Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An alpha(1A)/alpha(1L)-adrenoceptor mediates contraction of canine subcutaneous resistance arteries.

To determine the characteristics of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes involved in adrenergic regulation of peripheral vascular resistance, contraction of canine subcutaneous resistance arteries was studied using wire myographs. The potencies of agonists and antagonists, chosen for their ability to discriminate between alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes, were assessed in the presence of cocaine (3 microM), corticosterone (30 microM), and propranolol (1 microM). The rank order of agonist potency (pEC(50) +/- S.E. ) was (R)-A-61603 (7.88 +/- 0.1) > norepinephrine (6.41 +/- 0.1) > phenylephrine (5.83 +/- 0.1). The high sensitivity to (R)-A-61603 relative to phenylephrine is inconsistent with the presence of the alpha(1D)-adrenoceptor and most consistent with an alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor response. This is supported by the low affinity for the alpha(1D)-selective antagonist BMY 7378 (pK(B) 6.51 +/- 0.47). The low pA(2) values for prazosin (8.36) and HV723 (8.81), by definition, indicate the involvement of the putative alpha(1L)-adrenoceptor, a hypothesis supported by the pA(2) values for WB4101 (8.42) and 5-methyl-urapidil (8.08). Pre-exposure to 1 microM CEC had little effect, whereas 100 microM CEC reduced the maximum contraction but not the sensitivity to norepinephrine. This low sensitivity to CEC argues against the presence of the alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor. We conclude that, by current definitions, an alpha(1A)-/alpha(1L)-adrenoceptor causes contraction of these vessels. This does not support the concept that selectivity for the alpha(1A)-adrenoceptor is the basis for the effectiveness of some alpha-blockers in some tissues, such as prostate, but not in other tissues such as blood vessels. Rather, the generally low potency of alpha-blockers in some tissues may be due to a tissue-specific property of the receptors.
E2F4 Is Required for Early Eye Patterning

Increasingly, studies reveal novel functions for cell cycle proteins during development. Here, we investigated the role of E2F4 in eye development. E2F4-deficient mouse embryos exhibit severe early eye patterning defects, which are evident from embryonic day 11.5 and characterized by aberrant shape of the optic cup, coloboma as well as abnormal eye pigmentation. Loss of E2F4 is associated with proximal-distal patterning defects in the optic vesicle. These defects are characterized by the expansion of optic stalk marker gene expression to the optic cup and reduced expression of ventral optic cup markers. These defects are associated with a split of Shh expression domain at the ventral midline of the forebrain and expansion of the Shh activity into the ventral optic cup. Despite these patterning defects, early neuronal differentiation and Shh expression in the retina are not affected by E2F4 deletion. Overall, the results of our studies show a novel role of E2F4 in the early eye development.
Predictive model to identify positive tuberculosis skin test results during contact investigations.

CONTEXT Budgetary constraints in tuberculosis (TB) control programs require streamlining contact investigations without sacrificing disease control. OBJECTIVE To develop more efficient methods of TB contact investigation by creating a model of TB transmission using variables that best predict a positive tuberculin skin test among contacts of an active TB case. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS After standardizing the interview and documentation process, data were collected on 292 consecutive TB cases and their 2941 contacts identified by the Alabama Department of Public Health between January and October 1998. Generalized estimating equations were used to create a model for predicting positive skin test results in contacts of active TB cases. The model was then validated using data from a prospective cohort of 366 new TB cases and their 3162 contacts identified between October 1998 and April 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Tuberculin skin test result. RESULTS Using generalized estimating equations to build a predictive model, 7 variables were found to significantly predict a positive tuberculin skin test result among contacts of an active TB case. Further testing showed this model to have a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of approximately 89%, 36%, and 26%, respectively. The false-negative rate was less than 10%, and about 40% of the contact workload could be eliminated using this model. CONCLUSIONS Certain characteristics can be used to predict contacts most likely to have a positive tuberculin skin test result. Use of such models can significantly reduce the number of contacts that public health officials need to investigate while still maintaining excellent disease control.
Comparison of Biomechanical Function at Ideal and Varied Surgical Placement for Two Lumbar Artificial Disc Implant Designs: Mobile-Core Versus Fixed-Core

