Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Central nervous system-immune system interactions: psychoneuroendocrinology of stress and its immune consequences

Psychoneuroimmunology is a relatively new discipline which deals with CNS-immune system interactions. The evidence for such interactions was reviewed, as was the neuroendocrinologic response to stress. Recent evidence indicates that the behavioral, nervous system, and neuroendocrine responses to stress are mediated by hypothalamic CRF, which acts on both the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis, resulting in increased levels of corticosteroids, catecholamines, and certain opiates, substances which are generally immunosuppressive. Concentrations of growth hormone and prolactin, which are immunoenhancing, are elevated early during the response to stress but are later suppressed. Although several other neuromediators may also be released with stress, the net effect of a variety of acute stressors is down regulation of the immune system function. In the following minireview, I consider whether stress alters the resistance of the host to infection as well as the immunomodulatory effects of released immune system mediators on the brain.
NOTES IN DEFENSE OF THE IRAQ CONSTITUTION

This paper is a defense of sorts of the Iraqi constitution, arguing that the language used in it was wisely designed to allow some level of flexibility, such that the constitution could evolve as social and political circumstances necessitated. The point is more than a theoretical one. Enormous changes in the political landscape and understandings of popular will have occurred, and due to the flexibility of the language, the Constitution has not only survived them, but has had its own legitimacy considerably broadened as a result. Such thoughts seem tantamount to a form of academic heresy. Offering kind words on the Iraq constitution is not often done in our current academic and media environment. From its very inception, the constitution has been dismissed as shamelessly imposed upon an unwilling identitarian community—the Arab Sunnis—1 conceived in a “veritable pathology of legality”2 and likely to bring about, as the title of one work put it, “The End of Iraq. ”3 The latter view in particular has been all but proven demonstrably wrong: Iraq’s Constitution has passed its half decade mark, and Iraq is, by all accounts, far more secure, centralized, and confident in its position as a nation state than it was when the Constitution was drafted. Ethnic and sectarian violence no longer
In vitro activity of clavulanic acid, amoxicillin, and ticarcillin against Chlamydia trachomatis

In vitro, growth of Chlamydia trachomatis was not entirely eliminated by 960 micrograms of ticarcillin per ml, 64 micrograms of amoxicillin per ml, 32 micrograms of clavulanic acid per ml, a combination of ticarcillin (480 micrograms/ml) and clavulanic acid (32 micrograms/ml), and a combination of amoxicillin (32 micrograms/ml) and clavulanic acid (8 micrograms/ml). However, a greater than or equal to 99% decrease in the number of inclusions was obtained at concentrations readily attainable in serum.
M üllerian-Type Gland Inclusions in Pelvic Lym ph N odes M im icking M etastasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The presence of exogenous cells in lymph nodes are generally diagnostic of metastasis. An exception to this rule are the benign inclusions, either glandular or nonglandular, with the glandular being more common, of a Müllerian origin (endosalpingiosis) (1∼5). Endosalpingiosis-type inclusions are observed within pelvic and periaortic lymph nodes, exclusively in women, with or without concomitant disease of the female genital tract (1). Rare cases have been described in men (6). Although intranodal endosalpingiosis is a well-recognized entity, it may be confused with a metastatic carcinoma, especially in patients with known primary malignancies. It is thus important to be aware that benign intranodal inclusions may occur, and mimic metastasis. However, to our knowledge no such lesions have previously appeared in the Korean literature. This paper presents a case of endosalpingiosis in the pelvic lymph nodes of a 50-year-old woman, with a review of the relevant literature.
Culture, Temporal Focus, and Values of the Past and the Future

This article examines cultural differences in how people value future and past events. Throughout four studies, the authors found that European Canadians attached more monetary value to an event in the future than to an identical event in the past, whereas Chinese and Chinese Canadians placed more monetary value to a past event than to an identical future event. The authors also showed that temporal focus—thinking about the past or future—explained cultural influences on the temporal value asymmetry effect. Specifically, when induced to think about and focus on the future, Chinese valued the future more than the past, just like Euro-Canadians; when induced to think about and focus on the past, Euro-Canadians valued the past more than the future, just like Chinese.
LET-413/Erbin acts as a RAB-5 effector to promote RAB-10 activation during endocytic recycling

