Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ischemia-induced STAT-1 Expression and Activation Play a Critical Role in Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis*

We show here that exposure of cardiac cells to simulated ischemia results in apoptosis and is accompanied by phosphorylation and increased expression and transcriptional activity of STAT-1. Similarly, interferon-γ, which is known to induce STAT-1 activation, also induced apoptosis in cardiac cells. STAT-1-transfected cells were more susceptible to ischemia-induced cell death than cells transfected with a control plasmid lacking the STAT-1 coding sequence. Furthermore, an antisense STAT-1 vector reduced both ischemia- and overexpressed STAT-1-induced cell death in cardiac cells. Both STAT-1 overexpression and interferon-γ treatment or exposure to ischemia activated the promoter of the pro-apoptotic caspase-1 gene in cardiomyocytes. Finally, ischemia/reperfusion also induced STAT-1 activation and caspase-1 processing in ventricular myocytes in the intact heart ex vivo. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated an increase in STAT-1-positive staining in cardiomyocytes in response to ischemia/reperfusion that co-localized with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dVTP nick end-labeling-positive apoptotic cells. These results suggest that STAT-1 plays a critical role in the regulation of ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in cardiac cells, acting at least in part via a caspase-1 activation-dependent pathway.
Sacrificial Pseudoreplication in LEED Cross-Certification Strategy Assessment: Sampling Structures

The study aims to suggest sampling structures to avoid sacrificial pseudoreplication in the evaluation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified projects. The sampling includes two structures that exclude sacrificial pseudoreplication and one structure that leads to sacrificial pseudoreplication: (i) The state is the sampling frame in which LEED projects are treated as primary sampling units; (ii) The US is the sampling frame, the state is the primary sampling unit in which LEED projects are treated as evaluation units; and (iii) The US is the sampling frame in which LEED projects are pooled from different states and treated as primary sampling units. The three sampling structures are applied to the evaluation of the Silver-to-Gold cross-certification performances of LEEDv3 for new construction and LEEDv3 for existing buildings. The same cross-certification strategy was revealed if either structure (i) or structure (ii) was applied, while it was poorly estimated and misinterpreted if structure (iii) was applied, i.e., sacrificial pseudoreplication had occurred.
Lung function after open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Postoperative lung function and gas exchange were studied in 36 patients after cholecystectomy. Twenty‐four of the patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy while the remaining twelve were operated with open technique. Before surgery all patients had normal ventilatory volumes (forced vital capacity, FVC and forced expired volume in 1 s, FEV1) and normal gas exchange. Two hours postoperativley FVC was reduced to 64±16% (P<0.05) of the preoperative level in the laparoscopic group and to 45±23% (P<0.05) after open cholecystecomy. On the first postoperative day FVC was virtually normal in the laparoscopic patients (77±17% of preoperative level, NS), whereas the open surgery patients still had a decreased FVC (56±13% of preoperative, P<0.05). FEV1 in the postoperative period followed the same course as FVC. Gas exchange was significantly impaired in the early postoperative period in all patients but no difference between the two groups was found. Two hours postoperatively Pao2 was reduced to 85% (P<0.05) of preoperative value and Paco2 had increased by 0.5 kPa (p<0.05). The alveolo‐arterial oxygen tension difference (PA‐ao2) had increased by approximately 45% to a mean of 3.7 kPa (P<0.05). On the first postoperative day gas exchange was still significantly impaired in the open surgery patients. Atelectasis detected by computed X‐ray tomography of the lungs were found in both groups. However, the amount of atelectasis tended to be smaller in the laparoscopic group than in the open surgery patients.
Glutathione reductase, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase, glutathione levels, and lipid peroxidation in freshwater bivalves, Unio tumidus, as biomarkers of aquatic contamination in field studies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of antioxidant parameters in the freshwater bivalve, Unio tumidus, as biomarkers of exposure to pollutants and to study their potential interest in predicting toxicity. Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx), non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (non-Se-GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities; reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione levels; and lipid peroxidation were measured in the gills and digestive glands of Unio. Control mussels were encaged and transplanted for 15 and 30 days to sites where the contamination of sediments was analyzed, along a river receiving domestic and industrial sources of pollution. After 15 days of exposure, all antioxidant parameters of the bivalves transferred to the most polluted sites had strongly decreased compared with control values. This was particularly true for Se-GPx and GRd activities, which were inhibited by 60 and 80% in the two tissues, and for GSH levels (80% reduction in the gills and 60% in digestive glands). These decreases were associated in the gills with lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde content) and with a high level of contamination of sediments by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls. In the mussels exposed at the least polluted sites, the same parameters decreased in the gills, but to a lesser extent: 50% for Se-GPx and 32% for GRd activities, and 45% for GSH levels. The gills appeared more sensitive than the digestive glands. After 30 days of exposure, while Se-GPx, GRd, and GSH remained reduced, a significant induction of non-Se-GPx and catalase activities was recorded in the gills, which reflected an adaptation of the transplanted species to their unsafe environment. All the results indicated that antioxidant defense components, namely, Se-GPx, GRd, and GSH, are sensitive parameters that could be useful biomarkers for the evaluation of contaminated aquatic ecosystems. The relationship between the degree of deficiency of antioxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation suggests that these parameters could also be biomarkers for toxicity.
THE INNOVATIVE SECURITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM

The innovative provision of sustainable development of the ecological and economic system in the article is devoted. The main problems and questions on creation and development of innovative infrastructure, expansion of innovative activity and development of innovative enterprises are analyzed. The interrelation and interaction between innovation activity and sustainable development of the ecological and economic system are revealed. The methodological approaches and tools for providing an innovative basis for sustainable development of the ecological and economic system are considered. The importance of activating innovation activity in Azerbaijan with further intensification of innovative activities to ensure sustainable development of the ecological and economic system in the country in the context of strengthening global influences is generalized and substantiated at the end of the article.
Rapid Report: An ATP-sensitive K+ conductance in dissociated neurones from adult rat intracardiac ganglia

An ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) conductance has been identified using the perforated patch recording configuration in a population (52%) of dissociated neurones from adult rat intracardiac ganglia. The presence of the sulphonylurea receptor in approximately half of the intracardiac neurones was confirmed by labelling with fluorescent glibenclamide-BODIPY. 2. Under current clamp conditions in physiological solutions, levcromakalim (10 μM) evoked a hyperpolarization, which was inhibited by the sulphonylurea drugs glibenclamide and tolbutamide. 3. Under voltage clamp conditions in symmetrical (140 mM) K+ solutions, bath application of levcromakalim evoked an inward current with a density of ~8 pA pF_1 at _50 mV and a slope conductance of ~9 nS, which reversed close to the potassium equilibrium potential (EK). Cell dialysis with an ATP-free intracellular solution also evoked an inward current, which was inhibited by tolbutamide. 4. Bath application of either glibenclamide (10 μM) or tolbutamide (100 μM) depolarized adult intracardiac neurones by 3-5mV, suggesting that a KATP conductance is activated under resting conditions and contributes to the resting membrane potential. 5. Activation of a membrane current by levcromakalim was concentration dependent with an EC50 of 1.6 μM. Inhibition of the levcromakalim-activated current by glibenclamide was also concentration dependent with an IC50 of 55 nM. 6. Metabolic inhibition with 2,4-dinitrophenol and iodoacetic acid or superfusion with hypoxic solution (PO2 ~16 mmHg) also activated a membrane current. These currents exhibited similar I-V characteristics to the levcromakalim-induced current and were inhibited by glibenclamide. 7. Activation of KATP channels in mammalian intracardiac neurones may contribute to changes in neural regulation of the mature heart and cardiac function during ischaemia- reperfusion.
Influencing People and Technology Using Human Resource Development (HRD) Philosophy

Historically, and notably since Zakaria’s (2010) statement that “technology and globalization are shattering the middle class” in America (p. 31), American workers are continuing to be displaced by the productivity gains of technology and the competition for cheap laborers in a globalized economy. Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals are seeking ways to address rapid, continuous changes in technology and some, unfounded, fears and concerns regarding the influence of globalization on middle class workers. Globalization efforts do not need to equal unemployment for American middle class workers. Globalization can add opportunities for American middle class workers to increase their job prospects by learning new skills including how to leverage technological innovations for their advantage within the global job market. HRD professionals have an opportunity to assist workers with their skill development and improvement. HRD professionals are engaged with workers in training and development, career development, and organization development initiatives (Mankin, 2001; Swanson & Holton, 2001). These initiatives are vital to employee development within organizations and many employees seek training and development opportunities so that they can build successful careers and the ability to adapt to organizational and marketplace changes. Workers are beginning to recover from the Great Recession of 2007 and HRD professionals are tasked with making their employees’ recovery more viable. Aguinis and Kraiger (2009) suggest that there was “[a]n important challenge for the practice of training. to integrate the training function with employee selection, performance, management, rewards, and other human resource practices (Aguinis, 2009; Aguinis & Pierce, 2008; Cascio & Aguinis, 2005)” (p. 467). Their assessment is currently still needed and will be needed for the forseeable future as artificial intelligence using robots, computer technology, simulations, avatars, and other technological innovations are being used to realign and displace workers. The current post-fordism era is associated with significant changes to American culture, organizations, and individuals (Heffernan, 2000). However, the influence of technology on the development of people has rarely been discussed within the HRD research literature (Githens, Dirani, Gitonga, & Teng, 2008; Hughes, 2010; 2012). HRD, a relatively new field of study, has scholars and professionals who are continuously examining and testing its theories and philosophy. Organizations are mutable and strive to succeed through the people and technology in which it Claretha Hughes University of Arkansas, USA
Electromagnetic interference reduction method from handheld resonant magnetic field charger (HH-RMFC) for electric vehicle

