Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uric acid stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and oxidative stress via the vascular renin–angiotensin system

Background Plasma uric acid has been associated with hypertension in a variety of disorders, and has been shown to be predictive of hypertension. The mechanistic role of uric acid in the development of hypertension is not known however. Method We tested the hypothesis that uric acid stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and oxidative stress by stimulating the vascular renin–angiotensin system (RAS). Rat VSMC were exposed to 0–300 μmol uric acid for 48 h. Results Uric acid (200 and 300 μmol) stimulated the proliferation of VSMC as measured by thymidine uptake. This effect was prevented by 10−6 mol losartan or by 10−6 mol captopril. Incubation of VSMC with uric acid for 48 h also increased angiotensinogen messenger RNA expression and intracellular concentrations of angiotensin II. These responses were also inhibited by losartan and captopril. Increased expression of angiotensinogen mRNA was also inhibited by co-incubation with PD 98059, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor. Uric acid stimulated the production of hydrogen peroxide and 8-isoprostane in VSMC. These increases in oxidative stress indicators were significantly reduced by co-incubating the cells with captopril or losartan. Uric acid also decreased nitrite and nitrate concentrations in the culture medium, an effect that was prevented by losartan and captopril. Conclusion These results demonstrate that uric acid stimulates proliferation, angiotensin II production, and oxidative stress in VSMC through tissue RAS. This suggests that uric acid causes cardiovascular disorders by stimulating the vascular RAS, and this stimulation may be mediated by the MAP kinase pathway.
Desenvolvimento da técnica de Voxels ponderados para lateralização da memória por ressonância magnética funcional

xxiii 1. Introdução 26 2. Referencial Teórico 27 2.1. Tipos de Memória 27 2.2. Memorização & Consolidação 29 2.3. Ressonância Magnética Funcional 31 2.3. 1. Princípios Físicos 31 2.3. 2. Paradigmas 34 2.3. 3. Contrastes e Mapas de Ativação 37 2.4. Lobo Temporal Medial 39 2.4. 1. Relevância Clínica 39
A SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR CONTINUOUS DOUBLE AUCTIONS

A Continuous Double Auction (CDA) is a powerful auction mechanism used in online share trading. A CDA has many buyers and sellers continually exchanging items. Implementing an online CDA in software is more complicated than a regular online auction (such as eBay). This paper describes our experiences with implementing an online CDA. We present the model as an abstraction of the online share trading process, and discuss implementation specific details. We describe the major software components, address web site navigation and object-oriented software design. An online CDA database schema is presented along with a discussion regarding timing issues. We show how bids are cleared and contrast differing matching strategies. We also investigate CDA software bidding agents, present an agent application programming interface, and a description of different bidding agent strategies. Online CDA privacy and security considerations are also discussed. The auction model is simple/concise, and presented as a general guide on how to basically implement an online CDA system.
Twinship as a protective factor against behavioural and emotional problems at preschool age

Early attachment has both protective and risk factors as regards later mental health. In Finland, insecure-avoidant-type attachment is overrepresented. Does this indicate a risk for emotional and behavioural problems at preschool age? In this study, we examined and compared the association between attachment and mental health in Finnish singletons and twins. The attachment of 27 singletons and 58 twins with both parents had previously been examined at the age of 18 months using Preschool Assessment of Attachment criteria. At the age of 4, the children's emotional and behavioural symptoms were assessed using Child Behavior Checklist questionnaires reported by parents. The mothers and fathers reported significantly more behavioural and emotional problems at preschool age in singletons than in twins. Insecure-avoidant-type attachment to the mother was significantly associated with higher scores concerning withdrawal, somatic problems and total internalising symptoms among singleton preschoolers, whereas among twins, no such correlations were observed. The results thus suggest that twinship is a protective factor in the trajectory from toddler avoidant attachment to internalising problems at preschool age.
Waist circumference to height ratio and left ventricular mass in children and adolescents

