Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling the effects of quinidine, disopyramide, and E-4031 on short QT syndrome variant 3 in the human ventricles

Objective: Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is an inherited cardiac channelopathy, but at present little information is available on its pharmacological treatment. SQT3 variant (linked to the inward rectifier potassium current IK1) of SQTS, results from a gain-of-function mutation (Kir2.1 D172N) in the KCNJ2-encoded channels, which is associated with ventricular fibrillation (VF). Using biophysically-detailed human ventricular computer models, this study investigated the potential effects of quinidine, disopyramide, and E-4031 on SQT3. Approach: The ten Tusscher et al model of human ventricular myocyte action potential (AP) was modified to recapitulate the changes in IK1 due to heterozygous and homozygous forms of the D172N mutation. Wild-type (WT) and mutant WT-D172N and D172N formulations were incorporated into one-dimensional (1D) and 2D tissue models with transmural heterogeneities. Effects of drugs on channel-blocking activity were modelled using half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and Hill coefficient (nH) values. Effects of drugs on AP duration (APD), effective refractory period (ERP) and QT interval of pseudo-ECGs were quantified, and both temporal and spatial vulnerability to re-entry was measured. Re-entry was simulated in the 2D ventricular tissue. Main results: At the single cell level, the drugs quinidine, disopyramide, and E-4031 prolonged APD at 90% repolarization (APD90), and decreased maximal transmural voltage heterogeneity (δV); this caused the decreased transmural dispersion of APD90. Quinidine prolonged the QT interval and decreased the T-wave amplitude. Furthermore, quinidine increased ERP and reduced temporal vulnerability and increased spatial vulnerability, resulting in a reduced susceptibility to arrhythmogenesis in SQT3. In the 2D tissue, quinidine was effective in terminating and preventing re-entry associated with the heterozygous D172N condition. Quinidine exhibited significantly better therapeutic effects on SQT3 than disopyramide and E-4031. Significance: This study substantiates a causal link between quinidine and QT interval prolongation in SQT3 Kir2.1 mutations and highlights possible pharmacological agent quinidine for treating SQT3 patients.
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Recognition of static and dynamic facial expressions: a study review

In emotion research, criticism has been directed to the use of static facial expressions, especially concerning its supposedly low ecological validity. In the present work, we performed a review of studies that directly compared the recognition of emotions using static and dynamic facial expressions. Behavioral, neuroimaging, brain damage and facial electromyography studies, published since 1993 were included. Overall, facial motion seems to promote emotional recognition. Neuroimaging and brain damage studies sustain the idea of a dissociation between the systems responsible to process static and dynamic expressions. Electromyography studies indicated that dynamic expressions tend to elicit more intense responses of facial mimic and are related to a higher physiological activation. Those findings support the hypothesis that dynamic facial expressions are ecologically more valid and therefore more appropriate to emotion research.
virus nephropathy in the native kidneys of a pediatric heart transplant recipient

BK virus is a human polyoma virus that may cause nephropathy in immunosuppressed patients. It is a well-recognized cause of renal allograft dysfunction and allograft loss in renal transplant recipients, but it is an infrequent cause of nephropathy outside this setting. There are a few case reports of BK virus nephropathy in the native kidneys of immunosuppressed adult patients with non-renal transplants, but so far it has not been reported in pediatric non-renal solid organ transplant recipients. We report a case of a seven-yr-old heart transplant patient who was diagnosed with BK virus nephropathy, eight months after his second heart transplant. Despite intervention, his renal dysfunction progressed to renal failure. He is currently receiving maintenance hemodialysis and awaiting renal transplantation. It is important to recognize BK virus infection as a possible cause of renal dysfunction in immunosuppressed children who are non-renal transplant recipients. S. Sahney, P. Yorgin, C. Zuppan, D. Cutler, N. Kambham and R. Chinnock Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA, Department of Pathology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA, Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo alto, CA, USA
Assessment of indexing trends with specific and general terms for herbal medicine.

