Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbohydrate ingestion attenuates the increase in plasma interleukin‐6, but not skeletal muscle interleukin‐6 mRNA, during exercise in humans

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of exercise and carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene expression in skeletal muscle and plasma IL‐6 concentration. Seven moderately trained men completed 60 min of exercise at a workload corresponding to each individual's lactate threshold on four randomised occasions. Two trials were conducted on a bicycle ergometer (Cyc) and two on a running treadmill (Run) either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO beverage throughout the exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis before and immediately after exercise and IL‐6 gene expression in these samples was determined using real‐time PCR. In addition, venous blood samples were collected at rest, and after 30 min during and at the cessation of exercise. These samples were analysed for plasma IL‐6. Irrespective of exercise mode or CHO ingestion, exercise resulted in a 21 ± 4‐fold increase (P < 0.01; main exercise effect) in IL‐6 mRNA expression. In contrast, while the mode of exercise did not affect the exercise‐induced increase in plasma IL‐6, CHO ingestion blunted (P < 0.01) this response. These data demonstrate that CHO ingestion attenuates the plasma IL‐6 concentration during both cycling and running exercise. However, because IL‐6 mRNA expression was unaffected by CHO ingestion, it is likely that the ingestion of CHO during exercise attenuates IL‐6 production by tissues other than skeletal muscle.
Metabolic regulation in Streptomyces parvulus during actinomycin D synthesis, studied with 13C- and 15N-labeled precursors by 13C and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Recent studies have suggested that the onset of synthesis of actinomycin D in Streptomyces parvulus is due to a release from L-glutamate catabolic repression. In the present investigation we showed that S. parvulus has the capacity to maintain high levels of intracellular glutamate during the synthesis of actinomycin D. The results seem contradictory, since actinomycin D synthesis cannot start before a release from L-glutamate catabolic repression, but a relatively high intracellular pool of glutamate is needed for the synthesis of actinomycin D. Utilizing different labeled precursors, D-[U-13C]fructose and 13C- and 15N-labeled L-glutamate, and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, we showed that carbon atoms of an intracellular glutamate pool of S. parvulus were not derived biosynthetically from the culture medium glutamate source but rather from D-fructose catabolism. A new intracellular pyrimidine derivative whose nitrogen and carbon skeletons were derived from exogenous L-glutamate was obtained as the main glutamate metabolite. Another new pyrimidine derivative that had a significantly reduced intracellular mobility and that was derived from D-fructose catabolism was identified in the cell extracts of S. parvulus during actinomycin D synthesis. These pyrimidine derivatives may serve as a nitrogen store for actinomycin D synthesis. In the present study, the N-trimethyl group of a choline derivative was observed by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in growing S. parvulus cells. The choline group, as well as the N-methyl groups of sarcosine, N-methyl-valine, and the methyl groups of an actinomycin D chromophore, arose from D-fructose catabolism. The 13C enrichments found in the peptide moieties of actinomycin D were in accordance with a mechanism of actinomycin D synthesis from L-glutamate and D-fructose.
Down-regulation of the Filamentous Actin Cross-linking Activity of Cortactin by Src-mediated Tyrosine Phosphorylation*

Cortactin, a prominent substrate for pp60c-src , is a filamentous actin (F-actin) binding protein. We show here that cortactin can promote sedimentation of F-actin at centrifugation forces under which F-actin is otherwise not able to be precipitated. Electron microscopic analysis after negative staining further revealed that actin filaments in the presence of cortactin are cross-linked into bundles of various degrees of thickness. Hence, cortactin is also an F-actin cross-linking protein. We also demonstrate that the optimal F-actin cross-linking activity of cortactin requires a physiological pH in a range of 7.3–7.5. Furthermore, pp60c-src phosphorylates cortactin in vitro, resulting in a dramatic reduction of its F-actin cross-linking activity in a manner depending on levels of tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, pp60c-src moderately inhibits the F-actin binding activity of cortactin. This study presents the first evidence that pp60c-src can directly regulate the activity of its substrate toward the cytoskeleton and implies a role of cortactin as an F-actin modulator in tyrosine kinase-regulated cytoskeleton reorganization.
Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Higher Control of the Oculomotor System in Parkinson's Disease

