Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Studies of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Characteristics Between He and Ar Working Gases for Sterilization

Helium (He) and Argon (Ar) atmospheric pressure plasma jets operated with low-frequency power source are designed and studied. The current and voltage waveforms, formation of plasma jets, estimated rotational and vibrational temperatures, optical emission spectra, and numerical simulations for He and Ar gases are investigated to analyze the plasma characteristics. Ar plasma shows higher discharge current and many instantaneous current peaks compared with He plasma. For gas flow between 1 and 7 L/min and applied voltage between 3 and 10 kV, no significant changes in Ar plasma are observed. He plasma is found to be sensitive as far as gas flow rate and applied voltage are concerned. This sensitivity is associated with a transition from laminar to turbulent mode of gas flow. The estimated gas temperatures show higher values for Ar plasma than those of He plasma. Ar plasma jet emits extremely high intensity of OH (305 nm ~312 nm) and O (777 nm) compared with that emitted from He plasma jet. High concentration of OH and O in Ar plasma is related with high density of electrons with 4-5 eV, which is in the range of the dissociation energy of H-H, O-H, and O=O bonds. As a result, wider sterilization area and higher sterilization efficacy in indirect treatment are observed for Ar plasma than He plasma.
Protein-bound homocystamide measured in human plasma by HPLC.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a sulfur-containing nonprotein amino acid derived from the metabolism of methionine. Plasma Hcy is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). The cyclic internal lactone form of Hcy, homocysteine thiolactone, may be the critical molecular form in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In cultured cells, homocysteine thiolactone is synthesized through the reaction of methionyl-tRNA synthase (6)(7). This enzyme reacts with free amino groups of proteins to produce protein-bound homocystamide (7)(8)(9). The toxicity of homocysteinylation to the cell has been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Lysyl oxidase, which catalyzes the posttranslational modification essential to the pathogenesis of connective tissue matrices, is irreversibly inactivated by homocysteine thiolactone (10). Homocysteinylation increases the internalization of LDL by macrophages (11). Furthermore, homocysteinylated LDL elicits an autoimmune response (12). Homocysteine thiolactone hydrolase is present in human plasma and is identical to paraoxonase (13). Homocysteine thiolactone hydrolase may hydrolyze homocysteine thiolactone to Hcy and thereby prevent the homocysteinylation of proteins. In the absence of a suitable assay system for homocysteine thiolactone, however, no detailed study is available on homocysteine thiolactone or Hcy-related proteins. We have developed and evaluated an assay system for measuring protein-bound homocystamide in plasma and used it in samples from healthy adults and hemodialysis patients. Here we report the results of that study. We obtained plasma samples from 20 healthy volunteers (12 males, 8 females; age range, 29–38 years) and 15 nondiabetic hemodialysis patients [7 males and 8 females; mean (SD) age, 49 (7) years] treated at the Suiyukai Clinic (Nara, Japan) after receiving their informed consent for this study. The patients were on hemodialysis using bicarbonate dialysate with systemic heparinization two or three times week a week. Blood was collected by …
Carbamoyl phosphate synthase-1: A marker of mitochondrial damage and depletion in the liver during sepsis

