Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ionic basis of action potential prolongation of hypertrophied cardiac myocytes isolated from hypertensive rats of different ages.

OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine the ionic basis of action potential lengthening associated with cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS Action potentials and ionic currents of left ventricular myocytes isolated from normal and hypertrophied hearts were recorded with patch pipettes. Since cardiac hypertrophy is a time dependent process, myocytes isolated from hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of different ages (3 and 18 months old) were compared with those of age matched normotensive controls (Wistar Kyoto rats, WKY). RESULTS Membrane capacitance, an index of cell size, was significantly higher in SHR than WKY. The degree of action potential prolongation was independently correlated with hypertension and its duration, resulting in a statistically significant lengthening of action potential in 18 month old SHR compared to age matched WKY and to 3 month old SHR. ICa,L density was not significantly modified in hypertrophied myocytes compared to normal controls. Depolarising steps positive to -40 mV activated an outward current, which was composed of both transient (ItO) and maintained components (Ilate) and played a major role in controlling repolarisation in rat ventricular myocytes. Ito density was significantly reduced in SHR myocytes compared to age matched WKY and was also smaller in 18 month old compared to 3 month old SHR. Ilate was not statistically different in 3 and 18 month old SHR and WKY. Current-voltage relationships for IK1 were completely superimposable in all groups. CONCLUSIONS Prolongation of action potential in the hypertrophied heart of SHR is due to specific alterations in the repolarising potassium current Ito. The phenomenon is directly related to the duration of hypertension.
Detection and Quantification of Dental Unit Water Line Contamination by Oral Streptococci

Objective. (1) To investigate the prevalence of oral streptococci (OS) and biological indicators of water contamination by oral fluids in water from dental unit water lines (DUWs) by detection and quantification and of saprophytes indigenous to the oral cavity. (2) To test whether measurement of the total cultivable mesophilic flora (TCF), the parameter commonly used to monitor water quality in DUWs, is an effective predictor for OS contamination. Design. Survey of 21 dental units equipped with antiretraction devices. Water samples were collected from air-water syringes, cup fillers, tap water, and before and during the working day. Setting. Units were from 7 public dental offices selected for convenience from among those in proximity of the microbiological laboratory. Methods. For detection of OS, samples were plated on an enriched medium, to revitalize the organisms. Colonies were subcultured on a selective medium and biochemically identified (lower detection limit, 1 cfu/mL). For measurement of the TCF, samples were plated on a nutrient-poor medium. Cultures with colony counts greater than 200 cfu/mL were considered to be TCF positive. The sensitivity and specificity of TCF positivity in predicting OS detection was calculated. Results. Prevalence rates for OS contamination and for TCF positivity were, respectively, 34.4% (11 of 32 samples) and 25.0% (8 of 32 samples) for syringes, 27.8% (10 of 36 samples) and 8.3% (3 of 36 samples) for cup fillers, and 0.0% (0 of 7 samples) for tap water. OS contamination levels ranged from 1 to 6 cfu/mL. No statistically significant differences were found between samples obtained before and during the working day. TCF positivity did not predict OS contamination effectively, because of low sensitivity. Conclusions. Given the absence of OS in tap water, the reported prevalence of OS contamination suggests that oral fluids are aspirated during dental therapy with relatively high frequency and that DUWs can potentially expose successive patients to bloodborne cross-infections.
Isolation and characterization of an Fc receptor from neonatal rat small intestine

Receptors for the Fc region of IgG from neonatal rat intestinal brush borders were solubilized using 3‐[(3‐cholamidopropyl)dimethyl‐ammonio]‐l‐propane sulfonate and purified by affinity chromatography. Analysis of IgG‐binding material by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions reveals two components with apparent Mr of 41 000‐50 000 and 15 000. The larger component is glycosylated and may dimerize, giving a 100‐110‐kDa band on nonreduced gels. Both proteins are localized in the proximal small intestine, where IgG is specifically taken up during the first three weeks of neonatal life, and disappear when specific transport stops after weaning. Electron irradiation of brush borders shows that the functional unit for IgG binding has a molecular weight in sifu of 110 kDa. These data suggest that a dimer of the 41‐50‐kDa protein together with the 15 kDa and other proteins may mediate intestinal transport of maternal IgG.
Toxic effects of fatty acids on yeast cells: Dependence of inhibitory effects on fatty acid concentration

The yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis, and Candida lipolytica were used to investigate the action of different concentrations of fatty aeids (from acetic to myristic acid) on cell growth, division, uptake of inorganic phosphate, and substrate oxidation. The former two yeasts were found to undergo an inhibition of growth, cell division, and phosphate uptake at lower acid concentrations and to experience the inhibition of substrate oxidation at higher acid concentration. The concentration dependence of the action of fatty acids can be classified into four categories: (1) subthreshold concentrations which do not inhibit growth and have either no effect on, or stimulate, oxygen consumption; (2) threshold concentrations which lower the rate of growth, cell division, and phosphate uptake but do not inhibit the oxidation of carbon substrate; (3) above threshold concentrations which inhibit partially even substrate oxidation, and (4) microbicide concentrations. Candida lipolytica displays the Same sensitivity toward the action of fatty acids as the above yeast species; however, the threshold concentrations are higher and can be quickly lowered owing to oxidation by the yeast. The concentrations of fatty acids found in the medium after cultivations of yeast with n ‐alkanes are of the same order as limiting concentrations; the formation of acids with twelve and less carbons in the molecule can thus be assumed to be one of the basic reasons for the lowering of biomass yields during cultivations on these hydrocarbons.
Discovery of Transcription Factor Binding Sites with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Transcription factors are key gene regulators, responsible for modulating the conversion of genetic information from DNA to RNA. Though these factors can be discovered experimentally, computational biologists have become increasingly interested in learning transcription factor binding sites from sequence data computationally. Though traditional machine learning architectures, including support vector machines and regression trees have shown moderately successful results in both simulated and experimental data sets, these models suffer from relatively low classification accuracy, typically measured by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (auROC). Here we show that learning transcription factor binding sites from sequence data is feasible and can be done with high accuracy. We provide a sample CNN architecture that yields greater than 96% auROC. Additionally, we discuss key questions that need to be answered to improve hyperparamter search in this domain.
Estimating the Heterogeneous Response to a Universal Child Benefit Programme: Do Education and Civil Status Play any Role?

This paper evaluates the heterogeneous effect of a universal child benefit of €2,500 introduced unexpectedly in Spain in 2007. We estimate the effect of the reform across different demographic groups. Our findings suggest that the cash benefit increased fertility in the very short-run by 8%, having a special impact on second order births. In addition, we find suggestive evidence that the policy increased fertility in absolute terms (rather than just having an effect on timing of births), as women at the end of their fertile period responded the most. Moreover, our results confirm that the policy had asymmetric effects across education and civil status groups. Due to the rigidity in intergenerational mobility, this heterogeneity in response may have distributional implications for the next generations.
Conductance of the calcium channel in the membrane of snail neurones.

1. Isolated neurones from the snail Helix pomatia were investigated under voltage clamp at 21‐23 degrees C. The cells were internally dialysed and the current through small electrically isolated patches of the membrane was measured. The area of the patches was 30‐500 micrometers 2 (1/1000‐1/100 of the cell surface). The internal resistance of the membrane patches was 10(9)‐10(10) omega. 2. In order to obtain the maximum conductance of the calcium channels an external solution containing 130 mM‐Ba2+ or Ca2+ and an internal solution containing Tris glutamate and 5 mM‐EGTA were used. Fluctuations due to the activity of calcium channels have been detected and analysed. 3. The power density spectra of barium current fluctuations were calculated for conductance values from 3% to 30% of the maximum conductance in the frequency band 1‐1000 Hz. They were fitted to a spectral density function of the Lorentz form. The half‐power frequency of the spectra was 227 +/‐ Hz (S.E.). It did not reveal any distinct voltage dependence. 4. The current flowing through a single calcium channel was calculated from the variance‐to‐mean relationship. Its value for the transfer of Ba2+ ions is iBa = 0.20 +/‐ 0.02 pA (S.E.). Single channel current was not affected by the membrane potential (since the equilibrium potential was high) nor by inactivation. The maximum calcium inward current which flows through a single calcium channel is about 0.1 pA and corresponds to a conductance gamma Ca = 0.5 pS (calculated for an equilibrium potential of 200 mV). This estimate gives an upper limit to gamma Ca. 5. The parameters of calcium channels modified by external EGTA have been evaluated. Measurements were performed in an external solution containing 200 mM‐Na+. The current carried by a single modified calcium channel is iNa = 1.0 +/‐ 0.2 pA (S.E.) (gamma Na approximately 8.0 pS).
Carcinoma lung: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and its surgical management

The aim of this article is to review the surgical management of lung carcinoma. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and a leading cause of death in men and women. By any conventional measure, the enormity of this global problem is immense. In some countries incidence and mortality rates have peaked and are beginning to decline. In many developing nations, the burden of disease is rising and will continue to rise because of aggressive tobacco industry marketing which is leading to a growing prevalence of cigarette smoking. This is also one of the major causes of cancer deaths in our Kashmir valley. The method of literature search was from articles published in PubMed and Google Scholar.
Expansionary and Contractionary Technology Shocks

