pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Ethanol-induced sensitization depends preferentially on D1 rather than D2 dopamine receptors

AbstractBehavioral sensitization, defined as a progressive increase in the locomotor stimulant effects elicited by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, has been used as an animal model for drug craving in humans. The mesoaccumbens dopaminergic system has been proposed to be critically involved in this phenomenon; however, few studies have been designed to systematically investigate the effects of dopaminergic antagonists on development and expression of behavioral sensitization to ethanol in Swiss mice. We first tested the effects of D1 antagonist SCH-23390 (0–0.03mg/kg) or D2 antagonist Sulpiride (0–30mg/kg) on the locomotor responses to an acute injection of ethanol (2.0g/kg). Results showed that all tested doses of the antagonists were effective in blocking ethanol's stimulant effects. In another set of experiments, mice were pretreated intraperitoneally with SCH-23390 (0.01mg/kg) or Sulpiride (10mg/kg) 30min before saline or ethanol injection, for 21days. Locomotor activity was measured weekly for 20min. Four days following this pretreatment, all mice were challenged with ethanol. Both antagonists attenuated the development of ethanol sensitization, but only SCH-23390 blocked the expression of ethanol sensitization according to this protocol. When we tested a single dose (30min before tests) of either antagonist in mice treated chronically with ethanol, both antagonists attenuated ethanol-induced effects. The present findings demonstrate that the concomitant administration of ethanol with D1 but not D2 antagonist prevented the expression of ethanol sensitization, suggesting that the neuroadaptations underlying ethanol behavioral sensitization depend preferentially on D1 receptor actions
Low molecular weight heparin (reviparin) in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty results of a randomized, double-blind, unfractionated heparin and placebo-controlled, multicenter trial (REDUCE trial)

AbstractObjectives. The specific objective of the REDUCE trial was to evaluate the effect of low molecular weight heparin on the incidence and occurrence of restenosis in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).Background. Unfractionated heparin and its low molecular weight fragments possess antiproliferative effects and have been shown to reduce neointimal smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation in response to vascular injury in experimental studies.Methods. The REDUCE trial is an international prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study. Twenty-six centers in Europe and Canada enrolled 625 patients with single-lesion coronary artery obstructions suitable for PTCA. Three hundred six patients received reviparin as a 7,000-U bolus before PTCA, followed by 10,500 U as an infusion over 24 h and then twice-daily 3,500-U subcutaneous application for 28 days. The 306 patients in the control group received a bolus of 10,000 U of unfractionated heparin followed by an infusion of 24,000 U over 24 h. These patients then underwent 28 days of subcutaneous placebo injections. The primary end points were efficacy (defined as a reduction in the incidence of major adverse events [i.e., death, myocardial infaction, need for reintervention or bypass surgery]), absolute loss of minimal lumen diameter and incidence of restenosis during the observation period of 30 weeks after PTCA.Results. Using the intention to treat analysis for all patients, 102 (33.3%) in the reviparin group and 98 (32%) in the control group have reached a primary clinical end point (relative risk [RR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83 to 1.31, p = 0.707). Likewise, no difference in late loss of minimal lumen diameter was evident for both groups. Acute events within 24 h occurred in 12 patients (3.9%) in the reviparin group and 25 (8.2%) in the control group (RR 0.49, 95% Cl 0.26 to 0.92, p = 0.027) during or immediately after the initial procedure. In the control group, eight major bleeding complications occurred, and in the reviparin group, seven were observed within 35 days after PTCA.Conclusions. Reviparin use during and after coronary angioplasty did not reduce the occurrence of major clinical events or the incidence of angiographic restenosis over 30 weeks
Energy recovery in individuals with knee osteoarthritis

