Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Agmatine produces antidepressant-like effects in two models of depression in mice

Agmatine produces an antidepressant-like effect when assessed in the forced swimming test (FST) and in the tail suspension test (TST) in mice (dose range 0.01–50 mg/kg, i.p.), without accompanying changes in ambulation in an open-field. I.c. v. injection of agmatine (1–100 nmol/site) also reduced the immobility time in the FST. Agmatine significantly enhanced the anti-immobility effect of imipramine, but did not affect that of MK-801. The anti-immobility effect of agmatine assessed in the FST was not affected by pre-treatment with prazosin. In contrast, agmatine's antidepressant-like effect was completely prevented by pre-treatment of animals with yohimbine, GMP or L-arginine. Taken together these data demonstrate that agmatine elicited a significant antidepressant-like effect through a mechanism that seems to involve an interaction with NMDA receptors, the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and &agr;2-adrenoceptors.
Cry1Ac protoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis sp. kurstaki HD73 binds to surface proteins in the mouse small intestine.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), considered a safe insecticide, produces insecticidal proteins named Cry during sporulation, which possess exceptional immunological properties. In this work using an immunohistochemical test we demonstrated that Cry1Ac protoxin (pCry1Ac) binds to the mucosal surface of the mouse small intestine. Ligand blot assay allowed us to detect, under denaturing conditions, six pCry1Ac-binding polypeptides present in brush border membrane vesicles isolated from the small intestine. Moreover, this protein induced in situ temporal changes in the electrophysiological properties of the mouse jejunum. The data obtained indicate a possible interaction in vivo of Cry proteins with the animal bowel which could induce changes in the physiological status of the intestine.
Design of a 28/38 GHz dual-band printed slot antenna for the future 5G mobile communication Networks

In this article, a dual-band printed slot antenna for the future fifth generation (5G) mobile networks are proposed. The antenna is compact with size of 0.8 λ0 × 0.75 λ0 at 28 GHz. Matching between a sector-disk shaped radiating patch and the 50-Ω microstrip line is manipulated through aproximity-feed technique. An elliptically shaped aperture is etched in the ground plane to enhance the antenna bandwidth. A shunt stub is used to get more enhancement of the impedance bandwidth of the antenna. To reduce the interference between the 5G system and other systems, π-shaped slot is etched off in the feed line to create a notched band of 30-34 GHz. The simulated results show that the designed antenna has a dual band function at 28/38 GHz that covers future 5G applications. The proposed antenna provides almost omni-directional patterns, relatively flat gain, and high radiation efficiency through the frequency band excluding the rejected band.
Response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to severe osmotic stress: evidence for a novel activation mechanism of the HOG MAP kinase pathway

The HOG/p38 MAP kinase route is an important stress‐activated signal transduction pathway that is well conserved among eukaryotes. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of activation of the HOG pathway in budding yeast. This mechanism operates upon severe osmostress conditions (1.4 M NaCl) and is independent of the Sln1p and Sho1p osmosensors. The alternative input feeds into the HOG pathway MAPKK Pbs2p and requires activation of Pbs2p by phosphorylation. We show that, upon severe osmotic shock, Hog1p nuclear accumulation and phosphorylation is delayed compared with mild stress. Moreover, both events lost their transient pattern, presumably because of the absence of negative feedback mediated by Ptp2p tyrosine phosphatase, which we found to be localized in the nucleus. Under severe osmotic stress conditions, the delayed nuclear accumulation correlates with a delay in stress‐responsive gene expression. Severe osmoshock leads to a situation in which active and nuclear‐localized Hog1p is transiently unable to induce transcription of osmotic stress‐responsive genes. It also appeared from our studies that the Sho1p osmosensor is less active under severe osmotic stress conditions, whereas the Sln1p/Ypd1p/Ssk1p sensor and signal transducer functions normally under these circumstances.
Establishment of surgically induced chronic acid reflux esophagitis in rats.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to establish an animal model of chronic acid reflux esophagitis which could be used for further investigations of the pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis. METHODS Esophagitis was produced by ligating the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion with a 2-0 silk thread and covering the duodenum near the pylorus ring with a small piece of an 18Fr Nélaton catheter. The histologic features of the esophagus were examined, and the survival rate of these animals was investigated. Moreover, the effects of lansoprazole on this model was studied. RESULTS The 3-week survival rate was 90%, and esophagitis was noted in all rats. Esophagitis was found 2 or 3 cm above the esophagogastric junction in most cases and at 4.0+/-2.3 sites per animal. Histopathologically, there were increased thickness of the esophageal epithelium, elongation of the lamina propria papillae, which extended upward into the epithelium, marked inflammatory cell infiltration, interruption of the lamina muscularis mucosae, and increase of collagen fibers in the lamina propria and submucosa. These signs were in accord with the histologic features of typical chronic esophagitis. No signs of esophagitis were observed, except in one animal, in the rats given 1 mg/kg/day of lansoprazole. CONCLUSIONS This experimental rat model is considered useful as a model of chronic acid-type esophagitis for the evaluation of the pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis and the evaluation of drug efficacy.
150th Anniversary Series: Desmosomes and Autoimmune Disease, Perspective of Dynamic Desmosome Remodeling and Its Impairments in Pemphigus