BACKGROUND Concepts for medicinal plants are represented by a variety of associated general terms with specific indexing patterns in databases, which may not consistently reflect growth of records. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study are to assess the development in databases by identifying general terms that describe herbal medicine with optimal retrieval recall and to identify possible special trends in co-occurrence of specific and general concepts. METHODS Different search strategies are tested in cab abstracts, medline and web of science. Specific terms (Origanum and Salvia) are employed. Relevant general terms (e.g. 'Plants, Medicinal', Phytotherapy, Herbal drugs) are identified, along with indexing trends and co-occurrences. RESULTS Growth trends, in specific (narrower) terms, are similar among databases. General terms, however, exhibit dissimilar trends, sometimes almost opposing one another. Co-occurrence of specific and general terms is changing over time. CONCLUSIONS General terms may not denote definite development of trends as the use of terms differs amongst databases, making it difficult to correctly assess possible numbers of relevant records. Perceived increase can, sometimes, be attributed to an increased occurrence of a more general term alongside the specific one. Thesaurus-controlled databases may yield more hits, because of 'up-posted' (broader) terms. Use of broader terms is helpful as it enhances retrieval of relevant documents.
Very Simple Methods for All Pairs Network Flow Analysis

A very simple algorithm for the classical problem of computing the maximum network flow value between every pair of nodes in an undirected, capacitated n node graph is presented; as in the well-known Gomory–Hu method, the method given here uses only $n - 1$ maximum flow computations. Our algorithm is implemented by adding only five simple lines of code to any program that produces a minimum cut; a program to produce an equivalent flow tree, which is a compact representation of the flow values, is obtained by adding only three simple lines of code to any program producing a minimum cut. A very simple version of the Gomory–Hu cut tree method that finds one minimum cut for every pair of nodes is also derived, and it is shown that the seemingly fundamental operation of that method, node contraction, is not needed, nor must crossing cuts be avoided. As a result, this version of the Gomory–Hu method is implemented by adding less than ten simple lines of code to any program that produces a minimum cut. The algor.
Measurement of blood volume using indocyanine green measured with pulse-spectrophotometry: its reproducibility and reliability.

OBJECTIVE To systematically investigate the reproducibility and reliability of a newly developed, less invasive approach of estimating blood volume (BV), using indocyanine green (ICG) measured with pulse-spectrophotometry. DESIGN Prospective, clinical study. SETTING Surgical unit at a university hospital. PATIENTS Twenty-two patients undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgery and seven healthy volunteers. INTERVENTIONS Catheters were inserted into the forearm veins of healthy volunteers for the administration of ICG and blood sampling for the measurement of hemoglobin concentration. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The distribution volumes of ICG in seven healthy volunteers were estimated repetitively following three or four consecutive intravenous administrations at 30-min intervals. A low intrasubject coefficient of variation of 3.94 +/- 2.03 (SEM) % and a reasonable intersubject coefficient of variation of 13.3 +/- 5.52% (in mL/kg) for the BV measurements were obtained. In addition, ICG was administered to 22 patients, first under general anesthesia by a bolus, and then by a bolus with a constant-rate infusion. The ICG blood concentration was noninvasively measured with pulse-spectrophotometry. The blood concentration time courses following both bolus and constant-rate infusion were well fitted by the one-compartment model, indicating that the distribution equilibrium of ICG is instantaneous. The distribution volumes estimated following bolus injection correlate closely with the distribution volume estimated based on constant-rate infusion administration (r2 = .90). CONCLUSIONS The BV estimation with a bolus injection of ICG and pulse-spectrophotometry is reliable, as reflected by the reproducible BVs estimated in the same subject. The integrated pulse-spectrophotometry monitoring system offers a less invasive and useful tool for bedside estimation of BV.
Cerebral Metabolic Effects of Intravenous Glycine in Healthy Human Subjects

Enhancing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor function via increasing synaptic concentrations of glycine is currently investigated as a novel approach to treat schizophrenia. The neural correlates of enhanced NMDA receptor function in humans, however, are unclear to date. The present study determines the effects of intravenous administration of the glycine on regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRGlu) in healthy control subjects by using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography and on neuropsychological behavioral measures. Thirteen healthy volunteers were recruited, and 12 subjects completed the protocol. These individuals participated in 1 magnetic resonance imaging study and 2 [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography studies. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover design, participants received on one test day an intravenous glycine infusion and on the other test day a placebo infusion. There were no significant behavioral and neuropsychological effects of glycine compared with placebo. However, there was a significant reduction of whole-brain CMRGlu during administration of glycine compared with placebo (t = 2.60, df = 11, P = 0.023). In the a priori-selected regions of interest, there was a significant reduction in the cerebellum (t = −3.18, df = 11, P = 0.009) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (t = −2.31, df = 11, P = 0.041). When corrected for whole-brain CMRGlu, rCMRGlu differences were not significant. This study suggests that studies of whole-brain cerebral metabolism may be useful for studying glycine-related mechanisms in healthy humans because there is not a clear cognitive or behavioral signal related to glycine administration at doses thought to be important clinically in patient populations.
Using Photovoice to Address Gender-Based Violence: A Qualitative Systematic Review

