Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decreased Protein Levels of Nicotinic Receptor Subunits in the Hippocampus and Temporal Cortex of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract: Deficits of cortical nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by receptor binding assays. Little is known about the receptor subunit specificity influenced by AD, and it might be of importance for therapeutic strategies. In the present study, the protein levels of nAChR α3, α4, α7, and β2 subunits were investigated using western blot analysis on postmortem brains of patients with AD and age‐matched controls. The results showed that in human postmortem brain samples, bands with molecular masses of 52, 42, and 50 kDa were detected by anti‐α4, anti‐α7, and anti‐β2 antibodies, respectively. When anti‐α3 antibody was used, one major band of 49 kDa and two minor bands of 70 and 38 kDa were detected. In AD patients, as compared with age‐matched controls, the α4 subunit was reduced significantly by ∼35 and 47% in the hippocampus and temporal cortex, respectively. A significant reduction of 25% in the α3 subunit was also observed in the hippocampus and a 29% reduction in the temporal cortex. For the α7 subunit, the protein level was reduced significantly by 36% in the hippocampus of AD patients, but no significant change was detected in the temporal cortex. In neither the hippocampus nor the temporal cortex was a significant difference observed in the β2 subunit between AD patients and controls. These results reveal brain region‐specific changes in the protein levels of the nAChR, α3, α4, and α7 subunits in AD.
Antiallergic activity of topical lodoxamide on in vivo and in vitro models

Lodoxamide is an antiallergic drug acting as a mast‐cell stabilizer, which is effective in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of lodoxamide eye‐drops on the inflammatory early‐phase reaction (EPR) changes induced by allergen‐specific conjunctival challenge (ASCC). This was a cross‐over, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized study, including 10 outpatients suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis due to Parietaria judaica. Patients received one drop of lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1% or placebo 30 min before each ASCC. Clinical evaluation and cytologic assessment were done at baseline and 30 min after each ASCC. Lodoxamide induced a reduction in total symptom score and hyperemia during the EPR (P < 0.05). Lacrimation, itching/ burning, and eyelid swelling were only slightly (nonsignificantly) reduced. Lodoxamide induced a reduction in the total number of inflammatory cells and neutrophils during the EPR (P < 0.02). Eosinophil and lymphocyte number and ICAM‐1 expression showed only a slight, not statistically significant decrease. Placebo did not affect the studied parameters. Lodoxamide reduced early clinical events and cellular changes after ASCC consistently with its activity as mast‐cell stabilizer. Moreover, lodoxamide was able to downregulate in vitro ICAM‐1 expression on the continuously cultured, differentiated conjunctival cell line WK. This was shown both in basal conditions (P < 0.05) and upon interferon‐gamma stimulation (P < 0.03), although at high concentration.
The power-law distribution of agricultural land size

ABSTRACT Power-law distributions explain a variety of natural and man-made processes spanning various disciplines including economics and finance. This paper demonstrates that the distribution of agricultural land size in the United States is best described by a power-law distribution. Maximum likelihood estimation is carried out using county-level data of over 3000 observations gathered at five-year intervals by the USDA Census of Agriculture. Our analysis indicates that U.S. agricultural land size is heavy-tailed, that variance estimates generally do not converge, and that the top 5% of agricultural counties account for about 25% of agricultural land between 1997 and 2012. The goodness of fit of power-law distribution is evaluated using likelihood ratio tests and regression-based diagnostics. The power-law distribution of farm size has important implications for the design of more efficient regional and national agricultural policies as counties close to the mean account for little of the cumulative distribution of total agricultural land.
Polymorphisms in PTGS1, PTGS2 and IL‐10 do not influence colorectal adenoma recurrence in the context of a randomized aspirin intervention trial

