Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term treatment with 2,5-hexanedione has no effect on the specific activity of some brain and liver glycolytic enzymes of adult rats.

Prolonged exposure to hexacarbon compounds is neurotoxic to humans and animals. As various hexacarbon compounds inhibit glycolytic enzymes in vitro, it has been suggested that this may underlie their neurotoxic effects in vivo. In the present investigation we examined whether long-term treatment with 2,5-hexanedione (200 mg/kg,sc) for 40 days affects the specific activity of brain and liver enolase, lactic dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase in female Wistar rats (150-170 g). Glycemia and liver glycogen levels were also determined. The specific activity of all enzymes tested, liver glycogen content and glycemia were not affected by chronic treatment with 2,5-hexanedione. Rats treated with 2,5-hexanedione weighed significantly less than control rats starting on day 18 of treatment (183 +/- 3.4 g for the vehicle group vs 171 +/- 3.2 g for the 2,5-hexanedione group). 2,5-Hexanedione also increased water intake (46% when compared to vehicle-treated rats). Prolonged treatment of rats with the non-neurotoxic hexacarbon 1,6-hexanediol (207 mg/kg, sc) significantly increased liver glycogen content (5.9 +/- 0.6 g/100 g for the vehicle group vs 9.0 +/- 1.1 g/100 g for the 1,6-hexanediol group) as well as food intake (44.0 +/- 1.5 g 100 g-1 6 days-1 for the vehicle vs 50.0 +/- 1.1 g 100 g-1 6 days-1 for the 1,6-hexanediol group). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The frequency, longitudinal course, clinical associations, and causes of emotional distress during primary treatment of cerebral glioma.

BACKGROUND Relatively little is known about the frequency, longitudinal course, independent associations, and reported causes of emotional distress in adults with primary cerebral glioma. We aimed to describe these features in an observational study. METHODS This was a twin-center prospective cohort study. Eligible adults were those with a new histological diagnosis of glioma who were receiving active management. Distress was measured using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer and problem checklist. Subjects were sampled at 3 timepoints: T1 (shortly after starting chemo/radiotherapy), T2 (3 months later), and T3 (6 months later). RESULTS T1 n = 154; T2 n = 103; T3 n = 83. Significant distress was present in 36.4 ± 7.6% at T1, 35.9 ± 9.3% at T2, and 33.7 ± 10.2% at T3. Longitudinally, subjects with high distress at T1 (median Distress Thermometer score = 8; interquartile range [IQR] 7-9) remained highly distressed on follow-up (T2 median = 8, IQR 6-8; T3 median = 7, IQR 5-8) (Friedman test P = .304). Younger age, functional impairment, and concurrent major depressive disorder were independently associated with high distress (logistic regression χ(2) for model = 39.882, P < . 001, R(2) = 0.312). The most frequently reported causes of distress were worry, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and sadness. Emotional difficulties were among the most common causes of distress at all 3 timepoints. CONCLUSIONS At each timepoint, one-third of patients reported significant emotional distress, which persisted during follow-up among those initially highly distressed. Young, functionally impaired, and depressed glioma patients may particularly benefit from increased support.
Timing uncertainties of A/D converters: theoretical study and experiments

For high-speed analog-to-digital converters, sampling jitter is a relevant parameter, limiting over-all performances of mixed-signal systems. Among the several contributions usually encountered in such systems, this paper focuses on the one generated by the clock interface and sampling circuits of the converter. To have an accurate description of this "internal" sampling jitter, a theoretical model is first introduced and then experimentally validated.
Characterization of ferromagnetic wires for self-sensing materials

Measuring ferromagnetic wires inside a metallic rectangular waveguide is proposed as a technique to characterize the high-frequency magnetoimpedance effect under mechanical stresses, which is of great interest for self-sensing materials in architectural and health monitoring. By using this technique, the magnetostrictive behaviour of a 5.25 μm radius Fe77.5Si12. 5B10 wire has been evaluated. The wire is characterized by the occurrence of the natural ferromagnetic resonance, whose frequency position is shifted from 7 GHz to 8.25 GHz for elongations ranging from 0 to 60 μm.
Pathogen-Responsive Expression of Glycosyltransferase Genes UGT73B3 and UGT73B5 Is Necessary for Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato in Arabidopsis[W]

