Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Treatment of acute vocal fold scar with local injection of basic fibroblast growth factor: a canine study

Abstract Conclusions: Results of the current study revealed improved phonation threshold pressure (PTP), normalized mucosal wave amplitude (NMWA), and less contraction of the lamina propria in injured larynges treated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Objectives: We investigated the effects of local injection of bFGF for treatment of acute vocal fold injury in a canine model. Methods: Vocal folds of eight beagles were unilaterally injured by removal of the mucosa under direct laryngoscopy. Four beagles received local injections of bFGF delivered to the scarred vocal fold at 1 month after injury. The remaining four beagles received local injections of saline and served as a sham-treatment group. Larynges were harvested 5 months after treatment and excised larynx experiments were performed to measure PTP, NMWA, and normalized glottal gap (NGG). Histologic staining was performed to evaluate structural changes of the extracellular matrix. Results: Excised larynx measurements revealed significantly lower PTP and increased NMWA in bFGF-treated vocal fold. Elastica Van Gieson staining revealed less contraction of the bFGF-treated vocal fold. Histologic measurements revealed that the thickness of the lamina propria was significantly greater in the bFGF-treated vocal fold. Alcian blue staining revealed improved restoration of hyaluronic acid in the bFGF-treated vocal fold.
Development of 66 kV/750 A High-T/sub c/ superconducting fault current limiter magnet

One of the items included in the Super-conductive AC Equipment (Super-ACE) project, being performed from 2000 to 2004, is a development of a 66 kV/750 A high-T/sub c/superconducting (HTS) fault current limiter (FCL) magnet. This research focuses on fundamental technical items essential for a 66 kV class fault current limiter, that is, high current capacity, high voltage insulation and sub-cooled nitrogen cooling. This paper describes the design of the magnet and the test results obtained so far. The magnet mainly consists of a vacuum vessel, a nitrogen bath, a pair of current leads, cryocoolers, and six sets of unit-coils wound with Bi2223 tapes. The rated current of each coil is about 125 A at 70 K, and so the total current capacity of the magnet is 750 A. The insulation voltage of the magnet is of the 66 kV class. By the end of FY2002, three sets of the unit coils were set connected in the cryostat and some evaluation tests were implemented as a milestone of the program. In the cooling down test, sub-cooled nitrogen of 65 K was obtained with homogenous temperature distribution in the cryogen. In the overvoltage test, no breakdowns were observed in the case of applying both ac voltage of 140 kV for one minute and lightning impulse voltage of 350 kV. Voltage-current characteristics of the coils were measured in sub-cooled nitrogen. The rated current of 375 A was successfully obtained for both direct and alternate current tests. All the targets constituting the milestone of the 66 kV/750 A magnet development were achieved.
Marine yeasts—a review

Yeasts are ubiquitous in their distribution and populations mainly depend on the type and concentration of organic materials. The distribution of species, as well as their numbers and metabolic characteristics were found to be governed by existing environmental conditions. Marine yeasts were first discovered from the Atlantic Ocean and following this discovery, yeasts were isolated from different sources, viz. seawater, marine deposits, seaweeds, fish, marine mammals and sea birds. Near‐shore environments are usually inhabited by tens to thousands of cells per litre of water, whereas low organic surface to deep‐sea oceanic regions contain 10 or fewer cells/litre. Aerobic forms are found more in clean waters and fermentative forms in polluted waters. Yeasts are more abundant in silty muds than in sandy sediments. The isolation frequency of yeasts fell as the depth of the sampling site is increased. Major genera isolated in this study were Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces and Rhodotorula. For biomass estimation ergosterol method was used. Classification and identification of yeasts were performed using different criteria, i.e. morphology, sexual reproduction and physiological/biochemical characteristics. Fatty acid profiling or molecular sequencing of the IGS and ITS regions and 28S gene rDNA ensured accurate identification. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The PHD Domain of Plant PIAS Proteins Mediates Sumoylation of Bromodomain GTE Proteins*

Covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to proteins regulates multiple processes in the eukaryotic cell. In numerous cases sumoylation is facilitated by protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) proteins, characterized by the presence of a SP-RING domain related to the RING finger of many ubiquitin E3 ligases. The importance of SP-RING relies on its capacity to bind the E2 enzyme of the pathway. Additional domains may participate in SUMO ligase function and target selection. We have studied the Arabidopsis SUMO ligase AtSIZ1, belonging to the PIAS family, and describe self-sumoylation and AtSIZ1-mediated sumoylation of the E2 enzyme AtSCE1 and GTE3, a bromodomain protein interacting with AtSIZ1. Modification of GTE3 modulates its capacity to bind acetyl-histone H3 in vitro. Interestingly, AtSIZ1, as other plant PIAS proteins, also includes a PHD domain. We found that the PHD domain binds AtSCE1 and contributes to the SUMO ligase function, being partially and absolutely required for AtSCE1 and GTE3 sumoylation, respectively. Based on the capacity of AtSCE1 and GTE3 to associate with both the PHD and SP-RING domains, we propose a model of interactions to explain AtSIZ1-mediated sumoylation of GTE3 and ligase function of the PHD domain.
Citalopram: a comprehensive review

Citalopram is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor that has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy in numerous controlled clinical trials. Additional studies have shown that the drug benefits patients with other illnesses that are related in some way to serotonergic dysfunction, including anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoria, alcohol dependence and the behavioural disturbances of dementia. This paper reviews the full spectrum of citalopram’s clinical efficacy, as well as its safety and tolerability, in a range of patients.
Effects of acute or 3-day treatments of Hypericum caprifoliatum Cham. & Schltdt. (Guttiferae) extract or of two established antidepressants on basal and stress-induced increase in serum and brain corticosterone levels

Since depressive patients present alterations in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that are normalised by antidepressants, this HPA axis has been considered as a target of their actions. We have investigated the mechanism of action of a cyclohexane extract of Hypericum caprifoliatum (HCP), which displays antidepressant like activity, by studying, in mice, the influence of HCP and of two established antidepressant drugs, imipramine and bupropion, administered either acutely or semi-chronically (once a day, three consecutive days), on serum and brain cortex corticosterone levels, either in basal conditions or shortly after a forced-swimming session (FSS). Administered acutely, imipramine (20 mg/kg, per os (p.o.)), bupropion (30 mg/kg, p.o.) and HCP (360 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the immobility time and had no effects on FSS-induced increase of serum and cortical corticosterone levels. Conversely, 3 days repeated treatment with imipramine or bupropion resulted in a significant reduction of immobility time and FSS-induced increase of serum and cortical corticosterone levels. In a different way, repeated treatment with HCP significantly reduced the immobility time and only cortical corticosterone levels in stressed mice. These results indicate that short-term treatments with antidepressants are sufficient to induce modifications in the HPA axis reactivity to stress; and that apparently HCP has an influence on corticosterone levels by a mechanism diverse from the other tested antidepressants.
Reliability of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Biopsy of Pancreatic Masses

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNB) was performed with ultrasound guidance in 79 patients in whom sonography had revealed a mass suggesting pancreatic malignancy. The final diagnosis (surgery, autopsy and clinical course) in 69 of these 79 patients was a malignancy closely related to the pancreas while in the remaining 10 patients benign disease was confirmed. A correct diagnosis of malignancy was attained by FNB in 59 of the 69 patients with a malignant tumour while in 10 it failed to confirm the diagnosis. FNB yielded a true negative result in 10 patients with benign disease. The accuracy of sonographically guided FNB in the present investigation was 87 per cent. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy is considered the method of choice for further evaluation of pancreatic masses.
Reserve Constrained Dynamic Environmental/Economic Dispatch: A New Multiobjective Self-Adaptive Learning Bat Algorithm