Objective:Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced organ failures. Unfortunately, specific markers of mitochondrial damage in vital organs do not currently exist. Recently, carbomyl phosphate synthase (CPS)-1, a protein primarily localized to liver mitochondria, was found to be present in high concentrations in the plasma of septic humans. Thus, we hypothesized that the circulatory release of CPS-1 would correlate with mitochondrial damage or impaired mitochondrial function in the liver in a clinically relevant model of sepsis. Design:Prospective, randomized, controlled animal study. Setting:University medical center research laboratory. Subjects:Male, Balb/C mice, aged 10–12 wks. Interventions:Animals were assigned to receive cecal ligation and puncture (CLP sepsis) or sham operation and compared with untreated controls. Plasma CPS-1 levels and liver mitochondrial variables, including morphology, respiratory activity, mass (i.e., cardiolipin content), and protein carbonylation, were assessed at various time points (8, 24, and 48 hrs and 6 days) after surgery. Measurements and Main Results:Oxidant stress (i.e., carbonylation) was detected within 8 hrs of CLP and persisted through 48 hrs. Plasma CPS-1 levels increased dramatically at 24 hrs, remained significantly elevated at 48 hrs, and normalized by 6 days in the sepsis group. Abnormalities of liver mitochondrial morphology and function coincided with increased plasma CPS-1 levels. Mitochondrial depletion in the liver was not due to cell death but was associated with increased lysosomal clearance. Increased expression of mitochondrial biogenesis factors preceded restoration of mitochondrial variables and normalization of CPS-1 levels by day 6. Conclusions:Circulating CPS-1 is a marker of mitochondrial damage and depletion in the liver during the subacute phase of CLP sepsis. From a mechanistic standpoint, mitochondrial depletion is not due to cell death but is apparently related to the removal of damaged mitochondria by lysosomes (i.e., autophagy), followed by repletion of mitochondrial populations. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical utility of CPS-1 as a marker of sepsis severity.
Comparison of Quality of Life Measures in Heart Failure

BackgroundAlthough numerous health-related quality-of-life instruments are available to measure patients’ quality of life, few studies have compared these measures directly to determine how they function in the same group of patients. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to empirically compare psychometric properties of the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (CHQ), the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (LHFQ), and the General Health Survey Short-form-12 (SF-12). SampleA convenience sample of 211 patients with heart failure completed baseline questionnaires; 165 patients completed the entire 26-week study. MethodsPatients completed telephone interviews at baseline and at 4, 8, and 26 weeks after baseline. To compare mode of administration, a subset of patients (n = 173) completed face-to-face and telephone interviews. ResultsPatients reported low-to-moderate health-related quality-of-life overall. Reliability of the three instruments was satisfactory. Responsiveness to changing condition, as evaluated by analysis of variance, receiver operating curve characteristics, and the minimal clinically important difference method, indicated that the CHQ and LHFQ were more responsive to changing conditions than the SF-12. No major differences were noted between the scores of the face-to-face interviews and the baseline telephone interviews. The LHFQ and SF-12 were easier and took less time to administer than the CHQ. ConclusionsWhile all three instruments were reliable and valid, the CHQ and LHFQ were more sensitive than the SF-12 in detecting clinically important changes over time.
Organizational Control, Incentive Contracts, and Knowledge Transfer in Offshore Business Process Outsourcing

We study the determinants of output quality in offshore business process outsourcing BPO. Firms can exert control over output quality through incentives formally written into contracts and allow both clients and providers to manage the offshore agents creating a dual governance mechanism. We use a combination of two data sets, a cross sectional data set of 139 processes and a balanced panel data set comprising 21 processes with 36 observations per process, to investigate the impact of different factors on the quality of output of offshore BPO providers. Our findings point to the strong moderating effect of process codifiability on the dual governance mechanism. Process codifiability is not only associated with higher output quality, it also moderates the functioning of the dual governance mechanism and determines when the managerial efforts of the client and provider are substitutes and when they are complementary. We show that contractual incentives tied to quality are generally associated with a higher quality of output. Finally, we show that the use of process-level inter-organizational information systems also has a positive impact on the output quality of offshore BPO providers.
PCR-Based Identification of MAT-1 andMAT-2 in the Gibberella fujikuroi Species Complex

ABSTRACT All sexually fertile strains in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex are heterothallic, with individual mating types conferred by the broadly conserved ascomycete idiomorphsMAT-1 and MAT-2. We sequenced both alleles from all eight mating populations, developed a multiplex PCR technique to distinguish these idiomorphs, and tested it with representative strains from all eight biological species and 22 additional species or phylogenetic lineages from this species complex. In most cases, either an ∼800-bp fragment from MAT-2 or an ∼200-bp fragment from MAT-1 is amplified. The amplified fragments cosegregate with mating type, as defined by sexual cross-fertility, in a cross of Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides). Neither of the primer pairs amplify fragments from Fusarium species such as Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium pseudograminearum, andFusarium culmorum, which have, or are expected to have,Gibberella sexual stages but are thought to be relatively distant from the species in the G. fujikuroi species complex. Our results suggest that MAT allele sequences are useful indicators of phylogenetic relatedness in these and otherFusarium species.
Probe enhanced, nano-Raman spectroscopy (PERS); A sensitive technique for vibrational surface spectroscopy

