Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ketamine Stereoselectively Affects Vasorelaxation Mediated by ATP-sensitive K+ Channels in the Rat Aorta

Background The effect of ketamine on vasodilation mediated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels has not been studied. The present study was designed to determine whether ketamine might stereoselectively affect vasorelaxation induced by an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener in the isolated rat aorta. Methods Rings of the rat aorta with or without endothelium were suspended for isometric force recording. During contraction to phenylephrine (3 × 10−7 m), vasorelaxation in response to an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener levcromakalim (10−8 to 10−5 m) or a nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (10−10 to 10−5 m) was obtained. Glibenclamide (10−5 m), S(+) ketamine (10−4 m), or ketamine racemate (10−5 to 10−4 m) was applied 15 min before addition of phenylephrine. Results Vasorelaxation induced by levcromakalim was completely abolished by an ATP-sensitive K+ channel antagonist glibenclamide (10−5 m) in the aorta with or without endothelium. Ketamine racemate (3 × 10−5 to 10−4 m) significantly inhibited this vasorelaxation in a concentration-dependent fashion, whereas S(+) ketamine did not affect the relaxation. However, the highest concentration of ketamine racemate and S(+) ketamine used in the present study did not alter vasorelaxation in response to sodium nitroprusside in the aorta without endothelium. Conclusion In the isolated rat aorta, clinically relevant concentrations of ketamine racemate can inhibit relaxation induced by an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, whereas S(+) ketamine did not produce any inhibitory effect on this vasorelaxation. These results suggest that ketamine stereoselectively alters vasodilation via ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the conduit artery.
Structured Writing and Processing Major Stressful Events: A Controlled Trial

Background: Traumatic events may result in a variety of physical and psychological health problems. Self-confrontation with traumatic memories, by putting painful emotions and thoughts into (verbal) words, is associated with psychophysiological benefits. Self-confrontation may be invoked during sessions and enhanced by structural assignments, which the client carries out between the sessions. In this context, writing assignments could be a useful tool in reprocessing traumatic events. The effects of writing assignments have been demonstrated in several case studies and in a number of experimental studies. However, the experimental studies have several limitations, for example the effects of writing on the impact of trauma are not examined. Furthermore, the psychological mechanisms that mediate the effects of trauma on health are less clear. These two issues are the main issues of the current study. Methods: A group of 26 participants were instructed to write about their negative events during five 45-min sessions over a period of 2 weeks. They were compared at pre-treatment, post-treatment and at 6-week follow-up to a waiting-list control group (n = 22). Results: The trauma-writing groups experienced fewer intrusions and showed less avoidance behavior from pre-treatment to follow-up, whereas the waiting-list control group did not change significantly. Similar results were found on depressive symptoms. No effects on mood measures were found. Conclusions: Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Age and smoking cessation behaviors.

