Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Characterization of Rat Brain-specific Organic Anion Transporter (Oatp14) at the Blood-Brain Barrier

Oatp14/blood-brain barrier-specific anion transporter 1 (Slc21a14) is a novel member of the organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp/OATP) family. Northern blot analysis revealed predominant expression of Oatp14 in the brain, and Western blot analysis revealed its expression in the brain capillary and choroid plexus. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that Oatp14 is expressed in the border of the brain capillary endothelial cells. When expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, Oatp14 transports thyroxine (T4; prothyroid hormone) (Km = 0.18 μm), as well as amphipathic organic anions such as 17β estradiol-d-17β-glucuronide (Km = 10 μm), cerivastatin (Km = 1.3 μm), and troglitazone sulfate (Km = 0.76 μm). The uptake of triiodothyronine (T3), an active form produced from T4, was significantly greater in Oatp14-expressed cells than in vector-transfected cells, but the transport activity for T3 was ∼6-fold lower that for T4. The efflux of T4, preloaded into the cells, from Oatp14-expressed cells was more rapid than that from vector-transfected cells (0.032 versus 0.006 min–1). Therefore, Oatp14 can mediate a bidirectional transport of T4. Sulfobromophthalein, taurocholate, and estrone sulfate were potent inhibitors for Oatp14, whereas digoxin, p-aminohippurate, or leukotriene C4, or organic cations such as tetraetheylammonium or cimetidine had no effect. The expression levels of Oatp14 mRNA and protein were up- and down-regulated under hypo- and hyperthyroid conditions, respectively. Therefore, it may be speculated that Oatp14 plays a role in maintaining the concentration of T4 and, ultimately, T3 in the brain by transporting T4 from the circulating blood to the brain.
Pharmacokinetics and Urinary Excretion of Vincristine Sulfate Liposomes Injection in Metastatic Melanoma Patients

Vincristine sulfate liposomes injection (VSLI) is a liposomal formulation of vincristine encapsulated in sphingosomes composed of sphinogomyelin and cholesterol (58/42; mol/mol). The pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of VSLI were evaluated in 12 patients with metastatic melanoma after single‐dose (2.0 mg/m2 every 2 weeks = 1 cycle) and multiple‐dose (cycle 3, pharmacokinetics only) administrations (intravenous infusion over 1 hour). After VSLI infusion, total (released and encapsulated) vincristine concentrations in plasma remained relatively constant for 3 to 12 hours and thereafter declined, with interpatient variability seen in the rate of decline resulting in monoexponential or biexponential profiles. The area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from time zero to infinity of total vincristine in plasma ranged from 4933 to 40495 h·ng/mL and total clearance ranged from 131 to 445 mL/h. The volume of distribution at steady state was 2650 ± 731 mL, indicating VSLI was mainly confined within the plasma. The released vincristine concentrations in plasma were below the level of quantitation in 95% of samples. The pharmacokinetic parameters were similar between cycles 1 and 3, and trough plasma levels of total vincristine were below the level of quantitation of 1 ng/mL. Approximately 8% of the injected dose was excreted in the urine as unchanged vincristine (7%) or N‐desformylvincristine (0.8%). Overall, VSLI exhibited a longer circulation half‐life and higher area under the plasma concentration‐time curve compared to conventional vincristine, whereas its route of elimination remained unchanged.
Linear and passive silicon diodes, isolators, and logic gates

Silicon photonic integrated devices and circuits have offered a promising means to revolutionalize information processing and computing technologies. In this talk we present our recent efforts of design, fabrication, and characterization of ultracompact, linear, passive on-chip optical diodes, isolators and logic gates based on silicon two-dimensional photonic crystal slabs. Both simulation and experiment results show high performance of these novel designed devices. The success of these devices would help to construct nanophotonic on-chip processor architectures for future optical computers.
Dissecting the role of isoprene and stress-related hormones (ABA and ethylene) in Populus nigra exposed to unequal root zone water stress