The genome sequencing of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has revealed that secondary metabolism plant glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are encoded by an unexpectedly large multigenic family of 120 members. Very little is known about their actual function in planta, in particular during plant pathogen interactions. Among them, members of the group D are of particular interest since they are related to UGTs involved in stress-inducible responses in other plant species. We provide here a detailed analysis of the expression profiles of this group of Arabidopsis UGTs following infection with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato or after treatment with salicylic acid, methyljasmonate, and hydrogen peroxide. Members of the group D displayed distinct induction profiles, indicating potential roles in stress or defense responses notably for UGT73B3 and UGT73B5. Analysis of UGT expression in Arabidopsis defense-signaling mutants further revealed that their induction is methyljasmonate independent, but partially salicylic acid dependent. T-DNA tagged mutants (ugt73b3 and ugt73b5) exhibited decreased resistance to P. syringae pv tomato-AvrRpm1, indicating that expression of the corresponding UGT genes is necessary during the hypersensitive response. These results emphasize the importance of plant secondary metabolite UGTs in plant-pathogen interactions and provide foundation for future understanding of the exact role of UGTs during the hypersensitive response.
Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Carcinoma of the large bowel, which will afflict over 150,000 Americans this year, is second only to lung cancer as a cause of death from cancer1. Although most patients present with surgically resectable disease, almost half die of the cancer. Radiation therapy has a largely palliative role. In the past, chemotherapy resulted in only infrequent and usually transient shrinkage of the tumor, scarcely justifying the discomforts and costs of the treatment. In recent years, however, there have been some advances. In the discussion that follows, credence is given only to therapeutic claims validated by controlled trials with sufficiently long .
Is the clinical use of adult stem cells a realistic possibility for myocardial regeneration

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in the Western World and as such presents a large incentive for finding a cure. There is much current interest in exploiting adult stem cells in cardiac therapies, with both heart tissue and bone marrow being considered as potential sources or stem cells. Some promising results for future therapies are emerging, but it remains unclear how long it will take for the research to translate into clinical use. Further basic research into stem cell biology needs to be conducted before such therapies can be used with confidence.
Predicting Response to Psychoactive Drugs

The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales (BPRS; Overall & Gorham, 1962) of 179 chronic schizophrenic patients who had participated in a variety of drug studies conducted at Central Islip State Hospital were scored for over-all pathology (OPS) and change (CS). The OPS, employed as an indicant of general pathological severity, was obtained by summing each S's predrug ratings (1 = not present to 7 = extremely severe) on the 16 BPRS symptoms. The CS, used to measure drug efficacy, represented the difference between the number of BPRS . items showing amelioration and pejoration in S from predrug to postdrug rating periods. A positive CS indicates more symptoms improved than worsened; the converse being true for a negative CS. The index of predictive association, lamda, was calculated between predrug OPS and CS. The criterion category was dichotomized into CSs 5 +4 and 2 + 5 (one SD above the mean change in a placebo treated group) while the predictor was divided on the basis of OPSs 5 47 and 2_ 48. Twenty-six of 32 patients with OPS 2 48 improved (CS 2 + 5 ) compared to 15 of 147 patients with OPSs 5 47. The 2 X 2 contingency table yielded a lambda of . 49, indicating that information about predrug level of pathology reduces the probability of error in predicting drug outcome by 49% (Hays, 1963, p. 609). It appears initial symptom severity possesses sufficient predictive ability to warrant further investigation as a prognostic guide. However, since both predictor and criterion measures were derived from the BPRS, it is quite possible that CS is not entirely independent of the ratings used to obtain OPS and the association reflects, to some degree, a scoring artifact. Unfortunately, no other objective or independent assessor of drug effects was available for these patients. Therefore, cross-validation using similar clinical populations from different hospitals and a non-BPRS based measure of change is needed for rigorous evaluation of the predictor.
Smart Home Automation System for Elderly, and Handicapped People using XBee

