Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preconditioning‐induced neuroprotection is mediated by reactive oxygen species and activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB

Preconditioning by a sublethal stimulus induces tolerance to a subsequent, otherwise lethal insult and it has been suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in this phenomenon. In the present study, we determined whether preconditioning activates the transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and how this activation contributes to preconditioning‐induced inhibition of neuronal apoptosis. Preconditioning was performed by incubating mixed cultures of neurons and astrocytes from neonatal rat hippocampus with xanthine/xanthine oxidase or FeSO4 for 15 min followed by 24 h of recovery which protected the neurons against subsequent staurosporine‐induced (200 nm, 24 h) apoptosis. The cellular ROS content increased during preconditioning, but returned to basal levels after removal of xanthine/xanthine oxidase or FeSO4. We detected a transient activation of NF‐κB 4 h after preconditioning as shown by immunocytochemistry, by a decrease in the protein level of IκBα as well as by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Preconditioning‐mediated neuroprotection was abolished by antioxidants, inhibitors of NF‐κB activation and cycloheximide suggesting the involvement of ROS, an activation of NF‐κB and de novo protein synthesis in preconditioning‐mediated rescue pathways. Furthermore, preconditioning increased the protein level of Mn‐superoxide dismutase which could be blocked by antioxidants, cycloheximide and κB decoy DNA. Our data suggest that inhibition of staurosporine‐induced neuronal apoptosis by preconditioning with xanthine/xanthine oxidase or FeSO4 involves an activation of NF‐κB and an increase in the protein level of Mn‐superoxide dismutase.
Reflectance of Alaskan black spruce and white spruce foliage in relation to elevation and latitude.

Leaf reflectance at visible and near-infrared wavelengths (400-1000 nm) is related primarily to pigmentation, leaf structure and water content, and is an important tool for studying stress physiology and relationships between plants and their growth environment. We studied reflectance of two co-occurring Alaskan conifers, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), at elevations from 60 to 930 m a.s. l. along a latitudinal gradient from 61 degrees to 68 degrees N. Black spruce samples were collected from 24 sites and white spruce from 30 sites. Overall, reflectance spectra of the two species were similar, but from 400 to 700 nm, needle reflectance was consistently higher in black spruce than in white spruce (all P <or= 0.05). This difference is probably related to differences in epicuticular wax morphology or amount, and may represent a photoprotective mechanism in black spruce. Reflectance at visible wavelengths generally increased with elevation and latitude in both species, consistent with a general stress response. However, in a multiple regression, latitude and elevation explained only 25-45% of the total variation in the indices studied. Reflectance indices suggested that needle yellowness increased, whereas chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency decreased with both elevation and latitude. These trends were consistent between species, but white spruce generally showed a much smaller (and insignificant) reflectance response to latitude compared with black spruce. Differences between species could be related to black spruce's ability to colonize more stressful sites and white spruce's greater competitiveness on less stressful sites, coupled with the effects of drainage and microtopography (which may vary less predictably with latitude than elevation) on species distribution. The black spruce results suggest that a 1000-m increase in elevation is roughly comparable with a 6 degrees increase in latitude.
Relationship between hospital volume and outcomes following primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an important treatment option for patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although an inverse association between a hospital's PCI volume and in-hospital mortality has been observed in Western studies, previous Japanese investigations have not found any such relationship. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective analysis of 8,391 cases of acute MI, obtained from administrative data from 2006. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Hospitals were divided into quartiles based on the number of PCI procedures per half-year (6-13, 14-22, 23-38, 39-134) and mortality rates were compared across the groups. Crude-mortality in the lowest-volume quartile was 7.0%, compared with 4.9% in the highest-volume quartile. An inverse association was found between primary PCI procedure volume and crude in-hospital mortality (P = 0.016). After case-mix adjustment, a significant decrease in mortality risk for patients treated at high-volume (3rd and 4th quartile) hospitals compared to the lowest-volume (1(st) quartile) hospitals was found. CONCLUSIONS Based on this administrative data, there is an inverse association between a hospital's primary PCI volume and in-hospital mortality for patients with acute MI. Periodic outcomes research is necessary in conjunction with progress in PCI practice and technology to establish the recommended PCI volume and regionalization for improvements in care.
Report of the Substudy Assessing the Impact of Neurocognitive Function on Quality of Life 5 Years After Cardiac Surgery