The proposed handheld resonant magnetic field charger (HH-RMFC) is a convenient method of charging batteries in electric vehicle (EV) without any electrical contact. With close distance between Tx and Rx windings, high mutual inductance causes large reflected impedance seen by the power source. The large reflected impedance can cause distortion of current flowing through Tx and Rx windings. In frequency-domain, the distortion of current produces large current harmonics, which may have electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues caused by leakage magnetic field. To quantify the distortion of current, the total harmonic distortion (THD) is used. In this paper, the design method for low EMI from the HH-RMFC for EV are proposed and verified using a circuit simulator. The circuit simulation results show that THD of Tx and Rx current is below 5% using proposed method.
Catecholamine‐independent transient expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in primary auditory neurons is coincident with the onset of hearing in the rat cochlea

During the last stages of neuronal maturation, tyrosine hydroxylase is transiently expressed in the absence of the other catecholamine‐synthesizing enzymes. We show here that it is expressed in rat spiral ganglion neurons between postnatal days 8 and 20, with a peak of expression at postnatal day 12. These tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive neurons did not display aromatic amino acid decarboxylase‐ or dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase‐immunoreactivities, ruling out the possibilities of dopamine or noradrenaline synthesis. They also did not display peripherin‐ or intense neurofilament 200‐kDa‐immunoreactivities, two indicators of type II primary auditory neurons. Tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive dendrites were seen in synaptic contact with the inner hair cells and expressed the GluR2 subunit of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid receptors, further confirming the type I nature of the neurons transiently expressing the enzyme. The end of the tyrosine hydroxylase expression was not due to cell death because the immunoreactive neurons did not show TUNEL‐labelled nuclei. Finally, all the type I neurons expressed the tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA at postnatal day 12, suggesting that the expression of the enzyme is a maturational step common to all these neurons and that the expression of the protein is not synchronized. Because the period of transient expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in type I neurons parallels the periods of maturation of evoked exocytosis in inner hair cells and of appearance and maturation of the cochlear potentials, we propose that the expression of the enzyme indicates the onset of hearing in individual type I primary auditory neurons. This enzyme expression could rely on a Ca2+ activation of its encoding gene subsequent to a sudden and massive Ca2+ entry through voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels.
HMGB1 SIGNALS THROUGH TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR (TLR) 4 AND TLR2

ABSTRACT In response to bacterial endotoxin (e.g., LPS) or endogenous proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF and IL-1&bgr;), innate immune cells release HMGB1, a late cytokine mediator of lethal endotoxemia and sepsis. The delayed kinetics of HMGB1 release makes it an attractive therapeutic target with a wider window of opportunity for the treatment of lethal systemic inflammation. However, the receptor(s) responsible for HMGB1-mediated production of proinflammatory cytokines has not been well characterized. Here we demonstrate that in human whole blood, neutralizing antibodies against Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4, but not TLR2 or receptor for advanced glycation end product) dose-dependently attenuate HMGB1-induced IL-8 release. Similarly, in primary human macrophages, HMGB1-induced TNF release is dose-dependently inhibited by anti-TLR4 antibodies. In primary macrophages from knockout mice, HMGB1 activates significantly less TNF release in cells obtained from MyD88 and TLR4 knockout mice as compared with cells from TLR2 knockout and wild-type controls. However, in human embryonic kidney 293 cells transfected with TLR2 or TLR4, HMGB1 effectively induces IL-8 release only from TLR2 overexpressing cells. Consistently, anti-TLR2 antibodies dose-dependently attenuate HMGB1-induced IL-8 release in human embryonic kidney/TLR2-expressing cells and markedly reduce HMGB1 cell surface binding on murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, our data suggest that there is a differential usage of TLR2 and TLR4 in HMGB1 signaling in primary cells and in established cell lines, adding complexity to studies of HMGB1 signaling which was not previously expected.
Predictors of transient congenital hypothyroidism in children with eutopic thyroid gland