Abstract Desmosomes are the most important intercellular adhering junctions that adhere two adjacent keratinocytes directly with desmosomal cadherins, that is, desmogleins (Dsgs) and desmocollins, forming an epidermal sheet. Recently, two cell–cell adhesion states of desmosomes, that is, “stable hyper-adhesion” and “dynamic weak-adhesion” conditions have been recognized. They are mutually reversible through cell signaling events involving protein kinase C (PKC), Src and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) during Ca2+-switching and wound healing. This remodeling is impaired in pemphigus vulgaris (PV, an autoimmune blistering disease), caused by anti-Dsg3 antibodies. The antibody binding to Dsg3 activates PKC, Src and EGFR, linked to generation of dynamic weak-adhesion desmosomes, followed by p38MAPK-mediated endocytosis of Dsg3, resulting in the specific depletion of Dsg3 from desmosomes and acantholysis. A variety of pemphigus outside-in signaling may explain different clinical (non-inflammatory, inflammatory, and necrolytic) types of pemphigus. Pemphigus could be referred to a “desmosome-remodeling disease involving pemphigus IgG-activated outside-in signaling events”.
A ubiquitin mutant with specific defects in DNA repair and multiubiquitination

The degradation of many proteins involves the sequential ligation of ubiquitin molecules to the substrate to form a multiubiquitin chain linked through Lys-48 of ubiquitin. To test for the existence of alternate forms of multiubiquitin chains, we examined the effects of individually substituting each of six other Lys residues in ubiquitin with Arg. Substitution of Lys-63 resulted in the disappearance of a family of abundant multiubiquitin-protein conjugates. The UbK63R mutants were not generally impaired in ubiquitination, because they grew at a wild-type rate, were fully proficient in the turnover of a variety of short-lived proteins, and exhibited normal levels of many ubiquitin-protein conjugates. The UbK63R mutation also conferred sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agents methyl methanesulfonate and UV as well as a deficiency in DNA damage-induced mutagenesis. Induced mutagenesis is mediated by a repair pathway that requires Rad6 (Ubc2), a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. Thus, the UbK63R mutant appears to be deficient in the Rad6 pathway of DNA repair. However, the UbK63R mutation behaves as a partial suppressor of a rad6 deletion mutation, indicating that an effect of UbK63R on repair can be manifest in the absence of the Rad6 gene product. The UbK63R mutation may therefore define a new role of ubiquitin in DNA repair. The results of this study suggest that Lys-63 is used as a linkage site in the formation of novel multiubiquitin chain structures that play an important role in DNA repair.
A compact two layer broadside coupled UWB filter

Design of a compact ultra wide band filter over 3.1GHz to 10.6GHz using broadside coupled lines and folded open circuit stubs in microstrip medium has been presented in this paper. Desired broad band operation is achieved using broadside coupling between feed lines and an embedded floating conductor in the ground plane of a microstrip. Folded open circuit stubs have been incorporated to improve the stop band rejection characteristics of the filter. Filter has been analyzed based on circuit models and full wave simulations. Experimental results of the proposed ultra wide band filter have been verified against the results obtained from circuit models and full wave simulations. Results are in close agreement with each other. The filter measures an overall size of 22×10×0.787mm3.
Skor CHA2DS2-VASC-HSF dalam Menentukan Kompleksitas Lesi Arteri Koroner dan Kejadian Kardiovaskular Mayor Selama Rawatan pada Pasien Sindroma Koroner Akut Non Elevasi Segment ST

