Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Luminal prostaglandin E receptors regulate salt and water transport in rabbit cortical collecting duct.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is the major renal cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid. Urinary excretion of PGE2 is increased by dietary salt restriction, as well in cirrhosis and congestive heart failure. To determine whether urinary PGE2 affects transport along the nephron, the actions of luminal PGE2 were studied in the isolated perfused rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD). Luminal PGE2 transiently hyperpolarized transepithelial voltage (Vt) in a dose-dependent manner (half-maximal effect approximately 10(-8) M) in contrast to a sustained depolarization of Vt produced by basolateral PGE2. Luminal PGE2 (0.1 microM) also significantly stimulated osmotic water permeability in the CCD. In CCDs cultured on semipermeable supports, apical PGE2 stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production, suggesting the effects of luminal PGE2 are mediated by adenylyl cyclase-stimulating EP2 or EP4 receptors. Sulprostone, a PGE2 analogue selective for EP1 and EP3 receptors, affected Vt only when applied from the basolateral but not the luminal surface. Luminal application of the EP2 receptor agonist butaprost was also without effect. These results suggest that luminal PGE2 affects Vt via a butaprost-insensitive EP4 receptor. The Vt effect of luminal PGE2 was not blocked by pertussis toxin, also arguing against an EP3-mediated Gi-coupled effect. Finally, 1 microM luminal PGE2 only slightly increased CCD intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), in contrast to the marked increase in [Ca2+]i produced by basolateral PGE2 (0.1 microM). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Combining different variance reduction approaches for PET image reconstruction

A variety of approaches have been proposed to reduce the variance in reconstructed PET images. In this work, we assess the effect of different combinations of variance reduction techniques on the quality of reconstructed images. These methods include MLEM with early termination, MLEM with post-smoothing, MAPEM and MLEM with inclusion of a convolution matrix prior to the system matrix. Different combinations of these methods have been implemented and tested on a raclopride 2D simulation. Evaluations were based on assessing single pixel values in the striatum region excluding the edges, since it is of interest for finding parametric images (e.g. binding potential). The results indicate that MAPEM regularization with the inclusion of a convolution matrix prior to the system matrix with or without post-smoothing is able to perform better than other regularization strategies used in isolation. Moreover, the analysis performed in this paper shows that the inclusion of a convolution matrix within MAPEM also reduces the sensitivity of the method to the regularization hyperparameter.
Exosome‐Mediated Transfer of miR‐133b from Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Neural Cells Contributes to Neurite Outgrowth

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have potential therapeutic benefit for the treatment of neurological diseases and injury. MSCs interact with and alter brain parenchymal cells by direct cell‐cell communication and/or by indirect secretion of factors and thereby promote functional recovery. In this study, we found that MSC treatment of rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) significantly increased microRNA 133b (miR‐133b) level in the ipsilateral hemisphere. In vitro, miR‐133b levels in MSCs and in their exosomes increased after MSCs were exposed to ipsilateral ischemic tissue extracts from rats subjected to MCAo. miR‐133b levels were also increased in primary cultured neurons and astrocytes treated with the exosome‐enriched fractions released from these MSCs. Knockdown of miR‐133b in MSCs confirmed that the increased miR‐133b level in astrocytes is attributed to their transfer from MSCs. Further verification of this exosome‐mediated intercellular communication was performed using a cel‐miR‐67 luciferase reporter system and an MSC‐astrocyte coculture model. Cel‐miR‐67 in MSCs was transferred to astrocytes via exosomes between 50 and 100 nm in diameter. Our data suggest that the cel‐miR‐67 released from MSCs was primarily contained in exosomes. A gap junction intercellular communication inhibitor arrested the exosomal microRNA communication by inhibiting exosome release. Cultured neurons treated with exosome‐enriched fractions from MSCs exposed to 72 hours post‐MCAo brain extracts significantly increased the neurite branch number and total neurite length. This study provides the first demonstration that MSCs communicate with brain parenchymal cells and may regulate neurite outgrowth by transfer of miR‐133b to neural cells via exosomes. STEM CELLS2012;30:1556–1564
Research on the Rehabilitation of Autistic Children Based on Virtual Motion System

