Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isoflurane Suppresses Stress-enhanced Fear Learning in a Rodent Model of Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background:A minority of patients who experience awareness and/or pain during surgery subsequently develop post–traumatic stress disorder. In a rodent model of post–traumatic stress disorder, stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL), rats are preexposed to a stressor of 15 foot shocks. Subsequent exposure to a single foot shock produces an enhanced fear response. This effect is akin to sensitized reactions shown by some post–traumatic stress disorder patients to cues previously associated with the traumatic event. Methods:The authors studied the effect of isoflurane and nitrous oxide on SEFL. Rats were exposed to the inhaled anesthetic during or after a 15–foot shock stressor. Then, rats were given a single foot shock in a different environment. Their fear response was quantified in response to the 15–foot shock and single–foot shock environments. SEFL longevity was tested by placing a 90-day period between the 15 foot shocks and the single foot shock. In addition, the intensity of the foot shock was increased to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Results:Increasing isoflurane concentrations decreased SEFL when given during, but not after, the stressor. At 0.40 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), isoflurane given during the stressor blocked SEFL 90 days later. A threefold increase in the stressor intensity increased the isoflurane concentration required to block SEFL to no more than 0.67 MAC. As with isoflurane, nitrous oxide suppressed SEFL at a similar MAC fraction. Conclusions:These results suggest that sufficient concentrations (perhaps 0.67 MAC or less) of an inhaled anesthetic may prevent SEFL.
A formulation for quick evaluation and optimization of digital CMOS circuits

Most CMOS inverter models in the literature express the delay in terms of a load capacitance from which the effect of changing the sizes of the transistors is not immediately clear. In this paper, we introduce a first-order formulation based on the widths of the transistors for quick evaluation and optimization of the delay and energy in digital CMOS circuits. We then apply the formulation to obtain simple, closed-form expressions for a number of important parameters. These parameters include the optimum transistor sizing for minimizing the propagation delay, rising delay, falling delay, and energy-delay product. Furthermore, we demonstrate the convenience of using the model by applying it to a number of circuit scenarios.
Cross-Species Virus Transmission and the Emergence of New Epidemic Diseases

SUMMARY Host range is a viral property reflecting natural hosts that are infected either as part of a principal transmission cycle or, less commonly, as “spillover” infections into alternative hosts. Rarely, viruses gain the ability to spread efficiently within a new host that was not previously exposed or susceptible. These transfers involve either increased exposure or the acquisition of variations that allow them to overcome barriers to infection of the new hosts. In these cases, devastating outbreaks can result. Steps involved in transfers of viruses to new hosts include contact between the virus and the host, infection of an initial individual leading to amplification and an outbreak, and the generation within the original or new host of viral variants that have the ability to spread efficiently between individuals in populations of the new host. Here we review what is known about host switching leading to viral emergence from known examples, considering the evolutionary mechanisms, virus-host interactions, host range barriers to infection, and processes that allow efficient host-to-host transmission in the new host population.
Oxidative protein damage in human diabetic eye: evidence of a retinal participation

Considerable evidence indicates that the maintenance of protein redox status is of fundamental importance for cell function, whereas structural changes in proteins are considered to be among the molecular mechanisms leading to diabetic complications. In this study, protein redox status and antioxidant activity were investigated in the lens and vitreous of diabetic and non‐diabetic subjects. A significantly lower content of sulphydryl proteins was found in lens and vitreous of diabetic patients than in those of non‐diabetic and control subjects. Moreover, an increased formation of protein‐bound free sulphydryls and carbonyl proteins, indices of oxidative damage to proteins, was noted in diabetic patients. All these parameters were shown to be altered particularly when diabetes was complicated with retinal alterations. In addition, glutathione peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid levels, known to exert important antioxidant functions in the eye compartment, were found to be significantly decreased in the lens of diabetic patients, especially in the presence of retinal damage. This study indicates an alteration of protein redox status in subjects affected by diabetes mellitus; lens and vitreous proteins were found to be oxidized to a greater extent in the presence of retinal disease, together with a marked decrease of eye antioxidant systems. These results suggest that oxidative events are involved in the onset of diabetic eye complications, in which the decrease in free radical scavengers was shown to be associated with the oxidation of vitreous and lens proteins. Protein oxidation may, therefore, represent an important mechanism in the onset of eye complications in diabetic patients.
Neuroblastoma: The impact of biology and cooperation leading to personalized treatments

