Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Engineering Lightning Return Stroke Models Incorporating Current Reflection From Ground and Finitely Conducting Ground Effects

A return stroke model that incorporates a reflected wave from ground without introducing any current discontinuities at the return stroke front is introduced. The incident current is treated using current generation concepts and the reflected current using current dissipation concepts. It is shown that the effect of the reflected current wave is to cause flattening of close electric field waveforms within about 10 μs. Additionally, it is shown how a return stroke model could be utilized to study the effect of ground conductivity on the return stroke current. The results show that the peak time derivative of current in lightning strokes terminating on poorly conducting ground is significantly lower than in the case of highly conducting ground. The model is also used to predict the spatial variation of return stroke velocity. The results show that the return stroke velocity increases initially, reaches a peak, and then decays with increasing height.
General and food-specific parenting: measures and interplay.

BACKGROUND Parental influence on child food intake is typically conceptualized at three levels-parenting practices, feeding style, and parenting style. General parenting style is modeled at the most distal level of influence and food parenting practices are conceptualized as the most proximal level of influence. The goal of this article is to provide insights into contents and explanatory value of instruments that have been applied to assess food parenting practices, feeding style, and parenting style. METHODS Measures of food parenting practices, feeding style, and parenting style were reviewed, compared, and contrasted with regard to contents, explanatory value, and interrelationships. RESULTS Measures that are used in the field often fail to cover the full scope and complexity of food parenting. Healthy parenting dimensions have generally been found to be positively associated with child food intake (i.e., healthier dietary intake and less intake of energy-dense food products and sugar-sweetened beverages), but effect sizes are low. Evidence for the operation of higher-order moderation has been found, in which the impact of proximal parental influences is moderated by more distal levels of parenting. CONCLUSIONS Operationalizing parenting at different levels, while applying a contextual higher-order moderation approach, is advocated to have surplus value in understanding the complex process of parent-child interactions in the area of food intake. A research paradigm is presented that may guide future work regarding the conceptualization and modeling of parental influences on child dietary behavior.
Training in the fasted state improves glucose tolerance during fat‐rich diet

A fat‐rich energy‐dense diet is an important cause of insulin resistance. Stimulation of fat turnover in muscle cells during dietary fat challenge may contribute to maintenance of insulin sensitivity. Exercise in the fasted state markedly stimulates energy provision via fat oxidation. Therefore, we investigated whether exercise training in the fasted state is more potent than exercise in the fed state to rescue whole‐body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity during a period of hyper‐caloric fat‐rich diet. Healthy male volunteers (18–25 y) received a hyper‐caloric (∼+30% kcal day−1) fat‐rich (50% of kcal) diet for 6 weeks. Some of the subjects performed endurance exercise training (4 days per week) in the fasted state (F; n= 10), whilst the others ingested carbohydrates before and during the training sessions (CHO; n= 10). The control group did not train (CON; n= 7). Body weight increased in CON (+3.0 ± 0.8 kg) and CHO (+1.4 ± 0.4 kg) (P < 0.01), but not in F (+0.7 ± 0.4 kg, P= 0.13). Compared with CON, F but not CHO enhanced whole‐body glucose tolerance and the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (P < 0.05). Muscle GLUT4 protein content was increased in F (+28%) compared with both CHO (P= 0.05) and CON (P < 0.05). Furthermore, only training in F elevated AMP‐activated protein kinase α phosphorylation (+25%) as well as up‐regulated fatty acid translocase/CD36 and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 mRNA levels compared with CON (∼+30%). High‐fat diet increased intramyocellular lipid but not diacylglycerol and ceramide contents, either in the absence or presence of training. This study for the first time shows that fasted training is more potent than fed training to facilitate adaptations in muscle and to improve whole‐body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity during hyper‐caloric fat‐rich diet.
Effects of Dexmedetomidine Pretreatment on Bupivacaine Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Background and Objective: We evaluated the effects of dexmedetomidine pretreatment on bupivacaine cardiotoxicity in anesthetized rats. Methods: Sixteen Wistar-Albino male rats (300-400 g) were anesthetized with ketamine. Electrocardiographic and invasive blood pressure monitoring were performed, and the results were continuously recorded. The rats were randomized into 2 groups. In group D, rats were pretreated with intravenous dexmedetomidine at a dose of 10 &mgr;g/kg (n = 8), whereas in group S, rats were pretreated with intravenous saline (n = 8). Fifteen minutes later, bupivacaine was infused at a rate of 3 mg/kg per minute until cardiac asystole occurred. The timing of specific cardiotoxic events (a 25%, 50%, and 75% reductions of mean arterial pressure and heart rate as well as occurrence of the first arrhythmia and asystole) was recorded. Results: Dexmedetomidine pretreatment reduced the heart rates and mean arterial pressures of the rats who received it (P < 0.05). Dexmedetomidine pretreatment before bupivacaine administration also significantly increased the time to the 25%, 50%, and 75% reductions in mean arterial pressure and the time to the 25% and 50% reductions in heart rate (P < 0.05). In addition, dexmedetomidine significantly increased the time to first arrhythmia and time to asystole (P < 0.05) in the rats who received it before receiving bupivacaine. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine pretreatment delays the effects of bupivacaine cardiotoxicity.
Role of STAT1 and Oxidative Stress in Gentamicin-Induced Hair Cell Death in Organ of Corti

