Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is molecular oxygen, O(2), the reactive radical behind oxidations of (aut)oxidable agents to which the bases of DNA belong?

The transfer of charges to reducible oxygen plays a basic role in the supply of energy to living organisms. These electron transfer (ET) reactions may be performed by selenium (Se) enzymes and autoxidable agents. Among the molecules which have satisfactory structures for this purpose are (hypo)xanthine, dopamine (DA), serotonin, arginine, creatine, thyroid hormones T(2)/T(3)/T(4) and the bases of DNA. Single-strand DNA breaks may be initiated by these reactions to yield the bases for the transfer of charges. But a high rate of DNA single-strand breaks may be caused by destructive oxidations. If the activity of the O(2) protective enzymes (Se enzymes such as gluthatione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase) is limited, the oxygen species H(2)O(2), O(2)(-) and OH generate free O(2). I believe that randomized oxidations are performed by the radical O(2) (two unshared orbitals) when it is not enzyme protected. Among the substances exposed to oxidation are the autoxidable agents. Are the bases of DNA and RNA to be included in these, taking part in ET reactions?
Early Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Minimal Handling in the Treatment of Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was introduced in 1971 and at that time welcomed as ‘the missing link’ between oxygen and ventilator treatment of premature infants. Originally CPAP was administered by tracheal tube (or head box) which because of the inherent risk of complications necessitated a cautious approach. New, more simple and less risky methods of application, such as nasal CPAP (N-CPAP), permitted earlier treatment which in randomized trials showed a reduction in inspired oxygen concentration, reduced need for mechanical ventilation and a reduction in the rate of death. Early N-CPAP/minimal handling today is an established first-line treatment in a number of centers in Denmark and Sweden, while N-CPAP outside Scandinavia apparently is used less often. However, recently the method has gained new interest as more publications have demonstrated that N-CPAP/minimal handling is both feasible and effective in most very-low-birth-weight infants. Early rescue treatment with fast-acting surfactant, given during a brief intubation, has increased the effectiveness of N-CPAP further. Descriptive studies on N-CPAP suggest that the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia may be lower than in conventional intensive treatment because of the relatively low need for mechanical ventilation. This question is at the present time being addressed in a randomized controlled trial in England.
Podocalyxin-positive glomerular epithelial cells in urine correlate with a positive outcome in FSGS.

BACKGROUND Parietal epithelial cells (PECs) and podocytes are the 2 epithelial cell types in the glomerulus. In contrast to podocytes, PECs have the ability to proliferate lifelong, and they can transdifferentiate into other cell types. We previously published that excretion of podocalyxin (PDX)-positive PECs in the urine correlates with disease activity in different glomerular diseases. METHODS In this analysis we investigated whether excretion of PDX-positive cells in the urine might have a prognostic value for proteinuria development and kidney function in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). RESULTS We found that patients diagnosed with FSGS and with significant excretion of PDX-positive cells in the urine had a negative change in serum creatinine in the follow-up analysis. In contrast to that, FSGS-patients without excretion of PDX-positive cells showed a positive change in serum creatinine. There was a significant negative correlation between PDX-positive cells in the urine and change in serum creatinine. Mean change in urine protein in FSGS patients with excretion of PDX-positive cells in the urine did not differ significantly from patients with no cell excretion, but we could demonstrate a negative correlation between PDX-positive cells and change in total urine protein. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that FSGS patients excreting large amounts of PDX-positive cells in their urine have a better outcome regarding kidney function and proteinuria compared with patients without excretion of PDX-positive cells. These data imply that PDX-positive cells have a positive effect on podocyte regeneration in FSGS patients.
An experience of shared learning

There is a great deal of current interest in creating patterns of shared learning across professional groups. In the case of occupational therapy and physiotherapy this is not a new concept, but a new phase in a longstanding debate. This article seeks to put current developments within a historical context and to describe how integrated education has been implemented at the School of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, University of East Anglia.
Embeddedness in the acquisition of loans for small and Medium-sized enterprises From the perspective of Hangzhou Municipality

