Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin II AT2 Receptor Agonist Inhibits Proximal Tubular Na+, K+ -ATPase via a NO/cGMP Pathway in Obese Zucker Rats: LB2

Susceptibility to renal damage and hypertension of the Fawn Hooded Hypertensive (FHH) rat have been found to be linked to five renal failure QTLs (Rf1 to Rf5) and two blood pressure QTLs (Bpfh1 and -2). The Rf1, Rf2 and Bpfh1 QTLs are in close vicinity on rat chromosome 1. To directly determine the effects of these QTLs congenic strains were generated carrying the QTLs from FHH on the genomic background of the normotensive renal resistant ACI strain. Here we compare the effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and renal damage susceptibility in ACI.FHH(Rf1 Rf2) double congenic rats to that of ACI.FHH(Rf1) single congenics and the ACI and FHH parental strains. Albuminuria (UAV) and SBP were regularly assessed in rats following unilateral nephrectomy (UNX) at 6–7 weeks of age. In additional studies the efficacy of renal blood flow autoregulation was measured in intact two-kidney rats of all four strains. At the end of an 18-week follow-up period UAV and SBP in the Rf1 Rf2 double congenic rats was significantly higher compared to ACI and Rf1 single congenic rats, but significantly less compared to FHH rats. The difference in SBP between the single and double congenic rats, i.e. the contribution of Bpfh1/Rf2 region, amounted to 20–25 mm Hg. When compared with the ACI rat, the renal autoregulatory index in the 100–150 mm Hg arterial pressure range was shown to be increased to a similar extend in ACI.FHH(Rf1), ACI.FHH(Rf1 Rf2), and FHH, indicative of an impaired autoregulation in these three strains. These findings indicate that the sole transfer of the Rf1 QTL from FHH to ACI impairs renal autoregulation, but has only small effects on UAV following UNX. Additional transfer of the Bpfh1/Rf2 QTL increases SBP and markedly enhances susceptibility to renal damage following UNX. Whether the increased renal susceptibility is due to the increased SBP remains to be established. However, renal susceptibility in the (Rf1 Rf2) double congenic is still far below that of the parental FHH rat indicating that the other three Rf-QTLs will have additional effects to further enhance renal susceptibility.
A hybrid method of lagrangian relaxation and genetic algorithm for solving UC problem

Unit commitment (UC) is a very important issue of generation scheduling in electric power systems. A hybrid method combining the adaptive Lagrangian relaxation (ALR) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) is presented in this paper. By using Lagrangian multipliers to relax system-wide demand and reserve constraints, the UC problem is decomposed and converted into a two-level optimization problem. The low-level problems solve the optimal commitment of single unit, and GA is used. The probabilities of crossover and mutation are adaptively changed for each generation. In this way, the prematurity can be avoided. The high-level problems optimize the Lagrangian multipliers, and the adaptive updating of the multipliers is adopted. The oscillations of dual gap are reduced by using adaptive updating of the Lagrangian multipliers. Numerical results show that the feature of easy implementation, better convergence, and highly near-optimal solution to the UC problem can be achieved by the method. It is more robust and adaptive than the traditional methods.
Reversal of Bupivacaine Epidural Anesthesia by Intermittent Epidural Injections of Crystalloid Solutions

This study was designed to determine whether epidural motor blockade could be reversed by postoperative injections of crystalloid solutions via the epidural catheter. Twenty-seven patients (ASA physical status I, nonlaboring) had epidural anesthesia with 0.75% bupivacaine for elective cesarean delivery. Postoperatively, patients were randomized to receive three 15-mL injections (over 30 min) of crystalloid solutions (normal saline or Ringer's lactate) or no treatment (control) via the epidural catheter. Degree of motor and sensory blockade was evaluated with an investigator blinded to treatment group. Rate of resolution of sensory blockade was not different among groups. However, time for resolution of motor blockade was more than twice as long in the control group than in either treatment group (control = 178 ± 70 min vs Ringer's lactate = 84 ± 44 min, normal saline = 70 ± 38 min, P = 0.001). The data suggest that unwanted motor blockade due to epidural anesthesia can be reversed by epidural injections of crystalloid solutions.
Non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis: a literature review.

