Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological Blockade of TRPM8 Ion Channels Alters Cold and Cold Pain Responses in Mice

TRPM8 (Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin-8) is a cold- and menthol-gated ion channel necessary for the detection of cold temperatures in the mammalian peripheral nervous system. Functioning TRPM8 channels are required for behavioral responses to innocuous cool, noxious cold, injury-evoked cold hypersensitivity, cooling-mediated analgesia, and thermoregulation. Because of these various roles, the ability to pharmacologically manipulate TRPM8 function to alter the excitability of cold-sensing neurons may have broad impact clinically. Here we examined a novel compound, PBMC (1-phenylethyl-4-(benzyloxy)-3-methoxybenzyl(2-aminoethyl)carbamate) which robustly and selectively inhibited TRPM8 channels in vitro with sub-nanomolar affinity, as determined by calcium microfluorimetry and electrophysiology. The actions of PBMC were selective for TRPM8, with no functional effects observed for the sensory ion channels TRPV1 and TRPA1. PBMC altered TRPM8 gating by shifting the voltage-dependence of menthol-evoked currents towards positive membrane potentials. When administered systemically to mice, PBMC treatment produced a dose-dependent hypothermia in wildtype animals while TRPM8-knockout mice remained unaffected. This hypothermic response was reduced at lower doses, whereas responses to evaporative cooling were still significantly attenuated. Lastly, systemic PBMC also diminished cold hypersensitivity in inflammatory and nerve-injury pain models, but was ineffective against oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic cold hypersensitivity, despite our findings that TRPM8 is required for the cold-related symptoms of this pathology. Thus PBMC is an attractive compound that serves as a template for the formulation of highly specific and potent TRPM8 antagonists that will have utility both in vitro and in vivo.
Structure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite Produced by Hot Pressing Technique

The objective of this experimental investigation is to produce a metallic matrix hybrid composite using pure aluminum as a base material reinforced with stainless steel and copper wires with different volume fraction. Hot pressing technique of laminated layers of the different constituent was used under various conditions of applied pressure, temperature, andholding time. These parameters deeply control the rate of solid state diffusion that governs the fiber / matrix interface and consequently the final mechanical properties of the obtained composites. Microstructure examination and microanalysis were carried out using scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, moreover tensilemechanical properties were determined in each case. Thin continuous and uniform inetrdiffusion zone with optimum mechanical properties under a compaction pressure of 210 MPa at 590 oC for 120 minutes. Moreover fracture micromechanics during incremental monotonic loading proved that the outer plies are subjected to failure at the beginning of damage and then propagation through the inner plies takes place till complete failure.
Effect of an Early Switch to Belatacept Among Calcineurin Inhibitor–Intolerant Graft Recipients of Kidneys From Extended‐Criteria Donors

Transplant recipients receiving a kidney from an extended‐criteria donor (ECD) are exposed to calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity, as demonstrated by severe delayed graft function and/or a low GFR. Belatacept is a nonnephrotoxic drug that is indicated as an alternative to CNIs. We reported 25 cases of conversion from a CNI to belatacept due to CNI intolerance within the first 6 mo after transplantation. The mean age of the recipients was 59 years, and 24 of 25 patients received ECD kidneys. At the date of the medication switch, 12 of 25 patients displayed a calculated GFR (cGFR) <15 mL/min, six patients remained on dialysis, and the biopsies showed evidence of acute tubular damage associated with severe vascular or tubulointerstitial chronic lesions. Three patients did not recover renal function, and three patients died during the follow‐up period. Among the remaining patients, renal function improved: The cGFR was 18.28 ± 12.3 mL/min before the medication switch compared with 34.9 ± 14.5 mL/min at 1 year after conversion to belatacept (p = 0.002). Tolerance of and compliance with belatacept were good, and only one patient experienced acute rejection. Belatacept is an effective therapy that preserves renal function in kidney transplant patients who are intolerant of CNIs.
Block Recovery Rate-Based Unequal Error Protection for Three-Screen TV

This paper describes a three-screen television system using a block recovery rate (BRR)-based unequal error protection (UEP). The proposed in-home wireless network uses scalable video coding (SVC) and UEP with forward error correction (FEC) for maximizing the quality of service (QoS) over error-prone wireless networks. For efficient FEC packet assignment, this paper proposes a simple and efficient performance metric, a BRR which is defined as a recovery rate of temporal and quality layer from FEC assignment by analyzing the hierarchical prediction structure including the current packet loss. It also explains the SVC layer switching scheme according to network conditions such as packet loss rate (PLR) and available bandwidth (ABW). In the experiments conducted, gains in video quality with the proposed UEP scheme vary from 1 to 3 dB in Y-peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) with corresponding subjective video quality improvements.
Low Leakage Cell for Ternary Content Addressable Memory: A Tutorial and Review