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in children. It is a heterogeneous disease, consisting of neural crest-derived tumors with remarkably different clinical behaviors. It can present in a wide variety of ways, including lesions which have the potential to spontaneously regress, or as an extremely aggressive form of metastatic cancer which is resistant to all forms of modern therapy. They can arise anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system. The median age of presentation is approximately 18 months of age. Urinary catecholamines (HVA and VMA) are extremely sensitive and specific tumor markers and are used in diagnosis, treatment response assessment and post-treatment surveillance. The largest national treatment groups from North America, Europe and Japan have formed the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group Task Force (INRG) to identify prognostic factors, to understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in this rare disease and to develop multi-modality therapies to improve outcomes and decrease treatment-related toxicities. This international cooperation has resulted in a significant leap in our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. Lower staged disease can be cured if the lesion is resectable. Treatment of unresectable disease (loco-regional and metastatic) is stratified depending on clinical features (age at presentation, staging investigations) and specific tumor biological markers that include histopathological analyses, chromosomal abnormalities and the quantification of expression of an oncogene (MYCN). Modern treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma is the paradigm for the evolution of therapy in pediatric oncology. Outcomes have improved substantially with multi-modality therapy, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, myeloablative therapy with stem cell transplant, immunotherapy and differentiation therapy; these comprise the standard of care worldwide. In addition, newer targeted therapies are being tested in phase I/II trials. If successful these agents will be incorporated into mainstream treatment programs.
Application of Principal Component Analysis-Artificial Neural Network in Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Determination of Compound Rifampicin Tablets

We have applied principal component analysis -artificial neural network (PCA-ANN) in near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to synchronous and rapid determining the contents of rifampicin (RMP), isoniazide (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) in compound rifampicin tablets. Back-propagation (BP) networks which adopt Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm have been developed. Via analyzing the NIR spectra matrix by principal component analysis (PCA) method, we have obtained the principal components (PC) scores. The original NIR spectra and PC scores were respectively used as input data. These developed BP networks have been optimized by selecting suitable topologic parameters and the best numbers of training. Compare with original NIR spectra, using the PC scores as input data, the capabilities of BP networks were much better. Using these optimized BP networks for predicting the contents of RMP, INH and PZA in prediction set, the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) are 0.00423, 0.00320 and 0.00608. These results are so satisfied and NIR spectroscopy technology is convenient, rapid, no pretreatment and no pollution that this method could be popularized in the in situ measurement and the on-line quality control for drug production.
Cocaethylene, the in vivo product of cocaine and ethanol, is a narcotic more potent than its precursors.

The molecular conformation and supramolecular architecture of cocaethylene [systematic name: ethyl (1R,2R,3S,5S)-3-benzoyloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2. 1]octane-2-carboxylate], C18H23NO4, have been determined for the first time. Cocaethylene is a narcotic produced in vivo when cocaine and ethanol are administered concomitantly. The intra- and intermolecular features of cocaethylene and its less potent narcotic precursor cocaine are very similar. The only molecular difference is in the conformation of the methyl group of the ethoxycarbonyl group. Similar to cocaine, the carboxylate atoms and the α-C atom are coplanar in cocaethylene, but the methyl C atom of the ethyl group is bent by ca 90° away from this plane in the narcotic reported here. The main supramolecular motif is a one-dimensional chain stabilized by weak C-H.O contacts.
Decreased number of interneurons and increased seizures in neuropilin 2 deficient mice: Implications for autism and epilepsy

Purpose: Clinically, perturbations in the semaphorin signaling system have been associated with autism and epilepsy. The semaphorins have been implicated in guidance, migration, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity of neurons. The semaphorin 3F (Sema3F) ligand and its receptor, neuropilin 2 (NPN2) are highly expressed within limbic areas. NPN2 signaling may intimately direct the apposition of presynaptic and postsynaptic locations, facilitating the development and maturity of hippocampal synaptic function. To further understand the role of NPN2 signaling in central nevous system (CNS) plasticity, structural and functional alterations were assessed in NPN2 deficient mice.
PTEN and p53 are required for hypoxia induced expression of maspin in glioblastoma cells

In response to genotoxic stress, p53 induces the tumor suppressors maspin and PTEN. Here we demonstrate that in response to limited oxygen conditions PTEN and p53 work in tandem to induce maspin in glioblastoma cells. In response to hypoxia a portion of PTEN migrates to the nucleus and complexes with p53, while cytoplasmic PTEN prevents Mdm2 nuclear localization by attenuating Akt signaling. Subcellular distribution of PTEN in the cytoplasm or nucleus protects p53 from inac-tivation and degradation. The presence of nuclear PTEN and p53 coordinates the induction of maspin and p21 (both p53 gene targets) in response to hypoxia. Altering the expression of PTEN and/or p53 attenuated maspin gene induction under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, implanting U87 (PTEN null) and PTEN reconstituted U87 cells (U87PTEN) in mice we observed by immuno-histochemistry and western blot that Maspin was only detectable in cells with PTEN. The integra-tion of PTEN and p53 into a common pathway for the induction of another tumor suppressor, Maspin, constitutes a tumor suppressor network of PTEN/p53/Mapsin that is operational under limited oxygen conditions.
Role of Hormonal and Other Factors in Human Prostate Cancer

