Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastrointestinal pH and Transit Time Profiling in Healthy Volunteers Using the IntelliCap System Confirms Ileo-Colonic Release of ColoPulse Tablets

Introduction ColoPulse tablets are an innovative development in the field of oral dosage forms characterized by a distal ileum and colon-specific release. Previous studies in humans showed release in the ileo-colonic region, but the relationship between gastrointestinal pH and release was not experimentally proven in vivo. This information will complete the in vivo release-profile of ColoPulse tablets. Materials and Methods Release from ColoPulse tablets was studied in 16 healthy volunteers using the dual label isotope strategy. To determine gastrointestinal pH profiles and transit times the IntelliCap system was used. A ColoPulse tablet containing 13C-urea and an uncoated, immediate release tablet containing 15N2-urea were taken simultaneously followed by a standardized breakfast after three hours. Five minutes after intake of the tablets the IntelliCap capsule was swallowed and pH was measured until excretion in the feces. Breath and urine samples were collected for isotope analysis. Results Full analysis could be performed in 12 subjects. Median bioavailability of 13C -urea was 82% (95% CI 74–94%, range 61–114%). The median lag time (5% release of 13C) was 5:42 h (95% CI 5:18–6:18 h, range 2:36–6:36 h,) There was no statistically significant difference between lag time based on isotope signal and colon arrival time (CAT) based on pH (median 5:42 vs 5:31 h p = 0.903). In all subjects an intestinal pH value of 7.0 was reached before release of 13C from the ColoPulse tablet occurred. Discussion and Conclusions From the combined data from the IntelliCap system and the 13C -isotope signal it can be concluded that release from a ColoPulse tablet in vivo is not related to transit times but occurs in the ileo-colonic region after pH 7.0 is reached. This supports our earlier findings and confirms that the ColoPulse system is a promising delivery system for targeting the distal ileum and colon. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry 18301880
Nonhomogeneous alveolar pressure swings in the presence of airway closure.

When thoracic gas volume (TGV) is determined plethysmographically, it is assumed that the alveolar pressure swings are homogeneous and are appropriately represented by pressure swings at the mouth. However, recent studies have demonstrated differences in total lung capacities derived from TGV measurements made at different levels in the vital capacity. These differences suggested that, in the presence of airway closure, alveolar pressure swings may be nonhomogeneous during a TGV determination. This possibility was tested in six dogs. Pressure at the airway opening (ao) was measured from an endotracheal catheter. A balloon-tipped catheter was passed into the right lower lobe (RLL) bronchus for measurement of RLL pressure. delta PRLL -- delta Pao was monitored during inspiratory efforts with the airway opening occluded. With the RLL balloon inflated, delta PRLL always exceeded delta Pao by an amount averaging 8.2%. Induction of a pneumothorax eliminated all differences between delta PRLL and delta Pao. Thus, during a TGV measurement, the chest wall may apply to the lungs nonhomogeneous forces that, in the presence of airway closure (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) would result in nonhomogeneous alveolar pressure swings and potentially significant errors in the plethysmographic determination of TGV.
Complementary Signaling through flt3 and Interleukin-7 Receptor α Is Indispensable for Fetal and Adult B Cell Genesis

Extensive studies of mice deficient in one or several cytokine receptors have failed to support an indispensable role of cytokines in development of multiple blood cell lineages. Whereas B1 B cells and Igs are sustained at normal levels throughout life of mice deficient in IL-7, IL-7Rα, common cytokine receptor gamma chain, or flt3 ligand (FL), we report here that adult mice double deficient in IL-7Rα and FL completely lack visible LNs, conventional IgM+ B cells, IgA+ plasma cells, and B1 cells, and consequently produce no Igs. All stages of committed B cell progenitors are undetectable in FL−/− × IL-7Rα−/− BM that also lacks expression of the B cell commitment factor Pax5 and its direct target genes. Furthermore, in contrast to IL-7Rα−/− mice, FL−/− × IL-7Rα−/− mice also lack mature B cells and detectable committed B cell progenitors during fetal development. Thus, signaling through the cytokine tyrosine kinase receptor flt3 and IL-7Rα are indispensable for fetal and adult B cell development.
Tachykinin regulation of cholinergic transmission in the limbic/prefrontal territory of the rat dorsal striatum: implication of new neurokinine 1‐sensitive receptor binding site and interaction with enkephalin/mu opioid receptor transmission

