Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monitoring of lesions induced by cavitation-enhanced high-intensity focused ultrasound using shear wave elastography

Shear wave elastography is expected as a noninvasive monitoring method in high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment. Since elastography is usually applied to detect a lesion near a superficial layer, it is challenging to induce and propagate shear waves in deep tissue. Acoustic cavitation bubbles have the potential to promote the efficiency of the treatment; however the presence of remaining microbubbles may interfere with the shear wave propagation and make the detection of the accompanying displacements difficult. In this paper, it is examined whether the detection of the region where increased shear wave propagation velocity in ex vivo tissue is possible even in the presence of microbubbles and “HIFU push” shear wave elastography has the advantage in terms of shear wave induction in deep tissue compared with a conventional technique by irradiating push beams from the same therapeutic transducer as HIFU exposure.
Differential effect of prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor pretreatment on pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in rat.

Release of prostaglandins (PGs) from brain tissue increases during experimentally-induced and spontaneous seizures. However, whether PGs or other arachidonic acid metabolites have a role in induction of seizures is still unclear. The effectiveness of pretreatment with PG synthetase inhibitors on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced models of epilepsy was investigated in free-moving rats with chronically-implanted supracortical electrodes. The effects on the electrocortical and motor manifestations of both a subconvulsive (30 mg.kg-1) and a convulsive (60 mg.kg-1) dose of PTZ were examined. Mefenamic acid (15 or 50 mg.kg-1), meclofenamic acid (15 or 50 mg.kg-1), ibuprofen (30 or 90 mg.kg-1) and paracetamol (300 or 450 mg.kg-1) delayed the onset of PTZ-induced convulsions. But mefenamic acid and meclofenamic acid also potentiated the excitatory effects of both subconvulsive and convulsive doses of PTZ. Indomethacin (3, 10 or 30 mg.kg-1) had no significant effect. The results suggest that the differential effects were produced by actions not related to the cyclo-oxygenase inhibition although the more consistent decrease of convulsive behavior may have resulted from inhibition of PG synthesis.
F-Box Protein Grr1 Interacts with Phosphorylated Targets via the Cationic Surface of Its Leucine-Rich Repeat

ABSTRACT The flexibility and specificity of ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis are mediated, in part, by the E3 ubiquitin ligases. One class of E3 enzymes, SKp1/cullin/F-box protein (SCF), derives its specificity from F-box proteins, a heterogeneous family of adapters for target protein recognition. Grr1, the F-box component of SCFGrr1, mediates the interaction with phosphorylated forms of the G1 cyclins Cln1 and Cln2. We show that binding of Cln2 by SCFGrr1 was dependent upon its leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and its carboxy terminus. Our structural model for the Grr1 LRR predicted a high density of positive charge on the concave surface of the characteristic horseshoe structure. We hypothesized that specific basic residues on the predicted concave surface are important for recognition of phosphorylated Cln2. We show that point mutations that converted the basic residues on the concave surface but not those on the convex surface to neutral or acidic residues interfered with the capacity of Grr1 to bind to Cln2. The same mutations resulted in the stabilization of Cln2 and Gic2 and also in a spectrum of phenotypes characteristic of inactivation of GRR1, including hyperpolarization and enhancement of pseudohyphal growth. It was surprising that the same residues were not important for the role of Grr1 in nutrient-regulated transcription of HXT1 or AGP1. We concluded that the cationic nature of the concave surface of the Grr1 LRR is critical for the recognition of phosphorylated targets of SCFGrr1 but that other properties of Grr1 are required for its other functions.
Novel Multipurpose Methodology for Detection of Mycobacteria in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Specimens by Smear Microscopy, Culture, and PCR

