Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fenamates stimulate BKCa channel osteoblast-like MG-63 cells activity in the human.

BACKGROUND The fenamates, a family of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are derivatives of N-phenylanthranilic acid, are the inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase. The ionic mechanism of actions of these compounds in osteoblasts is not well understood. METHODS The effects of the fenamates on ionic currents were investigated in a human osteoblast-like cell line (MG-63) with the aid of the whole-cell and inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique. RESULTS In MG-63 cells, niflumic acid and meclofenamic acid increased K+ outward currents (IK). The niflumic acid-stimulated IK was reversed by subsequent application of iberiotoxin or paxilline, yet not by that of glibenclamide or apamin. In the inside-out configuration, niflumic acid (30 micromol/L) added to the bath did not modify single-channel conductance but increased the activity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels. The EC50 values for niflumic acid- and meclofenamic acid-induced channel activity were 22 and 24 micromol/L, respectively. Niflumic acid (30 micromol/L) and meclofenamic acid (30 micromol/L) shifted the activation curve of BKCa channels to less positive membrane potentials. Membrane stretch potentiated niflumic acid-stimulated channel activity. The rank order of potency for the activation of BKCa channels in these cells was niflumic acid = meclofenamic acid > tolfenamic acid > flufenamic acid > nimesulide. Evans blue and nordihydroguaiaretic acid increased channel activity; however, indomethacin, piroxicam, and NS-398 had no effect on it. CONCLUSIONS The fenamates can stimulate BKCa channel activity in a manner that seems to be independent of the action of these drugs on the prostaglandin pathway. The activation of the BKCa channel may hyperpolarize the osteoblast, thereby modulating osteoblastic function.
Novel Formulations for Antimicrobial Peptides

Peptides in general hold much promise as a major ingredient in novel supramolecular assemblies. They may become essential in vaccine design, antimicrobial chemotherapy, cancer immunotherapy, food preservation, organs transplants, design of novel materials for dentistry, formulations against diabetes and other important strategical applications. This review discusses how novel formulations may improve the therapeutic index of antimicrobial peptides by protecting their activity and improving their bioavailability. The diversity of novel formulations using lipids, liposomes, nanoparticles, polymers, micelles, etc., within the limits of nanotechnology may also provide novel applications going beyond antimicrobial chemotherapy.
The challenge of HIV-1 subtype diversity.

HIV-1 has evolved multiple mechanisms to elude immune control. The view of virus as classifiable into distinct subtypes needs to reflect the reality of the constant emergence of new strains. This review discusses the implications of subtype diversity in HIV-1 for possible differential rates of disease progression, responses to antiretroviral therapy (including the development of resistance), and vaccine development.
Copper in diseases and treatments, and copper‐based anticancer strategies

Copper is found in all living organisms and is a crucial trace element in redox chemistry, growth and development. It is important for the function of several enzymes and proteins involved in energy metabolism, respiration, and DNA synthesis, notably cytochrome oxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate oxidase, and tyrosinase. The major functions of copper—biological molecules involve oxidation–reduction reactions in which they react directly with molecular oxygen to produce free radicals. Therefore, copper requires tightly regulated homeostatic mechanisms to ensure adequate supplies without any toxic effects. Overload or deficiency of copper is associated, respectively, with Wilson disease (WD) and Menkes disease (MD), which are of genetic origin. Researches on Menkes and Wilson disorders have provided useful insights in the field of copper homeostasis and in particular into the understanding of intracellular trafficking and distribution of copper at molecular levels. Therapies based on metal supplementation with copper histidine or removal of copper excess by means of specific copper chelators are currently effective in treating MD and WD, respectively. Copper chelation therapy is now attracting much attention for the investigation and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer, Parkinson and CreutzfeldtJakob. An excess of copper appears to be an essential co‐factor for angiogenesis. Moreover, elevated levels of copper have been found in many types of human cancers, including prostate, breast, colon, lung, and brain. On these basis, the employment of copper chelators has been reported to be of therapeutic value in the treatment of several types of cancers as anti‐angiogenic molecules. More recently, mixtures of copper chelators with copper salts have been found to act as efficient proteasome inhibitors and apoptosis inducers, specifically in cancer cells. Moreover, following the worldwide success of platinum(II) compounds in cancer chemotherapy, several families of individual copper complexes have been studied as potential antitumor agents. These investigations, revealing the occurrence of mechanisms of action quite different from platinum drugs, head toward the development of new anticancer metallodrugs with improved specificity and decreased toxic side effects. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 30, No. 4, 708–749, 2010
Prolonged Cutaneous Analgesia With Transdermal Application of Amitriptyline and Capsaicin

