Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison between porcine, ovine, and bovine intervertebral disc anatomy and single lamella annulus fibrosus tensile properties

This project aimed to compare gross anatomical measures and biomechanical properties of single lamellae from the annulus fibrosus of ovine and porcine lumbar vertebrae, and bovine tail vertebrae. The morphology of the vertebrae of these species differ significantly both from each other and from human, yet how these differences alter biomechanical properties is unknown. Geometric parameters measured in this study included: 1) absolute and relative intervertebral (IVD) and vertebral body height and 2) absolute and relative intervertebral disc (IVD) anterior‐posterior (AP) and medial‐lateral (ML) widths. Single lamella tensile properties included toe‐region stress and stretch ratio, stiffness, and tensile strength. As expected, the bovine tail IVD revealed a more circular shape compared with both the ovine and porcine lumbar IVD. The bovine tail also had the largest IVD to vertebral body height ratio (due to having the highest absolute IVD height). Bovine tail lamellae were also found to be strongest and stiffest (in tension) while ovine lumbar lamellae were weakest and most compliant. Histological analysis revealed the greatest proportion of collagen in the bovine corroborating findings of increased strength and stiffness. The observed differences in anatomical shape, connective tissue composition, and tensile properties need to be considered when choosing an appropriate model for IVD research. J. Morphol. 277:244–251, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Cost of Non-Europe in the Area of Organised Crime

This Research Paper examines the costs of non-Europe in the field of organised crime. It provides an interdisciplinary analysis of the main legal/ethical, socio-political and economic costs and benefits of the EU in policies on organised crime. It offers an in-depth examination of the transformative contribution that the EU has made, in terms of investigation, prosecution and efficiency, to transborder operational activities and the protection of its citizens’ rights. Finally, it seeks to answer the questions of what are the costs and benefits of European cooperation and what forms of cooperation would bring more European added value.CEPS Papers in Liberty and Security in Europe offer the views and critical reflections of CEPS researchers and external collaborators on key policy discussions surrounding the construction of the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. The series encompasses policy-oriented and interdisciplinary academic studies and comment on the implications of Justice and Home Affairs policies inside Europe and elsewhere in the world. The study has been undertaken at the request of the Impact Assessment Unit of the Directorate for Impact Assessment and European Added Value, within the Directorate General for Parliamentary Research Services (DG EPRS) of the General Secretariat of the European Parliament.
Cholinergic agonist and antagonist drugs modulate the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone in the rat: evidence for mediation by somatostatin.

Recently, data have been presented showing that muscarinic cholinergic agonists or antagonists can modulate, in opposite ways, GH-releasing hormone GHRH)-induced GH release in man. The aim of the present study was, first, to confirm these findings in the rat and, secondly, if confirmed, to investigate the mechanism(s) subserving the effect of cholinergic drugs. In adult male rats bearing chronic indwelling atrial cannulae, pretreatment with the cholinergic antagonists pirenzepine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) or atropine (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced the rise in plasma GH induced by GHRH (2 micrograms/kg, i.v.), while pretreatment with the cholinergic agonist pilocarpine (3 mg/kg, i.v.) potentiated it. In rats with hypothalamic somatostatin (SRIF) depletion, i.e. rats with anterolateral deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus or rats treated with cysteamine, the modulatory action of cholinergic drugs on the neuroendocrine effect of GHRH was completely lacking. In these two experimental models, an antiserum raised against SRIF failed to elicit a rise in plasma GH and measurement of hypothalamic SRIF content revealed a clear-cut reduction of the neuropeptide. Atropine (1 mumol/l) and pilocarpine (1 mumol/l), added to pituitary cells in vitro, failed to alter GHRH-induced GH release. The present results indicate that muscarinic cholinergic agonists and antagonists modulate GHRH-induced GH release in the rat and suggest that the effect of cholinergic modulation takes place through SRIF.
Comparative Analyses of the Lipooligosaccharides from Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus Show Differences in Sialic Acid and Phosphorylcholine Modifications

