Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Avermectin B1a binds to high- and low-affinity sites with dual effects on the gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel of cultured cerebellar granule neurons.

Avermectin B1a (AVM B1a), a widely used insecticide and acaricide, is reported to both activate and inhibit gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABA(A)) receptor function in mammalian brain. This study attempts to resolve these seemingly contradictory results by examining the binding properties of AVM B1a and its effects on the GABA-gated chloride channel with primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule neurons as a model system. Specific binding of [3H]AVM B1a in intact neuron cultures is time- and concentration-dependent and is displaceable by AVM analogs. Scatchard analysis of [3H]AVM B1a binding reveals high- and low-affinity sites with K(D) values of 5 and 815 nM, respectively. AVM B1a alters the binding of [3H]ethynylbicycloorthobenzoate at the noncompetitive blocker site in a biphasic manner; activation is evident with 10 to 300 nM AVM B1a after 5 to 10 min incubation and inhibition with an IC50 of 866 nM after 60 min incubation. Consistent with this observation, 36Cl- influx is stimulated by AVM B1a at 3 to 100 nM and inhibited at 1 to 3 microM. GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx is completely blocked by both [3H]ethynylbicycloorthobenzoate and 12-ketoendrin (two GABA-gated chloride channel blockers) and AVM B1a at 1 to 1.5 microM. Also, 36Cl- influx induced by AVM B1a at 10 nM is suppressed by the two channel blockers. Thus, AVM B1a binds to two different sites in the GABA-gated chloride channel with dual effects, i.e., activating the channel on binding to the high-affinity site and blocking it on further binding to the low-affinity site.
Risk analysis of a pay to delay capacity reservation contract

This paper addresses a topic of supply chain management from a new perspective: incorporating risk aversion in a supply contract model. A pay to delay capacity reservation contract is analyzed by using the concept of conditional value-at-risk (Cvar). First, we construct the manufacturer’s optimal ordering problem by using the dynamic programming approach. Then, we derive the manufacturer’s optimal ordering strategy and compare our results with those obtained by using expectation performance and mean-variance tradeoff. Finally, numerical results are shown to reveal the impact of risk aversion on the manufacturer’s optimal decisions. The analysis presented in this paper reveals advantages of using the Cvar approach over the mean-variance approach.
The effect of low-intensity laser therapy on bone healing around titanium implants: a histometric study in rabbits.

PURPOSE This study aimed to histometrically evaluate the influence of low-intensity laser treatment on bone healing around titanium implants placed in rabbit tibiae. MATERIALS AND METHODS Each tibia of 12 adult rabbits received a 3.3 x 6-mm titanium implant. The implants placed in the right tibiae were irradiated with a gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode low-intensity laser every 48 hours for 14 days postoperatively, and the left tibiae were not irradiated. After 3 or 6 weeks, the animals were sacrificed (six animals per period), and nondecalcified sections were obtained and analyzed for bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area within the implant threads. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test. RESULTS BIC was significantly increased in the laser-treated group at both 3 weeks and 6 weeks. BIC did not increase significantly with time (3 weeks versus 6 weeks). Conversely, bone area within the threads was significantly increased with time (3 weeks versus 6 weeks), regardless of whether the laser was used. Considering bone area within the threads, no significant difference was found for treatment, eg, with or without laser. CONCLUSION Low-intensity laser therapy did not affect the area of bone formed within the threads, but it may improve BIC in rabbit tibiae.
General anesthesia for repair of omphalocele in a pair of conjoined twins in Enugu, Nigeria

Conjoined twins have been viewed with fascination since antiquity. There are numerous reports in the literature documenting anesthetic management strategies for the separation of conjoined twins. There are also reports in the literature detailing anesthetic approaches for surgical procedures not involving separation. This is the first report of the anesthetic management of a set of omphalagous presenting for palliative repair of omphalocele in Nigeria.
Usability Testing Experiences from the Facilitator’s Perspective

