Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cholesterol is the major component of native lipoproteins activating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases

Abstract Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels induce activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a stress-activated protein kinase potentially participating in the development of atherosclerosis. The nature of the lipoprotein components inducing p38 MAPK activation has remained unclear however. We show here that both LDLs and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) have the ability to stimulate the p38 MAPKs with potencies that correlate with their cholesterol content. Cholesterol solubilized in methyl-β-cyclodextrin was sufficient to activate the p38 MAPK pathway. Liposomes made of phosphatidylcholine (PC) or sphingomyelin, the two main phospholipids found in lipoproteins, were unable to stimulate the p38 MAPKs. In contrast, PC liposomes loaded with cholesterol potently activated this pathway. Reducing the cholesterol content of LDL particles lowered their ability to activate the p38 MAPKs. Cell lines representative of the three main cell types found in blood vessels (endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts) all activated their p38 MAPK pathway in response to LDLs or cholesterol-loaded PC liposomes. These results indicate that elevated cholesterol content in lipoproteins, as seen in hypercholesterolemia, favors the activation of the stress-activated p38 MAPK pathway in cells from the vessel wall, an event that might contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Minimum mean-squared error transform coding and subband coding

Knowledge of the power spectrum of a stationary random sequence can be used for quantizing the signal efficiently and with minimum mean-squared error. A multichannel filter is used to transform the random sequence into an intermediate set of variables that are quantized using independent scalar quantizers, and then inverse-filtered, producing a quantized version of the original sequence. Equal word-length and optimal word-length quantization at high bit rates is considered. An analytical solution for the filter that minimizes the mean-squared quantization error is obtained in terms of its singular value decomposition. The performance is characterized by a set of invariants termed second-order modes, which are derived from the eigenvalue decomposition of the matrix-valued power spectrum. A more general rank-reduced model is used for decreasing distortion by introducing bias. The results are specialized to the case when the vector-valued time series is obtained from a scalar random sequence, which gives rise to a filter bank model for quantization. The asymptotic performance of such a subband coder is derived and shown to coincide with the asymptotic bound for transform coding. Quantization employing a single scalar pre- and postfilter, traditional transform coding using a square linear transformation, and subband coding in filter banks, arise as special cases of the structure analyzed here.
Enhanced expression of the decoy receptor IL-13Ralpha2 in macrophages of Schistosoma japonicum-infected mice.

BACKGROUND Type 2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 and its decoy receptor, IL-13 receptor (R) alpha2 appear to play a major role in tissue fibrosis of schistosomiasis and asthma. IL-13 is a key regulator of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is known to signal to cells by binding to the IL-13Ralpha1, which then heterodimerizes with IL-4Ralpha. In contrast, IL-13Ralpha2 binds IL-13 with high affinity but does not signal. IL-13Ralpha2 is known to down-regulate granulomatous inflammation and prolong host survival in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection, but little is known about the location and expression level of IL-13Ralpha2 in the context of S. japonicum infection. METHODS We established S. japonicum-infected mouse models. Kinetic serum levels of IL-13Ralpha2 were examined with ELISA. IL-13Ralpha2 mRNA and protein of liver tissues were determined by PCR and immunoblotting analysis, respectively. Detection of IL-13Ralpha2 expression and location in macrophages was performed by TaqMan PCR and fluorescent immunocytochemistry technique, respectively. RESULTS A marked elevation of mRNA and protein expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was observed in mice during S. japonicum infection. An enhanced expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was further demonstrated in primary macrophages of murine schistosomiasis. CONCLUSIONS IL-13Ralpha2 in macrophages may be a critical contributor to pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. The data highlight the potential importance of cell signaling and antifibrotic gene therapeutics in T helper 2 cell (Th2)-mediated diseases.
Cardiac output and organ blood flow in warm- and cold-acclimated rats exposed to cold.

Cold acclimation increased the cardiac output of unanesthetized rats when measured at 30 °C. After exposure to 9 °C for 70 min cardiac output further increased by 46% in both warm- and cold-acclimated rats. From the changes in the fractional distribution of cardiac output after cold exposure it was shown that the blood flow increased significantly in muscular organs (heart, diaphragm, skeletal muscles) and in the adrenals of warm-acclimated rats. In cold-acclimated rats the blood flow to the brown and white adipose tissues, pancreas, kidney, intestine, liver, and other internal organs was also increased in a cold environment, and accounted for 65% of the increase in blood flow during exposure to cold compared with only 36% in warm-acclimated rats. It is estimated that the extramuscular thermogenesis can account for a greater proportion of the total nonshivering thermogenesis in cold-acclimated rats. The contribution of brown adipose tissue is estimated not to exceed about 6% of the total heat production i.
A meta-analysis of the variables related to job satisfaction among Korean nurses