The purpose of this article is to examine how photovoice research addresses gender-based violence (GBV) among individuals and communities that experience and witness GBV. Photovoice action research (PVAR) methods act as both an intervention and a research method by engaging participants in using photography to depict a topic of concern and in developing potential solutions. To date, there is not a published review of PVAR publications that focus on addressing GBV. This article is comprised of a qualitative systematic review of studies that use photovoice research methods to address GBV. This review is conducted in accordance with the Supplementary Guidance of the Cochrane handbook and results in the examination of 17 publications that meet inclusion criteria. The data synthesis engages grounded theory (GT) methods and results in the emergence of one primary category transgressing the violence and three subcategories illustrating the problem, caring for self and others, and harnessing community resources. The results of this review reveal research, practice, and policy implications for photovoice projects aimed at addressing GBV.
Generation‐dependent control mechanisms in cell proliferation and differentiation—the power of two

Abstract. There is evidence that the proliferation of cells is controlled by the number of divisions after leaving a multi‐potent (stem) cell. A detailed study of the growth of tissue in the small intestinal tract, more precisely the growth of crypts and villi, suggests that not only the proliferation but also the differentiation of cells obey the same biological law. We postulate a theory of a cellular internal control mechanism: the cell‐generation control of differentiation and proliferation. This basic mechanism, together with extemal influences, determines the kinetic behaviour of the crypt‐villus system.
Separation of the SOS-dependent and SOS-independent components of alkylating-agent mutagenesis

Escherichia coli plasmids containing the rpsL+ gene (Strs phenotype) as the target for mutation were treated in vitro with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. Following fixation of mutations in E. coli MM294A cells (recA+ Strs), an unselected population of mutant and wild-type plasmids was isolated and transferred into a second host, E. coli 6451 (recA Strr). Strains carrying plasmid-encoded forward mutations were then selected as Strr isolates, while rpsL+ plasmids conferred the dominant Strs phenotype in the second host. Mutation induction and reduced survival of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-treated plasmids were shown to be dose dependent. Because this system permitted analysis and manipulation of the levels of certain methylated bases produced in vitro by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, it afforded the opportunity to assess directly the relative roles of these bases and of SOS functions in mutagenesis. The methylated plasmid DNA gave a mutation frequency of 6 X 10(-5) (a 40-fold increase over background) in physiologically normal cells. When the same methylated plasmid was repaired in vitro by using purified O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (to correct O6-methylguanine and O4-methylthymine), no mutations were detected above background levels. In contrast, when the methylated plasmid DNA was introduced into host cells induced by UV light for the SOS functions, rpsL mutagenesis was enhanced eightfold over the level seen without SOS induction. This enhancement of mutagenesis by SOS was unaffected by prior treatment of the DNA with O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase. These results demonstrate a predominant mutagenic role for alkylation lesions other than O6-methylguanine or O4-methylthymine when SOS functions are induced. The mutation spectrum of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea under conditions of induced SOS functions revealed a majority of mutagenic events at A . T base pairs.
The statistical analysis of plant virus assays: a transformation to include lesion numbers with small means.

Summary: The numbers of local lesions (x) produced by different leaves when inoculated with the same virus preparation deviate greatly from a normal distribution, and the standard errors of x's depend on their magnitude. Before customary statistical analyses are applicable to results of infectivity assays, x's must be suitably transformed. When mean values of x are greater than about 10, the transformation z = log10 (x + c) (where c is a constant), is satisfactory but inapplicable with smaller numbers. In some work the use of poorly infective inocula is unavoidable, and to allow statistical analysis of results in such work a new transformation z = log101/2 [x + c + √(x 2 + 2cx)] is derived. This operates satisfactorily when mean numbers of x are greater than about 1·5. The results of the two transformations converge as x increases. Values of z are tabulated to make the use of the new transformations as quick as that of the other transformation.
Understanding sources of methylmercury in songbirds with stable mercury isotopes: Challenges and future directions

