Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surfactant inhibition by plasma proteins: differential sensitivity of various surfactant preparations.

Leakage of plasma proteins into the alveolar space may inhibit surfactant function. We compared the surface properties and the sensitivity to inhibitory proteins of different organic solvent surfactant extracts and a synthetic surfactant. Experiments were performed in the pulsating bubble surfactometer, with surfactant concentrations ranging between 0.1 and 2 mg.ml-1. Inhibition profiles towards fibrinogen, albumin and haemoglobin were obtained from calf lung surfactant extracts (CLSE), Alveofact, Curosurf and Survanta (all used in clinical, replacement studies in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and of an apoprotein-based synthetic phospholipid mixture (PLM-C/B; DPPC:PG:PA = 68.5:22.5:9, supplemented with 2% wt/wt non-palmitoylated human recombinant SP-C and 1% t/wt natural bovine SP-B). In the absence of inhibitory proteins, all surfactants exhibited dose-dependent rapid adsorption (rank order of relative efficacy PLM-C/B = CLSE > Alveofact > Curosurf > Survanta). Minimal surface tension was reduced to near zero values under dynamic compression (rank order PLM-C/B > CLSE > Alveofact = Curosurf) and to approximately 4 mN.m-1 (Survanta). Curosurf and Survanta were dose-dependently inhibited by fibrinogen > haemoglobin > albumin, with far-reaching loss of surface activity at protein-surfactant ratios above 1:1. In contrast, CLSE and Alveofact were only moderately inhibited by fibrinogen, and were not affected by haemoglobin and albumin, up to protein-surfactant ratios of 2:1. PLM-C/B exhibited resistance to fibrinogen, intermediate sensitivity to albumin, and was severely inhibited by haemoglobin. We conclude that various natural surfactant extracts and an apoprotein-based synthetic surfactant mixture markedly differ in their sensitivity to inhibitory plasma proteins. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Polymer Replicas of Photonic Porous Silicon for Sensing and Drug Delivery Applications

Elaborate one-dimensional photonic crystals are constructed from a variety of organic and biopolymers, which can be dissolved or melted, by templating the solution-cast or injection-molded materials in porous silicon or porous silicon dioxide multilayer (rugate dielectric mirror) structures. After the removal of the template by chemical dissolution, the polymer castings replicate the photonic features and the nanostructure of the master. We demonstrate that these castings can be used as vapor sensors, as deformable and tunable optical filters, and as self-reporting, bioresorbable materials.
Potential Therapeutic Mechanisms and Tracking of Transplanted Stem Cells: Implications for Stroke Treatment

Stem cell therapy is a promising potential therapeutic strategy to treat cerebral ischemia in preclinical and clinical trials. Currently proposed treatments for stroke employing stem cells include the replacement of lost neurons and integration into the existing host circuitry, the release of growth factors to support and promote endogenous repair processes, and the secretion of extracellular vesicles containing proteins, noncoding RNA, or DNA to regulate gene expression in recipient cells and achieve immunomodulation. Progress has been made to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying stem cell therapy and the homing, migration, distribution, and differentiation of transplanted stem cells in vivo using various imaging modalities. Noninvasive and safe tracer agents with high sensitivity and image resolution must be combined with long-term monitoring using imaging technology to determine the optimal therapy for stroke in terms of administration route, dosage, and timing. This review discusses potential therapeutic mechanisms of stem cell transplantation for the treatment of stroke and the limitations of current therapies. Methods to label transplanted cells and existing imaging systems for stem cell labeling and in vivo tracking will also be discussed.
Multisite Near Infrared Spectroscopy During Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Pediatric Patients.

