Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses of heart function and intracellular free Ca2+ to phosphatidic acid in chronic diabetes.

OBJECTIVE In view of the crucial role of phosphatidic acid (PA) in signal transduction and Ca(2+)-handling in myocardium, it was the objective of this study to examine the effects of PA on cardiac contractile force and intracellular free Ca2+ in control and chronic diabetic rats. METHODS Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg.) and the animals were used for experiments eight weeks after the injection. Heart function was measured by using the isolated perfused heart preparations, and values for systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, rate of contraction (+dP/dt) and rate of relaxation (-dP/dt) were monitored. Intracellular free Ca2+ in cardiomyocytes was estimated by employing Fura-2/AM method. RESULTS PA (5 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-5) M) produced a concentration-dependent increase in +dP/dt and -dP/dt in the isolated heart; however, these responses were significantly attenuated in diabetic hearts. ATP also caused a positive inotropic effect at concentrations of 1 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-4) M but the magnitude of these responses was similar in both control and diabetic groups. Using freshly isolated cardiomyocytes and Fura-2 technique, PA (1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-4) M) was observed to evoke a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i in both control and diabetic groups. The EC50 and EC95 values for PA were not different but the maximum increase of [Ca2+]i in diabetic hearts was significantly lower in comparison to the control group (152 +/- 41 versus 304 +/- 56 nM). On the other hand, no difference in the increase of [Ca2+]i due to ATP or potassium chloride was seen between control and diabetic cardiomyocytes. Adrenaline pretreatment enhanced [Ca2+]i responses to ATP and PA in both groups; however, the PA-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, unlike the ATP-induced increase, was lower in the diabetic group compared to the control cells with similar pretreatment with adrenaline. The diminished increase in [Ca2+]i due to PA was also observed in cardiomyocytes obtained from rats in which diabetes was induced by intravenous alloxan (65 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS PA induced [Ca2+]i mobilization and positive inotropic response were depressed in diabetic heart; this defect in the signal transduction mechanism may contribute to the lower tonic responses of certain inotropic agents in chronic diabetes.
Episodic Future Thinking: Expansion of the Temporal Window in Individuals with Alcohol Dependence.

BACKGROUND Episodic future thinking (EFT) requires an individual to vividly pre-experience a realistic future event. Inspired by previous reports of reducing delay discounting following EFT in other populations, we examined the effects of engaging alcohol-dependent individuals in EFT or episodic recent thinking (ERT; control) to examine its effects on delay discounting and alcohol purchasing. METHODS Participants (n = 50) with alcohol dependence were allocated into EFT or ERT groups and asked to generate positive future or recent past events for each of 5 time points. Participants then completed a delay-discounting task, during which event cues were displayed, and a hypothetical alcohol purchase task. RESULTS EFT significantly increased valuation of future monetary rewards, while decreasing initial consumption (Q0 ) of alcoholic drinks indicative of lower demand intensity. Two additional findings suggest potential moderators of this effect. EFT more readily influenced individuals with lower Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores, and self-reported cue valence differed between groups. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results suggest a widening of alcohol-dependent individuals' temporal window following engagement of EFT. While our data suggest that EFT may be moderated by certain susceptibility criteria, exercises such as EFT could be easily adaptable as a potential therapeutic tool for use in rehabilitation programs.
Application of modern computer-aided technologies in the production of individual bone graft: A case report.

INTRODUCTION An autologous bone (bone derived from the patient himself) is considered to be a "golden standard" in the treatment of bone defects and partial atrophic alveolar ridge. However, large defects and bone losses are difficult to restore in this manner, because extraction of large amounts of autologous tissue can cause donor-site problems. Alternatively, data from computed tomographic (CT) scan can be used to shape a precise 3D homologous bone block using a computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) system. CASE REPORT A 63-year old male patient referred to the Clinic of Dentistry of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, because of teeth loss in the right lateral region of the lower jaw. Clinical examination revealed a pronounced resorption of the residual ridge of the lower jaw in the aforementioned region, both horizontal and vertical. After clinical examination, the patient was referred for 3D cone beam (CB)CT scan that enables visualization of bony structures and accurate measurement of dimensions of the residual alveolar ridge. Considering the large extent of bone resorption, the required ridge augmentation was more than 3 mm in height and 2 mm in width along the length of some 2 cm, thus the use of granular material was excluded. After consulting prosthodontists and engineers from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad we decided to fabricate an individual (custom) bovine-derived bone graft designed according to the obtained-3D CBCT scan. CONCLUSION Application of 3D CBCT images, computer-aided systems and software in manufacturing custom bone grafts represents the most recent method of guided bone regeneration. This method substantially reduces time of recovery and carries minimum risk of postoperative complications, yet the results fully satisfy the requirements of both the patient and the therapist.
Financing Constraints and Entrepreneurship