Isoprene is synthesized through the 2-C-methylerythritol-5-phosphate (MEP) pathway that also produces abscisic acid (ABA). Increases in foliar free ABA concentration during drought induce stomatal closure and may also alter ethylene biosynthesis. We hypothesized a role of isoprene biosynthesis in protecting plants challenged by increasing water deficit, by influencing ABA production and ethylene evolution. We performed a split-root experiment on Populus nigra L. subjected to three water treatments: well-watered (WW) plants with both root sectors kept at pot capacity, plants with both root compartments allowed to dry for 5 days (DD) and plants with one-half of the roots irrigated to pot capacity, while the other half did not receive water (WD). WD and WW plants were similar in photosynthesis, water relations, foliar ABA concentration and isoprene emission, whereas these parameters were significantly affected in DD plants: leaf isoprene emission increased despite the fact that photosynthesis declined by 85% and the ABA-glucoside/free ABA ratio decreased significantly. Enhanced isoprene biosynthesis in water-stressed poplars may have contributed to sustaining leaf ABA biosynthesis by keeping the MEP pathway active. However, this enhancement in ABA was accompanied by no change in ethylene biosynthesis, likely confirming the antagonistic role between ABA and ethylene. These results may indicate a potential cross-talk among isoprene, ABA and ethylene under drought.
Vacuum-assisted wound closure is superior to primary rewiring in patients with deep sternal wound infection.

OBJECTIVE Deep sternal wound infections are serious complications after cardiac surgery. The aim of the present study is to compare the outcome after vacuum-assisted wound closure to that after primary rewiring with disinfectant irrigation. The study additionally focuses on defining predictors for the failure of primary rewiring and its impact on postoperative outcome. METHODS Retrospective analysis was performed in 5232 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with a median sternotomy. 192 patients postoperatively developed deep sternal wound infections and were distributed into 2 therapy groups: a vacuum-assisted wound closure (= VAC) group and a primary rewiring (= RW) group, which was subdivided into healing after rewiring (= RW-h) and failure of rewiring (= RW-f). These groups were compared statistically to reveal coincidental pre-, intra- and postoperative parameters. RESULTS Compared to the VAC group, the RW group showed a poorer outcome, although RW baseline characteristics were apparently beneficial. Primary rewiring failed in 45.8 % of all cases, which led to even worse outcomes. Important predictors for failure of primary rewiring were morbid obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperatively impaired left ventricular function, postoperatively positive blood and wound cultures, bilateral harvesting of internal thoracic arteries and the need for surgical reexploration. CONCLUSIONS In spite of patients being in a worse condition, vacuum-assisted wound closure therapy resulted in improved outcomes and thus should be preferred to primary rewiring. Moreover we report on predictors which may indicate whether there is a high risk of rewiring failure.
Damping behavior of implant-supported restorations.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to assess the shock absorbing capacity of implant-supported restorations (CAD/CAM composite resin or zirconia abutment with composite resin or porcelain crown/onlay) and a simulated natural tooth complex using the Periometer(®) . MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred and twenty Morse taper implants (Titamax CM 11 mm) were mounted on bone-simulating acrylic resin base and restored with CAD/CAM zirconia (60) and metal composite resin Paradigm MZ100 (60) abutments. Using CEREC3, standardized onlays (60) and crowns (60) were designed and milled in ceramic (Paradigm C) or composite resin (Paradigm MZ100) to simulate a maxillary premolar. All restorations were luted with a preheated light curing composite resin (Filtek Z100). Fifteen extracted human upper premolars were mounted with a simulated PDL and used as control group. The Periometer(®) , a new handheld percussion probe that measures the energy loss coefficient (LC) for both natural teeth and implant-supported structures, was positioned perpendicularly to the buccal surface of each restoration. Three measurements of the LC were collected for each specimen. The effect of each variable (abutment material, restoration material, and restoration design) on the LC was explored using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Differences in LC between the abutment material (zirconia/Paradigm MZ100), the restoration material (Paradigm C/Paradigm MZ100) and the restoration design (onlay/crown) were recorded. The average LC of zirconia and metal composite resin abutments ranged from 0.040 to 0.053 and 0.059 to 0.068, respectively. Zirconia abutments restored with composite resin restorations (LC 0.051-0.053) had the closest LC value when compared with teeth with simulated PDL (0.049). CONCLUSION Composite resin onlays/crowns bonded to zirconia implant abutments presented similar dynamic response to load (damping behavior) when compared to teeth with a simulated PDL.
Predictive potential of testing for bone marrow involvement in Ewing tumor patients by RT‐PCR: A preliminary evaluation

