Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oleic acid differentially affects gap junction-mediated communication in heart and vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effects of oleic acid (OA) on gap junction-mediated intercellular communication between A7r5 cells and neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were determined. In A7r5 cells the extent of dye coupling was influenced in a biphasic manner by increasing concentrations of OA. Low concentrations of OA (0.1-1 microM) reduced the incidence of dye coupling from 90% (in control cells) to approximately 50%. Further increases in OA concentration, up to 100 microM, had no further effect on extent of dye coupling. In contrast, dye coupling between cardiac myocytes was reduced to near zero levels in a linear fashion by 1-25 microM OA. Whereas high OA concentrations reduce junctional conductance (gj) between heart cells to zero [J. M. Burt, K. D. Massey, and B. N. Minnich. Am. J. Physiol. 260 (Cell Physiol. 29): C439-C448, 1991], gj between A7r5 cells was decreased by a maximum of 45% by OA. These differences in OA sensitivity between the two cell types were not explained by differences in the rate or magnitude of OA uptake by the cells or by differences in the fraction of incorporated OA accessible to albumin washout, i.e., the plasma membrane fraction. Instead, the activity of the individual channel types exhibited different sensitivities to OA. In the presence of increasing concentrations of OA, the activities of first the 70-pS channel population [composed of connexin40 (Cx40)] and then the 108-pS channel population (composed of Cx43) were diminished, leaving predominantly the 140-pS channels (composed of Cx43) at high OA concentrations. The uncoupling effects of OA in both cell types could be reversed by washout with albumin-containing solution; however, higher concentrations of albumin and more vigorous wash conditions were required for full recovery in the A7r5 cells. In addition, albumin also reversed the effects of OA on channel activity. These data suggest that OA binds with greater affinity to the 70- vs. 108- or 140-pS channels and associated with binding is reduced channel activity.
The Disulfide Bond, but Not Zinc or Dimerization, Controls Initiation and Seeded Growth in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-linked Cu,Zn Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) Fibrillation*

Aggregation of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a defining feature of familial ALS caused by inherited mutations in the sod1 gene, and misfolded and aggregated forms of wild-type SOD1 are found in both sporadic and familial ALS cases. Mature SOD1 owes its exceptional stability to a number of post-translational modifications as follows: formation of the intramolecular disulfide bond, binding of copper and zinc, and dimerization. Loss of stability due to the failure to acquire one or more of these modifications is proposed to lead to aggregation in vivo. Previously, we showed that the presence of apo-, disulfide-reduced SOD1, the most immature form of SOD1, results in initiation of fibrillation of more mature forms that have an intact Cys-57–Cys-146 disulfide bond and are partially metallated. In this study, we examine the ability of each of the above post-translational modifications to modulate fibril initiation and seeded growth. Cobalt or zinc binding, despite conferring great structural stability, neither inhibits the initiation propensity of disulfide-reduced SOD1 nor consistently protects disulfide-oxidized SOD1 from being recruited into growing fibrils across wild-type and a number of ALS mutants. In contrast, reduction of the disulfide bond, known to be necessary for fibril initiation, also allows for faster recruitment during seeded amyloid growth. These results identify separate factors that differently influence seeded growth and initiation and indicate a lack of correlation between the overall thermodynamic stability of partially mature SOD1 states and their ability to initiate fibrillation or be recruited by a growing fibril.
Functions of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA): Are They Trainable?

A meta-analysis, the application of statistical methods to findings from a large collection of individual studies, is reported for the literature assessing the effectiveness of psycholinguistic training using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (ITPA) as the criterion measure. The analysis establishes the efficacy of psycholinguistic training since the average child receiving psycholinguistic training performs better than 65% of untrained children. Additional data delineating results for ITPA subtests and various study characteristics support the primary finding. It was concluded that extant research, contrary to previous research reviews which were found to underestimate the positive effects of intervention, has demonstrated the effectiveness of psycholinguistic training.
Excretion Pattern of Nickel and Vanadium in Guinea-Pigs Treated With Bonny Light Crude Oil

The prevalence of crude oil spillages and the attendant contamination is increasing rapidly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with a resultant unrestricted exposure of animals including humans in the environment. Since Nickel and Vanadium are characteristic heavy metals found in crude oil, it is therefore expedient to study to the excretion pattern of nickel and vanadium after prolong exposure to crude oil. Ten adult male guinea pigs were used for the research and separated into two groups of five animals each. All animals were given elephant grass ad libitum throughout the duration of the research. Group 1 served as the control (untreated) group. Group 2 was treated for ten consecutive days; urine and faeces samples were pooled and collected for analysis. The urine and faeces samples were digested with nitric acid, perchloric acid and sulphuric acid in the ratio of 3:1:1 and diluted to 50ml with distilled water. The result shows a significant increase in the concentration of nickel and vanadium in the urine and faeces of treated animals when compared to the control (untreated) animals. This may be due to the absorption of these heavy metals from the crude oil and accumulation over a period of time into the system of these treated animals. These heavy metals should have been observed more in urine than in faeces due to the route of exposure, but the reverse is the case. This may be due to the chronic exposure of the research animal to the crude oil, the metabolic system of the research animal and other factors. It is therefore reasonable to suggest that Nickel and vanadium are excreted more in the faeces than in the urine after chronic exposure in guinea-pigs in a dose-independent manner.
Diagnostic Accuracy of 64-slice Dual-source Computed Tomography in the Detection of Coronary Artery Stenosis based on Patient Heart Rate and Calcium Scores