ABSTRACT A novel, robust, reproducible, and multipurpose universal sample processing (USP) methodology for highly sensitive smear microscopy, culturing on solid and liquid media, and inhibition-free PCR which is suitable for the laboratory diagnosis of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) has been developed. This method exploits the chaotropic properties of guanidinium hydrochloride for sample processing and involves incubating the specimen with USP solution, concentrating bacilli by centrifugation, and using the processed specimen for smear microscopy, culture, and PCR. The detection limit for acid-fast bacilli in spiked sputum by smear microscopy is approximately 300 bacilli per ml of specimen. USP solution-treated specimens are fully compatible with culturing on solid and liquid media. High-quality, PCR-amplifiable mycobacterial DNA can be isolated from all types of clinical specimens processed with USP solution. The method has been extensively validated with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary specimens. Furthermore, the USP method is also compatible with smear microscopy, culture, and PCR of mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli. In summary, the USP method provides smear microscopy, culture, and nucleic acid amplification technologies with a single sample-processing platform and, to the best of our knowledge, is the only method of its kind described to date. It is expected to be useful for the laboratory diagnosis of TB and other mycobacterial diseases by conventional and modern methods.
The bx region enhancer, a distant cis‐control element of the Drosophila Ubx gene and its regulation by hunchback and other segmentation genes.

The Drosophila homeotic gene Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is regulated by complex mechanisms that specify the spatial domain, the timing and the activity of the gene in individual tissues and in individual cells. In early embryonic development, Ubx expression is controlled by segmentation genes turned on earlier in the developmental hierarchy. Correct Ubx expression depends on multiple regulatory sequences located outside the basal promoter. Here we report that a 500 bp DNA fragment from the bx region of the Ubx unit, approximately 30 kb away from the promoter, contains one of the distant regulatory elements (bx region enhancer, BRE). During early embryogenesis, this enhancer element activates the Ubx promoter in parasegments (PS) 6, 8, 10, and 12 and represses it in the anterior half of the embryo. The repressor of the anterior Ubx expression is the gap gene hunchback (hb). We show that the hb protein binds to the BRE element and that such binding is essential for hb repression in vivo, hb protein also binds to DNA fragments from abx and bxd, two other regulatory regions of the Ubx gene. We conclude that hb represses Ubx expression directly by binding to BRE and probably other Ubx regulatory elements. In addition, the BRE pattern requires input from other segmentation genes, among them tailless and fushi tarazu but not Krüppel and knirps.
Effect of raw milk on allergic responses in a murine model of gastrointestinal allergy

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between the consumption of raw farm milk and reduced incidence of allergy. In the present study, we fed untreated raw milk, gamma-sterilised milk, heat-treated milk or water to mice and compared their responses to allergen exposure and challenge treatment in a mouse model of gastrointestinal allergy. From weaning (3 weeks old), groups of BALB/c female mice (n 8) received raw milk, gamma-sterilised milk, heated milk or water via drink bottles, with the control group receiving water. All mice were fed a standard (dairy protein-free) rodent diet. At 6 and 8 weeks, groups were given intra-peritoneal injections with ovalbumin (OVA)/alum to sensitise them to the antigen. Controls were sham immunised. At week 10, mice were fasted and challenged four times on alternate days by intra-gastric administration with 50 mg OVA or saline. Levels of bacteria and milk proteins were assessed in milk samples. Mouse serum levels of specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and mouse mast cell protease-1 (MMCP-1) were determined. Cytokine responses to 48 h activation with OVA were measured in cultured splenocytes from mice. Sterilised and heated milks contained no viable bacteria and reduced detectable levels of many milk proteins, in contrast to raw milk. Mice drinking raw milk had highest serum MMCP-1 and specific-OVA IgE responses. Cultured splenocytes from OVA-primed mice produced similar levels of IL-4 in response to the antigen; however, IL-10 levels were highest from mice drinking raw milk. Overall, the present study adds to the evidence that consuming different types of milk can affect allergic responses to a non-related dietary antigen.
Time-Optimal Motion of Two Robots Carrying a Ladder Under a Velocity Constraint.