This paper proposes a new multiobjective self-adaptive learning bat-inspired algorithm to solve practical reserve constrained dynamic environmental/economic dispatch that considers realistic constraints such as valve-point effects, transmission losses, and ramp rate limits over a short-term time period. Furthermore, to ensure secure real-time power system operations, the system operator must schedule sufficient resources to meet energy demand and operating reserve requirements simultaneously. The proposed problem is a complex nonlinear nonsmooth and nonconvex multiobjective optimization problem whose complexity is increased when considering the above constraints. To this end, this paper utilizes a newly developed meta-heuristic bat inspired algorithm to achieve the set of nondominated (Pareto-optimal) solutions. This algorithm is equipped with a novel self-adaptive learning to increase the population diversity and amend the convergence criteria. The initial population of the proposed framework is generated by a chaos-based strategy. In addition, a tournament crowded selection approach is implemented to choose the population such that the Pareto-optimal front is distributed uniformly, while the extreme points of the tradeoff surface are achieved simultaneously. Numerical results evaluate the performances of the framework for real-size test systems.
CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GENERIC SUBSTITUTION OF LAMOTRIGINE FOR PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY

CLINICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GENERIC SUBSTITUTION OF LAMOTRIGINE FOR PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY To the Editor: LeLorier et al.1 studied the risks associated with patients switching to and from generic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in Quebec. The authors did not consider that such changes could be attributed to promotionally driven doctor and patient preferences. Industry representatives vigorously promote the idea that generics are less potent (“up to 20% less effective”) than their brand name equivalents despite Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assertions to the contrary.2 Study patients taking generics underwent dose escalations. The authors suggest that dose escalations were in response to increased side effects, but this is counterintuitive. More plausibly, anxietyinduced dose escalations contributed to side effects and, in turn, switch-backs. The unspoken hypothesis that switches to generic led to more seizures is unaddressed by the presented data, which blur psychiatric and neurologic indications for lamotrigine (LTG). LTG is used heavily in psychiatry and most recent growth in sales is driven by the psychiatric market.3 A single claim submitted with a code for epilepsy is considered sufficient evidence that LTG is being prescribed as an AED, but this is unlikely. The leading outpatient diagnostic code as well as four of five diagnostic codes for outpatient visits and two of three diagnostic codes for inpatient hospitalizations were not for epilepsy. By contrast, all comparator non-AED drugs in this study lent themselves to readily available objective efficacy assessment (blood pressure and lipid levels). There is no such equivalent for any LTG indication. FDA standards for generic bioequivalence are the same standards applied to branded medication for between-batch variability.2 Bioequivalence is complex.4 For example, the area under the curve and maximum concentration but not time to maximum (tmax) concentration are used by the FDA in determining bioequivalence. Manufacturer disclosures of bioequivalence data indicate that branded LTG tmax varies from half an hour to 6 hours for various formulations of the 100 mg tablets.5 Clinical relevance of FDA-permitted variance within a brand or between brand and generic medication is unclear. Millions of doses of generic medications have been dispensed with no well-documented instances of therapeutic failures for medications produced in accordance with existing FDA standards.4 It is clear that promotional activity influences prescribing behavior. Furthermore, under experimental conditions, expensive placebos are more effective.6 Not only patients but neurologists are anxious about generic medications encouraged in this regard by controversial American Academy of Neurology (AAN) policies on generic substitution of AEDs.7 The authors should compare switches to and from generics by specialty of the prescriber (neurologist, psychiatrist, primary care) and by first indication for which the medication was prescribed, stratifying by promotional dollars spent per indication and specialty.
A Retrospective Pilot Study of the Performance of Mammographers in Interpreting Screening Mammograms

