Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution and accumulation of 10 nm silver nanoparticles in maternal tissues and visceral yolk sac of pregnant mice, and a potential effect on embryo growth

Abstract We examined the distribution of silver in pregnant mice and embryos/fetuses following intravenous injections of 10 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) or soluble silver nitrate (AgNO3) at dose levels of 0 (citrate buffer control) or 66 µg Ag/mouse to pregnant mice on gestation days (GDs) 7, 8 and 9. Selected maternal tissues and all embryos/fetuses from control, AgNP- and AgNO3-treated groups on GD10 and control and AgNP-treated groups on GD16 were processed for the measurement of silver concentrations, intracellular AgNP localization, histopathology and gross examination of tissue morphology. Inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry revealed silver in all examined tissues following either AgNP or AgNO3 treatment, with highest concentrations of silver in maternal liver, spleen and visceral yolk sac (VYS), and lowest concentrations in embryos/fetuses. For VYS, mean silver concentration following AgNO3 treatment (4.87 ng Ag/mg tissue) was approximately two-fold that following AgNP treatment (2.31 ng Ag/mg tissue); for all other tissues examined, mean silver concentrations following either AgNP or AgNO3 treatment were not significantly different from each other (e.g. 2.57 or 2.84 ng Ag/mg tissue in maternal liver and 1.61 or 2.50 ng Ag/mg tissue in maternal spleen following AgNP or AgNO3 treatment, respectively). Hyperspectral imaging revealed AgNP aggregates in maternal liver, kidney, spleen and VYS from AgNP-treated mice, but not AgNO3-treated mice. Additionally, one or more embryos collected on GD10 from eight of ten AgNP-treated mice appeared small for their age (i.e. Theiler stage 13 [GD8.5] or younger). In the control group (N = 11), this effect was seen in embryos from only one mouse. In conclusion, intravenous injection of 10 nm AgNPs to pregnant mice resulted in notable silver accumulation in maternal liver, spleen and VYS, and may have affected embryonic growth. Silver accumulation in embryos/fetuses was negligible.
Pluripotent neural crest stem cells in the adult hair follicle

We report the presence of pluripotent neural crest stem cells in the adult mammalian hair follicle. Numerous neural crest cells reside in the outer root sheath from the bulge to the matrix at the base of the follicle. Bulge explants from adult mouse whisker follicles yield migratory neural crest cells, which in clonal culture form colonies consisting of over a thousand cells. Clones contain neurons, smooth muscle cells, rare Schwann cells and melanocytes, demonstrating pluripotency of the clone‐forming cell. Targeted differentiation into Schwann cells and chondrocytes was achieved with neuregulin‐1 and bone morphogenetic protein‐2, respectively. Serial cloning in vitro demonstrated self‐renewal capability. Together, the data show that the adult mouse whisker follicle contains pluripotent neural crest stem cells, termed epidermal neural crest cells (eNCSC). eNCSC are promising candidates for diverse cell therapy paradigms because of their high degree of inherent plasticity and due to their easy accessibility in the skin. Developmental Dynamics 231:258–269, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural Correlates of a Perspective-taking Task Using in a Realistic Three-dimmensional Environment Based Task: A Pilot Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Objective Perspective-taking ability is an essential spatial faculty that is of much interest in both health and neuropsychiatric disorders. There is limited data on the neural correlates of perspective taking in the context of a realistic three-dimensional environment. We report the results of a pilot study exploring the same in eight healthy volunteers. Methods Subjects underwent two runs of an experiment in a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involving alternate blocks of a first-person perspective based allocentric object location memory task (OLMT), a third-person perspective based egocentric visual perspective taking task (VPRT), and a table task (TT) that served as a control. Difference in blood oxygen level dependant response during task performance was analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping software, version 12. Activations were considered significant if they survived family-wise error correction at the cluster level using a height threshold of p<0.001, uncorrected at the voxel level. Results A significant difference in accuracy and reaction time based on task type was found. Subjects had significantly lower accuracy in VPRT compared to TT. Accuracy in the two active tasks was not significantly different. Subjects took significantly longer in the VPRT in comparison to TT. Reaction time in the two active tasks was not significantly different. Functional MRI revealed significantly higher activation in the bilateral visual cortex and left temporoparietal junction (TPJ) in VPRT compared to OLMT. Conclusion The results underscore the importance of TPJ in egocentric manipulation in healthy controls in the context of reality-based spatial tasks.
Using systems approaches to address challenges for clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics

