Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulation and inhibition of resting muscle thermogenesis by vasoconstrictors in perfused rat hind limb.

Angiotensin (AII) and serotonin (5-HT) are both vasoconstrictors of the constant-flow perfused rat hind limb that have opposite effects on thermogenesis, possibly the result of differing effects on vascular flow distribution between nutritive and non-nutritive pathways. In the present study interaction between the two opposing agents was examined with the expectation that the combined presence would show additive effects on pressure and mutually neutralizing effects on thermogenesis. Thus doses of AII and 5-HT that gave similar, but opposite, quantitative effects on thermogenesis were infused alone, in combination one after the other, or in combination with the order reversed, and the effects on perfusion pressure (PP) and thermogenesis (oxygen uptake, VO2) were compared. AII (3 nM) alone increased PP by 15+/-1 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.3 Pa) and VO2 by 3.1-/+0.2 micromol.h(-1). g(-1), whereas 5-HT (1 microM) alone increased PP by 75+/-6 mmHg and inhibited VO2 by 3.9+/-0.2 micromol.h(-1). g(-1). When added in combination, the outcome depended on the order of addition. Following AII, infusion of 5-HT further increased PP by 160+/-11 mmHg and decreased VO2 by 6.3+/-0.2 micromol.h(-1)g(-1). Following 5-HT, infusion of AII further increased PP by 28+/-4 mmHg and increased VO2 by only 1.8+/-0.3 micromol.h(-1). g(-1). The prior presence of 5-HT (1 microM) shifted the AII dose-response curves for VO2 and pressure to the right and left, respectively. The prior infusion of AII increased the dose-dependent response to 5-HT in terms of both the inhibition of VO2 and the increase in PP. At low doses of 5-HT (10(-8)-10(-7) M), but not alpha-methyl serotonin (alphaMT), there was a marked vasodilatation-associated inhibition of AII-mediated increase in VO2. Overall the data show that the combined effect of AII and 5-HT differed from the simple addition of each separately. Since the order of addition appears to be critical in terms of thermogenic outcome, it is concluded that each vasoconstrictor exerts a specific hemodynamic action to affect access of the other to vascular receptor sites. These findings are consistent with the previously reported effects of these vasoconstrictors on substrate and insulin access to muscle of the perfused rat hind limb.
Biodegradation of thiocyanate by a novel strain of Burkholderia phytofirmans from soil contaminated by gold mine tailings

A novel B. phytofirmans strain with the capacity to degrade thiocyanate was isolated from pH approximately 6·5 soil contaminated by effluent from gold mine tailings. This Burkholderia strain uses thiocyanate as its sole nitrogen source and can grow on acetate as a sole carbon source in a minimal medium. While biodegradation of thiocyanate has been reported to occur within alkaline environments (e.g. soda lakes and wastewater from coking plants), this work presents the first observation of thiocyanate degradation by Burkholderia at pH <9·0. Our findings therefore inform remediation strategies for thiocyanate contamination in nonalkaline soils and waters impacted by gold‐mining activities.
A MEMS device with sub-nanometer displacement sensing using carbon nanotubes

In this work we present, for the first time, an on-chip sub-nanometer displacement sensing scheme. The sensing is achieved using integrated single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as the sensing element. A novel fabrication process was used to suspend SWCNTs in a micro electromechanical (MEMS) device and integrate them onto special MEMS stretching devices, which was used to apply controlled nanoscale stretching to the SWCNTs while monitoring their electrical resistivity. Experimental results show that the SWCNTs resistance significantly changed under sub-nanometer stretching, thus demonstrating the realization of an ultra-sensitive MEMS displacement sensor.
Isolation of a Germline-Transmissible Embryonic Stem (ES) Cell Line from C3H/He Mice

