Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stress-related induction of hepatic metallothionein synthesis and increase in peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes in mice.

This experiment examined whether hepatic metallothionein (MT) synthesis induced by stressful stimuli could reinforce the peripheral leukocyte defense mechanism in mice. A 2 x 2 cm section of dorsal skin was excised from male ICR mice (7 w.o.), then the hepatic MT concentration and superoxide anion production (SOA) in peripheral leukocytes were measured at 6 and 24 hr after the excision. The 6 hr-hepatic MT level was 6 times greater in the skin-excised mice than in the controls. SOA in the skin-excised mice was 2.3 times greater at 6 hr than in the controls, then decreased to the control level by 24 hr. Food deprivation increased the hepatic MT and SOA levels at 24 and 48 hr to a remarkably greater level than in the controls. The increases in SOA, which was measured by chemiluminescence response (CL) were found to be due to an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the peripheral leukocytes in both the skin excision and food deprivation groups. These results suggest that skin excision causes an inflammatory response in mice that results in an acute increase in the number of PMNs concomitant with the acute activation of hepatic MT synthesis. Food deprivation might result in physiologic stress 24 hr or more after food deprivation and cause "emergency" increases in MT synthesis and PMN defense mechanisms. Thus, some unknown linked mechanisms might exist between hepatic MT synthesis and increased peripheral PMNs.
Serine 105 phosphorylation of transcription factor GATA4 is necessary for stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive growth process that occurs in response to stress stimulation or injury wherein multiple signal transduction pathways are induced, culminating in transcription factor activation and the reprogramming of gene expression. GATA4 is a critical transcription factor in the heart that is known to induce/regulate the hypertrophic program, in part, by receiving signals from MAPKs. Here we generated knock-in mice in which a known MAPK phosphorylation site at serine 105 (S105) in Gata4 that augments activity was mutated to alanine. Homozygous Gata4-S105A mutant mice were viable as adults, although they showed a compromised stress response of the myocardium. For example, cardiac hypertrophy in response to phenylephrine agonist infusion for 2 wk was largely blunted in Gata4-S105A mice, as was the hypertrophic response to pressure overload at 1 and 2 wk of applied stimulation. Gata4-S105A mice were also more susceptible to heart failure and cardiac dilation after 2 wk of pressure overload. With respect to the upstream pathway, hearts from Gata4-S105A mice did not efficiently hypertrophy following direct ERK1/2 activation using an activated MEK1 transgene in vivo. Mechanistically, GATA4 mutant protein from these hearts failed to show enhanced DNA binding in response to hypertrophic stimulation. Moreover, hearts from Gata4-S105A mice had significant changes in the expression of hypertrophy-inducible, fetal, and remodeling-related genes.
Estimating Policy Positions Using Social Network Data

Social network site (SNS) data provide scholars with a plethora of new opportunities for studying public opinion and forecasting electoral outcomes. While these are certainly among the most promising big data applications in political science research, a series of pioneering studies have started to uncover the vast potential of such data to estimate the policy positions of political actors. Adding to this emerging strand in the scholarly literature, the present article explores the validity of (individual) policy positions derived from the social network structure of the microblogging platform Twitter. At the aggregate party level, cross-validation with external data sources suggests that SNS data provide valid policy position estimates. In contrast, the empirical analysis reveals only a moderate connection between individual policy positions retrieved from the social network structure and those retrieved from members of parliament individual voting record. These results thus highlight the potential as well as important limitations of SNS data in indicating the policy positions of political parties and individual legislators.
Simultaneous central nervous system complications of C. neoformans infection

The most common neurological manifestation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection is meningitis. Other less common manifestations include parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) granulomatous disease, hydrocephalus and stroke. C. neoformans is often suspected in immunodepressed patients, but it can be easily overlooked in otherwise healthy patients. This paper provides a detailed clinical description of a patient without immunosupression who developed multiple simultaneous neurological manifestations after the infection with C. neoformans.
Technology Integration in Early Childhood and Primary Classrooms: Access, Use & Pedagogy Remain Critical Components to Success

Calls for increased use of technology in early childhood and primary classrooms have not gone unanswered. However, recent research findings report little technology integration with computers continuing to be unavailable. This descriptive study looked to explore to what extent and in what ways technology is integrated into early childhood and primary classrooms. Findings corroborate previous dated research that trivial technology is being used. Technology use, computer access and styles of pedagogy remain critical in the debate to whether teachers will integrate computers for teaching and learning.
A Stabilized and Tunable Single-Frequency Erbium-Doped Fiber Ring Laser Employing External Injection Locking

