Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronological Changes in Electrolyte Levels in Arterial Blood and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Mice After Exposure to an Edemagenic Gas

Detection of acute lung injury is important if therapeutic medical countermeasures are to be used to reduce toxicity in a timely manner. Indicators of injury may aid in the eventual treatment course and enhance the odds of a positive outcome following a toxic exposure. This study was designed to investigate the effects of a toxic exposure to the industrial irritant gas phosgene on the electrolyte levels in arterial blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Phosgene is a well-known chemical intermediate capable of producing life-threatening pulmonary edema within hours after exposure. Four groups of 40 Crl:CD-1(ICR)BR male mice were exposed whole-body to either air or phosgene at a concentration × time (c × t) amount of 32-42 mg/m 3 (8-11 ppm) phosgene for 20 min (640-840 mg·min/m 3) . BALF from air- or phosgene-exposed mice was taken at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, or 72 h postexposure. After euthanasia, the trachea was excised, and 800 µl saline was instilled into the lungs. The lungs were washed 5 ×. Eighty microliters of BALF was placed in a cartridge and inserted into a clinical i-STAT analyzer. Na +, Cl -, K +, and ionized Ca 2+ were analyzed. Arterial blood electrolyte levels were also analyzed in four additional groups of air- or phosgene-exposed mice. The left lung was removed to determine wet weight (WW), an indicator of pulmonary edema. Na + was significantly higher in air than in phosgene-exposed mice at 4, 8, and 12 h postexposure. Temporal changes in BALF Cl - in phosgene mice were not statistically different from those in the air mice. Both Ca 2+ and K + were significantly higher than in the air-exposed mice over 72 h, p ≤ . 03 and p ≤ . 001 (two-way analysis of variance, ANOVA), respectively. Significant changes in BALF K + and Ca 2+ occurred as early as 4 h postexposure in phosgene, p ≤ . 005, versus air-exposed mice. Over time, there were no significant changes in arterial blood levels of Na +, Cl -, or Ca 2+ for animals exposed to air versus phosgene. However, arterial K + concentrations were significantly higher, p ≤ . 05, than in air-exposed mice across all time points, with the highest K + levels of 7 mmol/L occurring at 8 h and 24 h after exposure. Phosgene caused a time-dependent significant increase in WW from 4 to 12 h, p ≤ . 025, compared with air-exposed mice. These data demonstrate that measuring blood K + levels 1 h after exposure along with BALF Na +, K +, and Ca 2+ may serve as an alternate indicators of lung injury since both K + and Ca 2+ follow temporal increases in air-blood barrier permeability as measured by wet weight.
Cognitive ability in adolescence and mortality in middle age: a prospective life course study

Background: An association between childhood cognitive ability measured by IQ tests and mortality has been reported recently. It is not clear from those studies to what extent the increased relative risk associated with lower IQ scores may be attenuated by adjustment for other risk factors. This study aims to investigate the association between cognitive ability measured at age 18–20 years and mortality among middle-aged men adjusting for risk factors for mortality over the life course. Methods: Data on cognitive ability, and other risk factors for premature mortality (indicators of mental health and social adjustment and behavioural factors), were collected among 49 321 men, born in 1949–51, at conscription for compulsory military training in 1969–70. Information on socioeconomic factors in childhood and adulthood, as well as information on mortality, was collected through national registers. Results: Cognitive ability showed an inverse and graded association with mortality between 40 and 53 years of age (1297 cases, crude hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.18, for one-point decrease on the nine-point IQ scale). Adjustment for indicators of social misbehaviour, mental health problems and behavioural risk factors, measured in late adolescence, and adult social circumstances strongly attenuated the increased risks of mortality, and it was no longer significantly increased (adjusted HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.06, for one-point decrease on the nine-point IQ scale). Conclusion: The association between IQ and mortality among men below 54 years of age was almost completely attenuated by adjustment for risk factors captured by our measures of achieved social positions.
Measurement of uterine blood flow and uterine metabolism. V. Changes during spontaneous and induced labor in unanesthetized pregnant sheep and dogs.