Abstract We have isolated three embryonic stem (ES) cell lines from C3H/He mice using mouse STO cells as a feeder layer. One ES cell line (H-1) was male, and two (H-2 and H-3) were female, as determined by polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and karyotype analyses. All were immunocytochemically reactive with a C3H strain-specific antibody. Injection of cells from the female ES H-3 line into C57BL/6 blastocysts yielded four chimeras with slight coat color chimerism. All chimeras were male, and as expected, no germline-transmission was observed. By contrast, when male ES H-1 cells were injected into the perivitelline space of 8-cell C57BL/6 embryos, one male mouse with overt coat color chimerism was recovered, and it produced ES H-1-derived offspring exclusively. This germline-transmissible C3H/He cell line represents a novel addition to those ES lines currently employed for gene manipulation studies of development.
Efficacy and safety of combined oral therapy with tadalafil and alfuzosin: an integrated approach to the management of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction. Preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION Alpha1-blockers (AB) are the first-line monotherapy for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). Numerous studies have supposed a significant association between ED and LUTS, but a causal relationship cannot be established. AIM The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a combined therapy with an AB (alfuzosin) and PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil) in patients with LUTS and ED. METHODS This was a randomized, open-label, three-arm study. A total of 66 men complaining of ED and LUTS were included in the study. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of study treatment, and then underwent randomized allocation to either alfuzosin 10 mg once a day (22 patients) or tadalafil 20 mg on alternative days (21 patients), or a combination of both (23 patients). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All participants completed the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) and the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS). Other efficacy variables included maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and medium urinary flow rate (Qave). RESULTS IIEF-EF tended to improve with alfuzosin alone (+15%), while it was clearly improved with tadalafil alone (+36.3%). The greatest improvement was experienced with the combination therapy (+37.6%). Improvement in Qmax was observed in all groups, but patients receiving combination therapy had greater improvement (29.6%) than patients receiving either only alfuzosin (21.7%) or only tadalafil (9.5%). IPSS was significantly improved in alfuzosin group (27.2%), was more marked with the combination therapy (41.6%), and a small increase, although not significant, was also observed with tadalafil (8.4%). CONCLUSIONS Combined therapy improved ED and LUTS as demonstrated by the significant improvement in uroflowmetry measures and in IPSS and IIEF-EF scores. A significant improvement was also observed in quality of life assessments. The beneficial effects of tadalafil on LUTS similar to the benefits of alfuzosin on ED, although present, were smaller.
Synthesis, Antidepressant Evaluation and Docking Studies of Long‐Chain Alkylnitroquipazines as Serotonin Transporter Inhibitors

Twelve alkyl analogues (1–12) of the high‐affinity serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitor 6‐nitroquipazine (6‐NQ) were synthesized and studied using in vitro radioligand competition binding assays to determine their binding affinity (Ki). The putative antidepressant activity of five of the binders with the highest SERT binding affinities was studied by the forced swim and locomotor activity mouse tests. The three‐dimensional (3D) structures of 8 and 9 were determined using NOE NMR technique. Flexible docking of the compounds was undertaken to illustrate the binding of the compounds in the SERT model. Our results showed that several of the 6‐NQ analogues are high‐affinity SERT inhibitors and indicated that the octyl (8), decyl (10) and dodecyl (12) 6‐NQ analogues exhibit moderate antidepressant activity.
Neurologic Risk Management in Scoliosis Surgery

Paraplegia resulting from the operative treatment of scoliosis is the complication most feared by surgeon and patient (5,26,31,50). Less devastating neurologic complications, including incomplete spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve injury, can also occur. Theoretically, the frequency of neurologic complications increases with more aggressive corrective techniques (50). Neurologic injury stemming from surgical treatment of scoliosis can be direct or indirect. The implications of such complications are profound, and prevention is paramount. The purpose of this paper is to review minimization of risk in scoliosis surgery. In addition, we review techniques for dealing with neurologic compromise and stress the need to maintain adequate communication with the patient and family.
Spatial Dynamics of an Age-Structured Population Model of Asian Clams

Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) is one of the most important nonnative aquatic invasive species in the freshwater ecosystem of North America, rapidly spreading in lakes, canals, streams, and rivers. This species has remarkably distinct mobility patterns in different phases of its life cycle. We formulate a novel mathematical model, in the form of nonlocal delayed partial differential equations, to calculate and characterize the invasion speed, and show that the invasion speed coincides with the minimal speed of traveling wave fronts.
Validity of Predictive Equations for Resting Energy Expenditure Developed for Obese Patients: Impact of Body Composition Method