RAB-10/Rab10 is a master regulator of endocytic recycling in epithelial cells. To better understand the regulation of RAB-10 activity, we sought to identify RAB-10(GDP)–interacting proteins. One novel RAB-10(GDP)–binding partner that we identified, LET-413, is the Caenorhabditis elegans homologue of Scrib/Erbin. Here, we focus on the mechanistic role of LET-413 in the regulation of RAB-10 within the C. elegans intestine. We show that LET-413 is a RAB-5 effector and colocalizes with RAB-10 on endosomes, and the overlap of LET-413 with RAB-10 is RAB-5 dependent. Notably, LET-413 enhances the interaction of DENN-4 with RAB-10(GDP) and promotes DENN-4 guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity toward RAB-10. Loss of LET-413 leads to cytosolic dispersion of the RAB-10 effectors TBC-2 and CNT-1. Finally, we demonstrate that the loss of RAB-10 or LET-413 results in abnormal overextensions of lateral membrane. Hence, our studies indicate that LET-413 is required for DENN-4–mediated RAB-10 activation, and the LET-413–assisted RAB-5 to RAB-10 cascade contributes to the integrity of C. elegans intestinal epithelia.
Optimal operational planning for PV-Wind-Diesel-battery microgrid

Global optimal solution to microgrid operational planning problem can be obtained by using a Modified Optimal Dispatch Strategy (MODS) which combines Load Following Dispatch Strategy (LFDS) and Cycle Charging Dispatch Strategy (CCDS). Most of the dispatching strategies formulated in microgrid operational planning problem may lead to solutions which are not necessarily global optimal. In this work, microgrid operational planning problem is formulated as Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model which includes MODS, LFDS and CCDS. The model includes all constraints for Diesel Generators (DGs), Storage Battery (SB) bank and reserve requirements. Contrary to the simulation-based approach found in many studies, we adopt mathematical optimization approach and implement the model in General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). The model is applied to plan day-ahead operation of a small microgrid in South Sudan. Optimization is performed by using CPLEX 12 solver. MODS is found to give optimal operation plan which has minimum daily operation cost as compared to LFDS and CCDS. This model can be used to plan day-ahead operation of any hybrid PV-Wind-Diesel-Storage microgrid, enabling the operator to consider system reliability by specifying reserve requirements.
Anatomy of the Nasal Cavity in the Chinchilla

There is currently great interest worldwide in developing noninvasive methods for the delivery of vaccines for upper respiratory tract diseases, including middle ear infection (otitis media, OM). One such noninvasive approach believed to have great potential for the prevention of diseases of the airway is to deliver vaccines by the intranasal (i.n.) route. Induction of a local, mucosal immune response in the upper respiratory tract, and particularly in the nasopharynx, would be a highly efficacious approach to prevention of OM. The chinchilla is the preferred rodent host for studying OM. However, although the anatomy of the chinchilla vomeronasal organ, inner ear, middle ear and Eustachian tube have been well-studied, to date there have been no reports in the literature of a similar complete analysis of the nasopharynx and nasal cavities of the chinchilla. In order to develop a relevant animal model of i.n. delivery as a potential immunization approach for the prevention of OM and to use these models for preclinical assessments of various vaccine candidates, it was important that we better understand the anatomy of the chinchilla nasal cavities and nasopharynx. Our anatomical studies revealed that the naso- and maxilloturbinates of the chinchilla nasal cavity more closely resemble the simple turbinates found in other rodents rather than the branched or complex turbinates seen in dogs, cats, and rabbits thus facilitating the i.n. delivery of vaccine candidates. The chinchilla nasal mucosa also contains numerous lymphoid aggregates like that of other rodents. Our findings thus suggest that we will be able to deliver i.n. vaccines effectively to chinchillas and that these vaccines will likely be able to induce specific immune responses.
Molecular and Functional Analyses of Kunjin Virus Infectious cDNA Clones Demonstrate the Essential Roles for NS2A in Virus Assembly and for a Nonconservative Residue in NS3 in RNA Replication

