Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carcinogenicity of the drinking water mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in the rat.

BACKGROUND Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that the consumption of chlorinated drinking water may be associated with the development of certain cancers in humans. 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), a byproduct of the chemical reactions that occur in chlorinated drinking water, has been found to be mutagenic in bacteria and mammalian cells; however, its potential to cause tumors in animals has not been tested previously. PURPOSE The objective of this study was to evaluate the carcinogenicity of MX in rats given MX in their drinking water. METHODS MX was administered to male and female Wistar rats (50 rats per dose group) in drinking water for 104 weeks at concentrations yielding the average daily doses of MX of 0.4 mg/kg of animal weight (low dose), 1.3 mg/kg (mid dose), and 5.0 mg/kg (high dose) for males and 0.6 mg/kg, 1.9 mg/kg, and 6.6 mg/kg for females, respectively. Control rats received water from the same source used for preparation of the MX dose formulations (after its adjustment to the same pH range). Body weight, clinical signs, and food and water consumption were recorded regularly. At the end of the treatment period, the animals were killed and full histopathologic analysis was performed on 47 tissues and all lesions. RESULTS Dose-dependent increases in tumor incidence were observed in rats given MX-containing drinking water; the same MX doses had no obvious toxic effects on animals. MX consumption increased most drastically the prevalence of follicular adenoma (up to 43% and 72% in high-dose males and females, a test [one-sided] for positive trend in all dose groups P = .0045 and P = .0000, respectively) and carcinoma (55% [P = .0000] and 44% [P = .0000], respectively) in thyroid glands and cholangioma in the liver (8% [P = .0009] and 66% [P = .0000] in the high-dose males and females, respectively). Among rats given the higher doses of MX in their drinking water, cortical adenomas of the adrenal glands were increased in both sexes, alveolar and bronchiolar adenomas of the lungs and Langerhans' cell adenomas of the pancreas were increased in males, and lymphomas, leukemias, and adenocarcinomas and fibroadenomas of the mammary glands were increased in females. Even the lowest MX dose studied was carcinogenic. CONCLUSION MX is a potent carcinogen in both male and female rats, and it causes tumors at doses that are not overtly toxic to rats. IMPLICATIONS Although these findings cannot be extrapolated to humans, MX should be studied as a candidate risk factor in the possible association between consumption of chlorinated drinking water and cancer in humans.
Effects of Insulin and High Glucose on Human Meibomian Gland Epithelial Cells.

PURPOSE Type 2 diabetes is a risk factor for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). We hypothesize that this diabetic impact is due, at least in part, to the effects of insulin resistance/deficiency and hyperglycemia on human meibomian gland epithelial cells (HMGECs). To begin to test this hypothesis, we examined whether insulin and high glucose influence immortalized (I) HMGECs. METHODS Immortalized HMGECs were cultured in serum-containing or -free media and treated with insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (R) blocking antibody, and glucose or mannitol for varying time periods. Specific proteins were detected by Western blots, cell proliferation was evaluated by manual cell counting and lipids were assessed with LipidTOX and high performance thin layer chromatography. RESULTS We found that insulin induces a dose-dependent increase in phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase/Akt (AKT) signaling in IHMGECs. This effect involves the IGF-1R, but not the insulin receptor (IR), and is associated with a stimulation of cell proliferation and neutral lipid accumulation. In contrast, high glucose exposure alters cell morphology, causes a progressive cell loss, and significantly reduces the levels of IGF-1R, phospho (p)-AKT, Foxhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1) in IHMGECs. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that insulin stimulates, and that high glucose is toxic for, IHMGECs. These results support our hypothesis that insulin resistance/deficiency and hyperglycemia are deleterious for HMGECs and may help explain why type II diabetes is a risk factor for MGD.
A ZOO-WIDE EVALUATION INTO THE CURRENT FEEDER INSECT SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM AT THE BROOKFIELD ZOO