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in the detection of coronary artery stenosis (CAS) based on patient heart rate and calcium scores. Materials and Methods: This study included 102 patients (46 male, 56 female; mean age 64.1 ± 10.6 years; age range 37-92 years) with chest pain and who underwent DSCT as well as invasive coronary angiography. Patients were classified into three groups according to mean heart rate ( 90 bpm) and also classified in three groups according to Agatston calcium scores ( 400). Results: For patients with a mean heart rate 90 bpm. For calcium scores 400. Conclusion: DSCT showed a high diagnostic accuracy and negative predictive value, regardless of heart rate and calcium score.
Sprint Acceleration Mechanics in Masters Athletes.

PURPOSE The best sprint performances are usually reached between the ages of 20 and 30 yr; however, even in well-trained individuals, performance continues to decrease with age. Although this inevitable decrease in performance has been related to reductions in muscular force, velocity, and power capabilities, these measures have not been assessed in the specific context of sprinting. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical outputs of sprinting acceleration among masters sprinters to better understand the mechanical underpinnings of the age-related decrease in sprint performance. METHODS The study took place during an international masters competition, with testing performed at the end of the warm-up for official sprint races. Horizontal ground reaction force, velocity, mechanical power outputs, and mechanical effectiveness of force application were estimated from running velocity-time data during a 30-m sprint acceleration in 27 male sprinters (39-96 yr). Data were presented in the form of age-related changes and compared with elite young sprinters data. RESULTS Maximal force, velocity, and power outputs decreased linearly with age (all r > 0.84, P < 0.001), at a rate of ~1% per year. Maximal power of the oldest subject tested was approximately one-ninth of that of younger world-class sprinters (3.57 vs 32.1 W·kg). Although the maximal effectiveness of horizontal force application also decreased with age, its decrease with increasing velocity within the sprint acceleration was not age dependent. CONCLUSIONS In addition to lower neuromuscular force, velocity, and power outputs, masters sprinters had a comparatively lower effectiveness of force application, especially at the beginning of the sprint.
Rare V203I mutation in the PRNP gene of a Chinese patient with Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease

Here, we report a Chinese case of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) with a rare mutation in the prion protein gene (PRNP) leading to an exchange of amino acid from valine (Val) to isoleucine (I) at codon 203 (V203I). The 80-y-old male presented with sudden memory loss, rapid loss of vocabulary, inattention and slow responses, accompanied by dizziness, blurred vision and ataxia. Two weeks after admission, he exhibited tremor, myoclonus and bilateral Babinski signs. At the end of the clinical course, he developed severe akinetic mutism. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for 14-3-3 protein. Increased bilateral signal intensity in the frontal and parietal lobes was seen on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI); periodic activity was recorded on an electroencephalogram (EEG). There was no family history of similar symptoms. The total clinical course was approximately two months.
Implicit memory and depression: Preserved conceptual priming in subclinical depression

Depression impairs explicit memory but research on implicit memory is equivocal. Initial studies indicated preserved implicit memory, implying a depressive deficit in intentional but not unintentional forms of memory. Subsequent research indicated that conceptual priming is reduced in depression, implying a deficit in conceptual memory processes be they implicit or explicit. However, the findings with conceptual priming may be compromised by explicit contamination. The present study compared subclinically depressed and non-depressed participants on matched conceptual tests of explicit memory (category-cued recall) and implicit memory (category production). The implicit test was followed by a post-test questionnaire used to categorise participants as test-aware or test-unaware. On the explicit test, the subclinically depressed participants recalled less than the non-depressed participants. The results on the implicit test depended on test-awareness. Among test-unaware participants, conceptual priming was equivalent across the two groups, whereas for the test-aware, non-depressed participants produced significantly more priming than the subclinically depressed. This indicates that when explicit contamination is controlled, depression does not impair conceptual priming. The depressive dissociation between implicit and explicit memory is better accounted for by the difference between intentional and unintentional forms of memory rather than by the difference between conceptual and perceptual memory processes.
How to teach friction: Experiments and models

Students generally have difficulty understanding friction and its associated phenomena. High school and introductory college-level physics courses usually do not give the topic the attention it deserves. We have designed a sequence for teaching about friction between solids based on a didactic reconstruction of the relevant physics, as well as research findings about student conceptions. The sequence begins with demonstrations that illustrate different types of friction. Experiments are subsequently performed to motivate students to obtain quantitative relations in the form of phenomenological laws. To help students understand the mechanisms producing friction, models illustrating the processes taking place on the surface of bodies in contact are proposed.
Epidemiology of self-reported past heavy drinking in Hispanic adults.

