Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local anaesthetics potentiate GABA‐mediated Cl− currents by inhibiting GABA uptake

A two-electrode voltage clamp was used to examine the effects of the local anaesthetics (LAs) lidocaine, tetra- caine and bupivacaine, and the meta-isomer of lidocaine (LL33), on the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated Cl− channel in the crayfish stretch receptor neurone. The voltage-induced current changes were recorded while exposing the neurone to GABA in saline containing different LAs. All LAs enhanced the voltage-induced Cl− current equivalent to a shift of the conductance vs GABA curve towards lower concentrations. The mechanism of the facilitation of GABA-induced conductance was found to be mainly a block of the GABA uptake in the stretch receptor neurone. Tetracaine, and to a lesser extent LL33, also seem to affect directly the GABA/receptor Cl−/channel complex resulting in an increased conductance of the channel.
Porphyromonas gingivalis RgpA-Kgp Proteinase-Adhesin Complexes Penetrate Gingival Tissue and Induce Proinflammatory Cytokines or Apoptosis in a Concentration-Dependent Manner

ABSTRACT The RgpA-Kgp proteinase-adhesin complexes of Porphyromonas gingivalis were observed, using immunostaining, in human gingival tissue associated with periodontitis but not in healthy tissue. The staining pattern suggested a concentration gradient from the subgingival plaque into the subjacent gingival connective tissue. Intense immunostaining was observed in areas displaying gross disturbance of tissue architecture. P. gingivalis cells and the RgpA-Kgp complexes at low concentrations were shown to stimulate secretory intercellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, and macrophage chemoattractant protein secretion from cultured human epithelial (KB) and fibroblast (MRC-5) cells. However, at high concentrations a reduction in the level of these mediators was observed. In contrast, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α and IL-1α were stimulated only at high P. gingivalis cell concentrations. P. gingivalis cells and the RgpA-Kgp complexes were shown to induce apoptosis in KB and MRC-5 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that the RgpA-Kgp complexes penetrate the gingival connective tissue; at low concentrations distal from the plaque the complexes stimulate the secretion of proinflammatory mediators, while at high concentrations proximal to the plaque they induce apoptosis and attenuate the secretion of proinflammatory mediators.
Impact of Threat Level, Task Instruction, and Individual Characteristics on Cold Pressor Pain and Fear among Children and Their Parents

The cold pressor task (CPT) is increasingly used to induce experimental pain in children, but the specific methodology of the CPT is quite variable across pediatric studies. This study examined how subtle variations in CPT methodology (eg. provision of low‐ or high‐threat information regarding the task; provision or omission of maximum immersion time) may influence children's and parents' perceptions of the pain experience. Forty‐eight children (8 to 14 years) and their parents were randomly assigned to receive information about the CPT that varied on 2 dimensions, prior to completing the task: (i) threat level: high‐threat (task described as very painful, high pain expressions depicted) or low‐threat (standard CPT instructions provided, low pain expressions depicted); (ii) ceiling: informed (provided maximum immersion time) or uninformed (information about maximum immersion time omitted). Parents and children in the high‐threat condition expected greater child pain, and these children reported higher perceived threat of pain and state pain catastrophizing. For children in the low‐threat condition, an informed ceiling was associated with less state pain catastrophizing during the CPT. Pain intensity, tolerance, and fear during the CPT did not differ by experimental group, but were predicted by child characteristics. Findings suggest that provision of threatening information may impact anticipatory outcomes, but experienced pain was better explained by individual child variables.
Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I microdeletion in a patient with motor neuron disease