EWS/ets‐oncogene fusion transcripts can be detected in at least 98% of Ewing tumors [(ET) Ewing sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor] by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), thus confirming the histopathologic diagnosis. To detect minimal amounts of tumor cells in the bone marrow (BM), we used an RT‐PCR assay with a high sensitivity, revealing one tumor cell in a background of 106 normal cells. We examined BM samples from 35 newly diagnosed ET patients (23 with localized and 12 with metastatic disease). At diagnosis, tumor cells in the BM were detected in 7/23 patients with localized disease (30%). Fifty percent of patients with isolated lung metastasis were RT‐PCR positive (3/6), whereas 6/6 patients with bone metastases showed positive signals (100%). All patients with initial PCR positivity in the BM became negative during treatment. After a median follow‐up of 30 months, relapses were observed in both groups of patients with localized disease (3/7 RT‐PCR positive and 2/16 RT‐PCR negative). The only recurrence in the group with isolated lung metastases occurred as progressive lung disease in 1 of the 2 RT‐PCR‐negative patients, whereas among the 6 patients with bone metastases 2 remain in complete remission. So far, RT‐PCR screening for BM involvement did not allow prediction of early relapse in ET. To assess better the significance of this test in the evaluation of long‐term prognosis and in monitoring the effectiveness of systemic therapy, long observation periods are warranted before it becomes a tool for treatment stratification. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 79:56–60, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Innovation intensity, creativity enhancement, and eco-innovation strategy: The roles of customer demand and environmental regulation

This study develops a contingency framework to investigate how and when innovation intensity and creativity enhancement affect a firm's eco‐innovation strategy by drawing upon the perspectives of the resource‐based view and stakeholder theory. This investigation aims to explore whether firms with high innovation intensity and creativity enhancement really pursue eco‐innovation strategy. Our examination is based on a sample of 2,126 manufacturing firms. By using a hierarchical regression, the results reveal that the effects of innovation intensity and creativity enhancement on eco‐innovation strategy depend on customer demand and environmental regulation. Specifically, customer demand positively moderates the effects of innovation intensity and creativity enhancement on eco‐innovation strategy, whereas existing regulation has a weaker effect on the relationship between innovation activities and eco‐innovation strategy than that of anticipated regulation.
IFN-γ-Inducible Protein-10 Is Essential for the Generation of a Protective Tumor-Specific CD8 T Cell Response Induced by Single-Chain IL-12 Gene Therapy1

