Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cutting Edge: Reactive Oxygen Species Inhibitors Block Priming, but Not Activation, of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

A common denominator among the multiple damage-inducing agents that ultimately lead to activation of NLRP3 has not yet been identified. Recently, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested to act as a common event upstream of the NLRP3 inflammasome machinery. Because de novo translation of NLRP3 is an essential step in the activation of NLRP3, we investigated the role of substances that inhibit either ROS production or its oxidative activity. Although we observe that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is unique among other known inflammasomes in its sensitivity to ROS inhibition, we have found that this phenomenon is attributable to the fact that NLRP3 strictly requires priming by a proinflammatory signal, a step that is blocked by ROS inhibitors. Although these data do not exclude a general role for ROS production in the process of NLRP3-triggered inflammation, they would put ROS upstream of NLRP3 induction, but not activation.
Anxiety Sensitivity Across Four Ethnoracial Groups in an Undergraduate Sample

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), the fear of anxious cognitive and physiological experiences, is multidimensional and adds incrementally to the prediction of relationships of panic and relevant phenomenology. Many agree upon the content of the dimensions, but there is less agreement about the factor structure of the anxiety sensitivity index (ASI), a widely used measure of AS, across cultural groups. Anxiety disorders vary in their epidemiology and phenomenology across ethnoracial groups. This investigation adds clarity to research in the psychometric properties of the ASI across four cultural groups. Results from a confirmatory factor analysis support invariance across groups with the exception of three psychometrically questionable items assessing fear of gastrointestinal symptoms. The convergent and divergent validity are consistent with cross-group invariance as well. Clinical implications are discussed.
Urinary excretion of beta 2-glycoprotein-1 (apolipoprotein H) and other markers of tubular malfunction in "non-tubular" renal disease.

AIM: To determine whether urinary beta 2-glycoprotein-1 assays can provide improved discrimination between chronic renal diseases which are primarily of tubular or glomerular origin. METHODS: Urinary beta 2-glycoprotein-1, retinol-binding protein, alpha 1-microglobulin, beta 2-microglobulin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosa-minidase and albumin were measured in 51 patients with primary glomerular disease, 23 with obstructive nephropathy, and 15 with polycystic kidney disease, and expressed per mmol of creatinine. Plasma beta 2-glycoprotein-1 was assayed in 52 patients and plasma creatinine in all 89. The findings were compared between the diagnostic groups and with previously published data relating to primary tubular disorders. RESULTS: All 31 patients with plasma creatinine greater than 200 mumol/l excreted increased amounts of beta 2-glycoprotein-1, retinol-binding protein, and alpha 1-microglobulin, and 29 had increased N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase; the quantities were generally similar to those found in comparable patients with primary tubular pathology. Among 58 with plasma creatinine concentrations under 200 mumol/l, increases in beta 2-glycoprotein-1, retinol-binding protein, and alpha 1-microglobulin excretion were less common and much smaller, especially in those with obstructive nephropathy and polycystic disease. The ratios of the excretion of albumin to the other proteins provided the clearest discrimination between the patients with glomerular or tubular malfunction, but an area of overlap was present which embraced those with obstructive nephropathy and polycystic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Increased excretion of beta 2-glycoprotein-1 due to a raised plasma concentration or diminution of tubular reabsorption, or both, is common in all the forms of renal disease investigated, and both plasma creatinine and urinary albumin must be taken into account when interpreting results. Ratios of urinary albumin: beta 2-glycoprotein-1 greater than 1000 are highly suggestive of primary glomerular disease and those less than 40 of primary tubular disease. Used in this way, beta 2-glycoprotein-1 assays provide superior discrimination between glomerular and tubular malfunction when compared with retinol binding protein but the best discrimination is provided by albumin: alpha 1-microglobulin ratios.
Isolation , Identification and Characterization of Elevated Phenol Degrading Acinetobacter sp . Strain AQ 5 NOL 1 1

