Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perioperative serum levels of tumour‐necrosis‐factor alpha (TNF‐α), IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10 and soluble IL‐2 receptor in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass without and with correction for haemodilution

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) leads to a systemic inflammatory response with secretion of cytokines. Alterations in the serum concentrations of cytokines have important prognostic significance. Reports on cytokine release during cardiac surgery with CPB have yielded conflicting results. Haemodilution occurs with the onset of CPB resulting in large fluid shifts during the perioperative course of cardiac procedures. In the present study we compare the perioperative course of serum concentrations of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10 and sIL‐2R with and without correction for haemodilution in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Twenty male patients undergoing elective CABG surgery with CPB and general anaesthesia using a balanced technique with sufentanil, isoflurane and midazolam were enrolled into the study. Serum levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10 and sIL‐2R were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. Simultaneous haematocrit values were obtained at all sample times. Statistical analysis was performed by non‐parametric analysis of variance and t‐tests for data corrected for haemodilution and data that were not corrected for haemodilution. Adjusted significance level was P < 0.01. Intra‐operatively, up to the second post‐operative day PCV values were significantly decreased compared with preoperative values. Cytokine measurements not corrected for haemodilution were significantly lower than the corrected values. The perioperative haemodilution and decrease in PCV may lead to an underestimation of the cytokine secretion in post‐operative patients. We conclude that cytokine measurements were significantly influenced by the perioperative haemodilution and the subsequent decrease in PCV and may in part account for the varying results reported in the literature regarding cytokine release in patients undergoing CABG surgery.
Is methylphenidate like cocaine? Studies on their pharmacokinetics and distribution in the human brain.

BACKGROUND The purposes of this study were to investigate the pharmacokinetics of methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) in the human brain, to compare them with those of cocaine, and to evaluate whether cocaine and methylphenidate compete for the same binding sites. METHODS We used positron emission tomography to measure the temporal and spatial distribution of carbon 11 (11C)-labeled methylphenidate. These results were compared with those obtained previously for [11C]cocaine. Eight healthy male subjects, 20 to 51 years of age, were scanned with [11C]methylphenidate. Three were tested twice to assess test-retest variability, four were tested at baseline and after administration of methylphenidate, and one was tested with [11C]methylphenidate and [11C]cocaine. Two baboons were scanned to evaluate whether there was competition between cocaine and methylphenidate for the same binding sites in the brain. RESULTS The uptake of [11C]methylphenidate in the brain was high (mean +/- SD, 7.5% +/- 1.5%), and the maximal concentration occurred in striatum. Pretreatment with methylphenidate decreased binding only in striatum (40%). Although the regional distribution of [11C]methylphenidate, was identical to that of [11C]cocaine and they competed with each other for the same binding sites, these two drugs differed markedly in their pharmacokinetics. Clearance of [11C]methylphenidate from striatum (90 minutes) was significantly slower than that of [11C]cocaine (20 minutes). For both drugs, their fast uptake in striatum paralleled the experience of the "high. " For methylphenidate, the high decreased very rapidly despite significant binding of the drug in the brain. In contrast, for cocaine, the decline in the high paralleled its fast rate of clearance from the brain. CONCLUSION We speculate that because the experience of the high is associated with the fast uptake of cocaine and methylphenidate in the brain, the slow clearance of methylphenidate from the brain may serve as a limiting factor in promoting its frequent self-administration.
Molecular Cloning and Expression of CYP2J2, a Human Cytochrome P450 Arachidonic Acid Epoxygenase Highly Expressed in Heart (*)

A cDNA encoding a human cytochrome P450 arachidonic acid epoxygenase was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. Sequence analysis revealed that this 1,876-base pair cDNA contained an open reading frame and encoded a new 502-amino acid protein designated CYP2J2. Blot hybridization analysis of RNA prepared from human tissues revealed that CYP2J2 was highly expressed in the heart. Recombinant CYP2J2 protein was prepared using the baculovirus expression system and purified to near electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme metabolized arachidonic acid predominantly via olefin epoxidation to all four regioisomeric cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (catalytic turnover 65 pmol of product formed/nmol of cytochrome P450/min at 30°C). Epoxidation of arachidonic acid by CYP2J2 at the 14,15-olefin was highly enantioselective for (14R,15S)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (76% optical purity). Immunoblotting of microsomal fractions prepared from human tissues using a polyclonal antibody raised against the recombinant hemoprotein confirmed primary expression of CYP2J2 protein in human heart. The in vivo significance of CYP2J2 was suggested by documenting the presence of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in the human heart using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Importantly, the chirality of CYP2J2 products matched that of the epoxyeicosatrienoic acid enantiomers present, in vivo, in human heart. We propose that CYP2J2 is one of the enzymes responsible for epoxidation of endogenous arachidonic acid pools in human heart and that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids may, therefore, play important functional roles in cardiac physiology.
Review on security and privacy concerns in Internet of Things