Regular use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs reduces both the development of colorectal neoplasia and recurrence of colorectal adenoma (CRA). Modulation of the effects of aspirin by genetic factors has been reported, potentially allowing targeting of treatment to individuals most likely to gain benefit. Prostaglandin H synthase 1 (PTGS1) and PTGS2 are key enzymes in prostaglandin synthesis and are inhibited by aspirin, whilst interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) is an important antiinflammatory cytokine. We investigated whether functional genetic polymorphisms in the PTGS1, PTGS2 and IL‐10 genes influence CRA recurrence in individuals participating in a randomized aspirin intervention trial. DNA was available for genotyping from 546 patients who received aspirin (300 mg daily) or placebo for a mean 41‐months' duration. Homozygote carriers of variant alleles for the PTGS1 50C>T, PTGS2 −765G>C and IL‐10 −592C>A polymorphisms did not have a significantly altered risk of CRA recurrence (relative risk [RR] = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14–6.07, RR = 1.32; 95%CI: 0.66–2.62 and RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 0.74–2.07, respectively). There were also no significant interactions between aspirin intervention and genotype in determining recurrence risk. These data indicate that these polymorphisms are unlikely to influence CRA recurrence and cannot be used to identify individuals who derive benefit from aspirin intervention. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The alcohol use disorders identification test: an update of research findings.

BACKGROUND The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) has been extensively researched to determine its capability to accurately and practically screen for alcohol problems. METHODS During the 5 years since our previous review of the literature, a large number of additional studies have been published on the AUDIT, abbreviated versions of it, its psychometric properties, and the applicability of the AUDIT for a diverse array of populations. The current article summarizes new findings and integrates them with results of previous research. It also suggests some issues that we believe are particularly in need of further study. RESULTS A growing body of research evidence supports the criterion validity of English version of the AUDIT as a screen for alcohol dependence as well as for less severe alcohol problems. Nevertheless, the cut-points for effective detection of hazardous drinking as well as identification of alcohol dependence or harmful use in women need to be lowered from the originally recommended value of 8 points. The AUDIT-C, the most popular short version of the AUDIT consisting solely of its 3 consumption items, is approximately equal in accuracy to the full AUDIT. Psychometric properties of the AUDIT, such as test-retest reliability and internal consistency, are quite favorable. Continued research is urged to establish the psychometric properties of non-English versions of the AUDIT, use of the AUDIT with adolescents and with older adults, and selective inclusion of alcohol biomarkers with the AUDIT in some instances. CONCLUSIONS Research continues to support use of the AUDIT as a means of screening for the spectrum of alcohol use disorders in various settings and with diverse populations.
Effect of circulating peptide YY on gallbladder emptying in humans.

BACKGROUND To further establish its role in the ileal brake mechanism, we determined the effect of the distal gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) on gallbladder motility and plasma gut hormones during the cephalic phase of meal stimulation. METHODS Eight healthy volunteers were studied in a randomized crossover design, with or without intravenous infusion of a physiological dose of PYY. On each occasion, subjects underwent modified sham feeding followed by real feeding. RESULTS PYY reduced gallbladder emptying in response to modified sham feeding from 23 +/- 5% to 5 +/- 7% (P < 0.01) and integrated plasma pancreatic polypeptide from 2337 +/- 397 pmol/L x 90 min to 903 +/- 232 pmol/L x 90 min (P < 0.01). PYY enhanced plasma cholecystokinin in response to real feeding from 53 +/- 9 pmol/L x 90 min to 82 +/- 17 pmol/L x 90 min (P < 0.05), but did not significantly affect maximum gallbladder emptying and tended to decrease plasma pancreatic polypeptide. CONCLUSION Circulating PYY suppresses the cephalic phase of postprandial gallbladder emptying, but not meal stimulated maximum emptying. The results support the hypothesis that the effect of PYY on gallbladder emptying is mediated by vagal-dependent rather than cholecystokinin-dependent pathways.
El Principio de Optimalidad de Bellman aplicado a la Estructura Financiera Corporativa. Caso mexicano (The Bellman’s Optimality Principle applied to corporate financial structure. Mexican case)

