Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of nitric oxide production in osteoarthritic and rheumatoid cartilageRole of endogenous IL‐1 inhibitors

Objective: To investigate the endogenous regulation of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) cytokine network in osteoarthritic (OA) and rheumatoid (RA) cartilage in relation to nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods: Cartilage specimen obtained from OA and RA patients undergoing knee replacement surgery were studied for iNOS expression, NO and IL‐1 antagonist production in tissue culture. Results: OA cartilage responded to IL‐1β ‐stimulation with higher NO production than RA cartilage, whereas there was no difference in NO synthesis between OA and RA samples when stimulated by TNFα or LPS. Interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra) production was higher in RA cartilage than in OA cartilage, and its production was increased by NO synthase inhibitor 1400W. Conclusion: IL‐1β is a potent stimulator of NO production by the iNOS pathway in RA and more pronouncedly in OA cartilage. This process is regulated by cartilage derived IL‐1 antagonists, and is implicated in cartilage destruction and synovial inflammation in OA and RA joints.
Western North Pacific Typhoons with Concentric Eyewalls

Abstract This study examines the intensity change and moat dynamics of typhoons with concentric eyewalls using passive microwave data and best-track data in the western North Pacific between 1997 and 2006. Of the 225 typhoons examined, 55 typhoons and 62 cases with concentric eyewalls have been identified. The data indicate that approximately 57% of category 4 and 72% of category 5 typhoons possessed concentric eyewalls at some point during their lifetime. While major typhoons are most likely to form concentric eyewalls, the formation of the concentric structure may not be necessarily at the lifetime maximum intensity. Approximately one-third of concentric eyewall cases are formed at the time of maximum intensity. The moat is known to be heavily influenced by the subsidence forced by the two eyewalls. Rozoff et al. proposed that the rapid filamentation dynamics may also contribute to the organization of the moat. This paper examines the possibility of rapid filamentation dynamics by devising a filamentati.
High variability in stable isotope diet–tissue discrimination factors of two omnivorous freshwater fishes in controlled ex situ conditions

ABSTRACT Diet–tissue discrimination factors (Δ13C and Δ15N) are influenced by variables including the tissues being analysed and the taxon of the consumer and its prey. Whilst differences in Δ13C and Δ15N are apparent between herbivorous and piscivorous fishes, there is less known for omnivorous fishes that consume plant and animal material. Here, the omnivorous cyprinid fishes Barbus barbus and Squalius cephalus were held in tank aquaria and exposed to three diets that varied in their constituents (plant based to fishmeal based) and protein content (13% to 45%). After 100 days and isotopic replacement in fish tissues to 98%, samples of the food items, and dorsal muscle, fin tissue and scales were analysed for δ13C and δ15N. For both species and all diets, muscle was always enriched in δ15N and depleted in δ13C compared with fin tissue and scales. Across the different diets, Δ13C ranged between 2.0‰ and 5.6‰ and Δ15N ranged between 2.0‰ and 6.9‰. The diet based on plant material (20% protein) always resulted in the highest discrimination factors for each tissue, whilst the diet based on fishmeal (45% protein) consistently resulted in the lowest. The discrimination factors produced by non-fish diets were comparatively high compared with values in the literature, but were consistent with general patterns for some herbivorous fishes. These outputs suggest that the diet–tissue discrimination factors of omnivorous fishes will vary considerably between animal and plant prey, and these specific differences need consideration in predictions of their diet composition and trophic position. Summary: The diet–tissue stable isotope discrimination factors of omnivorous fishes can vary considerably according to their dietary taxa and this could influence predictions of their trophic position and diet composition.
SULFUR CONTENTS OF SPIDERS AND INSECTS IN DESERT RIPARIAN HABITAT

Sulfur is an essential element in plants and animals. I measured amounts of sulfur in 4 families of spiders and 22 families of insects collected from created riparian habitat next to the Colorado River in western Arizona. Relation between sulfur mass and body dry-mass, S μg = 7.2 (body mg), in spiders and insects combined was not allometric. Sulfur concentration, as a mean percentage of body dry-mass, was higher in spiders (1.4%) than in insects (0.65%). Coleoptera contained the lowest sulfur concentration (0.35%) among orders. Sulfur contents also varied among arthropod families but not genera. Similar concentrations of sulfur were measured in insect herbivores (0.64%) and predators (0.73%). Taurine, an amino acid-like compound found in spider venom and silk, likely increased sulfur contents in spiders. Variation in sulfur content among riparian spiders and insects, resulting from concentrations of compounds including taurine, the amino acids methionine and cysteine, and their metabolites, may influence foraging by insectivorous birds.
The effects of vasopressin, adrenaline and noradrenaline on the mouse foetus.