Uterine blood flow has been measured with a chronically implanted miniature electromegnetic flow meter in unanesthetized pregnant sheep and dogs during spontaneous and oxytocin induced labor and followed in the same animal for several postpartum days. In either spontaneous or oxytocin induced labor, uterine contractions are accompanied by a significant decrease in uterine blood flow and relaxations by the return of the flow to or higher than control values. The decrease is roughly proportional to the intensity of uterine contraction. When the contraction is of a tetanic nature and not followed by relaxation, uterine ischemia is so severe that the fetus might succumb. After the delivery of the fetus and before the expulsion of the placenta, uterine blood flow falls slightly. However, after separation and expulsion of the placenta, uterine blood flow falls precipitously. Thereafter, a very slight and progressive decrease continues for several days paralleling uterine involution.
Lack of effect of eicosapentaenoic acid in the Porsolt forced swimming test model of depression

Background: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is one of the major components of fish oils. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, have been hypothesized to play a role in the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of mood disorders. Clinical studies have shown beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in major depression, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Objective: The present study design evaluates the effect of EPA in the Porsolt forced swimming test. Results: EPA alone did not reduce the immobility time and did not enhance the anti-immobility effect of a low dose of imipramine. Contrary to the hypothesis, EPA slightly increased the immobility time, and in some experiments tended to reduce the anti-despair effect of imipramine. Conclusion: The present results do not provide an animal model for the antidepressant effect of EPA as demonstrated in clinical experiments. The mechanism of EPA antidepressant action is unknown and the Porsolt forced swimming test could be non-sensitive for its antidepressant properties.
Late Adverse Events in Coiled Ruptured Aneurysms with Incomplete Occlusion at 6-Month Angiographic Follow-Up

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with coiled ruptured aneurysms with incomplete occlusion at 6 months are not only at risk for rebleed during further follow-up but also for complications of angiographic follow-up and retreatment, and for progressive mass effect by uncontrollable aneurysm growth. We assessed the frequency and outcome of all these possible aneurysm-related events in 124 patients with incompletely occluded aneurysms at 6 months during a follow-up of 419 patient-years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1994 and 2007, 901 ruptured aneurysms were coiled and 713 (79%) had 6-month angiographic follow-up, of which 124 were incompletely occluded (17%). These 124 patients were followed for a mean of 41 months (median, 30 months; range, 1–150 months). RESULTS: During follow-up, 307 angiograms were obtained without complications. Of 124 aneurysms, 88 were retreated (71%). Fifteen aneurysms were retreated more than once. Altogether, 124 additional treatments were performed, and no complications occurred (0%; 95% CI, 0.0–3.6%). Four aneurysms rebled, causing death in 2 patients. Another 4 patients experienced progressive mass effect by growth of the coiled aneurysm, leading to death in 1. The annual event rate was 1.9%, the annual mortality was 0.7%, and the annual rebleed rate was 1.0% (8, 3, and 4 in 419 patient-years). CONCLUSIONS: In this study of patients with coiled ruptured aneurysms with incomplete occlusion at 6 months, a strategy of imaging follow-up and retreatment when possible leads to a low incidence of serious adverse events. Rebleeding and progressive mass effect of the aneurysm were responsible for these events, not complications from additional treatment or angiographic follow-up.
Quantitative systolic and diastolic transmyocardial velocity gradients assessed by M-mode colour Doppler tissue imaging as reliable indicators of regional left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine whether myocardial velocity gradients assessed by M-mode colour Doppler tissue imaging could be of clinical relevance and represent reliable indicators of regional left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS Among 64 consecutive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction, in 50 who had a marked asynergy in the parasternal short-axis view at the mid-papillary muscle level, myocardial velocities and velocity gradients were assessed in the anteroseptum and posterior wall by M-mode Doppler tissue imaging. Similar measurements were obtained in 11 matched healthy volunteers who served as a control group. In patients with anterior myocardial infarction, the peak myocardial velocity gradient in the anteroseptum was significantly lower when compared with controls (mean +/- [SD] 0.0 +/- 0.5 vs 1.1 +/- 0.7 s-1 during systole, P < 0.01; and 0.3 +/- 0.6 vs 2.0 +/- 0.5 s-1 during diastole, P < 0.01). Conversely, the peak systolic myocardial velocity gradient in the posterior wall was significantly higher than in controls (2.6 +/- 1.2 vs 1.8 +/- 1.2 s-1, P < 0.05). In patients with inferior myocardial infarction, the peak velocity gradient in the posterior wall was significantly lower when compared with healthy subjects (0.9 +/- 0.6 vs 1.8 +/- 1.2 s-1 during systole and 1.4 +/- 1.4 vs 4.9 +/- 1.2 s-1 during diastole, both P < 0.01). The peak systolic tissue velocity gradient in the anteroseptum was significantly higher than in controls (2.1 +/- 1.0 vs 1.1 +/- 0.7 s-1, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The present study indicates that myocardial velocity gradients assessed by M-mode Doppler tissue imaging are of clinical relevance for the characterization of ischaemic myocardial dysfunction after infarction and may provide quantitative assessment of segmental left ventricular function in this clinical setting.
FDA-Approved Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Inhibit Ebola Virus Infection

