Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
beta(2)-adrenergic receptor overexpression exacerbates development of heart failure after aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND Beta-adrenergic signaling is downregulated in the failing heart, and the significance of such change remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS To address the role of beta-adrenergic dysfunction in heart failure (HF), aortic stenosis (AS) was induced in wild-type (WT) and transgenic (TG) mice with cardiac targeted overexpression of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (ARs), and animals were studied 9 weeks later. The extents of increase in systolic arterial pressure (P<0.01 versus controls), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (TG, 94+/-6 to 175+/-7 mg; WT, 110+/-6 to 168+/-10 mg; both P<0.01), and expression of ANP mRNA were similar between TG and WT mice with AS. TG mice had higher incidences of premature death and critical illness due to heart failure (75% versus 23%), pleural effusion (81% versus 45%), and left atrial thrombosis (81% versus 36%, all P<0.05). A more extensive focal fibrosis was found in the hypertrophied LV of TG mice (P<0.05). These findings indicate a more severe LV dysfunction in TG mice. In sham-operated mice, LV dP/dt(max) and heart rate were markedly higher in TG than WT mice (both P<0.01). dP/dt(max) was lower in both AS groups than in sham-operated controls, and this tended to be more pronounced in TG than WT mice (-32+/-5% versus -16+/-6%, P=0.059), although dP/dt(max) remained higher in TG than WT groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Elevated cardiac beta-adrenergic activity by beta(2)-AR overexpression leads to functional deterioration after pressure overload.
8×8 and 16×16 MIMO V-BLAST systems with iteration reduction scheme

This paper presents reduced signal decoding complexity 8×8 and 16×16 MIMO V-BLAST systems. The reduction in complexity is achieved by implementing a method that lowers the total the number of iterations needed in the decoding of the V-BLAST signals. Results show that the scheme is able to provide up to 71.06% signal decoding time reduction with minimal symbol-error-rate performance degradation. However, the percentage of complexity reduction lowers as number of antennas employed is increased.
Using parabolic equation technique for radiation problem

In this paper the scalar radiation problem using parabolic equation is considered. The scattered field calculation technique based on two parabolic equations for waves propagating in two opposite directions is presented. The near- and far-field calculation results for parabolic cylinder reflector and various excitation conditions are shown. The near-field amplitude for cylindrical Luneburg lens and line current excitation are produced.
Acidified Milk Formula Supplemented With Bifidobacterium lactis: Impact on Infant Diarrhea in Residential Care Settings

Objectives Probiotics may be useful in preventing acute infectious diarrhea. Bifidobacteria are particularly attractive as probiotics agent because they constitute the predominant colonic flora of breastfed infants and are thought to play a role in the decreased incidence of diarrhea in breastfed infants. Methods This was a multicenter, double-blind, controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of a milk formula supplemented with viable Bifidobacterium lactis strain Bb 12 (BbF) in the prevention of acute diarrhea in infants younger than 8 months living in residential nurseries or foster care centers. Results Ninety healthy children received either the BbF or a conventional formula (CF) daily. The mean duration of the stay in the residential center was similar (137 v 148 days). At enrollment, there were no differences between the two groups with respect to age (3.7 ± 2.1 months), gender, anthropometric data, history of allergy or gastrointestinal disease, frequency of breast-feeding in the neonatal period or timing of introduction of solid food. Altogether, 28.3% of the BbF infants had diarrhea during the study compared with 38.7% of controls (NS). There was a statistically insignificant trend for shorter episodes of diarrhea in the BbF group (5.1 ± 3.3 days v 7 ± 5.5 days, NS). The number of days with diarrhea was 1.15 ± 2.5 in the BbF group with a daily probability of diarrhea of 0.84 versus 2.3 ± 4.5 days and 1.55, respectively, in the CF group (P = 0.0002 and 0.0014). Feeding infants with the BbF reduced their risk of getting diarrhea by a factor of 1.9 (range, 1.33–2.6). Analysis of the cumulative incidence of diarrheal episodes showed a trend that the first onset of diarrhea occurred later in the BbF group. Conclusion These results provide some evidence that viable Bifidobacterium lactis strain Bb 12, added to an acidified infant formula, has some protective effect against acute diarrhea in healthy children.
A call for the better utilization of physical activity and exercise training in the defense against cardiovascular disease

