Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential proliferative response of human and mouse astrocytes to gamma‐interferon

We have previously shown that gamma‐interferon promoted the proliferation of adult human astrocytes isolated from brain biopsy specimens. In contrast, in the present study, astrocytes derived from neonatal mouse brains and treated with recombinant murine gamma‐interferon responded by a decreas (average of 50% at 100 U/ml) in proliferation. The basal rate of proliferation as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation was markedly increased in neonatal mouse astrocytes when compared to the adult human cells, suggesting that age, and the corresponding metabolic activity of cells, could be important determinants in the mitogenic response of astrocytes to cytokines. However, subsequent examinations of fetal human and adult mouse astrocytes, with comparable basal rate of proliferation to neonatal mouse and adult human cells respectively, showed gamma‐interferon to promote DNA synthesis in fetal human astrocytes while inhibiting that of adult mouse astrocytes. The results suggest species differences in the proliferative response of human and mouse astrocytes to the cytokine gamma‐interferon. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Decision directed scheme for IQ imbalance compensation on OFCDM direct conversion receiver

Recently, the direct conversion scheme has been actively investigated for the purpose of cost miniaturization and low power consumption of wireless receivers. IQ imbalance is one of the problems for the direct conversion receiver. In the direct conversion receiver, a pi/2 phase shifter and a double balance mixer (DBM) for the radio frequency (RF) signal is required. However, it is difficult to obtain the accurate phase shifter and the linear DBM over broad bandwidth. As a result, the balance between in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) of the demodulated signals may be lost. In the case of OFCDM modulations, this IQ imbalance causes intercarrier interference (ICI) in the demodulated signals. In this paper, the decision directed scheme for IQ imbalance compensation is proposed
[Molecular characterization of Babesia bovis msa-2c gene].

OBJECTIVE This study was carried out to determine the molecular characterization of msa-2c gene of one Babesia bovis isolate from cattle in the Aegean Region and to compare identities with similar isolates from the World and Turkey. METHODS Between 2008-2010 blood samples were collected from a total of 235 cattle localized in 9 provinces of the Marmara and Aegean Regions. Smears were prepared, genomic DNA's were extracted from the blood samples and investigated for Babesia species by RLB. PCR was performed on one sample determined as B. bovis, the obtained amplicon was purified, sequenced and deposited to GenBank. Identities with similar isolates from Turkey and the World were investigated. RESULTS Bovine babesiosis was not determined in the microscopic examination. According to the RLB results there was no B. bovis positivity in cattle from the Marmara Region, while only one B. bovis positivity was detected in cattle from the Aegean Region. The molecular prevalence of B. bovis was determined as 0.42% in the total of the examined 235 cattle. The sequenced B. bovis isolate shared 91-92% and 89-96% identities with the isolates from Turkey and the World, respectively. CONCLUSION Molecular characterization of msa-2c gene region of B. bovis detected from cattle in the Aegean Region was carried out in this study.
Properties of cirrus and subvisible cirrus from nighttime Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), related to atmospheric dynamics and water vapor

We map cirrus and subvisible cirrus clouds (SVC, optical depth <0.03) on a global scale, detecting optically thin clouds in 2.5 years of Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) spaceborne lidar observations. Cirrus clouds are mostly concentrated around strong convection areas in the tropics (cloud fractions (CF) 50%-60%, up to 90%), while SVC spread over higher latitudes (CF 30%-40%). We document cloud properties (geometrical thickness, top altitude, and midlayer temperature) and ice crystal depolarization ratios. SVC are thin (<1 km), are 2°C-3°C colder than cirrus clouds, and produce depolarization ratio lower by 0.03 on average, suggesting that the shapes of their crystals deviate from other cirrus clouds. We investigate correlations between retrieved properties and vertical and horizontal wind speed from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalyses characterizing vertical air motions in the tropics and jet streams in midlatitudes. In the tropics, cloud occurrence is correlated with vertical motions: cirrus CF goes from 5%-15% in subsidence to 30%-50% in updraft conditions, where clouds are 0.6 km thicker, ~1 km higher, and ~3° colder than in subsidence. In updraft conditions, cirrus CF is double the SVC CF (15%-25%). Optical properties of ice crystals do not change with vertical motions. In midlatitudes, horizontal winds faster than 30 m/s lead to higher CF, clouds ~8°C warmer (i.e., 1.8 km lower), and particulate depolarization ratio 0.1 lower. Changes in wind speeds affect SVC and cirrus clouds alike. Where CALIOP detects cirrus and SVC clouds, upper tropospheric water vapor concentrations from collocated MLS observations increase by 15-30 ppmv (cirrus) and 5-10 ppmv (SVC). Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.
Transient diabetes insipidus in a preterm neonate and the challenge of desmopressin dosing

