Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Analysis of Lungs and Airways With CT in Subjects With the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Candidate FAM13A Gene: Case Control Study for CT Quantification in COPD Risk Gene

Objective To investigate the relationship between a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) candidate gene, based on a genomewide association study, and computed tomographic (CT) quantitative analysis; and to find a phenotype in the COPD candidate FAM13A gene. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in subclinical male smokers between 2 groups with matched age and smoking status; 162 subjects (mean age, 58 years) with risk (CTGA, n = 85) and reference (TCAG, n = 77) diplotypes replicated through genomewide association study underwent chest CT for quantitative analysis of lungs and airways. We analyzed the measures in both the risk and reference groups using a 2-sample t test. Results Subjects with the risk CTGA diplotype had significantly higher total lung volume and emphysema index than the reference TCAG diplotype (P = 0.04). Mean lung density was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the risk group. However, in the analysis of airways, wall area, luminal area, wall and lumen area ratio, and mean lung density on expiratory and inspiratory phases, no significant differences between the 2 groups were seen. Conclusions There is a strong relationship between CT quantitative analysis and the COPD candidate gene. Furthermore, the CTGA diplotype was associated with emphysema among the phenotypes of COPD.
Neuronal activity‐related coupling in cortical arterioles: involvement of astrocyte‐derived factors

Neuronal activity‐evoked dilatation was investigated in cortical arterioles in brain slices from mature rats maintained in vitro at 31–33°C. In the presence of the thromboxane A2 agonist U46619 (75 nm) to preconstrict vessels, internal diameter decreased by 14.2% and rhythmic contractile activity (vasomotion) developed. Addition of the epoxygenase inhibitor miconazole (20 μm) produced a further decrease in diameter and increase in the frequency of vasomotion, suggesting that tonic release of epoxygenase products maintains a level of cerebrovascular dilator tone. Addition of 1 μm AMPA for 5 min evoked a 15.4 ± 3.7% increase in diameter and the frequency of vasomotion decreased by −6.7 ± 1.4 contractions min−1. The response persisted in the presence of 1 μm TTX, indicating that it was independent of neuronal activity and thus likely to have been evoked by activation of AMPA receptors on astrocytes rather than neurones. The response to the brief (5 min) application of AMPA remained unchanged in the presence of miconazole (20 μm). Prolonged (30 min) application of AMPA produced a +12.1 ± 1.5% increase in internal diameter and reduction in vasomotion (−8.4 ± 1.7 contractions min−1) that were sustained throughout the stimulation period. However, when AMPA was applied in the presence of miconazole (20 μm) it evoked only a transient increase in diameter (+9.8 ± 3.1%) and decrease in vasomotion (−6.6 ± 1.5 contractions min−1) that lasted for less than 10 min despite continued application of AMPA. The results suggest that products of epoxygenase activity, probably epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are involved in activity‐related dilatation in cortical arterioles. Whilst epoxygenase activity is not required to initiate dilatation, it appears to be involved in sustaining the response. Thus EETs released from membrane stores could contribute to the initial stages, but once these have been depleted de novo synthesis of EETs is required to maintain the effect.
A Chronic Disease Score with Empirically Derived Weights

Different types of medication prescribed during a 6-month period for the treatment and management of chronic conditions were utilized in the refinement and validation of a chronic disease score. Prescription data, in addition to age and sex, were utilized to develop a chronic disease score based on empirically derived weights for each of three outcomes: total cost, outpatient cost, and primary care visits. The ability of the revised chronic disease score to predict health care utilization, costs, hospitalization, and mortality was compared to an earlier version of the chronic disease score (original) that was derived through clinical judgments of disease severity. The predictive validity of the chronic disease score is also compared to ambulatory care groups, which utilize outpatient diagnoses to form mutually exclusive diagnostic categories. Models based on a concurrent 6-month period and a 6-month prospective period (ie, the 6-month period after the chronic disease score or ambulatory care group derivation period) were estimated using a random one half sample of 250,000 managed-care enrollees aged 18 and older. The remaining one half of the enrollee population was used as a validation sample. The revised chronic disease score showed improved estimation and prediction over the original chronic disease score. The difference in variance explained prospectively by the revised chronic disease score versus the ambulatory care groups, conversely, was small. The revised chronic disease score was a better predictor of mortality than the ambulatory care groups. The combination of revised chronic disease score and ambulatory care groups showed only marginally greater predictive power than either one alone. These results suggest that the revised chronic disease score and ambulatory care groups with empirically derived weights provide improved prediction of health care utilization and costs, as well as hospitalization and mortality, over age and sex alone. We recommend the revised chronic disease score with total cost weights for general use as a severity measure because of its relative advantage in predicting mortality compared to the outpatient cost and primary care visit weights.
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and heme biomineralization inhibitory properties of Entada africana ethanol leaf extract with antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract Background: Entada africana (EA) is a medicinal plant used in West Africa for the treatment of malaria fever, but its efficacy against malaria is yet to be scientifically validated. Our study explores the antimalarial potential of the ethanol leaf extract of EA. Methods: The antiplasmodial activity of EA against chloroquine-sensitive (HB3) and chloroquine-resistant (FcM29) Plasmodium falciparum was determined as well as its peripheral antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. The effect of the extract on human monocytic (THP-1) cells was recorded as a measure of cytotoxicity, whereas the inhibitory effect on heme detoxification was evaluated as a possible mechanism of antiplasmodial activity. Results: At a concentration of 100 μg/mL, EA was noncytotoxic and displayed moderate antiplasmodial activity against HB3 and FcM29 (IC50=26.36 and 28.86 μg/mL, respectively). It also exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of synthetic heme (IC50=16 mg/mL). The extract (200 mg/kg body weight) showed significant (p<0.05) inhibition of paw inflammation, and significantly (p<0.01, 0.05) reduced the number of abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid (58.62%–65.51%), which was higher compared to that of diclofenac (50%, p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that peripheral antinociceptive effects and parasiticidal activity of EA contribute to its antimalarial properties and it can be further explored as effective therapy against malaria infection.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, a microbiota-derived metabolite of quercetin, attenuates acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury through activation of Nrf-2

