Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Strategy for Treatment of Viral Central Nervous System Infection by Using a Cell-Permeating Inhibitor of c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase

ABSTRACT Viral encephalitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet there is no proven efficacious therapy for most viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Many of the viruses that cause encephalitis induce apoptosis and activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) following infection. We have previously shown that reovirus infection of epithelial cell lines activates JNK-dependent apoptosis. We now show that reovirus infection resulted in activation of JNK and caspase-3 in the CNS. Treatment of reovirus-infected mice with a cell-permeating peptide that competitively inhibits JNK activity resulted in significantly prolonged survival of intracerebrally infected mice following an otherwise lethal challenge with T3D (100× 50% lethal dose). Protection correlated with reduced CNS injury, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and reduced c-Jun activation without altering the viral titer or viral antigen distribution. Given the efficacy of the inhibitor in protecting mice from viral encephalitis, JNK inhibition represents a promising and novel treatment strategy for viral encephalitis.
[The effect of topical application of 5-fluorouracil on patency times after incisional myringotomy of guinea pig tympanic membrane].

OBJECTIVES We investigated the effect of topical application of 5-fluorouracil after incisional myringotomy on the patency time and its use as an alternative to ventilation tube insertion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental tympanic membrane perforations were induced in two groups of guinea pigs. One group (20 tympanic membranes) was treated with a 50 mg/ml 5-fluorouracil-soaked sponge over the perforation for five minutes while the other (16 tympanic membranes) with saline-soaked sponges for the same duration. The patency times, otorrhea, and other complications were recorded. RESULTS The mean patency of tympanic membrane perforations following incisional myringotomy was significantly longer in the 5-fluorouracil-treated group (11.3 days vs 7.0 days; p<0.01). None of the ears exhibited permanent perforation. CONCLUSION The length of patency provided by 5-fluorouracil is not sufficient for optimal ventilation time in otitis media with effusion. However, in circumstances in which shorter patency times may provide sufficient ventilation, 5-fluorouracil application may be an alternative to ventilation tube insertion.
Abrasion Wear of Aluminosilicate Refractories

This paper presents an innovative experimental set-up which simulates refractory degradation by separate and simultaneous action of abrasion, erosion and partially or totally immersion corrosion whether dynamic or static. It also presents abrasion testing results obtained from five commercial aluminosilicate refractories used in aluminium melting and holding furnaces. Abrasion wear was quantified by measuring the weight loss and the depth of wear, as well as by determining materials properties degradation, such as the residual rupture force and the residual modulus of rupture. Results were correlated to asfired materials properties, such as rupture force, flexural strength, elastic modulus, toughness, and apparent porosity; in order to establish which property could be used for refractory abrasion wear prediction. They were also related to the critical length of pre-existing defects and to those generated by the abrasion process. Positive correlation was established between abrasion resistance and mechanical properties, particularly for refractory castables. For similar mechanical strength, the castables tested offered less abrasion resistance than the brick sample.
Comparative Oncology of Lung Tumors

Toxicologic pathologists need to understand the comparative oncology of lung tumors because lung cancer is a common and serious cancer in the human population. Lung cancer in humans is known to be caused by cigarette smoke and a number of other carcinogens in the environment. Animal studies are needed to elucidate possible interactions with other potential carcinogens in environmental or occupational settings. In addition, knowledge of dose-response relationships and potential synergistic effects are needed to minimize harmful effects. Understanding the pathogenesis of common lung tumors will also aid in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Toxicologic pathologists need to remember several important points about lung tumors. The lung cancer response varies among species. Important factors in this variation are the nature of the administered carcinogen, the tissue dose of the carcinogen, the mode of exposure, the sensitivity of the test animal species and the similarity to the human response. Studies of molecular changes are important new tools to understanding lung carcinogenesis. For example, the molecular changes in lung tumors of mice and humans have a number of similarities that may be important in evaluating the significance of compound-induced lung tumors in mice.
Corticotrophin‐releasing factor produces a long‐lasting enhancement of synaptic efficacy in the hippocampus