The frontal cortex and basal ganglia form a set of parallel but mostly segregated circuits called cortico-basal ganglia loops. The oculomotor loop controls eye movements and can direct relatively simple movements, such as reflexive prosaccades, without external help but needs input from “higher” loops for more complex behaviors. The antisaccade task requires the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is part of the prefrontal loop. Information flows from prefrontal to oculomotor circuits in the striatum, and directional errors in this task can be considered a measure of failure of prefrontal control over the oculomotor loop. The antisaccadic error rate (AER) is increased in Parkinson's disease (PD). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has no effect on the AER, but a previous case suggested that DBS of the globus pallidus interna (GPi) might. Our aim was to compare the effects of STN DBS and GPi DBS on the AER. We tested eye movements in 14 human DBS patients and 10 controls. GPi DBS substantially reduced the AER, restoring lost higher control over oculomotor function. Interloop information flow involves striatal neurons that receive cortical input and project to pallidum. They are normally silent when quiescent, but in PD they fire randomly, creating noise that may account for the degradation in interloop control. The reduced AER with GPi DBS could be explained by retrograde stimulation of striatopallidal axons with consequent activation of inhibitory collaterals and reduction in background striatal firing rates. This study may help explain aspects of PD pathophysiology and the mechanism of action of GPi DBS. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Parkinson's disease causes symptoms including stiffness, slowness of movement, and tremor. Electrical stimulation of specific areas deep in the brain can effectively treat these symptoms, but exactly how is not fully understood. Part of the cause of such symptoms may be impairments in the way information flows from one circuit within the brain to another, as a result of overactivity of certain nerve cells. By demonstrating that stimulation of an area called the globus pallidus interna partially reverses deficits in voluntary control of eye movements, this study shows that stimulation can improve information flow between circuits, probably by calming down the overactive cells.
A Novel Active Frequency Selective Surface With Wideband Tuning Range for EMC Purpose

A novel symmetric anchor-shaped active frequency selective surface (AFSS) with a wide tuning frequency range is proposed. Varactor diodes are used as the active tuning components at the center of each AFSS unit. The equivalent circuit model of the AFSS unit is extracted. SPICE-based circuit simulation and full-wave simulation are compared to predict the resonant frequency. A wide tunable frequency range from 1.76 to 2.45 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 33% is achieved. A prototype of AFSS is fabricated and tested. The measurement result is consistent with the simulation. The design has low power consumption and is potentially used for selectively shielding or reusing of GSM, TD-SCDMA, or Wi-Fi spectrums.
Myopathic dropped head syndrome: a syndrome of mixed aetiology

We report two patients with myopathic dropped head syndrome, a rare and interesting neuromuscular syndrome characterised by a predominant weakness of the neck extensor muscles. The first patient, a middle aged Chinese man, presented with progressive weakness of neck extension but his clinical course later stabilised despite a lack of response to corticosteroids. Muscle biopsy revealed a necrotising myopathy with no evidence of inflammation. This patient supports the existence of an idiopathic restricted non-inflammatory myopathy, a so called isolated neck extensor myopathy syndrome which is recognised to pursue a less progressive, more benign course. Our second patient had histopathological evidence for polymyositis; there was a favourable response to steroids. Our cases underscore the fact that there may be a spectrum of pathological processes associated with the myopathic dropped head syndrome ranging from non-inflammatory muscle necrosis to a full blown inflammatory myositis.
Autoimmune Disorders and Extraintestinal Manifestations in First-degree Familial and Sporadic Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case–Control Study