Background: The shortage of nursing workforce has been a critical and global issue and associated with job satisfaction. Objectives: To evaluate the strength of the relationships between job satisfaction and organizational commitment, job stress, and turnover intention among Korean nurses. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; Korean Education & Research Information Service, KISS, DB pia, PubMed, and CINAHL databases were searched. The meta-analysis software package, R program (version 3.0.1), was used. Results: Thirty-eight of 1245 screened studies had appropriate data. The overall relationships were high and significant, and increased organizational commitment (WES = .62), decreased turnover intention (WES = −.47), and decreased job stress (WES = −.37) were associated with job satisfaction. Conclusion: The strongest relationship was identified between organizational commitment and job satisfaction. These findings have important implications for improving organizational commitment to increase job satisfaction among nurses.
MRI‐guided focused ultrasound surgery in the brain: Tests in a primate model

MRI‐guided focused ultrasound was tested in the brains of rhesus monkeys. Locations up to 4.8 cm deep were targeted. Focal heating was observed in all cases with MRI‐derived temperature imaging. Subthreshold heating was observed at the focus when the ultrasound beam was targeted with low power sonications, and in the ultrasound beam path during high‐power exposures. Lethal temperature values and histologically confirmed tissue damage were confined to the focal zone (e.g., not in the ultrasound beam path), except when the focus was close to the bone. In that case, damage to the neighboring brain tissue was observed. Focal lesions were observed on histological examination and, in some cases, in MR images acquired immediately after the ultrasound exposures. The capabilities demonstrated in this study will be of benefit for clinical ultrasound therapies in the brain. Magn Reson Med 49:1188–1191, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multi-site optical excitation using ChR2 and micro-LED array

Studying neuronal processes such as synaptic summation, dendritic physiology and neural network dynamics requires complex spatiotemporal control over neuronal activities. The recent development of neural photosensitization tools, such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), offers new opportunities for non-invasive, flexible and cell-specific neuronal stimulation. Previously, complex spatiotemporal control of photosensitized neurons has been limited by the lack of appropriate optical devices which can provide 2D stimulation with sufficient irradiance. Here we present a simple and powerful solution that is based on an array of high-power micro light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) that can generate arbitrary optical excitation patterns on a neuronal sample with micrometre and millisecond resolution. We first describe the design and fabrication of the system and characterize its capabilities. We then demonstrate its capacity to elicit precise electrophysiological responses in cultured and slice neurons expressing ChR2.
Echocardiographic mitral valve prolapse in cavalier King Charles spaniels: epidemiology and prognostic significance for regurgitation

This study investigated the epidemiology and prognostic significance of mitral valve prolapse, detected by ultrasonography, in 153 cavalier King Charles spaniels which were screened consecutively during a period of one year. Seventy-five of the dogs, which had either no murmur or a grade I murmur on screening, were reexamined three years later. The screening revealed that 82 per cent of the dogs aged one to three years and 97 per cent of the dogs over three years had various degrees of mitral valve prolapse. The presence and severity of the condition were independent of gender but correlated positively with age and negatively with bodyweight. The degree of mitral valve prolapse at screening correlated with the regurgitation status (murmur intensity and size of the regurgitant jets) at re-examination and with the percentage increase in the left ventricular end diastolic diameter over the three-year period. The presence of a grade I murmur was not a useful prognostic indicator.
Prophylactic treatment for severe haemophilia: comparison of an intermediate‐dose to a high‐dose regimen

Summary. A multicentre study was performed in Sweden and the Netherlands, comparing effects of two prophylactic regimens in 128 patients with severe haemophilia, born 1970–90. 42 Swedish patients (high‐dose prophylaxis), were compared with 86 Dutch patients (intermediate‐dose prophylaxis). Patients were evaluated at the date of their last radiological score according to Pettersson. Annual clotting factor consumption and bleeding frequency were registered for a period of three years before evaluation. Patients in the high‐dose group were younger at evaluation (median 15.2 vs. 17.9 years), started prophylaxis earlier (median 2 vs. 5 years), and used 2.19 times more clotting factor kg−1 year−1. Patients treated with high‐dose prophylaxis had fewer joint bleeds (median 0.3 year−1 vs. 3.3 year−1) and the proportion of patients without arthropathy as measured by the Pettersson score was higher (69% vs. 32%), however, the age‐adjusted difference in scores (median 0 points vs. 4 points) was small and at present not statistically significant. Clinical scores and quality of life were similar. These findings suggest that, compared with intermediate‐dose prophylaxis, high‐dose prophylaxis significantly increases treatment costs and reduces joint bleeds over a period of 3 years, but only slightly reduces arthropathy after 17 years of follow‐up.
The estimation of the proportion of patients cured after treatment for cancer of the breast.