The tachykinin neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) regulation of acetylcholine release and its interaction with the enkephalin/mu opioid receptors (MORs) transmission was investigated in the limbic/prefrontal (PF) territory of the dorsal striatum. Using double immunohistochemistry, we first showed that in this territory, cholinergic interneurons contain tachykinin NK1Rs and co‐express MORs in the last part of the light period (afternoon). In slices of the striatal limbic/PF territory, following suppression of the dopaminergic inhibitory control of acetylcholine release, application of the tachykinin NK1R antagonist, SSR240600, markedly reduced the NMDA‐induced acetylcholine release in the morning but not in the afternoon when the enkephalin/MOR regulation is operational. In the afternoon, the NK1R antagonist response required the suppression of the enkephalin/MOR inhibitory control of acetylcholine release by βfunaltrexamine. The pharmacological profile of the tachykinin NK1R regulation tested by application of the receptor agonists [[Pro9]substance P, neurokinin A, neuropeptide K, and substance P(6–11)] and antagonists (SSR240600, GR205171, GR82334, and RP67580) indicated that the subtype of tachykinin NK1R implicated are the new NK1‐sensitive receptor binding site. Therefore, in the limbic/PF territory of the dorsal striatum, endogenous tachykinin facilitates acetylcholine release via a tachykinin NK1R subtype. In the afternoon, the tachykinin/NK1R and the enkephalin/MOR transmissions interact to control cholinergic transmission.
Language, Twitter and Academic Conferences

Using Twitter during academic conferences is a way of engaging and connecting an audience inherently multicultural by the nature of scientific collaboration. English is expected to be the lingua franca bridging the communication and integration between native speakers of different mother tongues. However, little research has been done to support this assumption. In this paper we analyzed how integrated language communities are by analyzing the scholars' tweets used in 26 Computer Science conferences over a time span of five years. We found that although English is the most popular language used to tweet during conferences, a significant proportion of people also tweet in other languages. In addition, people who tweet solely in English interact mostly within the same group (English monolinguals), while people who speak other languages interact more with different lingua groups. Finally, we also found higher interaction between people tweeting in different languages. These results suggest a relation between the number of languages a user speaks and their interaction dynamics in online communities.
Alpha‐2‐macroglobulin: A physiological guardian