The successful induction of T cell-mediated protective immunity against poorly immunogenic malignancies remains a major challenge for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate that the induction of tumor-protective immunity by IL-12 in a murine neuroblastoma model depends entirely on the CXC chemokine IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10). This was established by in vivo depletion of IP-10 with mAbs in mice vaccinated against NXS2 neuroblastoma by gene therapy with a linearized, single-chain (sc) version of the heterodimeric cytokine IL-12 (scIL-12). The efficacy of IP-10 depletion was indicated by the effective abrogation of scIL-12-mediated antiangiogenesis and T cell chemotaxis in mice receiving s.c. injections of scIL-12-producing NXS2 cells. These findings were extended by data demonstrating that IP-10 is directly involved in the generation of a tumor-protective CD8+ T cell-mediated immune response during the early immunization phase. Four lines of evidence support this contention: First, A/J mice vaccinated with NXS2 scIL-12 and depleted of IP-10 by two different anti-IP-10 mAbs revealed an abrogation of systemic-protective immunity against disseminated metastases. Second, CD8+ T cell-mediated MHC class I Ag-restricted tumor cell lysis was inhibited in such mice. Third, intracellular IFN-γ expressed by proliferating CD8+ T cells was substantially inhibited in IP-10-depleted, scIL-12 NXS2-vaccinated mice. Fourth, systemic tumor protective immunity was completely abrogated in mice depleted of IP-10 in the early immunization phase, but not if IP-10 was depleted only in the effector phase. These findings suggest that IP-10 plays a crucial role during the early immunization phase in the induction of immunity against neuroblastoma by scIL-12 gene therapy.
Programming a fixed long atrioventricular delay is not effective in preventing ventricular pacing in patients with sick sinus syndrome.

AIM Most patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and normal atrioventricular (AV) conduction receive dual chamber (DDDR) pacemakers. Programming a long AV delay has been proposed to avoid ventricular pacing. The present study aimed to evaluate ventricular stimulation in SSS patients with DDDR pacemakers with a long AV delay. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty eight patients treated with DDDR pacemakers with a fixed long AV delay (300 ms) were studied. Data from the pacemaker event recorder were retrieved after 3 months and every year after implantation. Ten patients underwent 24 h Holter recording. Mean follow-up was 11.9 +/- 8.3 months. Median daily number of paced events in the ventricle was 2659 (25th-75th percentiles: 775-21 315) with a large inter-individual variation. The proportion of paced events in the ventricle correlated weakly with the baseline PQ interval (Spearman's rho 0.331, P = 0.043). In 12/38 patients the mean daily number of paced events in the ventricle exceeded 10,000. During 24 h Holter recording, pacemaker arrhythmias caused by repetitive retrograde atrioventricular conduction, known as VA (ventriculoatrial) conduction, occurred in five out of 10 patients. CONCLUSION DDDR pacing with a fixed long AV delay is inefficient in reducing ventricular pacing in one third of patients and is associated with a high risk of arrhythmias caused by repetitive retrograde AV conduction, and therefore cannot be recommended for general use in SSS patients.
Prevalence and related factors of irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women: the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V, 2010–2012)

Abstract Introduction: There have been few population-based studies reporting medical, lifestyle and psychological factors associated with irregular menstrual cycles. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence and related factors of irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Eligible women were 19–40 years old, not currently taking oral contraceptives or using intrauterine devices, and not currently pregnant or breast feeding, and had no medical history of hysterectomy, thyroid diseases, cancers or renal failure. Finally, 3194 premenopausal women were recruited in this study. The prevalence and related factors of irregular cycles were obtained using a general linear model and logistic regression analyses in a complex sampling design. Results: The prevalence of irregular cycles was 14.3%. Age and high-education level were associated with lower odds ratios (ORs) for irregular cycles (OR 0.91, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.87–0.96, and OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.88, respectively). The ORs of body mass index, perceived stress and depressive mood were 1.05 (95% CI 1.01–1.10), 1.46 (95% CI 1.11–1.92) and 2.07 (95% CI 1.18–3.63), respectively. Conclusions: Age, perceived stress, body mass index, depressive mood and education level, rather than obstetric factors or metabolic diseases were significant factors associated with irregular menstrual cycles in Korean women. Of these factors, perceived stress is the most significant factor associated with increased irregular menstrual cycles.
Evaluating the Quality of Citizen‐Scientist Data on Pollinator Communities

