Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effects of enalapril and taurine on left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmia in renovascular hypertensive rat].

The effects of enalpril (Ena, 6 mg.kg-1) and taurine (Tau, 30 mg.kg-1) on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and ventricular arrhythmia were studied in two-kidney, one clip renovascular hypertensive rats (RHR). From the 9th week after operation, Ena and Tau were given per oral daily for 9 weeks. These drugs significantly decreased the systolic arterial pressure and the weight of the left ventricle. Combination of both drugs was found to reduce the blood pressure further than either drug used alone. Arrhythmias induced by trains of electrical stimuli were more frequent in working hearts isolated from RHR than that from normotensive rats. Ena and Tau could decrease the incidence of this arrhythmias in RHR. The calcium content in the myocardial mitochondria in RHR was increased compared with that in normotensive rats. Treatment with Ena and Tau reduced this increase significantly. These results suggest that chronic therapy with Ena and Tau can induce an attenuation of systemic arterial pressure and reduce the propensity of RHR heart to arrhythmogenesis by limiting cardiac hypertrophy and calcium overload of the myocardium.
High Angular Resolution Observations Towards OMC-2 FIR 4: Dissecting an Intermediate-Mass Protocluster

Context. Intermediate-mass stars are an important ingredient of our Galaxy and a key to understanding how high- and low-mass stars form in clusters. One of the closest known young intermediate-mass protoclusters is OMC-2 FIR 4, which is located at a distance of 420 pc in Orion. This region is one of the few where the complete 500–2000 GHz spectrum has been observed with the heterodyne spectrometer HIFI on board the Herschel satellite, and unbiased spectral surveys at 0.8, 1, 2, and 3 mm have been obtained with the JCMT and IRAM 30-m telescopes. Aims. We aim to disentangle the core multiplicity, to investigate the morphology of this region in order to study the formation of a low- and intermediate-mass protostar cluster, and to aid in interpretation of the single-dish line profiles already in our hands. Methods. We used the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer to image OMC-2 FIR 4 in the 2-mm continuum emission, as well as in DCO + (2–1), DCN(2–1), C 34 S(3–2), and several CH3OH lines. In addition, we analysed observations of the NH3(1, 1) and (2, 2) inversion transitions that used the Very Large Array of the NRAO. The resulting maps have an angular resolution that allows us to resolve structures of 5 �� , which is equivalent to ∼2000 AU. Results. Our observations reveal three spatially resolved sources within OMC-2 FIR 4, of one or several solar masses each, with hints of further unresolved substructure within them. Two of these sources have elongated shapes and are associated with dust continuum emission peaks, thus likely containing at least one molecular core each. One of them also displays radio continuum emission, which may be attributed to a young B3–B4 star that dominates the overall luminosity output of the region. The third identified source displays a DCO + (2–1) emission peak and weak dust continuum emission. Its higher abundance of DCO + relative to the other two regions suggests a lower temperature, hence its possible association with either a younger low-mass protostar or a starless core. It may alternatively be part of the colder envelope of OMC-2 FIR 4. Conclusions. Our interferometric observations show the complexity of the intermediate-mass protocluster OMC-2 FIR 4, where multiple cores, chemical differentiation, and an ionised region all coexist within an area of only 10 000 AU.
Localization of Tec 29 to ring canals is mediated by Src 64 and PtdIns ( 3 , 4 , 5 ) P 3-dependent mechanisms

