Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Damage Due to Ischemia and Reperfusion is Prevented with SIN-1

Background: Acute ischemia followed by reperfusion results in direct endothelial damage characterized by cell swelling, increased permeability and loss of acetylcholine-mediated vasorelaxation. Ischemia followed by reperfusion in a New Zealand white rabbit hindlimb has been shown to result in loss of acetylcholine-induced relaxation of superficial femoral arteries. This loss of relaxation in response to acetylcholine is a reflection of the decreased nitric oxide availability that occurs with reperfusion injury. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of SIN-1, a direct nitric oxide donor, on this endothelial injury. Methods: New Zealand white rabbits underwent complete ischemia of the right hindlimb for 3 h followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Aliquots of 20 ml of either 0.88-mM SIN-1 or normal saline was infused via a lateral branch of the right common iliac artery during the first 20 min of reperfusion. Sham vessels were subjected to the S-h operative intervention to control for anesthetic effect. Control vessels were harvested from rabbits not exposed to ischemia or reperfusion. Superficial femoral artery rings were evaluated in vitro for endothelial cell-mediated relaxation. Rings were contracted with potassium chloride and norepinephrine and then exposed to standardized incremental doses of acetylcholine to measure percent relaxation. Artery sections were sent for hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: No significant differences were seen in contraction caused by either potassium chloride or norepinephrine in all four experimental groups. Saline infused vessel rings relaxed a mean of 8.42 ± 2.39% and 49.57 ± 8.65% in response to acetylcholine doses of 3 × 10−8 M and 1 × 10−7M, respectively. In contrast, SIN-1 infused vessels relaxed a mean of 57.82 ± 2.65% and 100.23 ± 1.53% to the same doses of acetylcholine. Control and sham arteries showed a similar relaxation response as compared with SIN-1 infused vessels. Differences in relaxation when comparing saline infused vessels with SIN-1 infused, sham and control arteries, were significantly different at each dose of acetylcholine from 3 × 10−8M to 1 × 10−7M (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Histologic examination of the vessels revealed no morphologic differences among the experimental groups. All vessels werestructurally normal with an intact endothelium. Conclusion: In this model of rabbit hindlimb ischemia, preservation of endothelial cell-mediated vasorelaxation occurs with administration of intra-arterial SIN-1 during reperfusion. This preservation of endothelial function cannot be explained by histologic changes in the arterial wall or attributed to altered arterial contractility in response to potassium chloride or norepinephrine.
Cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes from thermophilic Aspergillus terreus RWY

Thermophilic Aspergillus terreus RWY produced cellulases and xylanases in optimal concentrations at 45 °C in solid state fermentation process, though enzyme production was also observed at 50 and 55 °C. Filter paper cellulase (FP), endoglucanase (EG), β‐glucosidase (BGL), cellobiohydrolase (CBH), xylanase, β‐xylosidase, α‐L‐arabinofuranosidase and xylan esterase activities for A. terreus RWY at 45 °C in 72 h were 11.3 ± 0.65, 103 ± 6.4, 122.5 ± 8.7, 10.3 ± 0.66, 872 ± 22.5, 22.1 ± 0.75, 126.4 ± 8.4 and 907 ± 15.5 U (g‐ds)−1, respectively. Enzyme was optimally active at temperatures and pH ranging between 50–60 °C and 4.0–6.0, respectively. The half life (T1/2) of 270 and 240 min at 70 and 75 °C, respectively for the enzyme indicates its stability at higher temperatures. The addition of MnCl2, CoCl2, and FeCl3 significantly enhanced cellulase activity. Enzyme demonstrated multiplicity by having seven, one and three isoform(s) for EG, CBH and BGL, respectively. Significant production of functionally active consortium of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes from A. terreus RWY makes it a potential candidate in bioprocessing applications.
Clinical characteristics of pneumonia caused by penicillin resistant and sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Japan.