We have previously demonstrated that intra‐hippocampal injection of corticotrophin‐releasing factor improved memory retention of an inhibitory avoidance learning in rats; while the electrophysiological effects corticotrophin‐releasing factor produces on hippocampal neurons are largely uncharacterized. In the present study, we found that corticotrophin‐releasing factor injected into the dentate gyrus of hippocampus produced a dose‐dependent and long‐lasting enhancement in synaptic efficacy of these neurons, as measured by an increase in the amplitude and slope of population excitatory postsynaptic potentials, as well as the amplitude of population spike. The onset of corticotrophin‐releasing factor‐induced potentiation was slow. It was observed approximately 40–60 min after corticotrophin‐releasing factor administration and lasted for more than 5 h. This effect of corticotrophin‐releasing factor was blocked by pretreatment with the cyclase‐adenosine‐3,5‐monophosphate (cAMP) inhibitor Rp‐adenosine‐3,5‐cyclic monophosphothiolate triethylamine (Rp‐cAMPS) and partially blocked by the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antagonist MK‐801. Further, pretreatment with corticotrophin‐releasing factor receptor antagonist dose‐dependently diminished tetanization‐induced long‐term potentiation, and corticotrophin‐releasing factor and tetanic stimuli had an additive effect on hippocampal neuron excitation. Moreover, direct injection of corticotrophin‐releasing factor increased cAMP level in the dentate gyrus. These results together suggest that corticotrophin‐releasing factor‐induced potentiation simulates the late phase of tetanization‐induced long‐term potentiation and cAMP seems to be the messenger mediating this effect. Moreover, corticotrophin‐releasing factor‐induced potentiation and long‐term potentiation may share some similar mechanisms, and corticotrophin‐releasing factor is probably involved in the neural circuits underlying long‐term potentiation. Thus, corticotrophin‐releasing factor may play an important role in modulating synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Incentives for Community Treatment Mental Illness Management Services

Serving people with mental and other chronic illnesses in community settings may improve compliance and satisfaction with treatment, but existing payment mechanisms often favor office-based treatment. This study examines the effect of a change in Medicaid payment on the location and amount of service provided by case managers. Amounts of service given by treatment providers to 185 of their clients in community settings and in mental health centers were compared before and after reimbursement changed from an all-inclusive prospective rate to a mixed prospective/retrospective payment. Clients were enrolled in two different treatment programs: continuous treatment teams with extensive training in in vivo treatment, and a case management program that emphasized office-based treatment. In-community service increased, and the amount of office-based treatment decreased. Continuous treatment teams increased in-community services more than case managers did; case managers decreased office-based treatment more. There was no change in total amount of services provided. It was concluded that mixed prospective and retrospective reimbursement can remove financial barriers to in-community treatment, but it works best in combination with a training program. Additional research is needed to determine the precise financial impact of such changes.
Low-Profile Jamming Technology for Medical Rehabilitation

Integrating novel feedback mechanisms into wearable devices could support medical rehabilitation applications and enhance existing interaction methods. One such feedback mechanism is layer jamming, which can be used to alter material stiffness in real time under computer control. Jamming can be integrated into smart garments, allowing clothing to adapt to environmental conditions or support a particular user task. For example, a person with a knee injury that requires restricted movement for their treatment would normally wear a knee brace. Layer jamming-enabled smart pants can be integrated as part of the treatment to restrict both speed and angular movement of the affected joint during recovery. This article explores the use of smart materials that combine low-profile jamming with clothing items for computer-controlled material stiffness. The authors present a current prototype system that employs jamming technology for this variable stiffness function and discuss future applications.
Thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies during pregnancy as predictive factors of pregnancy complications and maternal morbidity in later life.