Two tyrosine kinases, Src64 and Tec29, regulate the growth of actin rich-ring canals in the Drosophila ovary. We have shown previously that Src64 directs the localization of Tec29 to ring canals, but the mechanism underlying this process was unknown. Here, we show that Tec29 localizes to ring canals via its Src homology 3 (SH3) and Src homology 2 (SH2) domains. Tec29 activity is required for its own ring canal localization, suggesting that a phosphotyrosine ligand for the SH2 domain is generated by Tec29 itself. Src64 regulates this process by phosphorylating Y677 within the kinase domain of Tec29, an event required for Tec29 activation. We also show that the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of Tec29 has dual functions in mediating Src64 regulation. In the absence of Src64, the PH domain prevents Tec29 ring canal localization. In the presence of Src64, it enhances membrane targeting of Tec29 by a PI(3,4,5)P3-mediated mechanism. In the absence of its PH domain, Tec29 constitutively localizes to ring canals, but still requires Src64 for full activation. The EMBO Journal (2004) 23, 1089–1100. doi:10.1038/ sj.emboj. 7600127; Published online 19 February 2004 Subject Categories: development; signal transduction
Health care cost containment in Denmark and Norway: a question of relative professional status?

Abstract The demand for publicly subsidised health care services is insatiable, but the costs can be contained in different ways: formal rules can limit access to and the number of subsidised services, demand and supply can be regulated through the price mechanism, the relevant profession can contain the costs through state-sanctioned self-regulation, and other professions can contain the costs (e.g. through referrals). The use of these cost containment measures varies between countries, depending on demand and supply factors, but the relative professional status of the health professions may help explain why different countries use cost containment measures differently for different services. This article compares cost containment measures in Denmark and Norway because these countries vary with regard to the professional status of the medical profession relative to other health care providers, while other relevant variables are approximately similar. The investigation is based on formal agreements and rules, historical documents, existing analyses and an analysis of 360 newspaper articles. It shows that high relative professional status seems to help professions to avoid user fees, steer clear of regulation from other professions and regulate the services produced by others. This implies that relative professional status should be taken into consideration in analyses of health care cost containment.
Messy Genetic Algorithms: Motivation, Analysis, and First Results

This paper defines and explores a somewhat different type of genetic algorithm (GA)-a messy genetic algorithm (mGA). Messy GAs process variable-length strings that may be either under- or overspecified with respect to the problem being solved. As nature has formed its genotypes by progressing from simple to more complex life forms, messy GAs solve problems by combining relatively short, well-tested building blocks to form longer, more complex strings that increasingly cover all features of a problem. This approach stands in contrast to the usual fixed-length, fixed-coding genetic algorithm, where the existence of the requisite tight linkage is taken for granted or ignored altogether. To compare the two approaches, a 30-bit, order-three-deceptive problem is searched using a simple GA and a messy GA. Using a random but fixed ordering of the bits, the simple GA makes errors at roughly three-quarters of its positions; under a worst-case ordering, the simple GA errs at all positions. In contrast to the simple GA results, the messy GA repeatedly solves the same problem to optimality. Prior to this time, no GA had ever solved a provably difficult problem to optimality without prior knowledge of good string arrangements. The mGA presented herein repeatedly achieves globally optimal results without such knowledge, and it does so at the very first generation in which strings are long enough to cover the problem. The solution of a difficult nonlinear problem to optimality suggests that messy GAs can solve more difficult problems than has been possible to date with other genetic algorithms. The ramifications of these techniques in search and machine learning are explored, including the possibility of messy floating-point codes, messy permutations, and messy classifiers.
A Peer Auditing Scheme for Cheat Detection in MMOGs

Although much of the research into massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) focuses on scalability concerns, other issues such as the existence of cheating have an equally large practical impact on game success. Cheat prevention itself is usually addressed through the use of proprietary, ad-hoc or manual methods, combined with a strong centralized authority as found in a straightforward client/server network model. To improve scalability, however, the use of more extensible, yet less secure, peer-to-peer (P2P) models has become an attractive game design option. Here we present the IRS hybrid game model that efficiently incorporates a centralized authority into a P2P setting for purposes of controlling and eliminating game cheaters. Analysis of our design shows that with any reasonable parametrization malicious clients are purged extremely quickly and with minimal impact on non-cheating clients, while still ensuring continued benefit and scalability from distributed computations. Cheating has a serious impact on the viability of multiplayer games, and our results illustrate the possibility of a system in which scalability and security coexist.
Hyperosmolality Causes Growth Arrest of Murine Kidney Cells

