Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial Network Size Scaling in Budding Yeast

Bud, This Mitochondrion's for You How is organelle size adjusted to be appropriate for cell size? Rafelski et al. (p. 822) used a quantitative method for measuring mitochondria in living budding yeast cells and found that rather than using the apparently simplest mechanism of dividing the organelles equally among the mother and daughter cells, the cells adjusted the mitochondrial level in the bud, independent of the mother's own mitochondrial content, size, or age. Yeast cells produce buds with uniform mitochondrial content, even as the aging mother cell loses out. Mitochondria must grow with the growing cell to ensure proper cellular physiology and inheritance upon division. We measured the physical size of mitochondrial networks in budding yeast and found that mitochondrial network size increased with increasing cell size and that this scaling relation occurred primarily in the bud. The mitochondria–to–cell size ratio continually decreased in aging mothers over successive generations. However, regardless of the mother’s age or mitochondrial content, all buds attained the same average ratio. Thus, yeast populations achieve a stable scaling relation between mitochondrial content and cell size despite asymmetry in inheritance.
Transmission of 4×28-Gb/s PAM-4 over 160-km single mode fiber using 10G-class DML and photodiode

We have experimentally demonstrated C-band 112-Gb/s (4×28-Gb/s) PAM-4 transmission over 160-km SMF without inline amplifier based on 10G-class DML and photodiode. Delay interferometer and Volterra filtering are applied to compensate both linear and nonlinear distortions.
Effects of propofol on hemodynamic and inflammatory responses to endotoxemia in rats

Objective: To document the effects of propofol on the hemodynamic and inflammatory responses to endotoxemia in an animal model. Design: Randomized, prospective laboratory study. Setting: University experimental laboratory. Subjects: Thirty‐two male rats. Interventions: The animals were randomly assigned to one of four groups: a) endotoxemia group (n = 8), which received intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin (15 mg/kg over 2 mins); b) control group (n = 8), which was treated identically to the endotoxemia group except for the substitution of 0.9% saline for endotoxin; c) propofol group (n = 8), which was treated identically to the control group but also received propofol (10 mg/kg bolus, followed by infusion at 10 mg/kg/hr) immediately after the injection of 0.9% saline; and d) propofol‐endotoxemia group (n = 8), which was treated identically to the endotoxemia group with the additional administration of propofol (10 mg/kg bolus, followed by infusion at 10 mg/kg/hr) immediately after endotoxin injection. Measurements and Main Results: Hemodynamics, arterial blood gases, and acid‐base status were recorded and the blood propofol concentrations and plasma cytokine concentrations were measured during the 5‐hr observation. Microscopic findings of lung tissue for each group were obtained at necropsy. The systolic arterial pressure and heart rate of the propofol‐endotoxemia group were similar to those of the endotoxemia group. The increases in the plasma cytokine (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐10) concentrations, in the base deficit, and in the infiltration of neutrophils in the air space or vessel walls of the lungs were attenuated in the propofol‐endotoxemia group compared with the endotoxemia group. Conclusions: Propofol attenuated cytokine responses, base deficit, and activation of neutrophils to endotoxemia. These findings suggest that propofol may inhibit inflammatory response and prevent the development of metabolic acidosis during endotoxemia.
Does pain vary across the menstrual cycle? A review

Reproductive hormones are implicated in moderating pain. Animal studies support both pronociceptive and antinociceptive actions of oestradiol and progesterone suggesting that the net effect of these hormones on pain is complex and likely depends on the interaction between hormones and the extent of fluctuation rather than absolute hormone levels. Several clinical pain conditions show variation in symptom severity across the menstrual cycle. Though, there is still no consensus on whether the menstrual cycle influences experimental pain sensitivity in healthy individuals. Comprehensive literature searches on clinical and experimental pain across the menstrual cycle, as well as gonadal hormones and pain were performed using the electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library. Full‐text manuscripts were reviewed for relevancy and reference lists were cross‐checked for additional relevant studies. Most of the more recent, well‐controlled studies show that menstrual cycle phase has no effect on the perception of pain in healthy, pain‐free women. Although recent studies investigating pain‐related brain activation have shown differential activation patterns across the menstrual cycle in regions involved with cognitive and motor function, even in the absence of a behavioural pain response, suggesting that cognitive pain and bodily awareness systems are sensitive to menstrual cycle phase. The interaction between the gonadal hormones and pain perception is intricate and not entirely understood. We suggest further investigations on the association between female reproductive hormones and pain sensitivity by exploring the interaction between clinical and experimental pain and the hormone changes that characterize puberty, post‐partum and the menopause transition.
Air pollution and daily mortality in residential areas of Beijing, China.