BACKGROUND Predictors of smoking cessation behaviors during a 3-month period were examined among smokers in three age groups: 18 to 29, 30 to 49, and 50 years or older. METHODS Using random-digit dialing, telephone interviews were completed with 1,644 smokers in the Chicago metropolitan area at baseline and at a 3-month follow-up. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors that predicted trying to quit smoking and quitting smoking within each age group and by stage of readiness to quit smoking. RESULTS There were no significant differences by age in trying to quit smoking or in quitting smoking among smokers in the contemplation or preparation stages. However, there were important age differences in the factors that predicted those behaviors. In general, different factors predicted smoking cessation behaviors in each age group at each of three stages of the smoking cessation process (contemplation, preparation, and action). Also, within each age group, different factors predicted the behavior at each stage. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that smokers of all ages are equally appropriate targets for smoking cessation interventions. Moreover, there are important age-related differences among smokers over the course of their smoking careers that should be considered when planning and implementing smoking cessation interventions.
Matrix metalloproteinase proteolysis of the mycobacterial HSP65 protein as a potential source of immunogenic peptides in human tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of human tuberculosis (TB). Mycobacterial secretory protein ESAT‐6 induces matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 in epithelial cells neighboring infected macrophages. MMP‐9 then enhances recruitment of uninfected macrophages, which contribute to nascent granuloma maturation and bacterial growth. Disruption of MMP‐9 function attenuates granuloma formation and bacterial growth. The abundant mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein (HSP65) chaperone is the major target for the immune response and a critical component in M. tuberculosis adhesion to macrophages. We hypothesized that HSP65 is susceptible to MMP‐9 proteolysis and that the resulting HSP65 immunogenic peptides affect host adaptive immunity. To identify MMPs that cleave HSP65, we used MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 gelatinases, the simple hemopexin domain MMP‐8, membrane‐associated MMP‐14, MMP‐15, MMP‐16 and MMP‐24, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐linked MMP‐17 and MMP‐25. We determined both the relative cleavage efficiency of MMPs against the HSP65 substrate and the peptide sequence of the cleavage sites. Cleavage of the unstructured PAGHG474L C‐terminal region initiates the degradation of HSP65 by MMPs. This initial cleavage destroys the substrate‐binding capacity of the HSP65 chaperone. Multiple additional cleavages of the unfolded HSP65 then follow. MMP‐2, MMP‐8, MMP‐14, MMP‐15 and MMP‐16, in addition to MMP‐9, generate the known highly immunogenic N‐terminal peptide of HSP65. Based on our biochemical data, we now suspect that MMP proteolysis of HSP65 in vivo, including MMP‐9 proteolysis, also results in the abundant generation of the N‐terminal immunogenic peptide and that this peptide, in addition to intact HSP65, contributes to the complex immunomodulatory interplay in the course of TB infection.
Renal vascular resistance in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of color duplex Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of renal vascular resistance (RVR) by measuring resistive indices (RIs) and pulsatility indices (PIs) in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and to correlate the measured values with renal function and the presence of arterial hypertension. Material and Methods: In 42 patients with ADPKD and 65 control subjects, RIs and PIs were measured by means of color duplex Doppler sonography and correlated with clinical and laboratory findings and with morphological abnormalities at B-mode ultrasonography. Results: Mean RI in the control subjects was 0.59 ± 0.03 (± SD) and in the patients 0.71 ± 0.11, (p < 0.01). Mean PI in the controls was 1.00 ± 0.11 and in the patients 1.69 ± 0.21, (p < 0.01). Elevated RIs and PIs heralded a progression of ADPKD. Doppler indices correlated significantly with renal function tests and morphological changes in the affected kidneys at ultrasound. Significantly higher RIs (p < 0.01) and PIs (p < 0.04) were measured in hypertensive ADPKD patients as compared to normotensive patients. Correlation of patient age and Doppler indices did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Doppler indices do reflect the increased RVR in patients with ADPKD and they correlate with renal function disturbance, with the development of systemic arterial hypertension, and with ultrasonographic abnormality of the kidney in these subjects.
Essays on Time-Varying Volatility and Structural Breaks in Macroeconomics and Econometrics

This paper documents a new stylized fact—the correlation between labour productivity and real business investment in the U.S. data since 1990 is−0.1. This correlation was 0.54 in the post-WWII data until the end of 1980s. The response of investment to identified technology shocks have switched signs across these two sub-periods from positive to negative, whereas the response to a non-technology shock has remained approximately the same. Since the volatility of technology shocks has decreased less relative to non-technology shock over the two sub-periods, we explore the hypothesis whether the relatively more volatile technology shocks and the negative response of investment can together account for the decreased correlation. We consider a canonical DSGE model and simulate data under a variety of assumptions about the parameters representing structural features and volatility of shocks. The results show that although the smaller decline in the volatility of technology shocks relative to non-technology shock has contributed to the decrease in the correlation, this channel alone is not sufficient. Structural features such as increased average duration of price contracts, unitary elasticity of substitution between labour and capital, and larger magnitudes of investment adjustment costs are needed for the model to produce a near-zero correlation between labour productivity and investment.
Cytologic and DNA-cytometric very early diagnosis of oral cancer.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of exfoliative cytology (EC) and DNA-image cytometry applied to suspicious oral lesions compared with synchronous histology. METHODS Brush- and scalpel biopsies were obtained from 98 patients with suspicious oral lesions. In cases, in which EC revealed malignant or suspicious cells, nuclear DNA-contents were measured using a TV image analysis system. RESULTS Among 98 oral lesions both cytological and histological diagnosis showed no sign of malignancy or dysplasia in 75. In 23 cases cytology yielded tumor cell-positive (15), suspicious (four) or doubtful (four) results. DNA-cytometry showed aneuploidy in 19 of these. The comparison between cytological diagnosis combined with DNA-cytometry and biopsy-histology resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.4%. CONCLUSION In conclusion, cytology with DNA-cytometry is a highly sensitive, specific and non-invasive method for the early diagnosis of oral epithelial neoplasia, showing excellent compliance among patients.
Leisure Time Physical Activity as a Determinant of Self‐Perceived Health and Fitness in Middle‐Aged Male Employees