Multisite near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has not been extensively validated. Although it might be rational to explore regional tissue saturation at different body sites (namely brain, kidney, upper body, lower body), conflicting results are currently provided by experience in children. The aim of our study was to evaluate absolute values of multisite NIRS saturation during CPB in a cohort of infants undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery to describe average differences between cerebral, renal, upper body (arm), and lower body (thigh) regional saturation. Furthermore, the correlation between cerebral NIRS and cardiac index (CI) at CPB weaning was evaluated. Twenty-five infants were enrolled: their median weight, age, and body surface area were 3.9 (3.3-6) kg, 111 (47-203) days, and 0.24 (0.22-0.33) m(2) , respectively. Median Aristotle score was 8 (6-10), and vasoactive inotropic score at CPB weaning was 16 (14-25). A total of 17 430 data points were recorded by each sensor: two-way ANOVA showed that time (P < 0.0001) and site (P = 0.0001) significantly affected variations of NIRS values: however, if cerebral NIRS values are excluded, sensor site is no more significant (P = 0.184 in the no circulatory arrest [noCA] group and P = 0.42 in the circulatory arrest [CA] group). Analysis of NIRS saturation changes over time showed that, at all sites, average NIRS values increased after CPB start, even if the increase of cerebral saturation was less intense than other sites (P < 0.0001). Detailed analysis of interaction between site of NIRS measurement and time point showed that cerebral NIRS (ranging from 65 to 75%) was always significantly lower than that of other channels (P < 0.0001) that tended to be in the range of oversaturation (80-90%), especially during the CPB phase. Average cerebral NIRS values of patients who did not undergo circulatory arrest (CA) during CPB, 10 min after CPB weaning, were associated with average CI values with a significant correlation (r = 0.7, P = 0.003). In conclusion, during CPB, cerebral NIRS values are expected to remain constantly lower than somatic sensors, which instead tend to show similar elevated saturations, regardless of their position. Based on these results, positioning of noncerebral NIRS sensors during CPB without CA may be questioned.
When loads stray: Evaluation of Different Measurement Methods to Determine Stray Load Losses in Induction Machines

The efficiency data provided by manufacturers are measured or calculated according to different national and international standards. These standards use different means to incorporate the stray load losses; thus the efficiency values obtained from different testing standards can differ by several percent. This leads to problems in competition and to a potentially confusing situation for the manufacturers and customers. This paper evaluates different measurement methods to determine stray load losses in induction machines.
Effect of reboxetine on depression in Parkinson's disease patients.

BACKGROUND Depression occurs frequently in patients with Parkinson's disease and appears to be associated with increased disability and reduced quality of life. Pharmacologic treatment with tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin reuptake inhibitors may produce adverse effects on cognition or motor functions in Parkinson's disease patients. The efficacy of reboxetine, a novel norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has been shown in major depressive disorder, with specific effects on motivation and negligible effects on psychomotor and cognitive function. METHOD The effects of reboxetine on depression were investigated in 16 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in an open, prospective study. Prior antidepressant medication was stopped because of lack of efficacy or intolerable side effects. Severity of depressive symptoms was assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and the Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale during the study period of 4 weeks. RESULTS A significant improvement in depression scores was observed after 4 weeks (z = -3.31, p < .008). In 1 subject, reboxetine treatment was discontinued because of psychotic symptoms. Seven patients experienced transient side effects, including restlessness, insomnia, and increased sweating. There were no significant changes in parkinsonian motor symptoms or dosage of levodopa. CONCLUSION Reboxetine appears to be effective and well tolerated in Parkinson's disease patients receiving 4 weeks of treatment of moderate-to-severe depression. There are good theoretical and clinical reasons, including pharmacologic specificity of effects and low incidence of side effects, to consider reboxetine for treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease.
An effective scattering model for 3-D urban propagation: Application to moving target detection at high-frequency bands

In the present paper, we focus on the design of an effective 3-D modelling for the simulation of urban environment propagation, which integrates the Urban Building Model (UBM), Ray-Tracing (RT) technique and the Uniform Theory of Diffraction (UTD). UBM is an object-oriented data structure, in which each building is an object. Besides that, we also take into account some other urban elements such as car parking, traffic lights. Meanwhile, the RT technique helps us not only to delineate the propagation path but also to explain the interaction mechanism of rays through a complex area. In this work, we use the Shooting and Bouncing Ray (SBR) technique. Last of all, the asymptotic method UTD will be employed in order to calculate the scattered far-field attached to the rays. These rays propagated from the transmitter, after some interactions, mainly reflection and diffraction, inside an urban area, are intercepted by the receiver. This proposed model will be applied at high-frequency bands (X, K). As a consequence, we will evaluate the detection capability of the model for a target, i.e. a car, moving inside a realistic urban area. The simulated results have shown that the model can predict precisely the motion direction of the considered target.
Real-Time Scheduling of Residential Appliances via Conditional Risk-at-Value