Many genetic variants have been shown to affect drug response through changes in drug efficacy and likelihood of adverse effects. Much of pharmacogenomic science has focused on discovering and clinically implementing single gene variants with large effect sizes. Given the increasing complexities of drug responses and their variability, a systems approach may be enabling for discovery of new biology in this area. Further, systems approaches may be useful in addressing challenges in moving these data to clinical implementation, including creation of predictive models of drug response phenotypes, improved clinical decision‐making through complex biological models, improving strategies for integrating genomics into clinical practice, and evaluating the impact of implementation programs on public health. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2014, 6:125–135. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1255
Sympathetic Nervous System: Evaluation and Importance for Clinical General Anesthesia

For more than 100 yr, scientists have studied the sympathetic nervous system and its cardiovascular control mechanisms. Muscle sympathetic activity is the most important direct and rapidly responding variable for evaluation of sympathetic neural outflow. Because of its significance in response to environmental challenges and its role in cardiovascular control, great attention has been paid to the sympathetic nervous system in both health and disease and, more recently, also during general anesthesia. In fact, general anesthesia can also be considered as an investigational tool to assess mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation. This review evaluates different methods for determination of sympathetic nervous system activity and describes its role in human neurohumoral circulatory control. Furthermore, the effects of general anesthesia on sympathetic nervous system activity and their relevance for clinical anesthesia are discussed.
Factors Affecting the Rate of Alveolar Osteitis following Surgical Extraction of Impacted Third Molars : Review Article

One of the important postoperative complications following tooth extraction is Alveolar Osteitis (AO). Various risk factors contribute to its development and understanding these risk factors enables the clinicians to reduce the risk of AO or predict its development in certain patients. The aim of the present study was to review various risk factors contribute to the incidence rate of AO following tooth extraction.
On the Inclusion of Energy-Shifting Demand Response in Production Cost Models: Methodology and a Case Study

In the context of future power system requirements for additional flexibility, demand response (DR) is an attractive potential resource. Its proponents widely laud its prospective benefits, which include enabling higher penetrations of variable renewable generation at lower cost than alternative storage technologies, and improving economic efficiency. In practice, DR from the commercial and residential sectors is largely an emerging, not a mature, resource, and its actual costs and benefits need to be studied to determine promising combinations of physical DR resource, enabling controls and communications, power system characteristics, regulatory environments, market structures, and business models. The work described in this report focuses on the enablement of such analysis from the production cost modeling perspective. In particular, we contribute a bottom-up methodology for modeling load-shifting DR in production cost models. The resulting model is sufficiently detailed to reflect the physical characteristics and constraints of the underlying flexible load, and includes the possibility of capturing diurnal and seasonal variations in the resource. Nonetheless, the model is of low complexity and thus suitable for inclusion in conventional unit commitment and market clearing algorithms. The ability to simulate DR as an operational resource on a power system over a year facilitates an assessment ofmore » its time-varying value to the power system. « less
Analysis of the HNF4 alpha gene in Caucasian type II diabetic nephropathic patients.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Linkage and association studies in Caucasian patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus suggest that one or more diabetes susceptibility gene(s) reside within human chromosome 20q12-13.1. This region of chromosome 20 contains the maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 1 gene, HNF4 alpha. The purpose of this study was to assess the possible involvement of HNF4 alpha in Type II diabetes. METHODS Mutation analysis was done on the 12 exons and promoter regions of the HNF4 alpha gene in 182 Caucasian diabetic nephropathic patients and 100 Caucasian control subjects. The functional consequences of a novel promoter mutation were examined using a reporter system in the HepG2 liver cell line and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. RESULTS We identified two novel mutations in the HNF4 alpha, an R323H missense mutation in exon 8, and a 7 bp deletion (delta 7) in the proximal promoter region resulting in deletion of a single putative Sp1 binding site. Using a reporter assay system, the delta 7 sequence was found to exhibit a 51.2% (standard error +/- 4.2%) reduction in promoter activity relative to the normal sequence. In electrophoretic mobility shift assays using specific and non-specific competitors, the delta 7 sequence had a 45.5% (range 40.4-46.6) reduction in binding compared with the normal sequence. The delta 7 allele occurs in a family with multiple cases of Type II diabetes in a pattern consistent with coinheritance of the delta 7 allele and diabetes. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION Analysis of the HNF4 alpha gene revealed two possible mutations in 182 diabetic patients which suggests that the HNF4 alpha gene does not make a large contribution to diabetes susceptibility in the general population of Caucasian diabetic nephropathic patients. Functional analysis of the delta 7 promoter deletion suggests, however, that promoter mutations in otherwise normal genes could contribute to diabetes susceptibility.
Dietetic guidelines on food and nutrition in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease - evidence from systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (second update, January 2006).

