Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coinduction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and arginine recycling enzymes in aorta of diabetic rats.

Decreased availability of arginine and impaired production of NO (nitric oxide) have been implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction. Citrulline formed by the NOS reaction is recycled to arginine by the citrulline-NO cycle, which is composed of NOS, argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), and argininosuccinate lyase. Therefore, we investigated the alterations of these enzymes in the aorta of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. eNOS and AS mRNAs were increased by three- to fourfold 1-2 weeks after STZ treatment and decreased at 4 weeks. AL mRNA was weakly induced. Induction of eNOS and AS proteins was also observed. Cationic amino acid transporter (CAT)-1 mRNA remained little changed, and CAT-2 mRNA was not detected. The plasma nitrogen oxide levels were increased 1-2 weeks after STZ treatment and decreased at 4 weeks. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA in the aorta was also induced. TGF-beta1 induced eNOS and AS mRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells but inhibited the proliferation of HUVEC. These results indicate that eNOS and AS are coinduced in the aorta in early stages of STZ-induced diabetic rats and that the induction is mediated by TGF-beta1. The results also suggest that TGF-beta1 works antiatherogenically at early stages of diabetes by increasing NO production, whereas prolonged elevation of TGF-beta1 functions atherogenically by inhibiting endothelial cell growth.
Financial reporting and firm valuation: relevance lost or relevance regained?

In this study, I examine whether balance sheet and income statement numbers have lost or regained their relevance over the last 30 years. Institutional and macroeconomic factors like the global trend towards strengthening regulation and harmonising financial reporting, the extended use of fair values over historical cost, and the recurring occurrence of accounting scandals, market bubbles, and financial crises make it likely that the role of financial reporting for firm valuation has changed. Following prior research, I estimate four models for the concurrent relation between market value and accounting numbers, and then examine the pattern in explanatory power over time. I find that the loss in relevance of the income statement continues in recent years and is present in a large international sample, in particular in countries with strong institutions. While the overall relevance of the balance sheet remains stable, I find a downward trend during the first sample half, which reverses in the second half, especially in common law countries with strong investor protection, strict disclosure requirements, and integrated markets. Even though several caveats apply, the results suggest that changes in the economy, the institutional environment, and in how firms operate affect the relative importance of accounting information for the use in firm valuation by outside stakeholders.
Metacognition in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE Impaired self-awareness is characteristic of nearly all dementias, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the deficit is most severe in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). The prominence of frontal pathology in bvFTD suggests that failure of online monitoring, the process by which individuals monitor their own cognitive processing in real time, is an important contributor. Metacognitive research offers several approaches to measure self-assessment, some more and others less sensitive to online monitoring. The goal of this study was to assess metacognition in bvFTD using several approaches, and to compare the results with those in AD. METHOD We examined metacognition in 12 patients with bvFTD, 14 with AD, and 35 healthy controls using feeling of knowing (FOK), ease of learning (EOL), judgment of learning (JOL), and retrospective confidence rating (CR) tasks, as well as response to feedback about performance. RESULTS BvFTD and AD were both impaired at FOK compared with controls, although AD showed some sparing. Both groups were similarly impaired at CR and neither group was impaired at JOL after accounting for memory performance. Most striking, bvFTD patients failed to appropriately adjust their predictions about future memory performance even after receiving explicit feedback that they had performed worse than they expected. CONCLUSIONS Both bvFTD and AD show deficits in online monitoring, although the deficit appears more severe in bvFTD. The insensitivity of bvFTD patients to overt feedback may point to unique mechanisms, possibly frontally mediated, that add to their severe lack of self-awareness.
Cell centered Galerkin methods for diffusive problems

In this work we introduce a new class of lowest order methods for diffusive problems on general meshes with only one unknown per element. The underlying idea is to construct an incomplete piecewise affine polynomial space with sufficient approximation properties starting from values at cell centers. To do so we borrow ideas from multi-point finite volume methods, although we use them in a rather different context. The incomplete polynomial space replaces classical complete polynomial spaces in discrete formulations inspired by discontinuous Galerkin methods. Two problems are studied in this work: a heterogeneous anisotropic diffusion problem, which is used to lay the pillars of the method, and the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, which provide a more realistic application. An exhaustive theoretical study as well as a set of numerical examples featuring different difficulties are provided.
Large size in an island‐dwelling bird: intraspecific competition and the Dominance Hypothesis