Background and Objectives: Capsaicin selectively binds to TRPV1, the vanilloid subtype 1 of the superfamily of transient receptor potential ion channels, which is highly expressed in pain-transmitting C fibers. Recent reports have demonstrated that the coadministration of capsaicin with a local anesthetic (LA) at the rat sciatic nerve elicits a prolonged nociceptive-selective nerve block, suggesting that activation of the TRPV1 receptor may allow LAs to enter the nerve through the TRPV1 pore. In previous studies, we demonstrated that transdermal amitriptyline achieves clinical analgesic effects and is more potent than lidocaine. Here we examine whether the combined application of amitriptyline and capsaicin as a transdermal patch will produce prolonged cutaneous analgesia compared with amitriptyline alone. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (weights 250-300 g) were assigned to five treatment groups (n = 6-8 per group). Transdermal patches containing amitriptyline with different concentrations of capsaicin were applied for 3 hrs to rats' shaved backs: 2.5% amitriptyline alone (control group) and in combination with 0.05%, 0.15%, 1%, and 8% capsaicin. Behavioral testing for cutaneous nociception was conducted before drug application and after patch removal using the cutaneous trunci muscle reflex. In addition, skin appearance was assessed to determine irritation by these formulations. Results: The cutaneous analgesic effect is significantly prolonged when amitriptyline is applied in combination with 8% capsaicin. Amitriptyline alone provided a complete block to pinprick for 4.5 hrs, and the time to full recovery was 96 hrs. Amitriptyline with 8% capsaicin produced a complete block to pinprick for 6 to 9 hrs, and the time to full recovery was 216 hrs (P = 0.002). Amitriptyline alone causes toxic effects in skin, whereas the higher the concentration of capsaicin, the less skin irritation was noted, and the combination of amitriptyline 2.5% with capsaicin 8% caused no adverse skin reactions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the combined application of amitriptyline and capsaicin results in prolonged cutaneous analgesia compared with amitriptyline alone, suggesting that the activation of the TRPV1 channel by capsaicin facilitates the passage of amitriptyline into nociceptors. This transdermal patch achieves far longer cutaneous analgesia than currently available patch applications such as EMLA cream. The mechanism that underlies the lesser skin irritation noted when amitriptyline is combined with higher doses of capsaicin compared with amitriptyline alone is unclear and may be related to a counteraction of amitriptyline-induced vasoconstriction.
A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people

Background: There is no single generally accepted clinical definition of frailty. Previously developed tools to assess frailty that have been shown to be predictive of death or need for entry into an institutional facility have not gained acceptance among practising clinicians. We aimed to develop a tool that would be both predictive and easy to use. Methods: We developed the 7-point Clinical Frailty Scale and applied it and other established tools that measure frailty to 2305 elderly patients who participated in the second stage of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA). We followed this cohort prospectively; after 5 years, we determined the ability of the Clinical Frailty Scale to predict death or need for institutional care, and correlated the results with those obtained from other established tools. Results: The CSHA Clinical Frailty Scale was highly correlated (r = 0.80) with the Frailty Index. Each 1-category increment of our scale significantly increased the medium-term risks of death (21.2% within about 70 mo, 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.5%–30.6%) and entry into an institution (23.9%, 95% CI 8.8%–41.2%) in multivariable models that adjusted for age, sex and education. Analyses of receiver operating characteristic curves showed that our Clinical Frailty Scale performed better than measures of cognition, function or comorbidity in assessing risk for death (area under the curve 0.77 for 18-month and 0.70 for 70-month mortality). Interpretation: Frailty is a valid and clinically important construct that is recognizable by physicians. Clinical judgments about frailty can yield useful predictive information.
Solid dispersion as a formulation strategy: A mini review

Oral route has been the most preferred route for administration of drug. However, in recent years majority of new drug candidates exhibit poor aqueous solubility for oral administration and hence pose a challenge for the formulation scientist [1]. Dissolution and/or permeation across the gastrointestinal membrane are the rate limiting step for oral absorption of drugs. Majority of the drugs belong to Class II of Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS). For these drugs, dissolution is the sole rate limiting step in oral absorption [2]. The current review lightens the advantages of the solid dispersion and discusses the production techniques, types of solid dispersion, and methods to choose a suitable carrier. Also, the common characterization techniques are explained. This mini review would help the readers understand the overall concept of solid dispersion as a drug delivery system.
Preserved Visual Imagery and Categorization in a Case of Associative Visual Agnosia

