Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apigenin (4‘,5,7‐trihydroxyflavone) regulates hyperglycaemia, thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation in alloxan‐induced diabetic mice

The potential of apigenin (4′,5,7‐trihydroxyflavone) in regulating hyperglycaemia, thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation (LPO) has been revealed. While in alloxan‐treated diabetic animals, a significant decrease in the concentrations of serum insulin, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), with a parallel increase in serum glucose and hepatic glucose‐6‐phospatase (G‐6‐Pase) activity, was observed, administration of 0.78 mg kg−1 of apigenin for 10 consecutive days increased the levels of serum insulin and thyroid hormones with a parallel decrease in glucose concentration and hepatic G‐6‐Pase activity. Alloxan‐induced elevation in serum cholesterol was also reduced by the compound. With respect to LPO, while in alloxan‐treated animals an increase in hepatic LPO and a decrease in the activity of cellular antioxidants, such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and in glutathione (GSH) content was observed, administration of apigenin to alloxan‐treated mice reversed all these changes, suggesting its hepatoprotective potential. Similar effects of apigenin were also observed in most of the parameters in normoglycaemic animals. It appears that apigenin has a potential to regulate diabetes mellitus, as well as disease‐induced thyroid dysfunction and lipid peroxidation.
The pyrophilic primate hypothesis

Members of genus Homo are the only animals known to create and control fire. The adaptive significance of this unique behavior is broadly recognized, but the steps by which our ancestors evolved pyrotechnic abilities remain unknown. Many hypotheses attempting to answer this question attribute hominin fire to serendipitous, even accidental, discovery. Using recent paleoenvironmental reconstructions, we present an alternative scenario in which, 2 to 3 million years ago in tropical Africa, human fire dependence was the result of adapting to progressively fire‐prone environments. The extreme and rapid fluctuations between closed canopy forests, woodland, and grasslands that occurred in tropical Africa during that time, in conjunction with reductions in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, changed the fire regime of the region, increasing the occurrence of natural fires. We use models from optimal foraging theory to hypothesize benefits that this fire‐altered landscape provided to ancestral hominins and link these benefits to steps that transformed our ancestors into a genus of active pyrophiles whose dependence on fire for survival contributed to its rapid expansion out of Africa.
Association between risk factors and carotid enlargement.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of conventional cardiovascular risk factors on the degree of adaptive response of the carotid arterial wall to atherosclerotic disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We evaluated the diameter and intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA) by ultrasonography in 351 men aged 70.3 (range, 14-97) years and 474 women aged 75.6 (range, 19-103) years in the medical department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital. We assessed cross-sectionally the relationships between CCA diameter and IMT and cardiovascular risk factors by gender. RESULTS In multiple linear regression analyses, after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, a significant correlation was found between CCA diameters and age (p=0.034), body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001), smoking status (p=0.039), alcohol consumption (<0.001) and uric acid (UA) (p=0.021) in men, and between CCA diameters and age (<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.013) and antihypertensive drug use (p=0.005) in women. Analysis of covariance showed that the two regression lines between carotid IMT and diameter in those with or without plaque were significantly different in both men (F=16.4; p<0.001) and women (F=15.0; p<0.001). After adjustment for carotid IMT and plaque, associations with carotid diameters still persisted for age (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), smoking status (p=0.006), alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and SBP (p=0.001) in men, and age (p=0.005), BMI (p<0.001), SBP (p=0.047) and UA (p=0.001) in women. CONCLUSION This study shows that the CCA diameters correlated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors including alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that the CCA diameters may reflect the ability of adaptive remodeling to the atherosclerosis before plaque formation and can be an important factor during the development of atherosclerosis.
NMP22 is a sensitive, cost-effective test in patients at risk for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE The early diagnosis of bladder cancer is central to its effective treatment. This study was designed to determine the clinical use of NMP22 as a urinary marker for the early detection of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in patients with hematuria or other indications at risk for malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of the NMP22 test were compared with urinary cytology, and the results of both tests were then compared to cystoscopic findings. We also determined if NMP22 provided a cost advantage over our current modalities in our patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Each patient submitted a single voided urine which was divided in 2 parts, of which 1 was stabilized with the NMP22 urine collection kit and 1 was preserved in the appropriate cytology medium for cytopathological testing. All patients provided the urine samples before cystoscopic examination. Of the 330 patients 114 (34.5%) presented with microscopic hematuria and 66 (20.4%) with gross hematuria. Other indications for cystoscopy included atypical cytology or unexplained voiding symptoms refractory to medical therapy. RESULTS There were 18 patients with biopsy confirmed bladder cancer and 312 with benign conditions of the bladder. Median NMP22 value for the malignant bladder tumors was 31.6 units per ml. (95% confidence interval 13.4 to 90.9) and 4.3 units per ml. (3.8 to 4.8) for benign conditions of the bladder. The urinary NMP22 values in the bladder cancer group were significantly higher than those in the benign condition group (p <0.001). The sensitivity of NMP22 was 100% with a specificity of 85% at a reference value of 10.0 units per ml. , while cytology had a sensitivity of only 33% and specificity of 100%. Given a negative predictive value of 100% for NMP22, a cost savings of $28,302 to $111,072 (depending on the type of insurance carrier) would have been achieved if it was used alone as the indication for cystoscopy. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that urinary NMP22 is a simple, noninvasive, cost-effective marker for the detection of bladder cancer.
Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, and HIV Among Low-Income Women