The results of an investigation into the use of theoretical models for estimating the proportion, “c”, of patients cured after treatment for carcinoma of the breast are presented. The difficulties of using a lognormal or an exponential model are discussed, and it is suggested that a better method of estimating “c” is to assume that the probability of dying from cancer decreases exponentially with increasing time after treatment. The “Extrapolated Actuarial” model, based on this assumption, is shown to be a good fit to some known survival data having a 20-year follow up, and at the same time the computations involved in its application are relatively simple. Full details are given of the method of calculation.
Fluid Shear Stress Induces Less Calcium Response in a Single Primary Osteocyte Than in a Single Osteoblast: Implication of Different Focal Adhesion Formation

The immediate calcium response to fluid shear stress was compared between osteocytes and osteoblasts on glass using real‐time calcium imaging. The osteoblasts were responsive to fluid shear stress of up to 2.4 Pa, whereas the osteocytes were not. The difference in flow‐induced calcium may be related to differences in focal adhesion formation.
Predictive Value of Ischemic Lesion Volume Assessed With Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Neurological Deficits and Functional Outcome Poststroke: A Critical Review of the Literature

Objective. Ischemic lesion volume is assumed to be an important predictor of poststroke neurological deficits and functional outcome. This critical review examines the methodological quality of MRI studies and the predictive value of hemispheric infarct volume for neurological deficits (at body function level) and functional outcome (at activities level). Methods. Using Medline, PiCarta, and Embase to identify studies, 13 of the 747 identified studies met the authors’ inclusion criteria. Subsequently, studies were tested for adherence to the key methodological criteria for internal, statistical, and external validity. Each criterion was weighted binary, and studies with 6 points or more were judged to be valid for assessing the predictive value of MRI for outcome. Results. The 13 included studies had several methodological weaknesses with respect to internal validity, and none of them took lesion location into account. Only a few used outcome measures according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and followed patients beyond 6 months. Correlation coefficients between MRI lesion volume and outcomes were higher for outcomes defined at body function level (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; median 0.67; range: 0.57-0.91) than for those defined at the level of activities (Barthel Index; median -0.49; range: -0.33 to -0.74). Conclusions. Methodological shortcomings of most studies confound the prognostic value of MRI in predicting stroke outcome, and few studies have focused on functional outcome. Future studies should investigate the added value of MRI volume over clinical neurological variables in predicting functional outcome beyond 6 months poststroke.
Sulfate Reduction and Methanogenesis in the Sediment of a Saltmarsh on the East Coast of the United Kingdom

The rates of sulfate reduction, methanogenesis, and methane loss were measured in saltmarsh sediment at monthly intervals. In addition, dissolved methane and sulfate concentrations together with pS and pH were determined. Methane formation from carbon dioxide, but not from acetate, was detected within the same horizon of sediment where sulfate reduction was most active. Sulfate reduction was about three orders of magnitude greater than annual methanogenesis. The two processes were not separated either spatially or temporally, but occurred within the same layer of sediment at the same time of the year. Their coexistence did not seem to be the result of sulfate-depleted microenvironments within which methanogenesis could occur, but the methanogenic bacteria persisted at very low rates of activity within the same environment as the sulfate reducers.
Microbial succession in response to 1,4-dioxane exposure in activated sludge reactors: Effect of inoculum source and extra carbon addition

Bacterial community succession related to 1,4-dioxane exposure was investigated in two different activated sludge-inoculated reactors (municipal wastewater and dye industrial wastewater sludge), with or without additional carbon source, for 7 weeks. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that microbial succession varied according to the inoculum sludge sources and the presence or absence of the extra carbon source. In the reactor inoculated with the municipal sludge, bacterial species belonging to α - and γ -Proteobacteria and Nitrospira class were dominant over time. On the other hand, bacterial species showing significant homology to β -Proteobacteria (e.g., Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1) and Actinobacteria class, who have been reported to have 1,4-dioxane degradation potential, were found in the industrial sludge-inoculated reactors. The appearance of these bacteria demonstrates that the microbial community structure of the inoculum and the presence of an extra carbon source affect the microbial succession in the system exposed to 1,4-dioxane.
Interspecies variation in phase I metabolism of bufalin in hepatic microsomes from mouse, rat, dog, minipig, monkey, and human