Commercially raised insects are an important food source for captive animals. For those animals that are purely insectivorous, the nutrient concentrations of the food source are vitally important for the health and welfare of the animal, particularly the Ca to P ratio. In the summer of 2002, a zoo-wide evaluation of the current methods of insect supplementation was conducted at the Brookfield Zoo. The data were collected to determine whether individual animal holding facilities, using insects as a source of food, were achieving the desired mineral concentrations and Ca-to-P ratio. Crickets (Acheta domestica) and mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) of various sizes were delivered to the animal holding facility on day one of the data collection period. For three days, all feeder insects were placed in containers containing MarionTM insect meal and a water source, following the current insect supplementation protocol, then 100 grams of each feeder insect was collected. Additionally, a further 100 grams of feeder insect was collected if a secondary supplementation procedure occurred e.g. dusted with one of four dusting agents. Insect samples were analyzed for a variety of nutrients and minerals. Other data collected included building/container temperatures, handling procedures and watering schedules. Nutrient composition of the insects varied substantially across locations. Although there is a standard zoowide handling protocol, individual animal holding facilities have different interpretations and techniques, which may have led to variability in the results. To determine the significance of these findings additional data collections should be undertaken.
ANGIOGENIC EFFECTS OF ANGELICA AND CHUANXIONG Materials and Methods Preparation of Crude Plant Extracts

Angelica and ChuanXiong are used to cure ischemic heart disease in China. Previous studies found that these two herbs could increase myocardial blood flow, oxygen-supply and keep myocardial oxygen balance, etc. However, the mechanisms of angiogenic effects of these two herbs are not well-known. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Angelica and ChuanXiong on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rat myocardial infarction, on endothelial cell proliferation and quantity of vessels on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In this study, rats were divided randomly into either pre-treatment or acute-treatment group and sacrificed at the end of the treatments. VEGF expression using Western blot analysis was significantly increased in the groups pre-treated with ChuanXiong and Angelica when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). There was significant increase in VEGF expression in the rats treated acutely with Angelica (p < 0.05). In the contrary, the rats treated with ChuanXiong showed a decrease in VEGF expression when compared to the acute-treatment control group (p < 0.05). Similar results were observed in immunohistochemistry of VEGF expression in the myocardia. Our study also demonstrated that these two herbs significantly enhanced endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.05) and revascularity in CAM (p < 0.05). The data showed that Angelica and ChuanXiong could affect VEGF expression in rat myocardial infarction, promote endothelial cell proliferation and stimulate quantity of vessels on CAM model. The results suggest that Angelica and ChuanXiong have angiogenic effects, and may provide some mechanisms for the treatment of myocardial infarction and peripheral ischemia.
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF PEROXYNITRITE

1 Peroxynitrite (PN) is formed in biological systems from the reaction of nitric oxide (·NO) with superoxide (·) and both exist as free radicals. By itself, PN is not a free radical, but it can generate nitrogen dioxide (·NO2) and carbonate radical (·) upon reaction with CO2. 2 The reaction of CO2 constitutes a major pathway for the disposition of PN produced in vivo and this is based on the rapid reaction of PN anion with CO2 and the availability of CO2 in both intra‐ and extracellular fluids. The free radicals ·NO2 and ·, in combination with ·NO, generated from nitric oxide synthase, can bring about oxidation of critical biological targets resulting in tissue injury. However, the reactions of ·NO2, · and ·NO with carbohydrates, protein and non‐protein thiols, phenols, indoles and uric acid could result in the formation of a number of nitration and nitrosation products in the vasculature. These products serve as long‐acting ·NO donors and, therefore, contribute to vasorelaxant properties, protective effects on the heart, inhibition of leucocyte–endothelial cell interactions and reduction of reperfusion injury. 3 Herein, we review the chemistry of PN, the observations that the effects of PN could be mediated by formation of an ·NO donor‐like substance and review the physiological and beneficial effects of PN.
Psychosocial factors and immunity in nonhuman primates: a review.