Background:Genetic factors may play a role in determining the development of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) and autoimmune diseases (AD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to determine the association between EIMs and AD in patients with first-degree familial IBD and sporadic IBD. Methods:All patients evaluated in the IBD Clinic at the Mayo Clinic between January and September 1999 were offered enrollment. One clinic patient who was matched on age, gender, and geographic area of residence to each case served as controls. Information regarding EIMs and AD was obtained from a questionnaire completed by all IBD patients and controls. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for EIM as a function of first-degree familial IBD compared with sporadic IBD and AD as a function of first-degree familial IBD compared with sporadic IBD were estimated with a matched one-to-one conditional logistic regression model. Results:Two hundred forty-three patients with IBD (47 first-degree familial IBD, 196 sporadic IBD) were enrolled. Forty percent of IBD patients had one or more EIMs compared with 14% matched controls [p < 0.001; OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.8 to 5.2)]. A total of 259 of the 1122 IBD patients and their first-degree family members indicated one or more EIM diagnoses (23%). The association between “familial versus sporadic” status and any EIM diagnosis was not significant [p = 0.59, the odds for an individual from a familial IBD family relative to an individual from a sporadic IBD family was 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8 to 1.7)]. Ten percent of IBD patients had one or more AD diagnoses compared with 19% matched controls [p = 0.04; OR = 0.4 (95% CI: 0.1 to 0.96)]. A total of 153 of the 1122 IBD patients and their first-degree family members indicated one or more AD diagnoses (14%). The association between disease status (“familial or sporadic”) versus any AD diagnosis was not significant [p = 0.68, the odds for any AD in an individual from a familial IBD family relative to an individual from a sporadic IBD family was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.9 to 2.3)]. Conclusions:There was a positive association between IBD status (patient vs control) versus EIM, but not AD. A significant positive association between disease type (familial or sporadic) versus either EIM or AD was not detected.
ROS-Activated Ion Channels in Plants: Biophysical Characteristics, Physiological Functions and Molecular Nature

Ion channels activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been found in the plasma membrane of charophyte Nitella flixilis, dicotyledon Arabidopsis thaliana, Pyrus pyrifolia and Pisum sativum, and the monocotyledon Lilium longiflorum. Their activities have been reported in charophyte giant internodes, root trichoblasts and atrichoblasts, pollen tubes, and guard cells. Hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are major activating species for these channels. Plant ROS-activated ion channels include inwardly-rectifying, outwardly-rectifying, and voltage-independent groups. The inwardly-rectifying ROS-activated ion channels mediate Ca2+-influx for growth and development in roots and pollen tubes. The outwardly-rectifying group facilitates K+ efflux for the regulation of osmotic pressure in guard cells, induction of programmed cell death, and autophagy in roots. The voltage-independent group mediates both Ca2+ influx and K+ efflux. Most studies suggest that ROS-activated channels are non-selective cation channels. Single-channel studies revealed activation of 14.5-pS Ca2+ influx and 16-pS K+ efflux unitary conductances in response to ROS. The molecular nature of ROS-activated Ca2+ influx channels remains poorly understood, although annexins and cyclic nucleotide-gated channels have been proposed for this role. The ROS-activated K+ channels have recently been identified as products of Stellar K+ Outward Rectifier (SKOR) and Guard cell Outwardly Rectifying K+ channel (GORK) genes.
Setup and calibration procedure for LPE PA characterization with synchronous input-output excitations

Modern transmitter architectures make use of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) techniques, employing a high number of RF power amplifiers (PAs) to excite an antenna array. The array elements are often coupled, creating an excitation at the output of the PAs, which is dependent on the outputs of the other elements. Therefore, in this system, the nonlinear behavior of each PA cannot be fully described solely as a function of its input. In order to characterize a device that will operate in this arrangement, it is important to develop setups that are capable of exciting the PA at the input and output, synchronously at the RF carrier (phase control) and envelope (delay control) levels, with correlated or independent amplitude and phase modulations. In this paper we propose a setup for this type of characterization and show how it can be calibrated to correct the frequency response of the observation paths and the excitation paths in a simple way using broadband modulated signals, covering the full measurement bandwidth.
Policy analysis of cervical cancer screening strategies in low-resource settings: clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness.