Ternary Content addressable Memory (TCAM) has been an emerging technology for packet forwarding in Network Router. New architecture innovations are reducing power and leakage in TCAM. Beside power, leakages also constitute a major part in TCAM performance. In this paper we review various schemes for low leakage TCAM. The circuits have been implemented in 0.35-μm CMOS technology. The minimum power supply is 1.5 V and the maximum supply current is 11.5 μA for a temperature range of 25C to 30°C.
A wholly empirical explanation of perceived motion

Because the retinal activity generated by a moving object cannot specify which of an infinite number of possible physical displacements underlies the stimulus, its real-world cause is necessarily uncertain. How, then, do observers respond successfully to sequences of images whose provenance is ambiguous? Here we explore the hypothesis that the visual system solves this problem by a probabilistic strategy in which perceived motion is generated entirely according to the relative frequency of occurrence of the physical sources of the stimulus. The merits of this concept were tested by comparing the directions and speeds of moving lines reported by subjects to the values determined by the probability distribution of all the possible physical displacements underlying the stimulus. The velocities reported by observers in a variety of stimulus contexts can be accounted for in this way.
Functional requirement of dicer1 and miR‐17‐5p in reactive astrocyte proliferation after spinal cord injury in the mouse

Reactive astrogliosis after spinal cord injury (SCI) contributes to glial scar formation that impedes axonal regeneration. The mechanisms underlying reactive astrocyte proliferation upon injury remain partially understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as a major class of post‐transcriptional gene expression regulators that participate in many biological processes. However, miRNA function during reactive astrogliosis, particularly in injury‐induced astrocyte proliferation, has not been carefully examined. In this study, we conditionally deleted Dicer1 gene encoding an enzyme that is required for mature miRNA generation, and examined the proliferative behavior of Dicer1‐null reactive astrocytes in the transected mouse spinal cord. We found that injury‐induced proliferation is blocked in Dicer1‐null astrocytes. Previous reports indicate that miR‐17‐5p family members are upregulated during SCI. We therefore tested functional contribution of miR‐17‐5p to the proliferation of reactive astrocytes in vitro. Our results showed that a synthetic miR‐17‐5p mimic is able to rescue the proliferation defect of Dicer1‐null astrocytes, while an antisense inhibitor of miR‐17‐5p blocked lipopolysaccharide‐induced astrocytic proliferation. Similar results are also observed in leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)‐treated astroglial cultures suggesting that miR‐17‐5p particularly modulates reactive astrocyte proliferation initiated by LIF presumably via the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, overexpression of miR‐17‐5p leads to decrease of several cell cycle regulators in cultured astroglia and astrocytoma cell line C6. Our conclusion is that miRNAs are indispensable to the injury‐induced reactive astrocyte proliferation, and that miR‐17‐5p may be a major player regulating this pathological process by affecting cell cycle machinery. GLIA 2014
Zen meditation: an integration of current evidence.

OBJECTIVE Despite the growing interest in the neurobiological and clinical correlates of many meditative practices, in particular mindfulness meditations, no review has specifically focused on current evidence on electroencephalographic, neuroimaging, biological, and clinical evidence about an important traditional practice, Zen meditation. METHODS A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, the ISI Web of Knowledge, the Cochrane collaboration database, and references of selected articles. Randomized controlled and cross-sectional studies with controls published in English prior to May 2008 were included. RESULTS Electroencephalographic studies on Zen meditation found increased alpha and theta activity, generally related to relaxation, in many brain regions, including the frontal cortex. Theta activity in particular seemed to be related to the degree of experience, being greater in expert practitioners and advanced masters. Moreover, Zen meditation practice could protect from cognitive decline usually associated with age and enhance antioxidant activity. From a clinical point of view, Zen meditation was found to reduce stress and blood pressure, and be efficacious for a variety of conditions, as suggested by positive findings in therapists and musicians. CONCLUSION To date, actual evidence about Zen meditation is scarce and highlights the necessity of further investigations. Comparison with further active treatments, explanation of possible mechanisms of action, and the limitations of current evidence are discussed.
Co-segregation of Huntington Disease and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia in 4 Generations

IntroductionHuntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by choreic hyperkinesias, cognitive decline, and psychiatric manifestations, caused by an increased number of CAG repeats in the IT15 gene on chromosome 4p16.3. Silver syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant form of complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia, characterized by lower limb spasticity in addition to amyotrophy of the small muscles of the hands. In addition to the previously identified locus SPG17 on chromosome 11q12-q14, a new locus (SPG38) on chromosome 4p16-p15 has been recently identified, a region that includes the HD gene. Report of the CasesWe present a Greek family with 5 members diagnosed with HD in 4 generations. All affected members also presented with clinical features of Silver syndrome showing severe spastic paraplegia and prominent atrophy of all small hand muscles bilaterally. None of the other family members showed features of either HD or spastic paraplegia. ConclusionsThe reported coexistence of Silver syndrome with HD in 4 generations is not fortuitous, suggesting that these 2 distinct genetic disorders are in linkage disequilibrium. Although rare, it is reasonable to expect additional similar cases. Clinical neurologists should perhaps investigate this possibility in cases combining features of HD and involvement of the upper and lower motor neurons.
Finding patterns in labeled graphs using spectrum feature vectors in a SOM network