SummaryObjectivePathological gaits have been shown to limit transfer between potential (PE) and kinetic (KE) energy during walking, which can increase locomotor costs. The purpose of this study was to examine whether energy exchange would be limited in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsGround reaction forces during walking were collected from 93 subjects with symptomatic knee OA (self-selected and fast speeds) and 13 healthy controls (self-selected speed) and used to calculate their center of mass (COM) movements, PE and KE relationships, and energy recovery during a stride. Correlations and linear regressions examined the impact of energy fluctuation phase and amplitude, walking velocity, body mass, self-reported pain, and radiographic severity on recovery. Paired t-tests were run to compare energy recovery between cohorts.ResultsSymptomatic knee OA subjects displayed lower energetic recovery during self-selected walking speeds than healthy controls (P = 0.0018). PE and KE phase relationships explained the majority (66%) of variance in recovery. Recovery had a complex relationship with velocity and its change across speeds was significantly influenced by the self-selected walking speed of each subject. Neither radiographic OA scores nor subject self-reported measures demonstrated any relationship with energy recovery.ConclusionsKnee OA reduces effective exchange of PE and KE, potentially increasing the muscular work required to control movements of the COM. Gait retraining may return subjects to more normal patterns of energy exchange and allow them to reduce fatigue
Dispatched, a Novel Sterol-Sensing Domain Protein Dedicated to the Release of Cholesterol-Modified Hedgehog from Signaling Cells

AbstractMembers of the Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted signaling proteins function as potent short-range organizers in animal development. Their range of action is limited by a C-terminal cholesterol tether and the upregulation of Patched (Ptc) receptor levels. Here we identify a novel segment-polarity gene in Drosophila, dispatched (disp), and demonstrate that its product is required in sending cells for normal Hh function. In the absence of Disp, cholesterol-modified but not cholesterol-free Hh is retained in these cells, indicating that Disp functions to release cholesterol-anchored Hh. Despite their opposite roles, Disp and Ptc share structural homology in the form of a sterol-sensing domain, suggesting that release and sequestration of cholesterol-modified Hh may be based on related molecular pathways
Hawking radiation and the Stefan–Boltzmann law: The effective radius of the black-hole quantum atmosphere

AbstractIt has recently been suggested (S.B. Giddings (2016) [2]) that the Hawking black-hole radiation spectrum originates from an effective quantum “atmosphere' which extends well outside the black-hole horizon. In particular, comparing the Hawking radiation power of a (3+1)-dimensional Schwarzschild black hole of horizon radius rH with the familiar Stefan–Boltzmann radiation power of a (3+1)-dimensional flat space perfect blackbody emitter, Giddings concluded that the source of the Hawking semi-classical black-hole radiation is a quantum region outside the Schwarzschild black-hole horizon whose effective radius rA is characterized by the relation Δr≡rA−rH∼rH. It is of considerable physical interest to test the general validity of Giddings's intriguing conclusion. To this end, we study the Hawking radiation of (D+1)-dimensional Schwarzschild black holes. We find that the dimensionless radii rA/rH which characterize the black-hole quantum atmospheres, as determined from the Hawking black-hole radiation power and the (D+1)-dimensional Stefan–Boltzmann radiation law, are a decreasing function of the number D+1 of spacetime dimensions. In particular, it is shown that radiating (D+1)-dimensional Schwarzschild black holes are characterized by the relation (rA−rH)/rH≪1 in the large D≫1 regime. Our results therefore suggest that, at least in some physical cases, the Hawking emission spectrum originates from quantum excitations very near the black-hole horizon
Evaluation of the Defay–Prigogine model for the membrane interphase in relation to biological response in membrane–protein interactions

AbstractSurface water activity appears as a common factor when the interaction of several aqueous soluble and surface active proteins with lipid membranes of different compositions is measured by the changes in surface pressure of a lipid monolayer. The perturbation of the lipid surface caused by aqueous soluble proteins depends on the composition of the hydrocarbon phases, either modified by unsaturated bonds in the acyl chains or by inclusion of cholesterol. The cut-off (critical) surface pressure in monolayers, at which no effect of the proteins is found, is related to the composition of the head group region. The perturbation of surface pressure is produced by proteins when the area per lipid is above just 4% larger than that corresponding to the hydration shell of the phospholipid head groups found in the cut-off. This area excess gives place to regions in which the chemical potential of water changes with respect to bulk water. According to the Defay–Prigogine relation this interfacial water activity is the reason of the surface pressure increase induced by aqueous soluble proteins injected in the subphase. As predicted by solution chemistry, the increase of surface pressure is independent of the protein nature but depends on the water surface state determined by the lipid composition
Emergent Stem Cell Homeostasis in the C. elegans Germline Is Revealed by Hybrid Modeling