This paper investigates the real-time scheduling of residential appliances in the home energy management system (HEMS), including electric water heater (EWH), air conditioner (AC), clothes dryer (CD), electric vehicle (EV), photovoltaic cell (PV) and battery. A demand response (DR) mechanism is proposed to stimulate the household to participate in the DR services. The conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) is applied to make a trade-off between the expected costs and the risk of exposure to uncertainties of the electricity price and other factors. Fuzzy logic controller is utilized to determine the output power of the battery, and two sets of rules are designed to adjust the charging and discharging operations of the battery according to the DR request from the grid. Stochastic aspects of the electricity price, outdoor temperature, hot water usage, PV generation, and loads are considered. Simulation results show that the proposed DR mechanism can decrease the cost of the household considerably, and the proposed real-time scheduling algorithm can optimize the operation of appliances close to the ideal deterministic results, even when the gap between the forecast electricity price and the real price is large.
Isolation and characterization of secondary metabolites from Plumeria obtusa

Chromatographic purification of the methanolic extract of Plumeria obtusa yielded two new iridoid obtusadoids A (1) and B (2), along with eight known compounds plumieridin A (3), plumieridine (4), 1α-plumieride (5), 15-demethylplumieride (6), rel-(3R,3′S,4R,4′S)-3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydro-6,6′-dimethoxy[3,3′-bi-2H-benzopyran]-4,4′-diol (7), glochiflavanoside B (8), oleanolic acid (9), and methyl coumarate (10). The structures of all the isolates (1–10) were determined by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The data of known compounds (3–10) were further compared with the reported data for these compounds.
Effect of dopamine on intracellular sodium: a common pathway for pharmacological mechanism of action in bipolar illness.

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of bipolar illness is unknown. A search for common mechanism of action in effective medications has been utilized as a method to gain clues into mechanisms of illness. The recent increase of reports of documented efficacy of first- and second-generation antipsychotics in the control of mania offers a new opportunity to gain insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of bipolar disorder. METHODS A selected critical review of the literature is performed to gain insights into the effect of antipsychotic medications on ion regulation. RESULTS Dopamine D(1) and D(2) receptor stimulation increases intracellular sodium concentrations. D(1) and D(2) blockade normalizes stimulated intracellular sodium concentrations, and increases active sodium pump expression. CONCLUSIONS A similar exercise has previously suggested that lithium and effective anticonvulsants reduce sodium influx in an activity-dependent manner. The current review suggests that antipsychotic medications may have a similar effect by a different mechanism. The role of ion dysregulation in the genesis of mania in bipolar illness needs to continue to be examined.
Attenuation of FLOWERING LOCUS C activity as a mechanism for the evolution of summer-annual flowering behavior in Arabidopsis

Plant species have evolved a wide variety of flowering habits, each adapted to maximize reproductive success in their local environment. Even within a species, accessions from different environments can exhibit markedly different flowering behavior. In Arabidopsis, some accessions are rapid-cycling summer annuals, whereas others accessions are late flowering and vernalization responsive and thus behave as winter annuals. Two genes, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and FRIGIDA (FRI), interact synergistically to confer the winter-annual habit. Previous work has shown that many summer-annual accessions contain null mutations in the FRI gene; thus it appears that these summer-annual accessions have arisen from winter-annual ancestors by losing FRI function. In this work we demonstrate that naturally occurring allelic variation in FLC has provided another route to the evolution of summer-annual flowering behavior in Arabidopsis. We have identified two summer-annual accessions, Da (1)-12 and Shakhdara, that contain functional alleles of FRI, but are early flowering because of weak alleles of FLC. We have also determined that the weak allele of FLC found in Landsberg erecta is naturally occurring. Unlike accessions that have arisen because of loss-of-function mutations in FRI, the FLC alleles from Da (1)-12, Shakhdara, and Landsberg erecta are not nulls; however, they exhibit lower steady-state mRNA levels than strong alleles of FLC. Sequence analysis indicates that these weak alleles of FLC have arisen independently at least twice during the course of evolution.
Gonadal tumors of mice double transgenic for inhibin-alpha promoter-driven simian virus 40 T-antigen and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase are sensitive to ganciclovir treatment.