BACKGROUND S. pneumoniae is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. P-lactam antibiotics were very effective against S. pneumoniae, however resistance to this class of antibiotic has become an increasing problem. OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical differences between penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS The medical records of 306 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia who visited Nagasaki University Hospital or affiliated institutions between January 1997 and December 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. The Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), sensitivity of S. pneumoniae, antibiotic choices and information on clinical outcome were evaluated. RESULTS Penicillin sensitive and resistant organisms were responsible for 177 (57.7%) and 129 (42.0%) cases of pneumonia, respectively. The median age of patients was 65.5 years, and 72.3% (222) were males. There were no significant differences in the resistance rate between elderly (>65 years) and young patients. The median PSI score was 76. No significant association was observed between the severity of illness and sensitivities of S. pneumoniae. Previous use of beta-lactams in the last 3 months and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with penicillin resistance. The failure rate of first line antibiotics was significantly higher in the resistant group (22.5%) than in the sensitive group (9.0%). Four of 306 patients died (mortality, 1.3%). CONCLUSION There were no significant differences clinically between the penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant groups. The failure rate of first line antibiotics was higher in the resistant than in the sensitive group. Thus, the selection of antimicrobial agents should be carefully considered in the context of the patient's risk factors.
Accounting for Merger : The Case of HM Revenue and Customs

In 2004 the UK Central Government announced merger of its two main central tax departments, the Inland Revenue, and HM Customs & Excise. The two big departments had different historical origins and administrative structures. Their organizational cultures were also perceived to be quite different. This paper considers the background of the merger and examines the rationale for such a merger with the help of textual data collected from in-depth interviews, official publications, and reports of the Treasury Select Committee. The paper also investigates the likely impact on practices and processes of the new department with regards to the taxpayers. Answers are sought with the help of insights drawn from New Institutional Sociology. The paper concludes with suggestions for future
Managing with a Conscience: How to Improve Performance Through Integrity, Trust, and Commitment

In a world where change is an everyday occurrence, business as usual is a guaranteed recipe for failure. In the pursuit of short-term profits, short-sighted managers and organizations that insist on sacrificing integrity, trust, honour, and commitment to achieve bottom-line results are doomed to wither under today's escalating pressures for business change. "Managing With a Conscience" spells out a better option for improving long-term corporate and individual success: restore traditional values and in trust and integrity into all business practices and relationships, both internal and external. "Managing With a Conscience" is about replacing the traditional "we" against "them" mentality with a new perception of "us" that encourages the growth of profitable, long-term relationships with employees, customers, clients, suppliers, and alliance partners. It's about decreasing time to market, promoting service excellence, communicating in a world of information overload, and energizing the decentralized work force. To guide readers, this book offers proven management practices for creating a corporate environment of loyalty and caring, one that prompts people to work to a higher level, exceed customer expectations, and ensure that products are flawless and produced on time and within budget. Today, competitive advantage belongs to those companies and individuals who carefully build trust, vigorously nurture it, and constantly reinforce it to meet tough business challenges. With its practical, values-driven approach, "Managing With a Conscience" shows ways of winning the loyalty of the marketplace; building open, honest communication with employees and maintaining high standards of honest business conduct.
Economic evaluations of contingency management in illicit drug misuse programmes: A systematic review.

ISSUES UK clinical guidelines published in 2007 recommended contingency management (CM) as an adjunct to opiate substitution therapy. However, CM has not been adopted in the UK despite evidence of clinical effectiveness. Evidence for the cost-effectiveness of CM is less clear and will need to be explored if CM is to be adopted by national health systems in countries such as the UK. APPROACH Systematic review and descriptive synthesis of published economic evaluations. KEY FINDINGS The review identified nine published studies that could be classified as economic evaluations. These were all based within US treatment settings, and five were conducted by the same group of authors. All studies found that the addition of CM to usual care increased both costs and effects (commonly drug abstinence or medication adherence). IMPLICATIONS This review confirms that the existing evidence base for cost-effectiveness has limited generalisability beyond the original research clinical settings and populations. CONCLUSION The data were not sufficiently strong to make any conclusion about the cost-effectiveness of CM. More relevant and comprehensive evidence for cost-effectiveness than currently exists is needed.
Phytoestrogens reduce the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on the contractility of bovine myometrium in vitro