OBJECTIVES Self-reports of past heavy drinking correlate with the current drinking practices and with risk of mortality in non-Hispanic males. The prevalence of past heavy drinking has not been reported in Hispanic populations. METHODS Using data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) we (1) report on the prevalence, duration and severity of past heavy drinking in three Hispanic groups, (2) compare the current alcohol consumption patterns among past heavy drinkers and those who do not report a history of past heavy drinking and (3) compare the risk factor profiles and health indicators in these two groups. RESULTS The prevalence of past heavy drinking among Mexican American and Puerto Rican males ranged from 28-35% while the rates for Cuban American males ranged from 7-16%. The rates for Hispanic women were much lower (1-8%). The average years of past heavy drinking ranged from 2.3-14.9 years, while the alcohol consumption during the past heavy drinking period ranged from 24.4-44.0 drinks per week. Past heavy drinkers tended to consume more alcohol at present than did never heavy drinkers with the greatest differences found for Mexican American females. Comparisons of the risk factors and health indicators by drinking status revealed a higher prevalence of smoking among past heavy drinkers (50-60%) versus never heavy drinkers (34-43%). Past heavy drinking Mexican American females also reported significantly more chronic conditions and depressive symptoms than did never heavy drinkers. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence rates of past heavy drinking among Mexican American and Puerto Rican males are approximately three times higher than rates reported for non-Hispanic male populations.
Inverse correlation of microvessel density with metastasis and prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

Background: Although a correlation between microvessel density (MVD) and tumor aggressiveness has been established for several malignancies, the data for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is conflicting. In order to clarify the significance of MVD, we investigated the relationships between MVD and tumor stage, grade, size, occurrence of metastasis and patient survival.
India-US case-control study of age-related cataracts.

To the Editor. —I read with interest the article by Dr Mohan and colleagues 1 on their carefully conducted case-control study of cataract. Their confirmation of the apparent protective effect of aspirin against cataract was particularly exciting. In our own work we found an entire group of nonnarcotic analgesics, principally aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), ibuprofen, and acetaminophen (paracetamol; N -acetyl- p -aminophenol) associated with protection against cataract. 2,3 The results of Mohan et al indicate that any dose of aspirin protects (one or more tablets per month), a result we found in Oxford, England (any dose at any time; J. J. H., M. Egerton, and R. S. Harding, unpublished data, 1988). Furthermore, we showed that even the lowest quartile of doses of aspirin and acetaminophen were associated with the protective effect (67% and 43% protection, respectively). The upper limits of these quartiles were equivalent to taking one tablet a day of
The Review of Economic Studies Limited Employment , Hours of Work and the Optimal Taxation of Low Income Families

The optimal design of low income support is examined using a structural labour supply model. The approach incorporates unobserved heterogeneity, fixed costs of work, childcare costs and the detailed non-convexities of the tax and transfer system. The analysis considers purely Pareto improving reforms and also optimal design under social welfare functions with different degrees of inequality aversion. We explore the gains from tagging and also examine the case for the use of hours-contingent payments. Using the tax schedule for lone parents in the UK as our policy environment, the results point to a reformed non-linear tax schedule with tax credits only optimal for low earners. The results also suggest a welfare improving role for tagging according to child age and for hours-contingent payments, although the case for the latter is mitigated when hours cannot be monitored or recorded accurately by the tax authorities.
Impact of taurine supplementation on blood pressure in gestational protein-restricted offspring: Effect on the medial solitary tract nucleus cell numbers, angiotensin receptors, and renal sodium handling

Objective: The current study considers changes of the postnatal brainstem cell number and angiotensin receptors by maternal protein restriction (LP) and LP taurine supplementation (LPT), and its impact on arterial hypertension development in adult life. Methods and results: The brain tissue studies were performed by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and isotropic fractionator analysis. The current study shows that elevated blood pressure associated with decreased fractional urinary sodium excretion (FENa) in adult LP offspring was reverted by diet taurine supplementation. Also, that 12-day-old LP pups present a reduction of 21% of brainstem neuron counts, and, immunohistochemistry demonstrates a decreased expression of type 1 angiotensin II receptors (AT1R) in the entire medial solitary tract nuclei (nTS) of 16-week-old LP rats compared to age-matched NP and LPT offspring. Conversely, the immunostained type 2 AngII (AT2R) receptors in 16-week-old LP nTS were unchanged. Conclusion: The present investigation shows a decreased FENa that occurs despite unchanged creatinine clearance. It is plausible to hypothesize an association of decreased postnatal nTS cell number, AT1R/AT2R ratio and FENa with the higher blood pressure levels found in taurine-deficient progeny (LP) compared with age-matched NP and LPT offspring.
Carvedilol and nebivolol improve left ventricular systolic functions in patients with non-ischemic heart failure