Abstract Statins, also known as 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, effectively reduce elevated levels of serum LDL-C concentration and in turn lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Regular exercise and physical activity also have significant preventive effects against cardiovascular diseases by simultaneously reducing multiple risk factors. However, statins also produce a number of adverse events, including muscle pain, which increases dramatically in statin users who also exercise, likely limiting the cardiovascular benefits. Most importantly, reduced physical activity participation due to statin-related side effects can cancel out the benefits of the pharmacological treatment. Although exercise training offers more modest benefits compared to pharmacological therapy against traditional risk factors, considering the total impact of exercise on cardiovascular health, it is now evident that this intervention may offer a greater reduction of risks compared to statin therapy alone. However, primary recommendations regarding cardiovascular therapy still center around pharmacological approaches. Thus a new outlook is called for in clinical practice that provides room for physical activity and exercise training, thus lipid targets can be reached by a combined intervention along with improvements in other cardiovascular parameters, such as endothelial function and low-grade inflammation. Databases such as Pubmed and Google Scholar as well as the reference list of the relevant articles were searched to collect information for this opinion article.
Biosocial Factors in Early Infancy as Predictors of Competence in Adolescents Who Were Born Prematurely

ABSTRACT. In a prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of 105 subjects born prematurely, competence was assessed from infancy through late adolescence. A biosocial model guided the research. Neohatal neurobehavioral organization (a composite of term visual attention, amount of time in active sleep, and 407 EEG pattern) and early social stimulation (the amount of talking the mother addressed to the infant during a home observation when the infant was 1 month old) in conjunction with social class were used to predict competence at key age periods through late adolescence. Intellectual competence, school achievement, social competence, and self perception of cognitive competence were studied. The results indicate that measures taken in the early infancy period were predictive of later competence, particularly intellectual competence, above and beyond social class. Twenty-eight percent of the variance in 48-year IQ scores was explained by the predictor variables. The study highlights the importance of directing efforts to improve the social environment of both the infant and the family. J Dev Behav Pediatr 16:36–41, 1995. Index terms: prematurity, competence, biosocial factors, late adolescence
Teratoma formation in immunocompetent mice after syngeneic and allogeneic implantation of germline capable mouse embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to form teratomas when implanted into immunodeficient mice, but data in immunocompetent mice are limited. We therefore investigated teratoma formation after implantation of three different mouse ESC (mESC) lines into immunocompetent mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS BALB/c mice were injected with three highly germline competent mESCs (129Sv, BALB/c and C57BL/6) subcutaneously or under the kidney capsule. After 4 weeks, mice were euthanized and examined histologically for teratoma development. The incidence, size and composition of teratomas were compared using Pearson Chi-square, t-test for dependent variables, one-way analysis of variance and the nonparametric Kruskal- Wallis analysis of variance and median test. RESULTS Teratomas developed from all three cell lines. The incidence of formation was significantly higher under the kidney capsule compared to subcutaneous site and occurred in both allogeneic and syngeneic mice. Overall, the size of teratoma was largest with the 129Sv cell line and under the kidney capsule. Diverse embryonic stem cell-derived tissues, belonging to the three embryonic germ layers, were encountered, reflecting the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Most commonly represented tissues were nervous tissue, keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium (ectoderm), smooth muscle, striated muscle, cartilage, bone (mesoderm), and glandular tissue in the form of gut- and respiratory-like epithelia (endoderm). CONCLUSIONS ESCs can form teratomas in immunocompetent mice and, therefore, removal of undifferentiated ESC is a pre-requisite for a safe use of ESC in cell-based therapies. In addition the genetic relationship of the origin of the cell lines to the ability to transplant plays a major role.
Best practice in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur in most patients with dementia. They cause great suffering in patients and caregivers, sometimes more so than the cognitive and functional decline inherent to dementia. The clinical features of BPSD include a wide variety of affective, psychotic and behavioural symptoms and signs. The causes and risk factors for BPSD are multiple and include biological, psychological and environmental variables. Frequently, their combination, rather than any specific factor, explains the occurrence of BPSD in an individual patient. Thus, a sound etiopathogenetic investigation including the patient and the family or care team is essential. The aim is to develop an individualized treatment plan using a therapeutic decision tree modified by the individual and environmental risk profile. Still, treatment may be difficult and challenging. Clinical empiricism often steps in where evidence from controlled studies is lacking. Psychosocial treatment approaches are pivotal for successful treatment of BPSD. Often a combination of different non-pharmacological approaches precedes drug treatment (most of which is off-label). Regular assessments of the treatment plan and any prescriptions must be carried out to detect signs of relapse and to stop any medicines that may have become inappropriate. Even with optimal management, BPSD will not disappear completely in some cases and will remain challenging for all involved parties. This article is a narrative review based closely on the interprofessional Swiss recommendations for the treatment of BPSD. To establish the recommendations, a thorough research of the literature has been carried out. Evidence-based data were provided through searches of Medline, Embase, ISI and Cochrane-Database research. Evidence categories of the World Federation of Biological Societies were used. Additionally, the clinical experience of Swiss medical experts was considered.
Mammalian peroxidases activate anticancer drug ellipticine to intermediates forming deoxyguanosine adducts in DNA identical to those found in vivo and generated from 12‐hydroxyellipticine and 13‐hydroxyellipticine