We have previously produced transgenic (TG) mice expressing the mouse inhibin alpha-subunit promoter/Simian virus 40 T-antigen (Inhalpha/Tag) fusion gene. The mice develop gonadal somatic cell tumors at the age of 5-7 months; the ovarian tumors originate from granulosa cells, and those of the testes from Leydig cells. In the present study another TG mouse line was produced, expressing under the same inh-alpha promoter the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (Inhalpha/TK). Crossbreeding of the two TG mouse lines resulted in double TG mice (Inhalpha/TK-Inhalpha/Tag), which also developed gonadal tumors. The single (Inhalpha/Tag) and double TG (Inhalpha/TK-Inhalpha/Tag) mice, both bearing gonadal tumors, were treated at the age of 5.5-6.5 months with ganciclovir (GCV, 150 mg/kg body weight twice daily i.p.) for 14 days, or with aciclovir (ACV, 300-400 mg/kg body weight per day perorally) for 2 months. During GCV treatment, the total gonadal volume including the tumor, decreased in double TG mice by an average of 40% (P<0.05), while in single TG mice, there was a concomitant increase of 60% in gonadal size (P<0.05). GCV was also found to increase apoptosis in gonads of the double TG mice. Peroral treatment with ACV was less effective, it did not reduce significantly the gonadal volume. We also analyzed the in vitro efficacy of ACV and GCV treatments in transiently HSV-TK-transfected KK-1 murine granulosa tumor cells, originating from a single-positive Inhalpha/Tag mouse. GCV proved to be more effective and more specific than ACV in action. These results prove the principle that targeted expression of the HSV-TK gene in gonadal somatic cell tumors is potentially useful for tumor ablation by antiherpes treatment. The findings provide a lead for further development of somatic gene therapy for gonadal tumors.
The prothrombinase activity of FGL2 contributes to the pathogenesis of experimental arthritis

Objective: Fibrin deposition is integral to the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Membrane-associated fibrinogen-like protein 2 (mFGL2), a novel inducible prothrombinase, generates fibrin by an alternate pathway and has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of a number of immune-mediated diseases. We hypothesized that expression of mFGL2 in inflamed synovium contributes to the fibrin deposition and subsequent inflammation in arthritis. Methods: DBA/1 mice were immunized with 100 µg bovine collagen type II (CII) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Expression of mFGL2 prothrombinase in association with fibrin deposition was examined in mice with CIA and CD200-treated mice following induction of CIA. To directly assess the contribution of mFGL2, fgl2−/− mice were injected with antibody to CII (anti-CII). Results: Levels of fgl2 mRNA transcripts and mFGL2 protein were markedly up-regulated in joints of mice that developed CIA. Fibrin deposition was prominent within the synovial lining and articular joint space associated with expression of mFGL2. Inhibition of CIA by the immunosuppressant CD200 was associated with decreased expression of fgl2 mRNA and mFGL2 protein and absence of fibrin deposition. Following injection of anti-CII, all fgl2+/+ mice developed severe arthritis with clinical and histological manifestations characteristic of RA, whereas fgl2−/− mice failed to develop any clinical manifestation or histological evidence of arthritis. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the prothrombinase activity of mFGL2 contributes to the pathogenesis of experimental arthritis. These studies may have therapeutic implications for patients with RA.
Evaluation of chronic renal disease in heart transplant recipients: importance of pretransplantation native kidney histologic evaluation.