Due to the competition for online retail, it is critical for e-commerce organizations to take the required steps to make sure that their website is easy to use. One way to achieve this goal is for e-commerce organizations to administer usability testing, or to test website usability with users that fit the demographic profile of their customers. Usability testing is often run through the use of a facilitator with the findings and feedback from the testing sessions provided back to the organization’s stakeholders so the website can be adjusted accordingly. This research presents an example case of one such usability testing experience, as well as highlights the findings and lessons learned from the facilitator’s perspective. The findings in this instance may be generalizable to other facilitation and usability testing experiences and provide areas for future research.
Goal-directed Colloid Administration Improves the Microcirculation of Healthy and Perianastomotic Colon

Background:The aim of this study was to compare the effects of goal-directed colloid fluid therapy with goal-directed crystalloid and restricted crystalloid fluid therapy on healthy and perianastomotic colon tissue in a pig model of colon anastomosis surgery. Methods:Pigs (n = 27, 9 per group) were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. A hand-sewn colon anastomosis was performed. The animals were subsequently randomized to one of the following treatments: R-RL group, 3 ml · kg-1 · h−1 Ringer lactate (RL); GD-RL group, 3 ml · kg-1 · h−1 RL + bolus 250 ml of RL; GD-C group, 3 ml · kg-1 · h−1 RL + bolus 250 ml of hydroxyethyl starch (HES 6%, 130/0.4). A fluid bolus was administered when mixed venous oxygen saturation dropped below 60%. Intestinal tissue oxygen tension and microcirculatory blood flow were measured continuously. Results:After 4 h of treatment, tissue oxygen tension in healthy colon increased to 150 ± 31% in group GD-C versus 123 ± 40% in group GD-RL versus 94 ± 23% in group R-RL (percent of postoperative baseline values, mean ± SD; P < 0.01). Similarly perianastomotic tissue oxygen tension increased to 245 ± 93% in the GD-C group versus 147 ± 58% in the GD-RL group and 116 ± 22% in the R-RL group (P < 0.01). Microcirculatory flow was higher in group GD-C in healthy colon. Conclusions:Goal-directed colloid fluid therapy significantly increased microcirculatory blood flow and tissue oxygen tension in healthy and injured colon compared to goal-directed or restricted crystalloid fluid therapy.
Unusual properties of the fundamental band gap of InN

The optical properties of wurtzite-structured InN grown on sapphire substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy have been characterized by optical absorption, photoluminescence, and photomodulated reflectance techniques. These three characterization techniques show an energy gap for InN between 0.7 and 0.8 eV, much lower than the commonly accepted value of 1.9 eV. The photoluminescence peak energy is found to be sensitive to the free-electron concentration of the sample. The peak energy exhibits very weak hydrostatic pressure dependence, and a small, anomalous blueshift with increasing temperature.
Pudendal Nerve Entrapment as Source of Intractable Perineal Pain

Ramsden CE, McDaniel MC, Harmon RL, Renney KM, Faure A: Pudendal nerve entrapment as source of intractable perineal pain. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2003;82:479–484. Perineal pain caused by pudendal nerve entrapment is a rarely reported entity, with only a handful of cases in the modern literature. A 25-yr-old male medical student had refractory unilateral orchialgia for 32 mo and concomitant proctalgia for 14 mo. Pain was positional in nature, exacerbated by sitting and partially relieved when standing or recumbent. Pudendal nerve entrapment was diagnosed clinically, with computed tomography–guided nerve blocks providing temporary relief. A prolonged left pudendal nerve distal motor latency on electrodiagnostic testing later confirmed the diagnosis. At surgery, the left pudendal nerve was found flattened in the pudendal canal of Alcock and in contact with the sharp inferior border of the sacrospinous ligament. After surgical decompression and rehabilitation, the patient experienced significant relief of pain and returned to medical school. This case suggests pudendal nerve entrapment should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic urogenital or anorectal pain, particularly if the pain is aggravated by sitting or if there is a history of bicycle riding.
The Neurotrophins and Neuropoietic Cytokines: Two Families of Growth Factors Acting on Neural and Hematopoietic Cells