Murine kidney cells of the inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD) were exposed to either isosmotic (300 mosmol/kg) or hyperosmotic medium (isosmotic medium + 150 mm NaCl) after seeding. We determined cell numbers, total nucleic acid, DNA, and RNA contents in both groups every day for a total period of 7 days. Based on all 4 parameters it was evident that growth of mIMCD3 cells is arrested for ∼18 h following onset of hyperosmolality. However, none of the parameters measured indicated cell death because of hyperosmolality. Growth curves of hyperosmotic samples were shifted compared with isosmotic samples showing a gap of 18 h but had the same shape otherwise. We demonstrated that at 24 and 48 h after onset of hyperosmolality, but not in isosmotic controls, growth arrest and DNAdamage-inducible (GADD) proteins GADD45 and GADD153 are strongly induced. This result is consistent with growth arrest observed in hyperosmotic medium. We tested if mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) cascades are involved in osmosignaling that leads to GADD45 and GADD153 induction. Using phosphospecific antibodies we showed that extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK), SAPK1 (JNK), and SAPK2 (p38) are hyperosmotically activated in mIMCD cells. Hyperosmotic GADD45 induction was significantly decreased by 37.5% following inhibition of the SAPK2 pathway, whereas it was significantly increased (65.2%) after inhibition of the ERK pathway. We observed similar, although less pronounced effects of SAPK2 and ERK inhibition on hyperosmotic GADD153 induction. In conclusion, we demonstrate that mIMCD cells arrest growth following hyperosmotic shock, that this causes strong induction of GADD45 and GADD153, that GADD induction is partially dependent on osmosignaling via SAPK2 and ERK, and that SAPK2 and ERK pathways have opposite effects on GADD expression.
Peeling Off a Nonconvex Cover of an Actual Convex Problem: Hidden Convexity

Convexity is, without a doubt, one of the most desirable features in optimization. Many optimization problems that are nonconvex in their original settings may become convex after performing certain equivalent transformations. This paper studies the conditions for such hidden convexity. More specifically, some transformation-independent sufficient conditions have been derived for identifying hidden convexity. The derived sufficient conditions are readily verifiable for quadratic optimization problems. The global minimizer of a hidden convex programming problem can be identified using a local search algorithm.
Risk Factors for Contact Lens Complications in US Clinical Practices

Purpose. To determine significant risk factors for any inflammatory and infectious events with soft contact lenses (SCL) in a large retrospective clinical chart review. Methods. Charts of patients who presented for SCL care from October 2005 through March 2006 were reviewed and observed for a potential of at least 2 years. Charts from those with office visits involving an event-requiring pharmacologic treatment and/or interruption of SCL wear were scanned and later adjudicated by a masked panel. Significant factors from a univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis for all events and subcategories of events separately. Overnight wear was not consistently recorded and was not analyzed. Results. Charts from 1276 SCL wearers comprised 4120 visits and 1454 years of SCL wear (2908 eye/yr) and included 306 events of interest in 228 patients. In a multivariate analysis, age <25 years was significantly associated with presenting any event, inflammatory events, and infectious events that may or may not be CL-related [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.7; 2.6X, 1.5 to 4.6; and 2.0X, 1.2 to 3.3, respectively]. Ametropia >5.00 D increased risk of any event (IRR = 1.5; 1.2 to 1.9) and for other infectious events (IRR = 1.9; 1.2 to 3.2). Use of daily disposable lenses associated with lid irritation (IRR = 4.5; 2.1 to 9.8) but was not significantly associated with any other type of events. New and hydrogel lens wearers had a lower incidence of all event types (IRR = 0.07; 0.01 to 0.46 and 0.77; 0.59 to 0.99, respectively). Conclusions. Eighty-two percent of these SCL wearers did not present with any complications during the observation period >2 years. The risk factors for inflammatory and infectious events among SCL wearers in clinical practice are similar to those reported in prospective clinical trials. High ametropia and age <25 years are the risk factors that impact the most types of events.
Deep-Level Defect Enhanced Photothermal Performance of Bismuth Sulfide-Gold Heterojunction Nanorods for Photothermal Therapy of Cancer Guided by Computed Tomography Imaging.