&NA; This review summarizes research from several laboratories that has assessed the influence of psychosocial factors on immune responses in nonhuman primates. These studies have demonstrated that the formation and disruption of social relationships should be viewed as significant psychobiological events with many immunologic sequelae, especially for the young monkey. Prolonged changes in leukocyte numbers, in vitro measures of lymphocyte function, and antibody responses to antigenic challenge have been reliably observed. There is also evidence in infant monkeys suggesting that normal maternal care may be important for the development and maintenance of the physiological set points for certain immune responses. Similarly, immune responses in adult monkeys can be affected by the level of aggression occurring within the group. Collectively, this research reiterates the important influence that psychosocial variables can have on basic physiological responses, particularly when social relationships are in the process of change.
Structural remodeling of rat uterine veins in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE This study characterized the cellular remodeling that contributes to uterine venous growth during gestation and evaluated the effect of pregnancy on the mechanical properties of the uterine vein. STUDY DESIGN Diameter and distensibility were calculated in pressurized uterine veins from virgin and pregnant (19-20 days of gestation) rats; the rates of cellular division (endothelial, vascular smooth muscle) were quantified with an intraperitoneal bromodeoxyuridine injection and immunohistochemistry. Elastin content, adrenergic nerve density, and wall thickness were determined in fixed uterine veins and quantified with an imaging program. RESULTS There was a statistically significant increase in the diameter and mitotic indices (endothelial, vascular smooth muscle) in uterine veins from late pregnant versus nonpregnant animals. Adrenergic nerve density was diminished significantly during gestation. Venous distensibility increased during pregnancy, with an associated reduction in elastin content. CONCLUSION Pregnancy results in coordinated and multifaceted structural remodeling of uterine veins with subsequent changes in caliber, mechanical properties, rates of cellular division, adrenergic innervation, and matrix composition.
Days to Return to Participation After a Hamstrings Strain Among American Collegiate Soccer Players.

CONTEXT Among US collegiate soccer players, the incidence rate and the event characteristics of hamstrings strains differ between sexes, but comparisons in the return-to-participation (RTP) time have not been reported. OBJECTIVE To compare the RTP time between male and female collegiate soccer players and analyze the influence of event characteristics on the RTP time for each sex. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING Data were collected from collegiate teams that voluntarily participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Collegiate soccer athletes who sustained 507 hamstrings strains (306 men, 201 women) during the 2004 through 2009 fall seasons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Nonparametric statistics were used to evaluate RTP time differences between sexes and among categories of each event characteristic (ie, time of season, practice or competition, player position). Negative binomial regression was used to model the RTP time for each sex. All analyses were performed separately for first-time and recurrent strains. RESULTS We found no differences in the RTP time between sexes for first-time (median: men = 7.0 days, women = 6.0 days; P = .07) or recurrent (median: men = 11 days, women = 5.5 days; P = .06) hamstrings strains. For male players with first-time strains, RTP time was increased when the strain occurred during competition or the in-season/postseason and varied depending on the division of play. Among female players with first-time strains, we found no differences in RTP time within characteristics. For male players with recurrent hamstrings strains, the RTP time was longer when the injury occurred during the in-season/postseason. Among female players with recurrent strains, RTP time was longer for forwards than for midfielders or defenders. CONCLUSIONS Although we found no differences in the RTP time after hamstrings strains in male and female collegiate soccer players, each sex had unique event characteristics that influenced RTP time.
Effect of Mental Imagery on the Development of Skilled Motor Actions