Abstract: Recent progress has revealed similarities between the receptors and signaling systems used by neurotrophic factors as compared to other growth factors and cytokines. The neurotrophins use a family of receptor tyrosine kinases known as the Trk receptors, whereas ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) uses a “cytokine receptor” system that shares receptor components with a number of distantly related cytokines. We have used a human embryonal carcinoma cell line and human leukemia cell lines to examine the actions of the neurotrophins and CNTF on cellular differentiation. Our findings demonstrate that specific combinations of neurotrophic factors are required to influence the neuronal progenitor cells to become postmitotic mature CNS neurons. Such synergistic interactions may play an important role in modulating the differentiation of a wide assortment of neuronal precursors in the developing nervous system. Furthermore, our studies with leukemia cells suggest that neurotrophic factors may play a similar role in hematopoietic differentiation and that these factors may have therapeutic application in leukemia differentiation.
Viewpoint Paper: Healthcare Fraud: Whose Problem is it Anyway?

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates that the annual cost of healthcare fraud is somewhere between 3% and 10% of total healthcare costs.1 That estimate is not only astounding because of its magnitude, but also because of its range, indicating uncertainty. The sum of '100B per year, one way or another, matters. For example, that difference would fund all of the imagined Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) in any of its possible forms and a whole lot more. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has completed two contracts related to healthcare fraud. The first, performed by the Foundation on Research and Education of the American Health Information Management Association, issued a report in 2005 in which an expert panel recommended a set of “Guiding Principles” for health information technology relating to healthcare fraud management.2 (“Fraud management” is defined as the prevention, detection and prosecution of fraud.) The second contract, performed by RTI International, issued a report in 2007 in which a second expert panel recommended 14 requirements for electronic health records related to healthcare fraud management.3 I served as the co-chairman of the first expert panel and the chairman of the second expert panel. It is my experience with these two panels and the subsequent industry reaction that prompts the title of this paper. In our kickoff meeting under the first contract, Dr. David Brailer, in giving the charge to our panel, asked us to answer the question, “Should the emerging NHIN play a role with regard to reducing healthcare fraud and, if so, what role? ” The ensuing contract process involved an extensive review of the literature, on-site interviews with multiple healthcare stakeholders including providers, consumers, payers, healthcare economists, law enforcement, and technology organizations. The expert panel, which included representatives from …
Electrical properties of submicron (/spl ges/0.13 /spl mu/m/sup 2/) Ir/PZT/Ir capacitors formed on W plugs

Summary form only given. High-density, embedded ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) has the potential to replace embedded flash, embedded DRAM, and non-cache SRAM and could be a key enabler for future system-on-a-chip applications. Despite this appeal, the evidence that ferroelectric capacitors can be scaled to the submicron regime has been limited. In this paper, we report the fabrication and electrical properties of submicron PZT capacitors formed using both planar bottom electrodes and W plug contact structures. We observe that the aggregate saturation polarization value is nearly independent of individual capacitor area in the measured range from the contact-limited size of 0.12 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ to 10/sup 4/ /spl mu/m/sup 2/. This result suggests that high-density, embedded FeRAM technology may be feasible.
Papillomatous Lesions in Wild Juvenile Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar L., in New Brunswick, Canada

