Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modulatory effects of Crataeva nurvala bark against testosterone and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced oxidative damage in prostate of male albino rats

Background: Antioxidant properties of Crataeva nurvala bark contains a variety of the bioactive phytochemical constituents in medicinal plants which include flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, anthracene derivatives, and essential oils. Components from Crataeva nurvala bark have been accounted to play an important role in scavenging free radicals generated by mutagens and carcinogens. Androgens are the key factors in either the initiation or progression of prostate cancer by inducing oxidative stress. In the present set of investigations, the antioxidative potential of Crataeva nurvala bark extract against androgen-mediated oxidative stress in male Wistar rats has been studied. Materials and Methods: Oxidative damage in prostate was induced in rats by the injection of testosterone (100 mg/kg body weight [bw]) for 3 days followed by injection of chemical carcinogen N-Methyl N-Nitroso Urea (50 mg/kg bw) for 1 week. The oxidative damage in prostate-induced rats were treated with the ethanolic extract of Crataeva nurvala bark (150 mg/kg bw) and testosterone injection (2 mg/ kg bw) was also continued through the experimental period of 4 months. The prostate tissue was dissected out for biochemical analysis of lipid peroxidation and enzymic-antioxidants viz. catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione reductase; the non-enzymic antioxidants viz. reduced glutathione, and Vitamin C. Results: The results revealed that testosterone administration induced the oxidative stress in rat prostate; however, in drug (150 mg/kg bw) supplemented groups, a significant protective effect of Crataeva nurvala bark against testosterone-induced oxidative injury was recorded. Conclusion: Hence, the study reveals that constituents present in Crataeva nurvala bark impart protection against androgen-induced oxidative injury in prostate.
Effects of the estrous cycle on local humoral immune responses and protection of intranasally immunized female mice against herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in the genital tract.

This study demonstrates that the levels of gB-specific IgG and IgA in vaginal washes of mice immunized intranasally (i.n.) with a recombinant adenovirus vector expressing herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein B (AdgB8) vary inversely with each other and are dependent on the stage of the estrous cycle. Anti-gB IgA titers in vaginal washes were significantly higher during estrus than diestrus or proestrus, whereas specific IgG titers were significantly higher during diestrus than estrus. This was further demonstrated in hormone-treated mice, where progesterone administration induced a diestrus-like state that resulted in elevated specific IgG-to-IgA ratios. Interestingly, unimmunized mice were only susceptible to intravaginal (ivag) infection with HSV-2 during diestrus. Mice immunized i.n. with AdgB8 and given progesterone were protected from a lethal intravaginal HSV-2 challenge, despite the fact that virus replication was present for 4 days postchallenge. Further, high numbers of gB-specific IgA and IgG antibody-secreting cells were present in both the genital tracts and the draining iliac lymph nodes of i.n. -immunized, but not unimmunized, mice 6 days following ivag HSV-2 challenge. These results demonstrate that the levels of specific antibodies in the female genital tract are dependent on the stage of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, i.n. AdgB8 immunization provided a significant level of protection and specific IgA and IgG antibody-secreting cells in the genital tissues during resolution of an ivag infection with HSV-2.
Narrow Linewidth Tunable DFB Laser Array Integrated With Optical Feedback Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC)

A tunable distributed feedback (DFB) laser array integrated with a silica-based external optical feedback planar lightwave circuit is proposed and developed. The laser does not have high-resolution optical filters, and we can tune the wavelength over the entire C-band simply via laser selection and temperature control. The spectral linewidth is successfully reduced thanks to the optical feedback effect. Narrow linewidths of less than 10 kHz are obtained over the entire C-band.
Studies on the sequential development of acute interstitial pneumonia caused by Aleutian disease virus in mink kits

We studied different parameters during the development of acute interstitial pneumonia in mink kits caused by neonatal infection with Aleutian disease virus (ADV). When histological lesions, presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies, and intranuclearly localized ADV antigen were correlated with levels of single-stranded virion and duplex replicative forms of ADV DNA in the different tissues, it was concluded that the lung, probably alveolar type II cells, is the major primary target for viral replication and cytopathology. The presence of the duplex dimeric replicative-form DNA, a strong marker of parvovirus replication, was also observed in low amount in the mesenteric lymph node, suggesting replication of ADV in this organ, although no viral cytopathology could be demonstrated. Moreover, a few intranuclear inclusion bodies were demonstrated in kidney and liver from affected kits, but intranuclearly localized ADV antigen could not be demonstrated in liver sections, and neither could duplex dimer replicative-form DNA, suggesting that these organs are nevertheless not a major site of ADV replication. When the data were compared with results previously reported for ADV-infected adult mink and ADV-infected permissive cell cultures, the data suggested that the pattern of ADV replication in alveolar type II cells is similar to that seen in infected cell cultures but that the replication in the other kit organs resembles the restricted pattern seen in adult mink.
Sole maker : towards ultra-personalised shoe design using voronoi diagrams and 3D printing