Financing constraints are one of the biggest concerns impacting potential entrepreneurs around the world. Given the important role that entrepreneurship is believed to play in the process of economic growth, alleviating financing constraints for would-be entrepreneurs is also an important goal for policymakers worldwide. We review two major streams of research examining the relevance of financing constraints for entrepreneurship. We then introduce a framework that provides a unified perspective on these research streams, thereby highlighting some important areas for future research and policy analysis in entrepreneurial finance.
Sex differences in life cycle measures of widowhood

Using formulas which measure life cycle characteristics of widowhood as a function of life table survivorship and age at marriage, we illustrate changes in patterns of widowhood and widowerhood since 1950, as well as differences by race, by age of bride and of groom, and by age differences between spouses. Although the current inequality in the risks of widowhood and widowerhood for the average couple is mostly due to sex differences in mortality, a one year age difference between spouses has about the same impact as does a one year difference in life expectancy. Calculations based on current distributions of age of groom by age of bride indicate that the older the age of groom, the greater the age difference between spouses and the higher the likelihood of a woman outliving her husband: the typical groom who marries in his fifties faces a 4 to 1 chance that he will be outlived by his spouse.
5-Fluorouracil and cisplatin therapy after palliative surgical resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. A multicenter randomized trial. French Associations for Surgical Research.

BACKGROUND The curative rate of surgical resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is low. Reports on the efficacy of preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy are conflicting or have included limited disease or radical surgery alone. OBJECTIVE The authors' objective was to study the results of chemotherapy on the duration and quality of survival in patients who have undergone palliative surgical resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Of 124 patients with histologically proven esophageal squamous cell carcinoma situated more than 5 cm from the upper end of the esophagus, 4 patients were withdrawn for failure to comply with the protocol. The remaining 120 patients, 116 males and 4 females (mean age, 57 +/- 9 years), were randomly assigned to either a control group who were to receive no chemotherapy (68 patients) or to a group who were to be treated with chemotherapy (52 patients). Patients were subdivided into two strata as follows: (1) stratum I, complete resection of the tumor with lymph node involvement (62 patients) and (2) stratum ii, incomplete resection leaving macroscopic tumor tissue in situ or with metastases. Noninclusion criteria were histologically proven tracheobronchial involvement, esotracheal fistula, major alteration of general health status (Karnofsky score <50), cerebral or extensive (>30% of parenchyma) hepatic metastasis, peritoneal carcinomatosis, associated or previously treated upper airway cancer, or, conversely, complete resection of tumor without lymph node involvement. Chemotherapy was given in 5-day courses, every 28 days, with a maximum of 8 courses. Cisplatin was administered either as a single dose of 100 mg/m2 at the beginning of the course or as 20 mg/m2/day for 5 days given over 3 hours. 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU) (100 mg/m2/day) was infused over 24 hours for 5 days. The duration of treatment ranged from 6 to 8 months. The main aim was to establish median survival and actuarial survival curves. The subsidiary aim was to evaluate quality of survival as judged by complications due to treatment and the duration of autonomous oral feeding, that is, without palliative endoscopic treatment. No difference in survival was noted between the two groups, overall (median, 14 months), or between the strata. Conversely, significantly more patients in the treated group had hematologic, neurologic, and renal complications compared with the control group. Four patients died of complications of chemotherapy. The duration of autonomous oral alimentation was exactly the same in both groups (median, 12 + months). CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that 5-FU and cisplatin are not useful for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who have not undergone curative resection.
A decade after International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial: Coiling as a first choice treatment in the management of intracranial aneurysms - Technical feasibility and early management outcomes

Purpose: The technique of coiling has evolved in the last decade with evolution in both equipment and material. The preferable treatment of intracranial aneurysms at our center is endovascular coiling. We discuss the technical and management outcomes of consecutive patients treated with this approach and compare our results with a decade old International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial. Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 and November 2011, a total of 324 aneurysms in 304 consecutive patients were treated. Endovascular treatment was done in 308 aneurysms (95.0%) in 288 patients while 16 patients (5%) underwent surgical clipping. Of the 308 aneurysms treated endovascularly, 269 (87.3%) were ruptured, and 39 (12.7%) were unruptured aneurysms. Results: The endovascular coiling was feasible in all (99.6%) but 1 case. The immediate postoperative occlusion status was complete occlusion in 240 aneurysms (77.9%), neck remnant in 57 aneurysms (18.5%), and aneurysm remnant in 11 aneurysms (3.6%). Technical issues - with or without clinical effect-were encountered in 20 patients (6.9%). They included 18 thromboembolic events (6.2%) and intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture in 2 cases (0.7%). In "good grade" patients, H and H grade 1-3, a good outcome (modified Rankin score [mRS] 0-2) was in 87.6% patients while the bad outcome (mRS 3-5) was in 10.2% patients and mortality of 2.2%. In "bad grade" patients, H and H grade 3-5, a good outcome was in 29.2%, and bad outcome was in 41.7% patients with mortality was 29.1%. In the unruptured aneurysm group, the good outcome was seen in 97.7% and bad outcome in 2.3% with no mortality. Conclusions: In the current era, the favorable results of coiling demonstrated in previous studies may be applicable to the larger proportion of patients. In our series of consecutively treated patients using latest advances, such as three-dimensional imaging and the interventional material, endovascular management as first choice was feasible in 95% of patients with good technical and management outcomes.
Dimensional analysis of a permittivity measurement probe