Proper regulation of uterine contractility, both spontaneous and oxytocin (OT)-amplified, is essential for successful fertilization and maintenance of gestation. Previously, we showed that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), regarded as environmental pollutants, contributed to the increase in contractions of cyclic bovine uterus. In this paper, we hypothesized that phytoestrogens, plant-derived components, counteract the disruptive effects of PCBs. Therefore, we examined the in vitro effect (24-72 h) of coumestrol, daidzein, and genistein (10 , 10 -5 M each) on spontaneous and OT-stimulated (10 -7 M) myometrial strips contractions. Moreover, the effect (48 h) of coumestrol (10 -6 M) or daidzein (10 -5 M), jointly with PCBs (77, 100 ng/ml; 126, 153, 10 ng/ml), on myometrial contractions was registered. The myometrium was the most relaxed ( P < 0.05) when treated with coumestrol, while the force of myometrial spontaneous contractions increased the most ( P < 0.05) when treated with daidzein. Daidzein (10 -5 M) also effectively increased the OT-stimulated force of contractions ( P < 0.01). All phytoestro - gens used affected the frequency and amplitude of myometrial contractions, though less markedly. Furthermore, coumestrol or daidzein reduced ( P < 0.05) the spontaneous and OT-stimulated force of myometrial contractions, evoked by PCBs. Data suggest the effect of PCBs on myometrial contractility can be markedly reduced by some phytoestrogens.
Changes in energy expenditure resulting from altered body weight.

BACKGROUND No current treatment for obesity reliably sustains weight loss, perhaps because compensatory metabolic processes resist the maintenance of the altered body weight. We examined the effects of experimental perturbations of body weight on energy expenditure to determine whether they lead to metabolic changes and whether obese subjects and those who have never been obese respond similarly. METHODS We repeatedly measured 24-hour total energy expenditure, resting and nonresting energy expenditure, and the thermic effect of feeding in 18 obese subjects and 23 subjects who had never been obese. The subjects were studied at their usual body weight and after losing 10 to 20 percent of their body weight by underfeeding or gaining 10 percent by overfeeding. RESULTS Maintenance of a body weight at a level 10 percent or more below the initial weight was associated with a mean (+/- SD) reduction in total energy expenditure of 6 +/- 3 kcal per kilogram of fat-free mass per day in the subjects who had never been obese (P < 0.001) and 8 +/- 5 kcal per kilogram per day in the obese subjects (P < 0.001). Resting energy expenditure and nonresting energy expenditure each decreased 3 to 4 kcal per kilogram of fat-free mass per day in both groups of subjects. Maintenance of body weight at a level 10 percent above the usual weight was associated with an increase in total energy expenditure of 9 +/- 7 kcal per kilogram of fat-free mass per day in the subjects who had never been obese (P < 0.001) and 8 +/- 4 kcal per kilogram per day in the obese subjects (P < 0.001). The thermic effect of feeding and nonresting energy expenditure increased by approximately 1 to 2 and 8 to 9 kcal per kilogram of fat-free mass per day, respectively, after weight gain. These changes in energy expenditure were not related to the degree of adiposity or the sex of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS Maintenance of a reduced or elevated body weight is associated with compensatory changes in energy expenditure, which oppose the maintenance of a body weight that is different from the usual weight. These compensatory changes may account for the poor long-term efficacy of treatments for obesity.
When good Cdk5 turns bad.

The cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) is critical to normal mammalian development and has been implicated in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory in the adult brain. But Cdk-5 activity has also been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Could a single protein have opposing effects? A new study shows that production of a neuronal protein capable of regulating Cdk-5 activity can turn Cdk-5 from "good" to "bad. " The findings may have implications for the development and treatment of conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Herbivore performance and plant defense after sequential attacks by inducing and suppressing herbivores

It is well known that herbivore‐induced plant defenses alter host plant quality and can affect the behavior and performance of later arriving herbivores. Effects of sequential attacks by herbivores that either suppress or induce plant defenses are less well studied. We sequentially infested leaves of tomato plants with a strain of the phytophagous spider mite Tetranychus urticae that induces plant defenses and the closely related Tetranychus evansi, which suppresses plant defenses. Plant quality was quantified through oviposition of both spider mite species and by measuring proteinase inhibitor activity using plant material that had been sequentially attacked by both herbivore species. Spider‐mite oviposition data show that T. evansi could suppress an earlier induction of plant defenses by T. urticae, and T. urticae could induce defenses in plants previously attacked by T. evansi in 1 day. Longer attacks by the second species did not result in further changes in oviposition. Proteinase inhibitor activity levels showed that T. evansi suppressed the high activity levels induced by T. urticae to constitutive levels in 1 day, and further suppressed activity to levels similar to those in plants attacked by T. evansi alone. Attacks by T. urticae induced proteinase inhibitor activity in plants previously attacked by T. evansi, eventually to similar levels as induced by T. urticae alone. Hence, plant quality and plant defenses were significantly affected by sequential attacks and the order of attack does not affect subsequent performance, but does affect proteinase inhibitor activity levels. Based on our results, we discuss the evolution of suppression of plant defenses.
Hedge Fund Return Correlation under Extreme Market Condition

How dependent are returns across hedge fund investment strategies? We estimate the probability that each investment strategy performs poorly when other investment strategies are delivering extreme negative returns. Under extreme market conditions, we find that event driven, distressed debt, and equity long/short funds exhibit the highest correlation with other styles while commodity trading advisors, macro, and equity market neutral funds exhibit the lowest correlation. In addition, we show that Asia-focused event driven and equity market neutral funds provide diversification for investors holding US- and Europe-focused funds. How correlated are hedge fund returns in difficult market conditions? Which investment strategies confer diversification benefits to investors holding on to other hedge funds? Do Asia-focused hedge funds add value to a portfolio of US- and Europe-focused funds? These are some of the questions that fund investors and fund of funds managers often grapple with. A common critique of hedge funds is that correlations between different strategies converge to one during difficult market conditions. In this newsletter, we ask just how do correlations behave under those extreme situations, and if there are any differences across investment styles. Specifically, we employ methodology of Boyson, Stahel and Stulz (2010) to understand the probability that each investment strategy performs poorly when other investment strategies are also performing poorly. To merge Barclayhedge, HFR, and Lipper sample 1994 combined consists of 22,031 funds of which 13,778 funds stopped reporting returns at the end of our sample period. then classify hedge funds into convertible arbitrage, distressed debt, event driven, equity long/short, commodity trading advisors, fixed income, macro, and equity market neutral, and form equal-weighted return portfolios for each investment style. believe these 8 styles capture the majority of hedge fund strategies
Interaction of IL-6 and TNF-α contributes to endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mouse hearts