Clomiphene and toremifene inhibit Ebola virus infection. Fertile Strategy for Ebola Infection Perhaps no virus has grasped the public’s imagination like Ebola virus. Although infection is rare, the threat from bioweapons and sporadic outbreaks is the stuff of nightmares. Our inability to treat infected individuals or even to prevent infection with therapeutics raises the stakes. Now, Johansen et al. have found that FDA-approved selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) could potentially be repurposed to treat Ebola virus infection. The authors performed an in vitro screen to identify classes of compounds with antiviral activity against Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV). They found that SERMs, which have many uses that range from fertility treatments to breast cancer therapy, could inhibit EBOV infection both in vitro and in a mouse model. Somewhat surprisingly, this effect was not through on-target interactions with the estrogen receptor—the inhibition was still present in cells that lacked estrogen receptor expression. Instead, the compounds likely act late in viral entry, preventing viral fusion. These data support the off-target testing of SERMs for Ebola virus infection and suggest that screens of FDA-approved drugs to treat infectious diseases could yield fertile results. Ebola viruses remain a substantial threat to both civilian and military populations as bioweapons, during sporadic outbreaks, and from the possibility of accidental importation from endemic regions by infected individuals. Currently, no approved therapeutics exist to treat or prevent infection by Ebola viruses. Therefore, we performed an in vitro screen of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)– and ex–US-approved drugs and selected molecular probes to identify drugs with antiviral activity against the type species Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV). From this screen, we identified a set of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), including clomiphene and toremifene, which act as potent inhibitors of EBOV infection. Anti-EBOV activity was confirmed for both of these SERMs in an in vivo mouse infection model. This anti-EBOV activity occurred even in the absence of detectable estrogen receptor expression, and both SERMs inhibited virus entry after internalization, suggesting that clomiphene and toremifene are not working through classical pathways associated with the estrogen receptor. Instead, the response appeared to be an off-target effect where the compounds interfere with a step late in viral entry and likely affect the triggering of fusion. These data support the screening of readily available approved drugs to identify therapeutics for the Ebola viruses and other infectious diseases. The SERM compounds described in this report are an immediately actionable class of approved drugs that can be repurposed for treatment of filovirus infections.
Heterogeneity and Representation: The Senate and Free Trade