Abstract Background: As neonatal central diabetes insipidus is rare in preterm neonates with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), very little is known about dosing and the route of administration of desmopressin treatment. Case report: We present a preterm neonate born at 29 weeks’ gestation. Within 24 h, she developed bilateral IVH with subsequent post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus. On the 3rd postnatal day, she developed diabetes insipidus for which she was intranasally administered 0.2 mg desmopressin. This resulted in oliguria with several hours of anuria and a 25-point drop in sodium levels within 15 h. Conclusion: The determination of the desmopressin dose in a preterm neonate is a challenge and there is no consistent literature about the dosing or the route of administration. We suggest starting with a low dose of intranasal desmopressin (0.05–0.1 μg) and titrate in accordance with clinical and laboratory parameters.
Linking Tourism Resources and Local Economic Benefits: A Spatial Analysis in West Virginia

Tourism has been playing an increasingly important role in the economic development and promotion for the state of West Virginia. However, how tourism resources are spatially distributed across all the state’s 55 counties has not received much attention. This study could be among the first in West Virginia to create a tourism resource inventory database at the county level, and to spatially examine tourism resource distribution patterns across all counties, based on the tourism resource quantity measured by size, length, or number, as well as on the quality determined by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) through surveys of 191 visitors. Based on the data collected, a four-level amenity index is created using the standard deviation method and mapped using GIS. The study indicates that nature-based tourism resources are largely concentrated in the eastern or central eastern part of West Virginia centering around Pocahontas County, while cultural resources do not exhibit a distinct clustering pattern. In addition, the cultural resource distribution pattern not only visually resembles that associated with visitors’ travel spending, but also has a statistically significant correlation with travel spending after controlling the spatial dependence. That being said, there is no such relationship that exists between natural tourism resources and travel spending, suggesting that more efforts are needed in the future to develop and market nature-based tourism in those counties with higher levels of natural tourism resources, but lower levels of visitor spending. It also implies that natural tourism is not a major contributor to the local economy for most counties. Rather, other forms of tourism activities such as gambling generated a large portion of travel/tourism related revenues, despite this contribution being only limited to a few counties.
Cross-reaction of lupus anti-dsDNA antibodies with protein translation factor EF-2.

This report elucidates a new cross-reactive intracellular target of anti-dsDNA antibodies. Previous experiments have demonstrated that some anti-dsDNA antibodies penetrate cells grown in tissue culture and all inhibit in vitro translation. Data implicate a cross-reactive antigen directly involved in protein synthesis: elongation factor-2 (EF-2). EF-2 was identified by N-terminal sequencing of a band identified with an antibody to the ribosomal protein S1 from Leuconostoc lactis in Western blot assay. Anti-DNA antibodies bind directly to purified EF-2 from bovine liver in dot blot assays. Anti-dsDNA antibodies were shown to inhibit in vitro translation. This inhibiting effect of anti-dsDNA antibodies was partially restored by EF-2 and abrogated by dsDNA, suggesting this cross-reactive specificity. These data demonstrate a cross-reaction between anti-dsDNA antibodies and EF-2 which may lead to cellular dysfunction, as evidenced by inhibition of protein synthesis, and provide a direct pathogenic role for cell penetrating anti-dsDNA antibodies.
Interpreting CARS images of tissue within the C–H‐stretching region