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in our economy, but its fund bottleneck problem has not been solved. The SMEs financing difficultly has becomes a very hot theory problem. Using existing theory and original fieldwork, This paper develops a framework to explain how social embeddedness affects an organization's loan acquisition and cost of loans, thus get different market influences. The ability of a firm to acquire loan is a result not only gained by the firm's own characteristics but also the firm's network structure. Commercial bank industry in Hangzhou has always been competitive. I conducted field researches about the acquisition of loans inside banks, all the interviewees stated that they would fully consider the borrower's social background and relationship, which illustrate affects of social network to obtaining capital. This paper analyses firm's control variables inside commercial banks and explains firm's financing problem from the perspective of structure embeddedness exploringly and innovatively.
Endurance training enhances critical power.

The present investigation was conducted to determine whether critical power (CP) assesses the ability to perform continuous aerobic exercise and to determine whether training-induced changes in aerobic endurance are reflected by changes in the slope, but not the y-intercept of the CP function. Twelve healthy, active, but untrained male students (mean age +/- SD = 19.1 +/- 0.8 yr) undertook 8 wk of cycle ergometer endurance training (30-40 min a day, three times a week) at an intensity corresponding to their CP. Six control subjects of similar age and initial training status refrained from regular exercise for the same period. Before and immediately following the training period, each of the 18 participants completed three cycle ergometer tests to determine their CP function, an incremental exercise task to establish their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and 40 min of continuous cycle ergometry at or near their calculated CP. CP was significantly correlated with endurance time at 270 W (r = 0.65, P < 0.05) and with the mean power that could be maintained for 40 min (r = 0.87-0.95, P < 0.01), but overestimated the latter by less than 6%. In response to endurance training, CP increased from a mean of 196 +/- 40.9 W to 255 +/- 28.4 W (31%) (ANCOVA, P < 0.01), while the mean power output maintained for 40 min of exercise increased from 190 +/- 34.5 W to 242 +/- 34.9 W (28%). VO2max increased from 49.2 +/- 7.8 ml.kg-1.min-1 to 53.4 +/- 6.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 (8.5%) (P < 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A review of hydrogen applications: technical and economic aspects

This paper aims to investigate the economic and technical aspects related to the use of hydrogen, particularly in fuel cells, focusing on both energy and environmental impacts as decisional factors. The study has examined the overall chain, from hydrogen production (mainly through electrolysis and gas reforming) to electric energy production, in order to point out energy efficiency and energy costs of the different phases of the chain. A range of fuel cells from few to thousands of kW of electric power has been considered.
Binding of myc proteins to canonical and noncanonical DNA sequences

Using an in vitro binding-site selection assay, we have demonstrated that c-Myc-Max complexes bind not only to canonical CACGTG or CATGTG motifs that are flanked by variable sequences but also to noncanonical sites that consist of an internal CG or TG dinucleotide in the context of particular variations in the CA--TG consensus. None of the selected sites contain an internal TA dinucleotide, suggesting that Myc proteins necessarily bind asymmetrically in the context of a CAT half-site. The noncanonical sites can all be bound by proteins of the Myc-Max family but not necessarily by the related CACGTG- and CATGTG-binding proteins USF and TFE3. Substitution of an arginine that is conserved in these proteins into MyoD (MyoD-R) changes its binding specificity so that it recognizes CACGTG instead of the MyoD cognate sequence (CAGCTG). However, like USF and TFE3, MyoD-R does not bind to all of the noncanonical c-Myc-Max sites. Although this R substitution changes the internal dinucleotide specificity of MyoD, it does not significantly alter its wild-type binding sequence preferences at positions outside of the CA--TG motif, suggesting that it does not dramatically change other important amino acid-DNA contacts; this observation has important implications for models of basic-helix-loop-helix protein-DNA binding.
Correlation between cystometric volumes, ATP release, and pH in women with overactive bladder versus controls