Theory: Constituent pressures on senators vary by party and heterogeneity of state. Studies of representation based on analysis of roll call voting which fail to take these factors into account will underestimate constituency influence and overemphasize the impact of party and interest group ratings. Hypotheses: (1) The greater the heterogeneity of the electorate, the less predictable will be the relationships between constituency characteristics and roll call votes. (2) The effects of some constituency characteristics on roll call votes are party-specific. Methods: Ordered probit analysis of Senate voting on international trade issues in 199394 was conducted for the whole Senate and for the Senate split into homogenous and heterogeneous states. Results: For homogenous states, general and party-specific constituency characteristics perform very well, while party and interest group ratings perform poorly. For heterogeneous states, general and party-specific constituency characteristics perform poorly, while party and interest group ratings perform well. These results indicate, first, that heterogeneity of state electorates and party strategies is an important factor in determining roll call votes and, second, that there is strong evidence of dyadic representation on roll call voting.
Surface-Tracing-Based LASAR 3-D Imaging Method via Multiresolution Approximation

This paper concerns the surface-tracing-based (STB) linear-array synthetic-aperture-radar (LASAR) 3-D imaging technique. The basic idea of this technique is to consider the 3-D SAR imaging problem as tracing a surface in the low height-resolution level. The STB 3-D imaging technique first initiates a low-resolution digital elevation map (DEM) using 3-D backprojection (BP) algorithm, predicts a higher resolution DEM from the known elevation using multivariate-interpolation technique, searches from the predicted elevation and obtains a higher resolution DEM, then repeats the prediction and searching recursively and obtains the fine-resolution DEM finally. By converting the 3-D LASAR imaging problem to a 2-D surface-tracing problem, the STB 3-D imaging technique can reduce the computational complexity by one order. The computational cost of STB 3-D imaging technique is analyzed, and we find out that the computational cost of STB 3-D LASAR imaging technique is determined by the surface prediction error and the fluctuation of ground. In particular, for normal distribution, when one of the earlier two factors is small, the computational cost is proportional to the other factor approximately. Finally, a new STB 3-D BP algorithm that implements the surface-prediction operation via multiresolution-approximation (MRA) technique (named as MRA 3-D BP algorithm) is presented. By operating the interpolation in frequency domain, the computational cost of MRA algorithm for sparse LASAR is near to that of RD algorithm for full-element LASAR.
Advance directives in the medical intensive care unit of a community teaching hospital.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency with which advance directives (ADs) are available at the time of admission and their impact on subsequent care in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) setting before and 9 months after the implementation of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA). DESIGN Prospective nonrandomized cohort data collection and analysis. SETTING Thirteen-bed MICU of community teaching hospital providing primary and referred care. PATIENTS Consecutive admissions during 2-month periods separated by 1 year: August-September 1991 (91) and August-September 1992 (92). MEASUREMENTS The following were assessed: the presence and type or absence of AD at the time of admission; the presence or absence of a written order to limit resuscitation (WO-R) during the MICU stay; duration of MICU stay in hours; outcome; and combined duration of use or administration of seven selected interventions. MAIN RESULTS Fifteen of 133 patients (11.3%) in the 91 group and 15 of 171 patients (8.8%) in the 92 group presented with an AD. This difference was not significant (p = 0.578). Most patients in both groups (75.9% in 91 and 80.1% in 92) presented without an AD and did not have a WO-R during their MICU course. In addition, most patients who did present with an AD, 11 of 15 (73.3%) in the 91 group and 14 of 15 (93.3%) in the 92 group, did not have a WO-R. A subgroup of older and more severely ill patients in both cohorts was identified; they did not present with an AD but subsequently a WO-R was established. These patients had the highest mortality, about 40%, when compared with the overall mortality of 8.2%. CONCLUSION Advanced directives were infrequently available and had little impact on the pattern of care.
The socioeconomic characteristics of risky sexual behaviour among reproductive-age women in St Petersburg