Background and Purpose— The importance of perioperative cognitive decline has long been debated. We recently demonstrated a significant correlation between perioperative cognitive decline and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Despite this association, some still question the importance of these changes in cognitive function to the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of our investigation was to determine the association between cognitive dysfunction and long-term quality of life after cardiac surgery. Methods— After institutional review board approval and patient informed consent, 261 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled and followed for 5 years. Cognitive function was measured with a battery of tests at baseline, discharge, and 6 weeks and 5 years postoperatively. Quality of life was assessed with well-validated, standardized assessments at the 5-year end point. Results— Our results demonstrate significant correlations between cognitive function and quality of life in patients after cardiac surgery. Lower 5-year overall cognitive function scores were associated with lower general health and a less productive working status. Multivariable logistic and linear regression controlling for age, sex, education, and diabetes confirmed this strong association in the majority of areas of quality of life. Conclusions— Five years after cardiac surgery, there is a strong relationship between neurocognitive functioning and quality of life. This has important social and financial implications for preoperative evaluation and postoperative care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Processing and immobilization of enzyme Ribonuclease A through laser irradiation

We report the processing and immobilization of enzyme Ribonuclease A (RNase A) onto SiO_2 glass collectors using the matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The experiments were performed inside a stainless steel irradiation chamber. A pulsed UV KrF* (λ = 248 nm, τ_FWHM ≈ 25 ns, ν = 10 Hz) excimer laser source was used for the irradiations. The laser fluence was varied in the range 0.4–0.7 J/cm^2. The morphology of the obtained films was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and their structure and composition by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR spectra of the films obtained from composite MAPLE targets consisting of 1% (w/v) RNase A in Hepes-KOH 10 mM pH 7.5 buffer exhibit the same bands as the spectrum of the initial, nonirradiated material. The enzymatic activity of the obtained structures was analyzed using synthetic substrate polycytidylic acid (poly(C)). The poly (C) cleavage by the immobilized enzyme and the products of formation were analyzed by means of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Video enhancement method with color-protection post-processing

The current study is aimed to propose a post-processing method for video enhancement by adopting a color-protection technique. The color-protection intends to attenuate perceptible artifacts due to over-enhancements in visually sensitive image regions such as low-chroma colors, including skin and gray objects. In addition, reducing the loss in color texture caused by the out-of-color-gamut signals is also taken into account. Consequently, color reproducibility of video sequences could be remarkably enhanced while the undesirable visual exaggerations are minimized.
High blood pressure and associated risk factors among women attending antenatal clinics in Tanzania

Aim: Hypertension during pregnancy (HDP) is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. This study examined prevalence and potential risk factors for HDP among pregnant women in Tanzania. Methods: We examined 910 pregnant women, aged at least 20 years, mean gestational age 27 weeks, from rural (n = 301) and urban (n = 609) areas, during their usual antenatal clinic visits. Hypertension was defined as clinic SBP at least 140 mmHg or DBP at least 90 mmHg. Dietary assessment included dietary diversity score using 16 food groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent association of risk factors associated with prevalence of hypertension. Results: A total of 62 women (6.9%) had HDP, prevalence being higher in urban (8.1%) compared to rural area (4.4%). For the urban area, mother's age [odds ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.20], gestational age (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.20), mid-upper arm circumference (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.23), dietary diversity score (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.20–1.60) and being HIV-positive (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.10–5.18) were independently associated with HDP. When adjusted for proteinuria, associations with HIV status and mid-upper arm circumference weakened. In the rural area, HDP risk increased with age and gestational age. Conclusion: Prevalence of HDP was higher in urban compared to rural area, which points at high risk for preterm delivery, low birth weight and future cardiovascular diseases. The observed risk factors identify risk groups to be screened and targeted for prevention. The role of HIV status needs to be further explored.
Recognition of Adenosine Residues by the Active Site of Poly(A)-specific Ribonuclease*

Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) is a mammalian 3′-exoribonuclease that degrades poly(A) with high specificity. To reveal mechanisms by which poly(A) is recognized by the active site of PARN, we have performed a kinetic analysis using a large repertoire of trinucleotide substrates. Our analysis demonstrated that PARN harbors specificity for adenosine recognition in its active site and that the nucleotides surrounding the scissile bond are critical for adenosine recognition. We propose that two binding pockets, which interact with the nucleotides surrounding the scissile bond, play a pivotal role in providing specificity for the recognition of adenosine residues by the active site of PARN. In addition, we show that PARN, besides poly(A), also quite efficiently degrades poly(U), ∼10-fold less efficiently than poly(A). The poly(U)-degrading property of PARN could be of biological significance as oligo(U) tails recently have been proposed to play a role in RNA stabilization and destabilization.
Synthesis, Characterization and Drug Release of Biocompatible/Biodegradable Non-toxic Poly(urethane urea)s Based on Poly(ε-caprolactone)s and Lysine-Based Diisocyanate