OBJECTIVES To review the literature on non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS A search of PubMed and The Cochrane Library of the Cochrane Collaboration (CENTRAL) as well as a hand search of articles were conducted. Publications and articles accepted for publication up to November 2007 were included. RESULTS Out of 437 studies retrieved a total of 24 studies were selected for the review. Thus the available evidence for non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis is scarce. CONCLUSIONS It was observed that mechanical non-surgical therapy could be effective in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis lesions. Furthermore, the adjunctive use of antimicrobial mouth rinses enhanced the outcome of mechanical therapy of such mucositis lesions. In peri-implantitis lesions non-surgical therapy was not found to be effective. Adjunctive chlorhexidine application had only limited effects on clinical and microbiological parameters. However, adjunctive local or systemic antibiotics were shown to reduce bleeding on probing and probing depths. Minor beneficial effects of laser therapy on peri-implantitis have been shown; this approach needs to be further evaluated. There is a need for randomized-controlled studies evaluating treatment models of non-surgical therapy of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis.
Quasi-Lumped-Element Filter Based on Substrate-Integrated Suspended Line Technology

Quasi-lumped-element low-pass filter (LPF) and high-pass filter (HPF) based on substrate-integrated suspended line (SISL) technology are presented in this paper. Double interdigital capacitor, which has advantages of high capacitance density and high quality factor, is analyzed and designed to minimize the filter size. Based on the theoretical analysis, quasi-lumped-element SISL LPF and HPF prototypes are designed. The experimental results show that the SISL LPF achieves ultra-wide stopband up to 24 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{f}_{c}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{f}_{c}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the cut-off frequency) with compact size of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.180~\lambda _{g} \times 0.082~\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is the guide wavelength at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{f}_{c})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The SISL HPF features the low insertion loss of only 0.3 dB, while the size is only <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.108~\lambda _{g} \times 0.085~\lambda _{g}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. Moreover, the methods of substrate excavation and packaging optimization are proposed to further enhance the performance of SISL LPF and SISL HPF. By doing so, the stopband of SISL LPF is further extended to 32 fc, and the insertion loss of SISL HPF is significantly reduced to 0.1 dB.
Parallaxes and Infrared Photometry of three Y0 dwarfs

We have followed up the three Y0 dwarfs WISEPA J041022.71+150248.5, WISEPA J173835.53+273258.9 and WISEPC J205628.90+145953.3 using the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope Wide Field Camera. We find parallaxes that are more consistent and accurate than previously published values. We estimate absolute magnitudes in photometric passbands from Y to W3 and find them to be consistent between the three Y0 dwarfs indicating that the inherent cosmic absolute magnitude spread of these objects is small. We examine the Mauna Kea Observatory system J magnitudes over the 4 yr time line and find small but significant monotonic variations. Finally, we estimate physical parameters from a comparison of spectra and parallax to equilibrium and non-equilibrium models finding values consistent with solar metallicity, an effective temperature of 450–475 K and log g of 4.0–4.5.
An initial and rapid step of lytic granule secretion precedes microtubule organizing center polarization at the cytotoxic T lymphocyte/target cell synapse

It is presently assumed that lethal hit delivery by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is mechanistically linked to centrosome polarization toward target cells, leading to dedicated release of lytic granules within a confined secretory domain. Here we provide three lines of evidence showing that this mechanism might not apply as a general paradigm for lethal hit delivery. First, in CTLs stimulated with immobilized peptide–MHC complexes, lytic granules and microtubule organizing center localization into synaptic areas are spatio-temporally dissociated, as detected by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Second, in many CTL/target cell conjugates, lytic granule secretion precedes microtubule polarization and can be detected during the first minute after cell–cell contact. Third, inhibition of microtubule organizing center and centrosome polarization impairs neither lytic granule release at the CTL synapse nor killing efficiency. Our results broaden current views of CTL biology by revealing an extremely rapid step of lytic granule secretion and by showing that microtubule organizing center polarization is dispensable for efficient lethal hit delivery.
Mutational Mapping of UL130 of Human Cytomegalovirus Defines Peptide Motifs within the C-Terminal Third as Essential for Endothelial Cell Infection