Training is an important means for the rehabilitation of children with autism, while the rehabilitation of athletic ability is an important content of the education and rehabilitation. This paper expounds the application of virtual campaign system rehabilitation training for children with autism advantages. Two autistic children are objects in rehabilitation training based on Kinect technology, which shows that the use of virtual system of rehabilitation training for children with autism can improve the static balance ability and coordination ability of children with autism, has an important significance to improve the lives of children with autism in self-care and social adaptation ability.
Sibling Bullying Perpetration

This study investigated bullying among siblings in both traditional and cyber forms, and the associations of gender, grade, peer bullying perpetration, trait anger, and moral disengagement. The participants were 455 children in Grades 5 to 12 (262 girls and 177 boys with 16 unknown gender) who had a sibling. As the number of siblings who only bullied by technology was low, these associations were not able to be calculated. However, the findings showed that the percentage of sibling traditional bullying perpetration (31.6%) was higher than peer bullying perpetration (9.8%). Sibling bullies reported engaging in complex behaviors of perpetration and victimization in both the physical and in cyber settings, although the number was small. Gender, trait anger, moral disengagement, and bullying peers at school (but not grade) were all significantly associated with sibling traditional bullying perpetration. The implications of the findings are discussed for bullying intervention and prevention programs to understand childhood bullying in diverse contexts.
Protective effects of Echinacea on cyproterone acetate induced liver damage in male rats.

The study was planed to evaluate the effect of Echinacea (E.) on liver toxicity in rats treated with Cyproterone Acetate (CA). Rats were divided into 5 groups treated for 2 and 4 weeks, 1-control 2- Echinacea (63 mg/kg/day), 3-CA (25 mg/kg/day), 4-E. +CA and 5-E. for 1 week before E. +CA. All treatments were administered via an oral tube with the same mentioned doses. Rats treated with CA or E. +CA exhibited a significant increase in liver gamma glutamyl transpeptidase and malondialdehyde as compared with the control group. A marked decrease was recorded in all treated groups in comparison with the control with respect to glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. All treatments caused an increase in serum IGG and IGM in comparison with the control value. WBCs showed an increase after E. and CA treatment. While RBCs count and heamatocrit value showed a significant decrease in CA and E+CA treated rats in comparison with the control after four weeks of treatment. These data suggested that, E. possesses a protective effect on the liver against the CA toxicity by increasing auto immunity and blood picture components. Also the E. antioxidant properties exerted counteracting effects on the CA induced oxidative stress.
Deep learning based classification for healthcare data analysis system

This paper presents a deep learning based mechanism to analyze the healthcare data to detect the possible anomalies and classify the data into different so that we can know the nature of health problem. An implementation of deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to classify the image patterns data extracted from electrocardiograph (ECG) is discussed in detail. A dedicated convolutional neural network will be trained using different data samples taken from various patients termed as training data. On later stage, the algorithm is tested using test data samples and it is observed that the proposed algorithm does perform efficient, stable and superior classification performance for the detection of normal beats (N-Type), ventricular ectopic beats (V-Type) and super ventricular ectopic beats (SV-Type). The experimental analysis shows the recognition accuracy and loss value. Subsequently, sensitivity and specificity of the algorithm is measured to show the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
Ultra high step-up converters with reduced diode stresses sharing

Novel high step-up DC/DC converters are proposed in this paper. Through employment of coupled inductor and switched capacitor, the proposed converters achieve high step-up conversion ratio without operating at extreme duty ratio. Due to recycle of leakage energy, the efficiency is improved and the large voltage spike on switch is alleviated, which makes a low-voltage-rated MOSFET with low RDS(ON) can be adopted for reductions of conduction losses. In addition, the selection of diodes is convenient and cheap because all the reduced voltage stresses on diodes are the same. Finally, a 200 W prototype circuit with 12 V input and 400 output V output is implemented to verify the performance, and the highest efficiency is 96.89%.
Tip-of-the-tongue in aging: influence of vocabulary, working memory and processing speed