American men have a lifetime risk of about 18% for prostate cancer diagnosis. Large international variations in prostate cancer risks and increased risks among migrants from low- to high-risk countries indicate important roles for environmental factors. Major known risk factors include age, family history, and country/ethnicity. Type 2 diabetes appears to reduce risk, while high birth weight and adult height are linked to increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Limited evidence supports an association with a history of sexually transmitted infections. A previous meta-analysis of eight cohort studies indicated no associations with plasma androgen, estrogen, or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels. However, there were dose-response relationships with baseline plasma testosterone levels in two studies that adjusted for other serum hormones and obesity. Finasteride (a drug that blocks testosterone activation) reduced prostate cancer risk by 25%. Low-frequency genes linked to familial prostate cancer only explain a small fraction of all cases. Sporadic cases were linked to relatively common polymorphisms of genes involved in (1) androgen synthesis, activation, inactivation and excretion, (2) hormone and vitamin D receptors, (3) carcinogen metabolism, and (4) DNA repair. Epidemiologic evidence supports protective roles for dietary selenium, vitamin E, pulses, tomatoes/lycopene, and soy foods, and high plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. There is inadequate evidence that vegetables, fruit, carotenoids, and vitamins A and C reduce risk and that animal fat, α-linoleic acid, meat, coffee, and tea increase risk. Two major cohort studies found dose-response relationships with dietary calcium intake. Total dietary energy intake may enhance risk. Limited evidence supports a protective role for physical activity and elevated risk for farmers and other men with occupational pesticide exposure, particularly to organochlorine compounds and phenoxy herbicides. There is inadequate evidence for a relationship with alcohol or smoking. Most known or suspected external risk factors may act through hormonal mechanisms, but our review found little supporting evidence, and substantial further research is needed.
Regulation of lactate dehydrogenase and change of fermentation products in streptococci

Streptococcus mutans JC 2 produced mainly lactate as a fermentation product when grown in nitrogen-limited continuous culture in the presence of an excess of glucose and produced formate, acetate, and ethanol, but no lactate, under glucose-limited conditions. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in these cultures were of the same order of magnitude, and the activity of LDH was completely dependent on fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP). The intracellular level of FDP was high and the level of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) was low under the glucose-excess conditions. In the glucose-limited cultures, all glycolytic intermediates studied, except PEP, were low. S. mutans FIL, which had an FDP-independent LDH and similar levels of glycolytic intermediates as S. mutans JC2, produced mainly lactate under glucose-excess or under glucose-limited conditions. LDH of Streptococcus bovis ATCC 9809 was dependent on FDP for activity at a low concentration of pyruvate but had a significant activity without FDP at a high concentration of pyruvate. This strain also produced mainly lactate both under glucose-excess and glucose-limited conditions. The levels and characteristics of these LDHs were not changed by the culture conditions. These results indicate that changes in the intracellular level of FDP regulate LDH activity, which in turn influences the type of fermentation products produced by streptococci. PEP, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and inorganic phosphate significantly inhibited LDH activity from S. mutans JC 2 and may also participate in the regulation of LDH activity in other streptococci.
Hypotensive Epidural Anesthesia in Patients With Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Total Hip Replacement

Background and Objectives: The use of conduction anesthesia and induced hypotension are traditionally contraindicated in patients with aortic stenosis. This hypothesis-generating observational pilot study details the clinical outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing hypotensive epidural anesthesia for total hip replacement. Methods: From a database of 1,947 consecutive patients undergoing total hip replacement under hypotensive epidural anesthesia performed from 1994 to 2005, 22 patients were identified with aortic stenosis. Chart review was performed. All patients were monitored with central venous pressure and radial arterial catheters. Cardiovascular and renal outcomes, thromboembolic events, and blood loss and transfusion were assessed. Results: Twenty-two patients were identified: 19 patients (86%) were American Society of Anesthesiologists classification III, and 3 patients (14%) were American Society of Anesthesiologists classification IV. The mean age was 75 years (range: 58-92). No patient suffered from preoperative angina, syncope, or resting dyspnea. Valve areas ranged from 0.9 to 1.8 cm2 and peak gradient from 12 to 64 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure was maintained at 60 to 100 mm Hg. The mean duration of hypotension was 91 minutes (range: 50-200). Heart rate was maintained at a mean (±SD) of 70 ± 11. Central venous pressure was maintained at baseline value. Mean intraoperative crystalloid administered was 1,695 mL (range: 900-4,000), and mean estimated blood loss was 234 mL (range: 100-1,500). There were no deaths, myocardial infarctions, cerebrovascular accidents, or pulmonary embolic events. No patient developed renal dysfunction. Conclusions: We report the absence of complications (with calculated upper limit 95% confidence interval of approximately 13.6%) when hypotensive epidural anesthesia was performed in 22 patients with noncritical asymptomatic aortic stenosis.
Increased expression of a glutamine transporter SNAT3 is a marker of malignant gliomas