CONTEXT Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in developing countries. In such low-resource settings, cytology-based screening is difficult to implement, and less complex strategies may offer additional options. OBJECTIVE To assess the cost-effectiveness of several cervical cancer screening strategies using population-specific data. DESIGN AND SETTING Cost-effectiveness analysis using a mathematical model and a hypothetical cohort of previously unscreened 30-year-old black South African women. Screening tests included direct visual inspection (DVI) of the cervix, cytologic methods, and testing for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Strategies differed by number of clinical visits, screening frequency, and response to a positive test result. Data sources included a South African screening study, national surveys and fee schedules, and published literature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Years of life saved (YLS), lifetime costs in US dollars, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (cost per YLS). RESULTS When analyzing all strategies performed as a single lifetime screen at age 35 years compared with no screening, HPV testing followed by treatment of screen-positive women at a second visit, cost $39/YLS (27% cancer incidence reduction); DVI, coupled with immediate treatment of screen-positive women at the first visit was next most effective (26% cancer incidence reduction) and was cost saving; cytology, followed by treatment of screen-positive women at a second visit was least effective (19% cancer incidence reduction) at a cost of $81/YLS. For any given screening frequency, when strategies were compared incrementally, HPV DNA testing generally was more effective but also more costly than DVI, and always was more effective and less costly than cytology. When comparing all strategies simultaneously across screening frequencies, DVI was the nondominated strategy up to a frequency of every 3 years (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, $460/YLS), and HPV testing every 3 years (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, $11 500/YLS) was the most effective strategy. CONCLUSION Cervical cancer screening strategies that incorporate DVI or HPV DNA testing and eliminate colposcopy may offer attractive alternatives to cytology-based screening programs in low-resource settings.
Multisubstance Use Among Treatment-Seeking Smokers: Synergistic Effects of Coping Motives for Cannabis and Alcohol Use and Social Anxiety/Depressive Symptoms

ABSTRACT Objective: This study examined the impact of coping motives for cannabis and alcohol use on the relation between social anxiety/depressive symptoms and severity of substance use for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis among treatment-seeking smokers who also use cannabis and alcohol. Methods: The sample included 197 daily cigarette smokers (MAge 34.81 years, SD = 13.43) who reported using cannabis and alcohol. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted wherein separate models were constructed for each dependent variable. Among individuals with higher social anxiety, alcohol coping motives were associated with heavier drinking, and this was more pronounced among those low in depressive symptoms. Similarly, those at greater risk for nicotine dependence were anxious individuals with lower depressive symptoms who endorse coping-oriented motives for using cannabis. Further, among those with higher social anxiety, cannabis coping motives were associated with marginally greater drinking, particularly for those high in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The present findings support the perspective that among multisubstance users, the interplay between social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and coping-oriented motives for using one substance (e.g., cannabis or alcohol) may pose difficulties in refraining from other substances (e.g., tobacco). This observation highlights the importance of tailoring multisubstance treatments to specific needs of multiusers for whom single-substance interventions may be less effective. Findings also support previous work exploring the benefits of concurrently treating co-occurring substance use and lend credence to the perspective that motivation to use substances for coping reasons is of central theoretical and clinical relevance.
Prospective analysis of radiofrequency versus mechanical debridement of isolated patellar chondral lesions.

