Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
STAT1 activation and STAT1-dependent immune-response gene ICAM-1 expression in alveolar macrophages of rats suffered from interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

AIM To investigate the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT(1)) in alveolar macrophages (AMs) from rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS Fifty adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: One group was intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (BLM), while another group with 9 g/L NaCl solution (NS). The kinetic change of STAT(1) activation and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expression in AMs was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. RESULTS (1)STAT(1) was rarely activated in AMs of NS group. After bleomycin treatment, the STAT(1) activation of AMs was significantly increased on day 1, climaxed on day 7, and then gradually decreased, but remaining significantly higher than that of NS group on day 28 (P<0.05). (2)There was only a few cells ICAM-1 higher than that positively stained in AMs of NS group. After intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, the number of ICAM-1 positive stained cells was significantly increased on day 1, reached its peak values on day 7, and then gradually decreased, and still higher than that of NS group on day 28 (P<0.05). (3)There was a significant correlationship between STAT(1) activation and ICAM-1 expression in AMs (r =0.913, P<0.01). Further more, the ICAM-1 expression in AMs was significantly correlated with the severity of inflammation in lung tissues (r =0.947, P<0.01). CONCLUSION STAT(1) was abnormally activated in AMs of rats with bleomycin-induced interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The abnormal STAT(1) activation may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis.
The SC-MMSE turbo MIMO equalizer with reduced complexity decoding algorithms

The research results of reduced complexity turbo equalizer study are presented. The SC-MMSE equalizer includes serial intersymbol canceller and multiple input multiple output MMSE filter in its structure. The three different soft input soft output (SISO) decoding algorithms with different code types are evaluated. The soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) with convolution codes, the soft output Chase algorithm with block codes and multidimensional single parity check soft output decoder are implemented in the turbo equalizer simulator. The comparison of equalizer performance with different SISO algorithms shows that substantial complexity and power consumption reduction could be achieved with SISO Chase and multidimensional parity check decoding that could provide system performance quite close to the optimum algorithms. The multidimensional parity check decoder provides a large number degrees of freedom for the system designer that could be exploited efficiently together with reduced complexity, robustness and lower power consumption in wireless communication systems.
Spatial and temporal control of transgene expression with a heat-sensitive promoter and MRI guided focused ultrasound

Introduction: Local production of therapeutic proteins, via gene therapy approaches, holds great promise for cancer treatments. Control of transgene expression, however, remains one of the fundamental problems of gene therapy. Ideally, the level of expression should be controlled both in time and in space. Here, we present such a a control system that is based on the use of a well-known heat-sensitive promoter (hsp70) and local hyperthermia generated noninvasively by MRI guided focused ultrasound (MRI/FUS). We have previously shown that MRI/FUS induced local expression of the natural hsp70 protein demonstrating the suitability of the hsp70 promoter as the heatsensitive control element (1). Here, we extend this work to show induction of a transgene (GFP, green fluorescent protein) under control of the human hsp70 promoter.
Differential effects of short‐ and long‐term hyperhomocysteinaemia on cholinergic neurons, spatial memory and microbleedings in vivo in rats

Hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) has been identified as a cardiovascular risk factor for neurodegenerative brain diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of short (5 months) or long (15 months) HHcy in Sprague–Dawley rats in vivo. Short‐ and long‐term HHcy differentially affected spatial memory as tested in a partially baited eight‐arm radial maze. HHcy significantly reduced the number of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)‐positive neurons in the basal nucleus of Meynert and ChAT‐positive axons in the cortex only after short‐term but not long‐term treatment, while acetylcholine levels in the cortex were decreased at both time points. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was significantly enhanced in the cortex only after 15 months of HHcy. HHcy did not affect cortical levels of amyloid precursor protein, beta‐amyloid(1‐42), tau and phospho‐tau181 and several inflammatory markers, as well as vascular RECA‐1 and laminin density. However, HHcy induced cortical microbleedings, as illustrated by intensive anti‐rat IgG‐positive spots in the cortex. In order to study the regulation of the key enzyme ChAT, organotypic rat brain slices were incubated with homocysteine, which induced a decline of ChAT that was counteracted by NGF treatment. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that chronic short‐ and long‐term HHcy differentially caused memory impairment, cholinergic dysfunction, NGF expression and vascular microbleedings.
Isospora suis Enteritis in Piglets

A species of porcine coccidia, Isospora suis, when inoculated into piglets, produced diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss and death. Gross lesions were characterized by a fibrinonecrotic membrane within the jejunum and ileum. Villous atrophy and variable erosion, often with an adhered necrotic membrane, were seen microscopically. Asexual and sexual stages of I. suis were seen within the intestinal epithelium and oocysts were recovered from the feces. The severity of clinical disease and lesions were dose-related.
Postsynaptic effects of long-range afferents in distant segments caudal to their entry point in rat spinal cord under the influence of picrotoxin or strychnine.

