study size and shape of the sella turcica in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and compare them to matched controls without the syndrome. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION The Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. Lateral cephalograms of sixty DS individuals and sixty controls were obtained with an age range of 12-22 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS The length, depth, and diameter of the sella turcica were calculated. In addition, the shape of the sella turcica was described as either normal or with aberrations such as; oblique anterior wall, sella turcica bridging, extremely low sella turcica, irregularity in the posterior part of the dorsum sella, and pyramidal shape of the dorsum sella. RESULTS An increase in the diameter and depth of sella turcica was found more frequently in DS group as compared to controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001, respectively). When the shape of the sella turcica was examined, a normal sella turcica shape was found less often in DS (P < 0.05). The most common abnormality detected was an oblique anterior wall (P < 0.05). A sella turcica bridge, irregularity in the posterior wall, and a pyramidal shape of sella turcica were present simultaneously in some individuals with DS (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The sella turcica in DS differs in size and morphology when compared to individuals without the syndrome. The diameter and depth of the sella turcica in DS are larger than controls, with a tendency toward more abnormalities in the shape of sella turcica.
Intestinal Tumor Progression Is Associated with Altered Function of KLF5*

Krüppel-like transcription factors have been linked to cell growth regulation and tumorigenesis in a number of systems. In the intestinal epithelium, expression of KLF5 (IKLF/BTEB2) is limited to proliferating crypt cells, indicating a growth-promoting role. Consistent with this role, we demonstrate that expression of KLF5 in non-transformed intestinal epithelial cells (ileal IEC-18 and Immorto-Min Colon Epithelial (IMCE) cells) enhances colony formation, cyclin D1 transcription, and cell growth. However, in contrast to these effects in non-transformed cells, KLF5 reduced colony number, failed to enhance cyclin D1 transcription, and was negatively correlated with cell growth in colon cancer cell lines. The relationship between tumor progression and KLF5 was further investigated using Ras-mediated transformation of IEC-18 and IMCE cells as syngeneic models. Ras-transformation recapitulated differences in the effects of KLF5 on cell growth and cyclin D1 transcription, providing a direct link between intestinal tumor progression and altered function of KLF5. Ras-transformation also markedly down-regulated KLF5; further analysis indicated that reduced expression of KLF5 mRNA and destabilization of KLF5 protein occur in intestinal tumors. Reduced levels of KLF5 mRNA were also detected in APCmin mouse and human familial adenomatous polyposis adenomas compared with normal crypt epithelium, indicating that down-regulation of KLF5 is an early event in intestinal tumorigenesis in vivo. Collectively, these data indicate that intestinal tumor progression is associated with a change in the growth-related functions of KLF5 and that intestinal tumors down-regulate KLF5 expression by multiple mechanisms.