In the bladder, ATP is an important signaling molecule, which is released by bladder stretch and acid. We hypothesized that ATP might play a unique role in patients with OAB, characterized by low bladder volumes at first desire to void (FDV) and maximal cystometric capacity (MCC) and symptoms of frequency/urgency [mild bladder pain syndrome (BPS)]. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between ATP release and urodynamic parameters, as well as urine pH, in OAB patients.
Generalized Selection Weighted Vector Filters

This paper introduces a class of nonlinear multichannel filters capable of removing impulsive noise in color images. The here-proposed generalized selection weighted vector filter class constitutes a powerful filtering framework for multichannel signal processing. Previously defined multichannel filters such as vector median filter, basic vector directional filter, directional-distance filter, weighted vector median filters, and weighted vector directional filters are treated from a global viewpoint using the proposed framework. Robust order-statistic concepts and increased degree of freedom in filter design make the proposed method attractive for a variety of applications. Introduced multichannel sigmoidal adaptation of the filter parameters and its modifications allow to accommodate the filter parameters to varying signal and noise statistics. Simulation studies reported in this paper indicate that the proposed filter class is computationally attractive, yields excellent performance, and is able to preserve fine details and color information while efficiently suppressing impulsive noise. This paper is an extended version of the paper by Lukac et al. presented at the 2003 IEEE-EURASIP Workshop on Nonlinear Signal and Image Processing (NSIP '03) in Grado, Italy.
Decreased Neuraminidase Activity Is Important for the Adaptation of H5N1 Influenza Virus to Human Airway Epithelium

ABSTRACT Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses remain a pandemic threat. Antiviral drugs such as neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors will be crucial for disease control in the event of a pandemic. Should drug-resistant H5N1 viruses develop, all defense strategies will be compromised. To determine the likelihood and mechanisms of emergence of NA inhibitor-resistant H5N1 variants in humans, we serially passaged two H5N1 viruses, A/Hong Kong/213/03 and A/Turkey/65-1242/06, in normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells in the presence of oseltamivir, zanamivir, or peramivir. To monitor the emergence of changes associated with the adaptation of H5N1 viruses to humans, we passaged the strains in the absence of drugs. Under pressure of each NA inhibitor, A/Turkey/65-1242/06 developed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) (H28R and P194L/T215I) and NA (E119A) proteins that reduced virus binding to α2,3-sialyl receptor and NA activity. Oseltamivir pressure selected a variant of A/Hong Kong/213/03 virus with HA P194S mutation that decreased viral binding to α2,6 receptor. Under peramivir pressure, A/Hong Kong/213/03 virus developed a novel NA mutation, R156K, that reduced binding to all three drugs, caused about 90% loss of NA activity, and compromised replication in NHBE cells. Both strains were eliminated in NHBE cells when they were cultivated in the absence of drugs. Here, we show for the first time that decreased NA activity mediated through NA inhibitors is essential for the adaptation of pandemic H5N1 influenza virus to humans. This ability of decreased NA activity to promote H5N1 infection underlines the necessity to optimize management strategies for a plausible H5N1 pandemic.
Quantitative metadata on e-government ontologies in the oeGov repository

Ontologies play an important role in Semantic Web (SW) applications. However, it is costly and time consuming to build new ontologies de novo. One solution is to reuse existing ontologies when developing SW applications. To this end, TopGuadrant has launched the oeGov ontology repository to store and share a number of e-government ontologies of the US government. However, at present, the oeGov repository does not provide quantitative metadata on these ontologies to give an idea of their scales or sizes. This study uses online ontology documentation tools to iteratively gather quantitative metadata including the number of classes, properties and instances of the e-government ontologies in the oeGov repository. The analysis of these metadata revealed that only the 3 top level ontologies in the oeGov architecture are complete ontologies; the majority of the constituents of the oeGov are instances or datasets of the top level ontologies. These quantitative metadata further revealed that the bigger top level ontology in the oeGov is the government ontology (gov) with 151 classes, 72 properties and 24 instances, follows by the geopolitical ontology (geopolitical) with 11 classes, 101 properties and 312 instances. This metadata information may be useful for understanding the basic characteristics of these ontologies for their reuse in the e-government community.
Digital synchronous current control of Power Electronic Building Block in modular converters