CONTEXT Knowledge is scarce concerning the significance of thyroid dysfunction/antibodies during pregnancy in regard to pregnancy complications/later maternal morbidity. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal thyroid dysfunction/antibodies during pregnancy and pregnancy complications or later maternal hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease. DESIGN AND SETTING We studied a prospective population-based cohort, Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986), with follow-up of 20 yr. Medication and hospital discharge records were used to assess maternal morbidity to hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid diseases. PARTICIPANTS The study consisted of mothers of NFBC 1986 with early pregnancy serum samples for thyroid function and antibody analyses (n = 5805). Mothers were grouped and compared according to these test results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We focused on preeclampsia and gestational diabetes during index pregnancy, later maternal hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disease morbidity and total mortality. RESULTS Thyroid dysfunction and antibodies were not associated with pregnancy complications. Overt hypothyroidism was associated with subsequent maternal thyroid disease [hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval), 17.7 (7.8-40.6)] and diabetes [6.0 (2.2-16.4)]. Subclinical hypothyroidism [3.3 (1.6-6.9)], TPO-Ab-positivity [4.2 (2.3-7.4)], and TG-Ab-positivity [3.3 (1.9-6.0)] were also associated with later thyroid disease. No association was found between thyroid dysfunction/antibodies and hypertension or overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS Thyroid dysfunction and antibodies during pregnancy seem to predict later thyroid disease. Overt hypothyroidism poses risk of diabetes.
H‐2Kb TRANSFECTION OF B16 MELANOMA CELLS RESULTS IN REDUCED TUMOURIGENICITY AND METASTATIC COMPETENCE

The metastatic B16 mouse melanoma shows a low cell surface expression of H‐2Kb and H‐2Db class I antigens on cells of both the high‐metastatic line B16‐F10 and the low‐metastatic line B16‐F1. Similarly, newly generated clones of these lines, having different metastatic properties, all express low levels of major histo‐compatibility antigens. One of these clones, the high‐metastatic F10.9, was transfected with H‐2Kb genes to generate H‐2Kb‐expressing transfectants. The resulting clones showed reduced tumourigenicity and a low metastatic phenotype. Unlike the parental cells, H‐2Kb‐positive transfectants are potent inducers and sensitive targets of H‐2Kb‐restricted syngeneic cytotoxic T cells. Immunization of mice with H‐2Kb‐positive transfectants conferred protection against a subsequent challenge with Kb‐positive transfectants but had only a small effect on growth and metastatic spread of parental cells.
Coagulation Activation by Lipopolysaccharides

Lipopolysaccharides at approximate plasma reactivities >3 ng/mL or β-glucans at >0.5-1 μg/mL are toxic for human blood; lipopolysaccharide interacts with membrane components of susceptible cells (eg, monocytes) activating phospholipase A2 that destroys the cell membrane. Cell fragments (microparticles or DNA) possess polynegative niches that activate intrinsic hemostasis. Pathologic disseminated intravascular coagulation arises. Blood vessels are obstructed by disseminated thrombi, and vital organ areas become ischemic. Multiorgan failure threatens life of the patient. Diagnosis and therapy of pathologic disseminated intravascular coagulation is of extreme clinical importance. For early diagnosis of pathologic disseminated intravascular coagulation, specific activation markers of coagulation (eg, plasmatic amidolytic thrombin activity) or the plasmatic lipopolysaccharide or glucan reactivity can be measured. A new treatment target might be kallikrein or factor XIIa; 10 to 20 mM arginine is the approximate 50% inhibitory concentration against the contact phase of coagulation. The complex interaction between cell fragments and hemostasis causes pathologic disseminated intravascular coagulation in sepsis.
An advanced tool for analyzing multiple cascading failures