Abstract 1. Bufalin (BF), one of the major bioactive compounds in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Chansu, has been found with various pharmacological and toxicological effects. This study aims to investigate the species differences in phase I metabolism of BF in hepatic microsomes from human and five common experimental animals. 2. Metabolite profiling demonstrated that two major metabolites were formed in liver microsomes from human and animal species in NADPH-generating system. Two major metabolites were identified as 5β-hydroxyl-bufalin and 3-keto-bufalin, with the help of authentic standards. CYP3A was assigned as the main isoform involved in both 5β-hydroxylation and 3-oxidation in all studied liver microsomes. The apparent kinetic parameters including substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency for 5β-hydroxylation and 3-oxidation of BF were also determined. 3. In summary, CYP3A mediated 5β-hydroxylation and 3-oxidation were two major metabolic pathways of BF in hepatic microsomes from human and five studied animals, but kinetic analysis demonstrated that the intrinsic clearances of these two metabolic pathways were much different among various species. The qualitative and quantitative interspecies study indicated that minipig exhibited the similar metabolic profile, kinetic behaviors and intrinsic metabolic clearances of BF phase I biotransformation in comparison with that of human.
A 75.1dB SNDR 840MS/s CT ΔΣ modulator with 30MHz bandwidth and 46.4fJ/conv FOM in 55nm CMOS

This paper presents a 30MHz bandwidth continuous-time (CT) ΔΣ modulator with direct resistor feed-forward and fast excess loop delay (ELD) compensation method to enhance the loop stability. Moreover, the proposed design incorporates analog DAC background calibration and offset calibration for fully dynamic latch comparator. The modulator achieves 77.1dB DR and 75.1dB SNDR in 30MHz bandwidth, while occupying 0.071mm2 in 55nm CMOS and achieving a FoM (Power/(2BW·2ENOB)) of 46.4fJ/conv.
A randomized, controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation upon musculoskeletal health in postmenarchal females.

CONTEXT There has been a resurgence of vitamin D deficiency rickets throughout the developed world, with infants and adolescents being primarily affected. Adolescence is a crucial period for muscle and bone mineral accumulation. OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the adolescent musculoskeletal system. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a community-based, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in a secondary school. PARTICIPANTS Postmenarchal 12- to 14-yr-old females participated in the trial. Ninety-nine were screened, 73 were included in randomized controlled trial, and 69 completed the trial. There were no adverse events. INTERVENTION Four doses of 150,000 IU vitamin D(2) (ergocalciferol) were given over 1 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, and jumping mechanography were used. RESULTS At follow-up, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status was 56.0 ± 8.9 nmol/liter in the intervention group and 15.8 ± 6.6 nmol/liter in controls. There were no effects of supplementation on bone; however, for muscle function, efficiency of movement improved in the vitamin D-treated group. There was an interaction between baseline 25(OH)D concentration and response to vitamin D supplementation for muscle jump velocity. CONCLUSIONS Despite improvements in 25(OH)D status, treatment with vitamin D(2) was not shown to increase mineral accretion, bone geometry or strength, muscle force, or power. There were greater increases in jump velocity in girls with the lowest baseline 25(OH)D concentrations. Lack of effect of intervention after the period of peak mineral and muscle mass accretion suggests that earlier action is required.
A neuronal fiber tracking study for major depressive disorder using MR diffusion tensor imaging with fiber tractography

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) had been proved to be a powerful tool to investigate the white matter integrity and visualize the neuronal axons in vivo. Most of the DTI-based studies mainly used the region-of-interest approach to investigate the abnormalities in areas of white matter tracts involved in mood regulation for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we explored the structure of the fiber connections in whole-brain white matter for both major depressive patients and healthy subjects based on the DTI tractography. With the automatic anatomical labeling (AAL) process, each individual brain can be partitioned into ninety regions in normalized space so that the number of the connected fibers and histograms of the fiber lengths between any paired regions can be estimated. Twenty-three MDD patients and twenty-four age and gender-matched normal subjects were recruited. Our results concluded that: 1) the numbers of connected fibers revealed significant increase (pvalue ≪ 0.005) in the MDD group compared with the normal group in mood-regulation related region pairs consisting of right superior frontal gyrus to right pallidum, right putamen to right precuneus, left pallidum to left precuneus, left superior parietal gyrus to right superior occipital gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus to right middle temporal gyrus, and both side lingual gyrus to both side superior temporal gyrus. Only two region pairs manifested significant decrease (p-value ≪ 0.005) in patient group, which were right insula to right superior temporal gyrus, and right precuneus to right inferior temporal gyrus; 2) the distributions of the connected fiber lengths for the detected region pairs with the increasing or decreasing fibers in MDD group were between 10 to 30 mm.
A lateral-axis tuning fork gyroscope with combined sensing capacitors and decoupled comb drive

In this paper, a bulk micromachined lateral-axis TFG (tuning fork gyroscope) with improved architecture and combined mechanism sensing capacitors is reported. The combined sensing capacitors make the TFG have high sensitivity and good linearity even under wide input range and fabrication imperfection. Moreover, the decoupled comb drive, together with the improved architecture, can efficiently decouple the mode coupling. At atmospheric pressure, the TFG has a sensitivity of 0.1126mV/°/s even with unity gain. The nonlinearity is 0.7% with an input range of up to 1000°/s.