Single band coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is one of the fastest implementation of nonlinear vibrational imaging allowing for video‐rate image acquisition of tissue. This is due to the large Raman signal in the C—H‐stretching region. However, the chemical specificity of such images is conventionally assumed to be low. Nonetheless, CARS imaging within the C—H‐stretching region enables detection of single cells and nuclei, which allows for histopathologic grading of tissue. Relevant information such as nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, cell density, nucleus size and shape is extracted from CARS images by innovative image processing procedures. In this contribution CARS image contrast within the C—H‐stretching region is interpreted by direct comparison with Raman imaging and correlated to the tissue composition justifying the use of CARS imaging in this wavenumber region for biomedical applications. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An Improved Method for Energy and Resource Assessment of Waves in Finite Water Depths

For cost savings and ease of operation, nearshore regions have been considered as ideal regions for deploying wave energy converters (WECs) and wave farms. As the water depths of these regions may be frequently limited to 50 m or less, they can be considered as being transitional/intermediate to shallow when compared to the wave lengths of interest for wave energy conversion. Since the impact of water depths on propagation of waves is significant, it cannot be ignored in wave energy assessment. According to the basic wave theory, in order to work out accurate wave energy amounts in finite water depth, detailed wave spectral distributions should be given. However, for some practical reasons, there are still some cases where only scatter diagrams and/or the statistical wave parameters are available, whilst the detailed wave spectra are discarded. As a result, the assessments of wave energy and resources are frequently determined by ignoring the effect of water depths or using very simplified approximations. This research paper aims to develop more accurate approximation methods by utilising a number of available parameters such that a better estimate on the wave resource assessment can be achieved even if the detailed wave spectra are not available. As one important goal, the research can provide some important indications on how the measured wave data are effectively presented so that they can be very useful for assessing the wave energy resource, especially in the cases including the effects of finite water depths.
Efficacy and ocular surface tolerability of preservative-free tafluprost 0.0015%: a 6-month, single-blind, observational study on naïve ocular hypertension or glaucoma patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of preservative-free tafluprost in newly diagnosed patients and to confirm its efficacy in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods: Naïve patients were submitted to an ophthalmic examination, including ocular surface status and quality of life evaluation. All examinations were performed at baseline and after 1 and 6 months. Results: 28 patients were enrolled and treated with tafluprost, once a day, in the evening. TF-BUT changed from 9 (interquartile range (IQR) 6 – 11) s at baseline to 10 (IQR 7 – 10) s at 1 month (p = 0.106) and 9 (IQR 6 – 12) s at 6 months (p = 0.003). No eye developed corneal staining. Quality of life was (median (IQR)) 91.6 (79.2 – 95.8) at baseline and 95.8 (66.7 – 100) at 6 months (p = 0.62). Only a few adverse events occurred during the follow-up period (three patients experienced ocular burning and one developed redness). The mean IOP reduction was 5.5 mm Hg (95% CI 3.8 – 7.2). The median (IQR) baseline IOP was 18.7 (15 – 23.7) mm Hg; 14 (13 – 16) mm Hg and 16 (14 – 16) mm Hg (p < 0.0001) after 1 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusion: No patient developed ocular surface disease and quality of life perception was preserved. Preservative-free tafluprost is therefore an effective drug that is safe for the ocular surface after 6 months of daily therapy.
18F-Choline Images Murine Atherosclerotic Plaques Ex Vivo

Objective—Current imaging modalities of atherosclerosis mainly visualize plaque morphology. Valuable insight into plaque biology was achieved by visualizing enhanced metabolism in plaque-derived macrophages using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). Similarly, enhanced uptake of 18F-fluorocholine (18F-FCH) was associated with macrophages surrounding an abscess. As macrophages are important determinants of plaque vulnerability, we tested 18F-FCH for plaque imaging. Methods and Results—We injected 18F-FCH (n=5) or 18F-FDG (n=5) intravenously into atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. En face measurements of aortae isolated 20 minutes after 18F-FCH injections demonstrated an excellent correlation between fat stainings and autoradiographies (r=0.842, P<0.0001), achieving a sensitivity of 84% to detect plaques by 18F-FCH. In contrast, radiotracer uptake 20 minutes after 18F-FDG injections correlated less with en face fat stainings (r=0.261, P<0.05), reaching a sensitivity of 64%. Histological analyses of cross-sections 20 minutes after coinjections of 18F-FCH and 14C-FDG (n=3) showed that 18F-FCH uptake correlated better with fat staining (r=0.740, P<0.0001) and macrophage-positive areas (r=0.740, P<0.0001) than 14C-FDG (fat: r=0.236, P=0.29 and CD68 staining: r=0.352, P=0.11), respectively. Conclusions—18F-FCH identifies murine plaques better than 18F-FDG using ex vivo imaging. Enhanced 18F-FCH uptake into macrophages may render this tracer a promising candidate for imaging plaques in patients.
A DC-to-1GHz tunable RF ΔΣ ADC achieving DR = 74dB and BW = 150MHz at f0 = 450MHz using 550mW