Background and aims: It is well known that tip-of-the-tongue (ToT) states, which are due to failure in the phonological activation of words, especially proper names, are more common in older than in younger adults. Nevertheless, the relationship between increased numbers of ToTs and cognitive aging remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to clarify this relationship by examining ToT production and the performance of cognitive tasks such as working memory and processing speed tests. Methodology: In order to study the relationships between these constructs, the performance of 133 participants in different language, working memory and processing speed tasks was analysed by use of LISREL software. Results: The best fit model included direct and indirect effects of age, mediated by cognitive variables, on lexical production variables. The model incorporated the indirect effects of age on vocabulary through working memory and also the indirect effect of age on ToT through processing speed. Conclusion: The results indicate negative modulation of slowed processing in the age-related increase of ToT and positive modulation of working memory in vocabulary, as well as an absence of any relation between vocabulary and ToT. Assuming that ToT events involve controlled processes, the relationship between slowed processing and ToT in aging could be interpreted as reflecting controlled compensatory mechanisms.
Role of the Histone H3 Lysine 4 Methyltransferase, SET7/9, in the Regulation of NF-κB-dependent Inflammatory Genes

Nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB)-regulated inflammatory genes, such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), play key roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. However, the nuclear chromatin mechanisms are unclear. We report here that the chromatin histone H3-lysine 4 methyltransferase, SET7/9, is a novel coactivator of NF-κB. Gene silencing of SET7/9 with small interfering RNAs in monocytes significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced inflammatory genes and histone H3-lysine 4 methylation on these promoters, as well as monocyte adhesion to endothelial or smooth muscle cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that SET7/9 small interfering RNA could reduce TNF-α-induced recruitment of NF-κB p65 to inflammatory gene promoters. Inflammatory gene induction by ligands of the receptor for advanced glycation end products was also attenuated in SET7/9 knockdown monocytes. In addition, we also observed increased inflammatory gene expression and SET7/9 recruitment in macrophages from diabetic mice. Microarray profiling revealed that, in TNF-α-stimulated monocytes, the induction of 25% NF-κB downstream genes, including the histone H3-lysine 27 demethylase JMJD3, was attenuated by SET7/9 depletion. These results demonstrate a novel role for SET7/9 in inflammation and diabetes.
Innovation and foreign multinationals established in the state of Paraná (Brazil) between 1960 and 2015

Subsidiaries of multinational companies have played an important role as agents of industrialization processes in the state of Parana, Brazil. Since the 1960s, more than 500 foreign companies have located in this state, mainly in the Curitiba metropolitan area. Their economic impact includes generation of employment, wealth, innovation, and technology diffusion. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between innovation and internationalization, and whether the subsidiaries of multinationals are innovative. The methodology employed in this study was the analysis of documents and interviews. The results demonstrate that at least one-third of these subsidiaries have innovated.
Factors Influencing Adolescent Blood Pressure: The Debrecen Hypertension Study

Aim: To obtain epidemiological data on the blood pressure (BP) status of high school students and factors influencing BP. Methods: Subjects filled out a questionnaire and three repeated BP measurements were taken. All high school attending students in Debrecen (final sample n = 10,194, mean age 16.6 ± 1.0 years) participated in the study. Results: Boys had significantly higher systolic BP (+11.3 mm Hg) and diastolic BP (+2.2 mm Hg) than girls (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between weight and BP (rsyst = 0.42, rdiast = 0.29), height and BP (rsyst = 0.33, rdiast = 0.15), body mass index (BMI) and BP (rsyst = 0.31, rdiast = 0.27). Multiple regression was used for statistical analysis. Gender (β = 0.36), BMI (β = 0.25), hypertension of parents (father β = 0.04 and mother β = 0.02), smoking, alcohol consumption and age determined systolic outcomes in descending order. For the diastolic model, BMI remained a strong determining factor (β = 0.25) and gender was also significant (β = –0.09). Entering independents together accounted for 28.2% of the total variance in systolic and for 18.1% in diastolic BP. Conclusion: Body weight is central to determining BP. Because that is an alterable cardiovascular risk factor, we presume that lifestyle modification will not only result in reduced weight, but also in decreased BP.
Temporospatially regulated expression of subtilisin‐like proprotein convertase PACE4 (SPC4) during development of the rat submandibular gland