To test the effect of imagery in the training of skilled movements, an experiment was designed in which athletes learned a new motor action and trained themselves for a month either by overt action or by mental imagery of the action. The experiment was carried out with 30 male karateka (M age = 35 yr., SD = 8.7; M years of practice = 6, SD = 3) instructed to perform an action (Ura-Shuto-Uchi) that they had not previously learned. The athletes were divided into three groups: Untrained (10 subjects who did not perform any training), Action Trained (10 subjects who performed Ura-Shuto-Uchi training daily for 16 minutes), and Mental Imagery (10 subjects who performed mental imagery training of Ura-Shuto-Uchi daily for 16 minutes). The subjects were tested five times, once every 7 days. During each test, they performed a series of 60 motor action trials. In Tests 1, 3, and 5, they also performed a series of 60 mental imagery trials. During the trials, an electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), muscle strength and power, and other physiological parameters were recorded. The results differed by group. Untrained subjects did not show significant effects. In the Action Trained group, training had an effect on reactivity and movement speed, with a reduction of EMG activation and reaction times. Moreover, muscle strength, power, and work increased significantly. The Mental Imagery group showed the same effects on muscle strength, power, and work, but changes in reactivity were not observed. In the Mental Imagery group, the study of Movement Related Brain Macropotentials indicated a progressive modification of the profile of the waves from Test 1 to Test 5 during imagery, showing significant variations of the amplitude of the waves related to the premotor and motor execution periods. Results show that motor imagery can influence muscular abilities such as strength and power and can modify Movement Related Brain Macropotentials, the profile of which potentially could be used to verify the effectiveness of motor imagery training.
A Study on Distance Estimation Based on Received Signal Strength and Its Cramér-Rao Lower Bound

In this paper, I propose a new distance estimation method based on the received signal strength. I show that the proposed method, which is able to correspond the distance estimate to true value, always outperforms the conventional one with respect to mean squared error. Moreover, I compare the performance of the proposed estimator with the Cramér Rao lower bound and refer to the potential of another distance estimation method which outperforms the proposed one.
Chicos y chicas inmigrantes en el proceso de incorporación a un centro de secundaria. ¿Éxito o fracaso?

El estudio de caso que se presenta, se ha centrado en la investigacion de factores tales como: el espacio institucionalizado de la escuela, las decisiones didacticas y organizativas en el centro y en el aula, sus propias biografias, los vinculos sociales y afectivos que van estableciendo con sus pares dentro y fuera del contexto escolar en el marco social de la escuela y, concretamente, durante un periodo de transicion de especial trascendencia en la vida de estos chicos y chicas como es el ingreso en secundaria. Desde los centros educativos es comun la adopcion de medidas institucionalizadas generales, para toda la poblacion escolar de nuevo ingreso, perdiendo de vista, no solo los procesos subjetivos de cada uno de estos chicos y chicas, sino tambien la vulnerabilidad con que determinados colectivos afrontan los retos del cambio de una etapa escolar a otra. Este estudio se ha realizado a lo largo de todo el curso escolar 2006-07. Para su desarrollo nos hemos centrado en uno de los cursos de 1o de secundaria, por las caracteristicas diferenciadas que presentaba en cuanto a su poblacion escolar.
Intraparotid Injection of Botulinum Toxin A as a Treatment to Control Sialorrhea in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Savarese R, Diamond M, Elovic E, Millis SR: Intraparotid injection of botulinum toxin a as a treatment to control sialorrhea in children with cerebral palsy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004;83:304–311. Objective: To determine the efficacy of botulinum toxin A in the management of drooling (sialorrhea) in children and young adults with cerebral palsy. Design: Twenty-one children were enrolled in an open-label, nonblinded, prospective study. Subjective and objective measures were used to determine the effect of botulinum toxin A on drooling and saliva production. Subjective measures included visual analog scales to document the child’s severity and frequency of drooling. Objective measures included the number of bibs used per day and salivary secretion. At the initial visit, subjective and objective measures established the child’s baseline drooling and saliva production. Fifteen units of botulinum toxin A was injected into each parotid gland. At each follow-up visit or telephone survey, subjective and objective measures were recorded to monitor the child’s drooling and saliva production. A postinjection questionnaire evaluated overall effect and caregiver satisfaction. Results: The visual analog scales and number of bibs used per day demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in severity and frequency of drooling at 2 wks, 1 mo, and 2 mos. Salivary production was significantly reduced at 1-mo follow-up. Eighty-nine percent of the caregivers reported an improvement of their child’s drooling after botulinum toxin A injection. Seventy-nine percent of caregivers were satisfied with the treatment and would perform the treatment again. Conclusion: Intraparotid injections of botulinum toxin A are efficacious in decreasing severity and frequency of drooling, the number of bibs used per day, and the production of saliva in children with cerebral palsy. The injections are relatively safe and no adverse effects were observed in this study.
Threat-Removal Strategies for Partial-Order Planning