Alpha macroglobulins are large glycoproteins which are present in the body fluids of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Alpha‐2‐macroglobulin (α2M), a key member of alpha macroglobulin superfamily, is a high‐molecular weight homotetrameric glycoprotein. α2M has many diversified and complex functions, but it is primarily known by its ability to inhibit a broad spectrum of proteases without the direct blockage of the protease active site. α2M is also known to be involved in the regulation, transport, and a host of other functions. For example, apart from inhibiting proteinases, it regulates binding of transferrin to its surface receptor, binds defensin and myelin basic protein, etc., binds several important cytokines, including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and modify their biological activity. α2M also binds a number of hormones and regulates their activity. α2M is said to protect the body against various infections, and hence, can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of a number of diseases. However, this multipurpose antiproteinse is not “fail safe” and could be damaged by reactive species generated endogenously or exogenously, leading to various pathophysiological conditions. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 1665–1675, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CEREBEL (EGF111438): A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label Study of Lapatinib Plus Capecitabine Versus Trastuzumab Plus Capecitabine in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE CEREBEL compared the incidence of CNS metastases as first site of relapse in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer receiving lapatinib-capecitabine or trastuzumab-capecitabine. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients without baseline CNS metastases were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive lapatinib-capecitabine (lapatinib 1,250 mg per day; capecitabine 2,000 mg/m(2) per day on days 1 to 14 every 21 days) or trastuzumab-capecitabine (trastuzumab loading dose of 8 mg/kg followed by an infusion of 6 mg/kg every 3 weeks; capecitabine 2,500 mg/m(2) per day on days 1 to 14 every 21 days). The primary end point was incidence of CNS metastases as first site of relapse. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS The study was terminated early with 540 enrolled patients (271 received lapatinib-capecitabine, and 269 received trastuzumab-capecitabine). Incidence of CNS metastases as first site of relapse was 3% (eight of 251 patients) for lapatinib-capecitabine and 5% (12 of 250 patients) for trastuzumab-capecitabine (treatment differences, -1.6%; 95% CI, -2% to 5%; P = .360). PFS and OS were longer with trastuzumab-capecitabine versus lapatinib-capecitabine (hazard ratio [HR] for PFS, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.64; HR for OS, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.64). Serious adverse events were reported in 13% (34 of 269 patients) and 17% (45 of 267 patients) of patients in the lapatinib-capecitabine and trastuzumab-capecitabine arms, respectively. CONCLUSION CEREBEL is inconclusive for the primary end point, and no difference was detected between lapatinb-capecitabine and trastuzumab-capecitabine for the incidence of CNS metastases. A better outcome was observed with trastuzumab-capecitabine in the overall population. However, lapatinib-capecitabine efficacy may have been affected by previous exposure to a trastuzumab regimen and/or when treatment was given as first- or second-line therapy in the metastatic setting.
How Optimal are Wireless Scheduling Protocols?

In wireless networks mutual interference impairs the quality of received signals and might even prevent the correct reception of messages. It is therefore of paramount importance to dispose of power control and scheduling algorithms, coordinating the transmission of communication requests. We propose a new measure disturbance in order to comprise the intrinsic difficulty of finding a short schedule for a problem instance. Previously known approaches suffer from extremely bad performance in certain network scenarios even if disturbance is low. To overcome this problem, we present a novel scheduling algorithm for which we give analytical worst-case guarantees on its performance. Compared to previously known solutions, the algorithm achieves a speed up, which can be exponential in the size of the network.
Diabetes: Risk Factor for Oral Cancer? - A Review

Globally, diseases such as diabetes and cancer have a severe impact on the health of people. Recent research has shown that diabetes is one of the contributing factors in the initiation and progression of certain cancers. In addition, certain drugs used for the treatment of diabetic patients may also have a role in cancer initiation, progression and mortality. Epidemiological studies have shown that diabetic patients are at a higher risk in case of common cancers such as pancreatic, liver, breast, colorectal, urinary tract, etc. This article will explore the relationship between diabetes and oral cancer, with its possible mechanisms of carcinogenesis.
Bridging Public Health and Education: Results of a School-Based Physical Activity Program to Increase Student Fitness

Objective: Power Up for 30 (PU30) is a schoolwide intervention that encourages schools to provide an additional 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day, beyond physical education. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of PU30 on Georgia public elementary schools and their students. Methods: A total of 719 of 1320 public elementary schools in Georgia that were sent a baseline survey about school physical activity during October 2013 to September 2014 completed the survey, 160 of which were asked to complete a second survey. In the interim (March to June 2015), half (80) of these schools implemented the PU30 program. The interim surveys, which were completed during March to June 2015, assessed opportunities for student physical activity and staff member professional development focused on student physical activity. Results: Compared with schools that had not implemented the program, more schools using the PU30 program reported offering before- and after-school physical activity programs. Forty-four of 78 (57%) PU30 schools compared with 20 of 53 (38%) non-PU30 schools offered before-school physical activity programs. Likewise, more PU30 schools than non-PU30 schools offered after-school physical activity programs (35% vs 16%), and a greater proportion of students at PU30 schools compared with non-PU30 schools met fitness benchmarks: recess 5 days per week (91% [288 of 323] vs 80% [273 of 341]), offering ≥11 minutes per day of classroom-based physical activity (39% [53 of 136] vs 25% [47 of 189] for kindergarten through second grade; 20% [37 of 187] vs 6% [9 of 152] for grades 3 through 5), and receiving physical activity–related professional development time (42% [136 of 323] vs 14% [48 of 341]). Conclusions: The surveys provided a statewide picture of the physical activity opportunities offered to students and staff members in Georgia elementary schools and demonstrated the effective use of a comprehensive, multicomponent program to offer more school-based physical activity opportunities and to improve student fitness.
Activation of Complement in the Central Nervous System