Knowledge discovery in structured databases is very important nowadays. In the last years, graph-based data mining algorithms have used artificial neural networks as tools to support clustering. Several of these algorithms have obtained promising results, but they show expensive computational costs. In this work we introduce an algorithm for clustering graphs based on a SOM network, which is part of a process for discovering useful frequent patterns in large graph databases. Our algorithm is able to handle non-directed, cyclic graphs with labels in vertices and edges. An important characteristic is that it presents polynomial computational complexity, because it uses as input a feature vector built with the spectra of the Laplacian of an adjacent matrix. Such matrix contains codes representing the labels in the graph, which preserves the semantic information included in the graphs to be grouped. We tested our algorithm in a small set of graphs and in a large structured database, finding that it creates meaningful groups of graphs.
Biogeochemical modelling of dissolved oxygen in a changing ocean

Secular decreases in dissolved oxygen concentration have been observed within the tropical oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) and at mid- to high latitudes over the last approximately 50 years. Earth system model projections indicate that a reduction in the oxygen inventory of the global ocean, termed ocean deoxygenation, is a likely consequence of on-going anthropogenic warming. Current models are, however, unable to consistently reproduce the observed trends and variability of recent decades, particularly within the established tropical OMZs. Here, we conduct a series of targeted hindcast model simulations using a state-of-the-art global ocean biogeochemistry model in order to explore and review biases in model distributions of oceanic oxygen. We show that the largest magnitude of uncertainty is entrained into ocean oxygen response patterns due to model parametrization of pCO2-sensitive C : N ratios in carbon fixation and imposed atmospheric forcing data. Inclusion of a pCO2-sensitive C : N ratio drives historical oxygen depletion within the ocean interior due to increased organic carbon export and subsequent remineralization. Atmospheric forcing is shown to influence simulated interannual variability in ocean oxygen, particularly due to differences in imposed variability of wind stress and heat fluxes. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Ocean ventilation and deoxygenation in a warming world’.
Phosphorylation-dependent kinase-substrate cross-linking.

Kinases catalyze protein phosphorylation to regulate signal transduction in a cell. Thus, the identification of substrates of a particular kinase is a fundamental step toward understanding the signaling cascades in normal and disease states. With over 500 known kinases and a paucity of tools available, the identification of genuine kinase substrates has been difficult. [1–7] New approaches to detect substrates are needed to fully characterize cell-signaling networks.
Renal Transplantation-Anaesthetic Experience of 350 Cases

Summary Transplantation provides a near normal life and excellent rehabilitation compared to dialysis and is the preferred method of treatment for end stage renal disease patients. We describe our experiences through a retrospective analysis of anaesthesia management of 350 cases of both living related and cadaveric renal transplantation conducted between Jan 2004 - April 2008 at Jaslok Hospital And Research Center. Areas of our interest include preoperative patient status, fluid management, hemodynamic stability, anaesthesia management, and perioperative complications. Recent advances in surgical techniques; anaesthesia management and immunosuppressive drugs have made renal transplantation sale and predictable. Preoperative patient optimization, intraoperative physiological stability and postoperative care of renal transplant patients have contributed to the success of renal transplant programme in our hospital.
Rapid purification of staphylococcal enterotoxin B by high-pressure liquid chromatography

The Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins represent a group of proteins that cause emesis and diarrhea in humans and other primates. We have developed a rapid two-step high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure for purification of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Sterile filtrates (2.5 liters) of strain 10-275 were adsorbed directly onto a reversed-phase column (50 mm by 30 cm Delta Pak; 300 A [30 nm], 15 microns, C18). SEB was obtained by using a unique sequential gradient system. First, an aqueous ammonium acetate to acetonitrile gradient followed by an aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) wash was used to remove contaminants. A subsequent TFA to acetonitrile-TFA gradient eluted the bound SEB. Further purification was obtained by rechromatography on a cation-exchange column. From 35 to 45% of the SEB in starting filtrates was recovered. Analysis by immunoblotting of samples separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels indicated that HPLC-purified SEB exhibited immunological and biochemical properties similar to those of the SEB standard. Induction of an emetic response in rhesus monkeys showed that the HPLC-purified toxin also retained biological activity.
Practice of Iranian Adolescents with Hemophilia in Prevention of Complications of Hemophilia