Ellipticine is a potent antineoplastic agent, whose mode of action is considered to be based mainly on DNA intercalation, inhibition of topoisomerase II and cytochrome P450‐mediated formation of covalent DNA adducts. This is the first report on the molecular mechanism of ellipticine oxidation by peroxidases (human myeloperoxidase, human and ovine cyclooxygenases, bovine lactoperoxidase, horseradish peroxidase) to species forming ellipticine‐DNA adducts. Using NMR spectroscopy, the structures of 2 ellipticine metabolites were identified; the major product is the ellipticine dimer, in which the 2 ellipticine skeletons are connected via N6 of the pyrrole ring of one ellipticine molecule and C9 in the second one. The minor metabolite is ellipticine N2‐oxide. Using 32P‐postlabeling and [3H]‐labeled ellipticine, we showed that ellipticine binds covalently to DNA after its activation by peroxidases. The DNA adduct pattern induced by ellipticine consisted of a cluster of up to 4 adducts. The 2 adducts are indistinguishable from the 2 major adducts generated between deoxyguanosine in DNA and either 13‐hydroxy‐ or 12‐hydroxyellipticine or in rats treated with ellipticine, or if ellipticine was activated with human hepatic and renal microsomes. The results presented here are the first characterization of the peroxidase‐mediated oxidative metabolites of ellipticine and we have proposed species, 2 carbenium ions, ellipticine‐13‐ylium and ellipticine‐12‐ylium, as reactive species generating 2 major DNA adducts seen in vivo in rats treated with ellipticine. The study forms the basis to further predict the susceptibility of human cancers to ellipticine. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on the developing myocardium.

