Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of corticotropin‐releasing hormone, vasopressin, and somatostatin in depressed patients and healthy controls: Response to amitriptyline treatment

The effect of amitriptyline upon hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal [HPA]‐system‐regulating neuropeptides (corticotropin‐releasing hormone [CRH], vasopressin, somatostatin) was studied in a group of depressed elderly patients and controls. A first lumbar puncture was performed in 37 depressed in‐patients. This was followed by a 6‐week medication phase with amitriptyline. Upon its completion a second cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was obtained in 18 of these 37 patients. In 25 healthy controls a first lumbar puncture was done; eleven of these individuals agreed to take 75 mg/d amitriptyline for 6 weeks and to participate in the follow‐up CSF study. Within the group of depressed patients amitriptyline led to a significant decrease of CSF CRH in treatment responders only (F1,16 = 5.2; P < 0.02). Also, in normal controls CSF CRH concentration tended to decrease with amitriptyline treatment (t‐test; P < 0.09). No effects of amitriptyline upon vasopressin or somatostatin were observed. In normal controls (r = 0.4; P < 0.02) and in patients (r = 0.4; P < 0.03) age correlated positively with baseline CSF somatostatin. A trend for CSF CRH to increase with aging was found only in controls (r = 0.3; P < 0.09); patients did not show a significant association here. Finally, CSF neuropeptide concentration at baseline did not differ between the group of depressed patients and healthy controls. Our study corroborates the evolving concept that antidepressants effect various components of the HPA system with the net result of a reduction in its activity. In addition, we found CSF CRH and CSF somatostatin concentrations to be better reflections of age than of depression and, finally, that during aging and during depression the HPA system changes in similar directions. Depression and Anxiety 8:71–79, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CMOS transconductance element

A cross-coupled, ratioed quad cell was described by Nedungad, and Viswanathan [1]. One useful property of the quad is that it enables a linear large-signal transconductance cell. The other property that can be exploited is that it gives an output current proportional to the square of a differential input signal. A negative-feedback technique which eliminates the need for ratioing transistors and achieves the same objectives using matched transistors is described. Simulation results are given to show the linearity that can be obtained as well as to indicate the frequency range over which these transconductance elements can be employed for filtering applications of continuous-time signals.
A real-time variable-q non-stationary Gabor transform for pitch shifting

This paper proposes a real-time variable-Q non-stationary Gabor transform (VQ-NSGT) system for speech pitch shifting. The system allows for time-frequency representations of speech on variable-Q (VQ) with perfect reconstruction and computational efﬁciency. The proposed VQ-NSGT phase vocoder can be used for pitch shifting by simple frequency translation (trans-posing partials along the frequency axis) instead of spectral stretching in frequency domain by the Fourier transform. In order to retain natural sounding pitch shifted speech, a hybrid of smoothly varying Q scheme is used to retain the formant structure of the original signal at both low and high frequencies. Moreover, the preservation of transients of speech are improved due to the high time resolution of VQ-NSGT at high frequencies. A sliced VQ-NSGT is used to retain inter-partials phase coherence by synchronized overlap-add method. Therefore, the proposed system lends itself to real-time processing while retaining the formant structure of the original signal and inter-partial phase coherence. The simulation results showed that the proposed approach is suitable for pitch shifting of both speech and music signals.
Botulinum Toxin A in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis / Bladder Pain Syndrome : A Short Review

Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and debilitating condition that negatively impacts quality of life. Several causes have been postulated in the pathogenesis of this condition; however, the aetiology remains unknown. IC/BPS may go undiagnosed for many years because the condition often co-exists with other chronic pain syndromes. Furthermore, the symptoms of IC/BPS vary considerably across patients, therefore no one treatment has shown to be consistently effective in providing relief. Thus, the goal of management of IC/BPS remains to provide relief of symptoms in order to improve a patient’s quality of life. Intravesical Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) is emerging as a potential new pharmacologic treatment for IC/BPS refractory to conventional treatment modalities. However, there is vey few data supporting the efficacy of this treatment. The aim of our short review is to assess the efficacy of intravesical BoNT-A in IC/BPS.
Biological management of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in pea using plant growth promoting microbial consortium