The relationship between air pollution and daily mortality in 1989 was examined in two residential areas in Beijing, China. Very high concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) (mean = 102 micrograms/m3, maximum = 630 micrograms/m3) and total suspended particulates (TSPs) (mean = 375 micrograms/m3, maximum = 1,003 micrograms/m3) were observed in these areas. Daily counts of deaths were regressed, using Poisson regression on the logarithm of (SO2) and/or TSPs controlling for effects of temperature, humidity, and day of week. A highly significant association was found between In(SO2) and daily mortality. The risk of total mortality was estimated to increase by 11% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 5%-16%) with each doubling in SO2 concentration. Separately, the association of In(TSP) with total daily mortality was positive but not significant (4% increase in mortality with each doubling in TSP; 95% CI = -2%-11%). When mortality was analyzed separately by cause, the association with a doubling in SO2 was significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (29%), pulmonary heart disease (19%), and cardiovascular disease (11%), and marginally significant for the other nonmalignant causes (8%), but not statistically significant for cancer (2%). A similar association was noted for a doubling in TSP (4%, 38%, and 8% for total, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary heart disease mortality, respectively), but the result was only statistically significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the season-specific analysis, both SO2 and TSP were found to be significant predictors of total daily mortality in summer. In winter, SO2 was again significantly associated with increased mortality, but no positive association was found between TSP and mortality. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Memory, delusions, and the development of acute posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms after intensive care

ObjectiveTo examine prospectively the relationship between memories of intensive care (ICU) and levels of anxiety after ICU discharge, the stability of these memories with time, and their relationship to the development of acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms. DesignCase series cohort assessed by interview at 2 and 8 wks after ICU discharge. SettingDistrict general hospital (serving a population of 350,000) general intensive care unit. PatientsMemories of ICU and anxiety levels were studied in 45 patients after ICU discharge. Thirty patients were examined again at 8 wks to assess memory stability and development of acute PTSD-related symptoms. Measurements and Main Results Standardized interviews and questionnaires were used to assess memory for ICU, anxiety, and depression 2 wks after ICU discharge. In addition, PTSD-related symptoms and panic were assessed 8 wks after ICU discharge. A total of 33 of 45 patients had delusional memories from ICU at 2 wks; nine of the patients with delusional memories had no factual memories, and these patients had higher anxiety levels 2 wks after ICU discharge (p < .0001). Thirty patients had paired assessments at 2 and 8 wks. Those patients who had no factual recall of ICU but had delusional memories at 2 wks scored highly for PTSD-related symptoms and panic attacks at 8 wks (p = .023 and .014, respectively). The only predictors of possible acute PTSD-related symptoms at the 8-wk assessment were trait anxiety (p = .006) and having delusional memories without recall of factual events in the ICU at 2 wks (p < .0001). Only delusional memories were retained over time, whereas the recall of factual events in the ICU declined. ConclusionsWe propose that the development of acute PTSD-related symptoms may be related more to recall of delusions alone. This study suggests that even relatively unpleasant memories for real events during critical illness may give some protection from anxiety and the later development of PTSD-related symptoms when memories of delusions are prominent.
Impurity Effects on Quasiparticle c-Axis Planar Tunneling and STM Spectra in High- T c Cuprates

We present self-consistent calculations of the electronic structure near strongly scattering impurities in cuprate superconductors described by a realistic band structure and order parameter magnitude. Energies and highly asymmetric line shapes of resonances, changes in gap-edge features, and local changes in the order parameter are determined for magnetic and nonmagnetic potentials. Experimental tunneling spectra are well fitted by calculations using a d-wave order parameter. The local density of states near such impurities is also calculated. [S0031-9007(98)06003-7]
[The inhibition activity of chemical constituents in hawthorn fruit and their synergistic action to HMG-CoA reductase].

OBJECTIVE To study the hypolipidemic active compounds from Crataegus pinnatifida and mechanism of action of those. METHOD Guided by the inhibitory activity to HMG-CoA reductase, the active compounds were separated and purified with macroporous resin and silica gel. RESULT Four active compounds were obtained, which were quercetin, hyperoside, rutin and chlorogenic acid, the sum of their inhibitory rate was 50.01%, and the total inhibitory rate of the mixture of four active compounds matched was 79.48%. CONCLUSION Quercetin and hyperoside were the principle active components inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in Hawthorn fruit, and there were synergistic action among them.
Service Quality and Student Satisfaction: A Case Study at Private Higher Education Institutions

This study attempts to examine the relationship between service quality dimensions and overall service quality (tangibility, responsiveness, reliability, assurance and empathy) and students satisfaction. Furthermore, this study is also examine critical factors in service quality dimensions (tangibility, responsiveness, reliability, assurance and empathy) that contributes most to the satisfaction of the students. This study was conducted using a set of questionnaire to 200 Bachelor Degree students from two private higher education institutions. The study will provide results from empirical test of these relationships. The empirical results of this study can provide support for the Parasuraman’s SERVQUAL (1985), which related to the factors contributing to students’ satisfaction.
Determinants of poor accessibility to microcredits in rural Iran