Abstract Objectives Waist circumference to height ratio, a measure of central obesity, is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than body mass index in the paediatric population. Increased left ventricular mass secondary to obesity and hypertension increases the risk for death and cardiovascular disease in adults. Similar data on left ventricular mass are lacking among young patients with central obesity, as defined by waist circumference/height. The present study evaluates left ventricular mass in young patients with central obesity as defined by waist circumference/height. Methods A total of 156 patients, 2- to 20-years old, without evidence of structural heart disease were studied. As the left ventricular mass is related to age and gender, 52 patients with central obesity – waist circumference/height ⩾0.55 – were randomly matched for age and gender with 52 patients at risk for central obesity – waist circumference/height ⩾0.5 to <0.55 – and 52 patients with no central obesity – waist circumference/height <0.5. The left ventricular mass parameters measured by echocardiography were compared across the three groups. Results Patients with central obesity had significantly (p<0.05) increased Z scores for left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass/height2.7, and left ventricular mass/height1.7 compared with patients at risk for central obesity and patients with no central obesity. Z scores for left ventricular mass were higher among patients at risk for central obesity compared with patients with no central obesity. Conclusions Left ventricular mass data of the present study support maintaining an ideal waist circumference/height <0.5. Aggressive efforts to identify and manage patients with central obesity are warranted.
Peptic ulcer disease and exposure to domestic pets.

OBJECTIVES This study assessed whether an association exists between household pets and peptic ulcer disease. METHODS Canadian adults (n = 15,779) were asked about cats or dogs in their household and about history of peptic ulcer disease. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between pet ownership and a history of peptic ulcer disease, after adjustment for sociodemographic differences. RESULTS No relationship was observed between report of household pets and a history of peptic ulcer disease (adjusted odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval = 0.95, 1.36). CONCLUSIONS In a large sample of Canadian adults, no association was observed between pet ownership and a history of peptic ulcer disease.
Modulation of the Bovine Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Responses to Defined Mycobacterial Antigens by a Synthetic Bacterial Lipopeptide

ABSTRACT The use of defined protein and peptide antigens can overcome specificity limitations of purified protein derivatives in the detection of bovine tuberculosis when the antigens are used in blood-based tests. Since the use of these specific antigens as skin test reagents could have practical advantages, we investigated the potential of Mycobacterium bovis-specific antigens to stimulate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis. A cocktail of the recombinant antigens ESAT-6, MPB83, and MPB64 failed to stimulate in vivo DTH in cattle that had been experimentally infected with M. bovis despite the fact that the antigens were recognized in vitro by the same animals. However, it was possible to stimulate antigen-specific bovine DTH responses by using ESAT-6 in combination with a synthetic bacterial lipopeptide. This lipopeptide stimulated the release of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha from monocyte-derived bovine dendritic cells in vitro, thereby providing a possible mechanism for its DTH-enhancing properties.
The increased accumulation of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose in untreated prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the clinical usefulness of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) compared with histopathological grading, clinical stage and serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) level in the detection and characterization of prostate cancer. METHODS Forty-four patients with histologically proven prostate cancer and five control subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were prospectively investigated with FDG-PET prior to treatment. RESULTS By visual inspection, FDG accumulation was positive in 28 patients with prostate cancer (sensitivity 64%), whereas all were negative in the control group. FDG-PET in three patients with lymph node metastases did not show any high intrapelvic accumulations corresponding to metastatic sites. Among 12 patients with multiple bone metastases which were detected with 99m-HMDP bone scintigraphy, nine (75%) showed moderate to high FDG accumulation at the sites of bone metastases. Quantitatively, FDG accumulation in prostate cancer was significantly higher than in BPH and there was a tendency for FDG uptake of tumors to be higher with higher histological Gleason grades. Furthermore, FDG uptake in tumors with lymph node and/or bone metastasis was significantly higher than that of localized stages. However, the correlation between PSA and FDG uptake in the prostate cancer was very weak for clinical relevance. CONCLUSIONS Although FDG-PET was not sensitive enough to detect prostate cancer in clinical use, it is suggested that glucose metabolism in prostate cancer tended to be higher in patients with tumors of advanced stages.
Four Views of Knowledge and Knowledge Management