Differences between island‐ and mainland‐dwelling forms provide several classic ecological puzzles. Why, for instance, are island‐dwelling passerine birds consistently larger than their mainland counterparts? We examine the ‘Dominance hypothesis’, based on intraspecific competition, which states that large size in island passerines evolves through selection for success in agonistic encounters. We use the Heron Island population of Capricorn silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus), a large‐bodied island‐dwelling race of white‐eye (Zosteropidae), to test three assumptions of this hypothesis; that (i) large size is positively associated with high fitness, (ii) large size is associated with dominance, and (iii) the relationship between size and dominance is particularly pronounced under extreme intraspecific competition. Our results supported the first two of these assumptions, but provided mixed evidence on the third. On balance, we suggest that the Dominance Hypothesis is a plausible mechanism for the evolution of large size of island passerines, but urge further empirical tests on the role of intraspecific competition on oceanic islands versus that on mainlands.
Functional Analysis of the Bacillus subtilis Zur Regulon

ABSTRACT The Bacillus subtilis zinc uptake repressor (Zur) regulates genes involved in zinc uptake. We have used DNA microarrays to identify genes that are derepressed in a zur mutant. In addition to members of the two previously identified Zur-regulated operons (yciC and ycdHI-yceA), we identified two other genes, yciA and yciB, as targets of Zur regulation. Electrophoretic mobility shift experiments demonstrated that all three operons are direct targets of Zur regulation. Zur binds to an ∼28-bp operator upstream of the yciA gene, as judged by DNase I footprinting, and similar operator sites are found preceding each of the previously described target operons, yciC and ycdHI-yceA. Analysis of a yciA-lacZ fusion indicates that this operon is induced under zinc starvation conditions and derepressed in the zur mutant. Phenotypic analyses suggest that the YciA, YciB, and YciC proteins may function as part of the same Zn(II) transport pathway. Mutation of yciA or yciC, singly or in combination, had little effect on growth of the wild-type strain but significantly impaired the growth of the ycdH mutant under conditions of zinc limitation. Since the YciA, YciB, and YciC proteins are not obviously related to any known transporter family, they may define a new class of metal ion uptake system. Mutant strains lacking all three identified zinc uptake systems (yciABC, ycdHI-yceA, and zosA) are dependent on micromolar levels of added zinc for optimal growth.
Canonical partition function for the hydrogen atom via the Coulomb propagator

The electronic partition function for the hydrogen atom is derived by integration over the recently‐available Coulomb propagator. This provides a resolution to an old paradox in statistical mechanics: the apparent divergence of the hydrogen partition function. Electronic excitation does not contribute significantly to the standard‐state partition function until temperatures of the order of 5000 K. Thereafter, the continuum, with its immense density of states, makes the dominant contribution. From the discrete and continuum contributions to the partition function, a modification of the Saha–Boltzmann equation for the ionization equilibrium in atomic hydrogen is derived.
Dependence balance bounds for single-output two-way channels

If in a transmission the inputs of a single-output two-way channel exhibit some interdependence, this dependence must have been created during earlier transmissions. The idea that no more dependence can be consumed than is produced is used to obtain new upper bounds to the capacity region of the discrete memoryless single-output two-way channel. With these upper bounds it is shown that C.E. Shannon' (1961) inner bound region is the capacity region for channels in a certain class, and the Zhang-Berger-Schalkwijk upper bound (1986) for Blackwell's multiplying channel is improved upon. >
New tissue culture systems for influenza, Newcastle disease and vaccinia viruses.

Newcastle-disease virus and vaccinia virus were shown to multiply in cultures of HeLa-strain human carcinoma cells, causing cell destruction. Several strains of influenza virus (A and B) multiplied in cultures of chick-embryo lung cells, but only NWS caused cell damage. Both NWS and NDV multiplied in chick-embryo liver cultures and caused cell damage. The period and conditions of culture affected the production of virus and the destruction of cells. Interference between influenza viruses and between influenza and NDV viruses has been shown in chick-embryo cultures by preventing multiplication of, or cell destruction by, the second virus. The mean yield of hemagglutinating WS particles in infected chick-embryo lung cultures was 650 per cell.
Family caregivers voice their needs: A photovoice study

Abstract Objective: Caregivers often are unprepared for their role yet serve as the frontline in the provision of palliative care services. The aim of our study was to explore family caregivers' experiences from their perspective as they cared for dying relatives. Method: Using the Photovoice methodology, ten unpaid family caregivers took photographs depicting issues they experienced as informal caregivers of an ill family member who had less than a year to live. Each participant met with the first author individually four to six times and explained their role as caregiver through photographs and stories. Results: The results were clustered into seven themes: physical demands, emotional/spiritual stress, preparing for the future, securing help, medication management, navigating the agencies, and relationships. Significance of results: Caregivers perform a variety of tasks, often under stress. This study highlights the main areas where problems lie and the areas that palliative care health professionals need to be aware of so they can assist and educate caregivers, with the goal of finding solutions to the burdens of care. The themes were found to be intertwined, showing the complexity of the caregiving role.
A Study On The Parasitic Helminths Of Domestic Duck(Anas Platyrhynchos Var. Domestica Linnaeus) In Korea.