An out‐of‐frame mutation of the mitochondrial DNA‐encoded subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) was discovered during investigation of a severe isolated muscle COX deficiency in a patient with motor neuron‐like degeneration. The mutation is a heteroplasmic 5‐bp microdeletion located in the 5′ end of the COI gene, leading to premature termination of the corresponding translation product. Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and single‐fiber polymerase chain reaction demonstrated a tight correlation between COX defect, COX I expression, and percentage of mutation. COX subunits II, III, and IV were decreased as well, suggesting a defective assembly of COX holoenzyme. The mutation was associated with a clinical phenotype unusual for a mitochondrial disorder, that is, an isolated motor neuron disease(MND) with some atypical findings, including early onset, preferential involvement of the upper motor neuron, and increased cerebrospinal fluid protein content. MND may arise from impaired scavenging and overproduction of free oxygen radicals, a by‐product of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Our observation suggests that OXPHOS impairment could play a role in the pathogenesis of some MND cases.
U.S. Cigarette Demand: 1944-2004

Abstract We analyze individual-level data on cigarette smoking from 23 national cross-sectional surveys conducted by the Gallup Poll from 1944 through 2004. We estimate standard two-part models of cigarette demand as a function of demographics, income, and cigarette prices. Over the sixty year time-span covered in our data, smoking participation falls from almost 50 percent to 22 percent. We find that the influences of key demographic factors on cigarette demand change over time: the gender difference in smoking rates almost disappears, the black-white difference reverses, a strong gradient with schooling emerges, and a negative income elasticity emerges.
Relation among occupational exposure to potential mutagenic/carcinogenic agents, clinical findings, and bone marrow chromosomes in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

The chromosome banding pattern of bone marrow cells and clinical findings, including cytologic diagnosis, response to therapy, and survival time, were compared in two groups of adult patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL): 23 patients occupationally exposed to chemical solvents, insecticides, and petrol products and 33 patients with no history of occupational exposure to potential mutagenic/ carcinogenic agents. As regards clinical findings, cases classified as AML were more common in the exposed group, whereas the monocytic varieties of ANLL were more common in the nonexposed group; neither the complete remission rate nor the median survival differed significantly. In both groups patients with only abnormal metaphases had poorer prognoses than those with normal bone marrow metaphases only. The detailed karyotypic findings showed striking differences between the two groups: ( 1 ) in the nonexposed group only 24.2% had chromosome aberrations, whereas 82.6% of the cxposed patients had aberrations; (2) in the exposed group 84.2% of the patients with aberrations had at least one of four particular changes-monosomy 5 or 7 or trisomy 8 or 21, but in the nonexposed group none of the patients had monosomy 5 or trisomy 8, and only one patient had monosomy 7 and one had trisomy 2 1. None of the remaining aberrations seen in the nonexposed group were found in any of the exposed individuals.
The nerve growth factor-responsive PC12 cell line does not express the Myc dimerization partner Max

Heterodimerization of Max with the nuclear oncoprotein Myc and the differentiation-associated proteins Mad and Mxi1 enables these factors to bind E-box sites in DNA and control genes implicated in cell proliferation and differentiation. We show that in the PC12 pheochromocytoma tumor cell line, functional Max protein is not expressed because of the synthesis of a mutant max transcript. This transcript encodes a protein incapable of homo- or heterodimerization. Furthermore, the mutant Max protein, unlike wild-type Max, is incapable of repressing transcription from an E-box element. Synthesis of mutant max transcripts appears to be due to a homozygous chromosomal alteration within the max gene. Reintroduction of max into PC12 cells results in repression of E-box-dependent transcription and a reduction in growth rate, which may explain the loss of Max expression either during the growth of the pheochromocytoma or in subsequent passage of the PC12 cell line in vitro. Finally, the ability of these cells to divide, differentiate, and apoptose in the absence of Max demonstrates for the first time that these processes can occur via Max- and possibly Myc-independent mechanisms.
Analytics to Support Sensemaking in Social Media : A Language-Action Perspective