This paper presents four views of knowledge: access to information, repositories of information, sets of rules, and knowing/understanding. Examples are given of how these definitions are both enabling and constraining the application of information technology to the area of knowledge management, and a call is made for multiple views of knowledge so that future systems may achieve greater success.
Predicting the Drug Interaction Potential of AMG 853, a Dual Antagonist of the D-Prostanoid and Chemoattractant Receptor-Homologous Molecule Expressed on T Helper 2 Cells Receptors

2-(4-(4-(tert-Butylcarbamoyl)-2-(2-chloro-4-cyclopropylphenylsulfonamido)phenoxy)-5-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)acetic acid (AMG 853) is an orally bioavailable and potent dual antagonist of the D-prostanoid and chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper 2 cells receptors. The drug interaction potential of AMG 853, both as a victim and a perpetrator, was investigated using in vitro, in silico, and in vivo methodologies. Experiments in human liver microsomes (HLM) and recombinant enzymes identified CYP2C8, CYP2J2, and CYP3A as well as multiple UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms as being responsible for the metabolic clearance of AMG 853. With use of HLM and selective probe substrates, both AMG 853 and its acyl glucuronide metabolite (M1) were shown to be inhibitors of CYP2C8. AMG 853 and M1 did not inhibit any of the other cytochrome P450 isoforms tested, and AMG 853 exhibited minimal enzyme induction properties in human hepatocytes cultures. In light of the in vitro findings, modeling and simulation approaches were used to examine the potential for ketoconazole (a CYP3A inhibitor) to inhibit the metabolism of AMG 853 as well as for AMG 853 to inhibit the metabolism of paclitaxel, rosiglitazone, and montelukast, commonly used substrates of CYP2C8. A weak and clinically insignificant drug interaction (area under the drug concentration-time curve (AUC)i/AUC <2) was predicted between ketoconazole and AMG 853. No drug interactions were predicted for AMG 853 and paclitaxel, rosiglitazone, or montelukast. Finally, administration of AMG 853 to healthy human subjects in clinical trials in the presence or absence of ketoconazole confirmed that AMG 853 is unlikely to be involved in clinically significant drug interactions.
New Strategies in Neuroblastoma: Therapeutic Targeting of MYCN and ALK

Clinical outcome remains poor in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma, in which chemoresistant relapse is common following high-intensity conventional multimodal therapy. Novel treatment approaches are required. Although recent genomic profiling initiatives have not revealed a high frequency of mutations in any significant number of therapeutically targeted genes, two exceptions, amplification of the MYCN oncogene and somatically acquired tyrosine kinase domain point mutations in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), present exciting possibilities for targeted therapy. In contrast with the situation with ALK, in which a robust pipeline of pharmacologic agents is available from early clinical use in adult malignancy, therapeutic targeting of MYCN (and MYC oncoproteins in general) represents a significant medicinal chemistry challenge that has remained unsolved for two decades. We review the latest approaches envisioned for blockade of ALK activity in neuroblastoma, present a classification of potential approaches for therapeutic targeting of MYCN, and discuss how recent developments in targeting of MYC proteins seem to make therapeutic inhibition of MYCN a reality in the clinic. Clin Cancer Res; 19(21); 5814–21. ©2013 AACR.
The influence of the instructor's written comments upon student test performance in the college classroom

The problem with which this investigation is concerned is that of determining the influence of instructors' written comments on the test performances of students in selected college subjects. The students were from one university and one junior college. The written comments were designed to be positive in nature and to encourage better future test performances by students. The comments were made in regard to the letter grades received by the students and were placed only on major (as defined by each instructor) objective tests.
Reading comprehension, working memory and inhibition : a lifespan perspective