BACKGROUND Bis-diamine induces conotruncal anomalies and disproportional ventricular development in rat embryos when administered to the mother. To evaluate the mechanisms of disproportional ventricular development in the anomalous heart, we analyzed the morphology of the embryonic heart and investigated cardiomyocytic DNA synthesis and apoptosis. METHODS A single dose of 200 mg of bis-diamine was administered to pregnant rats Wistar on day 9.5 of pregnancy. The embryos were removed on each embryonic day from 10.5 to 18.5. Expression of cardiotrophin-1 and hepatocyte growth factor was investigated on the sections, and cardiotrophin-1, hepatocyte growth factor and myocyte enhancer factor 2 mRNA expression was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Myocardial DNA synthesis was investigated using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and the labeling index was calculated for each heart. Apoptosis was also analyzed using TUNEL reaction and electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation. RESULTS The embryos treated with bis-diamine had conotruncal anomalies associated with thin left ventricular wall in the later stage. The labeling index on embryonic day 15.5 and 16.5 was significantly lower than those in the controls. Hepatocyte growth factor and cardiotrophin-1 mRNA expression was upregulated on embryonic day 12.5 and 15.5 in bis-diamine-treated hearts. Fewer apoptotic cells were detected in the hearts of bis-diamine-treated embryos than in control hearts from embryonic day 14.5 to 16.5. CONCLUSIONS The ventricular disproportion in the bis-diamine-treated heart may be caused by the early myocardial differentiation delay and poor proliferation and reduced apoptosis associated with anomalous circulatory condition in the later stage.
Degranulation, density, and distribution of mast cells in the rat thalamus: A light and electron microscopic study in basal conditions and after intracerebroventricular administration of nerve growth factor

In the adult rat brain mast cells reside selectively in the thalamus. We investigated thalamic mast cells stained by acidic toluidine blue or pinacyanol, and with histamine immunocytochemistry, focusing on their state of activity revealed by degranulation. Mast cells exhibited perivascular prevalence and high quantitative variability, between cases and in different sections, with no asymmetry or topographical selectivity in thalamic nuclei. Pinacyanol, alone or with erythrosine, stained mast cells with higher sensitivity than toluidine blue. However, toluidine blue was highly predictive of pinacyanol staining and provided the best resolution of mast cell cytoplasmic features. Histamine immunocytochemistry labeled 61% of pinacyanol‐stained mast cells. Intensely toluidine blue‐stained granulated cells, as well as cells exhibiting different degrees of degranulation that paralleled lighter staining, were observed. The response of thalamic mast cells to intracerebroventricular administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) and control cytochrome‐c injections was evaluated after 2, 24, and 72 hours. No obvious changes in mast cell number or distribution were found after treatment, but massive degranulation was frequently observed after NGF administration. Significant decrease of staining intensity of mast cells, supporting enhanced degranulation, was documented in NGF‐treated animals by quantitative image analysis. Ultrastructural features of mast cell degranulation, with granule coalescence and matrix dissolution, were detected in untreated and NGF‐treated cases. The findings point out that mast cells are active in the thalamus in basal conditions and that NGF has the potential to elicit long‐lasting degranulation of thalamic mast cells in vivo, exerting a direct effect and/or priming these cells to react to endogenous stimuli. J. Comp. Neurol. 424:651–669, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Breaking the Top-k Restriction of the kNN Hidden Databases

With the increasing development of Location-based services (LBS), the spatial data become accessible on the web. Often, such services provide a public interface which allows users to find k nearest points to an arbitrary query point. These services may be abstractly modeled as a hidden database behind a kNN query interface, we refer it as a kNN hidden database. The kNN interface is the only way we can access such hidden databases and can be quite restrictive. A key restriction enforced by such a kNN interface is the top-k output constraint - i.e., given an arbitrary query, the system only returns the k nearest points to the query point (where k is typically a small number such as 10 or 50), hence, such restriction prevents many third-party services from being developed over the hidden databases. In this paper, we investigate a interesting problem of "breaking" the kNN restriction of such web databases to find more than k nearest point. To our best knowledge, this is the first work to study the problem over the kNN hidden database. We investigate and design a set of algorithms which can efficiently address this problem. Beyond that, we also perform a set of experiments over synthetic datasets and real-world datasets which illustrate the effectiveness of our algorithms.
Time-on-pitch or full-game GPS analysis procedures for elite field hockey?