Mercury (Hg) stable isotope analysis is an emerging technique that has contributed to a better understanding of many aspects of the biogeochemical cycling of Hg in the environment. However, no study has yet evaluated its usefulness in elucidating the sources of methylmercury (MeHg) in songbird species, a common organism for biomonitoring of Hg in forested ecosystems. In the present pilot study, we examined stable mercury isotope ratios in blood of 4 species of songbirds and the invertebrates they are likely foraging on in multiple habitats in a small watershed of mixed forest and wetlands in Acadia National Park in Maine (USA). We found distinct isotopic signatures of MeHg in invertebrates (both mass‐dependent fractionation [as δ202Hg] and mass‐independent fractionation [as Δ199Hg]) among 3 interconnected aquatic habitats. It appears that the Hg isotopic compositions in bird blood cannot be fully accounted for by the isotopic compositions of MeHg in lower trophic levels in each of the habitats examined. Furthermore, the bird blood isotope results cannot be simply explained by an isotopic offset as a result of metabolic fractionation of δ202Hg (e.g., internal demethylation). Our results suggest that many of the birds sampled obtain MeHg from sources outside the habitat they were captured in. Our findings also indicate that mass‐independent fractionation is a more reliable and conservative tracer than mass‐dependent fractionation for identifying sources of MeHg in bird blood. The results demonstrate the feasibility of Hg isotope studies of songbirds but suggest that larger numbers of samples and an expanded geographic area of study may be required for conclusive interpretation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:166–174. © 2017 SETAC
MICROWAVE OVEN BASED STERILIZATION OF MEDIA FOR MICRO PROPAGATION OF BANANA

Micropropagation of banana (Musa paradisiaca Linn.) var Grand naine was carried out with media sterilized by microwave radiation. Microwave oven was effectively used to sterilize the media for in vitro shoot-multiplication of banana against autoclave. Sterilization of media in microwave oven was successfully achieved at 900W/200 ml media (4 min). In vitro shoot-multiplication was higher in the microwave sterilized media as compared to the same in autoclave sterilized media.
Macular Inner Plexiform and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Glaucoma

Purpose To compare the parameters of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness measured by Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods Eighty patients with NTG, 80 patients with POAG, and 100 normal control subjects were enrolled. The mGCIPL and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thicknesses measured by Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography were compared in patients with glaucoma. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROCs) were calculated to compare the diagnostic power of the mGCIPL thickness with that of the pRNFL thickness. Pearson correlation coefficients were determined to investigate the correlation between the mGCIPL or pRNFL thickness parameters and the mean deviation (MD) values of visual field tests. Results All parameters of the mGCIPL thickness were significantly different between normal control subjects and patients with glaucoma. The superior, superotemporal, and superonasal thickness of mGCIPL and the superior thickness of pRNFL showed significant reductions and significantly higher AROCs for distinguishing between normal eyes and eyes with glaucoma in POAG compared with those in NTG. In NTG or POAG groups, the mGCIPL and pRNFL parameters with the highest AROC were the minimum and average thickness, respectively. The average, minimum, inferior, inferotemporal, and inferonasal thickness of mGCIPL and the average and inferior thickness of pRNFL were correlated with MD in NTG (p < 0.05 for all parameters), whereas all parameters of the mGCIPL thickness except the inferonasal thickness and all parameters of the pRNFL thickness except the temporal thickness were correlated with MD in POAG (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Conclusions The diagnostic ability of the mGCIPL thickness was comparable to that of the pRNFL thickness in patients with NTG or POAG. The mGCIPL loss in NTG was localized and mainly concentrated on the inferior portion compared with diffuse mGCIPL loss in POAG.
Community and trophic structures of abalone Haliotis diversicolor habitat in Sagami Bay, Japan

The community and trophic structures of the subtidal habitat of the abalone Haliotis diversicolor were examined in Nagai, Sagami Bay, Japan. Conventional community indices showed no significant differences among three sampling stations. The overall continuum of stable isotope ratios was structured into three different trophic linkages: (i) brown algae-dependent benthic food chain; (ii) red algae-dependent benthic food chain; and (iii) planktonic food chain. Brown algae and red algae likely play different roles with respect to carbon sources in the habitat. Conventional fractionation values indicated that the abalone H. diversicolor (δ13C = 12.4 ± 1.0‰, δ15N = 9.3 ± 0.5‰) feeds on the lamina of Undaria pinnatifida during juvenile and adult stages (8.0–65.6 mm shell length). Stable isotope signatures suggested that the juveniles of other abalone species as well as some amphipods and a sea cucumber Holothuria decorata are competitors of H. diversicolor, whereas some Muricidae gastropods such as Thais bronni and Ergalatax contractus are predators. The isotopic differences among macroalgal species and the subsequent transfer to consumers indicate that stable isotopic analysis is an effective means of studying food webs in an open rocky shore community with little influence from external primary production such as terrestrial vegetation.