Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in rat neuroglia cells

Abstract Aim: To find the cytotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) posed to neuroglia cells. Methods: This study tested the inhibiting effect of different sized nano-TiO2 on the cell survival rate for rat astrocytes in vitro and in vivo and pathological analysis was also done to evaluate its effect; IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 of rat brain tissue was also examined. Results: In vitro examination, the inhibiting effect of nano-TiO2 on the cell survival rate, was significantly enhanced dose dependently. There were also obvious changes in cellular configuration, such as sparse arrangement, increscent cell spaces, increasing intracellular particles and decreasing cellular transparency. When rats were exposed to nano-TiO2 of 10 and 20 nm in diameter in 1.0 and 10.0 mg kg−1, the concentrations IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 in brain tissue increased with the dose of nano-TiO2. Pathological observation indicated that the blood–brain barrier was destroyed and resulted in brain tissue necrosis, inflammation and cellular oedema. Conclusions: Nano-TiO2 is toxic to rat neuroglia cells. This toxicity may be related to particle size and the mechanism may be associated with its induction inflammation.
An Analysis of Multiple Similarity Measures for Ontology Mapping Problem

This paper presents an analysis of similarity measures for the ontology mapping problem. To that end, 48 similarity measures such as string matching and knowledge based similarities that have been widely used in ontology mapping systems are defined. The similarity measures are investigated by discriminant analysis with a real-world data set. As a result, it was possible to identify 22 effective similarity measures for the ontology mapping problem out of 48 possible similarity measures. The identified measures have a wide variety in the type of similarity. To test whether the identified similarity measures are effective for the problem, experiments were conducted with all 48 similarity measures and the 22 identified similarity measures by using two major machine learning methods, decision tree and support vector machine. The experimental results show that the performance of the 48 cases and the 22 cases is almost the same regardless of the machine learning method. This implies that effective features for the ontology mapping problem were successfully identified.
Gluten‐free diet prevents diabetes in NOD mice

Epidemiological as well as animal studies have shown that environmental factors such as nutrition contribute to the development of diabetes. In this study we investigated whether the early introduction of a gluten‐free diet can influence the onset and/or incidence of diabetes, as well as insulitis and the number of gut mucosal lymphocytes, in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice.
Mems-based semi-packed gas chromatography column with wavy channel configuration

This paper reports the fabrication and performance of a semi-packed column with wavy channel configuration. The 2-m long, 80-μ m wide, and 300-μ m deep column is made by deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) technology, and contains embedded circular posts of 30 μ m in diameter. The posts and curved groove increase the overall surface area of the column, which leading to higher separation efficiency. In order to achieve an even flow velocity in the channel, the arrangement position, shape, size of embedded posts are explored by the finite element method (FEM) in the semi-packed wavy gas chromatography column. The simulation results show that the gas samples experience less variation in the velocity profile of the semi-packed wavy column than the semi-packed rectangular MEMS column, and possess shorter mass transfer distance than the open one. The micro-fabricated column is used to separate normal alkanes from C5 to C12 to test its performance. The experimental separation results indicate that the theoretical plate number obtained by the proposed semi-packed wavy gas chromatography device is about 4 times higher than that obtained from the open rectangular column under the same injection conditions.
Health-related quality of life in long-term survivors after renal cancer treatment

Abstract Objective. The most important outcome of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment is survival. However, all cancer treatment should evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcome of the treatment. This has not been sufficiently documented in RCC. The aim of this investigation was therefore to document the HRQoL outcome of RCC. Material and methods. All 413 RCC patients treated with radical or partial nephrectomy at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway, during the period 1997--2010 were included. After exclusions, invitations to participate were mailed to 260 patients; 185 patients (71%) returned the questionnaires. In addition, a cohort of general head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, a cohort of laryngectomized HNSCC patients, and a cohort from the general population of Norway, were used to compare the RCC patients' HRQoL scores. Results. Performance status as measured by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) classification at diagnosis showed an inverse relation to HRQoL [maximum coefficient of variation (CVmax) = 5.3%, p < 0.05]. Flank and open transabdominal approaches to RCC tumour resection were followed by reduced HRQoL compared with a general cohort of Norwegian citizens. However, the laparoscopically treated RCC patients had HRQoL scores at the level of the population. The indices “general health/QoL”, the functional indices, and the symptom indices “fatigue”, “pain”, “sleep”, “nausea and vomiting”, “constipation” and “diarrhoea” were particularly affected. Conclusion. The results show that RCC patients, and in particular those treated by a flank approach but not those treated by minimal invasive surgery, have a multifacetedly reduced HRQoL compared to a general population cohort.
A histochemical study of muscle spindles and their relationship to extrafusal fiber types in the rat.