The ultimate ADC for receiver applications would be one that converts any desired RF signal directly into digital form so that the rest of the signal chain enjoys accurate and flexible digital signal processing and CMOS scaling. Flexibility in center frequency (f0), bandwidth (BW), sampling frequency (fS), full-scale (FS), dynamic range (DR) and power consumption (P) would allow the ADC to handle multiple standards and adapt to the RF environment [1-4]. The ADC reported in this paper is a step toward this Holy Grail of ADCs, supporting fο = 0 to 1 GHz, BW = 35 to 150MHz, fS = 2 to 4GHz and FS = -18dBm to +18dBm. At f0 = 450MHz, BW = 150MHz, fS = 4GHz and FS = +6dBm, the ADC achieves instantaneous DR = 74dB and peak SNR = 69dB with P = 550mW.
Natural Radioactivity Levels and Estimation of Radiation Exposure in Environmental Soil Samples from Tulkarem Province-Palestine

The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides namely 238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs are measured for soil samples collected from different locations of Tulkarem district in West Back-Palestine. High-resolution gamma spectrometry (HPGe detector) was used to determine the activity concentration of these radionuclides in 72 surface soil samples taken from areas in and surrounding Tulkarem city. The concentration of 238U varied in the range 9.7 - 83.5 Bq kg–1 with an average value of 34.5 Bq kg–1, 232Th in the range 5.3 - 44.8 Bq kg–1 with an average value of 23.8 Bq kg–1, 40K in the range 10.2 - 404.0 Bq kg–1 with an average value of 120.0 Bq kg–1 and 137Cs in the range 1.0 - 24.5 Bq kg–1 with an average value of 7.8 Bq kg–1. The results have been compared with those of different countries of the world and Palestine. To assess the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the absorbed dose rate (Dr), the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the effective dose rate (Eeff), the annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR), the radioactivity level index (Iγ), and the external (Hex) and internal (Hin) hazard indices were calculated . It can be concluded that no risk may threat the residents around and center of Tulkarem city except some areas which activity due to fallout 137Cs were high concentration levels. Hence the probability of occurrence of any of the health effects of radiation is low. Hence, measurements have been taken as representing baseline values of these radionuclides in the soil in studying area.
Bone Marrow–Derived Smooth Muscle–Like Cells Are Infrequent in Advanced Primary Atherosclerotic Plaques but Promote Atherosclerosis

Objective—Although vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) provide the major structural integrity of atherosclerotic plaques, their origin has been questioned. In particular, although some studies identified plaque VSMCs originating from bone marrow or peripheral blood, their frequency is controversial and their function unknown. We used genetic tracking of cell fate through smooth muscle cell (SMC)–specific LacZ reporter activity and VSMC-selective apoptosis to investigate the frequency, distribution, and role of marrow-derived VSMCs in atherogenesis. Methods and Results—Cultured mouse bone marrow–derived smooth muscle–like cells expressed SMC markers and functional SMC promoter-driven transgenes over time. Transplantation of apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mice with smooth muscle myosin heavy chain–Cre/ROSA26R/ApoE−/− marrow showed that 0.7±0.14% cells expressed LacZ in atherosclerotic plaques, located superficially in early plaques, and in necrotic cores but not fibrous caps of advanced lesions. Cells expressing both progenitor and SMC markers showed a similar distribution and frequency. Apoptosis of marrow-derived SMC-like cells transplanted from SM22&agr;–human diphtheria toxin receptor/ApoE−/− mice retarded atherogenesis, with reduced plaque macrophage content. Cultured marrow-derived SMC-like cells secreted proinflammatory cytokines and promoted macrophage migration, VSMC proliferation, and collagen synthesis. Conclusion—Bone marrow–derived SMC-like cells are infrequent in advanced primary atherosclerotic plaques and absent in fibrous caps. However, these cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines and mitogens and promote atherosclerosis.
Replication of N2,3-ethenoguanine by DNA polymerases.