Vibrational spectroscopy, which is considered one of the most definitive means of obtaining chemical bonding information, often has a low measurement sensitivity preventing its application to the study of interfaces and monolayers. Surface plasmons induced on metal nano-particles by electromagnetic radiation (e.g. light) can be used to enhance the sensitivity and spatial resolution (below the optical diffraction limit) of spectroscopic techniques like Raman scattering. Significant enhancements to the scattering cross-section, sometimes by as much as 10, make possible the detection of even single molecules. This work reports on the development of probe enhanced Raman spectroscopy (PERS) which uses near field, metallic nano-probes to study technologically significant silicon interfaces with high sensitivity.
Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population

Mental health problems are endemic across the globe, and suicide, a strong corollary of poor mental health, is a leading cause of death. Classic psychedelic use may occasion lasting improvements in mental health, but the effects of classic psychedelic use on suicidality are unknown. We evaluated the relationships of classic psychedelic use with psychological distress and suicidality among over 190,000 USA adult respondents pooled from the last five available years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008–2012) while controlling for a range of covariates. Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a significantly reduced odds of past month psychological distress (weighted odds ratio (OR)=0.81 (0.72–0.91)), past year suicidal thinking (weighted OR=0.86 (0.78–0.94)), past year suicidal planning (weighted OR=0.71 (0.54–0.94)), and past year suicide attempt (weighted OR=0.64 (0.46–0.89)), whereas lifetime illicit use of other drugs was largely associated with an increased likelihood of these outcomes. These findings indicate that classic psychedelics may hold promise in the prevention of suicide, supporting the view that classic psychedelics’ most highly restricted legal status should be reconsidered to facilitate scientific study, and suggesting that more extensive clinical research with classic psychedelics is warranted.
How willing are you? Willingness as a predictor of change during treatment of adults with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an effective treatment for individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), yet a substantial number of individuals with OCD do not fully respond to this intervention. Based on emerging experimental and clinical research on acceptance, this study sought to explore whether willingness to experience unpleasant thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations during ERP was associated with improved treatment response.
Ammonia‐induced heme oxygenase‐1 expression in cultured rat astrocytes and rat brain in vivo

Ammonia is a key factor in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is a major complication in acute and chronic liver failure and other hyperammonemic states. The molecular mechanisms underlying ammonia neurotoxicity and the functional consequences of ammonia on gene expression in astrocytes are incompletely understood. Using cDNA array hybridization technique we identified ammonia as a trigger of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) mRNA levels in cultured rat astrocytes. As shown by Northern and Western blot analysis, HO‐1 mRNA levels were upregulated by ammonia (0.1–5 mmol/L) after 24 h and protein expression after 72 h in astrocytes. These ammonia effects on HO‐1 are probably triggered to a minor extent by ammonia‐induced glutamine synthesis or by astrocyte swelling, because HO‐1 expression was not inhibited by the glutamine synthetase inhibitor methionine sulfoximine (which abrogated ammonia‐induced cell swelling in cultured astrocytes), and ammonia‐induced HO‐1 expression could only partly be mimicked by hypoosmotic astrocyte swelling. Hypoosmotic (205 mOsm/L) exposure of astrocytes led even to a decrease in HO‐1 mRNA levels within 4 h, whereas hyperosmotic (405 mOsm/L) exposure increased HO‐1 mRNA expression. After 24 h, hypoosmolarity slightly raised HO‐1 mRNA expression. Taurine and melatonin diminished ammonia‐induced HO‐1 mRNA or protein expression, whereas other antioxidants (dimethylthiourea, butylated hydroxytoluene, N‐acetylcysteine, and reduced glutathione) increased HO‐1 mRNA levels under ammonia‐free conditions. An in vivo relevance is suggested by the finding that increased HO‐1 expression occurs in the brain cortex from acutely ammonia‐intoxicated rats. It is concluded that ammonia‐induced HO‐1 expression may contribute to cerebral hyperemia in hyperammonic states. GLIA 40:324–336, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mitogenicity of human fibroblasts in vivo for human breast cancer cells