In this article, we describe the design of a program that allows users to create their personal shoe soles. The program has a backend which generates different components of the sole, such as the treads, the surface, the insole pattern and the contour (where the sole will be connected to the rest of the shoe). Instead of the traditio-nal fixed grids, we use Voronoi diagrams, which have another aesthetic appeal and which allow influencing the dynamic behavior of the sole. This program shows an example of the possibilities of digital fabrication (3D printing) for the personalization of material properties and behavior when combined with mathematical algorithms. Moreover, we highlight our approach and interesting algorithmic aspects like intersecting edges and contours, generating Voronoi diagrams, finding polygons, solving the Chinese postman problem, and solving the travelling salesman problem.
Domain:domain interactions within Hop, the Hsp70/Hsp90 organizing protein, are required for protein stability and structure

The major heat shock protein (Hsp) chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp90 both bind the co‐chaperone Hop (Hsp70/Hsp90 organizing protein), which coordinates Hsp actions in folding protein substrates. Hop contains three tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains that have binding sites for the conserved EEVD C termini of Hsp70 and Hsp90. Crystallographic studies have shown that EEVD interacts with positively charged amino acids in Hop TPR‐binding pockets (called carboxylate clamps), and point mutations of these carboxylate clamp positions can disrupt Hsp binding. In this report, we use circular dichroism to assess the effects of point mutations and Hsp70/Hsp90 peptide binding on Hop conformation. Our results show that Hop global conformation is destabilized by single point mutations in carboxylate clamp positions at pH 5, while the structure of individual TPR domains is unaffected. Binding of peptides corresponding to the C termini of Hsp70 and Hsp90 alters the global conformation of wild‐type Hop, whereas peptide binding does not alter conformation of individual TPR domains. These results provide biophysical evidence that Hop‐binding pockets are directly involved with domain:domain interactions, both influencing Hop global conformation and Hsp binding, and contributing to proper coordination of Hsp70 and Hsp90 interactions with protein substrates.
Effectiveness of 2D fingerprints for scaffold hopping.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that similarity searching using 2D fingerprints may not be suitable for scaffold hopping. METHODS This article reports a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of six common types of 2D fingerprints when they are used for scaffold-hopping similarity searches of the Molecular Design Limited Drug Data Report database, World of Molecular Bioactivity database and Maximum Unbiased Validation database. RESULTS The results demonstrate that 2D fingerprints can be used for scaffold hopping, with novel scaffolds being identified in nearly every search that was carried out. The degree of enrichment depends on the structural diversity of the actives that are being sought, with the greatest enrichments often being obtained using the extended connectivity fingerprint encoding a circular substructure of diameter four bonds (ECFP4) fingerprint. CONCLUSION 2D fingerprints provide a simple and computationally efficient way of identifying novel chemotypes in lead-discovery programs.
Training in Therapy—Induction Without Scripts

Hypnotic induction for the purposes of psychotherapy is more than a collection of techniques. Instead, the induction process should be individualized to each client as Erickson (1958) explained years ago. Training professionals in hypnosis and induction then must avoid reading written scripts and healthcare professionals must understand that attention and personal contact are required in order to successfully participate in improvisational communication and the nuances of interpersonal entrainment of psychotherapy. And this all begins with the induction.
An Empirical Examination of the Predictive Ability of Alternate Sets of Insurance Company Accounting Data

In recent years, there has been a great deal of controversy and discussion within the AICPA and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners concerning differences between insurance accounting principles and conventional accounting principles. ' Suggestions advanced by these groups vary from requiring supplementary adjustments to the insurance company Annual Statement to account for existing differences, to recommendations that the Annual Statement itself be completely changed so that it is prepared in accordance with conventional accounting principles. These normative statements have been offered with little, if any, empirical evidence to support their appeals. As a partial response to this problem, I report some empirical evidence concerning the effect of the use of different accounting procedures to value investments.
Detecting with PMUs the onset of voltage instability caused by a large disturbance

This paper deals with long-term voltage instability triggered by the outage of transmission or generation equipments. It is shown how the onset of voltage instability could be detected in real-time from post-disturbance bus voltages provided by phasor measurement units (PMUs), assuming observability of the whole region prone to voltage instability. An extended set of equilibrium equations is fitted to the measurements and the change in sign of sensitivities is monitored. The latter are easily computed even for a large system. The important effects of overexcitation limiters and load tap changers are taken into account. The approach is illustrated on a 52-bus 20-machine system, where PMU outputs are simulated from detailed time simulation.
Efficacy of Levetiracetam at 12 Months in Children Classified by Seizure Type, Cognitive Status, and Previous Anticonvulsant Drug Use

