Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Dose‐related Effects of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition on Cerebral Blood Flow during Isoflurane and Pentobarbital Anesthesia

Background:Recent work in animals suggests that nitric oxide may play a role In the cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes produced by anesthetics, particularly the vasodilation seen with volatile anesthetics. It is not clear, however, whether nitric oxide causes the flow increase or simply plays some constitutive role. To distinguish between these possibilities, we studied the dose-related effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibition in rabbits with varying baseline CBFs, produced by anesthesia with isoflurane, low-dose pentobarbital, or high-dose pentobarbital. Methods:New Zealand White rabbits were anesthetized with 1 MAC isoflurane, low-dose pentobarbital (50-mg/kg load, 7.5-mg kg-1.h-1 infusion), or high-dose pentobarbital (50-mg/kg load, 20-mg kg-1.h-1 deep burst-suppression on the electroencephalogram), and prepared for the measurement of CBF using radioactive microspheres. The confluence of sinuses was also exposed to permit sampling of cerebral venous blood and the determination of cerebral metabolic rate for O2 (CMRo2). Normocapnia and normothermia were maintained throughout. After baseline measurements, animals were sequentially given a cumulative total of 3, 13, and 43 mg/kg intravenous Nω--nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (l.-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. CBF and CMRo2 were recorded =10 min after each dose. Results:L-NAME produced a dose-related reduction in CBF in all three anesthetic groups. Statistical examination indicated that the dose response curves were parallel. For example, in isoflurane-anesthetized rabbits, CBF decreased from 77 ± 19 to 47 ± 11 ml.100 g-1.min-1 after the 43 mg/kg L-NAME, whereas in high-dose pentobarbital animals, CBF decreased from 42 ± 15 to 26 ± 8 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (all values mean ± SD). Decreases in CMUo2 did not quite achieve significance (P = 0.08), and the CBF/CMKO2 ratio decreased in all animals, suggesting that the CBF reductions were due primarily to direct vasoconstriction. There were no electroencephalographic changes. In separate groups of Isoflurane-anesthetized rabbits given 3 mg/kg L-NAME, treatment with 300 mg/kg L-arginine partially reversed the decreases in CBF. By contrast, the effects of 43 mg/kg L-NAME were not reversible with 430 mg/kg L-arginine. Conclusions:Although L-NAME reduced CBF in all three anesthetic conditions, it did not alter the relative differences among them: CBF in the presence of isoflurane remained much higher than that seen with the barbiturates. This suggests that nitric oxide may not the primary mediator of anesthetic CBF effects, but rather acts to influence background vascular tone in these anesthetized animals.
African American Cancer Patients' Pain Experience

Although very little is known about African American cancer patients' pain experience, a few studies have indicated that their cancer pain experience is unique and somewhat different from that of other ethnic groups. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to explore African American cancer patients' pain experience using an online forum. This study was a qualitative online forum designed from a feminist perspective and conducted among 11 African American cancer patients who were recruited through both Internet and real settings. Nine online forum topics were used to administer the 6-month online forum, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged through the data analysis process. First, participants viewed cancer as a challenge in life that they should fight against. Second, cancer pain was differentiated from ordinary pain because cancer was stigmatized in their culture. Third, participants viewed that African Americans, especially women, were culturally raised to be strong, and this African American cultural heritage inhibited cancer patients from expressing pain and seeking help for pain management. Finally, the findings indicated certain changes in perspectives among African American cancer patients during the disease process, which might make them tolerate pain through praying to God and reading the Bible. Based on the findings, we suggest further studies among diverse groups of African American cancer patients, with a focus on cultural attitudes toward cancer pain and influences of family on cancer pain experience.
Massively Parallel DNA Sequencing Successfully Identified Seven Families With Deafness-Associated MYO6 Mutations