AbstractThe establishment of homeostasis among cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis is of key importance for organogenesis. Stem cells respond to temporally and spatially regulated signals by switching from mitotic proliferation to asymmetric cell division and differentiation. Executable computer models of signaling pathways can accurately reproduce a wide range of biological phenomena by reducing detailed chemical kinetics to a discrete, finite form. Moreover, coordinated cell movements and physical cell-cell interactions are required for the formation of three-dimensional structures that are the building blocks of organs. To capture all these aspects, we have developed a hybrid executable/physical model describing stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and homeostasis in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Using this hybrid model, we are able to track cell lineages and dynamic cell movements during germ cell differentiation. We further show how apoptosis regulates germ cell homeostasis in the gonad, and propose a role for intercellular pressure in developmental control. Finally, we use the model to demonstrate how an executable model can be developed from the hybrid system, identifying a mechanism that ensures invariance in fate patterns in the presence of instability
Necrostatin-1 protects against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced hepatotoxicity in acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure

AbstractExcessive acetaminophen (APAP) use is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure. Various types of cell death in the damaged liver are linked to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, and, of these, necrotic cell death of hepatocytes has been shown to be involved in disease pathogenesis. Until recently, necrosis was commonly considered to be a random and unregulated form of cell death; however, recent studies have identified a previously unknown form of programmed necrosis called receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)-dependent necrosis (or necroptosis), which is controlled by the kinases RIPK1 and RIPK3. Although RIPK-dependent necrosis has been implicated in a variety of disease states, including atherosclerosis, myocardial organ damage, stroke, ischemia–reperfusion injury, pancreatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. However its involvement in APAP-induced hepatocyte necrosis remains elusive. Here, we showed that RIPK1 phosphorylation, which is a hallmark of RIPK-dependent necrosis, was induced by APAP, and the expression pattern of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in the liver overlapped with that of CYP2E1, whose activity around the central vein area has been demonstrated to be critical for the development of APAP-induced hepatic injury. Moreover, a RIPK1 inhibitor ameliorated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in an animal model, which was underscored by significant suppression of the release of hepatic enzymes and cytokine expression levels. RIPK1 inhibition decreased reactive oxygen species levels produced in APAP-injured hepatocytes, whereas CYP2E1 expression and the depletion rate of total glutathione were unaffected. Of note, RIPK1 inhibition also conferred resistance to oxidative stress in hepatocytes. These data collectively demonstrated a RIPK-dependent necrotic mechanism operates in the APAP-injured liver and inhibition of this pathway may be beneficial for APAP-induced fulminant hepatic failure
On the origin of the dressing phase in N=4 super-Yang–Mills

AbstractWe derive the phase factor proposed by Beisert, Eden and Staudacher for the S-matrix of planar N=4 super-Yang–Mills, from the all-loop Bethe ansatz equations without the dressing factor. We identify a configuration of the Bethe roots, from which the closed integral formula of the phase factor is reproduced in the thermodynamic limit. This suggests that our configuration describes the “physical vacuum” in the sense that the dressing phase is nothing but the effective phase for the scattering of fundamental excitations above this vacuum, providing an interesting clue to the physical origin of the dressing phase
Not as bad as you think: a comparison of the nutrient content of best price and brand name food products in Switzerland

AbstractSeveral studies have shown that low-cost foods have an equivalent nutrient composition compared to high-cost foods, but such information is lacking in Switzerland. Thus, we compared the caloric and nutrient content of “best price” (BPF) and brand name foods (BNF) in Switzerland using the version 5.0 (April 2015) of the Swiss Food and Nutrient composition database.Over 4000 processed food items were included and 26 food categories were compared regarding total energy, protein, fat and carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, sugar, fiber and sodium.BPF, namely core food categories like Bread, Red meat, White meat and Fish products, were 42%, 39%, 42% and 46% less expensive than their BNF equivalents, respectively. No differences were found between BPF and BNF regarding total energy and protein, fat and carbohydrates for most food categories. In the Cheese category, BPF had a lower caloric content than BNF [Median (interquartile range, IQR): 307 (249–355) vs. 365 (308–395) kcal/100g, respectively, p<0.001]; BPF also had lower fat and saturated fatty acid content but higher carbohydrate content than BNF (both p<0.01). In the Creams and puddings group, BPF had lower fat 1.3 (0.9–1.7) vs. 6.0 (3.5–11.0) g/100g and saturated fatty acid 0.6 (0.6–0.8) vs. 2.9 (2.3–6.0) g/100g content than BNF (both p<0.005). In the Tinned fruits and vegetables group, BPF had lower sodium content than BNF: 175 (0–330) vs. 370 (150–600) mg/100g, p=0.006.BPF might be a reasonable and eventually healthier alternative of BNF for economically deprived people in Switzerland
Superconformal field theory and SUSY N=1 KdV hierarchy I: vertex operators and Yang–Baxter equation

