Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biocompatibility of resin-based materials used as pulp-capping agents.

AIM To evaluate and compare the response of pulps of rats capped with resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RMGIC) or self-etching adhesive system. METHODOLOGY Class I cavities were prepared on the occlusal surface of 54 maxillary first molars of 27 rats. Pulp exposure was performed on the cavity floor. The following resin-based materials were applied as pulp-capping agents: G1, Clearfil Liner Bond 2V (CLB 2V; Kuraray Co., Japan); G2, Vitrebond (VIT; 3M/ESPE, USA). In group 3 (control group), a calcium hydroxide/saline paste (CH; Labsynth, Brazil) was used. The cavities were restored with amalgam. After 7, 30 and 60 days, the animals were sacrificed and the jaws were processed for microscopic evaluation. RESULTS Despite the inflammatory response caused by the experimental and the control materials at 7 days, pulpal healing associated with calcified barrier formation was observed at 60 days following the pulp therapy. Both resin-based materials promoted a large zone of cell-rich fibrodentine matrix deposition on the pulp horn related to the pulp exposure site, which was larger to VIT than to CLB 2V specimens. Tertiary dentine underneath the fibrodentine matrix was deposited by a layer of elongated pulpal cells. The remaining pulpal tissue exhibited normal histological characteristics. In the control group, healing and dentine-bridge formation was observed at 30 days. Pulpal breakdown occurred only when bacterial infection occurred. CONCLUSION Both experimental pulp-capping agents allowed pulpal healing characterized by cell-rich fibrodentine and tertiary dentine deposition as well as calcified barrier formation.
Low plasma orexin-A levels were improved by continuous positive airway pressure treatment in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

INTRODUCTION We have previously shown that plasma levels of orexin-A, a neuropeptide with an arousal-stimulating action, were decreased in parallel with the severity of the disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). OBJECTIVE To clarify the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment on plasma orexin-A levels in patients with this syndrome. METHOD Sleep tests and blood sample collections were conducted at the sleep-related respiratory disorders clinic and the sleep laboratory of the Iwate Medical University Hospital. We studied 27 patients with OSAHS (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], >/= 20 by polysomnography) who were treated with nCPAP for 3 to 6 months. These patients were divided into the following two groups according to the arousal index (AI): group A (n = 11), >/= 60; group B (n = 16), < 60. Plasma samples were obtained before and after the nCPAP treatment for 3 to 6 months. Plasma immunoreactive (IR)-orexin-A concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after the extraction using cartridges. RESULTS Plasma IR-orexin-A concentrations were inversely correlated with the AI (r = -0.807; p < 0.0001) and AHI (r = -0.661; p < 0.0001) in 27 patients before the nCPAP treatment. Mean (+/- SEM) plasma IR-orexin-A concentrations were significantly lower in group A (1.0 +/- 0.3 pmol/L) than in group B (4.6 +/- 0.4 pmol/L). Mean plasma IR-orexin-A concentrations were significantly increased after the nCPAP treatment in group A (to 3.4 +/- 1.2 pmol/L; p = 0.0069), whereas they were not significantly changed in group B. The increases in plasma IR-orexin-A concentrations after the nCPAP treatment were in parallel with the improvements in AI and Epworth sleepiness scale (a marker of severity of daytime excessive sleepiness) score in group A. CONCLUSIONS The low plasma orexin-A levels were increased by the nCPAP treatment in patients with severe OSAHS, suggesting that orexin-A is a plasma marker that reflects the severity of OSAHS and the response to treatment.
Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Spondylotic degeneration in the cervical spine may result in static and/or dynamic spinal cord compression that can lead to the associated signs and symptoms of myelopathy. Clinical examination combined with appropriate imaging studies help to confirm the diagnosis. Classic natural history and basic science studies suggest a pernicious course of demyelination and neurologic decline in a large subset of patients. The characterization of disease severity and progression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy has improved in recent years with imaging and data from prospective and multicenter studies. Additionally, advances in surgical techniques, implants, and imaging modalities have improved the identification of surgical candidates with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and associated treatment strategies. Surgical treatment, via an anterior, posterior, or a combined approach, is primarily intended to arrest neurologic progression, although it can improve function in many patients. Alignment and the characteristics and location of spinal cord compression help determine the ideal surgical approach. Distinct complications associated with each technique may be mitigated by appropriate patient selection and should be discussed preoperatively to ensure informed decision making.
Prostate cancer: another aspect of the insulin‐resistance syndrome?

Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia are thoughtto be the underlying factors in the metabolic or insulin‐resistancesyndrome and can be controlled by diet and exercise. Hyperinsulinaemiahas been shown to have a direct effect on the liver, suppressingthe production of sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin‐likegrowth factor‐binding proteins 1 and 2 (IGFBP‐1, ‐2) while stimulatingthe production of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1). These factorshave been proposed to be important modulators of hormone‐related cancers,such as prostate cancer. Men adopting a low‐fat diet and daily exercise reducedtheir levels of serum insulin and IGF‐1, while increasing theirlevels of IGFBP‐1 and sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG). Cell‐culturestudies with LNCaP prostate cancer cells showed apoptosis of tumourcells and a reduction in serum‐stimulated cell growth in the postdiet and exercise serum. These results suggest that prostate cancermay be another aspect of the insulin‐resistance syndrome and thatadopting a low‐fat diet combined with regular exercise may reducethe risk for prostate and other hormone‐related cancers. This needsto be tested with prospective studies.
A Novel Piecewise Linear Recursive Convolution Approach for Dispersive Media Using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method

Two novel methods for implementing recursively the convolution between the electric field and a time dependent electric susceptibility function in the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method are presented. Both resulting algorithms are straightforward to implement and employ an inclusive susceptibility function which holds as special cases the Lorentz, Debye, and Drude media relaxations. The accuracy of the new proposed algorithms is found to be systematically improved when compared to existing standard piecewise linear recursive convolution (PLRC) approaches, it is conjectured that the reason for this improvement is that the new proposed algorithms do not make any assumptions about the time variation of the polarization density in each time interval; no finite difference or semi-implicit schemes are used for the calculation of the polarization density. The only assumption that these two new methods make is that the first time derivative of the electric field is constant within each FDTD time interval.
Subcutaneous administration of liraglutide ameliorates Alzheimer-associated tau hyperphosphorylation in rats with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Type 2 diabetes increases the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Brain insulin resistance contributes to the pathogenesis of AD, and abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau protein is crucial to neurodegeneration. Here we studied whether liraglutide, an agonist of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and a new anti-diabetic drug, can promote brain insulin signaling and inhibit tau hyperphosphorylation in the brains of type 2 diabetic rats. METHODS Type 2 diabetic rats were treated with subcutaneous administration of liraglutide (0.2 mg/kg body weight) or, as a control, saline twice a day for up to four weeks. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain tissue (n = 7 each group) were collected for analyses after liraglutide or saline administration for one, two, three, and four weeks. RESULTS We found decreased CSF insulin, hyperphosphorylation of tau at AD-relevant phosphorylation sites, and decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in the brain, which indicated decreased insulin signaling leading to overactivation of GSK-3β, a major tau kinase, in type 2 diabetic rats. Liraglutide treatment not only ameliorated hyperglycemia and peripheral insulin resistance, but also reversed these brain abnormalities in a time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that subcutaneous administration of liraglutide restores both peripheral and brain insulin sensitivity and ameliorates tau hyperphosphorylation in rats with type 2 diabetes. These findings support the potential use of liraglutide for the prevention and treatment of AD in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Gate-Level Circuit Reliability Analysis: A Survey