The large number of high power conversion applications has brought to the development of complex power converter configurations. A wide class of such converters are based on Power Electronic Building Block (PEBB) constituted of two level modules. Modulation strategies can take advantage of the modularity of these power converter topologies proposing modular and general control strategies. The present paper proposes a predictive current tracking, constant frequency, controlled phase modulation algorithm based on PEBB concept. Simulation tests validate the proposed control strategy.
Human capital and labor: the effect of entrepreneur characteristics on venture success

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a unique perspective on the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work for the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture success. To this end, this study examined whether entrepreneurs with high human capital work harder than entrepreneurs with low human capital, the effect of entrepreneurs’ hard work on venture performance, and whether entrepreneurs’ hard work mediates the relationship between entrepreneur human capital and venture performance.Design/methodology/approachIn this explorative study, the role of entrepreneurs’ hard work as a mediator that transfers entrepreneur human capital into venture success was examined in a sample of 2,648 single-founder startups in the USA and 21,184 observations during the period of 2004-2011.FindingsThe effect of entrepreneurs’ industry experience on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly positive, while the effect of entrepreneurs’ general education on entrepreneurs’ hard work was significantly negative. Moreover, entrepreneurs’ hard work was a significant predictor of venture success. Finally, the results showed that entrepreneurs’ hard work partially mediates the positive relationship between entrepreneurs’ industry experience and venture success.Originality/valueOn one hand, the link between human capital and firm performance has been studied thoroughly and findings so far support the positive link between them. On the other hand, there has been continuous criticism that human capital gained much of its attention at the expense of human labor. There is a paucity of research, however, that investigating the dynamics of the relationships between human capital and human labor. This study provides an empirical explanation of such dynamics of the relationships of human characteristics in the context of entrepreneurship.
Generation of the Single Chain Antibody Fragment Conserves the Idiotypic Profile of the Anti‐CD30 Monoclonal Antibody HRS3

Recombinant single chain antibody fragments (scFv) derived by combining immunoglobulin VL and VH regions provide valuable antibody‐like reagents. A number of them are shown to have retained the antigen specificity of the parental monoclonal antibody (MoAb). Little is known about the idiotypic profile of scFv fragments compared with that of the parental MoAb. To address this question we analysed the idiotypic profile of a scFv that was derived by phage‐display techniques from the anti‐CD30 MoAb HRS3.We assayed (i) binding of HRS3‐scFv to recombinant CD30‐Fc antigen and to four different anti‐idiotypic MoAbs defining at least three different idiotopes on HRS3, and (ii) cross‐competition with the parental MoAb HRS3 and the closely related anti‐CD30 MoAb HRS4. The assays revealed that the HRS3‐scFv fragment exhibits the same specificity for both CD30 antigen and the tested anti‐idiotypic MoAbs compared with the parental MoAb demonstrating that the recombinant scFv fragment has retained the complete idiotope of the parental MoAb.
Anti-hypertensive dose-response effects of nicardipine in stable essential hypertension.