During February 1982 to Septemner 1983, a total of 105 domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos var. domestica Linnaeus) were collected from Ichon Gun, Puasn City, Chunchon City, Yanggu Gun, Taejeon City and unknown areas in Korea. In the results, six trematode and one nematode species of helminth parasites were obtained and described as follows: Amphimerus anatis Yamaguti, 1933, Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932, Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926, Cryptocotyle sp. , Notocotylus attenuatus (Rudolphi, 1809) Kossack, 1911, Apatemon sp, and nematode species, Heterakis gallinarum Schrank, 1788. From this collection, Amphimerus anatis Yamaguti, 1933, Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926, Genus Cryptocotyle Luhe, 1899 and genus Apatemon Szidat, 1928 were firtstly recorded in Korea.
Regulatory effects of miR-155 and miR-146a on repolarization and inflammatory cytokine secretion in human alveolar macrophages in vitro

Abstract Macrophages play an important role in inflammatory responses; however, miRNA-mediated repolarization of macrophages is essential for fulfilling this function. To clarify a series of changes at the RNA level in alveolar macrophages under normal and inflammatory conditions, bronchial alveolar lavage liquid (BALF) was collected from healthy volunteers or patients with pneumonia. This approach, which differs from that used in previously, provides more accurate information about the states of macrophages in different lung microenvironments. In this study, the density plots of macrophage subtypes (M1 and M2) in the BALF of healthy volunteers differed from that of the patients with pneumonia. The M2 subtype dominated in healthy volunteers and was rapidly repolarized to M1 in response to miRNA-mediated gene regulation. Differential miRNA expression in the two macrophage subtypes revealed lower expression of miR-155 and MIR-146a in patients with pneumonia compared with healthy volunteers; this may be related to inflammation and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. We also found increased TNF-α and IL-6 expression at the RNA level, while macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin 1 (MGL-1) expression decreased with downregulation of miR-155 and miR-146a expression. These results indicate that the gene regulation mediated by miR-155 and miR-146a contributes to human alveolar macrophage phenotype repolarization, thus leading to an early switch from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokine production.
Divergent Regulation of Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y and Agouti‐Related Protein by Photoperiod in F344 rats With Differential Food Intake and Growth

Hypothalamic genes involved in food intake and growth regulation were studied in F344 rats in response to photoperiod. Two sub‐strains were identified: F344/NHsd (F344/N) and F344/NCrHsd (F344/NCr); sensitive and relatively insensitive to photoperiod respectively. In F344/N rats, marked, but opposite, changes in the genes for neuropeptide Y (NPY) (+97.5%) and agouti‐related protein (AgRP) (−39.3%) expression in the arcuate nucleus were observed in response to short (8 : 16 h light/dark cycle, SD) relative to long (16 : 8 h light/dark cycle, LD) day photoperiods. Changes were associated with both reduced food intake and growth. Expression of the genes for cocaine and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) and pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the arcuate nucleus was unchanged by photoperiod. POMC in the ependymal layer around the third ventricle was markedly inhibited by SD. Parallel decreases in the genes for growth hormone‐releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (Somatostatin) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus and Somatostatin in the periventricular nucleus were observed in SD. Serum levels of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1 and insulin were lower in F344/N rats in SD, whereas neither leptin nor corticosterone levels were affected. By contrast, F344/NCr rats that show only minor food intake and growth rate changes showed minimal responses in these genes and hormones. Thus, NPY/AgRP neurones may be pivotal to the photoperiodic regulation of food intake and growth. Potentially, the SD increase in NPY expression may inhibit growth by decreasing GHRH and Somatostatin expression, whereas the decrease in AgRP expression probably leads to reduced food intake. The present study reveals an atypical and divergent regulation of NPY and AgRP, which may relate to their separate roles with respect to growth and food intake, respectively.
Molecular Epidemiological Characterization and Health Burden of Thalassemias in the Chaoshan Region, People’s Republic of China