Objectives: To elucidate the involvement of MYO6 mutations, known to be responsible for DFNA22/DFNB37, in Japanese hearing loss patients through the use of genetic analysis. Methods: Genomic variations responsible for hearing loss were identified by massively parallel DNA sequencing (MPS) of 63 target candidate genes in 1120 Japanese hearing loss patients, and the detailed clinical features for the patients with MYO6 mutations were collected and analyzed. Results: Four mutations were successfully found in 7 families exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance. All of the patients showed progressive hearing loss, but hearing type and onset age varied. Further, none of the affected patients showed any associated symptoms, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or retinitis pigmentosa. Conclusions: MPS is powerful tool for the identification of rare causative deafness gene mutations, such as MYO6. The clinical characteristics noted in the present study not only confirmed the findings of previous reports but provided important new clinical information.
Osteopontin Expressed in Tubular Epithelial Cells Regulates NK Cell-Mediated Kidney Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) occurs after reduced renal blood flow and is a major cause of acute injury in both native and transplanted kidneys. Studies have shown diverse cell types in both the innate and the adaptive immune systems participate in kidney IRI as dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, B cells, CD4+ NK+ cells, and CD4+ T cells all contribute to this form of injury. Recently, we have found that NK cells induce apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) and also contribute to renal IRI. However, the mechanism of NK cell migration and activation during kidney IRI remains unknown. In this study, we have identified that kidney TECs express a high level of osteopontin (OPN) in vitro and in vivo. C57BL/6 OPN-deficient mice have reduced NK cell infiltration with less tissue damage compared with wild-type C57BL/6 mice after ischemia. OPN can directly activate NK cells to mediate TEC apoptotic death and can also regulate chemotaxis of NK cells to TECs. Taken together, our study’s results indicate that OPN expression by TECs is an important factor in initial inflammatory responses that involves NK cells activity in kidney IRI. Inhibiting OPN expression at an early stage of IRI may be protective and preserve kidney function after transplantation.
S‐cones do not contribute to the OFF‐midget pathway in the retina of the marmoset, Callithrix jacchus

It is well established that in primate retina both medium‐ and long‐wavelength‐sensitive cone types provide input to the midget‐parvocellular pathway. The question, however, whether short‐wavelength‐sensitive (S or ‘blue’) cones provide input to the OFF‐division of the midget‐parvocellular pathway is still controversial. In the present study, we investigated the connections of nearly 400 S‐cones with OFF‐midget bipolar cells in central and peripheral retina of a New World monkey, the marmoset. Horizontal sections or pieces of whole retinae were double‐labelled with an antiserum to S‐cone opsin to identify S‐cones and antibodies to the cell adhesion molecule CD15 to identify OFF‐midget bipolar cells. Peanut agglutinin coupled to a fluorescent tag was used to label the cone pedicles of all cone types. Peanut agglutinin was also used to distinguish S‐cones from the other cone types. The sections were analysed with deconvolution microscopy. We found that nearly all pedicles of medium‐ and long‐wavelength‐sensitive cones are located opposite distinct dendritic clusters formed by OFF‐midget bipolar cells. By contrast, the S‐cone pedicles are not located opposite dendritic clusters. Instead, S‐cones make sparse contacts with CD15‐labelled processes. Some of these processes protruded from OFF‐midget bipolar clusters, whereas others could be traced to a diffuse bipolar cell type. Thus, in the marmoset retina the midget‐parvocellular system does not carry a blue‐OFF signal.
Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgeons.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of surgeon-selected and experimenter-selected music on performance and autonomic responses of surgeons during a standard laboratory psychological stressor. DESIGN Within-subjects laboratory experiment. SETTING Hospital psychophysiology laboratory. PARTICIPANTS A total of 50 male surgeons aged 31 to 61 years, who reported that they typically listen to music during surgery, volunteered for the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Cardiac responses, hemodynamic measures, electrodermal autonomic responses, task speed, and accuracy. RESULTS Autonomic reactivity for all physiological measures was significantly less in the surgeon-selected music condition than in the experimenter-selected music condition, which in turn was significantly less than in the no-music control condition. Likewise, speed and accuracy of task performance were significantly better in the surgeon-selected music condition than in the experimenter-selected music condition, which was also significantly better than the no-music control condition. CONCLUSION Surgeon-selected music was associated with reduced autonomic reactivity and improved performance of a stressful nonsurgical laboratory task in study participants.
Carbon Nanotube FET Technology for Radio-Frequency Electronics: State-of-the-Art Overview