Internet of Things (IoT) is associate degree rising conception which can interconnect billions of devices (such as smartphones, sensors and alternative networking devices), to speak with one another. IoT may be a system wherever objects embedded with detector technology to act with one another over wireless communication medium to come up with, exchange and transfer knowledge without human interaction. This interconnection is relevant in many ways like timely coordination with many simple devices such as sensors, thermostats, fitbits, routers etc. Due to open and heterogeneous nature of these networks, they are highly prone to vulnerable attacks. So privacy and security is the biggest concern in this technology. This paper focuses on common IoT vulnerabilities like Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), Data modification attacks in background section. It covers privacy and security concerns in different segments like web interface vulnerabilities, device connections, spamming, data storage issues, IoT network related problems like Sybil attacks, cloud connectivity considerations, Industrial IoT attacks. There have been many privacy preserving mechanisms discovered (like Learning Automata based solution, disabling Universal Plug and Play, DDOS ALERT mechanisms, Rigorous Testing etc.) and related research is still going on. The goal of this paper to present the security and privacy concerns that IoT environment is facing and existing mechanisms to protect it.
Reliability and validity of an audio signal modified shuttle walk test

Background: The audio signal in the conventionally accepted protocol of shuttle walk test (SWT) is not well-understood by the patients and modification of the audio signal may improve the performance of the test. Objectives: The aim of this study is to study the validity and reliability of an audio signal modified SWT, called the Singla-Richa modified SWT (SWTSR), in healthy normal adults. Patients and Methods: In SWTSR, the audio signal was modified with the addition of reverse counting to it. A total of 54 healthy normal adults underwent conventional SWT (CSWT) at one instance and two times SWTSR on the same day. The validity was assessed by comparing outcomes of the SWTSR to outcomes of CSWT using the Pearson correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plot. Test-retest reliability of SWTSR was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The acceptability of the modified test in comparison to the conventional test was assessed using Likert scale. Results: The distance walked (mean ± standard deviation) in the CSWT and SWTSR test was 853.33 ± 217.33 m and 857.22 ± 219.56 m, respectively (Pearson correlation coefficient - 0.98; P < 0.001) indicating SWTSR to be a valid test. The SWTSR was found to be a reliable test with ICC of 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.97–0.99). The acceptability of SWTSR was significantly higher than CSWT. Conclusions: The SWTSR with modified audio signal with reverse counting is a reliable as well as a valid test when compared with CSWT in healthy normal adults. It better understood by subjects compared to CSWT.
Is the Islamic Unit Trust Market Efficient? Empirical Evidence from Malaysia

Based on Malaysian data covering the period from April 2006 to December 2015, this article investigates the informational efficiency of the Islamic unit trust market. The study considers various types of Islamic unit trust funds and analyzes their relationship with selected macroeconomic variables. The authors apply the Engle and Granger [1987] and Granger [1969] causality tests to seven models comprising different types of Islamic unit trust funds. The results suggest that Islamic equity, balance, fixed, and feeder funds violate the efficient market hypothesis (EMH), while the Islamic bond, mixed, and money market funds hold for the weak form of EMH. These results provide empirical evidence to guide fund managers and unit-holders who are considering market efficiency in strategizing their trading proficiency in UTFs. The outcomes also enable authorities to take steps toward improving fund disclosure practices, so that prices immediately reflect relevant information.
Neurogenic Dysphonia

Disorders of phonation and resonation subsequent to damage to the central or peripheral nervous system (neurogenic dysphonia) typically occur with alterations in other aspects of motor speech: articulation, prosody, and respiration. Deficits in voice initiation or coordination of resonation with speech that occur without significant neuromuscular impairment following a lesion to Broca's area are compatible with a motor speech programming disorder, or apraxia of speech. Conversely, damage to upper or lower motor neurons subserving motor speech results in a group of neuromuscular speech disorders, the dysarthrias, which have signs including aberrations of phonation and resonation which can be differentiated. The neuropathologic and perceptual characteristics of neurogenic dysphonia are elucidated, and suggestions are provided for their identification and differentiation.
Ventilatory support by tracheal gas insufflation and chest vibration during bronchoconstriction