Rationale: Oxidative stress plays a critical role in gentamicin-induced hair cell death. Previous work has implicated the cytoplasmic transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) as a potential mediator of drug-induced ototoxicity, but role in aminoglycosides is largely unknown. This study investigated aminoglycosides-induced cell death, exploring contributions of reactive oxygen species and STAT1 pathway in injury and protection. Methods: Neonatal murine organ of Corti explants from 2 to 3 day postnatal pups (n = 96) were treated with gentamicin at (4 &mgr;M, 50 &mgr;M) for 4 to 72 hours, with/without protectants. Effects on STAT1 pathway and gentamicin-induced hair cell death were measured with 50 &mgr;M Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, a STAT1 inhibitor) and all-trans retinoic acid (atRA, a STAT1 activator). Hair cell morphology was evaluated and hair cell loss was quantified with cytocochleograms. Mitochondrial membrane potential was assayed and superoxide generation and suppression was measured with dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. Results: Co-administration of 50 &mgr;M EGCG conferred protection from 4 &mgr;M gentamicin toxicity (p < 0.001), whereas atRA potentiated gentamicin-induced hair cell death (p < 0.001). On immunohistochemistry, STAT1 phosphorylation at theserine 727 (Ser727) residues was increased at 72 hours with 4 &mgr;M gentamicin. With administration of 50 &mgr;M gentamicin, there was activation of STAT1 Tyr701 at 4 hours and STAT1 Ser727 at 16 hours. Gentamicin dissipated mitochondrial membrane potentials, and EGCG attenuated gentamicin-induced oxidative stress at 72 hours. Conclusion: EGCG protected outer hair cells from gentamicin toxicity in a cochlear explant model, with the underlying mechanism involving both reactive oxygen species (ROS) suppression and STAT1 inhibition.
Primary myogenic cells see the light: Improved survival of transplanted myogenic cells following low energy laser irradiation

There is a substantial need for finding new avenues to promote muscle recovery when acute skeletal muscle loss extends beyond the natural capacity of the muscle to recover. Maintenance and regeneration of skeletal muscles depend mainly on resident stem cells known as satellite cells. Nevertheless, there are situations in which a significant loss of muscle tissue exhausts the satellite cell pool. For such cases, cell therapy and tissue engineering are becoming promising alternatives. Thus far, attempts to supplement damaged host muscles with donor satellite cells by means of myoblast transplantation therapy were mostly unsuccessful due to massive and rapid loss of donor cells within few hours after transplantation. This study aims at following the effects of low‐energy‐laser irradiation on the fate of implanted myoblasts.
Optimization Conditions for Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Dispersion