Background: CHA2DS2-VASc score are widely used to predict the risk of thromboembolism and this score include similar risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). To increase the likelihood of determining CAD severity, we formulated the CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score comprising hyperlipidemia, smoking, family history of CAD and male instead of female gender. This study aims to evaluate whether the CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score can be a predictor of the severity of coronary artery lesions and MACE during hospitalization in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). Methods : This is an ambispective study of 78 patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing coronary angiography and treatment at Adam Malik Hospital from January 2015 – May 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on SYNTAX score, SYNTAX > 22 and SYNTAX ≤ 22, as well as group based on MACE. Bivariate, multivariate and correlation analysis were performed to find the relationship between CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score and SYNTAX score and also MACE during hospitalization. The p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : Of the 78 patients with NSTE-ACS, 38 subjects (48.8%) were scored with SYNTAX > 22 and 40 subjects (51.2%) with SYNTAX ≤ 22. This study found a significant relationship with a middle correlation between CHA2DS2VASc-HSF score and SYNTAX score (p<0.001)(r=0.583) and also with MACE during hospitalization (p<0.001)(r=0.658). The ROC curve analysis obtained the CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF cutoff value in predicting the severity of coronary artery leion was ≥ 4 (AUC 0.832, 95% CI 3.526-34.317, p<0.001) with a sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 62.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed the CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score ≥ 4 (OR 9.224, 95%CI 2.243-37.935, p=0.002) became an independent factor for predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions. Conclusion : There is a positive with middle correlation between the CHA2DS2VASc-HSF score and the severity of coronary artery lesions and MACE during hospitalization in NSTE-ACS patients. The CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF score ≥ 4 is an independent factor in predicting the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with NSTE-ACS. Keyword : CHA2DS2-VASc-HSF, SYNTAX, MACE, NSTE-ACS
Effects of Vulture Declines on Facultative Scavengers and Potential Implications for Mammalian Disease Transmission

Abstract: Vultures (Accipitridae and Cathartidae) are the only known obligate scavengers. They feed on rotting carcasses and are the most threatened avian functional group in the world. Possible effects of vulture declines include longer persistence of carcasses and increasing abundance of and contact between facultative scavengers at these carcasses. These changes could increase rates of transmission of infectious diseases, with carcasses serving as hubs of infection. To evaluate these possibilities, we conducted a series of observations and experimental tests of the effects of vulture extirpation on decomposition rates of livestock carcasses and mammalian scavengers in Kenya. We examined whether the absence of vultures changed carcass decomposition time, number of mammalian scavengers visiting carcasses, time spent by mammals at carcasses, and potential for disease transmission at carcasses (measured by changes in intraspecific contact rates). In the absence of vultures, mean carcass decomposition rates nearly tripled. Furthermore, the mean number of mammals at carcasses increased 3‐fold (from 1.5 to 4.4 individuals/carcass), and the average time spent by mammals at carcasses increased almost 3‐fold (from 55 min to 143 min). There was a nearly 3‐fold increase in the mean number of contacts between mammalian scavengers at carcasses without vultures. These results highlight the role of vultures in carcass decomposition and level of contact among mammalian scavengers. In combination, our findings lead us to hypothesize that changes in vulture abundance may affect patterns of disease transmission among mammalian carnivores.
Textural Assessment in Digital Mammograms

This work focuses on testing textural and morphological parameters to assess characteristic features of digital mammograms. The selected images were radiological studies from the Institute Nacional de Cancerologia in Mexico City, evaluated as BI-RADS 4 or 5, meaning "probably malign" or "malign" findings, respectively. All patients were subjected to a biopsy procedure after the image was taken. The study group consisted of patients diagnosed with cancer, while the control group included those without cancer. We propose to analyze textural roughness by the mean height-width ratio of extrema (MHWRE) and morphological features by circularity. Results show good differentiation (correct diagnosis) for 46% of the images, bad differentiation (wrong diagnosis) for 25%, and undetermined diagnosis for 29% of the cases
Staging joint pain and disability: a brief method using persistence and global severity.

OBJECTIVE Joint pain in older adults is a problem commonly presented to primary care. In contrast to methods for defining and staging the most likely underlying disease (osteoarthritis), clinically practicable methods for staging pain and associated disability are lacking. Our objective was to test a method of brief pain assessment and clinical staging based on recognized focal features of chronic pain and preexisting measurement tools. METHODS A total of 781 adults ages > or =50 years who were registered with 3 general practices and were experiencing knee pain within the previous 6 months attended research clinics between August 2002 and September 2003. Pain and associated disability were staged on the basis of self-completed questions on knee pain persistence and global severity (Chronic Pain Grade). These were then compared with participants' appraisals of their knee problem, its perceived importance, negative health states, and consultation behavior. RESULTS Knee pain global severity was associated with symptom dissatisfaction, patient prioritizing, oral analgesic intake, mood, mobility limitation, poorer general health, and consultation behavior. Fewer independent associations were found with knee pain persistence. Staging could be performed using only 4 simple questions. CONCLUSION Although the usefulness of this approach still needs to be determined in routine clinical settings and across other joint pain sites, our findings suggest that focal characteristics of chronic pain (persistence, global severity) can be used as the basis of brief, simple assessment and staging of joint pain in older adults.
Combining work and higher education. A privilege of young people from high-income sectors?

This paper enquires into a quite common topic in the field of Social Sciences: the relationship between education and work. We start from a very interesting fact which is part of Argentinean reality: middle and upper-class higher education students are more likely to combine work and study than lower-class ones. This research makes use of quantitative and qualitative strategies in order to account for different factors that come together to shape such reality: going from structural and demographic information to young people’s perceptions and subjective motivations regarding education and work.
[Effect of curcumin on IL-17-induced nitric oxide production and expression of iNOS in human keratinocytes].