Stromal factors have been implicated in the regulation of mammary epithelial cell behaviour, but their influence on human breast cancer is unknown. Fibroblasts were grown in monolayer cell culture from explants of benign and malignant breast tissue and normal skin. MCF7 human breast cancer cells alone (2 × 106 cells) or in combination with live fibroblasts (MCF7 + F) were inoculated into the mammary fat pads of 6–8‐week‐old female nude mice. After 5 weeks tumours were excised, weighed and fixed for histological examination. Addition of live breast fibroblasts significantly increased the retrieval (127/135 versus 52/106, P <0·01, χ2 test) and growth (tumour weight 174·11 versus 41·4 mg, mean ± s.e.m., P <0·01, Mann—Whitney U test) of subsequent tumours. Histological examination did not reveal any morphological difference between the two tumour groups. Injection of fibroblasts alone did not produce tumours. Addition of skin fibroblasts was also stimulatory. Glutaraldehyde‐killed fibroblasts increased tumour take but did not stimulate tumour growth. Mononuclear blood leucocytes were ineffective. The results demonstrate that, in this model, fibroblasts exert stimulatory influences on human breast cancer xenograft growth and development.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYMORPHISM OF THE α-LACTALBUMIN GENE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY OF LYMPHOCYTES TO INFECTIONS WITH BOVINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS AND TO APOPTOSIS IN NATURALLY INFECTED COWS

A study was undertaken to analyse the effect of polymorphism of α-lactalbumin (ALA) gene at position -1689 on the susceptibility of lymphocytes to the infection with bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) and to undergoing apoptosis during the first three months after calving. The experiments covered 97 Black-and-White breed cows, aged 3–8 years, from three herds. The infection with BLV was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of the p24 protein of the virus identified by means of the fluorescent antibody test in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The BLV-positive and apoptotic cells were registered with the use of a fluorescence microscope. Analyses of white blood cell counts enabled separating the BLVinfected cows into groups with the aleukaemic form and with persistent lymphocytosis. The results obtained demonstrated a relationship between polymorphism of ALA gene and the susceptibility of lymphocytes to BLV infections and to undergoing apoptosis. The current study, together with the authors’ previous research, suggests the possibility of ALA gene participation in mechanisms of BLV infection pathogenesis.
Developmental changes in the metabolic protein profiles of wheat endosperm

A combined two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis‐mass spectrometry approach was utilized to identify over 250 proteins of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Butte 86) starchy endosperm that participate in 13 biochemical processes: ATP interconversion reactions, carbohydrate metabolism, cell division, cytoskeleton, lipid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, protein synthesis/assembly, protein turnover, signal transduction, protein storage, stress/defense, transcription/translation, and transport. Endosperm protein populations were compared at early (10 days post‐anthesis, dpa) and late (36 dpa) stages of grain development. Analysis of protein number and spot volume revealed that carbohydrate metabolism, transcription/translation, and protein synthesis/assembly were the principal endosperm functions at 10 dpa followed by nitrogen metabolism, protein turnover, cytoskeleton, cell division, signal transduction, and lipid metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis/assembly were also major functions at 36 dpa, but stress/defense and storage were predominant. The results provide insight into biochemical events taking place during wheat grain development and highlight the value of proteomics in characterizing complex biochemical processes. Further, the proteome maps will facilitate future studies addressing the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the development and quality of wheat grain.
Serum Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Activity and Correlation with Fatty Liver in Dairy Cows with Displaced Abomasum

Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase (OCT) is a hepatocyte-specific enzyme; elevated serum activity indicates liver damage. Displaced abomasum frequently occurs around the time of parturition in dairy cattle and is associated with fatty liver. We analyzed serum OCT activities to investigate the relationship between displaced abomasum and fatty liver. Lactating Holstein cows, 75 clinically healthy and 22 with displaced abomasum, were used. Serum OCT activities were compared between healthy cows and those with displaced abomasum. Liver biopsies of cows with displaced abomasum were classified by the severity of fat accumulation. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and at 4 and 8 days after surgery and analyzed for serum OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, urea nitrogen, total protein and hematocrit. Serum OCT activity was significantly higher in cows with displaced abomasumthan in healthy cows. The degree of fatty liver in cows with displaced abomasum was classified as mild (13 cows), moderate (5 cows), or severe (4 cows). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in blood test results among cows with different degrees of fatty liver. However, our results indicated significant differences in serum OCT, aspartate aminotransferase, urea nitrogen, total protein and hematocrit when stratified by the number of days after surgical treatment for displaced abomasum. Serum OCT activity is increased in dairy cows with displaced abomasum and the influence of the degree of fatty liver on serum OCT activity is unclear. Therefore, OCT should be reconsidered as a marker of fatty liver in cows around the time of parturition, when displaced abomasum frequently occurs. Fatty liver should be evaluated by various clinical parameters, not by one hepatic enzyme.
Identification of Putative Vero Cell Protein(S) That Bind Specifically To Recombinant Envelope Protein of Dengue Virus Type 2

Purpose : To identify protein targets in host (vero) cell since there is currently no therapy or a licensed tetravalent vaccine to combat all the four virus serotypes of dengue virus. Methods : The domain III of the dengue virus encoded envelope protein was expressed in pET28a expression vector and the purified recombinant protein was labeled with biotin without altering its immunogenicity. Vero cell proteins on nitrocellulose membrane reacted with recombinant envelope protein domain III to identify viral target proteins in vero cells. Results : The 45 KDa, 43 KDa and 30 KDa plasma membrane proteins were identified as viral envelope targets. Competitive binding assay showed these proteins competing with dengue virus binding. MTT assay indicate that viability of vero cells increases in cultures pretreated with 45 KDa, 43 KDa and 30 KDa proteins before dengue infection. Conclusion : These results indicate the possible role of these proteins in viral binding to vero cells. The study provides a preliminary insight that would aid in determining the target epitopes against protein E domain III of dengue virus and hence, formulation of a vaccine for preparing neutralizing antibodies. Keywords : Dengue virus envelope, Biotinylation, Ni-NTA purification, Target epitopes, Plaque assay, Competitive blocking assay
Obesity induced a leptin‐Notch signaling axis in breast cancer

To investigate whether obesity induces a leptin‐Notch signaling axis in breast cancer (BC), leptin‐induced Notch was determined in human MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB231 and mouse E0771 cells and in E0771‐BC hosted by syngeneic lean and diet‐induced obesity (DIO) C57BL/6J female mice. Lean and DIO mice were treated for 3 weeks with leptin inhibitor (PEG‐LPrA2) 1 week after the inoculation of E0771 cells. Leptin induced Notch1, 3 and 4 in BC cells, but Notch2 expression showed opposite pattern in MCF‐7 compared to MDA‐MB231 cells. Notch loss‐of‐function (DAPT and dominant negative [R218H] RBP‐Jk [CSL/CBF1]) showed that a functional leptin‐Notch signaling axis was involved in the proliferation and migration of E0771 cells. E0771‐BC onset was affected by obesity (lean mice7/10 [70%] vs. DIO mice: 11/12 [92%]; Pearson χ2: p = 0.06]). PEG‐LPrA2 significantly reduced BC growth (untreated: 19/42; [45%] vs. treated: 8/42 [19%]; Pearson χ2: p = 0.008). PEG‐LPrA2 did not influence the caloric intake of mice but increased carcass and/or body weights of lean and DIO mice inoculated with E0771 cells, which could be related to the improvement of health conditions (less aggressive disease). Importantly, BC from obese mice had higher levels of Notch3, JAG1 and survivin than lean mice. Inhibition of leptin signaling reduced protein levels of Notch (NICD1, NICD4, Notch3, JAG1 and survivin) and significantly decreased mRNA expression of Notch receptors, ligands and targets. PEG‐LPrA's effects were more prominent in DIO mice. Present data suggest that leptin induces Notch, which could be involved in the reported higher incidence and aggressiveness and, poor prognosis of BC in obese patients.