Objective To determine whether chest wall vibration with tracheal gas insufflation during bronchoconstriction maintains gas exchange at lower airway and intrathoracic pressures than those that occur during positive pressure ventilation. Design Prospective study. Setting Experimental laboratory. Subjects Six anesthetized, paralyzed mongrel dogs (mean weight, 24.7 ± 3.8 kg). Interventions Dogs were ventilated by two methods: mechanical ventilation (7 breaths/min, 25 mL/kg tidal volume); and tracheal oxygen insufflation at 0.15 L·kg−1·min−1 delivered with external chest wall vibration (29 Hz, 2 mm amplitude) of the dependent hemithorax. Bronchoconstriction was induced by methacholine infusion adjusted to double and quadruple the baseline airway resistance. Proximal mean airway pressure was kept equal for both modes of ventilation. Measurements and Main Results Airway pressure and flow, esophageal pressure, hemodynamic variables (cardiac output, systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure) and gas exchange variables (Pao2, Paco2, pH, shunt fraction, &OV0312;o2) were measured. Peak airway pressure was lower (p < .05) with insufflation and vibration than with mechanical ventilation by 83.6% at baseline resistance, by 76.9% at twice baseline resistance, and by 76.8% at four times baseline resistance. Peak esophageal pressure was lower (p < .05) during insufflation with vibration by 68.5% at baseline resistance, by 87.5% at twice baseline resistance, and by 107% at four times baseline resistance. During insufflation with vibration, mild hypercapnia (Paco2 58 ± 3 torr (7.7 ± 0.4 kPa) and pH 7.28 ± 0.02) developed with moderate bronchoconstriction; more profound respiratory acidosis (Paco2 137 ± 41 torr (18.2 ± 5.5 kPa) and pH 6.87 ± 0.11) developed with severe bronchoconstriction. Conclusions Tracheal gas insufflation with chest vibration supports gas exchange with permissive hypercapnia only during moderate, not severe, bronchoconstriction. Gas exchange was achieved at lower airway and intrathoracic pressures than those that developed during mechanical ventilation. The alveolar hypoventilation that occurred during insufflation with vibration indicates impaired CO2 elimination and suggests increased resistance to CO2 transport. This ventilation technique may confer therapeutic advantages over mechanical ventilation in the treatment of asthma.
Economic System and Financial Literacy: Evidence from North Korean Refugees

ABSTRACT We compare the financial literacy of two groups of Koreans living in South Korea, namely, native-born South Koreans and North Korean refugees, who were born and raised in contrasting economic systems. Examining the financial literacy of North Korean refugees and its changes over time after their settlement in a capitalistic society underscores the importance of institutional environments in developing financial literacy. We find that North Korean refugees, with very limited access to financial markets in their home country, are significantly less financially literate than native-born South Koreans. The gap is significant even after controlling for cognitive ability, which is also starkly different between the two groups. The financial literacy of the refugees increases over time during their settlement in South Korea, but the magnitude of such improvement is insubstantial. Our findings suggest that financial literacy is developed at the early life stages and cannot be easily modified at the later stages.
The Commodity Futures Volatility and Macroeconomic Fundamentals - The Case of Oil and Oilseed Commodities in India

Food price inflation results in uncertainty in the food markets and reduces real income as food covers a relatively large share of the households' expenditures in the LDCs. As price of food commodities are primarily governed by the underlying demand and supply conditions, we have analyzed the association of futures price volatility with the underlying macroeconomic variables. A strong association of futures price volatility with the underlying macro variables will imply that futures market operates based on the implications of the macroeconomic policies and are not merely driven by speculative motive. The association between futures price and the macroeconomic variables will help in developing policies aimed at stabilizing food prices. For our study we have considered the five major oil and oilseed contracts traded on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange. We have considered the nearest three month contracts traded on the exchange. In our study we observe that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate have significant impact on futures price volatility. We have also found a significant relation between futures price volatility and inflation. These findings have important implications for commodity production decision making, commodity hedging and commodity price forecasting.
Blood Pressure Control and Pharmacotherapy Patterns in the United States Before and After the Release of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) Guidelines

Objectives: Despite recommendations from the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7), only 36.8% of patients were at target blood pressure (BP) in 2003 and 2004. The objective of this study was to assess improvements in BP control and treatment patterns before and after the publication of JNC 7. Methods: This was a retrospective, time series analysis of 27 provider groups and managed care organizations from 1998 through 2006. Patients with hypertension were identified from more than 4000 physicians. Medical charts were collected and clinical data were evaluated using prevailing JNC criteria during the time period before and after JNC 7. Results: A total of 19,258 patients were identified with hypertension: 15,258 included in the before-JNC 7 cohort and 4,000 in the after-JNC 7 cohort. BP control in the before-JNC 7 cohort was 40.8% compared with 49.3% in the after-JNC 7 cohort (P < .0001). After controlling for demographic and clinical covariates, patients in the before-JNC 7 cohort were 45% less likely to achieve BP control compared with the after-JNC 7 cohort (odds ratio, 0.551; P < .0001). Conclusion: Although findings indicate BP control is improving, a significant need for further improvement remains.
IL-6-inducing Whole Yeast-based Immunotherapy Directly Controls IL-12-dependent CD8 T-cell Responses