ABSTRACT A number of full-length cDNA clones of Kunjin virus (KUN) were previously prepared; it was shown that two of them, pAKUN and FLSDX, differed in specific infectivities of corresponding in vitro transcribed RNAs by ∼100,000-fold (A. A. Khromykh et al., J. Virol. 72:7270-7279, 1998). In this study, we analyzed a possible genetic determinant(s) of the observed differences in infectivity initially by sequencing the entire cDNAs of both clones and comparing them with the published sequence of the parental KUN strain MRM61C. We found six common amino acid residues in both cDNA clones that were different from those in the published MRM61C sequence but were similar to those in the published sequences of other flaviviruses from the same subgroup. pAKUN clone had four additional codon changes, i.e., Ile59 to Asn and Arg175 to Lys in NS2A and Tyr518 to His and Ser557 to Pro in NS3. Three of these substitutions except the previously shown marker mutation, Arg175 to Lys in NS2A, reverted to the wild-type sequence in the virus eventually recovered from pAKUN RNA-transfected BHK cells, demonstrating the functional importance of these residues in viral replication and/or viral assembly. Exchange of corresponding DNA fragments between pAKUN and FLSDX clones and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the Tyr518-to-His mutation in NS3 was responsible for an ∼5-fold decrease in specific infectivity of transcribed RNA, while the Ile59-to-Asn mutation in NS2A completely blocked virus production. Correction of the Asn59 in pAKUN NS2A to the wild-type Ile residue resulted in complete restoration of RNA infectivity. Replication of KUN replicon RNA with an Ile59-to-Asn substitution in NS2A and with a Ser557-to-Pro substitution in NS3 was not affected, while the Tyr518-to-His substitution in NS3 led to severe inhibition of RNA replication. The impaired function of the mutated NS2A in production of infectious virus was complemented in trans by the helper wild-type NS2A produced from the KUN replicon RNA. However, replicon RNA with mutated NS2A could not be packaged in trans by the KUN structural proteins. The data demonstrated essential roles for the KUN nonstructural protein NS2A in virus assembly and for NS3 in RNA replication and identified specific single-amino-acid residues involved in these functions.
Hydrogen peroxide induces neurite degeneration: Prevention by tocotrienols

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may attack several types of tissues and chronic exposure to ROS may attenuate various biological functions and increase the risk of several types of serious disorders. It is known that treatments with ROS attack neurons and induce cell death. However, the mechanisms of neuronal change by ROS prior to induction of cell death are not yet understood. Here, it was found that treatment of neurons with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide induced neurite injury, but not cell death. Unusual bands located above the original collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP)-2 protein were detected by western blotting. Treatment with tocopherol or tocotrienols significantly inhibited these changes in neuro2a cells and cerebellar granule neurons (CGCs). Furthermore, prevention by tocotrienols of hydrogen peroxide-induced neurite degeneration was stronger than that by tocopherol. These findings indicate that neurite beading is one of the early events of neuronal degeneration prior to induction of death of hydrogen peroxide-treated neurons. Treatment with tocotrienols may protect neurite function through its neuroprotective function.
Evaluation of FASP, SP3, and iST Protocols for Proteomic Sample Preparation in the Low Microgram Range.