Smart home automation system is increasingly used due to the wide manufacturer brands and various available technologies. From a social point of view, residents are admitted to smart homes for comfort, luxury, improving quality of live, and for providing security against intrusion and burglars. Secondly, home automation is achieved using a single controller, monitoring and the controlling many interconnected appliances such as lights, power plugs, HVAC system, humidity and temperature sensors, gas, smoke and fire detectors, audio, video and home theater as well as security and emergency systems. Smart homes are cheap, low-power, cost effective, efficient, and realize the automation of a variety of domestic appliances using user-friendly interface as remote control or any other handheld devices. Elderly, handicapped patients, and people with disabilities who have problems with locomotion difficulty can benefit from this smart home to totally operate, with high performance, all appliances and devices from anywhere in the house. When a resident is living alone, the ubiquitous access becomes very important and it is realized by using XBee transceivers that maintain RF wireless communication between the remote control and the master control panel board.
Getting plugged in: An overview of Internet addiction

Internet addiction is not formally recognised as a clinical disorder by the WHO despite increasing evidence that excessive internet use can interfere with daily life and work. There is increasing pressure from Psychologists for Internet addiction to be recognised. This article explores the prevalence, symptoms and management of Internet addiction and the consequences of ignoring the ever growing concerns from public figures and institutions.
Ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T-Cells in the recent reported cases of bird flu infection in Asia.

Influenza is an infectious disease caused by a constantly varying RNA virus. Influenza A virus is a naturally occurring infection in different animals including humans, pigs, horses, sea mammals, mustelids and birds (1). Capua and Alexander reviewed the sudden emergence of different strains of influenza A virus transmissible to humans, termed antigenic shift, which had occurred on four occasions, 1918 (H1N1), 1957 (H2N2), 1968 (H3N2) and 1977 (H1N1), each time resulting in a pandemic (1). In 1997, a new potentially devastating influenza pandemic occurred in Hong Kong, 18 cases of influenza (bird flu) caused by a novel H5N1 (chicken) influenza virus resulted in death of six individuals (2). Webster noted that separation of aquatic birds from domestic poultry in Hong Kong after the H5N1 bird flu incident could influence the interspecies transmission of influenza viruses (3). In the year 2004, H5N1 infection reemerged in Southeast Asia. Thailand and Vietnam are the two countries endemically hit by this infection. Since January 2004, the bird flu has been detected in some poultry farms and the Thai and Vietnam governments have launched several attempts to control the infection (1, 4). During the outbreak, there were some reports of human infection causing severe disease with high mortality rate reported from Vietnam and Thailand (1, 4). Most infected patients developed progressive pneumonia with progressing and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and died subsequently (1, 4). Some hematologic abnormalities were noted in patients with bird flu, the main one of which was lymphopenia with decreased lymphocyte neutrophil ratio (5). Anemia was also observed in this infection (6). However, the immunohematological aspect of this viral infection has not been well documented. Here, we performed this mini-study in order to document the impact of bird flu infection on CD4/CD8 ratio, a marker of immune depletion, as reported for patients in Thailand and Vietnam. We hypothesized that the change in CD4 and CD8 cell counts in patients infected with H5N1 strain might be similar to general influenza infection (7).
A non-inflatable anti-shock garment for obstetric hemorrhage

0020-7292/$ see front matter D 200 All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo. 2004.07. 014 * Corresponding author. 810 Alla 94305, USA. Fax: +1 650 494 2829. E-mail address: paulhens@stanford hemorrhage; Obstetric hemorrhage; Hemorrhage; Hypovolemic shock; Anti shock garment ABSTRACT
Doubly sparse models for multiple filter estimation in sparse echoic environments

We consider the estimation of multiple time-domain sparse filters from echoic mixtures of several unknown sources, when the sources are sparse in the time-frequency domain. We propose a sparse filter estimation framework consisting of two steps: a) a clustering step to group the time-frequency points of mixtures where only one source is active, for each source; b) a convex optimisation step to estimate the filters based on a time-frequency domain cross-relation. We propose a new wideband formulation of a frequency domain cross-relation, besides the one based on classical narrowband approximation. The solutions of the convex optimisation problem, formed using the cross-relation, are characterised. Numerical evaluation shows the benefit of using the wideband cross-relation for sparse echoic filter estimation. Further, the potential of the proposed framework for blind estimation of sparse echoic filters is demonstrated in a controlled experimental setting where in the proposed approach outperforms the state of the art blind filter estimation techniques, when the filters are suciently sparse.
Ermittlung von Zusammenhängen zwischen enzymatischer Aktivität und Krankheiten durch die automatische Analyse wissenschaftlicher Publikationen