Open-ended coaxial-line probes provide a convenient means of determining the dielectric properties of many materials over a relatively wide frequency range. Because of this, much attention has been given to understanding the interaction of the probe and the material which it is inserted into. In this paper, a dimensional analysis was performed on a generalized open-ended coaxial-line probe. Applying the Buckingham /spl Pi/-theorem revealed that the admittance of the probe/dielectric interface, scaled by the frequency, is a function of a single dimensionless variable. This fact greatly simplifies the modeling of the probe. The problem is reduced from fitting a model of two variables, frequency and permittivity, to one dimensionless variable. In addition, the dimensional analysis also revealed that the same results hold for any permittivity measurement probe where the admittance of the probe is a function of permittivity, frequency, and any number of linear dimensions.
Monitoring the Decade of Action for Global Road Safety 2011–2020: An update

ABSTRACT The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) was set up in 2004 in response to the recognised need for the United Nations (UN) system to encourage efforts to address the global road safety crisis. In 2010, the UN General Assembly Resolution 64/255 declared 2011–2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety with the overarching goal of stabilising and reducing the forecasted number of road traffic deaths by increasing activities at national, regional and global levels. In 2011, a Plan of Action for the Decade of Action, a tool to support the development of national and local plans of action, was launched. Countries are encouraged to implement activities according to the five pillars set out by the Plan of Action. The UNRSC, tasked to evaluate the overall impact of the Decade, developed and populated indicators for each pillar. Currently, 36 of 38 proposed indicators are populated by baseline data for 2010 from the second Global status report for road safety. However, gaps exist in data quality and availability on a global level. Therefore, there is an urgent need for improving data quality and availability to measure the progress of the Decade of Action.
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. LXXIX. Cannabinoid Receptors and Their Ligands: Beyond CB1 and CB2

There are at least two types of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). Ligands activating these G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) include the phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, numerous synthetic compounds, and endogenous compounds known as endocannabinoids. Cannabinoid receptor antagonists have also been developed. Some of these ligands activate or block one type of cannabinoid receptor more potently than the other type. This review summarizes current data indicating the extent to which cannabinoid receptor ligands undergo orthosteric or allosteric interactions with non-CB1, non-CB2 established GPCRs, deorphanized receptors such as GPR55, ligand-gated ion channels, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, and other ion channels or peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptors. From these data, it is clear that some ligands that interact similarly with CB1 and/or CB2 receptors are likely to display significantly different pharmacological profiles. The review also lists some criteria that any novel “CB3” cannabinoid receptor or channel should fulfil and concludes that these criteria are not currently met by any non-CB1, non-CB2 pharmacological receptor or channel. However, it does identify certain pharmacological targets that should be investigated further as potential CB3 receptors or channels. These include TRP vanilloid 1, which possibly functions as an ionotropic cannabinoid receptor under physiological and/or pathological conditions, and some deorphanized GPCRs. Also discussed are 1) the ability of CB1 receptors to form heteromeric complexes with certain other GPCRs, 2) phylogenetic relationships that exist between CB1/CB2 receptors and other GPCRs, 3) evidence for the existence of several as-yet-uncharacterized non-CB1, non-CB2 cannabinoid receptors; and 4) current cannabinoid receptor nomenclature.
Hybrid Image Classiication Technique for Spatio-temporal Analysis of Pune City

India is the second largest country after China in population and is projected to cross China’s population with 1.5 billion people by 2040.The urban population in India increased from 62.4 million in the year 1951 to 377.1 million in 2011. It is estimated to grow to around 540 million by the year 2021. To sustain this rapid urban development should be planned in a sustainable manner to fulill all the utility services like infrastructure, transportation, water supply, sanitation and drainage etc. urban developers, planners and administrators should have knowledge of the present trend of urbanisation. Therefore there is need to understand the pattern of built-up land over period of time using advanced techniques of remote sensing and geographical information system. Abstract
Cationic microparticles: A potent delivery system for DNA vaccines.