Efficient and reproducible sample preparation is a prerequisite for any robust and sensitive quantitative bottom-up proteomics workflow. Here, we performed an independent comparison between single-pot solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3), filter-aided sample preparation (FASP), and a commercial kit based on the in-StageTip (iST) method. We assessed their performance for the processing of proteomic samples in the low μg range using varying amounts of HeLa cell lysate (1-20 μg of total protein). All three workflows showed similar performances for 20 μg of starting material. When handling sample sizes below 10 μg, the number of identified proteins and peptides as well as the quantitative reproducibility and precision drastically dropped in case of FASP. In contrast, SP3 and iST provided high proteome coverage even in the low μg range. Even when digesting 1 μg of starting material, both methods still enabled the identification of over 3000 proteins and between 25 000 and 30 000 peptides. On average, the quantitative reproducibility between experimental replicates was slightly higher in case of SP3 (R2 = 0.97 (SP3); R2 = 0.93 (iST)). Applying SP3 toward the characterization of the proteome of FACS-sorted tumor-associated macrophages in the B16 tumor model enabled the quantification of 2965 proteins and revealed a "mixed" M1/M2 phenotype.
A Multi-focus Image Fusion Based on Wavelet and Region Detection

For most image fusion algorithms split relationship among pixels and treat them more or less independently, this paper proposes a region based multi-focus image fusion scheme using wavelet transform, morphological and genetic algorithm, which combines aspects of feature and pixel-level fusion. The basic idea is to select sharply focused regions from source images and to combine them together to reconstruct the resultant image in which all the regions are properly focused. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms Haar wavelet approach and morphological wavelet approach, both in visual effect and objective evaluation criteria, particularly when there is movement in the objects or mis-registration of the source images.
The Relationship between Obesity and Cognitive Performance in Children: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND The relationship between obesity and academic outcomes remains unclear. We evaluated the association between obesity and cognitive performance in US children. METHODS We analyzed two nationally representative prospective cohorts of children in the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, ages 2 through 8 at baseline and followed for 6 years, from 1988 to 1994 (cohort 1, n=2672) and 1994 to 2000 (cohort 2, n=1991). The main exposure variable was obesity (defined as never obese, became obese, always obese, and became nonobese). The main outcomes were standardized scores on four cognitive assessments. Univariate regression analyses of test scores on obesity were performed. Fixed-effects regression models, controlling for measured and unmeasured time-invariant confounders, were additionally adjusted for time-variant confounders to analyze the impact of change in obesity status on change in test scores. RESULTS Unadjusted analyses revealed a significant association between obesity and Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) scores. In cohort 1, always obese children had lower PIAT math scores than never obese children (β=-7.48; p<0.05). Always obese boys had lower PIAT math scores than those who were never obese (β=-16.45; p<0.01). In cohort 2, PIAT math scores were lower in the became obese category than the never obese category (β=-4.10; p<0.05). Always obese girls had lower PIAT reading scores than those who were never obese (β=-11.28; p<0.01). Fixed-effects models additionally adjusted for Home Observation Measurement of the Environment, Short Form score and height percentile showed no significant relationship between obesity and test scores in either cohort. CONCLUSION Childhood obesity is unlikely to be causally related to cognitive performance.
Informed Consent with Children

Carolyn L. Walker, RN, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at San Diego State University in San Diego, California. Historical Perspective The need for guidelines to protect human research subjects originated from the trials of Nazi physicians in Nuremberg. The major defense for those physicians was that they were conducting important scientific research. In an effort to judge their conduct against standards for clinical research, Dr. Andrew Ivy wrote a code of ethics for scientific experimentation. The code of ethics was accepted by the Nuremberg court and is now known as the &dquo;Nuremberg Laws. &dquo; The Articles of the Nuremberg Tribunal provide ethical guidelines for: (1) the proper nature and design. of medical research; (2) the qualifications, duties and responsibility of the investigator ; and (3) protection of the rights of human subjects.
OCF: A New Open IoT Consortium

This paper illustrates on the new Internet of ThingsConsortium as OCF stands for Open Connectivity Foundationthat is creating a specification and open source simultaneously tobe broadly adopted in various industries. OCF is a uniquespecification and open source project that delivers just-worksinterconnectivity for developers, manufacturers and end users.
A Permeance-Based Transformer Model and Its Application to Winding Interturn Arcing Fault Studies