Purpose: This paper provides pilot data from one Breast Screening Program on whether mammographers have the ability to review mammograms with similar accuracy to screen readers. Methods: The participant group consisted of 11 mammographers (experienced in assessing images for technical adequacy, but no specialised training for detecting abnormalities) and three current screen readers employed at Hunter BreastScreen. Fifty sets of mammograms performed during 2003 were used in the retrospective study. The mammograms were chosen to represent a range of review outcomes. Each participant reviewed each set of mammograms using the BreastScreen Australia assessment scale; these results were then categorised into two groups – Rescreen or Recall. The consensus review outcome of the original screen readers was used as the “Gold Standard”. Patient outcome was assessed by following up on the results of any histology or pathology tests in 2003 or the 2006 screening results. Results: Compared with the Gold Standard outcomes, the three current screen reader participants had sensitivity values of 67%, 83% and 94%; mammographer sensitivity values ranged from 61% to 89%. Specificity for the screen reader participants was 81%, 84% and 87% and mammographers ranged from 45% to 97%. Accuracy for the three screen readers was 76%, 84% and 90% while the mammographers attained between 55% and 86%. Conclusion: Without any training, the sensitivity obtained by three mammographers and the specificity obtained by six mammographers were similar to those of the current screen reader participants. Accuracy rates of the mammographers indicate that screen reading by selected and appropriately trained mammographers may be feasible. Original research The Radiographer 2010; 57 (1): 12–19 Australian Institute of Radiography
Deploying for Deliverance: A Digital Divide Content Analysis in Municipal Wireless Networks Documentation

Considering the proliferation of information technology (IT), growing IT divides are still proven to exist today. Although some argue the broadband technology could be the platform for universal ubiquity, the benefits are still debatable for municipalities providing access. The authors discuss how public officials have decided to lead, support and usher in an era of rapid IT development by way of wireless broadband networks to address digital divide concerns, and how these claims may or may not meet expectations. The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) to propose a fruitful investigative overview of U.S. cities making claims that a municipal wireless network will bridge the so-called ‘digital divide;’ (2) to examine the digital divide language 21 American cities use by employing a content analysis. Finally, implications for research on MWN are drawn.
Modeling and PCB Implementation of Standing Leaky-Wave Antennas Incorporating Edge Reflection for Broadside Radiation Enhancement

This paper presents the analysis and PCB design of a standing leaky wave antenna for optimal broadside radiation. The edge reflection effects are emphasized as they may affect the resultant field distribution, and hence lead to altered radiation patterns and broadside directivity. Analytical expressions of the resultant field distribution and far-field patterns are derived as a function of the edge reflection. The proposed model was validated by a full-wave simulation on a center-fed microstrip leaky wave antenna. Parametric study showed that the broadside radiation of a standing leaky wave antenna can be significantly influenced by the edge reflection coefficients, including magnitude and phase. The proposed model of edge reflection effects was experimentally verified using a compact leaky wave antenna implemented on a thin PCB with lumped capacitors placed at the edges to enhance broadside gain.
In vitro T cell responses to a candidate Epstein‐Barr virus vaccine: human CD4+ T cell clones specific for the major envelope glycoprotein gp340

Specific T cell proliferation was observed in short‐term blood mononuclear cell cultures set up from Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐immune individuals and challenged either with UV‐irradiated EB virions or with a candidate subunit vaccine preparation, the purified envelope glycoprotein gp340 incorporated into immune stimulating complexes (gp340 iscoms). Limiting dilution culture of the activated T lymphoblasts in interleukin 2‐containing medium generated stable CD3+CD4+CD8‐ T cell clones. Particular clones showing virus‐specific proliferation in preliminary screening assays were selected for more detailed study. Three gp340 iscoms‐induced clones from EBV‐immune donor CG responded specifically to restimulation either with UV‐EBV or with purified gp340 iscoms in the presence of autologous antigen‐presenting cells (APC). Both T cell‐depleted blood mononuclear cells and the EBV‐transformed B cell line (treated with Acyclovir to block endogenous gp340 production) could be used for presentation, the latter being the more efficient when gp340 iscoms was the source of antigen. Blocking studies with monoclonal antibodies to HLA class II antigens and experiments using HLA‐typed allogeneic APC indicated that all three gp340‐specific CG clones were restricted through the HLA‐DR2 antigen. One gp340 iscoms‐induced clone from another EBV‐immune donor, MR, likewise showed gp340‐specific proliferation, in this case restricted through a HLA‐DR4 antigen. Using HLA‐DR‐homozygous B cell lines representing the five known DR4 subtypes, efficient presentation of gp340 to this T cell clone was observed with both DR4Dw4 and DR4Dw14 antigens. Parallel experiments on one UV‐EBV‐induced T cell clone from donor MR gave a different pattern of results; these cells appeared to be specific for a virus structural component other than gp340 and to be restricted through an HLA‐DP determinant.
Characterization and Heterologous Gene Expression of a Novel Esterase from Lactobacillus casei CL96