Objectives Inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), are individually considered as important contributors to endothelial dysfunction in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, their interactions in coronary arteriole endothelial dysfunction are uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of TNF-α and IL-6 interactions on coronary endothelial dysfunction in experimental T2D. Methods The studies used wild type (WT), diabetic mice (db/db), db/db null for TNF (dbTNF-/dbTNF-), and db/db mice treated with neutralizing antibody to IL-6 (anti-IL-6). Endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine [ACh], or luminal flow-induced shear stress) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside [SNP]) vasodilation of isolated and pressurized coronary arterioles were determined. Quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were utilized for mechanistic studies. Results Relative to WT, arteriolar dilation to both ACh and flow was attenuated in db/db mice and dbTNF-/dbTNF-. Treatment of dbTNF-/dbTNF- and db/db mice with anti-IL-6 improved arteriolar dilation compared to db/db mice. Immunofluorescence staining illustrated localization of IL-6 within the endothelial cells of coronary arterioles. In db/db mice, mRNA and protein expression of IL-6 and superoxide (O2-) production were higher, but reduced by anti-IL-6 treatment. Also, in db/db mice, mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α suppressed by the anti-IL-6 treatment and the reduced expression of mRNA and protein expression of IL-6 by the genetic deletion of TNF-α both supported a reciprocal regulation between TNF-α and IL-6. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression and phosphorylation of eNOS (p-eNOS/eNOS) were lower in db/db mice coronary arterioles and were restored in db/db+Anti-IL-6 and dbTNF-/dbTNF- mice. Conclusion The interactions between TNF-α and IL-6 exacerbate oxidative stress and reduce phosphorylation of eNOS, thereby contributing to coronary endothelial dysfunction in T2D mice.
Analysis and Experimental Comparison of Graph Databases

 Autor se zaměřuje na novou problematiku, k níž neexistuje mnoho zdrojů jak v oblasti odborných, tak popularizačních článků. Autor se tak musel seznámit s mnoha málo známými problémy a přístupy, což měl nedostatkem literatury poměrně ztížené.  Zvolená množina systémů, jejichž vlastnosti byly srovnávány experimentálně, je zajímavá co do velikosti, různorodosti typů grafových databází i zahrnutím negrafových systémů. Opět zde autora čekal nelehký úkol spočívající v chybějících a neúplných dokumentacích systémů a nutnosti zprovoznit množství různých implementací, které jsou často stále ve stádiu beta verze.  Pro účely testování autor využívá několik existujících a prověřených nástrojů (jako např. Blueprints, GraphDB-Bench, igraph). Poskytuje tak jejich rozšíření, či ukázku využití a současně neztrácí čas implementací již implementovaného.  Výsledky práce jsou velmi cenné a bezpochyby vhodné pro publikaci v odpovídajícím mezinárodním sborníku/časopise.
Aggresome‐related biogenesis of Lewy bodies

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and ‘dementia with Lewy bodies’ (DLB) are characterized pathologically by selective neuronal death and the appearance of intracytoplasmic protein aggregates (Lewy bodies). The process by which these inclusions are formed and their role in the neurodegenerative process remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate a close relationship between Lewy bodies and aggresomes, which are cytoplasmic inclusions formed at the centrosome as a cytoprotective response to sequester and degrade excess levels of potentially toxic abnormal proteins within cells. We show that the centrosome/aggresome‐related proteins γ‐tubulin and pericentrin display an aggresome‐like distribution in Lewy bodies in PD and DLB. Lewy bodies also sequester the ubiquitin‐activating enzyme (E1), the proteasome activators PA700 and PA28, and HSP70, all of which are recruited to aggresomes for enhanced proteolysis. Using novel antibodies that are specific and highly sensitive to ubiquitin–protein conjugates, we revealed the presence of numerous discrete ubiquitinated protein aggregates in neuronal soma and processes in PD and DLB. These aggregates appear to be being transported from peripheral sites to the centrosome where they are sequestered to form Lewy bodies in neurons. Finally, we have shown that inhibition of proteasomal function or generation of misfolded proteins cause the formation of aggresome/Lewy body‐like inclusions and cytotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons in culture. These observations suggest that Lewy body formation may be an aggresome‐related event in response to increasing levels of abnormal proteins in neurons. This phenomenon is consistent with growing evidence that altered protein handling underlies the etiopathogenesis of PD and related disorders.
Tools for the SBML Community

MOTIVATION SBML is quickly becoming the standard format to exchange biochemical models. The tools presented in this paper are loosely-coupled, and are intended to be incorporated into SBML aware applications. The rationale for this is to reduce the amount of repeated work carried out within the community and to create tools that offer a greater number of features to the end-user. AVAILABILITY All tools described are available from http://www.basis. ncl.ac. uk/software and are licensed under GNU General Public License.