A patient with associative visual agnosia secondary to a penetrating bitemporooccipital lesion remained able to draw complex objects from memory but could not subsequently recognize his sketches. His retained ability to copy and draw briefly exposed objects indicates that this is not a problem of visual perception. On tasks of categorization, mental imagery, drawing, and object decision, he demonstrates many instances of preserved visual semantic memories and imagery despite a sense of unfamiliarity with the visual stimuli. We infer a preserved ability to derive internal visual images from semantic memory. Cues may help him visualize the named object, which then serves as a model for comparison with the actual stimulus. However, his adequate visual perception and mental visual imagery, even when assisted by cues, are still insufficient to correct fully his difficulty in recognizing objects. Unique to his case is an inability to match the representation of stimulus objects with his intact internal image of the same object. Deficient lateral inhibition between neural representations of similar objects may be responsible.
Structural boundary perception in popular music

The automatic extraction of musical structure from audio is an important aspect for many music information retrieval (MIR) systems. The criteria on which structural elements in music are defined in MIR systems is often not clearly stated but typically stem from (music) theoretical or signal-based properties. In many cases, however, perceptual-based criteria are the most relevant and systems need to be trained on or modeled after the perception of structural elements in music. Here, we investigate the perception of structural boundaries to Western popular music and examine the musical cues responsible for their perception. We make links to music theoretical descriptions of structural boundaries and to computational methods for extracting structure. The methods and data presented here are useful for developing and training systems for the automatic extraction of musical structure as it is perceived by listeners.
An Update on Neurocognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia and Depression

Despite the considerable research that has been devoted to schizophrenia and depression over the last years, the understanding of the biological bases of these disabling disorders is still fragmentary. Adoption-, twin- and family studies, provide clear evidence of strong genetic components to these mental disorders, although multiple loci are likely to be involved. The effect of pharmacological intervention has hinted at specific neurotransmitter systems of etiological importance, but the lack of receptor specificity of therapeutic drugs have thwarted any simple linkage of behavioural and molecular phenotypes. More recently brain imaging investigations, like PET and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have identified candidate structural and functional abnormalities, including work in identifying changes in networks of brain regions, but these findings are still preliminary and need to be integrated with other accumulating knowledge.
Etiology of viral gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age in the United States, 2008-2009.

BACKGROUND Although rotavirus and norovirus cause nearly 40% of severe endemic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children <5 years of age in the United States, there are limited data on the etiologic role of other enteric viruses in this age group. METHODS We conducted active population-based surveillance in children presenting with AGE to hospitals, emergency departments, and primary care clinics in 3 US counties. Stool specimens from these children and from age-matched healthy controls collected between October 2008 and September 2009 were tested for enteric adenovirus, astrovirus, sapovirus, parechovirus, bocavirus, and aichivirus. Typing was performed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS Adenovirus, astrovirus, sapovirus, parechovirus, bocavirus, and aichivirus were detected in the stool specimens of 11.8%, 4.9%, 5.4%, 4.8%, 1.4%, and 0.2% of patients with AGE and 1.8%, 3.0%, 4.2%, 4.4%, 2.4%, and 0% of healthy controls, respectively. Adenovirus (type 41), astrovirus (types 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8), sapovirus (genogroups I and II), parechovirus (types 1, 3, 4, and 5), and bocavirus (types 1, 2, and 3) were found cocirculating. CONCLUSIONS Adenovirus, astrovirus, and sapovirus infections were detected in 22.1% of the specimens from children <5 years of age who had medical visits for AGE and tested negative for rotavirus and norovirus. No causal role for parechovirus and bocavirus was found.
Democratic data fusion for information retrieval mediators

Abstract: Our research presented in this paper concerns the problem of fusing the results returned by the underlying systems to a mediating retrieval system, also called meta-retrieval system, meta-search engine, or mediator. We propose a fusion technique which is based solely on the actual results returned by each system for each query. The final (fused)ordering of documents is derived by aggregating the orderings of each system in a democratic manner. In addition, the fused ordering s accompanied by a level of democracy (alternatively construed as the level of confidence). Our method does not require any prior knowledge about the underlying systems, therefore it is appropriate for environments where the underlying systems are heterogeneous and autonomous, thus our method s appropriate for the web.
Banking Sector in India: Challenges Ahead

Over the last three decades the role of banking in the process of financial intermediation has been undergoing a profound transformation, owing to changes in the global financial system. India’s banking system has seen some major financial innovations in the past decade as well as steps to promote financial inclusion, schemes that aim to take banking services to yet-to-be-banked areas. The various innovations in banking and financial sector are ECS, RTGS, EFT, NEFT, ATM, Retail Banking, Debit & Credit Cards, free advisory services, implementation of standing instructions of customers, payments of utility bills, fund transfers, internet banking, telephone banking, mobile banking, selling insurance products, issue of free cheque books, traveller’s cheques and many more value added services. The major impetus for financial innovation has been globalization of financial systems, deregulation, and great advances in technologies. In increasingly integrated financial systems facing higher volatilities, more competition and wide varieties of risks, financial innovation has become an essence to provide new products and strategies to better suit different circumstances of time and market and to meet different requirements of participants in financial system. This paper studies about financial innovation in banking in India. It also highlights the benefits and challenges of innovative banking trends. Banks boost, technology investment spending strongly to address revenue, cost and competitiveness concerns. The purpose of present study is to analyze such effects of innovation in banking on growth and development of India.
An Incremental Chan-Vese Model for Fast Medical Image Segmentation