A stabilized and tunable single-longitudinal-mode erbium-doped fiber ring laser has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The laser is structured by combining the compound cavity with a fiber Fabry-Peacuterot tunable filter. An injection-locking technique has been used to stabilize the wavelength and output power of the laser. One of the longitudinal modes is stimulated by the injected continuous wave so that this mode is able to win the competition to stabilize the system. A minimum output power of 0.6 dBm and a signal-to-noise ratio of over 43 dB within the tuning range of 1527-1562 nm can be achieved with the proposed technique. A wavelength variation of less than 0.01 nm, a power fluctuation of less than 0.02 dB, and a short-term linewidth of about 1.4 kHz have also been obtained
Beginning A Patient-Centered Approach in the Design of A Diabetes Prevention Program

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify patient preferences for different components of a local diabetes prevention program that would improve reach.A secondary purpose was to determine if patient characteristics were related to program preferences. Methods: Participants were identified through electronic medical records from two family medicine clinics in Virginia. Participants completed a mailed survey addressing demographics, economic status, risk factors for diabetes, and preferences regarding diabetes prevention interventions—delivery mode, program length, and duration. Results: Twenty-nine percent of eligible participants responded (n = 142); 83% of participants were at risk for diabetes and 82% had a household income <$20,000.When presented with the choice between a class-based vs. a technology-based program, 83% preferred a technology-based program. Whites were less likely to choose the technology-based program, with no significant differences based on age, education, income, or gender. Conclusions: Contrary to beliefs that lower income individuals may not use technology-based interventions, lower socioeconomic patients indicated a preference for a technology- and telephone-supported diabetes prevention program over in-person class approaches. Findings provide formative data to support the design of a patient-centered, technology-enhanced diabetes prevention program in a real-world setting, thereby increasing potential participation and reach.
Human spinal cord neurons in dissociated monolayer cultures: morphological, biochemical, and electrophysiological properties

The preparation of dissociated monolayer cultures from embryonic human spinal cord is described. Optimal survival was achieved with embryonic tissue between the eighth and ninth week. The neurons survive for as long as 7 weeks in culture and they grow in a standard tissue culture medium which contains 13% decomplemented human serum. The neurons have been identified by indirect immunofluorescence techniques using antibodies to tetanus toxin and neurofilament protein. Our biochemical studies demonstrate the presence of cholinergic and GABAergic neurons. Cholinergic neurons develop in culture and are more numerous in the cultures prepared from the anterior part of the spinal cord as compared to those from the posterior part. Therefore, it is possible that a large part of the cholinergic neurons derive from the motoneuron pool. Electrical membrane properties were studied with patch electrodes using the whole cell recording technique. Neurons had short duration action potentials that could be blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX). Voltage clamp experiments combined with the use of pharmacological blocking agents revealed the presence of several voltage- and time-dependent currents: a sodium current sensitive to TTX, a potassium current made up of two components, sensitive to tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine, and a calcium current sensitive to cobalt. From a biochemical and electrophysiological point of view the properties of human spinal cord neurons in culture closely resemble the properties of spinal cord neurons from other species.
Guess & Check Codes for Deletions, Insertions, and Synchronization

We consider the problem of constructing codes that can correct <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> deletions occurring in an arbitrary binary string of length <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$n$ </tex-math></inline-formula> bits. Varshamov–Tenengolts (VT) codes, dating back to 1965, are zero-error single deletion <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$(\delta =1)$ </tex-math></inline-formula> correcting codes and have an asymptotically optimal redundancy. Finding similar codes for <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta \geq 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> deletions remains an open problem. In this paper, we relax the standard zero-error (i.e., worst-case) decoding requirement by assuming that the positions of the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> deletions (or insertions) are independent of the code word. Our contribution is a new family of explicit codes, that we call Guess & Check (GC) codes, that can correct with high probability up to a constant number of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta $ </tex-math></inline-formula> deletions (or insertions). GC codes are systematic; and have deterministic polynomial time encoding and decoding algorithms. We also describe the application of GC codes to file synchronization.
[Detection and identification of mycobacterial gene in skin lesions and lymph nodes in patients with sarcoidosis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible role of mycobacteria in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. METHODS We used nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (nPCR-RFLP) and gene sequencing method to examine 31 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (including 19 skin lesions and 12 lymph nodes ) obtained from patients with sarcoidosis, 14 normal skin specimens, and 3 cutaneous tuberculosis specimens. RESULTS The 65kD mycobacterial heat shock protein gene was found in 4 out of 19 (21.1%) skin specimens of sarcoidosis. The mycobacteria included M. tuberculosis (n = 1), M. chelonei (n = 2), and M. gordonae (n = 1). Mycobacterial DNA was negative in 12 lymph node specimens and 14 normal skin specimens. M. tuberculosis gene was detected in all 3 specimens of cutaneous tuberculosis. CONCLUSION Mycobacteria may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous sarcoidosis.
Trade Openness and Economic Growth in China