Circuit reliability has become a growing concern in today's nanoelectronics, which motivates strong research interest over the years in reliability analysis and reliability-oriented circuit design. While quite a few approaches for circuit reliability analysis have been reported, there is a lack of comparative studies on their pros and cons in terms of both accuracy and efficiency. This paper provides an overview of some typical methods for reliability analysis with focus on gate-level circuits, large or small, with or without reconvergent fanouts. It is intended to help the readers gain an insight into the reliability issues, and their complexity as well as optional solutions. Understanding the reliability analysis is also a first step towards advanced circuit designs for improved reliability in the future research.
Kinetics and Thioredoxin Specificity of Thiol Modulation of the Chloroplast H+-ATPase*

The kinetics of thiol modulation of the chloroplast H+-ATPase (CF0CF1) in membrana were analyzed by employing thioredoxins that were kept reduced by 0.1 mmdithiothreitol. The kinetics of thiol modulation depend on the extent of the proton gradient. The process is an exponential function of the thioredoxin concentration and reaction time and can be described by an irreversible second order reaction. The results indicate that the formation of the complex between thioredoxin and CF0CF1 is slow compared with the subsequent reduction step. Furthermore we have compared the efficiencies of theEscherichia coli thioredoxin Trx and the two chloroplast thioredoxins Tr-m and Tr-f. The second order rate constants are 0.057 (Tr-f), 0.024 (Trx), and 0.010 s−1μm −1 (Tr-m) suggesting that Tr-f rather than Tr-m is the physiological reductant for the chloroplast ATPase. The often employed artificial reductant dithiothreitol exhibits a second order rate constant in thiol modulation of 1.02·10−6s−1 μm −1.
Personalised cancer management: closer, but not here yet.

Personalised cancer management—giving patients optimum treatment according to their individual circumstances (including genetics) and the molecular characteristics of their tumours—is a key theme of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in 2013. Indeed, it is a key theme for oncologists in general, and in all aspects of medicine. Integrating research and innovation directed towards personalised care is also an objective of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 science funding programme [1]. In cancer, personalised medicine is particularly crucial. In no other specialty are the margins between benefit and toxicity so small and the differences between patients so large. Given the narrow therapeutic index of the drugs we use, individual risk factors for toxicity (notably comorbidities and the extent and nature of prior treatments) are crucial in deciding the appropriateness of different interventions. This is evident, for example, with the risk of cardiotoxicity accompanying the use of trastuzumab [2]. We have to deal with profound differences between tumours arising in different organs but also with the potentially bewildering heterogeneity within tumour types. We need to take into account not only the clinical characteristics and histology traditionally used to guide treatment, but also the molecular abnormalities identified by increasingly sophisticated diagnostics. Nowhere is this more evident than in breast cancer, where choice of adjuvant chemotherapy in the individual patient can now be guided by a recurrence risk score based on the assay of 21 genes [3]. The recent ESMO symposium ‘Signalling Pathways in Cancer—targeting the HER/EGFR family’ (1–2 March 2013) discussed the implications for personalised medicine of the wealth of clinically significant information now becoming available from breast, lung and colorectal cancers (CRCs). While the implications for treatment are tumour-specific, the over-arching role of this signalling system provided a common theme.
HIV and HCV discordant injecting partners and their association to drug equipment sharing

Our objective was to examine the association between HIV and HCV discordant infection status and the sharing of drug equipment by injection drug users (IDUs). IDUs were recruited from syringe exchange and methadone treatment programmes in Montreal, Canada. Characteristics of participants and their injecting partners were elicited using a structured questionnaire. Among 159 participants and 245 injecting partners, sharing of syringes and drug preparation equipment did not differ between concordant or discordant partners, although HIV-positive subjects did not share with HIV-negative injectors. Sharing of syringes was positively associated with discordant HIV status (OR=1.85) and negatively with discordant HCV status (OR=0.65), but both results were not statistically significant. Sharing of drug preparation equipment was positively associated with both discordant HIV (OR=1.61) and HCV (OR=1.18) status, but both results were non-significant. Factors such as large injecting networks, frequent mutual injections, younger age, and male gender were stronger predictors of equipment sharing. In conclusion, IDUs do not appear to discriminate drug equipment sharing partners based at least on their HCV infection status. The results warrant greater screening to raise awareness of infection status, post-test counselling to promote status disclosure among partners, and skill-building to avoid equipment sharing between discordant partners.
Effect of sprouting on physical properties and functional and nutritional components of multi-nutrient mixes