The sonication-driven dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in aqueous surfactant solution has been monitored by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Dispersion of SWCNTs experiments reveal that the maximum concentration of dispersed SWCNTs corresponds to the maximum UV-vis-NIR absorbance of the solution. With higher surfactant concentration the dispersion rate of SWCNTs increases and low temperature sonication is required to achieve maximum dispersion. Dispersion of higher SWCNT concentrations requires longer sonication time. For effective dispersion the optimal concentration of surfactant is 1.5 wt%, the concentration of SWCNTs that can be homogeneously dispersed in aqueous solution is about 0.4 mg/ml.
Study on Effect of Industrial Pollution Treatment Investment on Regional Employment

Industrial pollution treatment investment(IPTI) is an important means of compensating environment negative externalities by corporations,which employment effect is entirely different from the productive investment.Then,it is very worthy of discussion that whether China can achieve the "double dividend" of regional environment improvement and employment growth through rearrangement of the scale and model of IPTI.This article builds a regional labor supply and demand model which includes the IPTI variable.Theoretically it is concluded that the effect of IPTI on regional labor demand depends on the tradeoff of its positive enterprise competitive effect and negative production scale effect and the effect of IPTI on regional labor supply depends on the increase degree of laborer utility.Based on a nondimensionalized pollutants changed IPTI intensity variable and 1997 to 2011 China30 provinces' panel data and applied simultaneous equation regression estimation method to do empirical research,we find that increasing the total intensity of IPTI can achieve regional employment growth.Compared with the after-pollution industrial pollution source treatment investment model,the fore-pollution "three-simultaneity" IPTI model has a more significant effect on promoting enterprise competitiveness and laborer utility.The early stage of IPTI also has a significant positive effect on the current regional employment,but weaker than the current investment.The employment effect of the IPTI in the eastern region,where industrial pollution is more serious,is higher than the national average level.Therefore,different regions in China,especially the China eastern region need to steadily increase the IPTI scale,encourage and guide industrial corporations convert environment investment into the "three-simultaneity" investment model and scientifically enact medium and long term IPTI plans,in order to relieve the contradiction between employment and environment.
Effect of short-duration sleep deprivation on the vestibulo-ocular reflex system evaluated by ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential test

Abstract Conclusion: The ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test yields the same information as the rotational test in sleep-deprived subjects as evidenced by increased vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) asymmetry. However, the duration of sleep deprivation (12 h) and testing time required for the oVEMP test are shorter than for the rotational test. Objective: This study utilized the oVEMP test in sleep-deprived subjects to investigate the effect of short-duration sleep deprivation on the VOR system. Methods: Twenty healthy resident physicians underwent oVEMP and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) tests twice in a randomized order; one test battery was performed after a normal sleep, and the other was performed after a night duty at the emergency service, which meant a state of 12 h sleep deprivation. Results: All 20 subjects had clear oVEMPs regardless of whether testing was performed after a normal sleep or 12 h sleep deprivation condition. Significant differences were not identified between the two sleep conditions in terms of characteristic parameters, i.e. latencies and amplitude of oVEMPs. However, the mean asymmetry ratio after sleep deprivation (20 ± 13%) was significantly larger than that after normal sleep (8 ± 12%). Conversely, the cVEMP parameters did not differ significantly between the two sleep conditions.
Protective Effect of Antenatal Antioxidant on Nicotine-Induced Heart Ischemia-Sensitive Phenotype in Rat Offspring

