Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bronchovascular Responses to Intravenous Contrast Media for Helical CT Pulmonary Angiography

CT angiography is now commonly used for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but the contrast media used for imaging produces various hemodynamic changes. In this study, we investigated the bronchovascular and hemodynamic responses to intravenous iopromide, a non-ionic contrast agent used for pulmonary CT angiograms, in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated sheep (n = 6). Bronchial blood flow and cardiac output were measured with ultrasonic flow probes. Systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were continuously monitored. Injections of 0.9% NaCl (120 ml over 30 s) or iopromide (300 mg/ml, 120 ml over 30 s) were given in random order in a peripheral vein with an angiogram infuser and hemodynamic changes were determined. After these parameters returned to baseline, the left pulmonary artery (LPA) was occluded with a snare and the animals were allowed to stabilize. Injections of NaCl and iopromide were repeated in random order as before. There were no significant hemodynamic effects with infusion of NaCl. With intact pulmonary vasculature, NaCl and iopromide did not cause significant changes in arterial blood gases, however, cardiac output (QT, L/min), mean systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures (PSA and PPA, Torr) increased and bronchovascular resistance (BVR, Torr × min/ml), decreased. Following LPA ligation, pH and PO2 significantly decreased over baseline, whereas PCO2 increased. After LPA ligation, iopromide produced a greater decrease in BVR as compared with preligation intact pulmonary vasculature. In conclusion, iopromide caused rapid hemodynamic changes and decreased BVR, likely secondary to osmolar stress. Bronchovascular effects were more pronounced after pulmonary arterial occlusion.
Seizures Reported in Association with Use of Dietary Supplements

Background. Seizures in persons using dietary supplements (DS) have been reported through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch system, but not formally reviewed. Methods. Sixty-five cases of DS-associated seizures reported to MedWatch from 1993 to 1999 were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act and independently evaluated by three reviewers for probability of causation based on temporal relationship, biological plausibility, and underlying risk factors. Our aims in this review were 1) to assess the probability of causation in each case; 2) to characterize the patterns of use and types of supplements involved in cases of seizures; and 3) to identify trends that may explain potential risks factors for dietary supplement-related seizures. Results. Twenty seizures were judged as probably related, 13 possibly related, and 10 as unrelated to DS use. Five cases were not seizures, and 17 cases contained insufficient information. In the 20 probably related cases, 19 involved ephedra, 14 involved herbal caffeine, and in one case, the supplement contained no herbal constituents but an array of elemental salts. Ephedra was also associated with 7 of the 13 possibly related cases, and caffeine was contained in 5 of these supplement products. Creatine, St. John's wort, and ginkgo biloba were other DS implicated in possibly related seizure events. Seizures were associated with hypoglycemia in 3 cases, and secondary to stroke in 2 cases and cardiac arrest in 2 cases. Weight loss (45%) and athletic performance enhancement (30%) were the most often cited reasons for supplement use. In most cases, DS use was within manufacturers' guidelines. Conclusion. Ephedra was implicated in 27 of 33 DS-associated seizures reported to the FDA over a 7-year period, further underscoring that significant health risks are associated with use of this herbal product.
A novel wide-band MIMO antenna system for smart phones

In this work, a novel wide-band, planar, multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system is proposed. The MIMO antenna system consists of 4 monopole antenna elements. It is covering different 4G wireless standard bands between 1900–3300 MHz and 3559–3822 MHz in addition to the WLAN 2450 MHz with a single continuous wide band of 1.4 GHz. The MIMO antenna system is fabricated on a commercially available RO4350 substrate with ∊r equal to 3.5. The dimensions of the board are equal to 115 × 65 × 0.76 mm3 which is a typical back plane size of a smart phone. The proposed design is efficient, compact and low profile. MIMO performance metrics such as envelope correlation coefficient and isolation are calculated and good agreement is observed between simulated and measured values.
Insecticides with Novel Modes of Action: Mechanism and Resistance Management