In a retrospective study of 59 children (ages 9 months to 23 years; mean age 11 years) with intractable epilepsy, seizure frequency was determined before and after 12 months of levetiracetam therapy. Charts were reviewed for seizure type (focal, generalized, or mixed), cognitive function (no special education versus special education), concomitant anticonvulsant medications (range 0—5), and the number of previous anticonvulsant drugs (range 1—12). Good to excellent seizure control (50—100% reduction) was attained in 6 (40%) patients with focal seizures, 16 (55%) patients with generalized seizures, and 8 (61%) patients with mixed seizures; these efficacy rates were not significantly different. The efficacy of levetiracetam was independent of cognitive status. Adverse effects were not associated with higher mean doses. This could be attributable to different rates of metabolism or represent idiosyncratic responses to the medication. Our finding that those children taking the combination of levetiracetam and zonisamide had a significantly worse outcome than those on levetiracetam and a different drug warrants further study, both clinically and from the standpoint of the mechanisms of action of levetiracetam and zonisamide and/or their pharmacodynamic interactions. (J Child Neurol 2005;20:590—594).
Amyloid β Peptide (25–35) Inhibits Na+‐Dependent Glutamate Uptake in Rat Hippocampal Astrocyte Cultures

Abstract: Large numbers of neuritic plaques surrounded by reactive astrocytes are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is a large body of research supporting a causal role for the amyloid β peptide (Aβ), a main constituent of these plaques, in the neuropathology of AD. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the toxicity of Aβ including free radical injury and excitotoxicity. It has been reported that treatment of neuronal/astrocytic cultures with Aβ increases the vulnerability of neurons to glutamate‐induced cell death. One mechanism that may explain this finding is inhibition of the astrocyte glutamate transporter by Aβ. The aim of the current study was to determine if Aβs inhibit astrocyte glutamate uptake and if this inhibition involves free radical damage to the transporter/astrocytes. We have previously reported that Aβ can generate free radicals, and this radical production was correlated with the oxidation of neurons in culture and inhibition of astrocyte glutamate uptake. In the present study, Aβ (25–35) significantly inhibited l‐glutamate uptake in rat hippocampal astrocyte cultures and this inhibition was prevented by the antioxidant Trolox. Decreases in astrocyte function, in particular l‐glutamate uptake, may contribute to neuronal degeneration such as that seen in AD. These results lead to a revised excitotoxicity/free radical hypothesis of Aβ toxicity involving astrocytes.
Three Essays in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

This dissertation analyses the impact of political and macroeconomic uncertainties on environmental outcomes and design of policy instruments. The first essay examines how the rate of agricultural land expansion in tropical countries depends on the nature and persistence of new political regimes. We use a novel panel data method that extends previous studies. We find that both new autocratic and democratic regimes have accelerated the expansion of agricultural land, thus yielding support to some of the findings in the earlier literature. Interesting differences emerge between regions, with the impact being most pronounced in Latin America. The analysis is developed more formally using a simple competitive land use model with political regime dependent confiscation risk and agricultural subsidy policy. The second essay evaluates the effectiveness of performance bonding for tropical forest concession management in achieving first and second best outcomes concerning reduced impact logging (RIL) standards. As a novel contribution, this essay introduces a simple model of two-stage concession design, and focus on the impact of three complications: harvester participation constraints, government repayment risk, and imperfect enforcement. We find several new and interesting results, in particular, imperfect enforcement and bond risk may deter implementation of bonding schemes as either the bond payment has to be set higher or the penalty mapping has to become more punitive. Policy implications, including potential for mechanisms such as REDD+ in improving the bonding outcomes, and the degree of financial support required to guarantee full implementation of RIL, are also examined. The third essay focuses on the relative performance of fixed versus intensity allowances in the presence of both productivity and energy price uncertainties. Both allowance instruments achieve the same steady-state emissions reduction target of 20%, which is similar to the current policy proposals, and the regulator then chooses the allowance policy that has the lowest expected abatement cost. We use a standard real business cycle (RBC) model to solve for the expected abatement cost under both policies. Unlike previous studies, our results show that under a reasonable model calibration, fixed allowances outperform intensity allowances with as much as 30% cost difference.
Micro-Generator Design for Smart Grid System (Comparative Study)