Hindlimb muscles of the rat were studied in serial section with enzyme histochemical methods. Muscle fibers, both extrafusal and intrafusal, were compared as to their relative succinic dehydrogenase and phosphorylase activity, indicative of oxidative and glycolytic metabolism respectively. The superficial fascicles of a number of white (fast-twitch) muscles are composed almost exclusively of glycolytic (type A) muscle fibers, whereas the deep fascicles contain a mixture of oxidative (type B) and oxidative-glycolytic (type C) fibers. Muscle spindles are found only among the deep fascicles of these fast muscles. Neither the soleus, a red (slow-twitch) muscle comprised mainly of type B fibers, nor the middle lumbrical muscles, with a fairly uniform distribution of several fiber types, exhibit so specific a spindle disposition. Thus a close spatial relationship exists between spindles and certain types of muscle fibers, presumbly representing specific types of motor units. Within the spindles, the nuclear-bag intrafusal fibers are generally of types A and B, and of a third variety characterized by both low oxidative and low glycolytic activity. The latter fiber-type is not commonly observed in the extrafusal musculature. Nuclear-chain intrafusal fibers resemble type C fibers. Speed of contraction and enzymes of energy metabolism of extrafusal fibers are known to be neurally regulated. The several types of histochemically distinguishable intrafusal fibers probably reflect differences in motor innervation and possibly differing contraction-kinetics.
A probabilistic method for foreground and shadow segmentation

This paper presents a probabilistic method for foreground segmentation that distinguishes moving objects from their cast shadows in monocular indoor image sequences. The models of background, shadow, and edge information are set up and adaptively updated. A Bayesian framework is proposed to describe the relationships among the segmentation label, background, intensity, and edge information. A Markov random field is used to boost the spatial connectivity of the segmented regions. The solution is obtained by maximizing the posterior probability density of the segmentation field.
Yield and complications in percutaneous renal biopsy

Purpose: to compare the yield and complications of ultrasound-guided gun-biopsy and manual Tru-Cut techniques in percutaneous renal biopsy. Material and Methods: A total of 448 biopies were reviewed. They comprised 124 manual and 131 gun-biopsies in native kidneys, and 111 manual and 82 gun-biopsies in transplant kidneys. the gun-biopsies were performed under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance. the manual technique used US mainly for marking the position of the kidney. Results: There was a significantly higher diagnostic yield and fewer complications in the gun-biopsy group. A total of 8 major complications were found, all in the manual group. Conclusion: Provided that the operator is experienced in US scanning, a switch from the manual technique to real-time US-guided gun-biopsy will result in the improvement of diagnostic accuracy together with a reduced risk of complications.
Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in a government piggery farm in Owerri, Nigeria

The acquisition of antibiotic-resistant commensal Escherichia coli was examined in a cohort of newborn pigs. Faecal samples were collected weekly from young pigs over a 2 month period and screened for E. coli resistant to ampicillin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin at concentrations of 16, 8, 8 and 8 mg/l, respectively. E. coli viable counts were also performed on the samples. All the pigs acquired gentamicin-, nalidixic acid- and ampicillin-resistant E. coli , while 80% acquired ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli during the study. Sixty-five per cent of samples were resistant to at least one of the four antibiotics. The prevalence of the antibiotics declined significantly with age and time (p Keywords : antibiotics resistance, Escherichia coli , new-born pigs, faecal samples. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. Vol. 2 (3) 2008: pp. 363-367
In vitro Effects of Enamel Matrix Proteins on Rat Bone Marrow Cells and Gingival Fibroblasts

Emdogain® (EMD), a formulation of Enamel Matrix Proteins (EMP), is used clinically for periodontal regeneration, where it stimulates cementum formation and promotes gingival healing. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of EMD on rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) and gingival fibroblasts (GF). EMD (at 25 μg/mL) increased the osteogenic capacity of bone marrow, as evidenced by ~ three-fold increase in BMSC cell number and ~ two-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodule formation. The presence of EMD in the initial stages (first 48 hrs) of the culture was crucial for this effect. In contrast, EMD did not induce osteoblastic differentiation of GF (evidenced by lack of mineralization or ALP activity) but increased up to two-fold both their number and the amount of matrix produced. These in vitro data on BMSC and GF could explain the promotive effect of EMD on bone formation and connective tissue regeneration, respectively.
Bending stiffness of lipid bilayers. III. Gaussian curvature