Progress has been made during the past three decades to develop novel compounds affecting developmental processes in insects such as chitin synthesis inhibitors, juvenile hormone mimics, and ecdysone agonists. In addition, efforts have been made to develop compounds acting selectively on some insect groups by inhibiting or enhancing the activity of biochemical sites such as respiration (diafenthiuron) and activating the acetylcholine receptor (neonicotinoids) or the GABA receptor (avermectins) (Ishaaya and Horowitz 1998; Ishaaya 2001; Horowitz and Ishaaya 2004). Selective compounds with minimum effect on natural enemies and the environment can be classified as biorational insecticides (Ishaaya et al. 2005; Horowitz et al. 2009). Reducing the risks associated with insect pest management tactics by using selective insecticides along with their resistance management to maintain their activity during a prolonged period is of utmost agricultural importance (Horowitz and Ishaaya 2005). contents
Differential Transactivation by the p53 Transcription Factor Is Highly Dependent on p53 Level and Promoter Target Sequence

ABSTRACT Little is known about the mechanisms that regulate differential transactivation by p53. We developed a system in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that addresses p53 transactivation capacity from 26 different p53 response elements (REs) under conditions where all other factors, such as chromatin, are kept constant. The system relies on a tightly regulated promoter (rheostatable) that can provide for a broad range of p53 expression. The p53 transactivation capacity toward each 20- to 22-bp-long RE could be ranked by using a simple phenotypic assay. Surprisingly, there was as much as a 1,000-fold difference in transactivation. There was no correlation between the functional rank and statistical predictions of binding energy of the REs. Instead we found that the central sequence element in an RE greatly affects p53 transactivation capacity, possibly because of DNA structural properties. Our results suggest that intrinsic DNA binding affinity and p53 protein levels are important contributors to p53-induced differential transactivation. These results are also relevant to understanding the regulation by other families of transcription factors that recognize several sequence-related response elements and/or have tightly regulated expression. We found that p53 had weak activity towards half the apoptotic REs. In addition, p53 alleles associated with familial breast cancer, previously classified as wild type, showed subtle differences in transactivation capacity towards several REs.
The impact of office layout on productivity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact office layout has on office occupiers' productivity.Design/methodology/approach – The paper evaluates the literature that claims to make a linkage between the office layout and the effect on office occupiers' productivity. Two main themes are developed. First, the literature that links office layout to work patterns is evaluated, and second, the open‐plan office vs cellular office debate is developed.Findings – The review of the literature reveals that the connection between the three major components of office layout, office occupiers' work patterns and productivity is not clearly established.Originality/value – The paper establishes that there is a requirement to link together office layout to the work patterns of office occupiers. It is only when the connection is made between the office layout and the office occupiers' work patterns that productivity gains can be achieved. To support the different work patterns undertaken, the facilities ma.
The society of experimental social psychology: an historical note.

Psychologists, as much or more than scientists in other disciplines, have been experiencing in recent decades the mixed blessings of rapid growth. The convention programs of our large scientific societies, such as the American Psychological Association, have reached intimidating dimensions. Even the subunits of the societies tend to be so large as to make personal contact and communication unwieldy. For example, Division 8 of APA, which houses most of the psychologists interested in social and personality research, currently has about 4,000 members. The size of such entities at the very least complicates the attainment of certain vital goals of scientific societies, a situation which gave rise to the founding of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. Discussions some years ago with my Buffalo colleague, W. Edgar Vinacke, and then with many other social psychologists, suggested that it would be useful if the larger associations could be supplemented by an "interest group" among social psychologists. In December, 1964, Vinacke and I wrote 35 social psychologists, soliciting their views regarding the formation of a society that would include a relatively small number of social psychologists whose interests were primarily research-oriented. The common focus and smaller size of such a group would allow more flexible organization and would permit the group to engage in more intimate and informal dialogue than is possible at the conventions of the larger associations. In this way, social psychologists could conduct pro-
A Runtime Optimization Selection Framework to Realize Energy Efficient Networks-on-Chip