An approach involving the preparation of biodegradable microparticles with a cationic surface was developed to improve the delivery of adsorbed DNA into antigen-presenting cells after i.m. injection. The microparticles released intact and functional DNA over 2 weeks in vitro. In addition, the microparticles induced higher levels of marker gene expression in vivo. After i.m. immunization, the microparticles induced significantly enhanced serum antibody responses in comparison to naked DNA. Moreover, the level of antibodies induced by the microparticles was significantly enhanced by the addition of a vaccine adjuvant, aluminum phosphate. In addition, in contrast to naked DNA, the cationic microparticles induced potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses at a low dose.
High-frequency analog GNR-FET design criteria

Some key aspects of the behavior of graphene nanoribbon (GNR) FETs for high-frequency analog applications are identified and discussed by means of a simulation study based on a full-quantum ballistic transport model. GNRs of width in the order of 10 nm are considered, where the small band-gap and the consequent leakage currents due to band-to-band-tunneling (BTBT) require a careful design. Simulations performed with a realistic model for source/drain metal contacts indicate that a proper choice of the drain doping profile can partially suppress BTBT currents. A 40-nm gate-length 2-nm SiO2 gate-dielectric GNR-FET can achieve a peak small-signal voltage gain of about 30 and a cut-off frequency well above 1 THz.
Effects of NR2A and NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on neuronal-firing properties

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) play a key role in synaptic plasticity, but it remains unclear whether the intrinsic-firing properties, another major determinant of the functional output of neurons, are regulated by activation of NMDARs. Here, we examine the effects of NMDAR activation on the intrinsic-firing properties of medium spiny neurons in nucleus accumbens in vitro. NMDAR activation by bath application of NMDA increased both the intrinsic excitability and the spike adaptation of these neurons. Furthermore, selective activation of NR2A-containing NMDARs mediated the enhancement of spike adaptation, whereas selective activation of NR2B-containing NMDARs increased the intrinsic excitability, suggesting that NR2A-containing and NR2B-containing NMDARs play different roles in mediating the intrinsic-firing properties of neurons.
Review on constraint based modelling in intelligent learning environment

Student model is a component of great importance in the intelligent learning environment. A number of student models have been proposed more than three decades ago and one of them is the Constraint Based Model. In this paper we explore how a Constraint Based Model has been applied in various intelligent learning environments. Additionally, this paper reviews the students characteristics considered in each model to make the model adaptive and personalized.
[Menopausal changes in circadian heart rate variability].

OBJECTIVES Presence of cardiovascular symptoms in perimenopausal period is suggested to be associated with the decrease of cardiac autonomic nervous system (cANS) regulatory function. AIM Aim of the study was to evaluate whether menopause affects circadian heart rate variability (HRV). METHOD 42 healthy women were divided into two equal groups: premenopausal (age 43 +/- 7 years) and postmenopausal (age 53 +/- 3 years, 3.25 +/- 1.6 years after the last menstruation). Menopausal status was verified by plasma estradiol and FSH activities. In both groups the outpatient 24-hrs ECG recordings were carried out. The HRV parameters (SDNN, pNN50, r-MSSD, nLF, nHF) were analysed within the day-time (6 a.m. - 10 p.m.) and the night-time (10 p.m. - 6 a.m.) ECG. RESULTS Day-time recordings showed higher SDNN (128 +/- 23 vs. 104 +/- 36, p = 0.01), pNN50 (18 +/- 8.3 vs. 7 +/- 4.4 p < 0.001), nLF (74 +/- 11 vs. 33 +/- 5 p < 0.01) in the premenopausal patients and higher nHF in the postmenopausal women (39 +/- 3.4 vs. 26 +/- 11, p < 0.01). In the night-time recordings we observed higher pNN50 (24 +/- 20 vs. 13 +/- 10, p = 0.01) and nLF (66.5 +/- 17 vs. 37 +/- 5.8, p < 0.01) in the premenopausal patients with nHF higher in the postmenopausal group (44 +/- 5.7 vs. 31.4 +/- 17, p < 0.01). In the premenopausal women higher r-MSSD and nHF values were observed at the night time (respectively p = 0.03 and p = 0.04). Simultaneously higher night-time values of pNN50 (p = = 0.03) and nHF (p = 0.001) were noted in the postmenopausal group. CONCLUSIONS Lower time HRV parameters suggest decreased parasympathetic regulation of the heart. Lower nLF indicates impairment of the arterial baroreceptor reflexes, whereas the increase of nHF requests further studies.
Failure mechanism behavior and reliability of non-repairable system with functional dependence

In the case of system with function dependent behavior, the failure of one component will cause dependent components within the system to become unusable or workable, and the state of failure mechanisms of dependent components will be changed. Reliability study of functional dependence has never refer to failure mechanism level. This paper use a reliability evaluation method considering failure mechanism behavior in components with functional dependence, which includes the second type of trigger and suspension. FMT and FDEP gate are used to express the failure mechanism behavior. A case study is utilized to illustrate the failure mechanism behavior in system, a BDD model of system and some reliability curves are obtained at the end of this paper.