AIM To update dietetic guidelines based on systematic review evidence on dietary advice to prevent further events in people with existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) (secondary prevention). METHODS The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE were comprehensively searched to January 2005 for systematic reviews on aspects of diet and heart health. Reviews were included if they searched systematically for randomized controlled trials relating to diet and secondary prevention of CVD. Each review was critically appraised by at least two members of the UK Heart Health and Thoracic Dietitians Group. The quality and results of each review were discussed and summarized at a group meeting. RESULTS Evidence-based strategies that reduce cardiovascular events in those with CVD include reduction in saturated fat and substitution with unsaturated fats. Individuals who have suffered a myocardial infarction may also benefit from adopting a Mediterranean type diet and increasing intake of omega 3 fats, but it is not clear whether they are beneficial for all patients with CVD. There is no systematic review evidence to support the use of antioxidant vitamins supplements, low glycaemic index diets, or homocysteine lowering therapies in this group. CONCLUSION There remains good evidence that reducing saturated fat reduces morbidity in patients with CVD. This advice is consistent for most manifestations of CVD, with the addition of Mediterranean dietary advice and increased omega 3 fats for those who have had a myocardial infarction.
5-HT and mechanisms of defence. Author's response

of all defensive behaviours (Rodgers) which are indeed ’behaviourally very complex’ (Shepherd et al.). However, we doubt whether differentiation of 5-HT functions can be taken to the level of individualand species-specific defense reactions. Our conception is that 5-HT modulates the probability of these behaviours according to the proximity of aversion. The term ’reflexive’ applied to freezing, fright and flight does perhaps imply an inappropriate degree of behavioural ‘fixedness’ (Shepherd
Respiratory response to inspired CO2 during acclimatization to an altitude of 12, 470 feet.

The respiratory stimulation produced by adding graded amounts of CO2 to the inspired gas was studied in four adult male subjects at sea level and during acclimatization to an altitude of 12,470 feet. During acclimatization, the curve relating respiratory minute volume to inspired or alveolar CO2 shifted to the left by 8 to 11 mm Hg, while the shape and slope of the curve did not change significantly. This indicates primarily a change in the CO2 levels to which the regulatory mechanisms respond, rather than a change in the magnitude of the response to a given level of CO2. Most of the change occurred in the first 2 days at altitude. A possible mechanism depending primarily on the initial hypoxic stimulation of the chemoreceptors, which might explain the shift in CO2 response, is discussed. Submitted on November 20, 1956
Rumen Microbial Biomass Synthesis and Its Importance in Ruminant Production

Quantification of rumen microbial biomass synthesis assumes significance as rumen fermentation of feed organic matter and microbial biomass synthesis meet 70-85% of energy and 70-100% of protein needs of ruminants which necessitates understanding the feed factors influencing higher microbial biomass in the rumen. Determination of feed factors affecting microbial biomass synthesis in vivo is too expensive. Hence, the rumen in vitro gas production technique used for feed energy evaluation in ruminant feedstuffs was adopted to assess microbial biomass production potential of feedstuffs based on the concept of partitioning of fermented organic matter between microbial biomass and fermentation waste products. Diets formulated with differing in microbial biomass synthesis termed as partitioning factor (PF) and tested them for their efficiency of microbial biomass synthesis in vitro and assessed the same in vivo on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, purine excretion in urine and production performance in growing and lactating animals is compiled in this review.
Primary malignant tumors of bone. Evaluation of current diagnosis and treatment

The author's experience in the diagnosis and treatment of primary malignant bone tumors (700 cases) is reviewed, together with the experience of the staff at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, to evaluate various approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and to determine whether progress has been made in treating bone sarcoma. The survival rates remain fairly constant and continue to be largely influenced by the adequacy of the surgery performed. Radiation therapy, while largely palliative, plays a role in adjunctive and definitive treatment (especially in reticulum cell sarcoma of bone). High energy forms of radiation therapy prove superior to ortho‐voltage treatment. The clinical achievements of chemotherapy present scant evidence that it plays more than an adjunctive palliative role in the majority of cases treated. There is evidence that in some cases it may play an adjunctive role in successful treatment when used with radiation and/or surgery.
Visual Analytics of Change in Natural Language

This thesis describes novel computer science research on visual analytics methods for the detection and understanding of diverse phenomena of change that can be observed either within natural language text or based on it. The term change refers to the observable variation of features and patterns over time. In particular, two di erent kinds of phenomena are under research. The rst part of the thesis deals with the diachronic change of linguistic features, namely language change. It includes pioneering work in the intersection of the disciplines of historical linguistics typological comparison of languages and visual analytics and contributes to the broader eld of digital humanities or enhanced humanities (eHumanities). The second part of the thesis deals with visual analytics methods for the interactive detection and exploration of sudden unexpected changes in the information content conveyed by a large-scale text data stream. The research lls gaps in the previous work on time-related visual text analytics, demonstrates the commercial potential of such methods, and systematically outlines future research challenges for the live analysis and visualization of large-scale text data streams.
Feasibility of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Under Spinal Anaesthesia