Fetal nicotine exposure increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. The present study tested the hypothesis that perinatal nicotine-induced programming of heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype is mediated by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in offspring. Nicotine was administered to pregnant rats via subcutaneous osmotic minipumps from day 4 of gestation to day 10 after birth, in the absence or presence of a ROS inhibitor, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in drinking water. Experiments were conducted in 8 month old age male offspring. Isolated hearts were perfused in a Langendorff preparation. Perinatal nicotine treatment significantly increased ischemia and reperfusion-induced left ventricular injury, and decreased post-ischemic recovery of left ventricular function and coronary flow rate. In addition, nicotine enhanced cardiac ROS production and significantly attenuated protein kinase Cε (PKCε) protein abundance in the heart. Although nicotine had no effect on total cardiac glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) protein expression, it significantly increased the phosphorylation of GSK3β at serine 9 residue in the heart. NAC inhibited nicotine-mediated increase in ROS production, recovered PKCε gene expression and abrogated increased phosphorylation of GSK3β. Of importance, NAC blocked perinatal nicotine-induced increase in ischemia and reperfusion injury in the heart. These findings provide novel evidence that increased oxidative stress plays a causal role in perinatal nicotine-induced developmental programming of ischemic sensitive phenotype in the heart, and suggest potential therapeutic targets of anti-oxidative stress in the treatment of ischemic heart disease.
Measurements of buccal tissue volumes at single-implant restorations after local bone grafting in maxillas: a 3-year clinical prospective study case series.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure changes in buccal and proximal tissue volumes after local bone grafting and single-implant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients were provided with buccal bone grafts 6 months prior to implant treatment in central upper incisor regions. Following a healing time of 6 months, abutments and single-implant crowns were installed and followed up for 2 years. Clinical photographs and impressions were taken prior to the surgical intervention as well as after crown placement and at first and second annual checkups. The photographs and study models were analyzed with regard to papilla regeneration and changes in buccal crest volume during the study period by means of a clinical papilla index and optical scanning of study models. RESULTS All bone grafts healed without problems. A significant reduction of the buccal crest volume (-50%, p <.01) was observed in the grafted area before abutment connection. However, a significant increase of tissue volume (+100%, p <.05) was noticed at the subsequent crown placement, followed by a second but slow reduction of the volume during the following 2 years of function. The interdental papillae increased significantly (p <.05) in volume during the first year, almost completely filling up the embrasure areas after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS It may be concluded that local bone grafting seems to be a valuable protocol to create sufficient bone volume for implant placement. However, significant resorption of the graft may be present, which reduces the impact of grafting on the esthetic outcome. Instead, placement of the abutment cylinder and the crown seems to play a more important role for reestablishing the tissue volume at the implant-supported single crowns.
The effect of preoperative lateral flexibility of the lumbar spine on perceived leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Leg length discrepancy (LLD) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a significant factor of patient dissatisfaction. Patients with dissociation between preoperative radiographic LLD and perceived LLD sometimes feel LLD postoperatively even if bilateral leg lengths are equal. There is no publication describing how to decide the amount of leg lengthening in such cases. PURPOSE By examining the influence of preoperative lumbar lateral flexibility on postoperative perceived LLD, this study aims at creating a guideline for the optimal planning of leg lengthening in THA. METHODS In 59 cases undergoing primary unilateral THA, radiographic LLD, perceived LLD, pelvic tilting and lumbar lateral flexibility were measured preoperatively. The amount of leg lengthening and the sequential change of the perceived LLD were measured postoperatively. RESULTS Twelve cases (20%) felt the perceived LLD at two years after surgery. All these cases felt the operative side longer than the non-operative side. In 32 cases with preoperative pelvic inclination to the affected side, postoperative perceived LLD was significantly greater if lumbar spine was rigid. In eight cases with pelvic tilting and rigid lumber spine, the amount of leg lengthening that exceeded preoperative perceived LLD affected the postoperative perceived LLD. CONCLUSIONS In cases with preoperative pelvic inclination downward to the affected side and with rigid lumbar spine, amount of leg lengthening should not be excessively greater than preoperative perceived LLD. In other cases, lengthening the leg to the same length as the contralateral side rarely results in postoperative perceived LLD.
Examining the Export Wage Premium in Developing Countries