Predictive equations have been specifically developed for obese patients to estimate resting energy expenditure (REE). Body composition (BC) assessment is needed for some of these equations. We assessed the impact of BC methods on the accuracy of specific predictive equations developed in obese patients. REE was measured (mREE) by indirect calorimetry and BC assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). mREE, percentages of prediction accuracy (±10% of mREE) were compared. Predictive equations were studied in 2588 obese patients. Mean mREE was 1788 ± 6.3 kcal/24 h. Only the Müller (BIA) and Harris & Benedict (HB) equations provided REE with no difference from mREE. The Huang, Müller, Horie-Waitzberg, and HB formulas provided a higher accurate prediction (>60% of cases). The use of BIA provided better predictions of REE than DXA for the Huang and Müller equations. Inversely, the Horie-Waitzberg and Lazzer formulas provided a higher accuracy using DXA. Accuracy decreased when applied to patients with BMI ≥ 40, except for the Horie-Waitzberg and Lazzer (DXA) formulas. Müller equations based on BIA provided a marked improvement of REE prediction accuracy than equations not based on BC. The interest of BC to improve REE predictive equations accuracy in obese patients should be confirmed.
Genomic scan for alcohol craving in Mission Indians

Alcohol dependence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Native Americans, yet etiologic factors contributing to the disorder remain obscure. Complex psychiatric disorders may be influenced by a number of genes that may be difficult to detect because each has a small effect on a disorder that is broadly defined within a social context. However, such genes might be detected if they have a major effect on a more narrowly defined phenotype. Underlying alcohol dependence are appetitive drive states or instincts that lead to drug ‘craving’, contribute to compulsive drug usage, and influence relapse following abstinence. A whole genome scan in Mission Indian families provides evidence for genetic linkage to ‘craving for alcohol’ on chromosome 5. Identification of genes contributing to alcohol craving may give clues to the etiology of the disorder and also provide targets for the development of new medications to treat alcohol dependence.
Climbing‐fibre activation of NMDA receptors in Purkinje cells of adult mice

Among principal neurons, adult Purkinje cells have long been considered unusual in lacking functional NMDA receptors. This view has emerged largely from studies on rats, where NMDA receptors are expressed in Purkinje cells of newborn animals, but are lost after 2 weeks. By contrast, immunolabelling data have shown that Purkinje cells from adult mice express multiple NMDA receptor subunits, suggesting a possible species difference. To investigate the presence of functional NMDA receptors in Purkinje cells of mice, and to explore the contribution of different receptor subunits, we made whole‐cell and single‐channel patch‐clamp recordings from Purkinje cells of wild‐type and NR2D−/− mice of different ages. Here we report that multiple NMDA receptor subtypes are indeed expressed in Purkinje cells of young and adult mice; in the adult, both NR2A‐ and NR2B‐containing subtypes are present. Furthermore, we show that NMDA receptor‐mediated EPSCs can be evoked by climbing fibre stimulation, and appear to be mediated mainly by NR2A‐containing receptors.
OmpT Outer Membrane Proteases of Enterohemorrhagic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Contribute Differently to the Degradation of Human LL-37

ABSTRACT Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) are food-borne pathogens that cause serious diarrheal diseases. To colonize the human intestine, these pathogens must overcome innate immune defenses such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Bacterial pathogens have evolved various mechanisms to resist killing by AMPs, including proteolytic degradation of AMPs. To examine the ability of the EHEC and EPEC OmpT outer membrane (OM) proteases to degrade α-helical AMPs, ompT deletion mutants were generated. Determination of MICs of various AMPs revealed that both mutant strains are more susceptible than their wild-type counterparts to α-helical AMPs, although to different extents. Time course assays monitoring the degradation of LL-37 and C18G showed that EHEC cells degraded both AMPs faster than EPEC cells in an OmpT-dependent manner. Mass spectrometry analyses of proteolytic fragments showed that EHEC OmpT cleaves LL-37 at dibasic sites. The superior protection provided by EHEC OmpT compared to EPEC OmpT against α-helical AMPs was due to higher expression of the ompT gene and, in turn, higher levels of the OmpT protein in EHEC. Fusion of the EPEC ompT promoter to the EHEC ompT open reading frame resulted in decreased OmpT expression, indicating that transcriptional regulation of ompT is different in EHEC and EPEC. We hypothesize that the different contributions of EHEC and EPEC OmpT to the degradation and inactivation of LL-37 may be due to their adaptation to their respective niches within the host, the colon and small intestine, respectively, where the environmental cues and abundance of AMPs are different.
Expression of Inducible and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthases, Formation of Peroxynitrite and Reactive Oxygen Species in Human Chronic Renal Transplant Failure