Purpose Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common cause of preventable mental retardation. Recently, the detection of CH cases with eutopic thyroid gland has increased due to neonatal screening programs. In this study, we aimed to identify and evaluate predictive factors that could distinguish between permanent and transient CH in patients with eutopic thyroid gland. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 100 children diagnosed with CH and with eutopic thyroid gland. All subjects were treated with levothyroxine and underwent re-evaluation after 3 years of age. Results Of the 100 CH patients, 35 (35.0%) were diagnosed with permanent CH (PCH) and 65 (65.0%) were diagnosed with transient CH (TCH). The initial thyroid stimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in the TCH subjects than in PCH subjects. In addition, the mean doses of levothyroxine (µg/kg/day) at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year of treatment were significantly lower in subjects with TCH than in PCH subjects with eutopic thyroid gland. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cutoff dose of levothyroxine at 3 years of 2.76 µg/kg/day could predict TCH, and was associated with 87.3% sensitivity and 67.6% specificity, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.769. Conclusion The levothyroxine dose requirement during treatment period has a predictive role in differentiating TCH from PCH in CH patients with eutopic thyroid gland.
Comparative study on evaluative measures of search engines

The main concepts of different evaluation forum are to promote the evaluation of information retrieval systems by providing large test collections of structured documents. There are various forum that are working and providing training data in the evaluation of search engines. In the better evaluation of search engines, various important evaluative measures have been used, they are popular statistical measures and automatic approaches which includes Vector space model(VSM), Okapi similarity measure and Cover density ranking(CDR) that have previously been used to evaluate the search engines performance. In this paper, our work intends to discuss the main aspects of various forums and an evaluative measures used in performance evaluation of search engines and provides a comprehensive comparison for statistical methods and automatic methods.
On the clinical spatial resolution achievable with protons and heavier charged particle radiotherapy beams

The ‘sub-millimetre precision’ often claimed to be achievable in protons and light ion beam therapy is analysed using the Monte Carlo code SHIELD-HIT for a broad range of energies. Based on the range of possible values and uncertainties of the mean excitation energy of water and human tissues, as well as of the composition of organs and tissues, it is concluded that precision statements deserve careful reconsideration for treatment planning purposes. It is found that the range of I-values of water stated in ICRU reports 37, 49 and 73 (1984, 1993 and 2005) for the collision stopping power formulae, namely 67 eV, 75 eV and 80 eV, yields a spread of the depth of the Bragg peak of protons and heavier charged particles (carbon ions) of up to 5 or 6 mm, which is also found to be energy dependent due to other energy loss competing interaction mechanisms. The spread is similar in protons and in carbon ions having analogous practical range. Although accurate depth–dose distribution measurements in water can be used at the time of developing empirical dose calculation models, the energy dependence of the spread causes a substantial constraint. In the case of in vivo human tissues, where distribution measurements are not feasible, the problem poses a major limitation. In addition to the spread due to the currently accepted uncertainties of their I-values, a spread of the depth of the Bragg peak due to the varying compositions of soft tissues is also demonstrated, even for cases which could be considered practically identical in clinical practice. For these, the spreads found were similar to those of water or even larger, providing support to international recommendations advising that body-tissue compositions should not be given the standing of physical constants. The results show that it would be necessary to increase the margins of a clinical target volume, even in the case of a water phantom, due to an ‘intrinsic basic physics uncertainty’, adding to those margins usually considered in normal clinical practice due to anatomical or therapeutic strategy reasons. Individualized patient determination of tissue composition along the complete beam path, rather than CT Hounsfield numbers alone, would also probably be required even to reach ‘sub-centimetre precision’.
Psychosocial factors at work and subsequent depressive symptoms in the Gazel cohort.

OBJECTIVE This study attempted to establish whether psychosocial factors at work are predictors of depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort of men and women employed in a wide variety of occupations by the French national company Electricité De France - Gaz De France (EDF-GDF). METHODS This prospective cohort study followed the Gazel cohort by means of annual self-administered questionnaires and independent data obtained from the medical and personnel departments of the company. The self-administered questionnaire, in 1995, provided information about the psychosocial work environment characteristics, psychological job demands, decision latitude, and social support at work. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in the 1996 questionnaire. Potential confounding variables were age, marital status, and number of children, assessed in the 1995 questionnaire, stressful personal and occupational events during the previous 12 months, assessed in the 1996 questionnaire, and educational level, occupation and previous absenteeism for mental disorders, assessed from the independent data provided by EDF-GDF. The subjects were 11 552 workers (8422 men aged 46-56 years in 1995 and 3130 women aged 41-56 years) who answered the 1995 and 1996 questionnaires and were working during this period. RESULTS High levels of psychological demands, low levels of decision latitude, and low levels of social support at work were significant predictors of subsequent depressive symptoms in both the men and the women. These results were unchanged after adjustment for potential confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS The results strongly support the possibility that psychosocial factors at work are predictive of depressive symptoms.