Based on the new development of methods in measuring openness abroad, this paper adopts five openness indices to calculate trade openness in China since reform and opening-up and analyses the impacts of various indices on China's economic growth. Empirical results demonstrate that different measure methods would result in different conclusions and among the five openness indices foreign trade dependence is the only one suitable to depict the relationship between openness and economic growth in China.
A Novel Approach to Reliable Output Feedback Control of Fuzzy-Affine Systems With Time Delays and Sensor Faults

This paper proposes a novel system-augmentation approach to the delay-dependent reliable piecewise-affine $\mathscr {H}_{\infty }$ static output feedback control for nonlinear systems with time-varying delay and sensor faults in the piecewise-Markovian-Lyapunov-functional-based framework. The nonlinear plant is described by a continuous-time Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy-affine model with parametric uncertainties, and the sensor faults are characterized by a Markov process. Specifically, by applying a state-input augmentation technique, the original closed-loop system is first reformulated into a descriptor fuzzy-affine system. Based on a new piecewise-Markovian Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, combined with a Wirtinger-based integral inequality, improved reciprocally convex inequality, and S-procedure, a novel bounded real lemma is then derived for the underlying closed-loop system. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the redundancy of descriptor system formulation, together with a linearization procedure, the piecewise-affine controller synthesis is carried out. It is shown that the desired piecewise-affine controller gains can be attained by solving a linear matrix inequality based optimization problem. Finally, simulation examples are performed to confirm the effectiveness and less conservatism of the presented approach.
Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: Treatment Response and Resistance in Psychosis (TRRIP) Working Group Consensus Guidelines on Diagnosis and Terminology.

OBJECTIVE Research and clinical translation in schizophrenia is limited by inconsistent definitions of treatment resistance and response. To address this issue, the authors evaluated current approaches and then developed consensus criteria and guidelines. METHOD A systematic review of randomized antipsychotic clinical trials in treatment-resistant schizophrenia was performed, and definitions of treatment resistance were extracted. Subsequently, consensus operationalized criteria were developed through 1) a multiphase, mixed methods approach, 2) identification of key criteria via an online survey, and 3) meetings to achieve consensus. RESULTS Of 2,808 studies identified, 42 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 21 studies (50%) did not provide operationalized criteria. In the remaining studies, criteria varied considerably, particularly regarding symptom severity, prior treatment duration, and antipsychotic dosage thresholds; only two studies (5%) utilized the same criteria. The consensus group identified minimum and optimal criteria, employing the following principles: 1) current symptoms of a minimum duration and severity determined by a standardized rating scale; 2) moderate or worse functional impairment; 3) prior treatment consisting of at least two different antipsychotic trials, each for a minimum duration and dosage; 4) systematic monitoring of adherence and meeting of minimum adherence criteria; 5) ideally at least one prospective treatment trial; and 6) criteria that clearly separate responsive from treatment-resistant patients. CONCLUSIONS There is considerable variation in current approaches to defining treatment resistance in schizophrenia. The authors present consensus guidelines that operationalize criteria for determining and reporting treatment resistance, adequate treatment, and treatment response, providing a benchmark for research and clinical translation.
Genetic Variation in the Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) and Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) Around Hokkaido, Japan, Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Sequences

The harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and spotted seal (Phoca largha) are the main seal species around Hokkaido, Japan. While some investigations have been conducted on the ecology and morphology of these two species, there is a lack of genetic information. We studied variation in mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences in the two species. Fifteen haplotypes were observed in 39 harbor seals from Erimo, Akkeshi, and Nosappu, and 23 were observed in 31 spotted seals from Erimo, Akkeshi, Nosappu, Rausu, Yagishiri Island, and Hamamasu. Phylogenetic trees showed two harbor seal lineages: Group I contained primarily haplotypes from Erimo, and Group II contained haplotypes from Akkeshi and Nosappu. Because the Erimo population had fewer haplotypes and less nucleotide diversity than the Akkeshi and Nosappu populations, we considered it to be Isolated from the others. In contrast, genetic variance within populations of spotted seals (97.3%) was far higher than that among populations (2.7%), determined by analysis of molecular variance. There were no significant difference among the spotted seal populations, indicating the absence of distinct lineages around Hokkaido. The differences in the genetic population structure between the two species could have been generated by their ecological differences. This study provides basic genetic information on these seal species and will contribute to the conservation and management of fisheries and seals throughout Hokkaido.
The effect of interest rate and communication shocks on private inflation expectations