The increasing phenol and phenolic wastes necessitates the screening of bacteria that are able to degrade phenol. 115 bacterial isolates from several industrial sites and farms in Malaysia were screened for phenol degrading activity in minimal salt media (MSM) containing 0.5 gL phenol. Thirty seven bacterial isolates exhibited phenol degrading activity and of this total, 6 isolates showed high phenol activity after 8 days of incubation. The isolate with the highest phenol degrading activity was subsequently identified as Acinetobacter sp. Strain AQ5NOL 1 based on Biolog GN plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The optimum conditions for achieving high phenol degradation were 0.04% (w/v) (NH4)2SO4, 0.01% (w/v) NaCl, pH 7, and temperature of 30C. Acinetobacter sp. Strain AQ5NOL 1 was found to degrade phenol of up to 1500 mgL concentrations under the optimized conditions. The isolation of Acinetobacter sp Strain AQ5NOL 1 provides an alternative for the bioremediation of phenol and phenolic wastes.
Bacterial Diversity in Tree Canopies of the Atlantic Forest

We found an extraordinary level of bacterial biodiversity in the tree leaf canopy of a tropical Atlantic forest by using culture-independent molecular methods. Our survey suggests that each tree species selects for a distinct microbial community. Analysis of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences revealed that about 97% of the bacteria were unknown species and that the phyllosphere of any one tree species carries at least 95 to 671 bacterial species. The tree canopies of tropical forests likely represent a large reservoir of unexplored microbial diversity.
The Relation of Penicillin to Induced Rat Dental Caries and Oral L. Acidophilus

A diet consisting largely of coarse-ground corn meal will usually cause a high incidence of carious-like lesions in molar teeth of the white rat (1). Either fluoride or iodoacetate in the diet and drinking water, however, will markedly inhibit this induced form of rat caries (2). Preliminary results now indicate an inhibition of such rat caries and a striking reduction in counts of oral L. acidophilus by adding penicillin to rats' food and drinking water. In vitro, L. acidophilus is susceptible to penicillin (3). Other studies (4) have demonstrated a rapid fall in the total bacteria of the oral cavity after application of penicillin pastilles. In this study experimental rats, matched with litter-mate controls, received a corn meal caries-inducing diet containing 75 units of penicillin4 per gram and drank water containing 75 units per ml. Control rats of the pairs received no penicillin. The penicillin diet and penicillin drinking water were renewed daily, numerous assays (5, 6) having revealed practically no deterioration of penicillin in the diet and water after standing 24 hours in food cups and in drinking fountains which were cleaned and sterilized daily. After 125 days on experiment the rats were sacrificed and their teeth diagnosed microscopically for caries and scored according to a standard procedure (7). As shown in Table I no caries appeared in the test (penicillin) rats whereas 50.0% of the control rats had carious teeth. Although severity and incidence of caries in the control animals was less than usual, the outcome in the control animals contrasts strikingly with the negative caries results for rats given penicillin. To obtain the plate counts for oral L. acidophilus (Table II)' tooth surfaces were thoroughly scrubbed with a small cotton swab, and the swab placed immediately in a measured quantity (5 ml. or 2 ml.) of 1% dextrose meat infusion broth (pH 5.0). An aliquot portion (0.2 ml.) of this broth was cultured on a tomato juice agar media (pH 5.0) and the L. acidophilus colonies counted after 96 hours incubation (8). In 7 instances as shown in Table II, plate counts for penicillin rats were mostly negative or yielded less than 50 colonies of L. acidophilus organisms. The great majority of control rats on the other hand, developed upwards df 50 colonies per plate.
The Safety and Efficacy of Statin Therapy in the Pediatric Population

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend the consideration of statin therapy as a first-line pharmacological measure in children as young as 8 years old with marked hypercholesterolemia. Thus, it is important to review both the safety and efficacy of initiating statin therapy prior to adulthood. Statins interfere with cholesterol synthesis, thereby lowering serum cholesterol levels. However, there are special considerations that need to be made when initiating medications such as statins in the pediatric population. Cholesterol is crucial for various biologic processes including neurological development. Cholesterol also serves as a biochemical precursor to many hormones including those critical in sexual development. This article examines the current evidence for the safety and efficacy of statin use in the pediatric population and identifies areas for future research.
On the Computational Complexity of Spatio-Temporal Logics