This article focuses on the intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV), substance use, and HIV status among a sample of low-income urban women (n = 611). Differences emerged by drug type, categorization of IPV, and HIV status. Rates of IPV did not differ between HIV-negative and HIV-positive women, but differing rates of substance use were found to be highly significant. The relationship between IPV and drug use appeared to be stronger for HIV-negative women. Descriptive data capturing temporal relationships between substance abuse and IPV support continued examination of types of IPV separately. These findings indicate the need to create comprehensive intervention strategies to address all three issues.
A jackknife estimator of variance for Cox regression for correlated survival data.

Studies in the health sciences often give rise to correlated survival data. Wei, Lin, and Weissfeld (1989, Journal of the American Statistical Association 84, 1065-1073) and Lee, Wei, and Amato (1992, in Survival Analysis: State of the Art) showed that, if the marginal distributions of the correlated survival times follow a proportional hazards model, then the estimates from Cox's partial likelihood (Cox, D.R., 1972, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B 24, 187-220), naively treating the correlated survival times as independent, give consistent estimates of the relative risk parameters. However, because of the correlation between survival times, the inverse of the information matrix may not be a consistent estimate of the asymptotic variance. Wei et al. (1989) and Lee et al. (1992) proposed a robust variance estimate that is consistent for the asymptotic variance. We show that a "one-step" jackknife estimator of variance is asymptotically equivalent to their variance estimator. The jackknife variance estimator may be preferred because an investigator needs only to write a simple loop in a computer package instead of a more involved program to compute Wei et al. (1989) and Lee et al.'s (1992) estimator.
Pushing the Limits of Task Difficulty for the Right and Left Hands in Manual Aiming

The effects of task difficulty on the performance of the two hands in right-handers were examined in a manual-aiming paradigm. In order to examine both simple and complex tasks, movement amplitude, cursor size, and target size were manipulated, resulting in eight different indices of difficulty (as defined by Fitts' Law). Kinematic parameters examined included reaction time, movement time, time to and time after peak velocity, peak velocity, and resultant accuracy. Analysis revealed no differential effects of task difficulty on the overall movement times of the two hands. These results are discussed in light of current theories of manual asymmetries.
Size effects on the nanomechanical properties of cellulose I nanocrystals

The ultimate properties of a fibrous composite system depend highly on the transverse mechanical properties of the fibers. Here, we report the size dependency of transverse elastic modulus in cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). In addition, the mechanical properties of CNCs prepared from wood and cotton resources were investigated. Nanoindentation in an atomic force microscope (AFM) was used in combination with analytical contact mechanics modeling (Hertz model) and finite element analysis (FEA) to estimate the transverse elastic moduli ( E _t) of CNCs. FEA modeling estimated the results more accurately than the Hertz model. Based on the AFM-FEA calculations, wood CNCs had higher transverse elastic moduli in comparison to the cotton CNCs. Additionally, E _t was shown to increase with a reduction in the CNCs’ diameter. This size-scale effect was related to the I_α/I_β ratio and crystalline structure of CNCs.
Surface-related phase noise in SAW resonators

With the advent of nanotechnologies, electronic devices are shrinking in thickness and width to reduce mass and, thereby, increase frequency and speed. Lithographic approaches are capable of creating metal connections with thickness and lateral dimensions down to about 20 nm, approaching the molecular scale. As a result, the dimensions of outer particles are comparable with, or even larger than, those of active or passive regions in electronics devices. Therefore, directing our attention toward the effect of surface fluctuations is of practical significance. In fact, electronic device surface-related phenomena have already received more and more attention as device size decreases. In connection with surface phase noise, selection of a suitable device with high surface sensitivity is important. In this paper, high Q-value surface acoustic wave resonators were employed because of their strong sensitivity to surface perturbation. Phase noise in SAW resonators related to surface particle motion has been examined both theoretically and experimentally. This kind of noise has been studied from the point of view of a stochastic process resulting from particle molecular adsorption and desorption. Experimental results suggest that some volatile vapors can change flicker noise 1/f and random walk noise 1/f/sup 2/. An analysis has been made indicating that these effects are not associated with Q value variation, but are generated by the change in the dynamic rate of adsorption and desorption of surface particles. Research on particle motion above the device substrate might explain the differences observed from the model based only on the substrate itself. Results might lead to a better understanding of the phase noise mechanism in micro-electronic devices and help us to build oscillators with improved performance.
Perceived academic quality and approaches to studying in the health professions