Networks-on-Chip (or NoCs, for short) play important roles in modern and future multi-core processors as they are highly related to both performance and power consumption of the entire chip. Up to date, many optimization techniques have been developed to improve NoC’s bandwidth, latency and power consumption. But a clear answer to how energy efficiency is affected with these optimization techniques is yet to be found since each of these optimization techniques comes with its own benefits and overheads while there are also too many of them. Thus, here comes the problem of when and how such optimization techniques should be applied. In order to solve this problem, we build a runtime framework to throttle these optimization techniques based on concise performance and energy models. With the help of this framework, we can successfully establish adaptive selections over multiple optimization techniques to further improve performance or energy efficiency of the network at runtime. key words: Networks-on-Chip, performance, energy efficiency, optimization, selection
Evaluation of two rapid assays for detecting Cryptosporidium parvum in calf feces.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate 2 rapid, patient-side assays for detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in feces from neonatal calves with diarrhea. DESIGN Diagnostic test evaluation Sample Population-Fecal samples from 96 neonatal (1 to 30 days old) calves with diarrhea. PROCEDURE Results of the rapid assays were compared with results of microscopic examination of fecal smears that had been stained with diamant fuchsin stain. RESULTS One of the rapid assays correctly identified 56 of 62 (90%) fecal samples positive for C. parvum oocysts and 33 of 34 (97%) fecal samples negative for oocysts. The other assay correctly identified 53 of 62 (85%) fecal samples positive for oocysts and 33 of 34 (97%) fecal samples negative for oocysts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that these 2 rapid assays are accurate when used to detect C. parvum in fecal samples from neonatal calves with diarrhea.
Differential alterations in 5alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2 levels during development and progression of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND In the prostate, conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), by the enzymes 5alpha-reductase types 1 and 2 (5alphaR1, 5alphaR2) is required for normal growth and probably also for development of prostate cancer (PCa). Finasteride, a 5alphaR2 inhibitor, was shown to reduce the prevalence of PCa in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. However, inhibition of both 5alphaR isoenzymes causes a greater decrease in serum DHT. The aim of this study was to assess differential expression of these enzymes at various stages of PCa development. METHODS Immunostaining for 5alphaR1 and 5alphaR2, using specific, well-validated antibodies, was evaluated in 26 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (16 for 5alphaR2), 53 primary PCa (21 for 5alphaR2), 18 prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), 12 primary PCa treated with neoadjuvant androgen ablation, 15 locally recurrent PCa specimens, and 18 PCa metastases. RESULTS The mean area of moderate plus high intensity staining for 5alphaR1 increased from 4.8 +/- 2.8% of total epithelial area in BPH, to 18.9 +/- 5.7% in PIN, 17.0 +/- 3.2% in primary cancer, 38.0 +/- 7.3% in recurrent cancer, and 55.8 +/- 8.5% in PCa metastases. The mean staining area for 5alphaR2 decreased from 58.8 +/- 7.2% in BPH, to 21.1 +/- 5.5% in PIN and 34.8 +/- 6.7% in primary PCa. Staining for 5alphaR2 was increased in recurrent cancer and PCa metastases compared to primary PCa, at 58.7 +/- 5.2% and 69.2 +/- 8.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS 5alphaR1 immunostaining is increased and 5alphaR2 immunostaining is decreased during development of PCa. In addition, there is increased expression of both 5alphaR isozymes in recurrent and metastatic cancers, suggesting that both isozymes may be important in the development and progression of PCa.
Influence of a statewide trauma system on location of hospitalization and outcome of injured patients.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the influence of implementing the Oregon statewide trauma system on admission distribution and risk of death. DESIGN Retrospective pre- and posttrauma system analyses of hospital discharge data regarding injured patients with one or more of the following injuries: head, chest, spleen/liver, pelvic fracture, and femur/tibia fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS Risk-adjusted odds ratio of admission to Level I or II (tertiary care) trauma centers, and odds ratio of death were determined using hospital discharge abstract data on 27,633 patients. Patients treated in 1985-1987, before trauma system establishment, were compared to patients treated in 1991-1993 after the trauma system was functioning. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS After trauma system implementation, the odds ratio of admission to Level I or II trauma centers increased (odds ratio 2.36, 95% confidence interval 2.24-2.49). In addition, the odds ratio of death for injured patients declined after trauma system establishment (odds ratio 0.82, confidence interval 0.73-0.92). CONCLUSIONS The Oregon trauma system was successfully implemented with more patients with index injuries admitted to hospitals judged most capable of managing trauma patients. The Oregon trauma system also appears beneficial since trauma system establishment is associated with a statewide reduction in risk of death.
Postconcussion syndrome: demography and predictors in 221 patients