The effects of vasopressin (Pitressin) on the mouse foetus have been investigated following intra-amniotic injections (0 1-5 m-u.) into 15- or 16-day pregnant mice. Many of the foetuses surviving the effects of such an injection were abnormal when examined 1-4 days later. The abnormalities consisted of haemorrhagic lesions of the foetal extremities (limbs, tail, tongue and snout) and this was followed by necrosis and sometimes by congenital amputation of the extremity distal to the necrosis. The extent and location of the lesions depended on the dose of vasopressin administered: relatively low doses (for example, 0 lm-u.) affected the digits, while larger doses affected the whole limb, tail and snout in that order. injection of 1 m-u. vasopressin, this arterial constriction persisted for at least 3 hr. After 4 hr, the distal branches of the main limb artery were still intensely constricted and haemorrhages appeared in the limb at the sites of bifurcation of the main limb artery proximal to the constriction. Similar results were obtained with intra-amniotic adrenaline or noradrenaline (5,ug). These results indicate that prolonged and intensive arterial vasospasm is probably responsible for the production of haemorrhagic lesions in the foetal extremities. It is possible that as a result of prolonged vasoconstriction, ischaemic injury of the limb blood vessels and supporting tissues occurs. Thus, when the main limb artery proximal to the sites of bifurcation begins to relax, while marked constriction of the distal branches of this vessel is still present, a rise in pressure occurs in the damaged vessel, causing it to rupture at its weakest point (the sites of bifurcation). An attempt to determine whether acetylcholine can release acetylcholine from a sympathetic ganglion.
Neuroendocrinological effects of acupuncture treatment in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVES Quality of life (QoL) improvement in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) during acupuncture (AC) treatment seems to be due to a placebo effect. The aim was to explore if acupuncture has some specific influence on the neuroendocrinic and autonomic nervous system (ANS). DESIGN/SETTING Patients with IBS were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture (AC) or sham acupuncture (SAC) using the so-called "Streitberger needle". QoL was measured with the functional quality of life diseases quality of life questionnaire (FDDQL) and SF-36. The effect on ANS was evaluated by measuring salivary cortisol and by cardiovascular responses on a tilt table before and after 10 AC treatments. Complete data sets of tilt table and salivary morning cortisol were available for 9 patients in the AC and 12 in SAC group. RESULTS QoL increased in both groups (p=0.001) with no group differences. Salivary cortisol decreased in all groups (F=10.55; p=0.006). However, the decrease was more pronounced in the AC group (F=4.07; p=0.033) (ANOVA repeated measures model). Heart rate response decreased during orthostatic stress in the AC group while it increased in the SAC group (F=9.234; p=0.005), indicating an increased parasympathetic tone in the AC group. Improvement of pain was positively associated with increased parasympathetic tone in the AC group (F=10.1; p=0.006), but not in the SAC group. CONCLUSIONS The acupuncture specific physiological effects are in contrast to the unspecific improvement of QoL in both AC and SAC groups. Thus, different mechanisms seem to be involved in placebo and real-acupuncture driven improvements. The specific mechanism of action of acupuncture on the ANS remains unclear and deserves further evaluation.
Enzymatic interconversion of oleic acid, 10-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, and trans-delta 10-octadecenoic acid. Reaction pathway and stereospecificity.