Abstract Chan-Vese model is a powerful and flexible method for many fields of computer vision such as image segmentation. However, segmentation with this method involves a lot of iterations on the whole image region, which leads to a low calculating efficiency, especially for medical image segmentation. In this paper, a new incremental Chan-Vese model for fast image segmentation is presented. We define two concepts: signed member function and signed area, and then establish a progressive iterative formula for Chan-Vese model to calculate the average value of a whole image region during every iteration. Based on this incremental model, some fast evolution algorithms such as the narrowband method can be adopted to improve the efficiency of segmentation. This model is applied to segmentation of 3D medical images, and experiments confirm its high performance, which makes classical Chan-Vese model more practical.
Combining the interaction styles to display complex data in decision-making system

kristina.lapin@mif.vu. lt, olga.rakovskaja@mif.vu. lt ABSTRACT Analyzing the large amount of complex data is becoming increasingly difficult. This problem impels the interface designers to search for the methods to display such data in a usable way. Combining human computer interaction styles with information visualization techniques provides some solutions. Displaying the relevant data in appropriate level of abstraction can be a good interface design solution. The most important data is focused when the others are accessible but presented in a higher level of abstraction. Presenting the same data in a different manner when multiple views are used also can give good results. The combination of techniques and styles benefits the analyst’ decision-making process.
Bacillus krulwichiae sp. nov., a halotolerant obligate alkaliphile that utilizes benzoate and m-hydroxybenzoate.

Obligate alkaliphilic strains, AM31D(T) and AM11D, that utilize benzoate and m-hydroxybenzoate were isolated from soil obtained from Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. The isolates grew at pH 8-10, but not at neutral pH. They were Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, straight rods with peritrichous flagella and produced ellipsoidal spores. The isolates reduced nitrate to nitrite and grew in 0-14 % NaCl, but not in higher concentrations. The major isoprenoid quinones were menaquinone-5, -6 and -7, and the cellular fatty acid profile consisted of significant amounts of 15-C branched-chain acids, isoC(15 : 0) and anteisoC(15 : 0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain AM31D(T) was a member of group 6 (alkaliphiles) in the genus Bacillus. DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a low relatedness of the isolates with several phylogenetically close neighbours, including Bacillus alcalophilus and Bacillus pseudalcaliphilus (less than 19.3 %). Based on phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic data and DNA-DNA relatedness data, it was concluded that these isolates merited classification as a new species, for which the name Bacillus krulwichiae is proposed. The type strain of this species is AM31D(T) (=NCIMB 13904(T)=JCM 11691(T)=IAM 15000(T)).
Solid-oxide fuel cells for unconventional oil and gas production

This dissertation presents a novel, cost− effective, environmentally sustainable method for converting United States’ vast oil shale reserves into crude oil. Geothermic Fuel Cells (GFC) are designed for in-situ oil-shale processing. When implemented, the GFC is placed underground within an oil-shale formation; the heat released by the high-temperature solid oxide fuel cells within the GFC during electricity generation is used to upgrade oil shale into sweet crude oil. The world’s first Geothermic Fuel Cell prototypes were designed and built by Delphi Powertrain Systems; their performance was characterized at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center (Golden, CO, USA). Following indoor, laboratory operation and validation of two GFC modules, three multi-stack modules were assembled into a nine-stack GFC that was integrated with a natural gas fuel processor and ancillary components, and operated underground within the geology at the Colorado School of Mines campus. Extensive experimental data collected during GFC testing was used to calibrate a steadystate system model in Aspen Plus to predict the GFC stacks’ electrochemical performance and the heat-rejection from the module. Following model validation, further simulations are performed for different values of current, fuel and air utilization to study their influence on system electrical and heating performance. The model is used to explore a wider range of operating conditions than can be experimentally tested, and provides insight into competing physical processes during Geothermic Fuel Cell operation. Results show that the operating conditions can be tuned to generate desired heat-flux conditions as needed across applications. A maximum combined-heat-and-power-efficiency of 90% is recorded in the parametric study. Using simulation data from the GFC model, a continuous, non-convex nonlinear multi-objective optimization model is developed in AMPL to optimize the design and dispatch of a single GFC heater well. The optimization model seeks to maximize the system heating and electrical efficiencies while minimizing costs. The optimal design and dispatch