Aufgrund des schnellen Wachstums biomedizinischer Daten sowie der assoziierten Literatur wird es auch fur Experten zunehmend schwierig, den Uberblick uber den aktuellen Wissensstand zu behalten. Der Aufbau und die manuelle Erweiterung von Datenbanken ist teuer und zeitaufwandig, kann jedoch durch linguistische Methoden unterstutzt werden, welche Erkenntnisse automatisch aus der wissenschaftlichen Literatur extrahieren. Die vorliegende Dissertation stellt eine solche Methode zur Annotation von Enzymklassen mit krankheitsrelevanten Informationen vor. Die Enzymnamen von 3901 Enzymklassen der BRENDA, einer Sammlung von qualitativen und quantitativen Enzymdaten, wurden in einem Textkorpus aus uber 100000 Kurzzusammenfassungen der PubMed-Datenbank identifiziert. Phrasen der Kurzzusammenfassungen konnten durch das MetaMap-Programm den Konzepten des UMLS (Unified Medical Language Systems) zugewiesen werden, was eine Identifikation der krankheitsrelevanten Begriffe mittels ihrer semantischen Felder in der UMLS-Ontologie erlaubte. Eine Zuordnung von Enzymklassen zu Krankheitskonzepten erfolgte aufgrund der gemeinsamen Nennung innerhalb eines Satzes. Die Zahl falscher Zuordnung konnte durch den Einsatz verschiedener Filter verringert werden. Verwendet wurden unter anderem die Mindestzahl gemeinsamer Nennungen, die Entfernung von Satzen mit einer Negation sowie die Klassifikation unbekannter Satze durch eine Support Vector Machine. Eine Uberprufung der Zuordnungen anhand 1500 manuell annotierter Satze ergab eine Prazision von 95%, was eine direkte Erweiterung der BRENDA-Datenbank mit den gefundenen Zuordnungen erlaubte.
An Effective Processor Allocation Strategy for Multiprogrammed Shared-Memory Multiprocessors

Existing techniques for sharing the processing resources in multiprogrammed shared-memory multiprocessors, such as time-sharing, space-sharing, and gang-scheduling, typically sacrifice the performance of individual parallel applications to improve overall system utilization. We present a new processor allocation technique called Loop-Level Process Control (LLPC) that dynamically adjusts the number of processors an application is allowed to use for the execution of each parallel section of code, based on the current system load. This approach exploits the maximum parallelism possible for each application without overloading the system. We implement our scheme on a Silicon Graphics Challenge multiprocessor system and evaluate its performance using applications from the Perfect Club benchmark suite and synthetic benchmarks. Our approach shows significant improvements over traditional time-sharing and gang-scheduling. It has performance comparable to, or slightly better than, static space-sharing, but our strategy is more robust since, unlike static space-sharing, it does not require a priori knowledge of the applications' parallelism characteristics.
Mediation by Membrane Protein Kinase C of Zinc‐Induced Oxidative Neuronal Injury in Mouse Cortical Cultures