The Gaussian curvature tern in the expression for the energy density in bending of a lipid bilayer can be decomposed in two terns one symmetric and the other one antisymmetric in the principal curvatures. The symmetric tern is proportional to the square of the mean local curvature. A similar tern has exclusively been used to calculate the equilibrium shape of bilayer structures the topology of Which does not change. It is suggested that the antisymmetric tern which is proportional to the square of the deviator of the local curvature should not be neglected in such calculations.
Secure and Efficient Key Agreement Protocols for Wireless Communication

The key agreement protocol is the most important part to establish a secure cryptographic system and the effort to standardize the key agreement protocols is progress rapidly. Several efficient and secure key agreement protocols have been proposed so far since Diffie-Hellman proposed a public key agreement system in 1976. But, because Diffie-Hellman based key agreement protocols need a lot of computation to establish the session key, they are not proper to apply wireless Internet environment. In this paper, we propose the secure and efficient key agreement protocols using proxy server. The proposed protocols support the security of the Diffie-Hellman based protocol and the computation work of mobile user can be decreased using proxy server
Arterial Events after Ischemic Stroke at a Young Age: A Cross-Sectional Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients and Controls in Western Norway

Background: There is little information in the literature on the risk of vascular events among patients after ischemic stroke at a young age. Methods: We examined 144 (77%) of 187 long-term survivors of ischemic stroke and compared them with 167 controls. Mean age of the 187 survivors at inclusion was 41.0 years and mean age of the participating patients was 40.8 years. Results: After a mean duration of observation of 11.8 years, we registered arterial events among 54 patients and 14 controls. Ninety patients with index stroke only had no significant risk factors compared with controls without arterial events. Compared with 54 patients with several arterial events, age, incidence of diabetes mellitus, smoking and family history of coronary disease were significantly lower. Conclusions: The results from index-stroke-only patients suggest that a subgroup of patients has a benign course, probably without chronic vascular disease.
Intramural neural pathways between the duodenum and sphincter of Oddi in the Australian brush‐tailed possum in vivo.

1. Balloon distension of the duodenum 2 cm oral or anal to the sphincter of Oddi‐duodenal junction elevated the amplitude of spontaneous sphincter of Oddi phasic contractions by 37.7 +/‐ 8.5 or 120.1 +/‐ 79.8%, respectively (mean +/‐ S.E.M., both n = 6, P < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). To further investigate this response, this study aimed to determine if: (i) electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the duodenum influences sphincter of Oddi activity; (ii) intramural nerves mediate the response; and (iii) nicotinic and/or muscarinic receptors are involved. 2. Electrical field stimulation (70 V, 0.5 ms; 5‐60 Hz, 10‐20 s) of the duodenal anterior serosal surface 2‐4 cm oral or anal to the sphincter of Oddi‐duodenal junction, produced excitatory responses in the sphincter of Oddi in anaesthetized Australian brush‐tailed possums (n = 45). 3. These responses were frequency dependent, maximal at 30 Hz (n = 4) and abolished by tetrodotoxin (9 micrograms kg‐1 I.A.; n = 6), or by crushing the duodenum (n = 3). Hexamethonium bromide (30 mg kg‐1 I.V.) did not significantly alter the response to duodenal EFS either oral (n = 6) or anal (n = 8) to the sphincter of Oddi‐duodenal junction. Atropine sulphate (30 micrograms kg‐1 I.V.) reduced the response to duodenal EFS oral and anal to the sphincter of Oddi‐duodenal junction to 11.2 +/‐ 5.8 (n = 6) and 45.0 +/‐ 26.8% (n = 8), respectively (both P < 0.05). 4. Bilateral cervical vagotomy and guanethidine infusion (10 mg kg‐1 over 15 min I.V.) did not significantly alter the responses to duodenal EFS (n = 7). 5. Excitatory intramural neural pathways between the sphincter of Oddi and the segment of duodenum 4 cm oral and anal to the sphincter of Oddi‐duodenal junction have been demonstrated. These postganglionic pathways may involve muscarinic receptors.
The managed immune system: protecting the womb to delay the tomb