Abstract : We consider the problem of computing a time-optimal motion for two robots carrying a ladder from all initial position to a final position in a plane without obstacles. At any moment during the motion, the distance between the robots remains unchanged and the speed of each robot must be either a given constant v, or 0. A trivial lower bound on time for the robots to complete the motion is the time needed for the robot farther away from its destination to move to the destination along a straight line at a constant speed of v. This lower bound may or may not be achievable, however, since the other robot may not have sufficient time to complete the necessary rotation around the first robot (that is moving along a straight line at speed v) within the given time. We first derive, by solving an ordinary differential equation, a necessary and sufficient condition under which this lower bound is achievable. If the condition is satisfied, then a time-optimal motion of the robots is computed by solving another differential equation numerically. Next, we consider the case when this condition is not satisfied, and show that a time-optimal motion can be computed by taking the length of the trajectory of one of the robots as a functional and then applying the method of variational calculus. Several optimal paths that have been computed using the above methods are presented. (AN)
The Feasibility of Using Technology to Enhance the Transition of Palliative Care for Rural Patients

Palliative care services for patients with life-limiting conditions enhance their quality of life. Most palliative care services, however, are located in hospitals with limited transitional care for patients who live in distant locations. The long-term goal of this program of research is to use existing technology for virtual visits to provide transitional care for patients initially hospitalized in an urban setting by a nurse practitioner located closer to patients’ homes in distant, rural settings. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to determine the resources needed to use the system (efficiency) and the quality of the audio and visual components (effectiveness) to conduct virtual visits between a clinician at an academic center and community-dwelling adults living in rural locations. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model, a mixed-methods field design was used. Because of the burden of testing technology with patients with life-limiting conditions, the sample included eight healthy adults. Participant satisfaction and perceptions of the ease of using the technology were also measured. Virtual visits were conducted using a 3G-enabled Apple iPad, cellular phone data service, and a Web-based video conference service. Participants and clinicians perceived the technology as easy to use. Observations revealed the importance of the visual cues provided by the technology to enhance communication, engagement, and satisfaction. Findings from this study will inform a subsequent study of technology-enhanced transitional care with palliative care patients.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Science Cooperation Group Size

Abstract The paper analyzes the applicability of Weibull Density Distribution and Kernel Density Estimation in research of scientific productivity and collaboration group size. The datasets from five categories were retrieved and downloaded from ISI, and they are used to verify Kernel Density Estimation curve fits well with the Weibull Density Distribution curve. As a comparatively convenient function, Kernel Density Estimation can be used as a model to study the relationship between scientific productivity and group size. The best group size and reasonable group size are suggested through Kernel Density Estimation model. We assumed that the best group size in scientific cooperation is positive to discipline biology connotation, however, the result didn’t show such correlation obviously.
Effect of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics of saquinavir-500 mg formulation with ritonavir in healthy male and female volunteers