Glutamine (Gln) is a growth determinant in neoplastic tissues. We analysed by RT-PCR the expression of mRNAs coding for the human variants of Gln transporters: ASCT2 (system ASC), SNAT1 [ATA1] (system A), SNAT3 [SN1] and SNAT5 [SN2] (system N), in samples of human malignant gliomas WHO grades III/IV (anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma), glioma-derived cell cultures, brain metastases from peripheral organs, and control brain tissue. (Transporters designated according to the nomenclature recently proposed by Mckenzie and Ericksson [1]. Original designations in square brackets.) SNAT3 mRNA showed a 3–5 times stronger expression in gliomas than in metastases or control tissue, and was virtually absent from glioma cultures. Native glioblastoma immunostained positively with anti-SNAT3 antibody. The expression of ASCT2 mRNA, but not SNAT5 or SNAT1 mRNAs, was increased in all neoplastic tissues studied. Hence, increased expression of SNAT3 is a marker of primary malignant gliomas in situ.
Analysis of High-Frequency Impedance Measurement Techniques for Power Line Network Sensing

A major aspect in power line distribution networks is the constant monitoring of the network properties. With the advent of the smart grid concept, distributed monitoring has started complementing the information of the central stations. In this paper, power line communications modems deployed throughout the network provide a tool to monitor high-frequency components of the signals traveling through a power line network. We propose, therefore, to use them not only as communication devices but also as network sensors. Besides classical voltage measurements, these sensors can be designed to monitor high-frequency impedances, which provide useful information about the power line network, as for instance status of the topology, cable degradation, and occurrence of faults. In this paper, we provide a technical analysis of different voltage and impedance measurement techniques that can be integrated into power line modems. We assess the accuracy of the techniques under analysis in the presence of network noise, and we discuss the statistical characteristics of the measurement noise. We finally compare the performances of the examined techniques when applied to the fault detection problem in distribution networks, in order to establish which technique gives more accurate results.
Treatment of moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome with Vitex agnus castus (BNO 1095) in Chinese women

Objectives. To assess efficacy of the extract of Vitex agnus castus (VAC, BNO 1095) in the treatment of Chinese women suffering from moderate to severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods. It was a prospective randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study conducted in Chinese women. Eligible patients were randomly assigned into VAC or placebo group. Symptoms were documented with a daily rating scale with four symptom factors (negative affect, water retention, food cravings and pain). Results. Sixty-seven patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive one tablet of VAC or placebo once a day. The premenstrual syndrome diary (PMSD) sum score decreased from 29.38 ± 7.63 score points at baseline to 4.28 ± 5.76 at the 3rd cycle in the treatment group, while it decreased from 28.76 ± 8.23 to 11.79 ± 11.78 in the placebo group. All the four symptom factor scores were significantly reduced by the 3rd treatment cycle. There was significant difference in PMSD sum score, score of negative affect and water retention between two groups at cycle 3 (P < 0.05). PMSD sum scores decreased 60% was defined as efficacy, and the efficacy rate in treatment group was significantly higher than that in placebo group at the 3rd treatment cycle. Conclusion. Vitex agnus castus extract BNO 1095 shows effective in treating moderate to severe PMS in Chinese women, especially in symptoms of negative affect and water retention.
The Continuing Burden of Occupational Licensing in the United States

This study follows up an earlier study in which we examined the scope and burden of 102 occupational licensing laws in the United States for low‐ and moderate‐income occupations. Using data collected in 2017, findings indicate that the licences studied require of aspiring workers, on average, US$262 in fees, one exam, and about 12 months of education and training, plus minimum grade and age levels. Data also indicate striking disparities in requirements within and between occupations and within and between states. A comparison with licensing requirements in 2012 indicates that requirements have generally increased, with the greatest increase being in fees. Among states, Alaska and Hawaii saw the greatest increases in licensing requirements.
Social Skills, Workplaces and Social Remittances: A Case of Post-Accession Migrants

This article examines how the social skills of migrants are moulded in workplaces and employment-related situations. It surveys literature on social skills, workplaces, social remittances and relational learning. It devotes attention to destination workplaces as spaces where people who left their comfort zones experience disjuncture between origin and destination. This can bring insights, noticing differences and making comparisons. On return to their workplaces in their origin countries, migrants are able to reflect upon and eventually remit these experiences, packaged as social remittances. Three categories of social skill were distilled from biographical interviews with returnees to Poland: (1) the capability for cross-cultural communication; (2) the capability for dealing with emotional labour; (3) the capability for taking initiative and acting independently. The study analysed situations of disjuncture as a result of migration which led to learning, non-learning and alienation. By bringing migration to the forefront, we consider social skills as social remittances.