Social media and online communities provide organizations with new opportunities to support their business-related functions. Despite their various benefits, social media technologies present two important challenges for sense-making. First, online discourse is plagued by incoherent, intertwined conversations that are often difficult to comprehend. Moreover, organizations are increasingly interested in understanding social media participants’ actions and intentions; however, existing text analytics tools mostly focus on the semantic dimension of language. The Language-Action Perspective (LAP) emphasizes pragmatics; not what people say, but rather, what they do with language. Adopting the design science paradigm, we propose a LAP-based text analytics framework to support sense-making in online discourse. The proposed framework is specifically intended to address the two aforementioned challenges associated with sensemaking in online discourse: the need for greater coherence and better understanding of actions. We rigorously evaluate a system developed based on the framework in a series of experiments on a test bed encompassing social media data from multiple channels and industries. The results demonstrate the utility of each individual component of the system, and its underlying framework, in comparison with existing benchmark methods. Furthermore, the results of a user experiment involving hundreds of practitioners, and a four-month field experiment in a large organization, underscore the enhanced sense-making capabilities afforded by text analytics grounded in LAP principles. The results have important implications for online sense-making and social media analytics.
Le public et son espace: comment s'entendent-ils?

Quel est le r6le des dimensions environnementales et sensibles dans la constitution de l'espace public? Nous nous inttressons dans cet article essentiellement 21 la dimension sonore: comment l'environnement sonore construit B sa manibre un espace public? En m&me temps qu'une modeste contribution B l'analyse et B la dtfinition de l'espace public concret, il s'agit de dtvelopper une vtritable compttence sonore pluridisciplinaire pratiquement inexistante dans le champ de l'architecture et de l'amtnagement urbain.
Notice of RetractionEntrepreneurship Opportunity Identification is based on the Personal Characteristics of entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship Opportunity Identification is not only the beginning of entrepreneurs process, but also the necessary ability of entrepreneurs. The article is grasping the essence property of opportunity identification from the perspective of the Entrepreneurs Personal Characteristics, and discussing the concept of opportunity identification the entrepreneurs personal characteristics and construction individually, as well as the effect of Entrepreneurs personal characteristics on opportunity identification. And it is a beneficial exploration for entrepreneurs to identify better entrepreneurship opportunity in practice.
Modification of Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation by Propofol, Ketamine, and Midazolam

Since volatile anesthetics, barbiturates, and local anesthetics have been reported to inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxation, we hypothesized that any drug with anesthetic action would suppress this relaxation. In the present study, using rat thoracic aortae, we attempted to determine whether nonbarbiturate intravenous anesthetics, including midazolam, propofol, and ketamine, suppress endothelium-dependent relaxation, and to clarify the mechanism(s) involved. Acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly attenuated by propofol and ketamine, but was unaffected by midazolam. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced relaxation was attenuated by propofol, but not by midazolam or ketamine. The acetylcholine-stimulated 3 prime,5 prime-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) level was reduced by pretreatment with propofol and ketamine but not by midazolam, and that stimulated by SNP was reduced by propofol but not by ketamine or midazolam. We conclude that propofol and ketamine suppress endothelium-dependent relaxation, whereas midazolam has no influence. Moreover, the suppressive effect of ketamine on endothelium-dependent relaxation is mediated by suppression of nitrous oxide (NO) formation, whereas that of propofol may be mediated at least partly by suppression of NO function. (Anesth Analg 1995;81:474-9)
Intensive care unit admission in patients with haematological disease: incidence, outcome and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVES To examine incidence and outcome of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with haematological malignancy and analyse prognostic factors associated with outcome. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study in an intensive care unit of a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS 78 patients with severe haematological malignancy were admitted 97 times between 1990-97 to the medical ICU for septic shock (18), respiratory failure (30), postoperative monitoring (19), cardiovascular (10) and central nervous complications (8) or for other reasons (12). Median age was 43 (4-73) years, average duration of ICU stay was 4 (1-43) days. Forty-two patients required mechanical ventilation, 46 vasopressors and 8 haemodialysis. RESULTS Rates of ICU admission differed by treatment of the underlying disease. There were 18, 10 and 27 ICU admissions per 100 treatments in patients undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukaemia, autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (p <0.005) respectively. Thirty-two of 78 patients died within 60 days of ICU admission. Organ failure, i.e. cardiovascular failure requiring vasopressors, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and renal failure, requiring haemodialysis, was most significantly associated with outcome. Mortality by day 60 after admission was 16%, 36%, 64%, and 83% (p <0.0002) for patients without organ failure, and for patients with 1, 2 or 3 failing organs. In a multivariate logistical regression model, only the organ failure score (p <0.0005) and evidence of liver damage, defined as ASAT or ALAT >100 IU/ L (p <0.007), but not age, sex, primary disease and treatment of the underlying disease predicted outcome. CONCLUSION Multi-organ failure and evidence of liver damage but no other patient, disease, or treatment related factor predict outcome in patients with haematological disease admitted to the ICU.
Cognitive function in untreated hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