This paper summarizes the Southern Company methodology and experience in advanced analysis of cascading failures. Cascading failures occur due to loss of generating units at a station, breaker failures, common tower and common right-of-way circuit outages, etc. Once an initiating event occurs, the protection system opens the surrounding breakers so that several protection control groups (PCGs, a set of components which go out of service due to action of breakers) are forced out of service. In its turn, these initial outages could cause severe overloads and voltage deviations on the operational transmission facilities. This may trigger further actions by the protection system isolating other PCGs and tripping generators, and so on. Cascading outages can propagate through the interconnection incurring significant loss of load potentially leading to a system collapse. Southern Company has developed and implemented a unique methodology that allows screening multiple initiating contingencies, simulating the cascading process, evaluating the system impacts, ranking the cascading scenarios based on their severity and likelihood, and identifying the top contingencies that require primarily attention. The methodology has been successfully used for several years. It has already influenced real-life decision-making in transmission system enhancement project prioritization and selection. This methodology is reported in this paper. This paper also provides a brief description of the recent system blackouts worldwide and develops their generic scenario. It is shown that the proposed approach is capable of simulating similar scenarios.
Intravenous but Not Perineural Clonidine Prolongs Postoperative Analgesia After Psoas Compartment Block with 0.5% Levobupivacaine for Hip Fracture Surgery

We evaluated the systemic and local effects of clonidine as an analgesic adjunct to psoas compartment block (PCB) with levobupivacaine. In a randomized, prospective, double-blind trial, 36 patients requiring hip fracture surgery received PCB and general anesthesia. Patients were randomized into three groups. Each patient received PCB with 0.4 mL/kg of levobupivacaine 0.5%. The control group (group L) received IV saline, the systemic clonidine group (group IC) received IV clonidine 1 &mgr;g/kg, and the peripheral clonidine group (group C) received IV saline and PCB with clonidine 1 &mgr;g/kg. The interval from time of completion of block injection to first supplementary analgesic administration was longer in group IC compared with group L (mean ± sd, 13.4 ± 6.1 versus 7.3 ± 3.6 h; P = 0.03). There was no difference between group C and group L (10.3 ± 5.9 versus 7.3 ± 3.6 h; P > 0.05). The groups were similar in terms of 24 h cumulative morphine and acetaminophen consumption. There were no significant differences among groups regarding postoperative adverse effects (bradycardia, hypotension, sedation, and nausea). We conclude that IV but not perineural clonidine (1 &mgr;g/kg) prolongs analgesia after PCB without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.
Should we switch from combination UVA/UVB phototherapy units to narrowband UVB?

With the dozens of treatments available for psoriasis, why do we need newer treatments that are more expensive and have not stood the test of time? The same question could have been asked 80 years ago when William Goeckerman introduced his regimen for the treatment of psoriasis. And the answer remains the same: We will always be looking for treatments that are more effective, safer and more convenient. The rush to narrowband UVB is justified because it has been driven by efficacy that is superior to that of broadband UVB and a safety profile that theoretically should be better than that of PUVA. The question that is often asked by dermatologists starting out or beginning to use phototherapy is whether they should purchase combination UVA/UVB units or narrowband phototherapy units. There are certain advantages to narrowband UVB. For many patients, it is clearly superior to broadband UVB. In a bilateral comparison study in which half the body was exposed to narrowband UVB and the other half to broadband UVB daily for 4 weeks, clearing of psoriasis was achieved in 86% of sides treated with narrowband UVB versus 73% treated with broadband UVB (1). In the typical plaque psoriasis patients studied, however, differences between the two treatments were not striking. In contrast, patients refractory to broadband UVB frequently respond to narrowband UVB. Narrowband is not only effective for psoriasis, it is also used for many disorders previously treatable only with PUVA. It has been used to successfully treat vitiligo (2), small plaque parapsoriasis (3) and mycosis fungoides (3, 4), and atopic dermatitis in children (5) and in adults (6). In a bilateral paired comparison study looking at bath PUVA versus narrowband UVB, both regimens were judged to be equally effective for severe, chronic atopic dermatitis when administered in comparably erythemogenic doses (7). Narrowband UVB has also been used to treat seborrheic dermatitis (8), dermatoses of pregnancy (9),subcorneal pustular dermatosis of Sneddon-Wilkinson (10, 11) and a number of photodermatoses (12), including
REPLOT: REtrieving Profile Links On Twitter for malicious campaign discovery