The beneficial plant‐microbe interactions play crucial roles in protection against large number of plant pathogens causing disease. The present study aims to investigate the growth promoting traits induced by beneficial microbes namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa PJHU15, Trichoderma harzianum TNHU27, and Bacillus subtilis BHHU100 treated singly and in combinations under greenhouse and field conditions to control Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Plants treated with three microbe consortium enhanced plant growth maximally both in the presence and absence of the pathogen. Increase in plant length, total biomass, number of leaves, nodules and secondary roots, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and yield were recorded in plants treated with microbial consortia. Also, a decrease in plant mortality was observed in plants treated with microbial consortia in comparison to untreated control plants challenged with S. sclerotiorum. Furthermore, the decrease in disease of all the treatments can be associated with differential improvement of growth induced in pea.
Simulation verification of virtual equivalent system theory

In recent years, virtual equivalent system (VES) theory for self-tuning control has been established. Based on VES concept and methodology, we have a unified understanding and judgment of the stability and convergence of a general self-tuning control (STC) system. The necessary conditions for global stability and convergence are relaxed, i.e., the convergence of parameter estimates is removed. This paper presents a simulation verification of the input-output equivalence between the original STC and its VES. The simulation results support the VES theory.
Prior upper body exercise reduces cycling work capacity but not critical power.

PURPOSE This study examined whether metabolite accumulation, induced by prior upper body exercise, affected the power-duration relationship for leg cycle ergometry. METHODS Seven males performed, to the limit of tolerance and both without (L) and with (AL) prior severe-intensity arm-cranking exercise, an incremental cycling test and four constant power cycling tests to determine the parameters of the power-duration relationship: critical power (CP) and W'. RESULTS At the onset of cycling exercise plasma lactate (L vs AL: 1.2 ± 0.1 vs 11.6 ± 2.9 mEq · L) and hydrogen ion (40.4 ± 1.3 vs 53.1 ± 4.3 nEq · L), concentrations were higher during AL compared with L, whereas the strong ion difference (37.8 ± 1.8 vs 32.4 ± 2.0 mEq · L) and bicarbonate concentration (25.7 ± 0.7 vs 18.3 ± 1.9 mEq · L) were lower during AL compared with L (P < 0.01). During incremental exercise, maximum cycling power (358 ± 15 vs 332 ± 21 W) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (4.31 ± 0.36 vs 3.71 ± 0.44 L · min) were lower during AL compared with L (P < 0.05). The rate of increase in plasma potassium concentration during constant power cycling was greater during AL compared with L (0.09 ± 0.08 vs 0.14 ± 0.13 mEq · L · min) (P < 0.05), and exercise duration was 35 ± 15% shorter (P < 0.01). CP was not different between L and AL (267 ± 19 vs 264 ± 20 W), whereas W' was lower in AL (17.3 ± 5.7 vs 11.8 ± 4.2 kJ) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The reduced W' after prior upper body exercise indicates that the magnitude of W' is partly dependent on metabolite accumulation.
Heterogeneity in memory training improvement among older adults: A latent class analysis

This study investigated the extent to which older adults' associative memory functioning can be modified through instruction and practice based on individuals' memory status. Here 42 younger adults and 42 older adults performed four tasks that measured strategic and binding aspects of memory. With latent class analysis, two classes of older adults were identified. The first class showed higher memory functioning similar to younger adults, while the second class was characterised by lower memory functioning. A subsequent analysis examined whether the high- and low-performing older adults differ in patterns of gain from receiving instruction and practice on a mnemonic strategy. The results revealed that high-performing older adults, similar to younger adults, showed higher associative memory performance under explicit intentional encoding instruction and after extensive practice of the strategy. In contrast, low-performing older adults benefited more from directed instruction of the strategy. The results are discussed in relation to individual differences in the functional status of mechanisms underlying memory functioning, and how these differences may lead to compensation or magnification of training gain. The present findings highlight the importance of considering differential memory processes to develop specific training paradigms that target the processes that show the most prominent decline.
A protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK, enhances tumor suppression induced by docetaxel in a gastric cancer xenograft model.