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) has been conventionally done under general anaesthesia (GA). Regional anaesthesia is usually preferred in patients where GA is contraindicated. In this study, we present experience of using spinal anaesthesia (SA) for LC with the contention that it is a good alternative to GA. Spinal anaesthesia was used in 134 patients in whom LC was planned. There was no modification in the technique, and the intra abdominal pressure was kept at 8mm Hg to 12 mm Hg. Sedation was given if required, and conversion to GA was done in patients not responding to sedation or due to failure of SA. Results were compared with 100 patients who had undergone LC under GA. Out of 134 patients, two patients required conversion to GA. Hypotension requiring support was recorded in 28 (20.89%) patients, and 32 (23.88%) experienced neck or shoulder pain, or both. Postoperatively, 2.9% (4) of patients had vomiting as compared to 33% (33) of patients who were administered GA. Injectable diclofenac was required in 36.56% (49) for abdominal pain within 2 hours postoperatively and oral analgesic was required in 106 (79.10%) patients within the first 24 hours in SA group. However, 96% of patients operated under GA required injectable analgesics in the immediate postoperative period. Postural headache was experienced by 8 (5.9%) patients postoperatively. Average time of discharge was 1.9 days in patients operated under SA.
Age‐related plasma reference ranges for two heparin‐binding proteins – vitronectin and platelet factor 4

This study was conducted to establish age‐related reference ranges for two heparin‐binding proteins – vitronectin and platelet factor 4 (PF4) – and to determine if the quantitative values of these proteins may contribute to the reported age‐dependent effect of unfractionated heparin (UFH). Plasma samples were obtained from healthy children aged between 1 month and 16 years and from healthy adult volunteers. Two commercial kits were used to measure plasma vitronectin and PF4 levels. Results were reported as mean and boundaries including 95% of the population. Plasma vitronectin levels for children aged 1–5 years were significantly higher compared with adults. Plasma PF4 levels for infants <1 year of age were significantly lower compared with adults. The differences between reference values for both proteins in all other age‐groups were not statistically significant. This study for the first time has established age‐related reference ranges for vitronectin and PF4. In establishing these ranges, the quantitative values of these proteins do not appear to be the major contributory cause for the age‐dependent variation in UFH effect. Future studies are required to evaluate the possible impact of age‐dependent differences in binding between heparin‐binding proteins and UFH.
Determinants of IntraDay Stock Price Change and Asymmetric Information ∗

This paper presents a synthesized model of asymmetric information. An empirical analysis of more than 1,400 NYSE common stocks shows that trade direction is more important than volume in revealing the asymmetry. There is also evidence to suggest that signed duration reflects informed trading activity. We use the proposed measure of information asymmetry to study daily changes in the level of informed trading and find that earnings announcements narrow the information gap between the informed and the uninformed. On average, information asymmetry is largest at the beginning of the trading day and it decreases monotonically toward the closing bell. More importantly, the asymmetric information measure is negatively related to the number of shareholders, number of analysts following a firm and whether there is an exchange-traded equity option written on the firm’s stock. An implication of this finding is that firms can reduce information asymmetry by implementing disclosure measures that attract not only more investors and analysts but also option writers.
3D CACT-assisted Radiofrequency Ablation Following Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Early Experience.

BACKGROUND To explored the value of 3D C-arm CT (CACT) guidance system in performing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) following transarterial chemoembolizationon (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS RFA of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were performed on 15 patients (21 lesions) with the assistance of CACT guidance system. Technical success, procedure time, complications and patient radiation exposure were investigated. The puncture performance level was evaluated on a five-point scale (5-1: excellent- poor). Complete ablation rate was evaluated after two months follow-up using enhanced CT scans. RESULTS The technical success rate of RFA procedure under CACT navigation system was 100%. Mean total procedure time was 24.24 ± 6.53 min, resulting in a mean effective exposure dose of 15.4 ± 5.1 mSv. The mean puncture performance level rated for CACT guided RFA procedure was 4.87 ± 0.35. Complete ablation (CA) was achieved in 20 (95.2%) of the treated 21 tumors after the first RFA session. None of patients developed intra-procedural complications. CONCLUSIONS 3D CACT guidance system enables reliable and efficient needle positioning by providing real-time intraoperative guidance for performing RFA on HCCs.
Batch scheduling in parallel database systems

Many techniques for query scheduling in a parallel database system schedule a single query at a time. The scheduling of queries for parallel database systems by dividing the workload into batches is investigated. Scheduling algorithms that exploit the common operations within the queries in a batch are proposed. The performance of the proposed algorithms is studied using a simple analytical model and a detailed simulation model. It is shown that batch scheduling can provide significant savings compared to single query scheduling for a variety of system and workload parameters. <<ETX>>