There are arguably potential wage gains from exports in developing countries. Export markets bring about opportunities for firms and successful exporting firms translate some of the benefits of exports to workers via employment and wage premia. Using comparable data for 61 developing and low-income countries, we document the prevalence of the export wage premia worldwide. With an extensive literature review, we identify four major drivers of the wage premia: exporting firms hire more skilled workers, utilize more sophisticated machines, buy higher quality material inputs and are more productive than non-exporting firms. Our empirical analysis confirms the worldwide prevalence of these mechanisms and, furthermore, establishes a strong link to the estimated wage premia.
Positive Torsional Strain Causes the Formation of a Four-way Junction at Replication Forks*

The advance of a DNA replication fork requires an unwinding of the parental double helix. This in turn creates a positive superhelical stress, a (+)-ΔLk, that must be relaxed by topoisomerases for replication to proceed. Surprisingly, partially replicated plasmids with a (+)-ΔLk were not supercoiled nor were the replicated arms interwound in precatenanes. The electrophoretic mobility of these molecules indicated that they have no net writhe. Instead, the (+)-ΔLk is absorbed by a regression of the replication fork. As the parental DNA strands re-anneal, the resultant displaced daughter strands base pair to each other to form a four-way junction at the replication fork, which is locally identical to a Holliday junction in recombination. We showed by restriction endonuclease digestion that the junction can form at either the terminus or the origin of replication and we visualized the structure with scanning force microscopy. We discuss possible physiological implications of the junction for stalled replication in vivo.
Specific Inhibition of HIV Infection by the Action of Spironolactone in T Cells

ABSTRACT Tat protein, the HIV transactivator, regulates transcription of the HIV genome by the host transcription machinery. Efficient inhibitors of HIV transcription that target Tat or the cellular cofactor NF-κB are well known. However, inhibition of HIV Tat-dependent transcription by targeting the general transcription and DNA repair factor II human (TFIIH) has not been reported. Here, we show that spironolactone (SP), an aldosterone antagonist approved for clinical use, inhibits HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection of permissive T cells by blocking viral Tat-dependent transcription from the long terminal repeat (LTR). We found that treatment of Jurkat and primary CD4+ T cells with SP induces degradation of the XPB cellular helicase, a component of the TFIIH complex, without affecting cellular mRNA levels, T cell viability, or T cell proliferation. We further demonstrate that the effect of SP on HIV infection is independent of its aldosterone antagonist function, since the structural analogue, eplerenone, does not induce XPB degradation and does not inhibit HIV infection. Rescue experiments showed that the SP-induced block of HIV infection relies, at least partially, on XPB degradation. In addition, we demonstrate that SP specifically inhibits Tat-dependent transcription, since basal transcription from the LTR is not affected. Our results demonstrate that SP is a specific inhibitor of HIV Tat-dependent transcription in T cells, which additionally suggests that XPB is a cofactor required for HIV infection. Targeting a cellular cofactor of HIV transcription constitutes an alternative strategy to inhibit HIV infection, together with the existing antiretroviral therapy. IMPORTANCE Transcription from the HIV promoter is regulated by the combined activities of the host transcription machinery and the viral transactivator Tat protein. Here, we report that the drug spironolactone—an antagonist of aldosterone—blocks viral Tat-dependent transcription, thereby inhibiting both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection of permissive T cells. This inhibition relies on the degradation of the cellular helicase XPB, a component of the TFIIH transcription factor complex. Consequently, XPB appears to be a novel HIV cofactor. Our discovery of the HIV-inhibitory activity of spironolactone opens the way for the development of novel anti-HIV strategies targeting a cellular cofactor without the limitations of antiretroviral therapy of drug resistance and high cost.