L'influence de la memoire de travail (MdT), de l'inhibition et de la vitesse de traitement est souvent evoquee pour rendre compte des differences d'âge et individuelles dans un grand nombre d'habiletes cognitives lors du developpement et du vieillissement. Le but de cette etude est d'examiner l'influence conjointe de ces mecanismes dans la comprehension de textes, en dissociant la comprehension de la memoire pour le texte, chez des enfants, des jeunes et des adultes âges. Les modeles en equations structurales ont montre que, independamment de la periode d'âge consideree, l'effet de l'âge sur la comprehension et la memoire pour le texte est mediatise par la MdT, qui a son tour, est influencee par l'inhibition et la vitesse. Les resultats suggerent que les memes mecanismes cognitifs expliquent les differences d'âge dans la comprehension de textes tout au travers de la vie; cependant leur poids change selon la periode de vie consideree.
A Framework for Analysis of Computational Imaging Systems: Role of Signal Prior, Sensor Noise and Multiplexing

Over the last decade, a number of computational imaging (CI) systems have been proposed for tasks such as motion deblurring, defocus deblurring and multispectral imaging. These techniques increase the amount of light reaching the sensor via multiplexing and then undo the deleterious effects of multiplexing by appropriate reconstruction algorithms. Given the widespread appeal and the considerable enthusiasm generated by these techniques, a detailed performance analysis of the benefits conferred by this approach is important. Unfortunately, a detailed analysis of CI has proven to be a challenging problem because performance depends equally on three components: (1) the optical multiplexing, (2) the noise characteristics of the sensor, and (3) the reconstruction algorithm which typically uses signal priors. A few recent papers [12], [30], [49] have performed analysis taking multiplexing and noise characteristics into account. However, analysis of CI systems under state-of-the-art reconstruction algorithms, most of which exploit signal prior models, has proven to be unwieldy. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis framework incorporating all three components. In order to perform this analysis, we model the signal priors using a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). A GMM prior confers two unique characteristics. First, GMM satisfies the universal approximation property which says that any prior density function can be approximated to any fidelity using a GMM with appropriate number of mixtures. Second, a GMM prior lends itself to analytical tractability allowing us to derive simple expressions for the `minimum mean square error' (MMSE) which we use as a metric to characterize the performance of CI systems. We use our framework to analyze several previously proposed CI techniques (focal sweep, flutter shutter, parabolic exposure, etc.), giving conclusive answer to the question: `How much performance gain is due to use of a signal prior and how much is due to multiplexing? Our analysis also clearly shows that multiplexing provides significant performance gains above and beyond the gains obtained due to use of signal priors.
High-level spatial modeling in convolutional neural network with application to pedestrian detection