Background: Most individuals recover from a concussion within 7-10 days. However recovery may be very prolonged. Individuals who do not recover within the usual time are said to have postconcussion syndrome (PCS). The objective of this study was to examine the demography and predictors of PCS. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 284 consecutive concussed patients 221 of whom had PCS on the basis of at least three symptoms persisting at least 1 month. A uniform, internationally accepted definition of concussion was used. Results: The 221 cases showed considerable heterogeneity in clinical features of PCS. They averaged 3.3 concussions with a range of 0 to 12+ concussions, and 62.4% occurred during sports and recreation. The median duration of PCS was 7 months at the time of examination, with 11.8% lasting more than 2 years. Surprisingly, 23.1% with PCS had only 1 concussion. The average age was 27 years (range 10-74). The average number of persistent symptoms was 8.1. 26.2% had a previous psychiatric condition, ADD/ADHD, a learning disability, or previous migraine headaches. The prevalence of arachnoid cysts and Chiari malformation in PCS exceeded the general population. Conclusions: In most of our cases, PCS was disabling, and lasted for months or years.
Cellular mechanisms of the trigeminally evoked startle response

The startle response is an important mammalian model for studying the cellular mechanisms of emotions and of learning. It consists of contractions of facial and skeletal muscles in response to sudden acoustic, tactile or vestibular stimuli. Whereas the acoustic startle pathway is well described, only a few recent studies have investigated the tactile startle pathway. It was proposed that there is a direct projection from the principal sensory nucleus to the central sensorimotor interface of the startle response, which is formed by the giant neurons in the caudal pontine reticular formation. We explored this projection in greater detail in vitro. Anterograde tracing in rat brain slices confirmed projections with large axon terminals from the ventral part of the principal sensory nucleus to the lateral caudal pontine reticular formation. Electrophysiological studies revealed a monosynaptic glutamatergic connection between principal sensory nucleus neurons and caudal pontine reticular formation giant neurons. The synapses displayed paired‐pulse facilitation at high‐frequency stimulation, and homosynaptic depression at 1 Hz stimulation. The latter form of plasticity is thought to underlie habituation of the startle response. Furthermore, postsynaptic currents in caudal pontine reticular formation giant neurons evoked by principal sensory nucleus neuron stimulation summed in a linear way with signals evoked by stimulation of auditory afferents. Synaptic plasticity and summation of synaptic currents correspond well with in vivo data previously published by other groups. We thus presume that these synapses mediate trigeminal input to the startle pathway.
Radiosensitivity in Multidrug-Resistant and Cisplatin-Resistant Human Carcinoma Cell Lines

The radiosensitivity of a multidrug-resistant (MDR) clone and a cisplatin-resistant clone was compared with that of their parental chemosensitive cell lines. The LoVo cell line was derived from a human colon carcinoma, and LoVo-R was the MDR clone. The MDR phenotype is attributable to an increased drug efflux mediated by the P-glycoprotein and involves several classes of structurally unrelated drugs. The 2008 cell line was derived from a human ovary carcinoma and C13 was the cisplatin-resistant clone. Reduced cisplatin accumulation and elevated plasma membrane potential partially account for the drug resistance of C13 cells. The chemoresistance of LoVo-R and C13 cells was confirmed by cytotoxicity tests consisting of 24-hour paclitaxel and 1-hour cisplatin incubation, respectively. The radiosensitivity was evaluated by a clonogenic test. The dose-reducing cell survival fraction from 1 to 0.37 (D0), the quasi-threshold dose (Dq), and the survival fraction (SF) after 2 or 4 Gy were determined for each cell line. D0, Dq, and SF2 were 1.3 ± 0.4 Gy, 2.1 ± 0.6 Gy, and 43 ± 4% for the LoVo cell line and 1.0 ± 0.2 Gy, 1.7 ± 0.4 Gy, and 45 ± 8%, respectively, for the LoVo-R cell line. D0, Dq, and SF4 were 1.7 ± 0.3 Gy, 3.1 ± 0.4 Gy, and 43 ± 12% for 2008 cells and 2.6 ± 0.5 Gy, 4.3 ± 0.6 Gy, and 53 ± 11%, respectively for C13 cells. No significant differences were found between LoVo and LoVo-R cells, whereas C13 cells showed a significantly greater D0, Dq, and SF4 than 2008 cells (p <0.05). Incubation of 2008 and C13 cells with subcytotoxic buthionine (BSO) before and after irradiation partially restored C13 radiosensitivity. In fact, D0 dropped from 2.8 ± 0.1 to 2.0 ± 0.3 Gy in C13 cells with and without BSO, whereas it was 1.9 ± 0.2 Gy in 2008 cells in the absence and presence of BSO. The total glutathione content (GSH) of C13 cells was 1.5-fold higher than that of 2008 cells. BSO treatment caused a partial depletion of GSH in 2008 and C13 cells, but their radiosensitivity did not change accordingly.
Some inequalities for orderings of acyclic digraphs