Social networking sites are increasingly subject to malicious activities such as self-propagating worms, conﬁdence scams and drive-by-download malware. The high number of users associated with the presence of sensitive data, such as personal or professional information, is certainly an unprecedented opportunity for attackers. These attackers are moving away from previous platforms of attack, such as emails, towards social networking websites. In this paper, we present a full stack methodology for the identiﬁcation of campaigns of malicious proﬁles on social networking sites, composed of maliciousness classiﬁcation, campaign discovery and attack proﬁling. The methodology named REPLOT, for REtrieving Proﬁle Links On Twitter, contains three major phases. First, proﬁles are analysed to determine whether they are more likely to be malicious or benign. Second, connections be-tween suspected malicious proﬁles are retreived using a late data fusion approach consisting of temporal and authorship analysis based models to discover campaigns. Third, the analysis of the discovered campaigns is performed to understand the attacks. In this paper, we apply this methodology to a real world dataset, with a view to understanding the links between malicious proﬁles, their attack methods and their connections. Our analysis identiﬁes a cluster of linked proﬁles focusing on propagating malicious links, as well as proﬁling two other major clusters of attacking campaigns.
L'analyse des correspondances internes d'un tableau partitionné : son usage en hydrobiologie

Un tableau d'analyse des correspondances est partitionne en L blocs lignes et K blocs colonnes. On ne veut tenir compte dans sa description que des structures internes des sous-tableaux definis par les deux partitions. La note introduit dans le schema de dualite de l'analyse des correspondances deux projecteurs et precise les aides a l'interpretation qui en decoulent
An evaluation of pharmacist and health food store retailer's knowledge regarding potential drug interactions associated with St. John's wort.

BACKGROUND Natural health products (NHP) are increasingly being used by patients concomitantly receiving prescription drugs, which can result in potentially serious drug-herb interactions. This is particularly true for St. John's wort. OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to evaluate pharmacists and natural health product retailers' knowledge on this topic. METHODS An interviewer approached 24 pharmacists and 6 natural health product retailers to obtain information regarding St. John's wort. If asked, the interviewer indicated that they were currently using cyclosporine to treat a problem of proteinuria. The response of the pharmacist or NHP retailer to a series of questions was recorded after the encounter. RESULTS 90% of respondents indicated that St. John's wort was useful for treating depression. Two-thirds of the respondents required prompting by the interviewer before providing any comments pertaining to safety. 60% of the respondents inquired about concurrent medications and 40% made statements regarding potential drug-herb interactions. CONCLUSION Despite the potential for a serious drug-herb interaction involving St. John's wort and cyclosporine, less than half of the pharmacists and natural health product retailers that were encountered in the study addressed this topic with the prospective patient/client. Individuals selling natural health products need to communicate more information to their patients/clients regarding potential drug-herb interactions.
Irony and relevance: A reply to Seto, Hamamoto and Yamanashi

The papers by Professors Seto, Hamamoto and Yamanashi make a valuable con­ tribution to the analysis of verbal irony, both practical and theoretical. We would like to thank them for their positive comments on the relevance-theoretic ac­ count, and for the interesting questions they raise. In particular, we are grateful to Hamamoto for his analysis of the relations between verbal and situational irony (based on the writings of Professor Kawakami), to Seto for his insightful discus­ sion of a variety of markers of echoic use, and to Yamanashi for drawing atten­ tion to many problems with standard approaches to irony (for example, the fact that the interaction between metaphor and irony is incompatible with standard approaches). In this brief reply, we will look at three main issues. First, is verbal irony necessarily echoic? Should a category of non-echoic irony be recognised, as Seto and Hamamoto propose? Second, is there a clear-cut boundary between ironical and non-ironical utterances, or are there borderline cases, as Yamanashi sug­ gests? Third, can the relevance-theoretic account of irony shed light on a range of more complex cases, including those discussed by Hamamoto? We will end with some more general reflections on whether irony is a natural kind.