Abstract 1. Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose leads to severe hepatotoxicity. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) is a scarcely studied microbiota-derived metabolite of quercetin. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of DOPAC against APAP-induced liver injury. 2. Mice were treated intragastrically with DOPAC (10, 20 or 50 mg/kg) for 3 days before APAP (300 mg/kg) injection. APAP alone caused increase in serum aminotransferase levels and changes in hepatic histopathology. APAP also promoted oxidative stress by increasing lipid peroxidation and decreasing anti-oxidant enzyme activities. These events led to hepatocellular necrosis and reduced liver function. DOPAC increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) translocation to the nucleus and enhanced the expression of phase II enzymes and anti-oxidant enzymes, and thereby reduced APAP hepatotoxicity and enhanced anti-oxidant ability. 3. Our data provide evidence that DOPAC protected the liver against APAP-induced injury, which is involved in Nrf-2 activation, implying that DOPAC can be considered as a potential natural hepatoprotective agent.
CASSIDIAN multiband mobile passive radar system

Passive radar techniques lead to an entirely new class of radiolocation systems, i.e. Passive Coherent Location (PCL). These systems use the omnipresent signals from non-cooperative broadcast transmitters, e.g. FM, DAB or DVB-T, as illuminators. By receiving and processing the signals reflected at target objects in the airspace, it is possible to establish a completely passive air surveillance system. The technical maturity and detection performance of experimental and prototype system implementations is steadily improving. Starting out from FM-broadcast-based systems, the step to DAB-based and DVB-T-based systems has now been made. In this paper, a recently built mobile passive radar system exploiting FM, DAB and DVB-T transmitters is introduced. The passive radar vehicle possesses an integrated antenna mast system and accommodates the radar equipment as well as space for operators and potential customers. In the following the basic system concept is introduced and first measurement results are presented.
Chronicles of A Death Row Exoneree: Life Prior, During, and After a Wrongful Conviction

Little is known about the individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in the United States. Research on capital punishment focuses heavily quantitative data and legal analysis to understand the phenomena. In order to fill a gap in the literature, this thesis explores the lives of death row exonerees before their incarcerations, during their incarcerations, and after their incarcerations. Despite having unique experiences, similar themes emerged throughout the in-depth interviews. Topics such as relationships, collateral consequences, and institutionalization are discussed. Findings from this research can help future researchers address gaps in the literature and provide the knowledge needed for policy reform.
Performance Evaluation of Displacement Estimators for Real-Time Ultrasonic Strain and Blood Flow Imaging With Improved Spatial Resolution

Ultrasonic strain and blood flow imaging has great potential to improve early tumor detection. Both methods have the same task of estimating echo signal displacements. To be able to resolve tissue stiffness and vascularity of tumors while they are still small, spatial resolution must be improved. Moreover, ultrasonic real-time imaging is vital in clinical practice. In this paper, we evaluate the estimation performances of one novel and several established displacement estimators with real-time capability and compare these with results from cross-correlation-based standard estimators when echo signals that are typically available with a commercial ultrasound scanner set to yield the highest spatial resolution are used. Estimation errors are investigated as a function of sampling rate, signal-to-noise ratio, displacement and strain magnitudes, and frequency-dependent tissue attenuation. Results are from simulations using the FIELD II program to generate ultrasonic echo signals and tissue-mimicking phantom experiments using a Voluson 730 medical ultrasound scanner (GE medical systems Kretztechnik, Austria) that is equipped with a digital research interface that enables the export of beam-formed radio frequency echo data.
Association study of DTNBP1 with schizophrenia in a US sample