1. Previous work has shown that substantial numbers of arriving myelinated afferent nerve fibers travel for many segments caudal to their entry point and terminate in the gray matter of distant segments. This fact is surprising because no monosynaptic post-synaptic responses attributable to these long-range afferents are observable in the distant segments. Evidence has been produced to explain this paradox by showing that impulse transmission is normally blocked in these long-range afferents by the tonic operation of a primary afferent depolarization (PAD) mechanism. Impulse transmission is restored if the PAD mechanism is disabled with gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonists. In this paper we examine the postsynaptic consequence of restoring conduction in the long-range afferents with picrotoxin. Because picrotoxin blocks PAD and increases the excitability of cells, we here contrast its action with that of the glycine antagonist strychnine, which increases the excitability of dorsal horn cells but does not affect PAD. 2. The preparation used throughout these experiments was decerebrate and spinal at T11. On one side dorsal roots T12, T13, and L1 were intact but all more caudal roots on that side were cut. Recordings of single units were made in the L6 segment with a rigid search pattern. The innervated area of skin on the flank was repeatedly stimulated with pressure in a repeated pattern. In the control state, few cells were detected responding in the L6 segment, which was five to seven segments caudal to the intact dorsal roots. After picrotoxin, the number of cells with excitatory receptive fields rose by a factor of 8, whereas there was no change in the number of inhibited cells. By contrast, after strychnine there was no change in the number of excited cells but the number of inhibited cells rose by a factor of 10. Details of the size of receptive fields, adequate stimuli, and location of the responding cells are provided. 3. To determine the number of synapses involved in producing the excitatory responses of L6 cells, we applied electrical stimuli to the peripheral receptive fields and to the L1 dorsal root. In the presence of picrotoxin, many cells were recorded with a latency consistent with monosynaptic connection. Some of these cells responded twice to two stimuli separated by 2 ms, but there was a latency variation between successive responses. Some cells responded with a short fixed latency and twice in 2 ms. No such cells were detected in the control state or in the presence of strychnine. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Vertical stratification of subsurface microbial community composition across geological formations at the Hanford Site.

Microbial diversity in subsurface sediments at the Hanford Site 300 Area near Richland, Washington state (USA) was investigated by analysing 21 samples recovered from depths of 9-52 m. Approximately 8000 near full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences were analysed across geological strata that include a natural redox transition zone. These strata included the oxic coarse-grained Hanford formation, fine-grained oxic and anoxic Ringold Formation sediments, and the weathered basalt group. We detected 1233 and 120 unique bacterial and archaeal OTUs (operational taxonomic units at the 97% identity level) respectively. Microbial community structure and richness varied substantially across the different geological strata. Bacterial OTU richness (Chao1 estimator) was highest (> 700) in the upper Hanford formation, and declined to about 120 at the bottom of the Hanford formation. Just above the Ringold oxic-anoxic interface, richness was about 325 and declined to less than 50 in the deeper reduced zones. The deeper Ringold strata were characterized by a preponderance (c. 90%) of Proteobacteria. The bacterial community in the oxic sediments contained not only members of nine well-recognized phyla but also an unusually high proportion of three candidate divisions (GAL15, NC10 and SPAM). Additionally, 13 novel phylogenetic orders were identified within the Deltaproteobacteria, a clade rich in microbes that carry out redox transformations of metals that are important contaminants on the Hanford Site.
Benzopyrimido‐pyrrolo‐oxazine‐dione CFTR inhibitor (R)‐BPO‐27 for antisecretory therapy of diarrheas caused by bacterial enterotoxins