In current clinical trails, whole yeast-based immunotherapy expressing hepatitis C viral antigens demonstrated statistically significant improvement in end of treatment responses when combined with type I interferon based standard of care, even in standard of care resistant patients. Although preclinical data suggest yeast vaccination, such as type I interferon, facilitates CD8 T-cell immunity, the capacity of yeast to generate immunity in patients resistant to type I interferon calls into question the mechanism(s) underpinning the efficacy of this approach. We show yeast and a Toll-like receptor exclusive agonist, Pam3Cys, differ in CD8 T-cell generation when combined with an agonistic CD40 antibody. Although both yeast and PamCys were largely Toll-like receptor dependent, the primary CD8 response generated by yeast was significantly less than Pam3Cys in wild-type hosts even in a CD4 T-cell-deficient setting. In addition, immunization of IL6−/− mice with yeast produced a 3-fold to 6-fold increased CD8 response while the Pam3Cys response was unaffected. The yeast but not Pam3Cys-driven CD8 response was inhibited in both wild-type and IL-6−/− hosts by blocking interleukin (IL)-12. In addition, IL6−/− mice had increased CD86 expression on their dendritic cells after yeast immunization also inhibited by IL-12 blockade. Collectively, our results indicate the CD8 T-cell response to yeast but not Pam3Cys is influenced by IL-6-mediated control of IL-12 critical for dendritic cell activation. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration that yeast directly influence IL-12-associated CD8 T-cell immunity providing an additional route whereby recombinant yeast may provide efficacy independent of type I interferon.
Proprioception in anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees and its relevance in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) not only causes mechanical instability but also leads to a functional deficit in the form of diminished proprioception of the knee joint. “Functional” recovery is often incomplete even after “anatomic” arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, as some patients with a clinically satisfactory repair and good ligament tension continue to complain of a feeling of instability and giving way, although the knee does not sublux on clinical testing. Factors that may play a role could be proprioceptive elements, as the intact ACL has been shown to have significant receptors. Significant data have come to light demonstrating proprioceptive differences between normal and injured knees, and often between injured and reconstructed knees. ACL remnants have been shown to have proprioceptive fibers that could enhance functional recovery if they adhere to or grow into the reconstructed ligament. Conventionally the torn remnants are shaved off from the knee before graft insertion; modern surgical techniques, with remnant sparing methods have shown better outcomes and functional recovery, and this could be an avenue for future research and development. This article analyzes and reviews our understanding of the sensory element of ACL deficiency, with specific reference to proprioception as an important component of functional knee stability. The types of mechanoreceptors, their distribution and presence in ACL remnants is reviewed, and suggestions are made to minimize soft tissue shaving during ACL reconstruction to ensure a better functional outcome in the reconstructed knee.
1‐Dehydro‐[10]‐gingerdione from ginger inhibits IKKβ activity for NF‐κB activation and suppresses NF‐κB‐regulated expression of inflammatory genes

Pungent constituents of ginger (Zingiber officinale) have beneficial effects on inflammatory pain and arthritic swelling. However, the molecular basis for these pharmacological properties is only partially understood. Here, we investigated the molecular target of 1‐dehydro‐[10]‐gingerdione (D10G), one of the pungent constituents of ginger, that mediates its suppression of NF‐κB‐regulated expression of inflammatory genes linked to toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐mediated innate immunity.
A QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE RANGE SHIFTS OF PLEISTOCENE MAMMALS

Abstract Much attention has been focused on the response of species to the climate change associated with the last deglaciation during the Pleistocene. Generally, species respond in an individualistic manner to climate change, and expand and contract their ranges independently; consequently, community composition is extremely variable over time. Although data are available to examine range shifts of species by mapping species ranges over time, most investigations to date have been qualitative. I quantitatively assessed changes in distributions of species to determine the degree to which species shifted their ranges independently over broad time scales. Data on Pleistocene mammal assemblages from the FAUNMAP database were divided into 4 time periods (Pre-Glacial, full Glacial, Post-Glacial, and Modern). Range shifts were characterized by change in the median position of the range from 1 time period to another, change in range size, and direction of the shift. The degree to which species were shifting their ranges independently of one another was evaluated by examining frequency distributions of each range shift parameter and comparing directions wherein species were shifting their range centroids. Many species are shifting their ranges in similar ways. Many species in each time transition change their range size very little. Species shift their range centroids, on average, between 1,200 and 1,400 km. Moreover, if the United States is divided into quadrats and the direction in which species with those quadrats shift their ranges is examined, it becomes clear that in each quadrat there are some directions that are favored over others. The majority of these distributions in the 2 oldest transitions differ from a uniform distribution. Therefore, the prediction that the individualistic responses of species to climate change should result in nonanalog communities likely is oversimplified.