Multi-nutrient mixes with different combinations of cereals, millets, pulses, soy protein isolate and dairy whitener were formulated as per the nutritional requirements of school-going children. Effect of malted finger-millet or sprouted green gram present in the mixes on the nutritional and functional properties were studied and compared with their un-sprouted counterparts. On sprouting the Water absorption index and water solubility index increased significantly (p≤0.05) indicating the ability of flour to absorb water and an increase in the amount of soluble materials, which can be easily digested. The crude protein (CP) content of sprouted mixes ranged from 22.5 to 24.8 % and was significantly higher (p≤0.05) than un-sprouted mixes (15.5% to 18.7%). Fats were degraded significantly (p≤0.05) during sprouting/malting. A significant effect (p≤0.05) on oxalic acid, phenolic and antioxidants was found due to malting. Phenolics ranged from 103-115% mg eq of gallic acid/100g in un-sprouted samples and increased to 140% mg.eq of gallic acid/100g which was highly desirable. The oxalic acid content in un-sprouted combinations ranged from 93.2- 101.2 mg% which decreased significantly (p≤0.05) to 21.6 mg% due to malting of finger-millet, making calcium in the mixes more available. Results indicate that sprouted mixes can be used to develop snacks for children with nutritional and functional benefits.
Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 Synergizes with Other Transcription Factors through Multiple Interactions with p300/CBP Coactivators*

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7 is activated in response to virus infection and stimulates the transcription of a set of cellular genes involved in host antiviral defense. The mechanism by which IRF-7 is activated and cooperates with other transcription factors is not fully elucidated. Activation of IRF-7 results from a conformational change triggered by the virus-dependent phosphorylation of its C terminus. This conformational change leads to dimerization, nuclear accumulation, DNA-binding, and transcriptional transactivation. Here we show that activation of IRF-7, like that of IRF-3, is dependent on modifications of two distinct sets of Ser/Thr residues. Moreover, we show that different virus-inducible cis-acting elements display requirements for specific IRFs. In particular, the virus-responsive element of the ISG15 gene promoter can be activated by either IRF-3 or IRF-7 alone, whereas the P31 element of the interferon-β gene is robustly activated only when IRF-3, IRF-7, and the p300/CBP coactivators are all present. Furthermore, we find that IRF-7 interacts with four distinct regions of p300/CBP. These interactions not only stimulate the intrinsic transcriptional activity of IRF-7, but they are also indispensable for its ability to strongly synergize with other transcription factors, including c-Jun and IRF-3.
A Grammar-Based Approach to Visual Category Learning

In this paper, we investigate one-shot learning in the context of artificial categories with abstract structural characteristics. We propose a grammar-based approach to structure representation, which allows us to treat visual category learning as an instance of grammar induction. We provide a model of one-shot learning as Bayesian inference over hypotheses, where grammars are hypotheses and learning amounts to picking the best grammar.
Toxicology across scales: Cell population growth in vitro predicts reduced fish growth

Cells in vitro can save lives of experimental fish used in chemical safety testing. Environmental risk assessment of chemicals is essential but often relies on ethically controversial and expensive methods. We show that tests using cell cultures, combined with modeling of toxicological effects, can replace tests with juvenile fish. Hundreds of thousands of fish at this developmental stage are annually used to assess the influence of chemicals on growth. Juveniles are more sensitive than adult fish, and their growth can affect their chances to survive and reproduce. Thus, to reduce the number of fish used for such tests, we propose a method that can quantitatively predict chemical impact on fish growth based on in vitro data. Our model predicts reduced fish growth in two fish species in excellent agreement with measured in vivo data of two pesticides. This promising step toward alternatives to fish toxicity testing is simple, inexpensive, and fast and only requires in vitro data for model calibration.
Research on the Loss Allocation Scheme Based on Real-Time Data