In this study, ordered probit model was used to investigate factors affecting access to credit allocated by the Iranian Agricultural Bank as the main supplier of micro-credits to poor in the rural areas. The required data were collected by completing 198 questionnaires from farmers in KohgiloiehBovirahmad province in southern Iran. Results indicated that variables such as levels of farmers’ literacy, their total revenue and acreage of land under cultivation have positive effects and distance to bank branches has negative effect on credit accessibility. Distances to the branches are recognized to be one of the major handicaps in poor access to the credits. Although total number of the branches are increasing mostly within the richer regions allover the country, the Bank should provide further services in rural remote areas where the vast majority of residents are engaged with agricultural activities and poverty is much higher than elsewhere.
Mucosal healing in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: what does it tell us?

Purpose of review To provide a critical review of the literature concerning the significance of mucosal healing as a predictor of future clinical and endoscopic course in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Particular focus is given to articles published within the last year. Recent findings In patients with Crohn's disease, mucosal healing appears to predict future endoscopic activity. The ability to predict future clinical activity is uncertain, likely limited by present techniques for assessment of clinical activity. Recent studies provide support for escalation of treatment in response to ongoing endoscopic disease activity. However, guidance regarding de-escalation of medical therapy is lacking. In patients with ulcerative colitis, mucosal healing appears to be an important predictor of future endoscopic and clinical activity. Recent evidence suggests that mucosal healing is also an important predictor of long-term outcomes such as need for future colectomy. Summary Assessment of mucosal healing is an important tool in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The pursuit of endoscopic remission has a clear role in the management of patients with ulcerative colitis, but the application of this parameter to the care of patients with Crohn's disease requires further research.
Households’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Tap Water Services in Karachi, Pakistan

Access to safe water is a basic need for human survival and health. Water is one of the most important commodities for households, who use it for drinking and many other important household activities including cooking a meal, washing dishes, bathing, laundry, cleaning, and watering the home gardens. Households need safe water and its availability on regular basis. Irregular and uncertain access to safe water affects not only these activities directly but also households’ health and workforce productivity indirectly. Thus, households give great importance to water, its quality and regular supply. Karachi is the most populated city of Pakistan with population over 13 million in 2010 and is among top ten mega-cities of the world [Pakistan (2010)]. Insufficient access to safe water is one of the major challenges facing households in Karachi city due to its burgeoning population and increasing demand for water. According to City District Government Karachi (2007), only 60 percent of the households in Karachi are connected to piped water supply, provided by the city government through the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). Furthermore, water is delivered on schedule for only four hours per day, which is often irregular and uncertain in many locations due to poor infrastructure and inadequate maintenance of piped water supply system. Given the water shortage in the city, the residents buy water from private water tankers. In addition to inadequate quantity of water, the quality of water is also a big issue. According to Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources [PCRWR (2007)], water in Karachi is unsafe to drink as it is mostly contaminated with Coliforms and E. coli. PCRWR (2007) collected water samples from major parts of Karachi and found that 93 percent of the water samples were unsafe as they were contaminated with Coliforms and E. coli (86 percent) and had excessive level of mineral and elements (7 percent). Water provided to households in Karachi is unsafe to drink because it is not properly treated and is contaminated as a result of the leakage of sewage and industrial waste through
An air-filled cavity-backed 2×2 slot sub-array fed by inverted microstrip gap waveguide

A wideband 2×2-slot element for a 60 GHz antenna array is designed by making use of air filled cavity fed by inverted microstrip gap waveguide. The designed element is a triple layer structure in which the upper layer contains four radiating slots backed by an air-filled cavity. The cavity is excited by a coupling slot fed by an inverted microstrip gap waveguide formed in the air-gap between the middle and lower layers. The designed 2×2-slot element is considered in an infinite array environment. A sample 32×32 slot array aperture is simulated using infinite array approach. The results show that the mismatch is better than -15 dB and the directivity larger than 38 dBi over 56.3-67.9GHz frequency range, i.e. 20.7 % bandwidth.
Clinicopathological, immunohistochemical factors and recurrence associated with extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is one of the most important factors correlated to poor outcome of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the role of ETE in the prognosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the factor associated with ETE of PTMC are unclear. We investigated clinicopathological, immunohistochemical factors associated with ETE of PTMC to identify whether PTMC with ETE would have more adverse prognostic factors and higher risk for recurrence. SETTING AND DESIGN We enrolled patients performed thyroidectomy due to PTC between January 2003 and June 2008 and selected patients diagnosed with PTMC among them. We investigated numerous clinicopathological, immunohistochemical factors of selected patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data from 325 patients diagnosed with conventional PTMC by intraoperative frozen section and final pathology were recorded retrospectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED A χ² test or an independent two-sample t-test, multiple logistic regression analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. RESULTS Thirty-four percent of patients (325 of 952) had PTMC on final pathology. Among them, the number of patients with and without ETE was 91 and 234, respectively. On both univariate and multivariate analysis; ETE of PTMC correlated with size (P < 0.001); tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging (P = 0.001); multifocality (P = 0.001); lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001); radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy (P = 0.001); and recurrence (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS ETE of conventional PTMC is associated with size, multifocality, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence. More extensive surgery should be considered for patients having ETE identified by intraoperative frozen sections, preoperative imaging, and intraoperative finding and other high risk factors.
Proliferation of L02 human hepatocytes in tolerized genetically immunocompetent rats.