Secretory diarrheas caused by bacterial enterotoxins, including cholera and traveler's diarrhea, remain a major global health problem. Inappropriate activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel occurs in these diarrheas. We previously reported that the benzopyrimido‐pyrrolooxazinedione (R)‐BPO‐27 inhibits CFTR chloride conductance with low‐nanomolar potency. Here, we demonstrate using experimental mouse models and human enterocyte cultures the potential utility of (R)‐BPO‐27 for treatment of secretory diarrheas caused by cholera and Escherichia coli enterotoxins. (R)‐BPO‐27 fully blocked CFTR chloride conductance in epithelial cell cultures and intestine after cAMP agonists, cholera toxin, or heat‐stable enterotoxin of E. coli (STa toxin), with IC50 down to ~5 nM. (R)‐BPO‐27 prevented cholera toxin and STa toxin‐induced fluid accumulation in small intestinal loops, with IC50 down to 0.1 μg/kg. (R)‐BPO‐27 did not impair intestinal fluid absorption or inhibit other major intestinal transporters. Pharmacokinetics in mice showed >90% oral bioavailability with sustained therapeutic serum levels for >4 h without the significant toxicity seen with 7‐d administration at 5 μg/kg/d. As evidence to support efficacy in human diarrheas, (R)‐BPO‐27 blocked fluid secretion in primary cultures of enteroids from human small intestine and anion current in enteroid monolayers. These studies support the potential utility of (R)‐BPO‐27 for therapy of CFTR‐mediated secretory diarrheas. —Cil, O. , Phuan, P.‐W. , Gillespie, A.M., Lee, S. , Tradtrantip, L. , Yin, J., Tse, M. , Zachos, N.C. , Lin, R. , Donowitz, M. , Verkman, A.S. Benzopyrimido‐pyrrolo‐oxazine‐dione CFTR inhibitor (R)‐BPO‐27 for antisecretory therapy of diarrheas caused by bacterial enterotoxins. FASEB J. 31, 751–760 (2017). http://www.fasebj. org
Evaluation of Microvascular Permeability with Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for the Differentiation of Primary CNS Lymphoma and Glioblastoma: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging can provide in vivo assessment of the microvasculature in intracranial tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging derived vascular permeability parameters, including the volume transfer constant, the volume of extravascular extracellular space, and the flux rate constant between the extravascular extracellular space and plasma, for the differentiation of primary CNS lymphoma and glioblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty glioblastomas and 11 primary central nervous system lymphomas were included. Pretreatment T1-weighted dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging with a 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequence was performed on a 3T MR imaging scanner. Perfusion parameters (volume transfer constant, the volume of extravascular extracellular space, and the flux rate constant) were measured on the basis of the Tofts-Kernmode model. The Mann-Whitney U test and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to compare those parameters between primary central nervous system lymphoma and glioblastoma. Histopathologic correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging findings was performed by using reticulin staining and CD31 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Median volume transfer constant and flux rate constant values were significantly higher in primary central nervous system lymphoma (0.145 ± 0.057 and 0.396 ± 0.088) than in glioblastoma (0.064 ± 0.021 and 0.230 ± 0.058) (P < .001, respectively). Median volume of extravascular extracellular space values did not differ significantly between primary central nervous system lymphoma (0.434 ± 0.165) and glioblastoma (0.319 ± 0.107). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, volume transfer constant had the best discriminative value for differentiating primary central nervous system lymphoma and glioblastoma (threshold, 0.093; sensitivity, 90.9%; specificity, 95.0%). Histopathologic evaluation revealed intact vascular integrity in glioblastoma despite endothelial proliferation, whereas primary central nervous system lymphoma demonstrated destroyed vessel architecture, thereby promoting vascular disintegrity. CONCLUSIONS: Primary central nervous system lymphoma demonstrated significantly higher volume transfer constant and flux rate constant values compared with glioblastoma, implying a higher vascular permeability in primary central nervous system lymphoma. These findings confirm initial observations from perfusion CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging studies, correlating with underlying histopathologic features, and may be useful in distinguishing primary central nervous system lymphoma from glioblastoma.
A multimodal analgesia protocol for total knee arthroplasty. A randomized, controlled study.

BACKGROUND Although numerous methods of postoperative analgesia have been investigated in an attempt to improve pain control after total knee arthroplasty, parenteral narcotics still play a major role in postoperative pain management. Local anesthetics have the advantage of blocking pain conduction at its origin and minimizing the systemic side effects associated with postoperative narcotic use. This study was performed to evaluate the benefits and safety of a multimodal analgesia protocol that included periarticular injection of large doses of local anesthetics in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. METHODS We compared morphine consumption during the first twenty-four hours after unilateral total knee arthroplasty in forty-two patients who had been randomized to receive either (1) a perioperative infiltration mixture, consisting principally of local anesthetic, and self-administered morphine or (2) self-administered morphine only. Narcotics consumption, pain control, medication-related side effects, plasma levels of the local anesthetic (ropivacaine), and postoperative rehabilitation were monitored. RESULTS Although there was high satisfaction and good pain control in both groups, morphine consumption was significantly lower in the local analgesia group than it was in the control group (28.8 +/- 17.4 mg compared with 50.3 +/- 25.4 mg twenty-four hours after surgery, and 46.7 +/- 19.4 mg compared with 68.6 +/- 38.6 mg forty hours after surgery). Both groups achieved a similar amount of knee flexion on the fifth postoperative day. Over the five-day period after the procedure, the patients in the local analgesia group reported a total of 2.6 +/- 3.9 hours of nausea compared with 7.1 +/- 12.2 hours in the control group. No complications related to the infiltration of the local anesthetic were observed, and all plasma concentrations of the local anesthetic were below the toxic range. CONCLUSIONS This multimodal perioperative analgesia protocol that included infiltration of a local anesthetic offered improved pain control and minimal side effects to patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Our study also confirmed the safety of the protocol.
A Harmonic and Size Reduced Ring Hybrid Using Coupled Lines