Let $D=(V,A)$ be an acyclic digraph. For $x\in V$ define $e_{_{D}}(x)$ to be the difference of the indegree and the outdegree of $x$. An acyclic ordering of the vertices of $D$ is a one-to-one map $g: V \rightarrow [1,|V|] $ that has the property that for all $x,y\in V$ if $(x,y)\in A$, then $g(x) < g(y)$. We prove that for every acyclic ordering $g$ of $D$ the following inequality holds: \[\sum_{x\in V} e_{_{D}}(x)\cdot g(x) ~\geq~ \frac{1}{2} \sum_{x\in V}[e_{_{D}}(x)]^2~. \] The class of acyclic digraphs for which equality holds is determined as the class of comparability digraphs of posets of order dimension two.
Development and characterization of floating microballoons for oral delivery of cinnarizine by a factorial design

Cinnarizine (CN) is a pipperazine derivative with anti-histaminic activity and high affinity to H1 receptors. The objective of this study was to produce floating microspheres (FM) of CN by diffusion solvent evaporation technique to increase drug solubility and hence its bioavailability. The effect of process variables such as: Eudragit type, stirring rate and time of stirring after addition of oily phase to the aqueous phase were evaluated on the yield, particle size, loading, release and floating behaviors of microspheres using a factorial design. Release of CN from microspheres was studied in pHs: 1.2 and 7.2 using paddle technique. The samples of dissolution test were analysed spectrophotometrically at 256.1 nm and 256.5 nm respectively. particle size of microspheres was studied using microscopic method and their floating behavior was studied in HCl (0.1 N, pH 1.2) medium with Tween 20 (0.5% w/v). Eight formulations were produced by changing 3 variables each at 2 levels: Eudragit S100 (Ps) or a combination of two Eudragits S100:RLPO (1:3) (PSR), stirring rate of 200 (R2) or 300 rpm (R3) and stirring time after addition of oily phase to the aqueous phase 0 (T0) or 1 hr (T1). The average size of microspheres was 300 µm. The highest yield efficiency (94%) was seen in PSRR3T0 formulation and the greatest loading percentage was 8.5% in PSRR2T1 formulation. The microspheres containing just Eudragit S100, didn't show suitable releasing profile during 8 hours in pH 1.2 but those containing combination of Eudragit S100:RL released approximately whole amount of CN during 10 hours (8 hours in pH 1.2 and 2 hours in pH 7.2). The highest floating percentage up to 6 hours was 77.5% in PSR2T1 formulation. The type of Eudragit used seems to play an important role in producing sustained release floating microspheres. PSRR3T0 formulation containing both types of Eudragit S100:RL (1.3) that releases 99.1% of the drug after 10 hours and 65% floating after 6 hr seems suitable for oral sustained delivery of CN.
DNA sequence determination of the TOL plasmid (pWW0) xylGFJ genes of Pseudomonas putida: implications for the evolution of aromatic catabolism

The meta operon of the Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid (pWW0) encodes all enzymes of a meta‐cleavage pathway for the metabolism of benzoic acids to Krebs‐cycle intermediates. We have determined and analysed the nucleic acid sequence of a 3442 bp region of the meta operon containing the xylGFJ genes whose products are involved in the post meta‐ring fission transformation of catechols. Homology analysis of the xylGFJ gene products revealed evidence of biochemical relatedness, suggested enzymatic mechanisms, and permitted us to propose evolutionary events which may have generated the current variety of aromatic degradative pathways.