Although long-term use of cyclosporine has been implicated in the pathogenesis of arteriolar hyalinosis, interstitial fibrosis, and glomerulosclerosis observed in the native kidneys of heart transplant recipients, it is not clear that these histologic abnormalities are entirely specific for a drug-induced toxic nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-standing congestive heart failure, particularly when complicated by disease processes such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, may independently predispose to the development of similar renal histopathology. Records and specimens were selected from autopsy files for evaluation of clinical profiles and kidney histology in 16 patients who died of end-stage cardiomyopathy of varying causes without having recourse to heart transplantation. The study cohort consisted of 12 men and four women. Cardiomyopathies were the result of coronary artery disease in six patients and nonischemic causes in the other 10 patients. The mean age at the time of death was 53 +/- 3 years (range 28 to 74 years). Thirteen (81%) of 16 patients had a history of hypertension. Nadir serum creatinine concentrations during the month before death were 1.7 +/- 0.2 mg/dl (range 1.2 to 3.5 mg/dl). Interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and glomerulosclerosis were present in 15 (94%) of 16 patients. Arteriosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis were found in 13 (81%) of 16 and 14 (88%) of 16 patients, respectively. A nodular pattern of arteriolar hyalinosis was observed in two patients with ischemic disease. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Immunoglobulin G Isotype Responses to Erythrocyte Surface-Expressed Variant Antigens of Plasmodium falciparum Predict Protection from Malaria in African Children

ABSTRACT We assessed immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype responses to variant surface antigens (VSA) expressed on parasite-infected erythrocytes of a panel of heterologous isolates during and after acute episodes in groups of Gabonese children presenting with either mild or severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In the acute and convalescent phases IgG3 and IgG1 anti-VSA antibodies, respectively, predominated. In the absence of infection, the levels of both cytophilic isotypes waned, while those of IgG4 increased, particularly in those admitted with severe malaria. Prospective analyses showed significantly longer delays between malaria attacks associated both (i) with increasing IgG1 responses with specificity for VSA of isolates from children with mild malaria and (ii) with increasing IgG4 responses with specificity for VSA of isolates from children with severe malaria. These findings imply that the predictive value of prospectively measured cross-reactive VSA-specific IgG antibodies with respect to protection against malaria in African children depends both on their isotype and on their fine specificity.
Impact of SOI Substrate on the Radiation Response of UltraThin Transistors Down to the 20 nm Node

In this paper we investigate the Total Ionizing Dose (TID) response of an UltraThin Buried-OXide (UTBOX) on a Fully Depleted Silicon-On-Insulator (FDSOI) high-k/metal gate technology. The impact of thinning the BOX and of the use of a Ground Plane (GP) at the back side of the BOX on the TID behavior are discussed by comparing their results to ionizing radiation experiments performed on reference FDSOI devices.
Power of the linkage test for a heterogeneous disorder due to two independent inherited causes: A simulation study

We have conducted a simulation study in small pedigrees to investigate the power to detect linkage and heterogeneity for a disorder due to either one of two independent disease loci. We have considered a highly polymorphic marker locus (PIC = 70%) linked to one disease locus and unlinked to the second. The power to detect linkage has been examined by using the admixture test. We have varied the mode of transmission of each disease locus, the ascertainment of families and the proportion of cases in the population due to the linked disease locus. Generally, for the multiplex ascertainments we have considered, the power to detect linkage is greater when the linked disease locus has a high penetrance, when the unlinked disease locus has a low penetrance, and when pedigrees with multiple affected are selected. When selecting families with multiple affected, the rate of “mixed” families (i.e., those segregating for both disease loci) increases. However, for the pedigree structure we have considered, the power of the linkage test is more affected by a decrease in the rate of “linked” families than by an increase in the rate of “mixed” families. Finally, the present study shows that detection of linkage in presence of heterogeneity is feasible with a realistic sample size of small pedigrees as long as the linked disease locus accounts for more than 25% of the cases.