Recently, a hierarchy of spatio-temporal languages based on the propositional temporal logic PTL and the spatial languages RCC-8, BRCC-8 and S4u has been introduced. Although a number of results on their computational properties were obtained, the most important questions were left open. In this paper, we solve these problems and provide a clear picture of the balance between expressiveness and ‘computational realisability’ within the hierarchy.
Bounding Option Prices by Semidefinite Programming: A Cutting Plane Algorithm

In a recent article, Bertsimas and Popescu showed that a tight upper bound on a Europeantype call option price, given the first n moments of the distribution of the underlying security price, can be obtained by solving an associated semidefinite programming problem (SDP). The purpose of this paper is to improve and extend their results. We will show that a tight lower bound can be calculated by solving another SDP. Also, we will show that these problems can be solved very quickly by a newly developed cutting plane algorithm when n is less than six or seven.
Quantification of color variation of restorative materials used on pediatric dentistry after pigmentation

Objective: To quantify the color variation of two glass ionomer cements and a composite resin used in pediatric dentistry, after being immersed in different pigments agents. Methods: Using two glass ionomer cements (Ketac(tm) Molar and Photac(tm) Fil) and a microhybrid composite resin (Filtek(tm) z250), were produced 40 disks of each material (10 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick). The samples were soaked in artificial saliva (control group), coke, peach Ice Tea (r) and chocolate milk, for 72 hours in an oven at 37oC. After this period, the samples were washed in 50 ml of distilled water. Finally, using the spectrophotometer, it was made the reading of results. The color change was measured according to the CIE L * a * b * system. Color changes were statistically analyzed using parametric one-way ANOVA and ANOVA with Welch correction, the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests and post-hoc Tukey and Dunnet T3 with p≤ 0.05. Results: The immersion of restorative materials in different pigmentation agents caused a significant color variation on the samples. The agent who presented higher results was the Peach Ice Tea (r). The chocolate milk was the fluid with lowest pigmentation capacity of all restorative materials under study. The greater color variation was found on the Ketac(tm) Molar submerged in Coca-Cola (r) and the smallest on the Filtek(tm) z250 in chocolate milk. Conclusion: All restorative materials were shown to be susceptible to pigmentation by all agents. The Filtek(tm) z250 proved to have better color stability, followed by Photac(tm) Fil and finally by Ketac(tm) Molar.
Biologic Properties of Columnar Epithelium Underneath Reepithelialized Squamous Mucosa in Barrett's Esophagus

Chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy may lead to partial regression of Barrett's esophagus (BE), resulting in the development of reepithelialized islands of squamous mucosa that may cover the underlying BE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, histologic, and biologic characteristics of BE that is situated underneath squamous islands (BUSI). A total of 97 mucosal biopsies from 44 BE patients with BUSI were evaluated for a variety of histologic features (eg, type of epithelium, anatomic relationship of the underlying glands to the luminal surface, presence of adjacent mucosal glands or ducts, and the presence and degree of dysplasia), and immunostained for Ki-67, cyclin D1, and p53. BUSI was compared with adjacent areas of BE for all parameters. A clinical control group consisting of 50 BE patients without microscopic evidence of BUSI was selected for comparison of clinical and endoscopic features. The study group (34 males, 10 females; mean age, 67 years; mean length of BE, 5.5 cm) consisted of 27 (61%) and 12 (27%) patients on low- and high-dose PPI, respectively. On endoscopy, visible islands of squamous mucosa were noted in only 43% of study group patients (despite the presence of BUSI microscopically in all cases); one island was noted in 2%, multiple islands in 27%, and extensive islands in 14% of patients. The extent of squamous islands was unrelated to PPI dose. The study group was significantly more likely to have endoscopic evidence of extensive squamous islands compared with the control group (P = 0.009). Histologically, 89% of biopsies with BUSI showed intestinal-type, and 11% showed cardia-type, epithelium. Low- and high-grade dysplasia was noted in 4 (4%) and 5 (5%) biopsies, respectively. All patients with dysplasia in BUSI also showed dysplasia in other areas of the esophagus as well. Interestingly, BUSI reached the mucosal surface either by penetrating directly through, or by wrapping around, islands of squamous epithelium, in 68% of biopsies. Twenty-one percent of biopsies showed BUSI adjacent to submucosal glands or ducts. BUSI showed a significantly lower Ki-67 proliferation rate (29% vs. 49%, P < 0.001), and a lower, albeit nonsignificant, degree of cyclin D1 (16% vs. 29%) and p53 (4% vs. 17%) positivity in comparison to adjacent areas of BE. Furthermore, significantly lower proliferation rates were observed in BUSI that did not reveal an opening to the mucosal surface in comparison to foci that did. BUSI is phenotypically similar to typical surface BE but shows less severe proliferative abnormalities, particularly in buried glands that have no detectable connection to the esophageal lumen. Reduced proliferation may be due either to decreased exposure to luminal contents or to disruption of sloughing of surface epithelial cells into the crypt lumen. Prospective studies of large numbers of patients with BUSI will be required to determine the magnitude of its risk of progression to cancer.
Association between a polymorphism in the promoter of a glutamate receptor subunit gene (GRIN2A) and alcoholism