PURPOSE Debridment is used to treat Outerbridge grades 2 and 3 lesions in a mechanically aligned and properly tracking patella. It removes fibrillation and provides a stable rim of chondral tissue. Recent basic science reports suggest that radiofrequency probes are superior to mechanical shavers for articular cartilage debridement. The goal of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of debridement of patellar grade 2 and 3 chondral lesions using radiofrequency and mechanical devices. TYPE OF STUDY Patients were prospectively randomized into 2 treatment groups. METHODS Consecutive female patients undergoing arthroscopy for symptomatic, isolated patellar cartilage lesions without evidence of instability, malalignment, or patellar tracking dysfunction were prospectively randomized into radiofrequency and mechanical debridement groups based on medical record number. All patients had failed a 6-month course of conservative treatment and had chondral pathology documented by magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were assessed before and after surgery using the Fulkerson-Shea Patellofemoral Joint Evaluation Score. RESULTS Nineteen patients (mean age, 37.5 years) underwent chondral debridement using a mechanical shaver and 20 patients (mean age, 36.9 years) underwent chondral debridement using a bipolar radiofrequency probe at nonablative energy levels. The mechanical group had a mean preoperative score of 59.2 and the radiofrequency group had a mean preoperative score of 59.6. Postoperative scores at 12-month follow-up were 80.0 for the mechanical group and 87.9 for the radiofrequency group (P =.0031). At 24 months, the mean score of the mechanical group was 77.5 and the mean of the radiofrequency group was 86.6 (P =.0006). CONCLUSIONS This study presents clear evidence of superior clinical outcome of debridement of patellar grade 2 and 3 chondral lesions with the use of bipolar radiofrequency versus a mechanical shaver.
A Novel Spatial–Spectral Similarity Measure for Dimensionality Reduction and Classification of Hyperspectral Imagery

In recent years, dimensionality reduction (DR) and classification have become important issues of hyperspectral image analysis. In this paper, we propose a new spatial-spectral similarity measure, which maps the distances between two image patches in hyperspectral images. Including spatial information by using the spatial neighbors, the proposed similarity measure is based on the fact that the observed pixels in the images are spatially related, and the meaningful features can be extracted from both the spectral and spatial domains. First, the new similarity measure can effectively exploit the rich spectral and spatial structures of data, thus improving the original k-nearest neighbor (kNN) classification methods. Second, the new similarity measure can be incorporated into existing DR methods including linear or nonlinear techniques. With the merits of the proposed similarity measure, the modified DR methods become effective in dealing with the redundancy resulting from spectral signature as well as the spatial relation among pixels. A comparative study and analysis based on classification experiments using five real hyperspectral data sets, which were acquired by different instruments, is conducted to evaluate the proposed similarity measure. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed measure is promising for combining spectral and spatial information when applied to DR and classification of hyperspectral data sets.
TLR9 Regulates TLR7- and MyD88-Dependent Autoantibody Production and Disease in a Murine Model of Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against nucleic acid-associated Ags. We previously found that Tlr7 was required for anti-Sm and Tlr9 for anti-chromatin autoantibodies. Yet, although Tlr7 deficiency ameliorated disease, Tlr9 deficiency exacerbated it. Despite the mechanistic and clinical implications of this finding, it has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we characterize MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice genetically deficient in Tlr7, Tlr9, both Tlr7 and Tlr9, or Myd88 to test whether Tlr7 and Tlr9 function independently or instead regulate each other. We find that disease that is regulated by Tlr9 (and hence is worse in its absence) depends on Tlr7 for its manifestation. In addition, although Tlr7 and Tlr9 act in parallel pathways on different subsets of autoantibodies, Tlr9 also suppresses the production of Tlr7-dependent RNA-associated autoantibodies, suggesting previously unrecognized cross-regulation of autoantibody production as well. By comparing disease in mice deficient for Tlr7 and/or Tlr9 to those lacking Myd88, we also identify aspects of disease that have Tlr- and Myd88-independent components. These results suggest new models for how Tlr9 regulates and Tlr7 enhances disease and provide insight into aspects of autoimmune disease that are, and are not, influenced by TLR signals.