ABSTRACT A novel esterase gene (estI) of Lactobacillus casei CL96 was localized on a 3.3-kb BamHI DNA fragment containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,800 bp. The ORF of estI was isolated by PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli, the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens, and the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris under the control of T7, methanol dehydrogenase (PmxaF), and alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoters, respectively. The amino acid sequence of EstI indicated that the esterase is a novel member of the GHSMG family of lipolytic enzymes and that the enzyme contains a lipase-like catalytic triad, consisting of Ser325, Asp516, and His558. E. coli BL21(DE3)/pLysS containing estI expressed a novel 67.5-kDa protein corresponding to EstI in an N-terminal fusion with the S · tag peptide. The recombinant L. casei CL96 EstI protein was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity in a one-step affinity chromatography procedure on S-protein agarose. The optimum pH and temperature of the purified enzyme were 7.0 and 37°C, respectively. Among the pNP (p-nitrophenyl) esters tested, the most selective substrate was pNP-caprylate (C8), with Km and kcat values of 14 ± 1.08 μM and 1,245 ± 42.3 S−1, respectively.
HIV-1 Induces the First Signal to Activate the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

Background/Aims: Inflammasomes are multimolecular complexes that regulate caspase-1. They act as sensors for endogenous and exogenous signals, and mediate the processing of pro-IL-1β into its secreted, biologically active form. The NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β are particularly interesting because they are required for efficient control of viral infections. Indeed, HIV-1 induces expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in healthy controls, but not in HIV-1-infected patients. Here we evaluate whether HIV-1 can induce activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Methods: Human primary monocyte-derived macrophages were infected with HIV-1 in the absence or presence of classical NLRP3 inflammasome activators, and IL-1β release was assessed by ELISA. Results: HIV-1 initiates the priming signal for NLRP3 inflammasome activation through the NF-κB-associated pathway in human primary monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, priming of NLRP3 activation in response to HIV-1 was independent of the viral envelope, since similar results were observed with HIV-1 and pseudotyped HIV-1 lacking the env gene. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HIV-1 infection promotes IL-1β secretion by inducing the first signal for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, a phenomenon that may contribute to AIDS progression.
T‐cell costimulatory pathways in allograft rejection and tolerance

Summary: The destiny of activated T cells is critical to the ultimate fate of immune response. After encountering antigen, naïve T cells receive signal 1 through the T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plus antigenic peptide complex and signal 2 through ‘positive’ costimulatory molecules leading to full activation. ‘Negative’ T‐cell costimulatory pathways, on the other hand, function to downregulate immune responses. The purpose of this article is to review the current state of knowledge and recent advances in our understanding of the functions of the positive and negative T‐cell costimulatory pathways in alloimmune responses. Specifically, we discuss the functions of the CD28:B7 and the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR):tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of molecules in allograft rejection and tolerance. We address the following important questions: are T‐cell costimulatory pathways merely redundant or do they provide distinct and unique functions? What are the important and unique interactions between the various pathways? And, what are the effects and mechanisms of targeting of these pathways in different types and patterns of allograft rejection and tolerance models?