Convolutional neural network (CNN) has achieved great success in many vision tasks. A key to this success is its ability to powerful automatically learns both high-level and low-level features. In general, low-level features have a small size of receptive fields and appear multiple times in different locations of objects, while high-level semantic features have a relatively large size of receptive fields and only appear once in a specific location of objects. However, traditional CNN treats these two kinds of features in the same manner, i.e, learning them by the convolution operation, which can be approximately considered as cumulating the probabilities that a feature appears in different locations. This strategy is reasonable for low-level features but not for high-level semantic ones, especially in the case of pedestrian detection, where a local feature can be shared by different locations but a semantic part, e.g, a head, only appears once for a human. To jointly model the spatial structure and appearance of high-level semantic features, we propose a new module to learn spatially weighted max pooling in CNN. The proposed method is evaluated on several pedestrian detection databases and the experimental results show that it achieves much better performance than traditional CNN.
Accuracy of cardiac output measurements with pulse contour analysis (PulseCOTM) and Doppler echocardiography during off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Background and objective: During off‐pump coronary bypass grafting, surgical manipulation and dislocation of the heart may cause cardiovascular instability. Monitoring of cardiac output facilitates intraoperative haemodynamic management but pulmonary artery catheters are often considered too invasive. Pulse contour analysis and transoesophageal echocardiography could serve as alternatives, but there is controversy about their accuracies. We validated pulse contour analysis using a standard radial arterial catheter (PulseCOTM) and aortic Doppler flowmetry with transoesophageal echocardiography in patients undergoing off‐pump coronary bypass surgery. Pulmonary arterial thermodilution served as the reference technique. Methods: In 20 patients undergoing off‐pump coronary bypass, cardiac output was measured with bolus thermodilution (COTD), pulse contour analysis (COPC), and transoesophageal echocardiography (COecho) at fixed time intervals during the procedure. Data were compared using linear regression and Bland‐Altman analysis. At the end of the procedure, dobutamine was infused at a rate of 2.5 &mgr;g kg−1 min−1 in six patients to study the agreement between methods in quantifying changes in cardiac output. Results: Comparison between COPC and COTD showed a bias ± limits of agreement of −0.03 ± 1.30 L min−1 (mean error 29%). Doppler echocardiography was not always feasible when the heart was displaced from the oesophagus and had lower accuracy: bias ± limits of agreement vs. COTD was 0.45 ± 1.93 (mean error 43%). Increases in cardiac output induced by dobutamine were well quantified both by pulse contour analysis (COPC = 0.76 × COTD + 0.58; r2 = 0.65) and Doppler, although the latter tended to overestimate these changes (COecho = 1.58 × COTD − 0.13; r2 = 0.53). Conclusions: Calibrated pulse contour analysis using the PulseCO system is an acceptable technique to measure cardiac output non‐invasively in off‐pump coronary bypass patients. Doppler echocardiography performs less well and is not always feasible with transoesophageal echocardiography when the heart is displaced.
Effect of Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neuronal Death and Brain Edema in Cerebral Ischemia

Polyphenols are natural substances with variable phenolic structures and are elevated in vegetables, fruits, grains, bark, roots, tea, and wine. There are over 8000 polyphenolic structures identified in plants, but edible plants contain only several hundred polyphenolic structures. In addition to their well-known antioxidant effects, select polyphenols also have insulin-potentiating, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral, anti-ulcer, and anti-apoptotic properties. One important consequence of ischemia is neuronal death and oxidative stress plays a key role in neuronal viability. In addition, neuronal death may be initiated by the activation of mitochondria-associated cell death pathways. Another consequence of ischemia that is possibly mediated by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction is glial swelling, a component of cytotoxic brain edema. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on the contribution of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction to neuronal death, cell swelling, and brain edema in ischemia. A review of currently known mechanisms underlying neuronal death and edema/cell swelling will be undertaken and the potential of dietary polyphenols to reduce such neural damage will be critically reviewed.
Controlling the thickness of hollow polymeric microspheres prepared by electrohydrodynamic atomization

In this study, the ability to control the shell thickness of hollow polymeric microspheres prepared using electrohydrodynamic processing at ambient temperature was investigated. Polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) was used as a model material for the microsphere shell encapsulating a core of liquid perfluorohexane (PFH). The microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and optical and electron microscopy, and the effects of the processing parameters (flow-rate ratio, polymer concentration and applied voltage) on the mean microsphere diameter (D) and shell thickness (t) were determined. It was found that the mean diameters of the hollow microspheres could be controlled in the range from 310 to 1000 nm while the corresponding mean shell thickness varied from 40 to 95 nm. The results indicate that the ratio D : t varied with polymer concentration, with the largest value of approximately 10 achieved with a solution containing 18 wt% of the polymer, while the smallest value (6.6) was obtained at 36 wt%. For polymer concentrations above 63 wt%, hollow microspheres could not be generated, but instead PMSQ fibres encapsulating PFH liquid were obtained.