Leisure Time Physical Activity as a Determinant of Self‐Perceived Health and Fitness in Middle‐Aged Male Employees: Goroh Okano, et al. Division of Exercise Science, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University—Self‐perceived health and fitness are epidemiological predictors of subsequent mortality and/or functional limitation. The present study was designed to analyze which lifestyle factors contribute to good status of self‐perceived health and fitness in middle‐aged male employees. Participants (n=401) aged 50–59 were assessed as to the status of self‐perceived health and fitness, and various lifestyle factors including nutrition, smoking, drinking, physical activity, psychological stress, sleeping and relaxation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that among the lifestyle factors surveyed in the present study, doing exercise/sports at a medium level (either ≥4.5METs/1–2 times per week or <4.5METs/≥3–4 times per week) of physical activity index (PAI) was the only predictor of good self‐perceived health. Similarly, doing exercise/sports at or above the medium level of PAI was identified as the only independent predictor of good self‐perceived fitness. In addition, maintaining the habit of doing exercise/sports at or above the medium level of PAI throughout the year, and having this habit through the 4 th and 5th decades of life or starting to have it from the age of 50 through 59 were important to obtain a good status of self‐perceived health and fitness. These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity level is a determinant of good health and fitness in the middle‐aged male employees in the present study.
The Chan's Great Continent: China in Western Minds

China has transfixed the West since the earliest contacts between these civilizations. Now Jonathan Spence, our foremost historian of Chinese politics and culture, tells us, in his elegant new book, how the West has understood China over seven centuries. Ranging from Marco Polo's own depiction of China and the mighty Kublai in the 1270s to the China sightings of three twentieth-century writers of acknowledged genius -- Kafka, Borges, and Calvino -- Spence explores Western thought on China through a remarkable array of expression. Peopling Spence's account are Iberian adventurers, Jesuit missionaries, Enlightenment synthesizers, spinners of the dreamy cult of Chinoiserie, American observers such as Bret Harte and Mark Twain, and diplomats from Lord Macartney to Henry Kissinger. Their visions, alternately coarse and subtle, generous and vicious, outline the West's image as readily as they do China's.China has commanded the attention of the West for seven centuries, and here Spence once again compels our attention with his new history of China's presence in Western minds.
Investment decision-making in clean energy under uncertainties: A real options approach

International commitments on emission reduction and the deterioration of fossil energy resources have caused more research attention to clean energy production. Getting the optimal investment portfolio in infrastructure for energy supply and consumption is a minimum requirement to enable the transition towards a sustainable energy system. Due to their environmental benefits, advanced biofuel and clean power generation are expected to play an important role in the future in transportation sector and electricity sector, respectively. In this dissertation, a real options approach is adopted for valuating clean technology investment portfolios under uncertainty, exploring managerial insights, and examining policy implications. The dissertation consists three parts discussing problems on clean energy investment. Biofuel production investment, motivated by consumption volume mandates in revised Renewable Fuel Standard, is a long-term irreversible investment facing revenue uncertainty given volatile fuel market. Iowa, rich in agricultural residues like corn stover, is a major player in the fulfillment of the cellulosic biofuels mandate. In this first part, we aim to answer the question: Is now a good time for Iowa to start investing in cellulosic biofuels? Using a fast pyrolysis facility as an example, we present a real options approach for valuating the investment of a new technology for producing cellulosic biofuels subject to construction lead time and uncertain fuel price. We conduct a case study, in which the profitability of the project, optimal investment timing, and the impact of project lead time are investigated. The second part extended the previous work by incorporating supply risk and dual sourcing. While corn stover is an abundant source of feedstock for biofuels production in Iowa, there is a potential supply risk due to the following reasons: (1) lack of market; (2) low percentage of farm participation; and (3) yield uncertainty due to the changing weather conditions. The decision maker would consider investing in a land to grow his own feedstock, in addition to the investment
The Effect of Diversification Relatedness on Firm Performance

This paper investigates the relationship between diversification relatedness and firm performance in the U.S. property‐liability insurance industry. While prior research has evaluated the effect of diversification on insurer performance, little evidence exists regarding the relation between diversification strategy and performance for diversified firms. Theory suggests that potential costs and benefits are associated with related and unrelated forms of diversification and that these can vary along the relatedness continuum. We test for the net effect of diversification strategy and find that relatedness negatively impacts accounting performance. This relatedness penalty is robust to corrections for potential endogeneity bias, it exists for newly diversifying firms, and it has a differential effect on stock and mutual insurers. Finally, we find that related diversification is largely responsible for the diversification penalty found in prior research while unrelated diversification has no relation to accounting performance.
Changeover-time in psychosocial wellbeing of people living with HIV and people living close to them after an HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement community intervention