Background: Prerequisite for management of a chronic disease involves knowledge about its complications and their prevention. Hemophilia in adolescents influences all the aspects of their lives and thier performance. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the performance of Iranian hemophilic adolescents in prevention of disease complications. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 108 adolescents with hemophilia were selected through convenience sampling. Their performance in preventing the complications of hemophilia was evaluated by sending a semi-structured questionnaire to their addresses throughout Iran. Then, the data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (v. 13) and descriptive and interferential statistics were used. Results: Overall, 32.1% of the participants controlled bleeding during the 1st hour. Inaccessibility of coagulation products was mainly responsible for inhibiting timely and proper bleeding control. In order to relieve bleeding associated pain, only 39.0% of the adolescents used analgesics. On the other hand, 19.8% of the subjects used nonpharmacological methods to relieve pain. The majority of the adolescents did not participate in sport activities (65.4%) others allocated less than 5 hours a week to physical activities (70.5%). In addition, the participants did not have favorable dietary patterns, exercise habits, and dental care. The results showed a significant relationship between the adolescents’ preventive practice with coagulation disorders and utilization of pharmacological pain relief methods. Also, significant relationships were found between severity of the disease; participating in physical activities, number of hours of physical activities; and disease complications. Conclusions: Iranian adolescents did not exhibit favorable practices towards complication prevention.
Expression of heme oxygenase‐1 in eosinophilic and non‐eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: modulation by cytokines

Oxidative stress is characteristic of chronic airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 has been proposed to be a cytoprotective enzyme against oxidative stress in CRSwNP. However, the expression and regulation of HO‐1 in eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) and non‐eosinophilic CRSwNP (non‐ECRS) subsets has not been well documented.
A PSO-Based Fuzzy-Controlled Searching for the Optimal Charge Pattern of Li-Ion Batteries

This paper proposes a searching strategy based on particle swarm optimization, combined with a fuzzy-deduced fitness evaluator (FDFE), to find the optimal multistage charging pattern that delivers the most discharged capacity within the shortest charging time (CT). The objective function of the optimization problem is to maximize the cost effectiveness for the applied charging pattern based on the CT and normalized discharged capacity (NDC). Therefore, this paper proposes an FDFE to combine CT and NDC into a unified cost function to properly evaluate the multiple performance characteristics index in the charge problem. The experimental results show that the obtained pattern is capable of charging the batteries to over 88% capacity within 51 min. Compared with the conventional constant current-constant voltage method, the CT, the obtained life cycle, and the charging efficiency of the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery for the devised approach are improved by approximately 56.8%, 21%, and 0.4%, respectively. The presented charging approach is suitable for the increasingly applications, in which the batteries are “sealed” inside the products to extend the life span.
Species competition: coexistence, exclusion and clustering

We present properties of Lotka–Volterra equations describing ecological competition among a large number of interacting species. First we extend previous stability conditions to the case of a non-homogeneous niche space, i.e. that of a carrying capacity depending on the species trait. Second, we discuss mechanisms leading to species clustering and obtain an analytical solution for a state with a lumped species distribution for a specific instance of the system. We also discuss how realistic ecological interactions may result in different types of competition coefficients.
Social mobility, regression to the mean and the cognitive development of high ability children from disadvantaged homes

Summary. A gap in cognitive skill between richer and poorer children is evident from a very early age. Some studies have also suggested that highly able children from disadvantaged homes are overtaken by their rich but less able peers before the age of 10 years, in terms of their cognitive skill. This finding has become a widely cited ‘fact’ within the academic literature and has had a major influence on public policy and political debate. We show that this finding is vulnerable to a spurious statistical artefact known as regression to the mean and we propose the application of an alternative methodology to address this problem. After applying some simple adjustments for regression to the mean to data from the Millennium Cohort Study, we no longer find convincing evidence that able but disadvantaged pupils fall behind their more advantaged but less able peers.
Cardiac arrest following butane inhalation

Butane is a commonly misused volatile agent, and a cause of intoxication. We present a case, who had a syncope and persistent ventricular fibrillation during the course of resuscitation. We discussed the management of this case in the intensive care unit and the accompanying difficulties in the light of the current literature.
Soft water, heart attacks, and stroke.

HEART attacks and strokes are the major causes of death in the United States, as in most developed countries of the world. The search for factors that might be concerned with the causation of these diseases has been intense and has gone on for many years. Many elements have already been found to be closely associated with the risk of heart attacks or stroke, and examination of individuals or populations may reveal the presence of these "risk factors. " High blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus are well established as risk factors in cardiovascular disease. Obesity and lack of vigorous physical activity are certainly involved in determining who suffers and who does not. As if this list was not enough, there has been increasing evidence in the past 15 years of yet another factor that appears to play an important role in influencing cardiovascular disease: the