AIM To investigate the effect of curcumin on IL-17-induced NO production, mRNA and protein expression of iNOS in human keratinocyte cell lines(HaCaT cells). METHODS HaCaT cells were stimulated with IL-17 and incubated with three doses of curcumin for 24h in vitro. After collections of supernatant, total RNA and protein, NO levels in supernatant were detected and fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were performed to determine the effect of curcumin on NO levels and iNOS. RESULTS IL-17 increased NO levels, and expression of iNOS in HaCaT cells(P<0.01). Curcumin decreased IL-17 induced NO production and the iNOS expression at mRNA (P<0.01) and protein (P<0.01) levels significantly. CONCLUSION Curcumin down-regulates IL-17-induced NO secretions and iNOS expression in HaCaT cells, thus provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of skin related to keratinocytes.
Optimality, sample size, and power calculations for the sequential parallel comparison design

The sequential parallel comparison design (SPCD) has been proposed to increase the likelihood of success of clinical trials in therapeutic areas where high‐placebo response is a concern. The trial is run in two stages, and subjects are randomized into three groups: (i) placebo in both stages; (ii) placebo in the first stage and drug in the second stage; and (iii) drug in both stages. We consider the case of binary response data (response/no response). In the SPCD, all first‐stage and second‐stage data from placebo subjects who failed to respond in the first stage of the trial are utilized in the efficacy analysis. We develop 1 and 2 degree of freedom score tests for treatment effect in the SPCD. We give formulae for asymptotic power and for sample size computations and evaluate their accuracy via simulation studies. We compute the optimal allocation ratio between drug and placebo in stage 1 for the SPCD to determine from a theoretical viewpoint whether a single‐stage design, a two‐stage design with placebo only in the first stage, or a two‐stage design is the best design for a given set of response rates. As response rates are not known before the trial, a two‐stage approach with allocation to active drug in both stages is a robust design choice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overuse or underuse of MRI scanners in private radiology centers in Tehran

Objectives: The semiprivate health system in Iran has created an opportunity for unnecessary uses of advanced medical equipments including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to evaluate the evidence for MRI overuse in private diagnostic imaging centers in Tehran, Iran. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of use of MRI scans for different complaints and to explore frequency of normal MRI findings as a function of unnecessary MRI use. Methods: We conducted a survey among private MRI centers in Tehran, Iran, to study the proportion of MRI scans that may result in significant clinical finding. All MRI reports at a specific point in time at selected MRI centers were reviewed by a physician and the findings were recorded as normal, abnormal, or substantial changes. Results: Of all the MRI reports, 17.2 percent had resulted in normal findings; 9.8 percent ordered for examination of headache, and 4.8 percent for lower back pain. Conclusion: Unnecessary MRIs are most likely to result in normal finding; although not all the MRI with normal results could be identified as unnecessary. Negative findings from MRI scans may be reassuring to both clinicians and patients. The proportion of normal findings in MRI scans did not provide evidence of MRI overuse in Iran. The results of this study warrant formation of guidelines for the use of MRIs for headache and low back pain disorders.
Technical and commercial impacts of the integration of wind power in the Portuguese system having in mind the Iberian Electricity Market

Portugal is committed towards the EU to an ambitious target of attaining 39% of renewable energy production by 2010, as defined in the RES Directive. The new big hydroelectric investments, together with the mini-hydro power stations that are expected to be ready until 2010 will not be able to increase largely this share of needed renewable energy. The missing renewable energy should be produced exploiting wind energy, meaning that by 2010 a wind power capacity of more than 4.000 MW should to be in operation. At the same time Spain is also increasing wind power integration, such that by 2010 more than 13.000 MW are expected to be installed. The Spanish and the Portuguese electric power systems are facing at the same the challenge of a regional electricity market - the Iberian Electricity Market. This requires that wind power integration must be tackled having in mind technical and commercial concerns.
The Blighted Youth: The Impact of Recessions and Policies on Life-Cycle Unemployment

We construct a theoretical model of labor markets with human capital accumulation to understand and quantify the earnings losses for young workers generated by unemployment: unemployment represents time forgone in terms of human capital accumulation, which adversely affects long-term income prospects of individuals. We show that lifetime earnings losses generated by job-displacement are larger for individuals with lower capacity to accumulate human capital and during an economic downturn, as documented in the empirical literature. At the aggregate level, the framework delivers youth unemployment rates that are higher and more sensitive to fluctuations in aggregate productivity than total unemployment rates. Additionally, in economies with a higher tax-wedge, unemployment rates are more sensitive to aggregate productivity shocks. A higher tax-wedge and minimum wage increase the long-term earnings losses produced by job-displacement, especially for low-skill individuals.