Abstract A soluble enzyme preparation from Pseudomonas sp. NRRL B-3266 catalyzes the interconversion of cis-Δ9-octadecenoic acid (oleic acid), trans-Δ10-octadecenoic acid, and 10-d-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid. Oleic acid and 10-d-hydroxy-octadecanoic acid are directly interconvertible by hydration and dehydration. The cis and trans unsaturated fatty acid isomers are interconvertible by direct isomerization of the double bond. trans-Δ10-Octadecenoic and 10-d-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid do not undergo direct interconversion without the intermediate formation of (enzyme-bound) oleic acid. Both hydration and isomerization reactions are very specific for a cis-Δ9 double bond, but the isomerization reaction is much more sensitive to changes in the hydrocarbon tail of the substrate distal to the double bond. The isomerization proceeds stereospecifically, with the 11-l (Pro-R) hydrogen of oleic acid being removed and a hydrogen from the medium being added at carbon 9 in the l (Pro-R) configuration. In the reverse reaction the 9-l (Pro-R) hydrogen is removed and a hydrogen from the medium is added at carbon 11. Primary kinetic isotope effects are seen for the removal of the 9-l and 11-l hydrogens. There is a marked discrimination against tritium in the addition of the 11-l hydrogen from the medium. The hydration of oleic acid and the isomerization of trans-Δ10-octadecenoic acid to oleic acid proceed more slowly in highly enriched 2H2O than in H2O, but the isomerization of oleic acid to trans-Δ10-octadecenoic acid is slightly faster in 2H2O.
Duty hour recommendations and implications for meeting the ACGME core competencies: views of residency directors.

OBJECTIVE To describe the views of residency program directors regarding the effect of the 2010 duty hour recommendations on the 6 core competencies of graduate medical education. METHODS US residency program directors in internal medicine, pediatrics, and general surgery were e-mailed a survey from July 8 through July 20, 2010, after the 2010 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour recommendations were published. Directors were asked to rate the implications of the new recommendations for the 6 ACGME core competencies as well as for continuity of inpatient care and resident fatigue. RESULTS Of 719 eligible program directors, 464 (65%) responded. Most program directors believe that the new ACGME recommendations will decrease residents' continuity with hospitalized patients (404/464 [87%]) and will not change (303/464 [65%]) or will increase (26/464 [6%]) resident fatigue. Additionally, most program directors (249-363/464 [53%-78%]) believe that the new duty hour restrictions will decrease residents' ability to develop competency in 5 of the 6 core areas. Surgery directors were more likely than internal medicine directors to believe that the ACGME recommendations will decrease residents' competency in patient care (odds ratio [OR], 3.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-6.3), medical knowledge (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2), practice-based learning and improvement (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.7-4.4), interpersonal and communication skills (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.0), and professionalism (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.0). CONCLUSION Residency program directors' reactions to ACGME duty hour recommendations demonstrate a marked degree of concern about educating a competent generation of future physicians in the face of increasing duty hour standards and regulation.
Cardiac muscarinic potassium channel activity is attenuated by inhibitors of G beta gamma.

The cardiac muscarinic potassium channel (IK.ACh) is activated by a G protein upon receptor stimulation with acetylcholine. The G protein subunit responsible for activation (G alpha versus G beta gamma) has been disputed. We used G beta gamma inhibitors derived from the beta-adrenergic kinase 1 (beta ARK1) to assess the relative importance of G beta gamma in IK.ACh activation. In rabbit atrial myocytes, IK.ACh had a conductance of 49 +/- 6.2 pS. In inside-out patches, the mean open time was 1.60 +/- 0.57 ms, mean time constant (tau o) was 1.59 +/- 0.53 ms, and mean closed time was 3.02 +/- 1.35 ms (n = 38). beta ARK1 is a G beta gamma-sensitive enzyme that interacts with G beta gamma through a defined sequence near its carboxyl terminus. A 28-amino-acid peptide derived from the carboxyl terminus of beta ARK1 (peptide G) increased the closed time to 10.04 ms (P < .001) and decreased opening probability (NPo) by 71% (P < .001). Fusion proteins containing the entire carboxyl terminus of beta ARK1, glutathione S-transferase beta ARK1ct and hexahistidine beta ARK1ct, decreased NPo by 67% (P = .03) and 48% (P = .009), respectively. They also both significantly increased the closed time. None of the inhibitors affected mean open time or channel amplitude. A control peptide derived from a neighboring region of beta ARK1 had no significant effect on IK.ACh activity. These results provide further evidence for the role of G beta gamma in the activation of IK.ACh.
Antioxidant activity of L-ascorbic acid in wild-type and superoxide dismutase deficient strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Much has been published on the non-enzymatic antioxidant L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), but even so its interaction with endogenous cellular defense systems has not yet been fully elucidated. Our study investigated the antioxidant activity of L-ascorbic acid in wild-type strain EG103 (SOD) Saccharomyces cerevisiae and isogenic mutant strains deficient in cytosolic superoxide dismutase (sod1Δ), mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (sod2Δ) or both (sod1Δsod2Δ), metabolizing aerobically or anaerobically with and without the stressing agent paraquat. The results show that during both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism there was a significant increase in the survival of both wild-type S. cerevisiae cells and the mutant cells (sod1Δ, sod2Δ and sod1Δsod2Δ) when pretreated with L-ascorbic acid before exposure to paraquat. Exposure to paraquat resulted in higher catalase activity but this significantly decreased when the cells were pre-treated with L-ascorbic acid. These results demonstrate that due to the damage caused by paraquat, the antioxidant protection of L-ascorbic acid seems to be mediated by catalase levels in yeast cells.
Traditional beliefs about the cause of AIDS and AIDS-related stigma in South Africa