Abstract: The complement system is an essential effector of the humoral and cellular immunity involved in cytolysis and immune/inflammatory responses. Complement participates in host defense against pathogens by triggering the formation of the membrane attack complex. Complement opsonins (C1q, C3b, and iC3b) interact with surface complement receptors to promote phagocytosis, whereas complement anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a initiate local inflammatory responses that ultimately contribute to the protection and healing of the host. However, activation of complement to an inappropriate extent has been proposed to promote tissue injury. There is now compelling evidence that complement activation in the brain is a double‐edged sword in that it can exert beneficial or detrimental effects depending on the pathophysiological context. This review focuses on the roles of the complement system in the pathogenesis of acute brain injury (cerebral ischemia and trauma) and chronic neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease). Because many effects of the complement appear to promote neuronal survival and tissue remodeling, directing activation of the complement system in the brain may provide a better therapeutic rationale than inhibiting it.
Induction of Higher-Avidity Human CTLs by Vector-Mediated Enhanced Costimulation of Antigen-Presenting Cells

The efficacy of antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs depends not only on the quantity of CTLs generated but also perhaps, more importantly, on the avidity of the CTLs. To date, however, no strategy has been shown to preferentially induce higher-avidity human CTLs. In the present study, antigen-presenting cells (APC) generated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were infected with a recombinant avipox vector (rF-) containing the transgenes for a triad of costimulatory molecules (human B7.1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and LFA-3, designated as rF-TRICOM) and then used to elicit peptide-specific CTLs from autologous T cells. Compared with peptide-pulsed noninfected APCs or peptide-pulsed APCs infected with wild-type vector, peptide-pulsed APCs infected with rF-TRICOM induced not only more CTLs but also higher-avidity CTLs; this was shown by tetramer staining, tetramer dissociation, IFN-γ production, and cytolytic assays. Peptide-pulsed rF-TRICOM-infected dendritic cells were also shown to induce CTLs with a >10-fold higher avidity than CTLs induced using CD40L-matured dendritic cells; the use of peptide-pulsed CD40L-matured dendritic cells infected with rF-TRICOM as APCs induced CTLs of even greater avidity. To our knowledge, these studies are the first to show a methodology to induce higher-avidity human CTLs and have implications for the development of more efficient vaccines for a range of human cancers.
Register locking in an asynchronous microprocessor

A high-performance register bank is a central component of a RISC processor. A novel register bank design has been developed, as an integral part of a self-timed implementation of a commercial RISC microprocessor, to address the problem of register interlocking in an asynchronous micropipelined execution unit. The problem in an asynchronous design is to maintain coherent register operation while allowing concurrent read and write accesses with arbitrary timing. The solution presented here includes a novel arbiter-free locking mechanism which enables efficient read operations in the presence of multiple pending write operations. <<ETX>>
Analysis and Clustering of Workload in Google Cluster Trace Based on Resource Usage

Cloud computing has gained interest amongst commercial organizations, research communities, developers and other individuals during the past few years. In order to move ahead with research in field of data management and to enable processing of such data, we need benchmark datasets and freely available data which are publicly accessible. Google in May 2011 released a trace of a cluster of 11k machines referred as "Google Cluster Trace". This trace contains cell information of about 29 days. This paper provides analysis of resource usage and requirements in this trace and is an attempt to give an insight about such kind of production trace similar to the ones in cloud environment. The major contributions of this paper include statistical profile of jobs based on resource usage, clustering of workload patterns and classification of jobs into different types based on k-means clustering. Though there have been earlier works for analysis of this trace, but our analysis provides several new findings such as jobs in a production trace are trimodal and there occurs symmetry in the tasks within a long job type.
[Sentinel lymph node detection with lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative probe in malignant melanoma patients].