Carbon-based electronics is an emerging field. Its present progress is largely dominated by the materials science community due to the many still existing materials-related obstacles for realizing practically competitive transistors. Compared to graphene, carbon nanotubes provide better properties for building field-effect transistors, and thus, have higher chances for eventually becoming a production technology.
Suicide in mood disorders

A selective literature review was conducted to determine the link between mood disorders and suicide in children and adolescents. On‐line searches of Medline and PubMed were performed and research articles from 1978 to 2001 were reviewed. Mood disorders are reported to be the most common psychiatric illnesses in children and adolescents who attempt or commit suicide. Reports suggest that depression co‐morbid with any other psychiatric illness, externalizing disorders, or substance abuse further increases the risk for suicide completion. Mood disorders in children and adolescents are frequently underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated. Data suggest that very early identification combined with aggressive and sustained treatment of mood disorders in youth may actually lessen the risk for suicide. Depression and Anxiety 14:177–182, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unchanged Cerebral Blood Flow and Oxidative Metabolism after Acclimatization to High Altitude

The authors investigated the effect of acclimatization to high altitude on cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism at rest and during exercise. Nine healthy, native sea-level residents were studied 3 weeks after arrival at Chacaltaya, Bolivia (5,260 m) and after reacclimatization to sea level. Global cerebral blood flow at rest and during exercise on a bicycle ergometer was measured by the Kety-Schmidt technique. Cerebral metabolic rates of oxygen, glucose, and lactate were calculated by the Fick principle. Cerebral function was assessed by a computer-based measurement of reaction time. At high altitude at rest, arterial carbon dioxide tension, oxygen saturation, and oxygen tension were significantly reduced, and arterial oxygen content was increased because of an increase in hemoglobin concentration. Global cerebral blood flow was similar in the four conditions. Cerebral oxygen delivery and cerebral metabolic rates of oxygen and glucose also remained unchanged, whereas cerebral metabolic rates of lactate increased slightly but nonsignificantly at high altitude during exercise compared with high altitude at rest. Reaction time was unchanged. The data indicate that cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism are unaltered after high-altitude acclimatization from sea level, despite marked changes in breathing and other organ functions.
Donor polymorphisms in Toll‐like receptor‐4 influence the development of rejection after renal transplantation

Abstract: Background: Although innate immunity is crucial to host defense against pathogens, the extent to which innate immune mechanisms participate in the rejection of allogenic tissues in humans is unknown. We hypothesize that activation of innate immunity through Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) critically regulates the development of renal allograft rejection. We have recently demonstrated decreased acute rejection in lung transplant recipients heterozygous for either of two functional polymorphisms in TLR4 associated with endotoxin hyporesponsiveness. In the present investigation, we sought to evaluate the role of innate immune activation through TLR4, in either donor or recipient, upon the development of renal allograft rejection.
Regulation of ADAM12 Cell-surface Expression by Protein Kinase C ϵ*

The ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family consists of multidomain cell-surface proteins that have a major impact on cell behavior. These transmembrane-anchored proteins are synthesized as proforms that have (from the N terminus): a prodomain; a metalloprotease-, disintegrin-like-, cysteine-rich, epidermal growth factor-like, and transmembrane domain; and a cytoplasmic tail. The 90-kDa mature form of human ADAM12 is generated in the trans-Golgi through cleavage of the prodomain by a furin-peptidase and is stored intracellularly until translocation to the cell surface as a constitutively active protein. However, little is known about the regulation of ADAM12 cell-surface translocation. Here, we used human RD rhabdomyosarcoma cells, which express ADAM12 at the cell surface, in a temporal pattern. We report that protein kinase C (PKC) ϵ induces ADAM12 translocation to the cell surface and that catalytic activity of PKCϵ is required for this translocation. The following results support this conclusion: 1) treatment of cells with 0.1 μm phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced ADAM12 cell-surface immunostaining, 2) ADAM12 and PKCϵ could be co-immunoprecipitated from membrane-enriched fractions of PMA-treated cells, 3) RD cells transfected with EGFP-tagged, myristoylated PKCϵ expressed more ADAM12 at the cell surface than did non-transfected cells, and 4) RD cells transfected with a kinase-inactive PKCϵ mutant did not exhibit ADAM12 cell-surface translocation upon PMA treatment. Finally, we demonstrate that the C1 and C2 domains of PKCϵ both contain a binding site for ADAM12. These studies show that PKCϵ plays a critical role in the regulation of ADAM12 cell-surface expression.
Trabecular and endocortical bone surfaces in the rat: Modeling or remodeling?

There is conflicting evidence as to whether bone resorption and bone formation are coupled in the site‐specific manner that is typical of bone remodeling in the rat. The aim of this study was to elucidate this controversy further by analysis of tibial and vertebral cancellous and endocortical bone in rats of different age groups with a combination of in vivo fluorochrome labeling with cement line staining.
Recidivism in subgroups of serious juvenile offenders: different profiles, different risks?

BACKGROUND Research has shown that the treatment of juvenile offenders is most effective when it takes into account the possible risk factors for re-offending. It may be asked whether juvenile offenders can be treated as one homogeneous group, or, if they are divisible into subgroups, whether different risk factors are predictive of recidivism. AIMS AND HYPOTHESES: Our aims were to find out whether serious juvenile offenders may be subdivided into clearly defined subgroups and whether such subgroups might differ in terms of the risk factors that predict recidivism. METHODS In a sample of 1111 serious juvenile offenders, latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups. For each juvenile offender, 70 risk factors were registered. Severity of recidivism was measured on a 12-point scale. Analysis was then conducted to identify the risk factors that best predicted the different patterns of recidivism. RESULTS Four distinct subgroups of juvenile offenders were identified: serious violent offenders, violent property offenders, property offenders, and sex offenders. Violent property offenders were the most serious recidivists and had the highest number of risk factors. Serious violent offenders and property offenders were characterised by overt and covert behaviour, respectively. Sex offenders differed from the other three groups in the rarity of their recidivism and in the risk factors that are present. For each of these four subgroups, a different set of risk factors was found to predict severity of recidivism. CONCLUSIONS Differences in recidivism rates occurred in spite of the fact that most of these youngsters had been in the standard treatment programme offered to serious juvenile offenders in the Netherlands. This was not a treatment outcome study, but the indication that two of the groups identified in our study appeared to be worse after going through this programme, whereas the other two did quite well in terms of recidivism lends weight to our idea that such classification of juvenile offenders may lead to more targeted treatment programmes that would better serve both the general public and the youths concerned.
Electromagnetic Considerations in the Design of Doubly-Fed Reluctance Generators for use in Wind Turbines

This paper reviews some of the electromagnetic design issues in a doubly-fed reluctance machine. This is a novel machine that is still under early-stage development. The control has been studied previously in several papers however the electromagnet design of this machine is now being studied with the key issue being whether to use an axially-laminated rotor or a radially-laminated rotor. This is discussed in the paper
An ecological analysis of alcohol-outlet density and campus-reported violence at 32 U.S. colleges.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among campus violence, student drinking levels, and the physical availability of alcohol at off-campus outlets in a multisite design. METHOD An ecological analysis of on-campus violence was conducted at 32 U.S. colleges. Dependent variables included campus-reported rates of rape, robbery, assault, and burglary obtained from a U.S. Department of Education online database for the years 2000-2004. Measures of student alcohol use and demographics were obtained from student surveys conducted for the Social Norms Marketing Research Project from 2000 to 2004. Measures of alcohol-outlet density within 3 miles of each campus were obtained from state alcohol-licensing authorities for 2004. RESULTS Both on- and off-premise alcohol-outlet densities were associated with the campus rape-offense rate but not with the assault or robbery rates. Student drinking level was associated with both campus rape and assault rates but not with the campus robbery rate. The apparent effect of on-premise outlet density on campus rape-offense rates was reduced when student drinking level was included in the model, suggesting that the effect of on-premise outlet density may be mediated by student drinking level. Separate analyses revealed a similar mediational role for off-premise outlet density. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that there is a campus-level association between sexual violence and the campus-community alcohol environment.
Maternal–Child Transfer of Essential and Toxic Elements through Breast Milk in a Mine-Waste Polluted Area