DNA is prone to attack by physical and chemical agents generated endogenously and exogenously, producing modified DNA bases (i.e. DNA adducts/lesions), abasic sites, and inter- and intrastrand DNA crosslinks. DNA adducts, if not properly repaired, can lead to blocked replication, misincorporation, and mutation, potentially causing gene deregulation and cancer. Etheno (e) DNA adducts are exocyclic adducts that, in addition to their use as fluorescent nucleotidfe derivatives,[1] were first recognized as reaction products of DNA with reactive metabolites of the occupational carcinogen vinyl chloride (VC). [2] Endogenous etheno-DNA adducts, arising from lipid peroxidation-derived DNA damage, were also detected in rats[3] and humans[4] without VC exposure. VC is a known carcinogen that induces hepatic angiosarcomas. [5] The major DNA adduct formed by VC, N7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine,[3, 6] is generally not considered to be mutagenic, because in vitro experiments showed that it did not cause detectable miscoding in an assay with modified poly(GC). [7] However, etheno adducts formed by VC (e.g. 1,N6-ethenoadenine, 3,N4-ethenocytosine, N2,3-ethenoguanine (N2,3-eG), and 1,N2-ethenoguanine (1,N2-eG)) have all been shown to be mutagenic in vitro and in bacteria (see N2,3-eG and 1,N2-eG structures in Figure 1a). [8] N2,3-eG is the most abundant endogenous etheno adduct, with levels estimated to be approximately 36 N2,3-eG lesions/cell in livers of untreated rats or humans. [9] A common assumption is that N2,3-eG is highly mutagenic; N2,3-eG is considered to contribute to the carcinogenesis of VC and inflammation-driven malignancies. [10] The dominance of a GC to AT transition in five of six K-ras (oncogene) tumors from VC workers[9] suggests the importance of a G adduct, but the misincorporation characteristics of 1,N2-eG are not consistent with this transition. [8a,f] Little repair of N2,3-eG occurs in VC-exposed rats, since the half-life of this lesion in rat liver and lung (150 days) and in rat kidney (75 days) is quite long. [11] The lability of the glycosidic bond of N2,3-e-deoxyguanosine (N2,3-e-dG) makes it difficult to adequately discern its mutagenic potential. [12] Both C and T were incorporated opposite N2,3-eG in a polyribo(G/N2,3-eG) template by avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase. [13] N2,3-e-Deoxyguanosine triphosphate is inserted opposite T by several polymerases (pols). [8d]
Formulation and Evaluation of Sustained Release Matrix Tablets of Metformin Hydrochloride Using pH Dependent and pH Independent Methacrylate Polymers

Metformin hydrochloride is recommended globally as first line therapy due to its favorable profile on morbidity and mortality associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus. However, limitations of multiple dosing and risk of triggering gastrointestinal symptoms make its dose optimization difficult. Extended-release metformin matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression of drug and different pH-dependent (Eudragit L-100 and S-100) and pH-independent (Eudragit RLPO and RSPO) polymer combinations. The influence of varying the polymer/polymer (w/w) ratio was evaluated. Among the different examined polymer blends, matrix tablets based on S-100/RLPO and S-100/RSPO mixtures gave the more sustained release pattern. The excipients used in this study did not alter physicochemical properties of the drug, as tested by Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy and the thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry. All the batches were evaluated for thickness, weight variation, hardness, and drug content uniformity. The in vitro drug dissolution study was carried out using USP 22 apparatus II, paddle method and the release mechanisms were explored. Mean dissolution time is used to characterize drug release rate from a dosage form and indicates the drug release retarding efficiency of polymer. Kinetic modeling of in vitro dissolution profiles revealed the drug release mechanism ranges from diffusion controlled to anomalous type. Fitting the data to Korsmeyer equation indicated that diffusion along with erosion could be the mechanism of drug release. Research Article