Segmented poly(urethane urea)s (SPUUs) based on aliphatic diisocyanato (2,6-diisocyanato methyl caproate (lysine-based diisocyanate, LDI)), poly(ε-caprolactone diol)s (PCLs) with molecular weights 530, 1250 and 2000, and 1,4-butanediamine were synthesized in absence of catalyst. The resulting SPUUs, with different soft segment length, were characterized by suitable analytical techniques. The synthesized SPUUs had high molecular weights, low glass-transition temperatures (≤−15°C) and high elongation-at-break. The degradation of SPUUs in alkaline solution and in vitro drug release of sulfamethoxazole in pH 7.4 buffer were investigated. In addition, the degradation behavior of PCL1250-based SPUU was investigated by exposing to a buffer solution and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) tests in an activated sludge. The drug release data was analyzed by an empirical equation ((M t/M ∞)=ktn ). Finally, NIH3T3 fibroblasts have been used for cell-adhesion studies on these materials to investigate the biocompatibility. The synthesized SPUUs combine physical and bioresponsive and biodegradable properties that might be employed in wound dressing, drug delivery and tissue-engineering applications.
Effect of calorie-protein supplementation on the cognitive recovery of patients with subacute stroke

Abstract Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate whether protein-calorie supplementation may enhance the cognitive retrieval of patients with stroke. Patients and methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot clinical trial was performed comparing diet and diet plus protein-calorie supplementation regimens. The subjects were 48 patients with subacute stroke (≥ 14 days from index event). Anthropometric and nutritional (3-day diary) variables, cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE) were determined before and 21 days after randomization in control and daily supplemented group (formula providing 250 kcal + 20 g protein). Results: At day 21 after starting the protocol, only the supplemented group significantly improved their performance to MMSE (log10MMSE +0.6 ± 0.4 score; P = 0.01 from baseline). Conclusions: Protein-calorie supplementation may enhance the recovery of cognitive function in subacute stroke patients.
Throughput and Delay Analysis of a Network Coding-enabled Cooperative MAC Protocol for Ad Hoc Networks

Cooperative communications and network coding schemes have been proposed to increase system throughput for ad hoc networks. In this paper, we present throughput and delay analysis of the new network coding-enabled cooperative MAC protocol called NC-MAC, which has been proposed by us in order to significantly enhance system performance. This protocol introduces an approach that can accommodate both cooperative communication and network coding for wireless ad hoc networks by slightly increasing overhead and modifying standards. The protocol"s performance is evaluated using mathematical analysis and computer simulation and two performance measures, system throughput and average channel access delay, are used for a performance comparison with previous schemes. It is assumed that all the frames exchanged over a wireless channel are susceptible to transmission errors, which is a new but more reasonable assumption differentiating this research from previous research. Numerical results show this protocol provides significantly enhanced system performance compared with conventional cooperative MAC protocols used in previous research. For instance, system performance is 47% higher using the NC-MAC protocol than when using the rDCF protocol.
Demo: On the Monitoring of YouTube QoE in Cellular Networks from End-devices

In this demonstration, we present YoMoApp (YouTube Performance Monitoring Application), a passive measurement application for client side monitoring of YouTube video streaming on mobile Android devices. The application uses the YouTube mobile website and the HTML5 API to exactly replicate the well-known YouTube service, which employs HTTP adaptive streaming (HAS) technology based on resolution adaptation. It monitors and stores multiple Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the video streaming via the YouTube API (i.e., player state/events, buffer, and video quality level), which allow to analyze the QoE of adaptive video streaming sessions.
Evaluation of a competitive enzyme immunoassay for detection of Coxiella burnetii antibody in animal sera

A competitive enzyme immunoassay (CEIA) was established and compared with other serological techniques for detecting Coxiella burnetii antibody in camels, goats, and sheep. This technique was evaluated because a conjugated anti-camel immunoglobulin was not available to serve as a direct signal for the demonstration of antigen-antibody reaction. A C. burnetii antibody-positive human serum and a peroxidase-conjugated anti-human immunoglobulin G were used as an indicator system competing against antibody in animal serum or as an indicator of the absence of antibody. Sera were considered antibody positive when the A414 of the test sera plus the competing positive antibody was less than or equal to 50% of the A414 of the negative-control serum plus the competing antibody. Antibody to C. burnetii was repeatedly demonstrated in 66% of camel serum samples (n = 200) by the CEIA. Among 48 camel serum samples, 71% were positive for antibody by CEIA versus 65% by EIA using peroxidase-labeled protein A. The CEIA detected C. burnetii antibody in 63% of sheep serum samples (n = 40) and in 50% of goat serum samples (n = 96), while the indirect fluorescent-antibody technique detected antibody in 38% of sheep and 34% of goat serum samples and the EIA detected antibody in 50% of sheep and 35% of goat serum samples. These data indicate that the CEIA is a reliable and sensitive technique for demonstrating C. burnetii antibody in camels, sheep, and goats.
Isonet: une nouvelle gamme de diffuseurs pour la lutte par confusion contre les vers de la grappe