Purpose of reviewThe brain is an important target organ for thyroid hormone, and alterations in mood and cognition may occur with thyroid dysfunction. Recent advances in the field of cognitive neurosciences have allowed more sensitive and focused testing of cognitive domains in patients with altered thyroid function. Recent findingsBased on recent population-based studies, there do not appear to be major deficits in cognitive functioning in overt or subclinical thyroid disease. However, interventional and functional imaging studies suggest that subtle deficits in specific cognitive domains probably do exist. The most commonly affected domains are working memory and executive function. Also present are alterations in mood, manifested by increased rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms. SummaryPatients with overt or subclinical thyroid dysfunction commonly complain of decrements in cognitive function, but studies suggest that such decrements are most likely to be minor or not related to the thyroid dysfunction. More common are mood alterations, which often improve with treatment.
Evidence Regarding the UV Sunscreen Role of a Mycosporine-Like Compound in the Cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa sp

The UV sunscreen role commonly ascribed to mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) was investigated with an isolate of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa sp. strain C-90-Cal-G. (2), which accumulates intracellularly an MAA with absorbance maximum at 326 nm but produces no extracellular sunscreen compound (i.e., scytonemin). The intracellular concentrations of MAA achieved were directly related to the intensity of the UV radiation (maximum at 320 nm) received by the cells. However, the presence of high concentrations of MAA was not necessary for the physiological acclimation of the cultures to UV radiation. The measured sunscreen factor due to MAA in single cells was 0.3 (the MAA prevented 3 out of 10 photons from hitting potential cytoplasmic targets). High contents of MAA in the cells correlated with increased resistance to UV radiation. However, when resistance was gauged under conditions of desiccation, with inoperative physiological photoprotective and repair mechanisms, cells with high MAA specific contents were only 20 to 25% more resistant. Although UV radiation centered around both 320 and 365 nm resulted in chlorophyll a photobleaching and photoinhibition of photosynthesis, the difference in sensitivity correlated with MAA accumulation occurred only at 320 nm (absorbed by MAA) and not at 365 nm (not absorbed by MAA). This difference represents the maximal protection ascribable to the presence of MAA for single cells, i.e., if one does not consider the enhancing effects of colony formation on protection by sunscreens.
Review of Pt-based bimetallic catalysis: from model surfaces to supported catalysts.

Supported Catalysts Weiting Yu,† Marc D. Porosoff,† and Jingguang G. Chen*,†,‡,§ †Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation, Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States ‡Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
Relative importance of different spectral bands to consonant identification: Relevance for frequency transposition in hearing aids

Listeners with high-frequency dead regions (DRs) benefit from amplification of frequencies up to 1.7 times the edge frequency, fe, of the DR. Better consonant identification might be achieved by replacing the band from fe to 1.7fe with a higher spectral band. We aimed to identify the optimal band, using simulations with normal-hearing listeners. In experiment 1, nonsense syllables were lowpass filtered to simulate DRs with fe of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 kHz. Identification was measured for each of these base bands alone and with a bandpass-filtered band added (but not transposed). The added band either extended from fe to 1.7fe or its center frequency was increased, keeping bandwidth fixed in ERBN-number. Performance improved with increasing center frequency and then reached an asymptote or declined. Experiment 2 used a mid-frequency base band, and a lower-frequency added band. The results also showed a beneficial effect of frequency separation of the added and base bands. Experiment 3 resembled experiment 1, but with bandwidth fixed in Hertz. For higher-frequency added bands, the benefit was lower than for experiment 1.
Structure of a nitric oxide synthase heme protein from Bacillus subtilis.