Background: Students in higher education may adopt different approaches to studying, depending upon their perceptions of the academic quality of their courses and programmes, and both are likely to depend upon the nature of the curricula to which they are exposed. Aims: Perceptions of quality and approaches to studying were investigated in students taking pre-registration programmes in a school of health professions. Two of the programmes were 3-year undergraduate programmes with subject-based curricula, and two were 2-year entry-level masters programmes with problem-based curricula. Method: The Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and the Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (RASI) were administered to the students within a single survey. Their teachers were also surveyed with regard to their beliefs and intentions about teaching. Results: The teachers on the two kinds of programme exhibited similar beliefs and intentions about teaching. However, the students on the masters programmes produced higher ratings than did the students on the undergraduate programmes with regard to the appropriateness of their assessment, the acquisition of generic skills and the emphasis on student independence. The students on the masters programmes were also more likely to show a deep approach to studying and less likely to show a surface approach to studying than were the students on the undergraduate programmes. Conclusions: The CEQ and the RASI provide complementary evidence for use in research, in quality assurance and in quality enhancement. In comparison with subject-based curricula, problem-based curricula seem to enhance students’ perceptions of their programmes and the quality of their learning. Practice points Evaluations of academic programmes in the health professions need to take into account students’ perceptions of academic quality and the approaches to studying that they adopt. The CEQ and the RASI can be recommended for use as research instruments and together provide complementary evidence for use in quality assurance and quality enhancement. The introduction of problem-based curricula in the health professions can enhance students’ perceptions of the quality of their programmes and the quality of their learning.
Endowing T cells with antibody specificity using chimeric T cell receptors

T cells recognize antigen in the form of a peptide associated with a cell surface molecule encoded by the major histocompatibility gene complex (MHC). The elaborate requirements for the T cell receptor (TCR)‐antigen interaction stand in contrast to the simple and defined nature of the antigenic determinants recognized by antibodies. The similarity in the molecular structure and gene organization between antibodies and the TCR has prompted attempts to interchange the antigen‐binding, variable regions of these molecules. To this end, chimeric TCR (cTCR) genes, composed of the variable domains of antibodies linked to TCR constant regions, have been used to confer antibody‐type specificity on T cells. cTCR‐expressing T cells respond to stimulator cells as well as to immobilized antigen in an MHC unrestricted and independent manner. The antibody‐like specificity of the resulting T cells has been exploited, using defined ligands, to elucidate the physicochemical parameters that govern TCR‐mediated signaling, and to provide a useful experimental system to study the role of MHC and cell‐adhesion/accessory molecules in T cell activation. The successful expression of such cTCR in transgenic mice opens new avenues to explore the role of the MHC in T cell development and maturation. Eventually, chimeric receptors specific to tumor or viral antigens might be used for in vivo targeting of T cells in the framework of immuno‐ and gene therapy. — Gross, G. ; Eshhar, Z. Endowing T cells with antibody specificity using chimeric T cell receptors. FASEB J. 6: 3370‐3378; 1992.
Role of Hepatocyte-Derived IL-7 in Maintenance of Intrahepatic NKT Cells and T Cells and Development of B Cells in Fetal Liver

The liver contains a variety of resident immune cells, such as NK cells, NKT cells, T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. However, little is known about how IL-7, which is produced by hepatocytes, functions locally in development and maintenance of liver immune cells. To address this question, we established IL-7–floxed mice and crossed them with albumin promoter-driven Cre (Alb-Cre) transgenic mice to establish conditional knockout of IL-7 in hepatocytes. The levels of IL-7 transcripts were reduced 10-fold in hepatocyte fraction. We found that the absolute numbers of NKT and T cells were significantly decreased in adult liver of IL-7f/f Alb-Cre mice compared with IL-7f/f control mice. In contrast, NK cells, dendritic cells, and B cells were unchanged in the IL-7f/f Alb-Cre liver. The number of Vα14+ invariant NKT cells was significantly reduced in liver, but not in thymus and spleen, of IL-7f/f Alb-Cre mice. Furthermore, B cell development was impaired in perinatal liver of IL-7f/f Alb-Cre mice. This study demonstrates that hepatocyte-derived IL-7 plays an indispensable role in maintenance of NKT and T cells in adult liver and development of B cells in fetal liver, and suggests that hepatocytes provide a unique IL-7 niche for intrahepatic lymphocytes.
Interictal oscillations and focal epileptic disorders