AIDS-related stigmas are pervasive in some segments of South African society and stigmas can impede efforts to promote voluntary counselling and testing and other HIV-AIDS prevention efforts. The current study examined associations among the belief that AIDS is caused by spirits and supernatural forces, AIDS-related knowledge and AIDS-related stigmas. A street intercept survey with 487 men and women living in a Black township in Cape Town, South Africa showed that 11% (n=54) believed that AIDS is caused by spirits and supernatural forces, 21% (n=105) were unsure if AIDS is caused by spirits and the supernatural, and 68% (n=355) did not believe that AIDS is caused by spirits and supernatural forces. Multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for participant age, gender, years of education and survey venue showed that people who believed HIV-AIDS is caused by spirits and the supernatural demonstrated significantly more misinformation about AIDS and were significantly more likely to endorse repulsion and social sanction stigmatizing beliefs against people living with HIV-AIDS. However, nearly all associations between beliefs that AIDS is caused by spirits and AIDS stigmas were non-significant when logistic regressions were repeated with AIDS-related knowledge included as a control variable. This finding suggests that relationships between traditional beliefs about the cause of HIV-AIDS and AIDS stigmas are mediated by AIDS-related knowledge. AIDS education efforts are urgently needed to reach people who hold traditional beliefs about AIDS to remedy AIDS stigmas.
A new iterative algorithm with errors for maximal monotone operators and its applications

Finding zero points for maximal monotone operator is a very active topic in different branches of mathematical and engineering sciences since many physically significant problems can be ultimately converted to it. Consequently, considerable research efforts have been devoted, especially within the past 20 years or so, to the study of iterative algorithms of zero points for maximal monotone operators. By now, there already exist some algorithms, such as proximal point algorithm, hybrid algorithm and regularity algorithm, etc. But all those methods are not quite enough to deal with problems defined in a more general space. In this paper, a new iterative algorithm with errors is introduced which is proved to be weakly convergent to zero point of maximal monotone operator by using some techniques of Lyapunov functional and generalized projection operator, etc. Moreover, some applications of the new algorithm are demonstrated. One of it is to solve a kind of variational inequalities which play a significant role in economics, finance, transportation, elasticity, optimization and structural analysis, etc. The other is to find a minimizer of a given convex function, which is also a very important topic in applied mathematics.
BONE-PATELLAR TENDON-BONE GRAFT PREPARATION TECHNIQUE TO INCREASE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE GRAFT IN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION.