McAllester and Rosenblitts' (1991) systematic nonlinear planner (SNLP) removes threats as they are discovered. In other planners such as SIPE (Wilkins, 1988), and NOAH (Sacerdoti, 1977), threat resolution is partially or completely delayed. In this paper, we demonstrate that planner efficiency may be vastly improved by the use of alternatives to these threat removal strategies. We discuss five threat removal strategies and prove that two of these strategies dominate the other three--resulting in a provably smaller search space. Furthermore, the systematicity of the planning algorithm is preserved for each of the threat removal strategies. Finally, we confirm our results experimentally using a large number of planning examples including examples from the literature.
Multi-Dimensionality of Overall Consumer Satisfaction - Socio-Technical Perspective

Consumer satisfaction (CS) has been the focus of Marketing to increase consumers’ loyalty and repurchase intentions. This area of research is found in multiple disciplines. The “satisfaction” construct has been used as an indicator of IS success and acceptance in Information System (IS) and e-Commerce in particular. A critical review of the diverse literature reveals a lack of consensus in its definition and an over-simplification of its measurement scales. There are also various CS variants as a result of many studies in different fields. This begs the question: what is the overall CS composed of and how are consumers satisfied in a multi-channel environment? Drawing from a socio-technical perspective, this study is the first step toward integrating all variants into a high-level conceptual framework and allows both researchers and practitioners to obtain clearer indication of why a consumer is not satisfied and/or how to improve the overall CS.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms c.677C/T and c.1298A/C are not associated with open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE To assess whether or not the c.677C/T and c.1298A/C genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are associated with open angle glaucoma (OAG). METHODS Genomic DNA was examined in a cohort of 131 Japanese patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), 133 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and 106 control subjects. The mean age at the time of blood sampling was 62.8+/-13.3 years (mean+/-SD) in the patients with NTG, 61.8+/-15.4 years in the patients with POAG, and 65.0+/-10.5 years in the control subjects. MTHFR c.677C/T and c.1298A/C genotype and allele frequencies were determined using pyrosequencing analysis, and the findings were compared between the OAG patients and control subjects. The frequencies of compound MTHFR c.677C/T and c.1298A/C genotypes were also compared between OAG patients and control subjects. RESULTS No significant differences were observed (p>0.05, chi2 test or Fisher's exact test) regarding the MTHFR c.677C/T genotype (TT: 14.5%, CT: 44.3%, CC: 41.2% for patients with NTG; TT: 20.3%, CT: 41.4%, CC: 38.3% for patients with POAG; TT: 17.9%, CT: 36.8%, CC: 45.3% for control subjects) and c.1298A/C (CC: 0%, AC: 38.9%, AA: 61.1% for patients with NTG; CC: 2.3%, AC: 32.3%, AA: 65.4% for patients with POAG; CC: 0.9%, AC: 41.5%, AA: 57.6% for control subjects). There were no allele frequencies between the NTG or POAG patients and the control subjects. In addition, no significant differences (p>0.05, chi2 test) were found in the frequencies of the compound MTHFR c.677C/T and c.1298A/C genotypes between the NTG or POAG patients and the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS The MTHFR c.677C/T and c.1298A/C polymorphisms were not found to be associated with NTG and POAG. Further studies in the different ethnic populations should be performed to elucidate the relationship between MTHFR and OAG.