Eukaryotic nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) produce nitric oxide to mediate intercellular signaling and protect against pathogens. Recently, proteins homologous to mammalian NOS oxygenase domains have been found in prokaryotes and one from Bacillus subtilis (bsNOS) has been demonstrated to produce nitric oxide [Adak, S. , Aulak, K. S. , and Stuehr, D. J. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 16167-16171]. We present structures of bsNOS complexed with the active cofactor tetrahydrofolate and the substrate L-arginine (L-Arg) or the intermediate N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine (NHA) to 1.9 or 2.2 A resolution, respectively. The bsNOS structure is similar to those of the mammalian NOS oxygenase domains (mNOS(ox)) except for the absence of an N-terminal beta-hairpin hook and zinc-binding region that interact with pterin and stabilize the mNOS(ox) dimer. Changes in patterns of residue conservation between bacterial and mammalian NOSs correlate to different binding modes for pterin side chains. Residue conservation on a surface patch surrounding an exposed heme edge indicates a likely interaction site for reductase proteins in all NOSs. The heme pockets of bsNOS and mNOS(ox) recognize L-Arg and NHA similarly, although a change from Val to Ile beside the substrate guanidinium may explain the 10-20-fold slower dissociation of product NO from the bacterial enzyme. Overall, these structures suggest that bsNOS functions naturally to produce nitrogen oxides from L-Arg and NHA in a pterin-dependent manner, but that the regulation and purpose of NO production by NOS may be quite different in B. subtilis than in mammals.
Mycotoxins in food in West Africa: current situation and possibilities of controlling it

This review presents the different mycotoxins (aflatoxins, fumonisins and ochratoxin A) produced in agricultural crops in the West African sub-region. The acute and chronic toxic effects of the various mycotoxins are presented. Maize and groundnuts have been found to be excellent substrate for aflatoxin contamination, while fumonisins are widely distributed in maize. Other food products for which mycotoxin contamination has been reported in the sub-region include dried yam chips, tiger nut, melon seeds and stored herbal plants. Mycotoxin contamination is favoured by stress factors during plant growth, late harvesting of crops, high ambient humidity preventing thorough drying, unscientific storage practices and lack of awareness. Control measures include education of the populace on the danger of mycotoxin contaminated diet, early harvesting, rapid drying, sorting, sanitation, use of improved storage structures, smoking, insect control, the use of botanicals and synthetic chemicals as storage protectants, fumigation, biological control, the use of resistant varieties and detoxification of mycotoxin contaminated grains. Key words : Mycotoxins, aflatoxins, food, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, surveillance, toxicology, prevention, control, West Africa. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(9) 2003: 254-263
Chloride-Bearing Materials in the Southern Highlands of Mars

Chlorides commonly precipitate during the evaporation of surface water or groundwater and during volcanic outgassing. Spectrally distinct surface deposits consistent with chloride-bearing materials have been identified and mapped using data from the 2001 Mars Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging System. These deposits are found throughout regions of low albedo in the southern highlands of Mars. Geomorphologic evidence from orbiting imagery reveals these deposits to be light-toned relative to their surroundings and to be polygonally fractured. The deposits are small (< ∼25 km2) but globally widespread, occurring in middle to late Noachian terrains with a few occurrences in early Hesperian terrains. The identification of chlorides in the ancient southern highlands suggests that near-surface water was available and widespread in early Martian history.