Nitric oxide (NO·) is produced by NO synthases (NOS) and can interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS) to form peroxynitrite, which induces protein damage by formation of nitrotyrosine. NO· has a promotional effect on acute rejection. To investigate the role of NO· during chronic renal transplant failure (CRTF), we studied the expression of eNOS and iNOS in conjunction with H2O2 production and the formation of nitrotyrosines.
Glycyrrhizic Acid Promotes M1 Macrophage Polarization in Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Associated with the Activation of JNK and NF-κB

The roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza species (licorice) have been widely used as natural sweeteners and herbal medicines. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) from licorice on macrophage polarization. Both phenotypic and functional activities of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) treated by GA were assessed. Our results showed that GA obviously increased the cell surface expression of CD80, CD86, and MHCII molecules. Meanwhile, GA upregulated the expression of CCR7 and the production of TNF-α, IL-12, IL-6, and NO (the markers of classically activated (M1) macrophages), whereas it downregulated the expression of MR, Ym1, and Arg1 (the markers of alternatively activated (M2) macrophage). The functional tests showed that GA dramatically enhanced the uptake of FITC-dextran and E. coli K88 by BMDMs and decreased the intracellular survival of E. coli K88 and S. typhimurium. Moreover, we demonstrated that JNK and NF-κB activation are required for GA-induced NO and M1-related cytokines production, while ERK1/2 pathway exhibits a regulatory effect via induction of IL-10. Together, these findings indicated that GA promoted polarization of M1 macrophages and enhanced its phagocytosis and bactericidal capacity. The results expanded our knowledge about the role of GA in macrophage polarization.
Regional Cerebral Perfusion in PLEDs: A Case Report

Summary: [123I]N,N,N‐trimethyl ‐N'‐(2 hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐5‐123I‐iodobenzyl)‐1,3‐propane‐diamine 2HCl single‐photon‐emission computed tomography (HIPDM‐SPECT) brain imaging in one patient with periodic later‐alized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) on the EEG demonstrated increased regional cerebral perfusion in the PLEDs focus suggesting that PLEDs are the manifestation of abnormally enhanced neuronal activities. This may explain the frequent association of mental confusion, focal neurologic signs, and occurrence of seizures in association with PLEDs.
Generalized Additive and Generalized Linear Modeling for Children Diseases

This paper is necessarily restricted to application of Generalised Linear Models(GLM) and Generalised Additive Models(GAM), and is intended to provide readers with some measure of the power of these mathematical tools for modeling Health/Illness data systems. We are all aware that illness, in general and children illness, in particular is amongst the most serious socio-economic and demographic problems in developing countries, and they have great impact on future development. In this paper we focus on some frequently occurring diseases among children under fourteen years of age, using data collected from various hospitals of Jammu district from 2011 to 2016.The success of any policy or health care intervention depends on a correct understanding of the socio economic environmental and cultural factors that determine the occurrence of diseases and deaths. Until recently, any morbidity information available was derived from clinics and hospitals. Information on the incidence of diseases, obtained from hospitals represents only a small proportion of the illness, because many cases do not seek medical attention . Thus, the hospital records may not be appropriate from estimating the incidence of diseases from programme developments. The use of DHS data in the understanding of the childhood morbidity has expanded rapidly in recent years. However, few attempts have been made to address explicitly the problems of non linear effects on metric covariates in the interpretation of results . This study shows how the GAM model can be adapted to extent the analysis of GLM to provide an explanation of non linear relationship of the covariate. Incorporation of non linear terms in the model improves the estimates in the terms of goodness of fit. The GLM model is explicitly specified by giving symbolic description of the linear predictor and a description of the error distribution and the GAM model is fit using the local scoring algorithm, which iteratively fits weighted additive models by back fitting. The back fitting algorithm is a Gauss-Seidel method of fitting additive models by the iteratively smoothing partial residuals. The algorithm separates the parametric from the non parametric parts of the fit, and fits the parametric part using weighted linear least squares within the back fitting algorithm.
Design of a leucine zipper coiled coil stabilized 1.4 kcal mol−1 by phosphorylation of a serine in the e position