Aims: To examine the sexual behaviour of reproductive age women in St Petersburg and its variation according to socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with a self-administered questionnaire. A random sample of women aged 18—44 in two districts in St Petersburg in 2004 were invited to a woman's clinic to complete a questionnaire. Of those women who were contacted (n=1719), 67% completed the anonymous questionnaire either in a clinic or at home. Results were analyzed according to three age-groups (18—24, 25—34, 35—44 years). Predictive characteristics were studied by use of multivariate models. Results: Younger respondents had on average started sexual life much earlier than the oldest (mean age 17.6 and 19.7 years respectively). The use of contraception at first coitus had become more common for each consecutive generation, though 25% of women aged 18—25 used no contraception, and only 45% used reliable contraception at first intercourse. Around 16% of the women had had two or more sex partners during the previous year, 55% of the youngest and 43% of the oldest had used reliable contraceptive methods. Older women were less likely to use contraceptives in last intercourse. High personal income, having children and low education were related to early age at first intercourse. Being single (women over 24 years) or having high income (women in all ages) was correlated with having had multiple sexual partners. Conclusions: In addition to youth, sexual education should be targeted to older women, many of whom practice risky sexual behaviour.
Psychosocial Predictors of Resilience After the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 inflicted distress beyond those directly exposed, thereby providing an opportunity to examine the contributions of a range of factors (cognitive, emotional, social support, coping) to psychological resilience for those indirectly exposed. In an Internet convenience sample of 1281, indices of resilience (higher well-being, lower distress) at baseline (2.5–12 weeks post-attack) were each associated with less emotional suppression, denial and self-blame, and fewer negative worldview changes. After controlling for initial outcomes, baseline negative worldview changes and aspects of social support and coping all remained significant predictors of 6-month outcomes, with worldview changes bearing the strongest relationship to each. These findings highlight the role of emotional, coping, social support, and particularly, cognitive variables in adjustment after terrorism.
Adaptive coherence analysis of nonstationary time series using the adaptive lomb spectrum

This paper proposes an adaptive spectral coherence analysis of nonstationary time series using the adaptive Lomb spectrum. Unlike conventional coherence analysis using the Fourier transform, the proposed algorithm employs Lomb spectrum as the basic spectral analysis tool and the intersection of confidence intervals (ICI) rule for computing adaptively the window sizes to achieve a better time-frequency resolution of the coherence and the associated phase differences. Simulation results show that the proposed method can achieve a better time-frequency resolution than other conventional coherence measurements for nonstationary signals
Combined inhibition of PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ reduces fat mass by enhancing α-MSH–dependent sympathetic drive

Blocking the activity of two PI3K isoforms in the brain may be a strategy for treating obesity. Making the Brain Promote Fat Loss Obesity is associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome and is a growing global problem. Signals from the brain regulate whole body metabolism and can trigger adipose tissue to burn fat. Perino et al. found that mice expressing catalytically inactive forms of two phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ) were leaner, burned more fat, and expended more energy than their wild-type counterparts. Fat loss also occurred in mice that received inhibitors of PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ delivered specifically into the brain. Thus, drugs that block the activity of both PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ in the brain could be developed as a treatment to fight obesity. Obesity is defined as an abnormal increase in white adipose tissue and has become a major medical burden worldwide. Signals from the brain control not only appetite but also energy expenditure, both of which contribute to body weight. We showed that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of two phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ) in mice reduced fat mass by promoting increased energy expenditure. This effect was accompanied by stimulation of lipolysis and the acquisition of the energy-burning characteristics of brown adipocytes by white adipocytes, a process referred to as “browning. ” The browning of the white adipocytes involved increased norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nervous system. We found that PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ together promoted a negative feedback loop downstream of the melanocortin 4 receptor in the central nervous system, which controls appetite and energy expenditure in the periphery. Analysis of mice with drug-induced sympathetic denervation suggested that these kinases controlled the sympathetic drive in the brain. Administration of inhibitors of both PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ to mice by intracerebroventricular delivery induced a 10% reduction in fat mass as quickly as 10 days. These results suggest that combined inhibition of PI3Kβ and PI3Kγ might represent a promising treatment for obesity.