Objective: It is unclear whether carvedilol and nebivolol produce different effects on short-term left ventricle (LV) systolic function in heart failure (HF). These drugs could improve systolic and diastolic functions of the LV. Thus, we aimed to compare their effects on LV systolic functions in patients with non-ischemic HF. Methods: This study included 61 symptomatic non-ischemic HF patients with low ejection fraction (EF) (EF≤40%) between September 2008 and November 2010. The patients were randomized to carvedilol (n=31, 16 males) or nebivolol (n=30, 19 male). They were evaluated clinically and echocardiographically at baseline and 3 and 6 months after target dose; 42% of patients in the carvedilol group and 47% in the nebivolol group achieved the target dose before randomization. LV systolic functions were evaluated with ventricle diameters, EF, ejection time (ET), isovolumic contraction time (IVCT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), and myocardial performance index (MPI). Results: At 6 months, carvedilol and nebivolol similarly improved EF (from 33±4% to 36±5%, p<0.01 and from 34±5% to 37±5%, p<0.01, inter-group p=0.30, respectively) and MPI (from 0.71±0.10 to 0.53±0.07, p<0.01 and from 0.69±0.13 to 0.52±0.08, p<0.01, intergroup p=0.45, respectively). LV diameter was reduced by a similar extent in both groups. In each group, IVCT and IVRT were significantly shortened and ET was prolonged, but there was no inter-group difference. Functional capacity improved similarly (from NYHA Class II-III to Class I-0) in both groups, as did heart rate and blood pressure. Reduction of pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels was also comparable in both groups (p=0.41). Conclusion: Carvedilol and nebivolol can similarly improve LV systolic functions in non-ischemic HF patients.
A 0.85 THz Low Noise Amplifier Using InP HEMT Transistors

In this letter, the first packaged THz solid-state amplifier operating at 0.85 THz is reported. The InP HEMT amplifier achieves a noise figure as low as 11.1 dB with an associated gain of 13.6 dB at 0.85 THz using high fMAX InP HEMT transistors in a 10-stage coplanar waveguide integrated circuit. Output power up to 0.93 mW is measured.
Multi-scale Forest Species Recognition Systems for Reduced Cost

This work focuses on cost reduction methods for forest species recognition systems. Current state-of-the-art shows that the accuracy of these systems have increased considerably in the past years, but the cost in time to perform the recognition of input samples has also increased proportionally. For this reason, in this work we focus on investigating methods for cost reduction locally (at either feature extraction or classification level individually) and globally (at both levels combined), and evaluate two main aspects: 1) the impact in cost reduction, given the proposed measures for it; and 2) the impact in recognition accuracy. The experimental evaluation conducted on two forest species datasets demonstrated that, with global cost reduction, the cost of the system can be reduced to less than 1/20 and recognition rates that are better than those of the original system can be achieved.
Sexual Abuse of Deaf Youth

This paper addresses the scope, nature and incidence of sexual abuse of deaf children and the behavioral/emotional characteristics of sexually abused children and adolescents. The authors also address issues in the prevention, intervention and reporting of abuse. Specific resources which can be contacted for assistance, consultation or diagnostic treatment services for suspected or identified victims of child sexual abuse are described.
Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of the Addiction Severity Index

Objective:The addiction severity index (ASI) is one of the most commonly used assessment devices used in the field of substance abuse. There is no research on the Chinese version of the newest scale in China so far. The study is to validate a Chinese adaptation of the fifth version of the ASI instrument. Method:The Chinese version of the ASI was translated and revised based on the fifth English version. Psychometric properties of the ASI were tested through face-to-face interviews. Five hundred and twenty-six patients who had been in the methadone maintenance treatment clinic in Xi'an City, Shanxi Province, for more than 3 months were interviewed by 3 trained interviewers. About 83% of the 526 interviewees were male. Analysis of internal consistency, reliability measures including test-retest and inter-rater correlation, and criterion validity were conducted. Results:Across 7 domains of the Chinese version of the ASI, Cronbach α coefficients ranged from 0.44 to 0.79, test-retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.68 to 0.84, inter-rater correlations ranged from 0.74 to 0.98, and the criterion validity was 0.5. Conclusions:The Chinese version of the ASI has acceptable reliability and validity in a sample of drug-dependent patients.