In this paper, in the foundation of the analysis of practical power system losses after deregulation a loss allocation scheme based on real-time data is presented. The real-time data means average electricity data. The IEEE-5 standard bus system and a practical electrical network are calculated by this scheme. The results shows that the allocating results obtained by using average electricity data are basically identical with the average obtained by using power. The proposed scheme avoids the general difficulties in collecting the power data and provides the feasibility for practicability of electricity market.
The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide on smooth muscle tone and mucus secretion from the ferret trachea

1 The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was examined on the smooth muscle contraction and mucus secretion produced by methacholine and phenylephrine in the ferret whole trachea in vitro. 2 VIP (0.5 to 800 nm) produced a concentration‐dependent relaxation of the ferret trachea contracted by methacholine (1 μm) and phenylephrine (10 μm). The concentration‐response curves for methacholine‐and phenylephrine‐induced contractions were both shifted to the right by VIP (0.1 μm). 3 Methacholine‐induced secretion was inhibited in a concentration‐dependent manner by VIP, whereas that due to phenylephrine was enhanced. The concentration‐response curve for methacholine‐induced secretion was shifted to the right by VIP, whereas the curve for phenylephrine was shifted to the left. 4 Methacholine produced a concentration‐dependent increase in the rate of output of lysozyme from the ferret trachea with no corresponding increase in the concentration of lysozyme in the mucus. Phenylephrine produced a concentration‐dependent increase in the rate of output and in the concentration of lysozyme. 5 VIP (0.1 μm) significantly increased the concentration of lysozyme in the mucus produced by methacholine with no increase in the rate of lysozyme output. However, the rate of lysozyme output due to phenylephrine was significantly increased by VIP (0.1 μm) with no increase in concentration. 6 We suggest that VIP inhibits secretion from mucous cells stimulated by methacholine, and enhances the secretion produced by phenylephrine from serous cells.
Simultaneous quantitative cassette analysis of drugs and detection of their metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry.

A method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) for simultaneous quantification of multiple drugs and detection of their metabolites is described. The new approach offers a significant increase in analytical throughput and is illustrated with analysis of the in vitro metabolism of 19 alpha-1a receptor antagonists. The compounds were separated into four cassette groups by using a computer program as well as by manual examination. The samples from incubation with dog liver microsomes were pooled into the designed cassette groups and analyzed by HPLC/electrospray (ESI) ion trap MS in full-scan mode. The metabolic stability of the drugs was determined by comparing their signals after incubation for 0 and 60 min, respectively. The quantitative results from the cassette analysis procedure agreed well with those obtained from conventional discrete analysis. In addition, the technique allowed simultaneous detection of metabolites formed during the same incubation without having to reanalyze the samples. The metabolites were first characterized by nominal mass measurement of the corresponding protonated molecules. Subsequent multi-stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) on the ion trap instrument allowed confirmation of the detected metabolites.
Helmholtz free energy of finite spin systems near criticality.

We present a quantitative comparison between 4 − e expansion and Monte Carlo estimates of critical finite-size properties: Specifically we consider the Helmholtz free energy (where the overall order parameter rather than its conjugate field is kept fixed) at the bulk critical temperature for a cube with periodic boundary conditions within a 4 − e expansion to one-loop order. An estimate for the complete asymptotic scaling function obtained from renormalization flow equations as well as systematic e-expansion estimates for several amplitude ratios agree well with corresponding Monte Carlo results in three dimensions. The nonequivalence of thermodynamic ensembles for critical finite-size properties is discussed in some detail.