BACKGROUND We have reported previously that docetaxel (TXT) induces apoptosis and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, and that blockade of NF-kappaB activation augments TXT-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells. In addition, we have also shown that a protein-bound polysaccharide PSK enhances TXT-induced apoptosis through NF-kappaB inhibition in human pancreatic cancer cells. Based on these observations, in the present study the possibility that PSK could enhance TXT-mediated tumor suppression was examined in vivo and in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS A gastric cancer xenograft model was used to examine the enhanced TXT-mediated tumor suppression by PSK in vivo. The effects of PSK on proliferation and apoptosis induced by TXT in gastric cancer cells were evaluated in vitro using a human gastric cancer cell line, MK-1. The effect of PSK on increased TXT-induced invasion was also measured. RESULTS PSK enhanced TXT-mediated tumor suppression in vivo. Immunohistochemical analyses of the tumors revealed that TXT increased NF-kappaB activation in the tumors and this was suppressed by PSK. In the ex vivo experimental system, PSK enhanced the growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by TXT in the MK-1 cells and reduced the increased invasive ability induced by TXT. CONCLUSION PSK enhanced TXT-induced tumor suppression in a gastric cancer xenograft model.
SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS OF THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM C 1 Q PROTEIN IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a complex, multifactor psychiatric disorder. Our previous findings indicated that altered functional activity of the complement system, a major mediator of the immune response, is implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In the present study single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the complement C1q component were investigated in schizophrenia-affected subjects. For this purpose 103 schizophrenics and 105 healthy controls were genotyped for C1q four SNPs (C1qA rs292001, C1qB rs913243, rs291982 and rs631090) using PCR-SSP and Real-time PCR methods. The data obtained indicate no association of C1qA rs292001, C1qB: rs913243, rs631090 polymophisms with schizophrenia whereas the carriers of the C1qB rs291982*T mutant allele were significantly less frequent in patients when compared to control (62% vs 78%, pnomi-nal=0.012, OR=0.456, 95%CI: 0.53-0.91, pcorrected=0.048). The results of the present study suggest the association of C1qB rs291982 polymorphism with schizophrenia.
Sex Chromatin of Cone Cells of Human Retina

Each retinal cone cell of the female contains a sex-chromatin body not present in coinparable material from the male. Therefore the lack of detectable "patch" formation in female heterozygotes for red color-blindness (as expected from the X-inactivation hypothesis) cannot be attributed to failure of Barr-body formation.
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHANGES IN SKIN RESISTANCE DURING THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHNIQUE

Changes in skin resistance were measured before, during, and after a period of" meditation" in ten subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique (experimental group) and in ten subjects acting as controls. The control subjects were asked to "meditate" in the way they understood the word, having had no previous instructions. Changes in skin resistance were found to differ significantly between the groups. In the pre-meditation period the experimental group showed an increase in skin resistance, which continued to rise sharply during meditation; in the post-meditation period a sharp decrease in skin resistance was observed, followed by a stabilization. Such changes were absent in the control subjects, who showed a relatively small fluctuation in skin resistance throughout the experimental period. The groups X trials interaction of a repeated measures analysis of variance was significant (p < .02). These results support previous findings, and they suggest that the Transcendental Meditation technique produces a state of deep rest and relaxation.
Private Information and the Exercise of Executive Stock Options