ABSTRACT Haemophilus haemolyticus and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are closely related upper airway commensal bacteria that are difficult to distinguish phenotypically. NTHi causes upper and lower airway tract infections in individuals with compromised airways, while H. haemolyticus rarely causes such infections. The lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is an outer membrane component of both species and plays a role in NTHi pathogenesis. In this study, comparative analyses of the LOS structures and corresponding biosynthesis genes were performed. Mass spectrometric and immunochemical analyses showed that NTHi LOS contained terminal sialic acid more frequently and to a higher extent than H. haemolyticus LOS did. Genomic analyses of 10 strains demonstrated that H. haemolyticus lacked the sialyltransferase genes lic3A and lic3B (9/10) and siaA (10/10), but all strains contained the sialic acid uptake genes siaP and siaT (10/10). However, isothermal titration calorimetry analyses of SiaP from two H. haemolyticus strains showed a 3.4- to 7.3-fold lower affinity for sialic acid compared to that of NTHi SiaP. Additionally, mass spectrometric and immunochemical analyses showed that the LOS from H. haemolyticus contained phosphorylcholine (ChoP) less frequently than the LOS from NTHi strains. These differences observed in the levels of sialic acid and ChoP incorporation in the LOS structures from H. haemolyticus and NTHi may explain some of the differences in their propensities to cause disease.
A New Method for Online Sensitivity-Based Distributed Voltage Control and Short Circuit Analysis of Unbalanced Distribution Feeders

Reactive power support through shunt capacitors and distributed generation is used in conjunction with step voltage regulators (SVRs) for voltage control of distribution feeders. Distribution management system is responsible for coordination among distributed reactive power sources, such as capacitors, photovoltaic and wind power generators, and SVRs. In this paper, a novel method for calculating voltage sensitivity to active, reactive power injection, and SVR taps in unbalanced distribution feeders is developed. The method is based on ABCD parameters of network components which are used in forward/backward sweep of power-flow solution. The method can deal with network unbalance, network shunt admittances, single-phase sections, and ungrounded sections. The initial sensitivities are calculated in one power-flow forward sweep through a recursive way, and the online updating of sensitivities is very easy and straightforward so the method is suitable for online voltage control. A novel sensitivity-based online optimization method is developed for online coordinated voltage control with no prior information about the load. The same ABCD parameters are used for developing a novel method for calculating short circuit currents in unbalanced distribution feeders. The method can also handle unbalance, shunt elements, and single phase sections, and is applicable to all fault types. The developed method for voltage control and short circuit calculation are tested on the IEEE comprehensive test feeder and the results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Formation of the b subunit dimer is necessary for interaction with F1-ATPase.

In earlier work, we [McCormick, K. A. , et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 24683-24691] observed that mutations at Ala-79 of the b subunit affect assembly of F1F0 ATP synthase. Polypeptides modeled on the soluble portion of the b subunit (bsol) with substitutions at the position corresponding to Ala-79 have been used to investigate secondary structure and dimerization of the b subunit. Circular dichroism spectra and chymotrypsin digestion experiments suggested that the recombinant polypeptides with Ala-79 substitutions assumed conformations similar to the bsol polypeptide. However, cross-linking studies of the Ala-79 substitution bsol polypeptides revealed defects in dimerization. The efficiency of dimer formation appeared to be related to the capacity of the altered bsol polypeptides for competing with F1-ATPase for binding to F1-depleted membrane vesicles. Ala-79 substitution polypeptides displaying limited dimerization, such as bsol Ala-79-->Leu, were shown to elute with F1-ATPase during size exclusion chromatography, suggesting a specific interaction. Sedimentation equilibrium studies indicated that 8% of the bsol Ala-79-->Leu polypeptide was in the form of a 30.6 kDa dimer and 92% a 15.3 kDa monomer. When the dimer concentration of bsol Ala-79-->Leu was normalized to the concentration of bsol, both had virtually identical capacities for competing with F1-depleted membrane vesicles for binding F1-ATPase. The result indicated that the amount of dimer formed is directly proportional to its ability to bind F1-ATPase. This suggests that formation of the b subunit dimer may be a necessary step preceding F1-ATPase binding in the assembly of the enzyme complex.
Arterial baroreflex resetting mediates postexercise reductions in arterial pressure and heart rate

Chandler, Margaret P., David W. Rodenbaugh, and Stephen E. DiCarlo. Arterial baroreflex resetting mediates postexercise reductions in arterial pressure and heart rate. Am. J. Physiol. 275 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 44): H1627–H1634, 1998. —We tested the hypothesis that postexercise reductions in arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) are mediated by a lowering of the operating point and a reduction in the gain of the arterial baroreflex. To test this hypothesis, spontaneous changes in arterial pressure and the reflex responses of HR were examined before and after a single bout of mild to moderate dynamic exercise in 19 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, 10 male and 9 female). Eleven SHR subjected to sinoaortic denervation (SAD) (6 male, 5 female) were also studied. All rats were instrumented with an arterial catheter for the measurement of arterial pressure and HR. After exercise, arterial pressure and HR were reduced below preexercise levels. Furthermore, the operating point and spontaneous gain (G) of the arterial baroreflex were reduced. Specifically, after exercise, the spontaneous range of HR (P1, 50%), the pressure at the midpoint of the pressure range (P3, 13%) and the HR at the midpoint of the HR range (H3, 10%), the spontaneous minimum HR (P4, 8%) and maximum HR (10%), and G (76%) were significantly attenuated. SAD significantly attenuated the relationship between arterial pressure and HR by reducing G (males 94%, females 95%). These results demonstrate that acute exercise resulted in a postexercise resetting of the operating point and a reduction in the gain of the arterial baroreflex. Furthermore, these data suggest that postexercise reductions in arterial pressure and HR are mediated by a lowering of the operating point of the arterial baroreflex.
Reference intervals and relationships between health status, carapace length, body mass, and water temperature and concentrations of plasma total protein and protein electrophoretogram fractions in Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles and green turtles.