Introduction:Recent studies have described reduced absorption of certain protease inhibitors when administered with agents known to increase gastric pH. No clinically significant interactions between saquinavir absorption and gastric pH have previously been shown. We evaluated the effect of omeprazole, a proton-pump-inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of the recently developed saquinavir-500 mg formulation co-administered with ritonavir. Methods:Eighteen healthy subjects (n = 6 women and 12 men) received 1000/100 mg saquinavir/ritonavir twice daily in an open-label study for 15 days. On days 11–15, subjects were administered omeprazole 40 mg daily with the morning dose. Serial plasma samples were collected for 12-h pharmacokinetic profiles of saquinavir and ritonavir on days 10 and 15 and safety analysis on days 1, 4, 10, 15 and 29. Results:The geometric mean and 95% confidence interval (CI), for the area under time–concentration curve (AUC; ng h/ml), trough plasma concentration (Ctrough; ng/ml) and maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax; ng/ml) of saquinavir were 20599 (14396–29360) and 37511 (28733–48970); 737 (482–1127) and 1521 (1039–2227); 3227 (2370–4393) and 5611 (4507–7710) on days 10 and 15, respectively, with geometric mean ratios of 1.82, 2.06 and 1.75. No significant changes were observed in saquinavir elimination half life, ritonavir pharmacokinetic parameters or in safety laboratory tests. No unexpected adverse events attributed to study medication were noted. Conclusions:In the presence of omeprazole, total saquinavir plasma exposure is significantly increased (82% increase in AUC). The mechanism of this interaction requires elucidation. Despite the significant increase in saquinavir exposure, no short term toxicities were observed.
Sexual orientation and self-harm in men and women.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies of homosexual people have found higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior than among heterosexuals. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between self-harm and sexual orientation for men and women separately, defining sexual orientation by sexual attraction rather than by behavior. METHOD In a birth cohort of 1,019 New Zealand young adults eligible to be interviewed at age 26 years, 946 participated in assessments of both sexual attraction and self-harm. RESULTS Both women and men who had experienced same-sex attraction had higher risks of self-harm. The odds ratios for suicidal ideation in the past year were 3.1 for men and 2.9 for women. Odds ratios for ever having deliberately self-harmed were 5.5 for men and 1.9 for women. Men with same-sex attraction were also significantly more likely to report having attempted suicide. In both sexes, a greater degree of same-sex attraction predicted increasing likelihood of self-harm, with over one-third of men and women with persistent major same-sex attraction reporting this. Men with even a minor degree of same-sex attraction had high rates of self-harm and resulting physical injury. One-quarter of deliberate self-harm among men and one-sixth among women was potentially attributable to same-sex attraction. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of a link between increasing degrees of same-sex attraction and self-harm in both men and women, with the possibility of some difference between the sexes that needs to be explored further.
Asymptomatic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in workers exposed to elemental mercury

Neurologic and electrodiagnostic evaluations and urine mercury level determinations were performed on 138 chlor-alkali plant workers, some of whom were chronically exposed to inorganic mercury vapor. Eighteen subjects had a mild polyneuropathy on clinical examination. These subjects had significantly (p < 0.05) elevated urine mercury indexes, reduced sensation on quantitative testing, prolonged distal latencies with reduced sensory evoked response amplitudes, and increased likelihood of abnormal needle electromyography compared with the remaining 120 subjects. Similar results were found for subgroups matched by sex and age. We conclude that elemental mercury exposure is associated with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy of the axonal type; the degree of neurologic impairment appears related to the magnitude of exposure.
The Effect of Adult Hemoglobin on Red Blood Cell Nitric Oxide Levels during Fetal Development

Objective: To compare the levels of S-nitrosohemoglobin (HbSNO) at different gestational ages in newborn infants and correlate the levels of HbSNO with HbA and HbF. Method: Cord blood samples of 22 newborn infants of different gestational ages (25–41 weeks) were analyzed. The levels of HbF and HbA were determined by HPLC and of HbSNO by chemiluminescence. Results: The level of HbSNO varied from 28.1 to 145.3 nM. There was a significant correlation with gestational age (r2 = 0.5469, p < 0.0001) and with the relative amount of HbA (r2 = 0.8144, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The increases in HbSNO in fetal red cells is directly related to the relative amount of HbA.
Response Profiling Using Shotgun Proteomics Enables Global Metallodrug Mechanisms of Action To Be Established.