HIV stigma continues to affect the psychosocial wellbeing of people living with HIV (PLWH) and people living close to them (PLC). Literature unequivocally holds the view that HIV stigma and psychosocial wellbeing interact with and have an impact on each other. This study, which is part of a larger research project funded by the South Africa Netherlands research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD), responds to the lack of interventions mitigating the impactful interaction of HIV stigma and psychosocial wellbeing and tests one such intervention. The research objectives were to test the changeover-time in the psychosocial wellbeing of PLWH and PLC in an urban and a rural setting, following a comprehensive community-based HIV stigma reduction and wellness enhancement intervention. An experimental quantitative single system research design with a pre- and four repetitive post-tests was used, conducting purposive voluntary sampling for PLWH (n = 18) and snowball sampling for PLC (n = 60). The average age of participants was 34 years old. The five measuring instruments used for both groups were the mental health continuum short-form scale, the patient health questionnaire, the satisfaction with life scale, the coping self-efficacy scale and the spirituality wellbeing scale. No significant differences were found between the urban–rural settings and data were pooled for analysis. The findings show that initial psychosocial wellbeing changes after the intervention were better sustained (over time) by the PLC than by the PLWH and seemed to be strengthened by interpersonal interaction. Recommendations included that the intervention should be re-utilised and that its tenets, content and activities be retained. A second intervention three to six months after the first should be included to achieve more sustainability and to add focused activities for the enhancement of psychosocial wellbeing. PLWH and PLC are to be encouraged to engage with innovative community mechanisms to make psychosocial wellbeing a way of life in the community at large.
Multispectral and Hyperspectral Lossless Compressor for Space Applications (HyLoC): A Low-Complexity FPGA Implementation of the CCSDS 123 Standard

An efficient compression of hyperspectral images on-board satellites is mandatory in current and future space missions in order to save bandwidth and storage space. Reducing the data volume in space is a challenge that has been faced with a twofold approach: to propose new highly efficient compression algorithms; and to present technologies and strategies to execute the compression in the hardware available on-board. The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), a consortium of the major space agencies in the world, has recently issued the CCSDS 123 standard for multispectral and hyperspectral image (MHI) compression, with the aim of facilitating the inclusion of on-board compression on satellites by the space industry. In this paper, we present a low-complexity feld programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) implementation of this recent CCSDS 123 standard, which demonstrates its main features in terms of compression efficiency and suitability for an implementation on the available on-board technologies. A hardware architecture is conceived and designed with the aim of achieving low hardware occupancy and high performance on a space-qualified FPGA from the Microsemi RTAX family. The resulting FPGA implementation is therefore suitable for on-board compression. The effect of the several CCSDS-123 configuration parameters on the compression efficiency and hardware complexity is taken into consideration to provide flexibility in such a way that the implementation can be adapted to different application scenarios. Synthesis results show a very low occupancy of 34% and a maximum frequency of 43 MHz on a space-qualified RTAX1000S. The benefits of the proposed implementation are further evidenced by a demonstrator, which is implemented on a commercial prototyping board from Xilinx. Finally, a comparison with other FPGA implementations of on-board data compression algorithms is provided.
MAPK/ERK Overrides the Apoptotic Signaling from Fas, TNF, and TRAIL Receptors*

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF), Fas, and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors (R) are highly specific physiological mediators of apoptotic signaling. We observed earlier that a number of FasR-insensitive cell lines could redirect the proapoptotic signal to an anti-apoptotic ERK1/2 signal resulting in inhibition of caspase activation. Here we determine that similar mechanisms are operational in regulating the apoptotic signaling of other death receptors. Activation of the FasR, TNF-R1, and TRAIL-R, respectively, rapidly induced subsequent ERK1/2 activation, an event independent from caspase activity. Whereas inhibition of the death receptor-mediated ERK1/2 activation was sufficient to sensitize the cells to apoptotic signaling from FasR and TRAIL-R, cells were still protected from apoptotic TNF-R1 signaling. The latter seemed to be due to the strong activation of the anti-apoptotic factor NF-κB, which remained inactive in FasR or TRAIL-R signaling. However, when the cells were sensitized with cycloheximide, which is sufficient to sensitize the cells also to apoptosis by TNF-R1 stimulation, we noticed that adenovirus-mediated expression of constitutively active MKK1 could rescue the cells from apoptosis induced by the respective receptors by preventing caspase-8 activation. Taken together, our results show that ERK1/2 has a dominant protecting effect over apoptotic signaling from the death receptors. This protection, which is independent of newly synthesized proteins, acts in all cases by suppressing activation of the caspase effector machinery.