A variable (GT)n repeat in the 5′‐regulatory region of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate GRIN2A subtype has recently been identified and associated with psychiatric disorders. In this study, we examined the association of this polymorphism with alcohol dependence. Subject–control analysis included 206 alcohol‐dependent and 168 control subjects. Average observed repeat numbers and genotype distributions were significantly different (P‐value = 0.001) in alcohol‐dependent subjects versus control subjects. Short alleles were significantly less frequent among alcohol‐dependent subjects (odds ratio = 0.58, P‐value = 7 × 10−4). These results could be replicated in an independent sample of 116 alcohol‐dependent subjects. For the first time, a significant association was identified between this polymorphism and alcoholism.
Fruit and vegetable intake and weight-control behaviors among US youth.

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and weight control behaviors among youth. METHODS Data (N = 16,262) were derived from the 1997 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). RESULTS Results indicated that adolescents in this study, especially females, were at risk for inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. Weight-control behaviors were high especially among females. CONCLUSION Although some weight-control behaviors may be hazardous, adolescents who were practicing weight-control behaviors engaged in the positive dietary behavior of consuming more servings of fruits and vegetables.
EVALUATION OF INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAM OF UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS

Background: When medical schools attempt to place, up to date information without coherence into their vast curricula, students face an overwhelming burden of dispersed information and desperately opt for rote memorisation rather than understanding. The objective of this study was to compare response and performance of students as a result of change from non-integrated to integrated curricula. Methods: The need of integration came from students’ response to a non-integrated curriculum. Integrated Learning Program (ILP) was designed by curriculum development and integration committee. A structured questionnaire on perception of teaching methodologies and active learning was obtained from 95 students and 14 faculty members. Assessment test results were compared with a nonintegrated module. Results: Overall satisfaction with ILP was shown by 78% students and 72% faculty members. The students realised greater command on subject and utility of course for better prospects in university exam and clinical orientation. Significant test performance was observed (p<0.001) by integrated curriculum. Conclusion: Competency based education and professional learning of medical students can be enhanced by complete integration in basic sciences curriculum.
Open-lung Protective Ventilation with Pressure Control Ventilation, High-frequency Oscillation, and Intratracheal Pulmonary Ventilation Results in Similar Gas Exchange, Hemodynamics, and Lung Mechanics