AIM To investigate whether human hepatocytes could proliferate after transplantation to normal immunocompetent rats treated with 2-acetaminofluorene or retrorsine and partial hepatectomy. METHODS L02 hepatocyte-tolerant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with retrorsine, 2-acetaminofluorene or normal saline. L02 hepatocytes were then transplanted via the spleen. Human albumin and its mRNA, specific proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), L02 hepatocyte dynamic distribution, number density and area density of PCNA-positive cells in the liver were determined. RESULTS All the examined indicators were not significantly different between the rats treated with 2-acetaminofluorene and normal saline, which was not the case with rats treated with retrorsine. A dynamic distribution of L02 hepatocytes in the rat liver was detected from wk 1 to mo 6 after transplantation in the retrorsine group and from wk 1 to 10 in the 2-acetaminofluorene group. Human albumin and its mRNA were detected from wk 2 to mo 6 in the retrorsine group and from wk 1 to 8 in the 2-acetaminofluorene group. Specific human PCNA was detected in the rat liver from wk 2 to mo 6 in the retrorsine group and from wk 2 to 6 in the 2-acetaminofluorene group. Human albumin and its mRNA contents as well as the number of PCNA positive cells reached a peak at wk 4. CONCLUSION L02 human hepatocytes could not proliferate significiantly after transplantation to the normal, immunocompetent rats treated with 2-acetaminofluorene. L02 human hepatocytes can survive for 10 wk after transplantation and express human albumin for 8 wk. L02 human hepatocytes can proliferate and express human albumin for 6 mo after transplantation to the rats treated with retrorsine. The chimeric L02 human hepatocytes, which then underwent transplantation into tolerant rats, were normal in morphogenesis, biochemistry and function.
Perioperative Adjunct Magnesium Decreases Postoperative Opioid Requirements—A Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most common cation in the body and has numerous physiological activities and anti-nociceptive effects. The anti-nociceptive effects are primarily mediated by regulation of calcium influx into the cell and antagonism of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors. Opioids are widely used as analgesics to minimize postoperative pain, but their use is associated with various side effects as well as the potential for addiction and tolerance. Systemic Mg has been proposed as an adjunct to minimize postoperative pain in numerous clinical studies. This meta-analysis aims to critically examine the ability of perioperative intravenous (IV) Mg to reduce opioid use and its’ side effects. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of Pub Med, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar (1966-2016) was performed to identify all randomized control trials (RCTs) assessing the use of perioperative IV Mg in the reduction of postoperative opioid consumption. Keywords searched included combinations of “magnesium”, “pain”, “postoperative”, “preoperative”, “analgesia” and “opioid”. Inclusion criteria included RCTs comparing the use of perioperative IV Mg with a control group in adult patients (>18 yrs) undergoing elective surgery. Cumulative opioid consumption within the first 24 hours (hrs) postoperative period and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were analyzed. Results: 14 RCTs involving 910 patients were identified (455 patients received Mg and 455 patients received placebo or no therapy). Opioid consumption was significantly decreased in the systemic Mg group (standard mean difference [SMD]: 1.39, 95% CI 1.83 to -0.96; p < 0.001) at 24 hrs postoperatively. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant reduction in the morphine consumption (SMD: -1.37, 95% CI: -1.79 to -0.95; p < 0.001) with the use of IV Mg. There was a decrease in tramadol consumption; however, this did not reach statistical significance (SMD: -1.74, 95% CI: -4.62 to 1.13; p = 0.234). Systemic Mg adjunct had no significant effect on postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.04; p = 0.07). Conclusion: Perioperative IV Mg administration reduces opioid use in the first 24 hours postoperatively without any serious adverse events. The decreased need for postoperative opioids in the Mg group was not associated with a decrease in opioid-related side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Mg is an efficacious adjunct for postoperative analgesia and should be considered in multimodal analgesic treatment plans. Additional studies are required to optimize the Mg dose and timing, and to address whether specific opioids display unique benefit or resistance to adjunct Mg therapy.