Abstract Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent inherited disease in southern China. However, there have been only a few epidemiological studies of thalassemia in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC). A total of 6231 unrelated subjects in two main geographical cities of the Chaoshan region was analyzed for thalassemia. Seven hundred and thirty-six cases of suspected thalassemia carriers with microcytosis [mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <82.0 fL] were found by complete blood cell (CBC) count, and were tested by reverse dot-blot gene chip to reveal a total of 331 mutant chromosomes, including 278 α-thalassemia (α-thal) alleles and 53 β-thalassemia (β-thal) alleles. The most common α-thal mutations were the Southeast Asian (– –SEA), followed by the –α3. 7 (rightward) and –α4. 2 (leftward) deletions. The two most common β-thal mutations were HBB: c.316-197C>T and HBB: c. 126_129delCTTT, accounting for 69.81% of the β-thal defects in the studied individuals. In addition, a rare mutation, Cap +1 (A>C) (HBB: c.-50A>C) was described for the first time in the Chaoshan region. Our results gave a heterozygote frequency of 5.31% for common α- and β-thal in the Chaoshan region, and also indicated a higher prevalence of thalassemia with a heterozygote frequency of 6.29% in Chaozhou, followed by Shantou (3.37%). This study provided a detailed prevalence and molecular characterization of thalassemia in the Chaoshan region, and will be valuable for developing a strategy for prevention of thalassemia and reducing excessive health care costs in this area.
DCVax®-L—Developed by Northwest Biotherapeutics

Dendritic cell (DC) immunotherapy is emerging as a potential addition to the standard of care in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In the last decade or so various research groups have conducted phase I and II trials of DC-immunotherapy on patients with newly diagnosed (ND) and recurrent GBM and other high-grade gliomas in an attempt to improve the poor prognosis. Results show an increase in overall survival (OS), while vaccination-related side effects are invariably mild. Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A. (NWBT) developed the DCVax®-L vaccine as an adjunct to the treatment of GBM. It is currently under evaluation in a phase III trial in patients with ND-GBM, which is the only ongoing trial of its kind. In this review current data and perspectives of this product are examined.
On the existence of extremal Type II ℤ2k-codes

For lengths 8,16 and 24, it is known that there is an extremal Type II Z2k-code for every positive integer k. In this paper, we show that there is an extremal Type II Z2k-code of lengths 32,40,48,56 and 64 for every positive integer k. For length 72, it is also shown that there is an extremal Type II Z4k-code for every positive integer k with k \ge 2.
Microtubule‐based nanomaterials: Exploiting nature's dynamic biopolymers

For more than a decade now, biomolecular systems have served as an inspiration for the development of synthetic nanomaterials and systems that are capable of reproducing many of unique and emergent behaviors of living systems. One intriguing element of such systems may be found in a specialized class of proteins known as biomolecular motors that are capable of performing useful work across multiple length scales through the efficient conversion of chemical energy. Microtubule (MT) filaments may be considered within this context as their dynamic assembly and disassembly dissipate energy, and perform work within the cell. MTs are one of three cytoskeletal filaments in eukaryotic cells, and play critical roles in a range of cellular processes including mitosis and vesicular trafficking. Based on their function, physical attributes, and unique dynamics, MTs also serve as a powerful archetype of a supramolecular filament that underlies and drives multiscale emergent behaviors. In this review, we briefly summarize recent efforts to generate hybrid and composite nanomaterials using MTs as biomolecular scaffolds, as well as computational and synthetic approaches to develop synthetic one‐dimensional nanostructures that display the enviable attributes of the natural filaments. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1065–1073. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of general anaesthesia on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous fentanyl and its primary metabolite in horses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY In order to evaluate its potential as an adjunct to inhalant anaesthesia in horses, the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl must first be determined. OBJECTIVES To describe the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and its metabolite, N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidinyl)maloanilinic acid (PMA), after i.v. administration of a single dose to horses that were awake in Treatment 1 and anaesthetised with isoflurane in Treatment 2. METHODS A balanced crossover design was used (n = 4/group). During Treatment 1, horses received a single dose of fentanyl (4 microg/kg bwt, i.v.) and during Treatment 2, they were anaesthetised with isoflurane and maintained at 1.2 x minimum alveolar anaesthetic concentration. After a 30 min equilibration period, a single dose of fentanyl (4 microg/kg bwt, i.v.) was administered to each horse. Plasma fentanyl and PMA concentrations were measured at various time points using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS Anaesthesia with isoflurane significantly decreased mean fentanyl clearance (P < 0.05). The fentanyl elimination half-life, in awake and anaesthetised horses, was 1 h and volume of distribution at steady state was 0.37 and 0.26 l/kg bwt, respectively. Anaesthesia with isoflurane also significantly decreased PMA apparent clearance and volume of distribution. The elimination half-life of PMA was 2 and 1.5 h in awake and anaesthetised horses, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and PMA in horses were substantially altered in horses anaesthetised with isoflurane. These pharmacokinetic parameters provide information necessary for determination of suitable fentanyl loading and infusion doses in awake and isoflurane-anaesthetised horses.
Frame-Semantic Annotation on a Parallel Treebank

This paper reports on experiments in frame-semantic annotation of a parallel treebank. Selected English and Swedish sentences that contained verbs of motion and communication were annotated independently by two annotators. We found that they assigned the same frame to corresponding sentences in 52% of the cases. This leads us to the conclusion that parallel treebanks can save considerable effort when building semantically annotated resources.