Response profiling using shotgun proteomics for establishing global metallodrug mechanisms of action in two colon carcinoma cell lines, HCT116 and SW480, has been applied and evaluated with the clinically approved arsenic trioxide. Surprisingly, the complete established mechanism of action of arsenic trioxide was observed by protein regulations in SW480, but not HCT116 cells. Comparing the basal protein expression in the two cell lines revealed an 80 % convergence of protein identification, but with significant expression differences, which in turn seem to affect the extent of protein regulation. A clear-cut redox response was observed in SW480 cells upon treatment with arsenic, but hardly in HCT116 cells. Response profiling was then used to investigate four anti-cancer metallodrugs (KP46, KP772, KP1339 and KP1537). Proteome alterations were mapped to selected functional groups, including DNA repair, endocytosis, protection from oxidative stress, protection from endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) stress, cell adhesion and mitochondrial function. The present data suggest that knowledge of the mechanism of action of anti-cancer metallodrugs and improved patient stratification strategies are imperative for the design of clinical studies.
Renin–Angiotensin System as a Therapeutic Target in Managing Atherosclerosis

Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that the pathways by which hypertension and dyslipidemia lead to vascular disease may overlap and that angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in restructuring of the arterial wall in both atherosclerosis and hypertension. Ang II represents a potent proinflammatory agent promoting recruitment of monocytes into the vascular intima. Ang II also indirectly facilitates transformation of macrophages and smooth muscle cells into foam cells by promoting superoxide radical formation (via NADP/NADPH oxidase stimulation). The oxidative stress produced by Ang II leads to enhanced low-density lipoprotein oxidation and degradation of nitric oxide, an important vascular protective molecule capable of retarding atherosclerosis progression. The importance of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) in atherogenesis is highlighted by studies in animal models as well as human beings indicating that inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme or blockade of type 1 Ang II receptors retards the development of atherosclerotic lesions. In light of a causal and central role of Ang II in atherogenesis, blockade of the RAS represents an important therapeutic consideration in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic disease.
Clinical Evaluation of 49 Tenoscopically Assisted Superior Check Ligament Desmotomies in 27 Horses

The tenoscopic approach to the examination and desmotomy of the superior check ligament (SCL) has been described on an experimental basis. However, this technique has not been evaluated and reported on clinical cases. Superior check ligament desmotomies (SCLD) using the conventional medial approach have been utilized as sole treatment or in combination with additional procedures. Its use has particularly been advocated for superficial digital flexor tendon (SDF) injuries as well as flexural deformities of the metacarpo-phalangeal joints. The benefits of minimally invasive procedures such as arthroscopic surgery have been shown over the last decades and are now uniformly accepted. Benefits such as reduced post-operative pain, care, morbidity, and improved intra-operative visibility have greatly contributed to this popularity. The goal of this study was to assess the clinical feasibility and merit of performing SCLD using the lateral tenoscopic approach to the carpal tendon sheath using clinical cases. 2. Materials and Methods
Introduction and overview

Common terms used in genetics with multiple meanings are explained and a brief overview given of the four major areas of genetic epidemiology - the study of familial aggregation, segregation, cosegregation and association. Familial aggregation measures the potential for a trait to have a genetic aetiology. Segregation analysis uncovers single gene segregation. Cosegregation with genetic markers gives rise to linkage, which is used to locate trait genes on the genome. Association analysis is used for fine mapping, but rests on the assumption that linkage disequilibrium exists.
Ordering Constraints over Feature Trees Expressed in Second-Order Monadic Logic

The language FT? of ordering constraints over feature trees has been introduced as an extension of the system FT of equality constraints over feature trees. While the first-order theory of FT is well understood, only few decidability results are known for the first-order theory of FT? We introduce a new method for proving the decidability of fragments of the first-order theory of FT? This method is based on reduction to second order monadic logic that is decidable according to Rabin's famous tree theorem. The method applies to any fragment of the first-order theory of FT? for which one can change the model towards sufficiently labeled feature trees? a class of trees that we introduce. As we show, the first order-theory of ordering constraints over sufficiently labeled feature trees is equivalent to second-order monadic logic (S2S for infinite and WS2S for finite feature trees). We apply our method for proving that entailment of FT? with existential quantifiers ? 1? x1? xn? 2 is decidable. Previous results were restricted to entailment without existential quantifiers which can be solved in cubic time. Meanwhile, entailment with existential quantifiers has been shown to be PSPACE-complete (for finite and infinite feature trees, respectively).