PURPOSE The current study assessed the impact of full-game (FG) and time-on-pitch (TOP) procedures for global-positioning-system (GPS) analysis on the commonly used markers of physical performance in elite field hockey. METHODS Sixteen international male field hockey players, age 19-30, were studied (yielding 73 player analyses over 8 games). Physical activity was recorded using a 5-Hz GPS. RESULTS Distance covered, player load, maximum velocity, high-acceleration efforts, and distance covered at specified speed zones were all agreeable for both analysis procedures (P > .05). However, percentage time spent in 0-6 km/h was higher for FG (ES: -21% to -16%; P < .001), whereas the percentage time in all other speed zones (1.67-3.06 m/s, 3.06-4.17 m/s, 4.17-5.28 m/s, and > 6.39 m/s) and relative distance (m/min) were higher for TOP (ES: 8-10%, 2-7%, 2-3%, 1-1%, 0-1%, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that GPS analysis procedures should be appropriate for the nature of the sport being studied. In field hockey, TOP and FG analysis procedures are comparable for distance-related variables but significantly different for time-dependent factors. Using inappropriate analysis procedures can alter the perceived physiological demand of elite field hockey because of "rolling" substitutions. Inaccurate perception of physiological demand could negatively influence training prescription (for both intensity and volume).
Role of pericardium in the maintenance of left ventricular twist

Background The role of pericardium in left ventricular (LV) twist has not been directly investigated. We sought to determine the role of pericardium in maintenance of LV twist function in an animal experiment, before and after pericardial opening. Methods 13 mongrel dogs were initially operated on, but two dogs were excluded from the final analyses owing to poor speckle tracking. Intraoperative echocardiography for conventional and speckle tracking measurements was performed at baseline with intact pericardium, and after pericardial opening. Using the speckle tracking technique, LV twist and strains were obtained before and after pericardial opening in 11 animals and additionally after pericardial repair in five animals. Results LV twist was significantly decreased after pericardial opening (10.1° (5.1°) to 7.4° (6.4°), p=0.001). LV twist and untwist rate were also decreased (115.0° (99.6°)/s to 66.7° (42.5°)/s for twist rate, −127.6° (74.3°)/s to −84.2° (734°)/s for untwist rate, p=0.015 and 0.009, respectively). LV stroke volume and ejection fraction were similar irrespective of pericardial opening, but radial strain measured at the mid ventricular level was significantly increased (31.7% (17.4%) to 32.3% (24.0%), p=0.02) after pericardial opening without changes in circumferential and longitudinal strains. LV twist degree was restored after pericardial repair. Conclusion The pericardium is an important structure for maintaining LV twist. Given no significant impact of the presence or absence of pericardium on LV systolic performance, an increase in LV radial strain serves as a compensatory mechanism to preserve LV systolic function despite a decrease in LV twist in the absence of pericardium.
Essays in experimental industrial organization: How communication and information affect market outcomes

This thesis consists of three independent essays that use laboratory experiments to address a number of industrial organization questions. In particular, it studies the role of communication and information revelation in market interactions. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on the question of how communication between firms affects the way they compete in the market. By introducing communication in our experimental markets, my analysis diverges from traditional industrial organization conventions in two ways. First, in Chapter 2 we expect (and find) different outcomes in markets with and without communication. This contrasts with the standard model of collusion that does not distinguish between implicit and explicit collusion so that its predictions do not depend on communication possibilities. In Chapter 3, I introduce communication in such a way that firms individually can decide whether or not to communicate with other firms in the same market, i.e., whether they want to be part of a cartel. In this way, partial cartels can form endogenously, which is precluded in traditional oligopoly models where cartels are assumed to be all-inclusive. Finally, I study the effect of information revelation in market outcomes. In Chapter 2, I analyze the impact of information about other firms’ actions and outcomes on market prices in an oligopoly setting. In Chapter 4, I examine the effect of revealing information about the outcome of an auction to an external party on bidding behavior and auction revenue. I do so in a setting where the external party’s estimates of bidders’ values influence bidders’ payoffs.