ABSTRACT The UL130 gene is one of the major determinants of endothelial cell (EC) tropism of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In order to define functionally important peptides within this protein, we have performed a charge-cluster-to-alanine (CCTA) mutational scanning of UL130 in the genetic background of a bacterial artificial chromosome-cloned endotheliotropic HCMV strain. A total of 10 charge clusters were defined, and in each of them two or three charged amino acids were replaced with alanines. While the six N-terminal clusters were phenotypically irrelevant, mutation of the four C-terminal clusters each caused a reduction of EC tropism. The importance of this protein domain was further emphasized by the fact that the C-terminal pentapeptide PNLIV was essential for infection of ECs, and the cell tropism could not be rescued by a scrambled version of this sequence. We conclude that the C terminus of the UL130 protein serves an important function for infection of ECs by HCMV. This makes UL130 a promising molecular target for antiviral strategies, e.g., the development of antiviral peptides.
Differences in baseline dark and the dark-to-light changes in anterior chamber angle parameters in whites and ethnic Chinese.

PURPOSE To assess the anterior chamber drainage angle width in the dark and the dark-to-light change (Δ) between Caucasians and Chinese aged 40 years and older. METHODS The study groups comprised four age- and sex-matched cohorts: American Caucasians, American Chinese, southern mainland Chinese, and northern mainland Chinese. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) images of the anterior chamber angles were obtained under both light and dark conditions. The parameters analyzed included angle opening distance (AOD), angle recess area (ARA), and trabecular-iris space area (TISA). RESULTS Data were obtained from 121, 124, 121, and 120 participants who were American Caucasians, American Chinese, and southern and northern mainland Chinese, respectively. In a multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, refractive status, pupil size, lens location, and anterior chamber depth (ACD) and width (ACW), the ethnic Chinese had significantly smaller ARAs (regression coefficient, β = -0.06, P < 0.001) and TISAs (β = -0.01, P = 0.039), as well as greater ΔAODs (β = 0.03, P = 0.009) and ΔTISAs (β = 0.02, P = 0.029) than did the Caucasians. For the dark-to-light change analysis, the independent associations between angle width and iris thickness (IT) and iris curvature (ICurv) were identified only in the Chinese. CONCLUSIONS Compared with the Caucasians, the ethnic Chinese had smaller ARA and TISA, but greater dark-to-light changes in AOD and TISA, independent of refractive status and overall ocular anterior segment dimensions.
Interleukin-1β genetic polymorphism influences the effect of cytochrome P 2C19 genotype on the cure rate of 1-week triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection

OBJECTIVES:Genetic polymorphism of interleukin (IL)–1β is associated with differences in gastric acid suppression in response to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Thus, the polymorphism might affect H. pylori eradication therapy, as antibiotics used in treatment regimens may be acid sensitive. In this study, we examined the impact of IL-1β genetic polymorphism on the cure rate of triple therapy for H. pylori in relation to cytochrome P (CYP) 2C19 genotype and antibiotic resistance.METHODS:A total 249 patients with peptic ulcer disease were randomized to receive one of the following regimens: amoxicillin and clarithromycin together with omeprazole, lansoprazole, or rabeprazole. CYP2C19 and IL-1β-511 genetic polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.RESULTS:The intention-to-treat-based overall cure rate was 74.3% (95% CI = 68–79%). In the normal acid secretion IL-1β genotype group, the cure rate among CYP2C19 poor metabolizers (93.3%, 95% CI = 56–99%) was significantly higher than among subjects in the CYP2C19 homozygous (60.0%, 95% CI = 38–78%) and heterozygous (63.6%, 95% CI = 46–78%), i.e., extensive metabolizer, groups (p < 0.05). In the low acid secretion IL-1β genotype group, there was no difference in the cure rate among the CYP2C19 genotype groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified susceptibility to clarithromycin (p < 0.0001) and CYP2C19 genotype status (p = 0.03) as significant independent factors for treatment failure.CONCLUSION:IL-1β genetic polymorphism, although not an independent factor in treatment outcome, influences the impact of the CYP2C19 genotype on the cure rate of 1-wk triple therapy for H. pylori infection.
Grating-assisted coupling of light between semiconductor and glass waveguides