This paper examines the effects of expansionary technology shocks (shocks that increase labor productivity and factor inputs) as opposed to contractionary technology shocks (shocks that increase labor productivity, but decrease factor inputs). We estimate these two shocks jointly based on a minimum set of identifying restrictions in a structural VAR. We show that most of the business cycle variation of key macroeconomic variables such as output and consumption is driven by expansionary technology shocks. However, contractionary technology shocks are important to understand the variation in labor productivity and production inputs. In addition, these shocks trigger different reactions of certain variables, which can help explain why existing evidence on technology shocks does not deliver clear results. In a simple DSGE model with managerial technology, which is consistent with our identifying restrictions, we interpret contractionary technology shocks as process innovations and motivate the difference to expansionary technology shocks.
Histopathologic changes in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

The pathophysiologic events that lead to the loss of airway compensation in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are poorly understood. The development of airway instability may be secondary to changes in neurologic control, airway morphology, or both. To identify potential histopathologic features of pharyngeal tissues that may contribute to OSA, transverse sections of the distal soft palate and uvula were qualitatively compared using light and electron microscopy from 4 severe apneics (>50 apnea/hour), 4 severe snorers (<20 apnea/hour), and 4 nonsnorers. Light microscopy of both apneics and snorers revealed mucous gland hypertrophy with ductal dilation and focal squamous metaplasia, disruption of muscle bundles by infiltrating mucous glands, focal atrophy of muscle fibers, and extensive edema of the lamina propria with vascular dilation. Severe snorers did not differ qualitatively from apneics in the characteristic changes found; however, some snorers had less extensive changes. No distinctive histopathologic findings could be associated with the development of apnea. Electron microscopy of severe apneics identified frequent focal degeneration of myelinated nerve fibers and axons. The finding of similar histopathologic changes in apneics and severe snorers supports previous speculation of a common etiology not directly related to apnea, such as vibratory trauma to pharyngeal tissues. Degenerative changes in peripheral nerves, identified on electron microscopy, however, may contribute to airway instability and the development of obstructive apnea by impairing pharyngeal reflexes.
Poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) oligosaccharides in glycoproteins of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and sympathetic neurons.

Endo-beta-galactosidase treatment of glycopeptides derived from the trypsinate and membranes of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and cultured sympathetic neurons demonstrated the presence of poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) units on tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharides, some of which have a core fucose residue and a 2,6-substituted alpha-linked mannose residue. Nerve growth factor induced differentiation of the PC12 cells led to a small but significant decrease in the proportion of these oligosaccharides. Poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) oligosaccharides were also identified in a major 230 000-Da cell-surface glycoprotein (the nerve growth factor inducible large external, or NILE, glycoprotein) of PC12 cells and appear to account for much or all of the difference in size between this glycoprotein as compared to the immunochemically cross-reactive 205 000-Da species present in postnatal brain. Glycoproteins containing poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) oligosaccharides were selectively labeled by treatment of PC12 cells with endo-beta-galactosidase to expose N-acetylglucosamine residues, followed by incubation with galactosyltransferase and UDP-[14C]galactose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography revealed the presence of a number of distinct PC12 cell glycoproteins that contain these oligosaccharides and have apparent molecular weights in the range of 25 000-250 000. Treatment of PC12 cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) altered the relative labeling of several of the glycoprotein bands, with a time course similar to the effects of NGF on neurite outgrowth. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Activation of cellular genes in the mucosal epithelium by respiratory syncytial virus: implications in disease and immunity

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and young infants. 2 The pathogenesis of RSV bronchiolitis and pneumonia has not yet been fully clarified. Because RSV manifests an extremely restricted tropism for the respiratory epithelium and spreads only rarely to extramucosal sites, elucidation of the early events in epithelial cells in response to RSV infection should help to clarify the mechanism of RSV bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Recently analysis of the host cell response to infections has focused on the capacity of various bacteria and viruses to activate transcription of different cellular genes. They include genes encoding various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokines, cell adhesion molecules and others. Up-regulation of various nuclear transcription factors, such as NF-kappa B and interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) family, by pathogens has been thought to be an initial key step for these early events. This approach has also been explored with RNA viruses including RSV. Recent studies with experimentally induced infection with RSV in in vivo as well as in vitro settings have demonstrated activation of several genes in the respiratory epithelium, which regulate the synthesis of a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, the expression of cell adhesion molecules and the induction of apoptosis in RSV-infected cells. This information is summarized in this overview.
Embedded Nonvolatile Memory technology