Received for publication 20 March 1984. ly and only viral neoplasms occur with any apparent significant prevalence (Clark, 1973, Southwest. Vet. 26: 185-188). The adenomas of the thyroid in this 11yr-old fisher agree with the observations of thyroid neoplasia in captive wild mammals, predominantly in older carnivores (Schlumberger, 1955, Brookhaven Symp. No. 7, pp. 168-191). Fisher longevity in the wild is usually less than 10 yr (Powell, 1982, The Fisher; Life History, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 217 pp.). The oldest fisher in a recent survey in this laboratory of 396 trapper-harvested fishers was 7 yr. The microscopic characteristics of the adenomas in the fisher were comparable to follicular adenomas of the canine thyroid (Leav et al., 1976, Am. J. Patho! . 83: 61-122) but had both small (microfollicular) and large (macrofollicular) irregular follicles containing varying amounts of col! oid. Bilateral involvement was present in the fisher, but is uncommon in dogs and cats (Leav et al., 1976, op. cit.). Thyroid function was not assessed and clinical signs were not specific enough to determine if the thyroid was hyperor hypofunctional. Luteinized interstitial masses in the ovaries of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) are composed of a foamy outer layer of steroidogenic pigmented cells derived from cortical stroma. An inner mass of smaller, darker, nonpigmented inactive cells are derived from the luteinized theca interna of involuted follicles (Hertig et al., 1976, Lab. Anim. Sci. 26: 1041-1067). The origin of the interstitial cells and hormonal function in the fisher is unknown. The histologic and morphologic changes observed in the uterus were indicative of luteal function. The cause of the bilateral ovarian ! uteinization in an aged female fisher with no history of breeding is unknown. The animal was raised in captivity which allowed her to reach an age not normally achieved under natural conditions. A review of the literature revealed little information on naturally occurring diseases of fishers. Additional research into parasites and diseases is needed in order to more effectively manage this animal. Paraffin-embedded blocks of the adenoma described herein have been deposited in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C. 20306, USA (NERCWD #84:9478; AFIP #1962601). Scientific Contribution No. 1082, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268, USA. We thank Ms. Joyce Czikowsky for technical assistance.
Trading wind generation in short term energy markets

Even with state of the art forecasting methods, the short-term generation of wind farms cannot be predicted with a high degree of accuracy. In a market situation, these forecasting errors lead to commercial risk through imbalance costs when advance contracting. This situation is one that needs to be addressed due to the steady increase in the amount of grid connected wind generation, combined with the rise of deregulated, market orientated electricity systems. In the presence of imbalance prices and uncertain generation, a method is required to determine the optimum level of contract energy to be sold on the advance markets. Such a method is presented here using Markov probabilities for a wind farm and demonstrates substantial reductions in the imbalance costs. The effect of market closure delays and forecasting window lengths are also shown.
Osmolarity and pH Growth Conditions Regulate fim Gene Transcription and Type 1 Pilus Expression in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT A comparative study was performed to determine the effects of pH, osmolarity, and human urine on the transcription of several fim genes, as well as the overall expression of type 1 pili. Several fim-lacZYA fusions were constructed on single-copy plasmids to test a range of pHs and a range of osmolarities. Growth in acidic medium slightly reduced expression from all of the fim promoters (fimA, fimB, and fimE). Increased osmolarity in neutral-pH medium repressed fimA and fimB transcription by approximately 50% when 400 mM NaCl was used and nearly threefold when 800 mM NaCl was used, whereas fimE transcription rose slightly as the osmolarity increased. This effect was more pronounced in high-osmolarity acidic media; fimB and fimA expression decreased fivefold in growth media containing 800 mM NaCl compared to expression in growth media without added NaCl. Moreover, fimE expression doubled under the same high-osmolarity conditions compared to expression in a low-osmolarity acidic environment. When a fimB-lacZ or fimE-lacZ fusion was inserted into the chromosome of strain AAEC189, fimE expression changed slightly as the osmolarity increased, but fimB expression decreased by 50% in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. When strain AAEC189 with either a plasmid-borne fimB-lacZ fusion or a plasmid-borne fimE-lacZ fusion was grown in human urine, similar changes in the levels of fimB and fimE expression were observed. Limiting-dilution reverse transcription-PCR confirmed that these changes in fim expression occurred in clinical isolates of uropathogenic Escherichia coli grown in media with different pHs and different osmolarities. Furthermore, the invertible switch region in uropathogenic strain NU149 shifted from favoring the phase-on position in a neutral-pH low-osmolarity environment to favoring the phase-off position in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. Results obtained with an ompR mutant strain demonstrated that fimB expression was derepressed and that OmpR may neutralize repression by an acid response regulator of fimE expression in a low-pH environment. In addition, H-NS was verified to be important in regulation of fimB, but it had only a slight effect on fimE under the specific pH and osmotic growth conditions tested. Enzyme immunoassays with anti-type 1 pilus antibody and hemagglutination assays showed that fewer type 1 pili were detected with cells in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. Together, these observations demonstrate that a combination of low pH and high osmolarity regulates the transcription of fim genes, which favors a shift in the invertible element to the phase-off orientation and a loss of type 1 pilus expression. Taken together, our data suggest that the environmental cues that we tested may regulate expression of type 1 pili in specific in vivo niches, such as murine kidneys and possibly human kidneys.
Photoperiodic Diapause and the Establishment of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in North America