BACKGROUND The sentinel lymph node is the first node in a lymphatic basin to receive lymphatic drainage from a tumor site. If this node is free of tumor, then radical lymphadenectomy may be avoided. The goal of this study was to assess the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe in the sentinel node detection in patients with malignant melanoma. METHOD We prospectively studied 40 patients with malignant melanoma (24 in I/II stages and 16 in III stage). The day before surgery a lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-nanocolloid was performed and the first lymph node identified was considered as sentinel node. For intra-operative mapping a hand-held gamma probe was used. RESULTS Sentinel nodes were identified in 39/40 (97.5%) patients. In 24 patients with I/II stages 34 sentinel nodes were demonstrated (six positive and 28 negative for malignant melanoma). A total amount of 161 regional lymph nodes was harvested, all of them being negative for malignant melanoma. In 16 patients with III stage, 22 sentinel nodes were located (14 positive and eight negative for malignant melanoma). A total of 89 regional lymph nodes were excised in sentinel nodes positive patients (44 positive and 45 negative for malignant melanoma) and 36 lymph nodes in sentinel node negative, all of them negative for malignant melanoma. CONCLUSIONS In patients with malignant melanoma, lymphoscintigraphy with 99Tc-nanocolloid is useful for the detection of sentinel lymph node. Biopsy of this node is useful for the selection of patients to undertake a lymphadenectomy.
Temperament and Adjustment Relationship: Israeli and American Preschoolers.

ABSTRACT Forty caregivers in five child care centers in Israel and seven centers in the United States were asked to complete the Teacher Temperament Questionnaire about the children in their care. Total numbers of children participating were 108 Israeli children and 132 American children. Caregivers were first asked to describe an ideal child, and then to collect actual temperament ratings for children in the center. Caregivers also completed the Adjustment Ranking Scale to rank children on peer adjustment, adjustment to program, ard adjustment to adults. Crosscultural differences were found in the ideals held by caregivers, and in temperament adjustment relationships. In addition, reported actual temperaments of Llie children varied between the two groups and between genders. Data tables are provided. (PCB)
Challenge‐induced plasma exudation and mucinous secretion in human airways

Secretion of mucins and exudation of plasma are distinct processes of importance to innate immunity and inflammatory disease. Yet, little is known about their relation in human airways. The objective of the present study was to use the human nasal airway to determine mucinous secretion and plasma exudation in response to common challenge agents and mediators. Ten healthy volunteers were subjected to nasal challenge‐lavage procedures. Thus, the nasal mucosa was exposed to increasing doses of histamine (40 and 400 μg ml−1), methacholine (12·5 and 25 mg) and capsaicin (30 and 300 ng ml−1). Fucose was selected as a global marker of mucinous secretion and α2‐macroglobulin as an index of exudation of bulk plasma. All challenge agents increased the mucosal output of fucose to about the same level (P<0·01–0·05). Once significant secretion had been induced the subsequently increased dose of the challenge agent, in the case of histamine and methacholine, failed to further increase the response. Only histamine increased the mucosal output of α2‐macroglobulin (P<0·01). We conclude that prompt but potentially rapidly depleted mucinous secretion is common to different kinds of airway challenges, whereas inflammatory histamine‐type mediators are required to produce plasma exudation. Along with the acknowledged secretion of mucins, a practically non‐depletable, pluripotent mucosal output of plasma emerges as an important component of the innate immunity of human airways.