INTRODUCTION Not much has changed in the way the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft is prepared before implantation. We present a modified bone-patellar tendon-bone graft preparation technique by implying the increased cross-sectional area. MATERIAL AND METHODS Measurements of bone-patellar tendon-bone graft were made during the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in 93 male patients. The bone part of bone-patellar tendon-bone graft 10 mm wide and the tendon part 12-14 mm wide was placed on the holder with a handle in a way which allowed sewing the edges of the patellar tendon in a shape of a tube. The circumference of the central part of the graft was measured using a suture tightened around the graft. The diameters of the circle and cross-sectional areas were then calculated using geometrical calculation. RESULTS After preparation of the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft, the fol- lowing measures were recorded: the circumference of 30 mm, the diameter of 9.55 mm, and the cross-sectional area of 72 mm2 in 9 patients; the circumference of 31mm, the diameter of 9.87 mm, and the cross-sectional area of 76 mm2 in 15 patients, and the circumference of 32 mm, the diameter of 10.19 mm, and the cross-sectional area of 82 mm2 in 69 patients. CONCLUSION For the average thickness (3-5 mm) and width (10 mm) of the patellar tendon graft, the cross-sectional area will be 30-50 mm2. The modified bone-patellar tendon-bone graft preparation technique made it possible to increase its cross-sectional area to 71-81 mm2.
Stability of the diagnosis of deficit syndrome in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Primary, enduring negative symptoms have been distinguished from negative symptoms more generally and are used to define the deficit syndrome of schizophrenia. Although the validity of the deficit syndrome has been demonstrated by using brain imaging, neuropsychological, illness outcome, and developmental history data, the stability of this diagnostic category has not been tested prospectively by using direct patient assessments. METHOD Forty-three outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were categorized into deficit and nondeficit groups an average of 3.8 years after having been previously categorized. RESULTS There was 83% agreement between initial and blind follow-up designations of deficit status and 88% agreement on the nondeficit categorization. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence for the long-term stability of the deficit syndrome in patients with schizophrenia and the reliability of the deficit/nondeficit categorization when diagnosed by those with appropriate training. Furthermore, they validate the method of categorizing deficit patients by using cross-sectional and retrospective data.
Resveratrol and life extension

Age is the most important risk factor for diseases affecting the Western world, and slowing age‐related degeneration would greatly improve the quality of human life. In rodents, caloric restriction (CR) extends lifespan by up to 50%. However, attempts to mimic the effects of CR pharmacologically have been limited by our poor understanding of the mechanisms involved. SIRT1 is proposed to mediate key aspects of CR, and small molecule activators may therefore act as CR mimetics. The polyphenol resveratrol activates SIRT1 in an in vitro assay, and produces changes that resemble CR in vivo, including improvements in insulin sensitivity, endurance, and overall survival in obese mice. However, resveratrol has numerous other targets that could contribute to its health benefits. Moreover, unlike bona fide CR, resveratrol has not been shown to extend lifespan in lean mice. Overexpression of SIRT1 or treatment with a novel activator is sufficient to improve metabolism, supporting the idea that resveratrol could act through this pathway. However, the poor phenotype of SIRT1 null mice has thus far precluded a more definitive test.
Exposure to global system for mobile communication (GSM) cellular phone radiofrequency alters gene expression, proliferation, and morphology of human skin fibroblasts.

Human skin fibroblasts were exposed to global system for mobile communication (GSM) cellular phone radiofrequency for 1 h. GSM exposure induced alterations in cell morphology and increased the expression of mitogenic signal transduction genes (e.g., MAP kinase kinase 3, G2/mitotic-specific cyclin G1), cell growth inhibitors (e.g., transforming growth factor-beta), and genes controlling apoptosis (e.g., bax). A significant increase in DNA synthesis and intracellular mitogenic second messenger formation matched the high expression of MAP kinase family genes. These findings show that these electromagnetic fields have significant biological effects on human skin fibroblasts.
Self‐Validation of Cognitive Responses to Advertisements

Two studies tested the notion that the confidence consumers have in their cognitive responses to an ad can increase or decrease the favorability of product attitudes. Increasing confidence in positive thoughts enhanced advertisement effectiveness. Increasing confidence in negative thoughts reduced advertisement effectiveness. These self-validation effects occurred regardless of the type of product and regardless of whether thought confidence was measured or induced through an experimental manipulation. The present research also demonstrated that source credibility can influence consumer attitudes by affecting thought confidence. Finally, thought confidence was distinguished from other potentially related thought dimensions. Antecedents, moderators, and consequences of self-validation effects are described.