We find evidence that executives use private information in exercising stock options. The most informed executives exercise early, exercise after the vest date rather than at the vest date, do not exercise in anticipation of dividends, exercise a high percentage of their options, sell a large proportion of acquired stock, and exercise and leave the firm. The most costly options to exercise are associated with the most private information, and the least costly are associated with the least private information. We also find that higher ranked executives show significantly greater exploitation of private information than do lower ranked executives.
Quality of morbidity coding in general practice computerized medical records: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Increased use of computers and morbidity coding in primary care delivery and research brings a need for evidence of the quality of general practice medical records. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to assess the quality, in terms of completeness and correctness, of morbidity coding in computerized general practice records through a systematic review. METHODS Published studies were identified by searches of electronic databases and citations of collected papers. Assessment of each article was made by two independent observers and discrepancies resolved by consensus. Studies were reviewed qualitatively due to their heterogeneity. RESULTS Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. There was variation in the methodology and quality of studies, and problems in generalizability. Studies have attempted to assess the completeness and correctness of morbidity registers by reference to a gold standard such as paper notes, prescribing information or diagnostic tests and procedures, each of which has problems. A consistent finding was that quality of recording varied between morbidities. One reason for this may be in distinctiveness of diagnosis (e.g. coding of diabetes tended to be of higher quality than coding of asthma). CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the problems faced in assessing the completeness and correctness of computerized general practice medical records. However, it also suggests that a high quality of coding can be achieved. The focus should now be on methods to encourage and help practices improve the quality of their coding.
Structure, function, and self-assembly of single network gyroid (I4132) photonic crystals in butterfly wing scales

Complex three-dimensional biophotonic nanostructures produce the vivid structural colors of many butterfly wing scales, but their exact nanoscale organization is uncertain. We used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) on single scales to characterize the 3D photonic nanostructures of five butterfly species from two families (Papilionidae, Lycaenidae). We identify these chitin and air nanostructures as single network gyroid (I4132) photonic crystals. We describe their optical function from SAXS data and photonic band-gap modeling. Butterflies apparently grow these gyroid nanostructures by exploiting the self-organizing physical dynamics of biological lipid-bilayer membranes. These butterfly photonic nanostructures initially develop within scale cells as a core-shell double gyroid (Ia3d), as seen in block-copolymer systems, with a pentacontinuous volume comprised of extracellular space, cell plasma membrane, cellular cytoplasm, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) membrane, and intra-SER lumen. This double gyroid nanostructure is subsequently transformed into a single gyroid network through the deposition of chitin in the extracellular space and the degeneration of the rest of the cell. The butterflies develop the thermodynamically favored double gyroid precursors as a route to the optically more efficient single gyroid nanostructures. Current approaches to photonic crystal engineering also aim to produce single gyroid motifs. The biologically derived photonic nanostructures characterized here may offer a convenient template for producing optical devices based on biomimicry or direct dielectric infiltration.
The Effect of Churn on “Community Viral Load” in a Well-Defined Regional Population

Background:The concept of community viral load (CVL) was introduced to quantify the pool of transmissible HIV within a community and to monitor the potential impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on reducing new infections. The implications of churn (patient movement in/out of care in a community) on CVL have not been studied. Methods:The annual CVL was determined in the entire geographic HIV population receiving care in southern Alberta from 2001 to 2010; the CVL for specific subpopulations was analyzed for 2009. CVL was determined for patients under continuous care, newly diagnosed, new to the region, moved away, returned, and lost to follow-up (LTFU). Viral loads (VLs) <50 or <200 copies per milliliter were deemed undetectable and suppressed, respectively. The mean VL per patient and total VL were used to determine CVL. Results:From 2001 to 2010, the HAART uptake for all patients increased from 62% to 81%, undetectability from 32% to 66%, and suppression from 49% to 72%. The annual total CVL however did not vary significantly after 2003. Incidence rates for new locally diagnosed infections increased from 4.4 to 5.8/100,000 per year. In 2009, newly diagnosed HIV patients (6.6%) contributed 37.5% to the CVL, whereas patients transferring in/out of the region or lost to follow-up contributed 33% to the CVL. Patients in continuous care (79% of all patients) contributed 29.5% to the total CVL. Conclusions:Increasing HAART coverage did not reduce the CVL or reduce new HIV diagnoses in our population. The effect of churn significantly limited CVL use as a measure for evaluating the impact of HAART in reducing HIV transmissions in our population.
PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MIRABILIS JALAPA LEAVES ON ANTI-TUBERCULAR DRUGS INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY

Abstract Objectives: The present study was undertaken for investigating the protective effect of ethanolic extract of Mirabilis Jalapa Linn leaves on anti-tubercular drugs induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Anti-tubercular drugs were used to induce hepatotoxicity. Ethanolic extract of leaves of Mirabilis Jalapa Linn (250 & 500 mg/kg p.o.) was administered with one hour prior administration of anti-tubercular drugs once daily for 35 days. Silymarin was used as standard drug (100 mg/kg p.o.). Results: Liver biomarkers such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, TB, total cholesterol were elevated and total HDL were reduced on anti-tubercular drugs administration. Pretreatment of ethanolic extract of leaves of Mirabilis Jalapa Linn 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg with anti-tubercular drugs were significantly reduced liver biomarker enzymes. Antioxidant parameters such as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx and GRx were suppressed and increased TBARs levels in anti-tubercular drugs administration but restored these antioxidant levels in pretreatment of ethanolic extract of Mirabilis Jalapa Linn leaves at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. Conclusion: The result of the present study was indicated that Mirabilis Jalapa Linn showed hepatoprotective effect on hepatotoxicity induced by anti-tubercular drugs. Key Words: Hepatoprotective activity, Anti-tubercular drugs, Liver biomarkers, Mirabilis Jalapa, Antioxidant parameters.
Coarse detection and fine color description for region-based image queries

In content-based image retrieval systems, region-based queries allow more precise search than global ones. The user can retrieve similar regions of interest regardless their background in images. The definition of regions in thousands of generic images is a difficult key point, since it should not need user interaction for each image, and nevertheless be as close as possible to regions of interest (to the user). In this paper we first present a technique of unsupervised coarse detection of regions which improves their visual specificity. The segmentation scheme is based on the classification of local distributions of quantized colors (LDQC). The competitive agglomeration (CA) classification algorithm, which has the advantage to automatically determine the optimal number of classes, is used. The second key point is the region description which must be finer for regions than for images. We present a region descriptor of fine color variability: the adaptive distribution of color shades. This color description is finer and more accurate than existing region color descriptors.
Starch Content in Leaf Sheath Controlled by CO2-Responsive CCT Protein is a Potential Determinant of Photosynthetic Capacity in Rice.

CO2-responsive CCT protein (CRCT) is the suggested positive regulator of starch synthesis in vegetative organs, particularly the leaf sheath of rice. In this study, we analyzed the effects of the starch level in the leaf sheath on the photosynthetic rate in the leaf blade using CRCT overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown transgenic rice grown under ambient (38 Pa) or elevated (100 Pa) CO2 conditions. In leaf sheath, the starch content was markedly changed in relation to CRCT expression levels under both CO2 conditions. In contrast, the soluble sugar and starch contents of the leaf blade were markedly increased in the knockdown line grown under elevated CO2 conditions. The overexpression or RNAi knockdown of CRCT did not cause large effects on the photosynthetic rate of the transgenic lines grown under ambient CO2 condition. However, the photosynthetic rate of the overexpression line was enhanced, while that of the knockdown line was substantially decreased under elevated CO2 conditions. These photosynthetic rates were weakly correlated with the nitrogen contents and negatively correlated with the total non-structural carbohydrate contents. Thus, the capacity for starch synthesis in leaf sheath, which is controlled by CRCT, can indirectly affect the carbohydrate content, and then the photosynthetic rate in the leaf blade of rice grown under elevated CO2 conditions.