OBJECTIVE To determine reference intervals for concentrations of plasma total protein (TP) and electrophoretogram fractions (ELFs) for healthy, wild loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and to assess relationships between TP and ELF concentrations and health status, body size, body mass, and water temperature. DESIGN Evaluation study. ANIMALS 437 healthy and 35 ill Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles and 152 healthy and 3 ill Atlantic green turtles. PROCEDURES Free-ranging turtles were captured from a nuclear power plant intake canal in southern Florida. Plasma samples were obtained from all turtles. Plasma TP and ELF concentrations were measured, and reference intervals were calculated. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare TP and ELF values between healthy and ill loggerhead sea turtles. Spearman rank correlations were evaluated between concentrations of TP and ELFs and carapace length, body mass, and water temperature. RESULTS Reference intervals for TP concentrations were 2.2 to 5.2 g/dL and 2.0 to 5.4 g/dL for loggerhead sea turtles and green turtles, respectively. Except for gamma-globulin, concentrations of ELFs were significantly higher in healthy than in ill loggerhead sea turtles. There was a positive correlation between TP, alpha-globulin, beta-globulin, and gamma-globulin concentrations and water temperature in loggerhead sea turtles and between only TP and alpha-globulin concentrations and water temperature in green turtles. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Reference intervals for concentrations of TP and ELFs for healthy, free-ranging loggerhead sea turtles and green turtles can be used in combination with other diagnostic tools to assess health status of sea turtles.
Validation of two Framingham cardiovascular risk prediction algorithms in an Australian population: the ‘old’ versus the ‘new’ Framingham equation

Background: Multivariable risk prediction equations attempt to quantify an individual’s cardiovascular risk. Those borne from the Framingham Heart Study remain the most well-established and widely used. In February 2008, a new Framingham risk equation was published. We sought to determine the differences between the most commonly used Framingham equation from 1991 and the 2008 version through their application to a contemporary Australian population. Methods and results: The two risk equations were applied to 7329 individuals from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study. All individuals were aged 30–74 years and free of cardiovascular disease. Differences in median risk scores were analyzed through the Wilcoxon’s signed rank test. Compared with the 1991 equation, median cardiovascular risk scores derived from the 2008 equation increased by 7 and 24% over 5 years, among males and females, respectively. The differences were statistically significant across all age-groups for both males and females, P value of less than 0.001. The performance of the equations in predicting cardiovascular outcomes were compared using event rates. The discriminative ability was increased using the 2008 equation; however the difference was non-significant [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 1991 equation 0.74 (0.69–0.80); 2008 equation 0.76 (0.71–0.81)]. Conclusion: Earlier Framingham equations have been suggested to over-predict cardiovascular risk in low-risk populations and under-predict risk in high-risk groups. This is the first comparative validation of the previous 1991 and most recent 2008 equations. This study highlights the need to validate and calibrate cardiovascular risk prediction equations using the population-specific outcome data.
SHP‐1 expression in avian mixed neural/glial cultures

The central nervous system response to injury includes astrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy as well as microglial activation and proliferation. However, not all glial cells enter the cell cycle following damage, and the mechanism that determines which glial cells will proliferate and which will remain quiescent has yet to be elucidated. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of the cell cycle in a number of different systems and has been implicated in both astrocyte proliferation and differentation. Of particular interest is the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP‐1 (Src homology 2‐containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1), which: (1) modulates cellular proliferation in the hematopoietic system, (2) is involved in various growth factor second messenger signaling cascades, and (3) has been demonstrated by our laboratory to increase in immunoreactivity within a subpopulation of astrocytes following deafferentation of the chicken auditory brainstem. These SHP‐1+ cells appear to be those which fail to enter the cell cycle following deafferentation. The present study examines whether manipulation of cellular proliferation in vitro modifies the expression of SHP‐1 immunoreactivity in mixed neural/glial cultures of the avian auditory brainstem. In addition, the effect of the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate on cellular proliferation was assessed in these cultures. Our results demonstrate that SHP‐1 expression can be modulated by changes in proliferation and that inhibiting tyrosine phosphatase activity results in increased proliferation. Taken together, these results indicate that SHP‐1 may play central role in negatively regulating glial proliferation following injury. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High efficiency control of IPMSM for electric motorcycles