Grating-assisted directional couplers (GADC) are designed to couple the power between two waveguides with highly dissimilar effective indices. The GADC structure is used for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems to simplify coupling to optical fibers. In this paper, we use the Floquet Bloch theory to analyze this GADC structure because it provides rigorous solutions without introducing ad hoc assumptions.
Sex hormones and finger length What does 2 D : 4 D indicate ?

Much recent research has focused on the ratio of the lengths of the second to fourth manual digits (2D:4D) as a predictor of the degree of expression of sexually dimorphic and other sex-hormonemediated traits. However, published findings are often contradictory or subject to various methodological problems. In the present study, we reassessed the relationships among three measures of 2D:4D (left hand, right hand, and mean) and several variables previously claimed to be related to 2D:4D, including sexual orientation, spatial ability, status, physical prowess, and components of reproductive success. In addition, we examined the relationship between 2D:4D measures and several other traits whose expression is thought to be related to sex hormones, including voice pitch, sociosexuality, mating success, and fluctuating asymmetry. 2D:4D measures showed highly significant sex differences, as did spatial ability, sociosexuality, components of reproductive and mating success, and fluctuating asymmetry. However, out of 57 correlations, 2D:4D correlated significantly in the predicted direction only with sexual orientation (for both sexes) and only for left hand 2D:4D. We discuss the recent 2D:4D literature in light of these findings and consider their implications for understanding the timing of developmental events. D 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Notes on Nursing: What It Is, and What It Is Not

IntroductionFlorence NightingaleReflections on Nightingale's Perspective of NursingThe Origins of the Behavioral System ModelReflections on Nightingale with a Focus on Human Care Theory and LeadershipNightingale ReduxNightingale's Vision of Nursing Theory and HealthNotes on NightingaleNightingale's Notes on Nursing: Prelude to the 21st CenturyVigor, Variables, and Vision: Commentary on Florence NightingaleNightingale: The Enduring SymbolNotes on Nursing: Stirring the Spirit of ReformNotes on Nursing: Guidelines for Caring then and NowNotes on Nursing: What it is, and What it is notInde
A mechanism denial study on the Madden‐Julian Oscillation

A series of Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) mechanism‐denial experiments is performed using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). Daily climatological seasonal cycles of i) surface latent heat flux, ii) net radiative heating rate, and iii) surface wind stress are obtained from a control simulation and prescribed in place of the normal interactive computations of these fields in order to turn off the i) wind‐induced surface heat exchange (WISHE), ii) cloud‐radiation interaction (CRI), and iii) frictional wave‐CISK (FWC) mechanisms, respectively. Dual and triple mechanism denial experiments are also conducted by switching off multiple mechanisms together. The influence of each mechanism is assessed by comparing experiments with that mechanism turned off to those in which it is not. CRI and WISHE are both found to be important to the simulated MJO amplitude and propagation speed, while FWC has weaker and less systematic effects. The MJO is weakened when CRI is turned off, but strengthened when WISHE is turned off, indicating that CRI amplifies the MJO in the control simulation while WISHE weakens it. The negative influence of WISHE is shown to result from simulated phase relationships between surface winds, surface fluxes and convection which differ significantly from those found in observations, and thus is not interpreted as evidence against a positive role for WISHE in the development and maintenance of the observed MJO. The positive influence of CRI in the model is consistent with a strong simulated relationship between daily grid‐point column‐integrated radiative and convective heating; the mean ratio of the latter to the former exceeds 0.2 for rain rates less than 14 mm d−1. CRI is also shown to suppress an excessive excitation of the convectively coupled Kelvin wave so that the amplitude and frequency of the MJO is maintained.
Formyl Peptide Receptor-1 Activation Enhances Intestinal Epithelial Cell Restitution through Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-Dependent Activation of Rac1 and Cdc421

Inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract result in the breakdown of the intestinal epithelial barrier in the form of erosion and ulceration. To reestablish the epithelial barrier, the epithelium must efficiently migrate to reseal wounds. Numerous signaling cascades are involved in the induction and regulation of this complex process. N-formyl peptide receptors comprise a group of Gi-coupled receptors that regulate innate immune responses. Previously, we identified the expression of functional N-formyl peptide receptors in model SK-CO15 intestinal epithelial cells and observed a role for activation of these receptors in regulating cellular invasive behavior. In these studies, we performed formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR) localization and evaluated its role in regulating intestinal epithelial cell wound closure. Immunolocalization studies using a recently developed specific monoclonal anti-FPR Ab demonstrated its localization along the lateral membrane of crypt epithelial cells in normal human colonic epithelium. In vitro studies using the classical FPR agonist fMLF showed that FPR activation significantly enhances model intestinal epithelial cell restitution and that FPR localized along actin filaments in lamellipodial and filopodial extrusions. The increase in cell migration was associated with activation of PI3K, Rac1, and Cdc42. Pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K activity abrogated the fMLF-induced increase in wound closure and activation of both Rac1 and Cdc42. Inhibition of Rac1 and Cdc42 using pharmacologic inhibitors and dominant negative mutants also inhibited the fMLF-induced increase in cell migration. Taken together, theses results support a novel role for FPR stimulation in enhancing intestinal epithelial cell restitution through PI3K-dependent activation of Rac1 and Cdc42.
Effect of 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine on human cytomegalovirus replication in vitro

We studied the effect of a novel purine acyclic nucleoside, 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine (DHPG), on human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication. The susceptibility of HCMV to this drug was monitored in cell culture by plaque reduction assay. HCMV replication of various strains was inhibited to the extent of 50% by 1 to 5 microM DHPG. DHPG was highly specific in its anti-HCMV activity, since at concentrations as high as 100 microM it did not exert any detectable inhibitory effect on uninfected cell macromolecular synthesis and cell growth. At concentrations of 2 to 4 microM, the drug inhibited the synthesis of six virus-specific polypeptides with molecular weights of 200,000 (VP200), 150,000 (VP150), 67,000 (VP67), 54,000 (VP54), 32,000 (VP32), and 27,000 (VP27) up to 96 h after infection. HCMV DNA synthesis was also considerably suppressed at concentrations of 2 to 4 microM DHPG. Upon removal of the inhibitor, however, viral DNA synthesis resumed and infectious virus reappeared, indicating that this inhibition was a virostatic reversible-type inhibition.
Clinical and molecular characterization of a large family with an interstitial 15q11q13 duplication

The clinical significance of an interstitial duplication of chromosome 15q11q13 is still not well documented. This abnormality has been associated with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and varying degrees of mental retardation. The clinical variability appears to be influenced by the parental origin of the duplication. We present here the clinical evaluation and psychological assessment of the largest reported family with 12 carriers on three generations. Patients exhibit mental retardation, motor and visuo‐motor skills impairments and adaptive functioning deficit without formal diagnosis of autism. There appeared to be evidence in the family of reduced penetrance in duplication of paternal origin. This familial 15q11q13 duplication was precisely investigated by cytogenetic and molecular techniques including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR analysis of microsatellite markers, array‐comparative genomic hybridization analysis (Array‐CGH) and semi‐quantitative methylation‐sensitive PCR. Results showed an inherited 15q11q13 duplication of maternal origin in 10 patients and of paternal origin in the remaining two. The size of the duplicated area was around 6 Mb with breakpoints in accordance with those previously reported. This report extends the clinical spectrum of the 15q11q13 duplication, and we recommend the investigation of 15q11q13 duplication not only in subjects with autistic spectrum disorder but also in patients with low normal intelligence and dyspraxia. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.