Abstract Objective To determine the daily intake of essential micronutrients and toxic elements through breast milk in exclusive and nonexclusive breastfed infants living in an area with major mine tailing deposition (n = 24), compared with a control area (n = 11). Study Design The milk volume ingested by 2 to 4 and 4 to 6 month infants was measured by a stable isotopic method. Elements in milk, maternal and infant urine, and drinking water were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results Similar breast milk volume and essential micronutrients intake in groups of exclusively breastfed infants, but more cadmium, boron, and lithium through breastfeeding in experimental area was found. This exposure was even higher in the nonexclusively breastfed infants, who also ingested more arsenic, boron, and lithium than exclusive breastfed infants. Conclusion The use of the deuterium and the ICP-MS methods made it possible to evaluate the exact amount of essential and toxic elements ingested by infants through breast milk demonstrating that lower amount of toxic elements are transferred to exclusive breastfed infants compared with those who additionally received nonmaternal milk.
Dietary patterns in an ethnoculturally diverse population of young Canadian adults.

PURPOSE Dietary patterns of food consumption were investigated among young urban Toronto adults, including men and women from different ethnocultural groups. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis among 1153 adults aged 20 to 29 years, from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. Principal components analysis of food intake scores was used to identify food consumption patterns. Logistic regression, analysis of variance, and t-tests were used to test for differences in dietary patterns between ethnocultural groups and between men and women. Partial correlations were used to investigate the relationship between patterns and nutrient intake. RESULTS Three predominant patterns were identified and termed "prudent," "Western," and "Eastern" patterns. Caucasians had significantly higher prudent pattern scores than did Asians and South Asians, while Asians had significantly higher Eastern pattern scores than did other ethnocultural groups (p<0.01). Women had higher prudent pattern scores (odds ratio [OR]=4.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.11-5.96) and lower Western pattern scores (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.45-0.84) than did men. Dietary pattern scores were correlated with nutrient and energy intakes. CONCLUSIONS We observed distinct dietary patterns in this population of young adults. These dietary patterns varied significantly between ethnocultural groups and between men and women. The patterns were associated with nutrient intake levels; this association may have important public health implications.
Accuracy of assessing infrabony defects using a special digital filter for periodontal bone loss.

PURPOSE To assess the accuracy of linear measurements of bone loss within infrabony defects on digitized radiographs after digital filtering particularly designed to image periodontal bone loss. METHODS Before surgery, 50 standardized radiographs of 50 infrabony defects were obtained. Intrasurgically the distances from the cementoenamel-junction (CEJ) to the alveolar crest (AC), from the CEJ to the bottom of the bony defect (BD), and the depth of the infrabony component (INFRA) were assessed. All radiographs were digitized and the distances CEJ-AC, CEJ-BD, and INFRA were measured on digitized but unchanged radiographs and after use of the filter. RESULTS There was a small overestimation of CEJ-AC (0.35-0.68 mm) and underestimation of CEJ-BD (0.84-1.12 mm) and INFRA (0.66-0.76 mm). Accuracy of measurement of the distance CEJ-AC was influenced by vertical angulation difference (P= 0.047) and the intrasurgical CEJ-AC (P= 0.003). Accuracy of CEJ-BD was influenced by intrasurgically assessed bone loss (P= 0.012). Accuracy of INFRA was influenced by individual patient, intrasurgically assessed INFRA (P< 0.001), and filter (P= 0.018).