Abstract: Transsynaptic movement of endogenous zinc may play a key role in selective neuronal death after brain ischemia and prolonged seizures. As to the mechanism, we have reported recently that zinc‐induced neuronal death occurs mainly by oxidative stress in cortical cultures. Here we present evidence supporting the idea that activation of membrane protein kinase C (PKC) in neurons is likely to play a key role in zinc‐induced oxidative neuronal injury. Exposure of cortical cultures to 300 μM zinc for 15 min induced increases in the activity, without changing the amount, of membrane PKC to two‐ to threefold of control values, followed by neuronal death over the next day. Addition of a zinc chelator, Ca‐EDTA, or PKC inhibitors with zinc completely abolished the zinc‐induced increase in the membrane PKC activity. Indicating the participation of PKC in zinc‐induced oxidative stress and neuronal death, the selective PKC inhibitor GF109203X attenuated both. Furthermore, as in zinc‐induced neuronal death, activation of PKC with phorbol esters induced free radical generation and neuronal death, which were blocked by GF109203X or an antioxidant, Trolox. The present results support the idea that zinc influx activates PKC in the membrane, which contributes to free radical generation and neuronal death. As an increasing body of evidence suggests that zinc neurotoxicity is an important mechanism of pathological neuronal death, timely prevention of PKC activation after acute brain insult may prove useful in ameliorating this type of neuronal death.
Effects of new antioxidant compounds PNU‐104067F and PNU‐74389G on antioxidant defense in normal and diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus and its complications are associated with elevated oxidative stress, leading to much interest in antioxidant compounds as possible therapeutic agents. Two new classes of antioxidant compounds, the pyrrolopyrimidines and the 21‐aminosteroids, are known to inhibit lipid peroxidation and other biomolecular oxidation. We hypothesized that in the presence of excess oxidants or the impaired antioxidant defense seen in diabetes mellitus, administration of antioxidants such as these may reverse the effects of diabetes on antioxidant parameters. This study measured the effects of subchronic (14 day) treatment with a pyrrolopyrimidine (PNU‐104067F) or a 21‐aminosteroid (PNU‐74389G) in normal and diabetic Sprague‐Dawley rats. Activity levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, concentrations of oxidized and reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation were used as measures of antioxidant defense in liver, kidney, heart, and brain tissue. In normal rats, the only effect was a 43% increase in cardiac lipid peroxidation after treatment with PNU‐104067F. In diabetic rats, the only reversals of the effects of diabetes were a 30% decrease in hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity after PNU‐74389G treatment and a 33% increase in cardiac glutathione disulfide concentration after PNU‐104067F treatment. In contrast to these effects, increased cardiac glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, increased brain glutathione peroxidase activity, increased hepatic lipid peroxidation, decreased hepatic glutathione content, and decreased hepatic catalase activity were seen in diabetic rats, reflecting an exacerbation of the effects of diabetes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 14:189–194, 2000
NADPH Oxidase–Derived Superoxide Provides a Third Signal for CD4 T Cell Effector Responses

Originally recognized for their direct induced toxicity as a component of the innate immune response, reactive oxygen species (ROS) can profoundly modulate T cell adaptive immune responses. Efficient T cell activation requires: signal 1, consisting of an antigenic peptide–MHC complex binding with the TCR; signal 2, the interaction of costimulatory molecules on T cells and APCs; and signal 3, the generation of innate immune-derived ROS and proinflammatory cytokines. This third signal, in particular, has proven essential in generating productive and long-lasting immune responses. Our laboratory previously demonstrated profound Ag-specific hyporesponsiveness in the absence of NADPH oxidase–derived superoxide. To further examine the consequences of ROS deficiency on Ag-specific T cell responses, our laboratory generated the OT-II.Ncf1m1J mouse, possessing superoxide-deficient T cells recognizing the nominal Ag OVA323–339. In this study, we demonstrate that OT-II.Ncf1m1J CD4 T cells displayed a severe reduction in Th1 T cell responses, in addition to blunted IL-12R expression and severely attenuated proinflammatory chemokine ligands. Conversely, IFN-γ synthesis and IL-12R synthesis were rescued by the addition of exogenous superoxide via the paramagnetic superoxide donor potassium dioxide or superoxide-sufficient dendritic cells. Ultimately, these data highlight the importance of NADPH oxidase–derived ROS in providing a third signal for adaptive immune maturation by modulating the IL-12/IL-12R pathway and the novelty of the OT-II.Ncf1m1J mouse model to determine the role of redox-dependent signaling on effector responses. Thus, targeting ROS represents a promising therapeutic strategy in dampening Ag-specific T cell responses and T cell–mediated autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes.
A Fast Rule-Based Parameter Free Discrete Hough Transform

This paper introduces a new discrete Hough transform, DHT, that pre-computes discrete line information (rules) and uses this information to detect line segments in the image. Pre-computing line information removes the need for run-time line calculations and the associated parameters. The proposed approach does not depend on the parameterization of a straight line and is formulated based on the discrete domain. This new DHT is compared with selected existing techniques to demonstrate the large reduction in computation time achieved by this new approach, while not sacrificing accuracy.