Neuronal network oscillations represent a main feature of the brain activity recorded in the EEG under normal and pathological conditions such as epilepsy. Specific oscillations occur between seizures in patients and in animal models of focal epilepsy, and thus, they are termed interictal. According to their shape and intrinsic signal frequency, interictal oscillations are classified as spikes and high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs). Interictal spikes are recorded in the ‘wideband’ EEG signal and consist of large‐amplitude events that usually last less than 1 s; HFOs, in contrast, are extracted by amplifying the appropriately filtered EEG signal and are usually categorized as ripples (80–200 Hz) and fast ripples (250–500 Hz). Interictal spikes and HFOs are used in clinical practice to localize the seizure onset zone in focal epileptic disorders, which is fundamental for performing successful surgical interventions in epileptic patients not responding to anti‐epileptic drug therapy. Both types of interictal oscillations have been widely studied in animal models of focal epilepsy to identify the mechanisms underlying their generation as well as to establish their role in ictogenesis and epileptogenesis. In this review, we will address the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation of interictal spikes and HFOs in animal models of epileptiform synchronization and of focal epilepsy. Moreover, we will highlight in vitro and in vivo evidence indicating that these interictal oscillations mirror specific, dynamic changes in neuronal network excitability causing seizure generation (i.e. ictogenesis) and leading to a chronic epileptic condition (i.e. epileptogenesis).
Depth-Discrepancy-Compensated Inter-Prediction With Adaptive Segment Management for Multiview Depth Video Coding

One of the most frequently encountered problems in multiview depth video coding (MDVC) is the relatively low temporal and inter-view correlations when compared to that of multiview color video coding (MCVC). This directly results in degraded performance of the conventional inter-prediction. In this study, we analyze noticeable differences in statistical characteristics between MDVC and MCVC. On the basis of these differences, we propose a new depth-discrepancy compensation (DDC) method with adaptive segment management to alleviate the performance degradation. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs better than the original inter-prediction of JMVC v8.2 in terms of depth bit-savings and synthesized view quality.
A multicarrier QAM modulator for WCDMA base-station with on-chip D/A converter

In this paper, design and implementation of a multicarrier quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator for a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) base-station with a 14-bit on-chip D/A converter is described. The modulator is capable of modulating four carriers with four independent in phase (I) and quadrature (Q) data streams. The proposed modulator structure consists of an interpolation chain for data streams and four digital frequency synthesizer/modulators, which are based on a coordinate rotation digital computer (CORDIC) vector rotation algorithm. The interpolation chain consists of a root-raised cosine pulse shaping filter and three half-band filters for image filtering. The modulated carriers are combined to form a multicarrier WCDMA signal. The SINC-attenuation effect of a digital/analog (D/A) converter is canceled by an inverse-SINC predistortion filter. The multicarrier signal is converted to the analog domain with a 14-bit current steering D/A converter, which is integrated on the same silicon chip. The modulator is implemented with a 0.35-mum BiCMOS process with CMOS transistors only
Imperatoxin A, a Cell-Penetrating Peptide from Scorpion Venom, as a Probe of Ca2+-Release Channels/Ryanodine Receptors.

Scorpion venoms are rich in ion channel-modifying peptides, which have proven to be invaluable probes of ion channel structure-function relationship. We previously isolated imperatoxin A (IpTxa), a 3.7 kDa peptide activator of Ca2+-release channels/ryanodine receptors (RyRs) [1,2,3] and founding member of the calcin family of scorpion peptides. IpTxa folds into a compact, mostly hydrophobic molecule with a cluster of positively-charged, basic residues polarized on one side of the molecule that possibly interacts with the phospholipids of cell membranes. To investigate whether IpTxa permeates external cellular membranes and targets RyRs in vivo, we perfused IpTxa on intact cardiomyocytes while recording field-stimulated intracellular Ca2+ transients. To further investigate the cell-penetrating capabilities of the toxin, we prepared thiolated, fluorescent derivatives of IpTxa. Biological activity and spectroscopic properties indicate that these derivatives retain high affinity for RyRs and are only 5- to 10-fold less active than native IpTxa. Our results demonstrate that IpTxa is capable of crossing cell membranes to alter the release of Ca2+in vivo, and has the capacity to carry a large, membrane-impermeable cargo across the plasma membrane, a finding with exciting implications for novel drug delivery.