The temporospatial expression of PACE4, a member of the mammalian subtilisin‐like proprotein convertase family involved in the activation of growth/differentiation factors, was investigated by in situ hybridization during the development of the rat submandibular gland (SMG). At the initiation stage (day 15.5 of gestation; E15), PACE4 was intensely expressed in the submandibular epithelium, but weakly expressed in the mesenchymal cells. At E16 when the branching morphogenesis becomes obvious, the expression of PACE4 in the mesenchyme was further decreased, although its level in the submandibular epithelium had not changed remarkably from that at E15. During the next stage of embryonic development (E17–E20), PACE4 was expressed in the cells derived from the submandibular epithelium, which include the proacinar, terminal tubular, and presumptive ductal cells. In the perinatal SMG, PACE4 was still expressed intensely in the terminal portion of the SMG containing the proacinar and terminal tubular cells, whereas its expression in the ductal cells was obviously decreased at the second postnatal day (P2) and at P6. Acinar cells expressing no PACE4 appeared, and their numbers increased following their development (P9–P20). At P30 when the PACE4 expression in the acinar cells was completely suppressed, its expression in the ductal cells became intense again. This temporospatially regulated expression of PACE4 suggests its apparent association with the proliferation, differentiation, and establishment of functional acinar and ductal cells of the SMG. Developmental Dynamics 236:314–320, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Visual speech fills in both discrimination and identification of non-intact auditory speech in children*

Abstract To communicate, children must discriminate and identify speech sounds. Because visual speech plays an important role in this process, we explored how visual speech influences phoneme discrimination and identification by children. Critical items had intact visual speech (e.g. bæz) coupled to non-intact (excised onsets) auditory speech (signified by /–b/æz). Children discriminated syllable pairs that differed in intactness (i.e. bæz:/–b/æz) and identified non-intact nonwords (/–b/æz). We predicted that visual speech would cause children to perceive the non-intact onsets as intact, resulting in more same responses for discrimination and more intact (i.e. bæz) responses for identification in the audiovisual than auditory mode. Visual speech for the easy-to-speechread /b/ but not for the difficult-to-speechread /g/ boosted discrimination and identification (about 35–45%) in children from four to fourteen years. The influence of visual speech on discrimination was uniquely associated with the influence of visual speech on identification and receptive vocabulary skills.
Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of the Classification of Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis*†