En la busqueda de una respuesta satisfactoria a la pregunta: ? Que cantidad de deuda es la apropiada para una determinada empresa? , se ha desarrollado todo un bagaje de literatura que aborda el problema utilizando distintos enfoques. Las investigaciones sobre estructura financiera y sus repercusiones sobre el valor corporativo de las empresas comenzaron con las aportaciones de Franco Modigliani y Merton Miller, las cuales han sentado las bases del nuevo enfoque de las finanzas modernas y ha permitido el desarrollo de nuevas teorias normativas encaminadas a la busqueda de una estructura financiera optima. El presente trabajo propone un algoritmo matematico basado en el principio de optimalidad de Bellman, que permite a las empresas mexicanas determinar la proporcion de deuda y capital optimas de tal manera que su costo promedio ponderado de capital se minimice, lo que equivale a maximizar su valor de mercado. Clasificacion JEL: C61, C62, G32. Abstract In search for a satisfactory answer to the question: How much debt is appropriate for a particular company? Researchers had development a whole wealth of literature that addresses the problem using different approaches. Research on financial structure and its impact on the corporate value of the companies began with the contributions of Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller which laid the foundations of the new approach of modern finance and has allowed the development of new regulations aimed at theories search for an optimal financial structure. This paper proposes a mathematical algorithm based on the Bellman’s Optimality Principle, which allows companies to determine the proportion of debt and optimal capital so that its weighted average cost of capital is minimized, which is equal to maximize its market value.
Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Adaptation of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-A for Children

Given difficulty in having children assess their own behaviour, there are few self reports on child impulsivity. With the exception of Eysenck's 16 questionnaire, there are no self-report measures of impulsivity in children with good psychometric properties. The present study tested the possibility of using the adolescent version of the Barrati Impulsiveness Scale-11 with children. For this purpose the questionnaire was translated and backtranslated and administered to school children (182 boys and 195 girls) ages 8 to 12 years (M = 10.4, SD = 0.9). The data were analysed by exploratory factor analysis, to evaluate the factorial structure of the questionnaire, the fit of the proposed solution, and internal consistency reliabilities. Results seem to indicate that this questionnaire may be useful in assessing impulsivity in children. The three-factor structure showed slight differences with the initial questionnaire proposed by Barratt and had good or sufficient internal consistency (depending upon the scale) across the 8- to 12-yr. -old age range.
Association of higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in elderly individuals and lower risk of late-onset Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE To reexamine the association of lipid levels with Alzheimer disease (AD) using Cox proportional hazards models. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Northern Manhattan, New York. PARTICIPANTS One thousand one hundred thirty elderly individuals free of cognitive impairment at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. RESULTS Higher levels of HDL-C (>55 mg/dL) were associated with a decreased risk of both probable and possible AD and probable AD compared with lower HDL-C levels (hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9; P = .03 and hazard ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.9; P = .03). In addition, higher levels of total and non-HDL-C were associated with a decreased risk of AD in analyses adjusting for age, sex, education, ethnic group, and APOE e4 genotype. CONCLUSION High HDL-C levels in elderly individuals may be associated with a decreased risk of AD.
Isolation of Bacillus spp. from Thai fermented soybean (Thua‐nao): screening for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A detoxification

Aims: To study the interaction between Bacillus spp. and contaminating Aspergillus flavus isolated strains from Thai fermented soybean in order to limit aflatoxin production. To study the detoxification of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) by Bacillus spp. in order to find an efficient strain to remove these toxins.
How clean is clean enough? Recent developments in response to threats posed by chemical and biological warfare agents