This paper discusses the optimization of embedded Nonvolatile Memories (NVMs) for today's semiconductor applications. Process, design and device technology for embedded NVMs are surveyed, with a focus on bit cell selection, program/erase techniques, and emerging trends in the industry. Split-gate cells employing source-side programming, along with the use of nitride or nanocrystal charge storage, are shown to be good choices for an increasingly broad set of eNVM applications.
Multiphase Coexistence for Aqueous System with Hydrophilic Agent

— Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium (LLE) data are measured for the ternary mixtures of water + 1-butanol + butyl acetate and quaternary mixtures of water + 1-butanol + butyl acetate + glycerol at atmospheric pressure at 313.15 K. In addition, isothermal vapor–liquid–liquid equilibrium (VLLE) data are determined experimentally at 333.15 K. The region of heterogeneity is found to increase as the hydrophilic agent (glycerol) is introduced into the aqueous mixtures. The experimental data are correlated with the NRTL model. The predicted results from the solution model with the model parameters determined from the constituent binaries are also compared with the experimental values.
Importance of surrogate markers in evaluation of antiviral therapy for HIV infection.

CONVENTIONAL randomized clinical trials of new treatments usually rely on clinical end points that directly show the effect of the new treatment on outcomes such as quality or length of life. In chronic diseases, like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, standard clinical end points may be either distant in time or rare, and thus require a trial of long duration, large sample size, or both to demonstrate the value of a new treatment. A surrogate marker for that clinical end point would allow more rapid completion of clinical investigations of new therapies. The use of surrogate markers in evaluating effective therapies for HIV infection has drawn considerable attention. See also pp 158 and 161. A perfect surrogate marker for use in the study of a new therapeutic agent must be biologically plausible, measurable in all patients with the disease, predictive of disease progression (ie, worsening with
Cellular toxicity induced by SRF-mediated transcriptional squelching.

The transcriptional activator serum response factor (SRF) is a member of the immediate early gene family known to promote embryonic development, cell growth, and myogenesis through interaction with multiple nuclear protein factors. Previous studies have shown that SRF possesses potent transcriptional activation domains that can interfere with gene expression at artificially high expression levels through "transcriptional squelching. " The current work sought to characterize toxicological aspects of SRF-mediated transcriptional squelching. An adenoviral expression system driven by the potent cytomegalovirus promoter was used to achieve up to a 50-fold increase in SRF protein levels. The overexpressed SRF is nuclear localized and interferes with gene expression independent of specific promoter interaction as expected for transcriptional squelching. SRF-mediated squelching elicits robust cell killing affecting multiple cell types including normal and abnormal proliferating cells as well as postmitotic cells such as cardiomyocytes in culture, and the cell killing is more pronounced than that mediated by the tumor suppressor protein p53. Although both the DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains of SRF are normally required for the physiological roles of SRF, only the transcriptional activation domain is required for cell killing. Unlike c-myc-induced cell killing, squelching-induced cell death does not require serum withdrawal and cannot be effectively attenuated by blocking the caspase and calpain proteolytic pathways or by overexpression of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-xL. These findings suggest transcriptional squelching may be engineered for killing cancer cells, and the SRF gene may represent a novel molecular target for cancer therapeutics.
Experiences of long‐term treatment with remoxipride: efficacy and tolerability

Abstract An international clinical trial programme was undertaken to evaluate the clinical safety and tolerability of remoxipride during a 12 month long‐term study and to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy of remoxipride for up to 6 months in a double‐blind comparison with haloperidol. A total of 145 patients were treated with remoxipride for at least 12 months. In the double‐blind evaluation 106 patients on remoxipride and 50 on haloperidol were included. The doses of remoxipride ranged between 90–600 mg daily and of haloperidol between 5–45 mg daily. The therapeutic efficacy of remoxipride obtained in short‐term studies was maintained during long‐term treatment in most patients and was similar to that of haloperidol. Remoxipride had a clear cut advantage concerning extrapyramidal symptoms and anticholinergic drugs were needed less frequently with remoxipride than with haloperidol. The tolerability and safety showed no clinically significant differences compared to the data from short‐term studies. This indicates that remoxipride can be used safely and with maintained efficacy for long‐term treatment.
Impact of different bonding methods on high voltage cable shield induced voltage and current in normal and fault conditions

Six different bonding methods are discussed briefly. In order to find methods with least induced voltage and current, EMTP software is used to investigate the effect of these configurations on shield induced voltage and current. Normal and core to shield short circuit conditions, and surge over-voltage (lightning) are considered in simulations. Finally appropriate bonding methods for different conditions are proposed.