Study Design. Finite element model. Objectives. To estimate the effect of lumbar mobile-core and fixed-core artificial disc design and placement on the loading of the facet joints, and stresses on the polyethylene core. Summary of Background Data. Although both mobile-core and fixed-core lumbar artificial disc designs have been used clinically, the effect of their design and the effect of placement within the disc space on the structural element loading, and in particular the facets and the implant itself, have not been investigated. Methods. A 3D nonlinear finite element model of an intact ligamentous L4–L5 motion segment was developed and validated in all 6 df based on previous experiments conducted on human cadavers. Facet loading of a mobile-core TDR and a fixed-core TDR were estimated with 4 different prosthesis placements for 3 different ranges of motion. Results. Placing the mobile-core TDR anywhere within the disc space reduced facet loading by more than 50%, while the fixed-core TDR increased facet loading by more than 10% when compared with the intact disc in axial rotation. For central (ideal) placement, the mobile- and fixed-core implants were subjected to compressive stresses on the order of 3 MPa and 24 MPa, respectively. The mobile-core stresses were not affected by implant placement, while the fixed-core stresses increased by up to 40%. Conclusion. A mobile-core artificial disc design is less sensitive to placement, and unloads the facet joints, compared with a fixed-core design. The decreased core stress may result in a reduced potential for wear in a mobile-core prosthesis compared with a fixed-core prosthesis, which may increase the functional longevity of the device.
Design of combined optical imagers using unmixing-based hyperspectral data fusion

Unmixing-based hyperspectral and multispectral data fusion enables the production of high-spatial-resolution and hyper-spectral imagery with small spectral errors. In this work, we present sensor design of combined optical imagers using unmixing-based data fusion, which aims to fuse hyperspectral and multispectral sensors and improve the performance of the final fused data. Owing to the degeneracy of the data cloud and additive noise, there is an optimal range in the relationship of spatial resolutions between two imagers.
The measurement of perception interactive quality: A development of a model — Base on empirical analysis of commercial banks of China mainland

Interactive quality is the key element of quality of service. In this paper, starting point is the quality of services and interactive process theoretical research, basement is SERVQUAL model, with BSQ measurement model, use empirical analysis, do the establishment of an interactive quality measurement model of commercial bank. Using this model, the interaction quality of commercial banks can be evaluated, the existing problems of the quality of its services management can be further pointed out, and appropriate recommendations for improvement can be made too.
The Battle for singles' Day: How Social Media Marketing Campaigns Boost Sales

Numerous studies have shown that social media marketing strategies have positive impacts on the longterm financial performance of firms. However, whether short-term marketing campaigns have any influence on firm revenue remains unknown. This paper examines data from Singles’ Day, the world’s largest shopping event, revealing that firms’ social media efforts have a positive impact on product sales. Furthermore, we find that the two social media effort measures generally thought to have positive impacts on a firm’s long-term financial performance, richness and intensity, have no significant influence on the success of a firm’s short-term marketing campaign. Instead, relevance shows significant and positive impacts. Moreover, we compare the effects of social media marketing yields from companyowned accounts with those of employee-owned accounts, finding that employee-owned accounts have better marketing effects than company-owned ones.
Somatostatin receptors are present in small‐cell but not in non‐small‐cell primary lung carcinomas: Relationship to EGF‐receptors

Sixteen primary human lung tumours were analysed for their content of somatostatin receptors using receptor autoradiography with somatostatin‐28 and somatostatin octapeptide analogues as radio‐ligands. Two out of 4 small‐cell lung carcinomas were somatostatin receptor‐positive, with a high density of homogeneously distributed receptors on tumour tissue only. Somatostatin receptors were characterized in one of the tumours in homogenate binding assay as saturable, high‐affinity binding sites (KD =0.53 nM) with a number of sites (Bmax) equivalent to 189 fmoles/mg protein. These sites were specific for somatostatin, since only biologically active somatostatin analogues but not unrelated peptides showed high‐affinity binding. Both receptor‐positive patients had limited disease; furthermore, the small‐cell lung carcinoma patient with the longest survival was receptor‐positive, while the one with the shortest survival was receptor‐negative. None of the 12 non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas (5 squamous carcinomas, 7 adenocarcinomas) contained somatostatin receptors. For comparison, epidermal growth factor receptors were found in all non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas. Neuroendocrine features (synaptophysin, chromogranin, neuronspecific enolase, protein gene product 9.5) were present in all small‐cell lung carcinomas but absent in non‐small‐cell lung carcinomas. Given the receptor‐mediated action of somatostatin in other neuroendocrine tumours, these data may have a bearing on the clinical application of somatostatin analogues in patients with small‐cell lung carcinomas.
THE EFFECTOF SHORT TERM TREATMENT WITH PROBIOTIC VSL # 3 ON VARIOUS CLINICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