Bismuth sulfide (Bi2 S3 ) nanomaterials are emerging as a promising theranostic platform for computed tomography imaging and photothermal therapy of cancer. Herein, the photothermal properties of Bi2 S3 nanorods (NRs) were unveiled to intensely correlate to their intrinsic deep-level defects (DLDs) that potentially could work as electron-hole nonradiative recombination centers to promote phonon production, ultimately leading to photothermal performance. Bi2 S3 -Au heterojunction NRs were designed to hold more significant DLD properties, exhibiting more potent photothermal performance than Bi2 S3 NRs. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, Bi2 S3 -Au NRs could trigger higher cellular heat shock protein 70 expression and more apoptotic cells than Bi2 S3 NRs, and caused severe cell death and tumor growth inhibition, showing great potential for photothermal therapy of cancer guided by computed tomography imaging.
Isotopic evaluation and therapy in patients with malignant endocrine disease.

The contribution of nuclear medicine to the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine malignancy is increasing. Advances in molecular biology offer new opportunities for tumour targeting via surface receptor recognition and tumour-specific metabolic markers. Imaging the biodistribution of these markers allows quantitative, in vivo characterization of tumour function. There is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of nuclear medicine targeting, substituting therapeutic beta-emitting radionuclides for the gamma-emitters used in diagnostic imaging. Limited clinical experience supports the rationale of this approach in patients with inoperable or disseminated disease and controlled trials are in progress. This chapter outlines the place of nuclear medicine techniques in the routine management of endocrine malignancy and explores areas for further development.
Linkage Map of Escherichia coli K-12, Edition 10: The Physical Map

SUMMARY A physical map, EcoMap10, of the now completely sequenced Escherichia coli chromosome is presented. Calculated genomic positions for the eight restriction enzymes BamHI, HindIII, EcoRI, EcoRV, BglI, KpnI, PstI, and PvuII are depicted. Both sequenced and unsequenced Kohara/Isono miniset clones are aligned to this calculated restriction map. DNA sequence searches identify the precise locations of insertion sequence elements and repetitive extragenic palindrome clusters. EcoGene10, a revised set of genes and functionally uncharacterized open reading frames (ORFs), is also depicted on EcoMap10. The complete set of unnamed ORFs in EcoGene10 are assigned provisional names beginning with the letter “y” by using a systematic nomenclature.
An innovative teaching practice based on online channels: A qualitative approach

The purpose of this preliminary study was to qualitatively explore the results of using low-cost educational videos, oriented at complementing face-to-face and distance courses of the Degrees in Industrial Engineering, Industrial Organization and Aeronautical Engineering at ETSEIAT (Technical School of Industrial Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering of Terrassa). Qualitative analyses showed that the use of innovative teaching practices enhances students ‘motivation, promotes dynamism in the classroom, improves students’ self-learning and increases the perceived efficiency of the learning and teaching processes, without substantially raising costs.
Elimination of coincident Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage with intranasal application of mupirocin calcium ointment.

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of mupirocin calcium ointment in the elimination of Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriage in healthy persons. DESIGN A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. SETTING Clinical research unit of a tertiary medical center. SUBJECTS Health care workers with stable S. aureus nasal carriage. INTERVENTIONS Subjects (n = 68) were randomly assigned to receive either mupirocin or placebo intranasally twice daily for 5 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Cultures of the hands and nares were obtained at baseline and 72 hours after therapy. The nares were also cultured 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after therapy. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmid DNA were used to confirm strain identity. There were no serious side effects. Mupirocin decreased the frequency of S. aureus nasal carriage at each time interval: At 3 months, 71% of subjects receiving mupirocin remained free of nasal S. aureus compared with 18% of controls. This difference (53%; 95% CI; 26% to 80%) was significant (P less than 0.0001). Additionally, analysis of plasmid patterns showed that 79% of subjects in the mupirocin group were free of the initial colonizing strain at 3 months. The proportion of hand cultures positive for S. aureus in the mupirocin group after therapy was lower than in the placebo group (2.9% compared with 57.6%). This difference (53%; 95 CI, 30% to 80%) was significant, after adjustment for the frequency of hand carriage at baseline (P less than 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS When applied intranasally for 5 days, mupirocin calcium ointment is safe and effective in eliminating S. aureus nasal carriage in healthy persons for up to 3 months and appears to have a corresponding effect on hand carriage at 72 hours after therapy.
Quantitative effect of the neonatal fontanel on synthetic near infrared spectroscopy measurements