The dose-response effects of oral nicardipine on the systemic blood pressure were examined in 54 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension (DBP greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg). The study was designed in four sequential stages. A 2 week single-blind placebo run-in period was followed by dose titration with nicardipine at 2 week intervals. Patients achieving the target DBP less than or equal to 95 mm Hg were then crossed over to placebo for 2 weeks, following which the previous dose of nicardipine was readministered for 6 weeks. Forty-eight patients completed the dose-titration phase. The target DBP 95 mm Hg was achieved in 33; in eight after 10 mg three times daily, in 21 after 20 mg three times daily, in three after 30 mg three times daily and in one after 40 mg three times daily. In the 48 patients, systolic blood pressure was reduced from 188 +/- 25 to 158 +/- 21 mm Hg (P less than 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure from 111 +/- 9 to 93 +/- 13 mm Hg (P less than 0.001); heart rate increased from 81 +/- 7 to 87 +/- 13 beats min-1 (P less than 0.01). Thirty-one of the 33 patients completed the crossover to placebo, which was accompanied by a significant increase towards pretreatment blood pressure levels. Reinstitution of nicardipine at the previous dose resulted in a reduction of SBP and DBP to levels not significantly different from those at the end of the dose-titration stage. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Periparturient changes in intake, ruminal capacity, and digestive characteristics in beef cows consuming alfalfa hay.

Four multiparous, ruminally fistulated Angus x Hereford cows (average BW = 568 kg) were bred to the same bull and used to monitor periparturient changes in DMI, ruminal capacity, and digestion and fermentation characteristics. Cows were individually fed alfalfa hay (16.0% CP, 51.3% NDF) at 130% of the average DMI of the previous 5-d period. Ruminal capacity and DM fill were measured once every 2 wk by removing the ruminal contents from each cow and filling the empty rumen with water. Dry matter intake was measured daily. Ruminal VFA, pH, NH3, and total tract DM digestibility (DMD) were measured during three 7-d periods (average of 58 d before calving, 16 d before calving, and 25 d after calving). Ruminal capacity and DM fill varied in a quadratic manner (P < .01); both were least 6 d before calving. Forage DMI (quadratic effect; P = .02) increased moderately during the prepartum period but increased dramatically after parturition. Although postpartum (d 22) ruminal capacity was only 5% greater than at 61 d before calving, postpartum DMI was 69% greater than DMI measured 61 d before calving. Indigestible ADF (IADF) passage rate changed quadratically with period (P = .01); the greatest IADF passage rate was observed 6 d before calving. Ruminal VFA (mM) also tended to change quadratically (P = .08); the highest concentrations occurred 25 d after calving. The acetate:propionate ratio declined linearly with period (P = .01). Ruminal fluid dilution rate, pH, NH3, and DMD did not change significantly over time. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nociception modulation by supraspinal group III metabotropic glutamate receptors

The modulatory actions of glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), are exerted through the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Of the eight known mGluRs (mGluR1–8), group III mGluRs (mGluR4, mGluR6, mGluR7, and mGluR8) are less understood because of the lack of selective ligands. Except for mGluR6, group III mGluRs are widely distributed throughout the CNS. They are mainly located on presynaptic terminals where they inhibit neurotransmitter release at glutamatergic and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic synapses. Their location at certain synapses is considered critical for normal CNS function, which makes them potential targets in neurological and psychiatric treatments. Novel ligands that are selective for group III mGluR subtypes have recently been developed. These compounds, which mainly target allosteric sites and act as positive or negative allosteric modulators (PAMs or NAMs) of glutamate transmission, are contributing to the understanding of the functional roles of group III mGluRs in a number of pathological conditions, such as epilepsy, anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic pain. Moreover, the presence of group III mGluRs throughout the entire pain neuraxis and particularly in the descending system suggests that these endogenous substrates that extend from the cortex to the first spinal synapse are candidates for pain control. Recent data on chronic pain alleviation by group III mGluR ligands encourage further studies as pathological pain is one of the most troublesome diseases because of the current lack of satisfactory therapy. This review summarizes recent studies on group III mGluRs in animal models of chronic pain, which evidence an opposite modulation of mGluR7 and mGluR8 on pain responses and their capability to affect pain responses only in pathological states.