Background Straub et al. (2002b) located a susceptibility region for schizophrenia at the DTNBP1 locus. At least 40 studies (including one study in US populations) attempted to replicate this original finding, but the reported findings are highly diverse and at least five pathways by which dysbindin protein might be involved in schizophrenia have been proposed. This study aimed to test the association in two common US populations by using powerful analytic methods. Methods Six markers at DTNBP1 were genotyped by mass spectroscopy (‘MassARRAY’ technique) in a sample of 663 individuals, including 346 healthy individuals European--Americans (EAs) and 48 African--Americans (AAs), and 317 individuals with schizophrenia (235 EAs and 82 AAs). Thirty-eight ancestry-informative markers were genotyped in this sample to infer the ancestry proportions. Diplotype, haplotype, genotype, and allele frequency distributions were compared between the cases and controls, controlling for possible population stratification, admixture, and sex-specific effects, and taking interaction effects into account, using a logistic regression analysis (an extended structured association method). Results Conventional case-control comparisons showed that genotypes of the markers P1578 (rs1018381) and P1583 (rs909706) were nominally associated with schizophrenia in EAs and in AAs, respectively. These associations became less or nonsignificant after controlling for population stratification and admixture effects (using structured association or regression analysis), and became nonsignificant after correction for multiple testing. However, regression analysis showed that the common diplotypes (ACCCTT/GCCGCC or GCCGCC/GCCGCC) and the interaction effects of haplotypes GCCGCC×GCCGCC significantly affected risk for schizophrenia in EAs, effects that were modified by sex. Fine-mapping using δ or J statistics located the specific markers (δ: P1328; J: P1333) closest to the putative risk sites in EAs. Conclusion This study shows that DTNBP1 is a risk gene for schizophrenia in EAs. Variation at DTNBP1 may modify risk for schizophrenia in this population.
The role of invariant NKT cells in pre-eclampsia.

PROBLEM Recent data suggest a dominant role of the innate, rather than the adaptive immune system in pregnancy-related immunoregulation. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells represent a link between the innate and the acquired immune systems; however, little is known about how they function in pre-eclampsia. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible role of iNKT cells in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. METHOD OF STUDY Human peripheral blood samples were obtained from pre-eclamptic, healthy pregnant- and non-pregnant women. Freshly separated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were immediately labeled with anti-perforin-, anti-CD69-, anti-CD95-, anti-NKG2A-, anti-NKG2D-, anti-IFN-gamma and anti iNKT antibodies and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Pre-eclamptic patients demonstrated increased CD69, perforin and IFN-gamma expression, which could be explained by dysregulation of NK cell receptor expression. These Th1 polarized cells were less susceptible to apoptosis than iNKT cells from healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that activated iNKT cells of pre-eclamptic women have an increased cytotoxic potential, which may be because of altered expression of NK cell inhibitory and activating receptors.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Induces Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Is, Like IL-8 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Overexpressed in Human Fat Cells from Insulin-resistant Subjects*

Several studies have shown a relationship between interleukin (IL) 6 levels and insulin resistance. We here show that human subcutaneous adipose cells, like 3T3-L1 cells, are target cells for IL-6. To examine putative mechanisms and cross-talk with insulin, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cultured for different times with IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). IL-6, in contrast to TNF-α, did not increase pS-307 of insulin-receptor substrate (IRS)-1 or JNK activation. However, IL-6, like TNF-α exerted long term inhibitory effects on the gene transcription of IRS-1, GLUT-4, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. This effect of IL-6 was accompanied by a marked reduction in IRS-1, but not IRS-2, protein expression, and insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas no inhibitory effect was seen on the insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. Consistent with the reduced GLUT-4 mRNA, insulin-stimulated glucose transport was also significantly reduced by IL-6. An important interaction with TNF-α was found because TNF-α markedly increased IL-6 mRNA and protein secretion. These results show that IL-6, through effects on gene transcription, is capable of impairing insulin signaling and action but, in contrast to TNF-α, IL-6 does not increase pS-307 (or pS-612) of IRS-1. The link between IL-6 and insulin resistance in man was further corroborated by the finding that the expression of IL-6, like that of TNF-α and IL-8, was markedly increased (∼15-fold) in human fat cells from insulin-resistant individuals. We conclude that IL-6 can play an important role in insulin resistance in man and, furthermore, that it may act in concert with other cytokines that also are up-regulated in adipose cells in insulin resistance.
Intraocular Pressure Response of Capsular Glaucoma and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma to Selective Nd:Yag Laser Trabeculoplasty: A Prospective, Comparative Clinical Trial