The evidence is mounting that gut microbiome alterations (dysbiosis) and intestinal mucosal injury are implicated in gutliver-brain cross talk in liver disease (1, 2). The immunological status of the gut influences the structure and function of liver and brain (3) and could be viewed as a therapeutic tar ge in hepatology . The number of plasma molecules and compounds implicated in the pathology of hyperdynamic circulatory state in liver cirrhosis is growing (4, 5). The increased activity of innate immunity system in the gut has been associated with elevated plasma levels of several molecules mediated by gut derived microbial products (4). The abnormal intestinal barrier function (6-8), microbiome alterations (9) and increased traf ficking of pro inflammatory cells and molecules (10, 1 1) have been associated with more advanced intra-hepatic resistance (12) and bad prognosis in liver cirrhosis (13, 14). Recently, the presence of the gut-vascular barrier (GVB) which controls the dissemination of bacteria into the bloodstream has been reported (8). GVB is composed of enteroglial cells and pericytes remaining in close contact with intestinal vascular endothelial cells and similar in structure to blood brain barrier (BBB). Both barriers are regulated by intestinal microbiota (8, 15). For example Salmonella typhimurium, Gram negative bacteria, by changing wnt/beta catenin signaling in the gut mucosa and endothelium was capable of disrupting the GVB, facilitating the spread of bacterial particles into portal and systemic circulation (8). The evidence is mounting that systemic traf ficking of monocytes and infiltration of peripheral tissues by gut-derived JOURNALOF PHYSIOLOGYAND PHARMACOLOGY 2016, 67, 6, 867-877
Chronic angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonism in genetic hypertension: effects on vascular structure and reactivity

Objective and design: The aim of the study was to assess the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the maintenance of cardiovascular hypertrophy and the abnormal vascular amplifier properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with established hypertension. Losartan, a type 1 Ang II receptor antagonist, was administered to SHR and Wistar—Kyoto (WKY) rats, and its effects on blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, vascular morphology and hindquarter vascular amplifier properties assessed at the end of treatment and 3 months later. Methods: Losartan was administered for 6 weeks to 14-week-old SHR (60mg/kg per day orally). A bio-equivalent dose (20 mg/kg per day orally) was administered to age-matched WKY rats. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured in conscious rats by tail-cuff plethysmography. Morphological changes were assessed both in the heart, from the ratio of the weight of the left ventricular wall plus septum to body weight, and in blood vessels from the medial cross-sectional areas of the abdominal aorta and mesenteric arteries. Vascular amplifier properties were measured by perfusion of the rat hindquarters under conditions of full dilation (papaverine hydrochloride) and incremental constriction with methoxamine hydrochloride. Results: Losartan lowered SBP in SHR to normotensive WKY rat levels during treatment. Left ventricular hypertrophy and aortic cross-sectional area were reduced at the end of treatment to WKY rat levels; mesenteric artery cross-sectional area was reduced to a lesser extent. The abnormal hindquarter vascular amplifier properties of the SHR were normalized by losartan. Three months after treatment ended, SBP had returned to untreated SHR levels. Left ventricular hypertrophy and the abnormal hindquarter vascular amplifier properties had also partially redeveloped. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that Ang II contributes to the maintenance of cardiovascular hypertrophy and the abnormal vascular amplifier properties in SHR with established hypertension. However, its role appears to be variable and to depend on the type of vascular bed. Other, pressure-independent, factors may also contribute to vascular hypertrophy.
Fish consumption and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease

Studies of the beneficial role of fish consumption in the prevention of CVD are not consistent in their findings, particularly those studies that focus on the risk of stroke. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the consumption of different types of fish and the subsequent incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVA). We prospectively evaluated the association between consumption of different types of fish and CVA in 3958 men and women aged 40–79 years who were free of heart disease and had participated in a health examination survey from 1967 to 1972. A total of 659 incident cases of CVA occurred during a follow-up until the end of 1994. A dietary history interview method provided data on habitual consumption of fish and other foods over the preceding year at baseline. Total fish intake did not predict CVA, but consumption of salted fish suggested an increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage. The relative risk of intracerebral haemorrhage between the highest tertile of salted fish consumption and non-consumers was 1·98 (95 % CI 1·02, 3·84; P for trend = 0·06) after adjustment for age, sex, energy intake, smoking, BMI, physical activity, geographic area, occupation, diabetes, use of post-menopausal hormones, serum cholesterol, hypertension, and consumptions of butter, vegetables, fruits and berries. The relationship between fish consumption and stroke risk is not straightforward. How the fish is prepared for consumption may play an important role, affecting the association.
Perspectives on the Distribution of Obsidians in San Diego County, California

Artifact-to-source assignments were made on over 200 obsidian artifacts from San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, California, using non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis. In addition to providing new data on the spatial distributions of Obsidian Butte and Coso Hot Springs volcanic glasses in extreme southern California, results of the present study call into question the empirical utility of previous distance-decay models. Present data indicate that Coso Hot Springs obsidian was conveyed much more widely than previously believed. Previous predictions about the source-specific composition and percentage of obsidian in the entire chipped stone inventory in late prehistoric site assemblages in San Diego County were not sustained by observed empirical results.
Signaling for Attention: Mobility and Student Performance in United Way’s Promise Neighborhoods