Using a dimeric bZIP protein, we have designed a leucine zipper that becomes more stable after a serine in the e position is phosphorylated by protein kinase A (δδGP = ‐1.4 kcal mol−1 dimer−1 or ‐0.7 kcal mol−1 residue−1). Mutagenesis studies indicate that three arginines form a network of inter‐helical (i, i' + 5; i, i' + 2) and intra‐helical (i, i + 4) attractive interactions with the phosphorylated serine. When the arginines are replaced with lysines, the stabilizing effect of serine phosphorylation is reduced (δδGP = ‐0.5 kcal mol−1 dimer−1). The hydrophobic interface of the leucine zipper needs a glycine in the d position to obtain an increase in stability after phosphorylation. The phosphorylated protein binds DNA with a 15‐fold higher affinity. Using a transient transfection assay, we document a PKA dependent four‐fold activation of a reporter gene. Phosphorylation of a threonine in the same e position decreases the stability by δδGP = + 1.2 kcal mol−1 dimer−1. We present circular dichroism (CD) thermal denaturations of 15 bZIP proteins before and after phosphorylation. These data provide insights into the structural determinants that result in stabilization of a coiled coil by phosphorylation.
Ethnic bias in anthropometric estimates of DXA abdominal fat: the TIGER study.

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine the race/ethnicity bias of using waist circumference (WC) to estimate abdominal fat. METHODS A total of 771 females and 484 males (17-35 yr) were tested one to three times during a prescribed 30-wk aerobic exercise program. The race/ethnicity distribution for women was non-Hispanic white, 29%; Hispanic, 25%; African American (AA), 35%; Asian Indian, 3%; and Asian, 8%. The distribution for men was non-Hispanic white, 37%; Hispanic, 26%; AA, 22%; Asian Indian, 5%; and Asian, 10%. Abdominal fat (L1-L5) was estimated from whole-body scanning using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA Abd-Fat). RESULTS DXA Abd-Fat varied by race/ethnicity after accounting for WC and height in both women and men. The increase in DXA Abd-Fat per increase in WC was lower in the Asian and Asian-Indian women than that in the other women. The increase in DXA Abd-Fat per increase in WC was higher in the AA men and lower in the Asian-Indian men than that in the other men. These differential race/ethnicity effects were most notable when WC exceeded ≍90 cm in the women and ≍100 cm in the men, values which are consistent with current definitions of abdominal obesity in the United States. CONCLUSIONS Prediction equations for abdominal fat using WC that do not account for race/ethnicity group provide biased estimates. These results may affect assessment of disease risk from abdominal obesity among racial/ethnic groups.
Methods and apparatus for microwave thermotherapy based on slow-wave systems

One of the perspective directions of slow wave systems usage is possibility of their implementation in biology and medicine as antennas and radiators for radio-frequency and microwave physical therapy, a radiothermy and a tomography, sensitive elements for medical diagnostics, devices for sterilization and heat treatment. Advantages of slow wave systems usage in biology and medicine are based on electrodynamic and design features of structures which follow from distribution of an electromagnetic field near their surfaces. Here we are looking for features for usage of slow wave systems on area with high value of dielectric permeability, in particular to biofabrics, and also the problems related to creation of electrodes for intracavitary microwave physical therapy on slow wave systems with primary concentration of electric field in biofabrics, adjacent to electrode surface. In this article the results of modeling microwave radiator on the basis of a ribbed coaxial line were received using Ansoft HFSS v.12 and CST Microwave Studio 2011 software.