Purpose To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) response of uncontrolled capsular glaucoma (CG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) to selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in a prospective clinical trial. Methods Ten eyes of ten patients suffering from uncontrolled CG (CG Group) and ten eyes of ten patients with uncontrolled POAG (POAG Group) were treated with a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. IOP was measured before and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after treatment. Success was defined as IOP more than 20% lower than before treatment. Any change of hypotensive medication led to the subjects' exclusion from the study. The two groups were compared using the independent-sample t test for continuous variables and the log-rank test for survival analysis. A value of p<0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean follow-up was 12.0 months (SD 5.5) for the CG group and 13.5 months (SD 4.3) for POAG (n.s.). No significant difference was found between the two groups for mean pretreatment IOP (23.6 mmHg ± 5.70 in the CG group and 22.8 mmHg ± 2.44 in the POAG group) or for mean IOP and mean IOP reductions during the follow-up. At all follow-up visits, IOP was reduced less in the CG group than in the POAG group (24.8% ± 11.15 vs. 27.7% ± 9.91 at 6 months, 22.0% ± 6.66 vs. 30.6% ± 6.35 at 12 months, and 31.4% ± 5.55 vs. 35.1% ± 1.75 at 18 months), but the difference was significant only at 12 months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis gave an 18-month success rate of 64% in the CG group and 78% in the POAG group, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusions SLT is an effective procedure for lowering IOP in CG and POAG eyes, although the effect seems to last less in CG eyes.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in red cell membranes of unmedicated schizophrenic patients

Summary There are several reports of reduced levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in membrane phospholipid from various tissues including red blood cells (RBC) taken from schizophrenic patients. However, reports have not been entirely consistent and most studies have been confounded by the potential effects of environmental factors including antipsychotic medication and diet. We measured PUFA levels in RBC from two separate groups of unmedicated patients and control subjects from India and Malaysia, populations which have substantial differences in diet. We found no significant difference in levels of AA between patients and control subjects in either population. Levels of adrenic acid were significantly reduced, and levels of DHA significantly increased in both clinical populations. However, diet-related differences in DHA between the populations from India and Malaysia were much greater than differences between schizophrenic patients and controls. It is concluded that reduced RBC membrane levels of AA and DHA are not pathognomic of schizophrenia but that variations in cell membrane fatty acid levels are an epiphenomenon which may reflect underlying abnormalities of phospholipid and fatty acid metabolism and their interaction with environmental factors including medication and diet.
Advancement in modeling vapor pressure induced stresses in electronic packaging

Reliability defect associated with thermal and humidity environment is not a new issue in modern electronics packaging. Moisture entrapment causes localized vapor pressure build up and leads to pop-corning or delamination in the internal structures when subjected reflow temperature. It was normally assumed that moisture entrapped inside the polymeric material is in saturated vapor state where vapor pressure can raised up to ~5MPa at 260°C which may and may not cause any resultant stress field change that leads to catastrophic failure. The approach proposed here utilized the Pressure-specific volume-Temperature (P-v-T) properties of water to determine the state of the water properties and corresponding vapor pressure induced. This open up the possibility that the pressure developed can be higher than 5MPa which can potentially explain the catastrophic failure such as pop-corning. The modeling framework leverage sequential moisture diffusion analysis and stress analysis with custom subroutine to incorporate vapor pressure induce strain in finite element computation. Two case studies demonstrated the feasibility of this advance methodology to describe the failure mechanism.
A low power demodulator using subthreshold design

A low power demodulator, part of a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder operating in the 900 MHz range, is presented using sub-threshold design. Using this technique and working with 90nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, the circuit can operate with a supply voltage as low as 0.3V, consuming only an average of 15nW, making it suitable for ultra-low power applications.
Reaction Time, Impulsivity, and Attention in Hyperactive Children and Controls: A Video Game Technique

Maturation of sustained attention was studied in a group of 52 hyperactive elementary school children and 152 controls using a microcomputer-based test formatted to resemble a video game. In nonhyperactive children, both simple and complex reaction time decreased with age, as did variability of response time. Omission errors were extremely infrequent on simple reaction time and decreased with age on the more complex tasks. Commission errors had an inconsistent relationship with age. Hyperactive children were slower, more variable, and made more errors on all segments of the game than did controls. Both motor speed and calculated mental speed were slower in hyperactive children, with greater discrepancy for responses directed to the nondominant hand, suggesting that a selective right hemisphere deficit may be present in hyperactives. A summary score (number of individual game scores above the 95th percentile) of 4 or more detected 60% of hyperactive subjects with a false positive rate of 5%. Agreement with the Matching Familiar Figures Test was 75% in the hyperactive group. (J Child Neurol 1990;5:195-204).