It is known from the relation between motor torque and armature current phase that there is an optimum current phase at which the maximum motor torque is reached for a given armature current. This means it is a condition of generating torque most effectively for a given armature current. In this paper, a maximum torque per armature current control strategy is proposed. In the proposed control strategy, the armature current phase is assigned upon a Look-up Table (LUT) in accordance with load conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed control is verified through experiments. Because the LUT can be developed with experiments offline, a high efficiency driving can be achieved in a wide load range without complicated online identification of motor parameters. Furthermore, neither torque meter nor power meter is needed in the proposed strategy.
Identification of a Novel Pathway of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Regulation by Extracellular NAD+ in Mouse Macrophages

Background: Both extracellular NAD+ and the cytokine TGF-β1 are anti-inflammatory. Results: NAD+ increases both active and latent TGF-β1 in mouse macrophages. A mathematical model partially explains the complex effects of NAD+ on TGF-β1. Conclusion: NAD+ is a novel modulator of TGF-β1. Significance: Combined in vitro and in silico approaches may help elucidate novel pathways of TGF-β1 regulation. Extracellular β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is anti-inflammatory. We hypothesized that NAD+ would modulate the anti-inflammatory cytokine Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-β1. Indeed, NAD+ led to increases in both active and latent cell-associated TGF-β1 in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages as well as in primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from both C3H/HeJ (TLR4-mutant) and C3H/HeOuJ (wild-type controls for C3H/HeJ) mice. NAD+ acts partially via cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and subsequent release of Ca2+. Treatment of macrophages with the cADPR analog 3-deaza-cADPR or Ca2+ ionophores recapitulated the effects of NAD+ on TGF-β1, whereas the cADPR antagonist 8-Br-cADPR, Ca2+ chelation, and antagonism of L-type Ca2+ channels suppressed these effects. The time and dose effects of NAD+ on TGF-β1 were complex and could be modeled both statistically and mathematically. Model-predicted levels of TGF-β1 protein and mRNA were largely confirmed experimentally but also suggested the presence of other mechanisms of regulation of TGF-β1 by NAD+. Thus, in vitro and in silico evidence points to NAD+ as a novel modulator of TGF-β1.
[Comparative study on Chinese medicine and western medicine for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc].

OBJECTIVE To compare therapeutic effects, safety and tolerance of TCM, western medicine and integrated Chinese and western medicine for treatment of acute lumbosacral pain induced by prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. METHODS Ninety cases were randomly divided into 3 groups, 30 cases in each group. They were treated respectively with western medicine, TCM and combined TCM and western medicine, and the pain intensity, activity, muscular tension, and other indexes were monitored after 7 days and 30 days of treatment. RESULTS After treatment of 7 days, the combined treatment group in improvement of VAS scores of lumbosacral pain and radiating pain of the lower limbs was superior to the TCM group with no significant difference between the two groups, and in improvement of VAS scores of lumbosacral pain and radiating pain of the lower limbs, Lasegue's sign, activity of spinal column (Schober test and distance from finger tip to floor), etc. were superior to the western medicine group (P < 0.05). After treatment of 30 days, there was no significant differences in the therapeutic effect among the 3 groups. The patients in the 3 groups had good tolerance with no severe adverse reaction. CONCLUSION Combined TCM and western medicine treatment has rapid effects and definite therapeutic effect in alleviating pain, improving activity for acute lumbosacral pain induced by prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.
Neurokinin‐A in Bone and Joint Tissues: Changes in Adjuvant Arthritis

The localization of neurokinin A (NK‐A) in the normal ankle joint of rats was investigated by an immunoelectron microscopic technique with specific antisera to NK‐A. Immunoreactivity was detected in bone matrix, myelinated nerve fiber in the periosteum, and bone marrow and synovial cells. No immunoreactivity was observed in osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. Using radioimmunoassay (RIA), a detectable concentration of NK‐A was observed in the bone marrow, periosteum, cortical bone, and ankle of normal rats. In rats with chronic adjuvant arthritis, induced by intradermal injection of mycobacterium butyricum in paraffin oil into the base of the tail, the concentrations of NK‐A using RIA in ankles and spinal cords were found to be significantly increased compared with acute or control rats. There were no significant differences between the latter two. Similarly, increased NK‐A labeling was observed using immunoelectron microscopy in bone matrix and bone marrow monocyte cells of the chronic arthritic rats. These findings indicate the existence of as well as a biological role of NK‐A in bone and joint tissues.