Les diffuseurs Isonet, destines a la lutte par confusion contre les vers de la grappe cochylis Eupoecilia ambiguella et eudemis Lobesia botrana, ont ete testes dans le canton de Vaud de 2001 a 2003, sur une surface totale d'environ 680 ha de vignoble. Les pieges sexuels installes dans les essais n'ont pratiquement rien capture. En premiere generation, les attaques sur grappes ont toujours ete considerablement reduites par rapport aux vignobles de reference de la meme region. En seconde generation, la technique de confusion a ete, dans la majorite des cas, plus efficace que la lutte au moyen d'insecticides classiques. Cependant, un traitement complementaire localise s'est parfois avere necessaire, essentiellement dans des parcelles insuffisamment isolees, dans des bordures de vignoble, en raison d'une application trop tardive des diffuseurs ou d'une pression initiale trop elevee des ravageurs. L'emission des attractifs, estimee par pesee hebdomadaire et par analyse chromatographique en phase gazeuse (GC) de diffuseurs exposes dans les vignes, est tres reguliere durant toute la saison et assure une persistance de l'action au-dela de la periode de vol des deux ravageurs.
Translating Object-Z specifications to object-oriented test oracles

This paper describes the translation of Object-Z specifications of container classes to C++ test oracle classes. It presents a three-stage translation process and describes how the derived test oracles are integrated into the ClassBench testing framework. The method caters for object-oriented features such as inheritance and aggregation. Translation issues and the limitations of the method are discussed. Our approach is illustrated with an example based on an integer set class.
Efficacy of Interleukin-1β against Systemic Candida albicans Infections in Normal and Immunosuppressed Mice

Prophylactic treatments with either recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rHuIL-1 beta) or a muramyl dipeptide analog ([Abu1]MDP) enhanced the resistance of mice to systemic infection with Candida albicans. The optimum treatment regimen in both normal and cyclophosphamide-treated mice was intraperitoneal administration of 100 ng of rHuIL-1 beta or 1.6 mg of [Abu1]MDP per mouse once daily for 3 consecutive days before infection. Neither rHuIL-1 beta nor [Abu1]MDP was efficacious when started after the infection or when given before cyclophosphamide to mice infected subsequently. Continuing to treat after the infection with either drug neither enhanced nor antagonized the efficacy of prophylactic treatments.
Human Ah receptor (AHR) gene: localization to 7p15 and suggestive correlation of polymorphism with CYP1A1 inducibility.

The mammalian aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ubiquitous ligand-activated transcription factor. AHR ligands include 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; dioxin), benzo[a]pyrene, and polychlorinated and polybrominated biphenyls; the endogenous ligand is not yet known. Following ligand binding, the AHR transcriptionally activates genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes important in both the metabolic potentiation of substrates to genotoxic reactive intermediates and ultimate carcinogens, and the detoxification of toxic or carcinogenic drugs and other environmental pollutants. AHR-mediated gene expression is also involved in many critical life processes (e.g. cell type-specific differentiation, cell division, apoptosis) by signal transduction mechanisms. Similar to mice, human populations exhibit a > 20-fold range of the CYP1A1 inducibility/AHR affinity phenotype. In the present study, we localized the human AHR gene to chromosome 7p15, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Performing linkage analysis in a three-generation family, we show with good probability that the high CYP1A1 inducibility phenotype segregates with the 7p15 region. Sequencing 93 nt (31 amino acids) of the human AHR gene's exon 9, which is the region correlated with the mouse A375V polymorphism responsible for the major portion of high vs low CYP1A1 inducibility/AHR affinity, we found no nucleotide differences; Val-381 was present in all five individuals examined (four related and one unrelated), two of whom show "high' and three of whom show "low' CYP1A1 inducibility. These data indicate that the "high' and "low' CYP1A1 inducibility trait, in the population studied, cannot be explained by a difference among these 31 amino acids in exon 9 of the AHR gene.
Interception of Multiple Low-Power Linear Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave Signals

Many modern radar systems are overcoming the need for high-power transmitters by utilizing low peak-power, high duty-cycle waveforms, making noncooperative detection methods by traditional electronic surveillance a difficult task. This technological difficulty is driving a need for computationally tractable detection and characterization algorithms. Here, a practical method for detecting and fully characterizing an arbitrary number of low-power linear frequency modulated continuous wave (LFMCW) radar signals is achieved by dividing the time-domain signal into contiguous segments and treating each signal segment as a sum of harmonic components corrupted by noise with an unknown, time-varying power spectral density. This method is developed analytically and evaluated experimentally, revealing that the practicality of the method comes at the ex-pense of a loss in estimation accuracy when compared to the Cramer–Rao lower bound. Experimental results indicate that the parameters of two simultaneous LFMCW signals can be estimated to within <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$10\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> of their true values with probability greater than <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$90\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> when input signal-to-noise ratios are <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$-$</tex-math></inline-formula> 10 dB and above with a 25 MHz bandwidth receiver.