The system described by King et al. is the standard method for the classification of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Although it is widely used and referenced, its reliability and reproducibility among scoliosis surgeons are unknown. We used a scoliosis case-presentation format to examine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the classification of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with the system of King et al. Eight active, current members of the Scoliosis Research Society reviewed twenty-seven full-length radiographs that had been made before operative correction of the scoliotic deformity. On the basis of these images, which included posteroanterior and lateral radiographs made with the patient standing as well as right and left forced-side-bending radiographs made with the patient supine, the reviewers assigned a type to each curve according to the classification system of King et al. Kappa coefficients were used to test statistical reliability. The mean interobserver reliability of the classification was only 64 per cent (range, 54 to 77 per cent) when the responses of seven of the reviewers were compared with those of one of the originators of the classification. The mean kappa coefficient was 0.49 (range, 0.27 to 0.73), which indicates poor reliability. When each reviewer's responses were compared with those of the other reviewers, the reliability was similarly poor (interobserver reliability, 55 per cent [range, 33 to 81 per cent] and mean kappa coefficient, 0.40 [range, 0.21 to 0.63]). Intraobserver reliability was evaluated in a trial in which five reviewers in a group setting were shown the same radiographs in a different order at two different viewings. Comparison of the results at the two viewings revealed a mean intraobserver reliability of 69 per cent (range, 56 to 85 per cent) and a mean kappa coefficient of 0.62 (range, 0.34 to 0.95), which indicates fair reliability. The current method of classification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis does not appear to have sufficient intraobserver or interobserver reliability among scoliosis surgeons to portray curve types accurately. Thus, it may not help to guide treatment with use of modern spinal fixation methods.
Baseline peritoneal solute transport rate is not associated with markers of systemic inflammation or comorbidity in incident Korean peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND It is controversial whether comorbid status or systemic inflammation has an influence on the peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR). Our aim is to elucidate whether baseline PSTR is associated with markers of systemic inflammation or degree of comorbidity in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS One hundred and ninety-five incident PD patients were prospectively included. Results of their baseline peritoneal equilibration test (PET) using 3.86% glucose PD fluid were analysed. Clinical and laboratory parameters of inflammation, comorbidity, nutritional status, dialysis adequacy and residual renal function (RRF) were assessed at the time of PET. RESULTS Mean dialysate-to-plasma ratio for creatinine at 4 h (D/Pcr(4)) of our patients was 0.72 +/- 0.11. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum albumin concentrations were closely interrelated to one another and these markers of systemic inflammation were also related to the Davies comorbidity score. No differences in age, sex ratio, body mass index, body surface area and presence of diabetes were found among four transport groups. RRF, total Kt/V, haemoglobin, nitrogen appearance and the Davies comorbidity score were not different either. High-sensitivity CRP, serum IL-6 and albumin concentrations were not associated with the baseline PSTR. By multiple linear regression analysis, only the serum albumin concentration measured at the time of PET (beta = -0.081 +/- 0.020, P < 0.001) remained significantly associated with D/Pcr(4). CONCLUSION In our study with incident Korean PD patients, the baseline PSTR was not influenced by markers of systemic inflammation or comorbidity. For a subgroup of PD patients without serious comorbidity, other mechanisms of high baseline PSTR need to be elucidated.
Effects of unilateral cochlear removal on dendrites in the gerbil medial superior olivary nucleus

For most neurons, dendrites serve as the major pathway for incoming activity from other neurons. It might therefore be expected that dendrites are particularly sensitive to variations in the level of afferent input they receive. In the auditory brainstem, this expectation has been confirmed in neurons of the medial superior olivary nucleus (MSO). The MSO is uniquely suited to studies of afferent influences on dendrites, as lateral and medial dendrites of MSO neurons receive inputs almost exclusively from the ipsilateral and contralateral ears, respectively. Thus, the effects of unilateral afferent manipulations may be compared between defined dendrites on the same neurons. We have used unilateral deafening (by surgical destruction of the cochlea) in immature [postnatal day 18 (P18)] and adult gerbils to study the late maturation and effect of peripheral deafferentation on the dendrites of MSO neurons. In semi‐thin, frontal sections from unoperated animals, we found a change between P18 and adulthood from a lateral to a medial bias in the symmetry of MSO dendrites. Cochlear removal in adulthood led to a reduction in the density of dendritic profiles on the side of the ablation in both MSOs. Cochlear removal at P18 led to a rapid (< 3 days) and sustained dendritic atrophy that was most marked in the caudal part of the nucleus. Electron microscope (EM) measurements in the sagittal plane on MSO dendrite profiles of animals unilaterally deafened at P18 showed a reduction in the number, but not in the area, of profiles on the side of the deafened ear. These results demonstrate a developmental change in the symmetry of MSO medial and lateral dendrites, and a rapid and long‐lasting reduction in the number of distal dendrites produced by unilateral deafening either in infancy or adulthood.