Recent terrorist events underscore the urgent need to develop a comprehensive set of health-protective cleanup standards and effective decontamination technologies for use in the restoration of civilian facilities. Accurate scientific information remains limited in the area of biological warfare agents. However, new guidelines and calculated cleanup values are emerging for initial re-entry and long-term reoccupation following use of chemical warfare agents. This article addresses airborne, soil, and surface exposures following release of G-type chemical warfare agents and VX. Cleanup goals should be tailored to the type of population that may be exposed, potential exposure times, and other scenario-specific considerations. Three different airborne concentrations are proposed for cleanup of public sector facilities. One value is recommended for initial re-entry; a more conservative value is recommended for long-term monitoring and increased public confidence; and a third, even more conservative concentration represents essentially a no-effect level for round-the-clock airborne exposure. Health-based cleanup levels are provided for contaminated residential and industrial soil. Results are presented on the outcome of a preliminary risk assessment to determine safe surface levels (e.g., walls, floors, and handrails) for cleanup after exposure to the G agents and VX. Because specific cleanup criteria for most biological warfare agents remain problematic, recommendations are made for filling the knowledge gaps.
Translating Community-Based Participatory Research Principles Into Practice

(1) University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences; (2) University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; (3) ONE: Pittsburgh; (4) ACT: Baltimore; (5) House of Ruth Maryland; (6) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; (7) Community Human Services Corporation; (8) University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine
Recombinant von Willebrand Factor: Preclinical Development

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein (GP) that attracts platelets to the site of vascular injury, mediates platelet-platelet interaction, and stabilizes factor VIII (FVIII) in the circulation. Quantitative and qualitative defects of vWF result in von Willebrand disease (vWD), manifested by modest to severe bleeding episodes. Substitution therapy, with plasma-derived FVIII/vWF complex concentrates, is used for patients suffering the more severe forms of vWD. Efficacy of these preparations is often unsatisfactory because inadvertent proteolytic degradation during the manufacturing process causes them to lack the hemostatically most active high-molecular-weight multimers. In contrast, recombinant vWF (r-vWF), which is constitutively expressed at high yields in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and secreted into the conditioned medium under perfusion fermentation in "protein-free" medium, has high-molecular-weight multimers of extraordinary structural integrity. Functional analysis has shown that r-vWF promotes ristocetin cofactor-mediated platelet aggregation, collagen interaction and FVIII binding, and platelet-collagen adhesion under shear stress. Infusing vWF-deficient animals with r-vWF corrected vWF concentration and reduced blood loss, subsequently stabilizing endogenous FVIII associated with the reduction of bleeding time. Compared with plasma-derived vWF preparations, r-vWF was found to have a prolonged half-life, further enhancing the potential value of r-vWF as a therapeutic agent for treating patients suffering from vWD.
The effects of CaNa(2)EDTA on brain lead mobilization in rodents determined using a stable lead isotope tracer.

Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of CaNa(2)EDTA for reducing lead (Pb) levels in blood and soft tissues, including brain. However, a concern remains that a single dose of CaNa(2)EDTA may cause a significant increase in brain Pb levels due to a redistribution of endogenous Pb. Here we utilized a rodent model of Pb exposure in combination with a sensitive stable Pb isotope tracer methodology to assess the effects of CaNa(2)EDTA chelation treatment on the redistribution of Pb in brain, blood, kidney, and bone tissues. Thirty-two adult female albino rats (n = 6-7 animals/group) were exposed to 100 microg Pb/mL in drinking water for 4 weeks. Stable (204)Pb tracer was administered via i.p. injection over 2 days prior to chelation. CaNa(2)EDTA was administered i.p. at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day for 1 to 5 days. Statistical differences were evaluated with univariate ANOVA. Under the Pb exposure and chelation treatment regimens utilized here, there was no evidence of a measurable redistribution of endogenous Pb (as total Pb or labile (204)Pb tracer) into the brain after a single CaNa(2)EDTA dose. Further, CaNa(2)EDTA was not efficacious in measurably reducing brain or bone Pb levels, although brain levels of labile (204)Pb tracer were significantly reduced after 5 days of chelation. CaNa(2)EDTA treatment was effective in significantly reducing both blood and kidney Pb levels. Overall, these data substantiate the efficacy of CaNa(2)EDTA for reducing soft tissue Pb levels, but not total brain Pb, and they do not support concern for a transient increase in brain Pb levels with treatment.
Positive transcription elongation factor b (P‐TEFb) contributes to dengue virus‐stimulated induction of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8)

Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most common infectious pathogens worldwide. One major clinical and pathogenic feature of DENV infection is the elevation of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) expression; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism of DENV‐induced chemokine production. The positive transcription elongation factor b (P‐TEFb) composed of CDK9 and cyclin T1 stimulates gene expression by enhancing RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) processivity. This study examined the possibility that P‐TEFb mediates DENV‐induced IL‐8 expression. The treatment of either a pharmacological inhibitor of P‐TEFb, 5,6‐dichloro‐1‐β‐d‐ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) or cyclin T1 siRNA prior to DENV infection abolished the elevation of IL‐8, indicating that P‐TEFb is essential for IL‐8 induction. Moreover, DENV core protein participated in the activation of IL‐8 promoter in a P‐TEFb‐dependent manner. Immunostaining and co‐immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the association between P‐TEFb and DENV core protein. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) results indicated that P‐TEFb and DENV core protein were recruited to the transcriptionally active IL‐8 gene promoter. Taken together, this study showed that P‐TEFb and DENV core protein work in concert to enhance IL‐8 gene expression by DENV infection. This is the first demonstration of P‐TEFb being directly involved in virus‐induced host gene expression by interacting with a viral structural protein.
Prevalence and correlates of self-induced vomiting as weight-control strategy among adolescents in Taiwan.

AIMS This study was designed to assess the prevalence and correlates of self-induced vomiting to control body weight among adolescents in Taiwan. BACKGROUND Over the past decades, the rate of obesity among children in Taiwan has nearly tripled. Educational authorities have devoted considerable effort to prevent the increase in childhood obesity. DESIGN An observational exploratory design to investigate the problem of using unhealthy weight-reduction strategy. METHODS This study consists of a cross-sectional study aimed at collecting national representative data. We chose 120 representative schools using a three-stage stratified systematic sampling design with probability proportionate to the size of the population in Taiwan. Participants consisted of 8673 girls and 7043 boys, aged 10-18 old. RESULTS Of the participants, 13% reported using self-induced vomiting, the prevalence being highest in participants aged 10-12 (15·9%) and lowest in participants aged 16-18 (7·5%). Several factors were significantly and positively associated with the use of self-induced vomiting as a weight-loss strategy, specifically subjects who (1) watched television, used computer, surfed the Internet or played video games for greater than or equal to two hours/day, (2) consumed fried food every day and (3) ate night-time snacks every day (odds ratio = 1·55, 2·10 and 1·51, respectively; p < 0·05). Eating breakfast every day and sleeping for more than eight hours a day were both protective factors against the use of self-induced vomiting to control body weight (odds ratio = 0·43 and 0·86, respectively; p < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS Self-induced vomiting was prevalent among adolescents who had tried to lose weight; sedentary lifestyle, shorter sleep length and unhealthy eating habits may contribute significantly to this behaviour among these adolescents. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE School nurses who are helping adolescents lose weight should also pay attention to the possibility they are using self-induced vomiting as a weight-control strategy.
Femtosecond-Laser Microstructuring of Ribs on Active (Yb,Nb):RTP/RTP Planar Waveguides

We have produced rib waveguides by femtosecond-laser structuring of active (Yb,Nb):RbTiOPO4/RbTiOPO4 epitaxial layers. The ribs were produced by the approximation scanning technique combined with beam multiplexing. The so-obtained waveguides are trapezoidal in shape and show propagation losses with an upper bound of ~4 dB/cm. A simulation of the rib waveguides with real geometry parameters reveals high levels of light confinement at 632 and 972 nm. The near-field patterns of the fundamental modes have been obtained by exciting the waveguides at wavelengths of 632 and 972 nm. Micro-Raman spectroscopy study reveals that the damage to the crystalline structure in the rib boundaries, showing no amorphization traces, is around 3 μm in length and depth, which is significantly shorter than the total width of the ribs.