Abstract The invasion and range expansion of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in North America represents an outstanding opportunity to study processes of invasion, range expansion, and climatic adaptation. Furthermore, knowledge obtained from such research is relevant to developing novel strategies to control this important vector species. Substantial evidence indicates that the photoperiodic diapause response is an important adaptation to climatic variation across the range of Ae. albopictus in North America. Photoperiodic diapause is a key determinant of abundance in both space and time, and the timing of entry into and exit out of diapause strongly affects seasonal population dynamics and thus the potential for arbovirus transmission. Emerging genomic technologies are making it possible to develop high-resolution, genome-wide genetic markers that can be used for genetic mapping of traits relevant to disease transmission and phylogeographic studies to elucidate invasion history. Recent work using next-generation sequencing technologies (e.g., RNA-seq), combined with physiological experiments, has provided extensive insight into the transcriptional basis of the diapause response in Ae. albopictus. Applying this knowledge to identify novel targets for vector control represents an important future challenge. Finally, recent studies have begun to identify traits other than diapause that are affected by photoperiodism. Extending this work to identify additional traits influenced by photoperiod should produce important insights into the seasonal biology of Ae. albopictus.
Epilepsy Prediction based on PCA of Non Linear Features of DWT of Epileptic EEG

In the perspective of Epileptic seizures, the study documents the attempts to analyze Electro Encephalo Graph (EEG) signals during conditions as normal, between and during epileptic seizures using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). After transformation to wavelet domain, nonlinear features are extracted from the principal components and are classified using a kNN Classifier.
Targeting PI3K/mTOR Overcomes Resistance to HER2-Targeted Therapy Independent of Feedback Activation of AKT

Purpose: Altered PI3K/mTOR signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of breast cancers, including those resistant to hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies. Experimental Design: The activity of four classes of PI3K/mTOR inhibitory molecules, including a pan-PI3K inhibitor (NVP-BKM120), a p110α isoform–specific PI3K inhibitor (NVP-BYL719), an mTORC1-specific inhibitor (NVP-RAD001), and a dual PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor (NVP-BEZ235), was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo against a panel of 48 human breast cell lines. Results: Each agent showed significant antiproliferative activity in vitro, particularly in luminal estrogen receptor–positive and/or HER2+ cell lines harboring PI3K mutations. In addition, monotherapy with each of the four inhibitors led to significant inhibition of in vivo growth in HER2+ breast cancer models. The PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors were also effective in overcoming both de novo and acquired trastuzumab resistance in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, combined targeting of HER2 and PI3K/mTOR leads to increased apoptosis in vitro and induction of tumor regression in trastuzumab-resistant xenograft models. Finally, as previously shown, targeting mTORC1 alone with RAD001 leads to consistent feedback activation of AKT both in vitro and in vivo, whereas the dual mTOR1–2/PI3K inhibitor BEZ235 eliminates this feedback loop. However, despite these important signaling differences, both molecules are equally effective in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These preclinical data support the findings of the BOLERO 3 trial that shows that targeting of the PI3K/mTOR pathway in combination with trastuzumab is beneficial in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 20(13); 3507–20. ©2014 AACR.