Parallel coupled lines are applied to design a microstrip ring hybrid for size reduction and harmonic suppression. A properly combined parallel coupled line with an open stub shows a low pass filter characteristic and equivalently lambda/4 electrical length. By substituting the coupled line for each one of the six lambda/4 parts in the conventional ring hybrid, we achieve both significant size reduction and excellent harmonic suppression without the degradation of the hybrid characteristic itself. The size of the fabricated ring hybrid is one fourth of the conventional one, and the simulated and the measured second and third harmonics are suppressed about 20dB
Molecular analysis of the PAX8 gene in a sample of Mexican patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism: identification of the recurrent p.Arg31His mutation

1 Stratakis, C.A. , Jenkins, R.B. , Pras, E. et al. (1996) Cytogenetic and microsatellite alterations in tumors from patients with the syndrome of myxomas, spotty skin pigmentation, and endocrine overactivity (Carney complex). The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 81, 3607–3614. 2 Stratakis, C.A. , Pras, E. , Lin, J.-P. et al. (1995) Carney complex, a multiple endocrine neoplasia and familial lentiginosis syndrome: clinical analysis and linkage to the D2S123 locus (chromosome 2p16). American Journal of Human Genetics, 57, 54. 3 Matyakhina, L. , Pack, S. , Kirschner, L.S. et al. (2003) Chromosome 2 (2p16) abnormalities in Carney complex tumours. Journal of Medical Genetics, 40, 268–277. 4 Basu, A. & Sivaprasad, U. (2007) Protein kinase Cepsilon makes the life and death decision. Cellular Signalling, 19, 1633–1642. 5 Petiti, J.P., Gutiérrez, S. & De Paul, A.L. et al. (2010) GH3B6 pituitary tumor cell proliferation is mediated by PKCalpha and PKCepsilon via ERK 1/2-dependent pathway. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 26, 135–146.
Green Purchasing by MNC Subsidiaries: The Role of Local Tailoring in the Presence of Institutional Duality

To examine the essential determinants of green purchasing by multinational corporations� (MNC) subsidiaries, this study takes institutional theory as a foundation and focuses on the institutional duality associated with localization and globalization. Specifically, we develop a model to explain subsidiaries� green purchasing and empirically test the model with data from 141 purchasing managers and senior purchasing staff members from subsidiaries in 39 countries. Our results suggest that pressures from headquarters and the local environment do not affect subsidiaries� green purchasing directly; rather, they exert indirect influences through local tailoring. This study contributes to extant literature by revealing the significance of local tailoring in an MNC context. In addition, our findings offer several implications for practice by providing a roadmap for disseminating green purchasing across the subsidiaries of an MNC, as well as highlighting the importance of both clear communication about the benefits of green purchasing and internal audits.
Breast feeding and childhood asthma

Asthma is the most chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of morbidity in children globally as measured by emergency department visits, hospitalisations and days of missed school.1 Susceptibility to asthma may be increased by factors present early in life, including low birth weight, preterm birth, young maternal age and male gender. Environmental allergens including household smoking, house dust mite, grasses or pollens are also implicated. Conversely, early exposure to respiratory infections may be protective, although certain infections are suspected to increase the risk. Against this complex aetiological background, there is some evidence that breast feeding may protect against the development of asthma in children.2 3 In this issue of Thorax , a birth cohort study by Scholtens and colleagues assesses whether the association between breast feeding and asthma measured longitudinally from 1 to 8 years of age is influenced by maternal and paternal allergy ( see page 604 ). The main finding of the study confirmed that breast feeding for >16 weeks was significantly associated with reduced asthma prevalence from 3 to 8 years without evidence of attenuation and regardless of family history.4 The study population consisted of 3963 Dutch children born in 1996/1997 who participated in the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort study and who were followed every year for 8 years. Asthma was defined as at least one attack of wheeze and/or dyspnoea and/or prescription of inhalation steroids in the last year. Chronic asthma was defined as asthma diagnosis at 8 years with asthma diagnosis in at least two other years. Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to common airborne allergens and bronchial hyper-responsiveness were measured according to a standard protocol. Breast feeding was measured at 3 months and at 1 …
Trendspotter Detection System for Twitter

It is too difficult for us to find out trends with search engines. Twitter, a popular microblogging tool, has seen a lot of growth since it launched in October, 2006. Information about the trends are posted by many twitterers. If we find out trendspotters from twitterers, and follow them, we can get it more easily. Our system uses the burst detection algorithm, and we verified its effectiveness for Twitter’s posts. Finaly, we succeeded in detecting the 24 trendspotters by 5277 users. 1. は じ め に