Abstract: Concerns about pollinator declines have grown in recent years, yet the ability to detect changes in abundance, taxonomic richness, and composition of pollinator communities is hampered severely by the lack of data over space and time. Citizen scientists may be able to extend the spatial and temporal extent of pollinator monitoring programs. We developed a citizen‐science monitoring protocol in which we trained 13 citizen scientists to observe and classify floral visitors at the resolution of orders or super families (e.g., bee, wasp, fly) and at finer resolution within bees (superfamily Apoidea) only. We evaluated the protocol by comparing data collected simultaneously at 17 sites by citizen scientists (observational data set) and by professionals (specimen‐based data set). The sites differed with respect to the presence and age of hedgerows planted to improve habitat quality for pollinators. We found significant, positive correlations among the two data sets for higher level taxonomic composition, honey bee (Apis mellifera) abundance, non‐Apis bee abundance, bee richness, and bee community similarity. Results for both data sets also showed similar trends (or lack thereof) in these metrics among sites differing in the presence and age of hedgerows. Nevertheless, citizen scientists did not observe approximately half of the bee groups collected by professional scientists at the same sites. Thus, the utility of citizen‐science observational data may be restricted to detection of community‐level changes in abundance, richness, or similarity over space and time, and citizen‐science observations may not reliably reflect the abundance or frequency of occurrence of specific pollinator species or groups.
Linear and non-linear models for national health expenditures in the USA

In this brief Article, using the elementary theory of differential equations as well as some basic economic theory, we will develop several estimates for national health expenditures for the United States: one using a linear model and three using non-linear models. We will derive the nonlinear models first and then compare them to the linear one in order to see if they differ significantly. While these estimates are for the United States, the methods used here, because they are robust, could be used for any country. Statistical information may be obtained from the World Bank databases which store health statistics by country [1]. What we will do here is estimate the total health costs as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) if no further copayments are required. In other words, we are seeking to estimate the total cost of health care as a percentage of GDP when all health care costs are covered by insurance and government subsidy. Several models will be discussed here since such estimates may be made using a variety of assumptions. There is no ‘best’ model, although such a decision is possible when comparing the estimates to actual data.
Kehidupan Sosial Ekonomi Orang-orang Tionghoa Di Kota Jambi

One of the ethnic that came to the Jambi is Tionghoa or mosstly knows as China. There are two kinds of them China Totok and China Peranakan. Most of them work as merchants, and they are dominated in economic localy, especially in Jambi, for example restaurants, banks, farms, automobile, and many more. All of these economic activities are influenced by confusionism theory. The content of it such as economical, honest, hard – working, and save. There are different between China Totok and China Peranakan, such as languages, reliance, relatives system, life style and their insight about Indonesia. China Totok still have strong feeling or conection identity with their ancestors, but China Peranakan who have acculturation and they feel that they are Indonesian.
Comparing Hybrid Time-Varying Parameter VARs

Empirical questions such as whether the Phillips curve or the Okun’s law is stable can often be framed as a model comparison—e.g., comparing a vector autoregression (VAR) in which the coefficients in one equation are constant versus one that has time-varying parameters. We develop Bayesian model comparison methods to compare a class of time-varying parameter VARs we call hybrid TVP-VARs—VARs with time-varying parameters in some equations but constant coefficients in others. Using US data, we find evidence that the VAR coefficients in some, but not all, equations are time varying. Our finding highlights the empirical relevance of these hybrid TVP-VARs.
Housing characteristics in relation to exhaled nitric oxide in China.

OBJECTIVE To investigate indoor factors affecting fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in community residents. METHODS A total of 2404 adults (865 men, 1539 women, mean age 51.7 ± 13.3 years) were recruited to the study. Factors affecting FeNO were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS Participants without a kitchen exhaust fan/hood had higher FeNO (GM: 10.21%, 95% CI: 4.18%-16.59%). Participants engaged in home cooking who used only liquefied petroleum gas had higher FeNO (GM: 5.75%, 95% CI: 0.10%-11.73%) compared to those using natural gas for residential (home) cooking. CONCLUSION Nonuse of a kitchen exhaust fan/hood and use of liquefied petroleum gas among persons engaged in home cooking were associated with higher FeNO levels.