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a functional imaging technique allowing measurement of local cerebral oxygenation. This modality is particularly adapted to critically ill neonates, as it can be used at the bedside and is a suitable and noninvasive tool for carrying out longitudinal studies. However, NIRS is sensitive to the imaged medium and consequently to the optical properties of biological tissues in which photons propagate. In this study, the effect of the neonatal fontanel was investigated by predicting photon propagation using a probabilistic Monte Carlo approach. Two anatomical newborn head models were created from computed tomography and magnetic resonance images: (1) a realistic model including the fontanel tissue and (2) a model in which the fontanel was replaced by skull tissue. Quantitative change in absorption due to simulated activation was compared for the two models for specific regions of activation and optical arrays simulated in the temporal area. A correction factor was computed to quantify the effect of the fontanel and defined by the ratio between the true and recovered change. The results show that recovered changes in absorption were more precise when determined with the anatomical model including the fontanel. The results suggest that the fontanel should be taken into account in quantification of NIRS responses to avoid misinterpretation in experiments involving temporal areas, such as language or auditory studies. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Environmental footprint of constructed wetlands treating wastewater

The aim of the study is to determine environmentally friendlier construction materials for constructed wetland facilities treating wastewater. This is done by computing the environmental footprint of the facility based on the methodology of life cycle assessment (LCA). This methodology reveals the dominant aggravating processes during the construction of a constructed wetland (CW) and can help to create alternative environmentally friendlier solutions. This methodology was applied for the determination of the overall environmental profile of a hybrid CW facility. The LCA was applied first to the facility as originally designed, where reinforced concrete was used in some components. Then, alternative construction materials to reinforced concrete were used, such as earth covered with high density polyethylene (HDPE) or clay, and LCA was applied again. Earth structures were found to have reduced environmental impact compared to concrete ones, and clay was found environmentally friendlier compared to HDPE. Furthermore, estimation of the construction costs of the three scenarios indicate that the last scenario is also the least expensive.
The VP1 Unique Region of Parvovirus B19 and Its Constituent Phospholipase A2-Like Activity

ABSTRACT Parvovirus B19 is the causative agent of erythema infectiosum. In addition, parvovirus B19 infection may be associated with other disease manifestations, namely, thrombocytopenia or granulocytopenia, spontaneous abortion or hydrops fetalis in pregnant women, acute and chronic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Based on sequence homology data, a phospholipase A2 motif has been identified in the VP1 unique region of parvovirus B19. (Y. Li et al., J. Gen. Virol. 82:2821-2825, 2001; Z. Zadori et al., Dev. Cell 1:291-302, 2001). We have established a new in vitro assay based on electrospray ionization tandem mass spectroscopy to show that phospholipase A2 activity is present in the VP1 unique region produced in Escherichia coli and in virus-like particles consisting of combinations of VP1 and VP2 proteins expressed by recombinant baculovirus. The enzyme activity of the VP1 unique region showed typical Ca2+ dependency and could be inhibited by manoalide and 4-bromophenacylbromide, which bind covalently to lysine and histidine residues, respectively, as part of the active center of the enzyme. By using subfragments, we demonstrated an association between the phospholipase A2-like activity and the carboxy-terminal domain of the VP1 unique region.