Abstract High Speed PM Generators driven by micro-turbines are widely used in Smart Grid System. So, this paper proposes comparative study among six classical, optimized and genetic analytical design cases for 400 kW output power at tip speed 200 m/s. These six design trials of High Speed Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators (HSPMSGs) are: Classical Sizing; Unconstrained optimization for total losses and its minimization; Constrained optimized total mass with bounded constraints are introduced in the problem formulation. Then a genetic algorithm is formulated for obtaining maximum efficiency and minimizing machine size. In the second genetic problem formulation, we attempt to obtain minimum mass, the machine sizing that is constrained by the non-linear constraint function of machine losses. Finally, an optimum torque per ampere genetic sizing is predicted. All results are simulated with MATLAB, Optimization Toolbox and its Genetic Algorithm. Finally, six design examples comparisons are introduced with study of machines waveforms, THD and rotor losses.
In vivo functional diversity of midbrain dopamine neurons within identified axonal projections

The functional diversity of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons ranges across multiple scales, from differences in intrinsic properties and synaptic connectivity to selective task engagement in behaving animals. Distinct in vitro biophysical features of DA neurons have been associated with different axonal projection targets. However, it is unknown how this translates to different firing patterns of projection-defined DA subpopulations in the intact brain. We combined retrograde tracing with single-unit recording and juxtacellular labelling in mouse brain to create the first single cell-resolved in vivo functional topography of the midbrain DA system. We identified surprising differences in burst firing among those DA neurons projecting to dorsolateral striatum, which were organized along the medio-lateral substantia nigra (SN) axis. Furthermore, burst properties also differentiated DA neurons in the medial SN that projected either to dorsal or ventral striatum. In contrast, DA neurons projecting to lateral shell of nucleus accumbens displayed identical firing properties, irrespective of whether they were located in the SN or ventral tegmental area (VTA), thus breaching classical anatomical boundaries. Finally, we found robust differences in mean firing rates and pause durations among VTA DA neurons projecting to either lateral or medial shell of nucleus accumbens. Together, our data set establishes a high-resolution functional landscape of midbrain DA neurons, which will facilitate the identification of selective functions and pathophysiological changes within the midbrain DA system.
[TNF-alpha mRNA expression in lung cancer cell lines induced by ionizing radiation].

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the release of TNF-alpha mRNA in two lung cancer cell lines in vitro and the regulation of TNF-alpha mRNA expression by ionizing radiation. METHODS Two lung cancer cell lines (A549 and NCI-H596) were investigated for their TNF-alpha mRNA expression before and after exposure to different irradiation doses (2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 Gy) and at different time intervals (1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after irradiation). The TNF-alpha mRNA expression was quantified by fluorescence-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Colony formation assays were performed after irradiation with a dose of 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy to determine the clonogenic survival. RESULTS Dependent on the dose given, irradiation was found to cause increasing induction of TNF-alpha mRNA expression of NCI-H596 cells, reaching maximal level after 40 Gy irradiation, which was 83 times higher than that of normal controls. On the other hand, dependent on the time after irradiation, TNF-alpha mRNA expression of NCI-H596 and A549 cells was increased, reaching maximal level at 6h for NCI-H596 cells, which was 568 times higher than that of normal control cells. TNF-alpha mRNA expression of A549 cells was increased to maximum at 1 h after irradiation and was 136 times higher than that of control cells. Colony formation efficiency (number of colonies divided by the number of inoculated cells) of unirradiated control A549 and NCI-H596 cells was 0.37-0.45 and 0.12-0.24, respectively. The survival fraction (SF) of A549 cells was 47.3% +/- 9.0% at 2 Gy, 18.0% +/- 3.0% at 4 Gy, 6.0% +/- 2.0% at 6 Gy, 1.4% +/- 0.3% at 8 Gy. The SF of NCI-H596 cells was 55.2% +/- 51.0% at 2 Gy, 15.9% +/- 9.2% at 4 Gy, 3.5% +/- 1.7% at 6 Gy; 0.9% +/- 0.6% at 8 Gy. The curves of TNF-alpha expression of the two tumor cell lines were nearly identical, therefore the radiosensitivity of these cell lines was similar. Statistically there was no significant difference for D(0) and D(q) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The two lung cancer cell lines studied express TNF-alpha following irradiation in a time- and irradiation dose-dependent manner. Radiation-induced TNF-alpha production of tumor cells may be of paramount importance not only for tumor behaviour, but also in respect to potential damage to normal tissues and the clinical status of the host.
Conference authentication and key distribution service in the RHODOS distribution system

The paper reports on the development of a conference authentication and key distribution service for distributed systems. The authors demonstrate that it is possible to develop such a service as an integral part of the RHODOS distributed operating system, subject to some requirements and extensions to the original Koyama-Ohta system. The basic RHODOS requirement is that users cannot be trusted, and therefore they cannot hold any cryptographic parameters, but their own passwords. This requirement overcomes conspiracy attack by conference participants, excluding the conference initiator. The authentication service supported by RHODOS provides the following two fundamental operations: the distribution of the initial cryptographic parameters which is performed at the stage of a specially designed user login authentication and setting up an authenticated conference. Moreover, the service supports one-way and two-way authentication. <<ETX>>