Background Pressure control ventilation (PCV), high-frequency oscillation (HFO), and intratracheal pulmonary ventilation (ITPV) may all be used to provide lung protective ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome, but the specific approach that is optimal remains controversial. Methods Saline lavage was used to produce acute respiratory distress syndrome in 21 sheep randomly assigned to receive PCV, HFO, or ITPV as follows: positive end-expiratory pressure (PCV and ITPV) and mean airway pressure (HFO) were set in a pressure-decreasing manner after lung recruitment that achieved a ratio of Pao2/Fio2 > 400 mmHg. Respiratory rates were 30 breaths/min, 120 breaths/min, and 8 Hz, respectively, for PCV, ITPV, and HFO. Eucapnia was targeted with peak carinal pressure of no more than 35 cm H2O. Animals were then ventilated for 4 h. Results There were no differences among groups in gas exchange, lung mechanics, or hemodynamics. Tidal volume (PCV, 8.9 ± 2.1 ml/kg; ITPV, 2.7 ± 0.8 ml/kg; HFO, approximately 2.0 ml/kg) and peak carinal pressure (PCV, 30.6 ± 2.6 cm H2O; ITPV, 22.3 ± 4.8 cm H2O; HFO, approximately 24.3 cm H2O) were higher in PCV. Pilot histologic data showed greater interstitial hemorrhage and alveolar septal expansion in PCV than in HFO or ITPV. Conclusion These data indicate that HFO, ITPV, and PCV when applied with an open-lung protective ventilatory strategy results in the same gas exchange, lung mechanics, and hemodynamic response, but pilot data indicate that lung injury may be greater with PCV.
Imaging of acute stroke prior to treatment: current practice and evolving techniques

Standard imaging in acute stroke is undertaken with the aim of diagnosing the underlying cause and excluding stroke mimics. In the presence of ischaemic stroke, imaging is also needed to assess patient suitability for treatment with intravenous thrombolysis. Non-contrast CT is predominantly used, but MRI can also exclude any contraindications to thrombolysis treatment. Advanced stroke imaging such as CT and MR angiography and perfusion imaging are increasingly used in an acute setting. In this review, we discuss the evidence for the application of these advanced techniques in the imaging of acute stroke.
Influence of pentagonal texture on performance of slider bearing

Surface texture acts as reservoir and generating additional micro-hydrodynamic lift effect resulting improving tribological performance of bearing. The parametric analysis for influence of pentagonal surface texture on stationary surface of non-parallel slider bearing has been studied. In the isothermal condition, Navier-Stokes equation has been solved by finite volume method using ANSYS FLUENT. The bearing performance in terms of load carrying capacity, friction force and coefficient of fluid film friction have been calculated and normalized. Pentagonal texture with different area ratio has been modeled. Optimization of dimple parameters i.e. area ratio, height ratio, orientation and number of dimples in terms of hydrodynamic performance of bearing are investigated. It is observed that single dimple with right edge parallel to transverse axis having better performance. The load carrying capacity is increased with width and depth of texture up to a certain value after this vortex formation is occurred. Also the friction force is reduced with wider and deeper texture. This optimized dimple is offset toward left to transverse axis. Offset dimple shows best tribological performance of bearing.
Reversion analysis of mutations induced by 5-bromodeoxyuridine mutagenesis in mammalian cells

Two protocols have been developed, both of which utilize the thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) to induce mutations in mammalian cells in culture (E. R. Kaufman and R. L. Davidson, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75:4982-4986, 1978; E. R. Kaufman, Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:2449-2454, 1984). The first protocol, termed incorporational (INC) mutagenesis, utilizes high concentrations of BrdUrd in the culture medium to generate a high intracellular ratio of BrdUTP/dCTP. The second protocol, termed replicational (REP) mutagenesis, entails the incorporation of BrdUrd into DNA under nonmutagenic conditions, the removal of all BrdUrd from the culture medium, and the subsequent replication of the bromouracil-containing DNA in the presence of high intracellular levels of dTTP and dGTP. Genetic studies using reversion analysis at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus were used to determine whether the mechanisms of these two BrdUrd mutagenesis protocols had enough specificity to be distinguishable by their ability to revert various mutants. The results of these studies indicated that (i) mutants induced by INC mutagenesis were induced to revert only by REP mutagenesis and not by INC mutagenesis, (ii) mutants induced by REP mutagenesis were more efficiently reverted by INC mutagenesis than by REP mutagenesis, and (iii) both spontaneous mutants and mutants induced by the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate showed a high degree of specificity when tested for reversion by the BrdUrd mutagenesis protocols.