The developing immune system serves as a novel target for disruption by environmental chemicals and drugs, and one that can significantly influence later-life health risks. Specific immune maturational events occur during critical windows of pre- and early postnatal development that are not effectively modeled using adult exposure-assessment or general developmental toxicity screens. The range of postnatal health risks linked to developmental immunotoxicity (DIT) is influenced, in part, by the natural progression of prenatal-neonatal development. In this progression, the pregnancy itself imposes a Th2-bias in utero, and this produces a delay in the acquisition of Th1 functional capacity in the newborn. The status of Th1 regulatory and Th17 populations may also be important in immune function/dysfunction considerations. The necessary shift from a Th2 preferred capacity in late gestation to a more balance functional capacity in the neonate can be disrupted by xenobiotics leaving the child with increased vulnerability to a range of potential diseases. Knowledge of environmental factors that facilitate effective immune functional maturation as well as those xenobiotics capable of disrupting the process is important in strategies to reduce the incidence of diseases such as childhood asthma. Because hormesis has been shown to be an important factor in modulation of the adult immune system, it becomes even more important to understand potentially opposing dose-response effects for the immune system of the fetus, neonate, and juvenile. The direct linkage between immune dysfunction and chronic disease has become abundantly apparent in recent years. Therefore, a more comprehensive and effective approach for the protection of the developing immune system can help to reduce the incidence of later-life chronic diseases.
Prevention and Management of Positional Skull Deformities in Infants

Positional skull deformities may be present at birth or may develop during the first few months of life. Since the early 1990s, US pediatricians have seen an increase in the number of children with cranial asymmetry, particularly unilateral flattening of the occiput, likely attributable to parents following the American Academy of Pediatrics “Back to Sleep” positioning recommendations aimed at decreasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Positional skull deformities are generally benign, reversible head-shape anomalies that do not require surgical intervention, as opposed to craniosynostosis, which can result in neurologic damage and progressive craniofacial distortion. Although associated with some risk of positional skull deformity, healthy young infants should be placed down for sleep on their backs. The practice of putting infants to sleep on their backs has been associated with a drastic decrease in the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome. Pediatricians need to be able to properly differentiate infants with benign skull deformities from those with craniosynostosis, educate parents on methods of proactively decreasing the likelihood of the development of occipital flattening, initiate appropriate management, and make referrals when necessary. This report provides guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of positional skull deformity in an otherwise normal infant without evidence of associated anomalies, syndromes, or spinal disease.
Exacerbation of Crohn's colitis with severe colonic hemorrhage in a patient on rofecoxib

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Preventive medicine for our ailing health care system.

AS THE national debate about our health care system intensifies, it is timely to raise some important issues that should be seriously considered. I refer to the need for more preventive medicine, which should be part of the national debate, but with other basic problems may be passed over in the haste to deal just with cost issues. My aim is not to review the potential health benefits of preventive medicine but to indicate how health promotion should be an essential ingredient combined with curative medicine to create a comprehensive health care system. Although preventive medicine is not solely the domain of physicians, physicians should lead its practice. Preventive cardiology will be considered because heart disease continues to be the leading cause of premature death in our society, because the current practice of cardiology is a major item in our health costs, and because much is known about how to
Histological Study of the Effect of Bioactive Glass on Tibial Bone Repair in Rats

The main goal of this study was to histologically evaluate the healing of surgically created defects on the tibiae of adult rats after implantation of bioactive glass. Twenty adult Wistar rats (body weight of 300g) were divided into two groups: bioglass treated group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Unicortical bone defects with 3-mm diameter were performed in both tibiae of the animals and filled with bioglass particles. The rats were then sacrificed at 14, 30 , 60 and 90 days, and the tissues were prepared for histological processing, sectioning, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin, as well as Mallory trichrome, and analyzed under light microscope. Within 7-14 days, both groups presented connective tissue septa with new bone formation, more intense in bioglass treated group. In the subsequent periods (30, 60 and 90 days), these groups presented more mature bone tissue around the glass particles. Bone trabeculae formed in all experimental periods were juxtaposed to the glass particles. It can be concluded that bioglass materials promoted bone formation over the entire extension of the defect, independently of the size of the granules, thus confirming their biological osteoconductive property.
Stability and quadratic Lyapunov functions for nD systems

We discuss some ideas and preliminary results on the stability of nD systems described by linear constant coefficient PDE's. The stability concept used is Lscr2-stability and Lscr2-asymptotic stability, with time as a distinguished variable. For scalar equations, stability conditions are derived, including methods to make these conditions into LMI's in the system parameters. These conditions are interpreted in terms of Lyapunov functions for systems involving many independent variables. Several open problems for multivariable nD systems are formulated.