From a middle school student’s perspective, the worst part about transferring schools is the need to make new friends. But is that the only negative impact of mobility on students? In this paper, we use a fixed effects linear least-squares statistical regression model to explore the relationship between student academic performance and student mobility in the Bethel School District in Eugene, Oregon. Our client, United Way of Lane County, has struggled with student mobility as the organization refines its new Promise Neighborhoods project, aimed at distressed neighborhoods in Lane County. Student mobility may limit United Way’s ability to improve the educational and developmental outcomes of students. We use voter registration data to estimate total mobility in Lane County and in the Promise Neighborhoods. We also use Bethel School District student transfer codes and statewide state test scores as data. Due to the structure of our data, we cannot draw a definitive conclusion regarding the direction of causality between mobility and learning. However, we can say with confidence that, at a minimum, there is a significant relationship between disruption to learning and high levels of mobility – a good starting point for United Way as they continue to explore mobility and refine their Promise Neighborhoods project.
ANAPLASMA INFECTIONS IN WILD AND DOMESTIC RUMINANTS: A REVIEW

Anaplasma marginale can be transmitted, will grow and can survive in a large number of domestic and wild animals. It is pathogenic in cattle, and usually produces nonapparent or mild infections in other species. Anaplasma marginale has been recovered from cattle, sheep, goats, water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana americana), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnu), blesbuck (Damaliscus albifrons), and duiker (Sylvicapra grimmi grimmi). Unidentified anaplasms have been seen in, and in some instances isolated from, Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Cokes hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii), Thompson's gazelle (Gazella thompsonii), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), and sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), with serological evidence of Anaplasma infection in an even wider range of wild ruminant species. Anaplasma ovis, A. centrale, or other as yet unidentified anaplasms may well occur in other ruminants. With the exception of black-tailed deer, the epidemiologic significance of anaplasmosis in wildlife has yet to be determined. The only wild animal in which Anaplasma is reported to produce serious clinical disease is the giraffe.
SHORT-TERM IRRADIANCE VARIABILITY -- STATION PAIR CORRELATION AS A FUNCTION OF DISTANCE

In this article, we report on the correlation between the irradiance variability observed at two neighboring sites as a function of their distance, and of the considered variability time scale. Correlation is the factor that determines whether the combined relative fluctuations of two solar systems add up when correlation is high, or attenuate when correlation is low.
Characterization of pathogenic human monoclonal autoantibodies against GM-CSF

The origin of pathogenic autoantibodies remains unknown. Idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is caused by autoantibodies against granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We generated 19 monoclonal autoantibodies against GM-CSF from six patients with idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The autoantibodies used multiple V genes, excluding preferred V-gene use as an etiology, and targeted at least four nonoverlapping epitopes on GM-CSF, suggesting that GM-CSF is driving the autoantibodies and not a B-cell epitope on a pathogen cross-reacting with GM-CSF. The number of somatic mutations in the autoantibodies suggests that the memory B cells have been helped by T cells and re-entered germinal centers. All autoantibodies neutralized GM-CSF bioactivity, with general correlations to affinity and off-rate. The binding of certain autoantibodies was changed by point mutations in GM-CSF that reduced binding to the GM-CSF receptor. Those monoclonal autoantibodies that potently neutralize GM-CSF may be useful in treating inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, cancer, and pain.
A Physical Interaction between Gar1p and Rnt1p Is Required for the Nuclear Import of H/ACA Small Nucleolar RNA-Associated Proteins

ABSTRACT During rRNA biogenesis, multiple RNA and protein substrates are modified and assembled through the coordinated activity of many factors. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the double-stranded RNA nuclease Rnt1p and the H/ACA snoRNA pseudouridylase complex participate in the transformation of the nascent pre-rRNA transcript into 35S pre-rRNA. Here we demonstrate the binding of a component of the H/ACA complex (Gar1p) to Rnt1p in vivo and in vitro in the absence of other factors. In vitro, Rnt1p binding to Gar1p is mutually exclusive of its RNA binding and cleavage activities. Mutations in Rnt1p that disrupt Gar1p binding do not inhibit RNA cleavage in vitro but slow RNA processing, prevent nucleolar localization of H/ACA snoRNA-associated proteins, and reduce pre-rRNA pseudouridylation in vivo. These results demonstrate colocalization of various components of the rRNA maturation complex and suggest a mechanism that links rRNA pseudouridylation and cleavage factors.