This paper investigates the behavior of power transformers under the occurrence of permanent or intermittent winding insulation faults. For the study of these phenomena, a simple and efficient permeance-based electromagnetic transformer model is proposed, which is based on the simultaneous consideration of magnetic and electric equivalent circuits. To incorporate the internal faults in this model, a suitable equivalent circuit of the faulty winding is described. With the aid of this transformer model, the onload exciting current Park's Vector Approach will be applied for diagnosing the occurrence of permanent and intermittent winding faults. Experimental and simulation tests results are presented in this paper, which demonstrate not only the adequacy of the digital transformer model for winding fault studies, but also the effectiveness of the proposed technique for detecting winding interturn insulation faults in operating three-phase transformers.
ACUTE PAIN & PERIOPERATIVE PAIN SECTION Original Research Articles Effect on Pain Relief and Inflammatory Response Following Addition of Tenoxicam to Intravenous Patient-Controlled Morphine Analgesia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Study in Patients Undergoing Spine Fusion Surgery

Objective. This study tested the hypothesis that adding tenoxicam (T) to intravenous patient- controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) with morphine (M) would improve postoperative pain relief and wound inflammatory responses compared with M alone after spine surgery. Design. Randomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled study.
Induction of insulin resistance by androgens and estrogens.

Hyperinsulinemia is a common finding in hyperandrogenic women, during pregnancy, and in women using oral contraceptives. To test whether sex hormone treatment can induce insulin resistance in healthy subjects, we studied the effects of administration of testosterone to 13 female to male and of ethinyl estradiol to 18 male to female transsexuals. Utilization and production of glucose and levels of sex steroids were measured during a three-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp before and after 4 months of hormone administration. Females were treated with im injections of testosterone esters (250 mg/2 weeks); males were treated with ethinyl estradiol alone (0.1 mg/day, orally) or a combination of ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone acetate (100 mg/day, orally). Similar insulin levels were achieved at each of the three steps of the clamp studies before and during hormone administration. During step 1 of each clamp, with insulin levels in the physiological range, glucose utilization decreased from 3.5 +/- 1.2 to 2.6 +/- 0.9 mmol/kg lean body mass (LBM). h in women treated with testosterone esters (P < 0.001) and from 3.2 +/- 0.7 to 2.5 +/- 0.5 mmol/kg lean body mass.h in men treated with ethinyl estradiol (P < 0.001). The effects of sex steroids during steps 2 and 3 of the clamp at higher (supraphysiological) insulin levels were less clear. Endogenous glucose production (measured by isotope dilution with tritiated glucose) was not affected by hormone administration, indicating that the observed changes in glucose requirement were determined by a diminished peripheral glucose uptake. We conclude that sex hormone administration, i.e. testosterone treatment in females and ethinyl estradiol treatment in males, can induce insulin resistance in healthy subjects.
Fluoro-deoxy-glucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Pattern in a Patient with Linitis Plastica of the Stomach Caused by Primary Signet Cell Adenocarcinoma

We report the findings of [18F] fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) performed in a 67-year-old female with suspicion of gastric carcinoma. Intense FDG uptake was noted in the thickened gastric wall. Subsequent laparotomy showed diffuse involvement of the gastric wall by signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. This report highlights FDG PET/CT pattern in linitis plastica of the stomach caused by primary signet cell adenocarcinoma.
Identification of a Potential Ejaculation Generator in the Spinal Cord

We tested the significance of a population of lumbar spinothalamic cells for male sexual behavior in rats. These cells are positioned to relay ejaculation-related signals from reproductive organs to the brain, and they express neurokinin-1 receptors. Ablation of these neurons by the selective toxin SSP-saporin resulted in a complete disruption of ejaculatory behavior. In contrast, other components of sexual behavior remained intact. These results suggest that this population of spinothalamic cells plays a pivotal role in generation of ejaculatory behavior and may be part of a spinal ejaculation generator.