The European Central Bank publishes inflation projections quarterly. This paper aims at establishing empirically whether they influence private inflation forecasts and whether they may be considered as an enhanced means of implementing policy decisions by facilitating private agents’ information processing. We compare the effect of an ECB inflation projection shock to an ECB interest rate shock.We provide original evidence that ECB inflation projections do influence private inflation expectations positively. We find that ECB projections convey signals about future ECB rate movements. This paper suggests that ECB projections enable private agents to correctly interpret and predict policy decisions.
Neural pathways for the processing of alarm pheromone in the ant brain

Social insects like ants exhibit sophisticated communication by means of pheromones, one example of which is the use of alarm pheromones to alert nestmates for colony defense. In the ant Camponotus obscuripes, we have reported that information about formic acid and n‐undecane, alarm pheromone components, is processed in a set of specific glomeruli in the antennal lobe (primary olfactory center). Alarm pheromone signals are then transmitted, mainly via uniglomerular projection neurons (uni‐PNs), to the protocerebrum (PR), where sensory signals are integrated to form motor commands for behavioral responses. In this study, we physiologically and morphologically characterized 63 alarm pheromone‐sensitive PR neurons in ants by using intracellular recording and staining techniques. Most of the pheromone‐sensitive PR neurons had dendrites in the mushroom body (MB), the lateral horn, or the medial PR. Some neurons with dendrites in these areas responded specifically to formic acid or n‐undecane and may participate in the control of specific behavioral responses to each pheromone component. Other neurons responded also to non‐pheromonal odors, in contrast to uni‐PNs, most of which responded specifically to alarm pheromones. Responses to non‐pheromonal odors were most prominent in efferent neurons of the MB lobe, suggesting that they may participate in integration of pheromonal and non‐pheromonal information. We found a class of PR neurons that receives input in all of these pheromone‐processing areas and terminates in a variety of premotor areas. These neurons may participate in the control of pheromone‐sensitized aggressive behavior, which is triggered by non‐pheromonal sensory stimuli associated with a potential enemy. J. Comp. Neurol. 505:424–442, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Implementation of Photo Voltaic Trombe Wall system for developing non-air conditioned buildings

Green building and sustainable architecture are new approach for addressing the energy and environmental crises. In this paper, a thorough review of Building integrated with Photovoltaic Trombe Wall systems is done on the basis of its performance based on electrical energy production as well as thermal load reduction. Also an in-depth review on the performance parameters such as, vent configuration, Insulation, thickness, color, PV cell temperature and glazing is presented in this study. Economic impact of PV Trombe wall system for residential building will be also studied in this paper. Based on the thorough review, it is clear that Building integrated PV system is one of the most promising technologies on renewable energy and there exists lot of scope to further improve their performances. Appropriate recommendations are made which will aid PV Trombe wall systems to enhance their efficiency and reduce their cost, making them more competitive in the present market.
Serum levels of hepatitis C virus RNA predict non‐response to interferon therapy: comparison of two commercial assays

We compared two commercial assays for quantification of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA to investigate whether pretreatment levels of serum HCV RNA could predict the outcome of interferon (IFN) therapy. The Amplicor HCV Monitor test is based on a single, combined reverse transcription and amplification reaction carried out by the Tth DNA polymerase using specific primers for the 5′ untranslated (UTR) region. The Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 assay is based on specific hybridization of viral RNA by synthetic oligonucleotides complementary to the 5′‐UTR and core regions of the genome, allowing equal quantification of the six major genotypes. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to identify the best cut‐off value (predicting patients who were non‐responsive to treatment) with corresponding sensitivity and specificity values. Logistic regression analysis was performed using these cut‐off values. We studied 133 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C enrolled in a prospective trial of IFN‐α therapy (18 of whom were sustained complete responders). The median viraemia of the 18 sustained responders was 5322 copies ml–1 by the Monitor test and less than 0.2million equivalents ml–1 (MEq ml–1) by the Quantiplex assay; for the 115 non‐responders/relapsers, the median viraemia was 83125 copies ml–1 and 1.128 MEq ml–1 for the Monitor test and Quantiplex assay, respectively. Spearman’s rank test gave a correlation of 0.63 between assays. The best predicting cut‐off values were 22134 copies ml–1 for the Monitor test and 0.330 MEq ml–1 for the Quantiplex assay; their respective sensitivities and specificities were 72% and 75% for Monitor and 67% and 83% for Quantiplex. By logistic regression analysis, the age and gender‐adjusted odds ratios of high vs low HCV RNA levels, defining the risk of non‐response, were 10.6 (CI 3.1–35.7) for Monitor and 14.3 (CI 4.3–47.3) for Quantiplex. The two assays had comparable sensitivity for serum HCV RNA but they identified different predictive cut‐offs for non‐response to therapy.