AbstractThe supersymmetry invariant integrable structure of two-dimensional superconformal field theory is considered. The classical limit of the corresponding infinite family of integrals of motion (IM) coincide with the family of IM of SUSY N=1 KdV hierarchy. The quantum version of the monodromy matrix, generating quantum IM, associated with the SUSY N=1 KdV is constructed via vertex operator representation of the quantum R-matrix. The possible applications to the perturbed superconformal models are discussed
Collision Cross Sections for Structural Proteomics

SummaryIon mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) allows the structural interrogation of biomolecules by reporting their collision cross sections (CCSs). The major bottleneck for exploiting IM-MS in structural proteomics lies in the lack of speed at which structures and models can be related to experimental data. Here we present IMPACT (Ion Mobility Projection Approximation Calculation Tool), which overcomes these twin challenges, providing accurate CCSs up to 106 times faster than alternative methods. This allows us to assess the CCS space presented by the entire structural proteome, interrogate ensembles of protein conformers, and monitor molecular dynamics trajectories. Our data demonstrate that the CCS is a highly informative parameter and that IM-MS is of considerable practical value to structural biologists
Variability of ethics education in laboratory medicine training programs: Results of an international survey

AbstractBackgroundEthical considerations are increasingly important in medicine. We aimed to determine the mode and extent of teaching of ethics in training programs in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine.MethodsWe developed an on-line survey of teaching in areas of ethics relevant to laboratory medicine. Reponses were invited from directors of training programs who were recruited via email to leaders of national organizations.ResultsThe survey was completed by 80 directors from 24 countries who directed 113 programs. The largest numbers of respondents directed postdoctoral training of scientists (42%) or physicians (33%), post-masters degree programs (33%), and PhD programs (29%). Most programs (82%) were 2years or longer in duration. Formal training was offered in research ethics by 39%, medical ethics by 31%, professional ethics by 24% and business ethics by 9%. The number of reported hours of formal training varied widely, e.g., from 0 to >15h/year for research ethics and from 0 to >15h for medical ethics. Ethics training was required and/or tested in 75% of programs that offered training. A majority (54%) of respondents reported plans to add or enhance training in ethics; many indicated a desire for online resources related to ethics, especially resources with self-assessment tools.ConclusionFormal teaching of ethics is absent from many training programs in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, with heterogeneity in the extent and methods of ethics training among the programs that provide the training. A perceived need exists for online training tools, especially tools with self-assessment components
Assessing adherence to antihypertensive therapy in primary health care in Namibia : findings and implications

Introduction: Namibia has the highest burden and incidence of hypertension in sub-Sahara Africa. Though non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy is an important cardiovascular risk factor, little is known about potential ways to improve adherence in Namibia following universal access. The objective of this study is to validate the Hill-Bone compliance scale and determine the level and predictors of adherence to antihypertensive treatment in primary health care (PHC) settings in suburban townships of Windhoek, Namibia. Methods: Reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess construct analysis. Results: The PCA was consistent with the three-factors with 12 items, explaining 24.1%, 16.7% and 10.8% of the variance. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.695. None of the 120 patients had perfect adherence to antihypertensive therapy, and less than half had acceptable levels of adherence (≥80%). The mean adherence level was 76.7± 8.1 %. Three quarters of patients ever missed their scheduled clinic appointment. Having a family support system (OR = 5.4, 95%CI: 1.687 – 27.6, p = 0.045) and attendance of follow-up visits (OR = 3.1, 95%CI: 1.1 – 8.7, p < 0.030) were significant predictors of adherence. Having HIV/ AIDs did not lower adherence. Conclusions: The modified Namibian version of the Hill-Bone scale is reliable and valid for assessing adherence in Namibia. There is sub-optimal adherence to antihypertensive therapy among PHCs in Namibia. This needs standardized systems to strengthen adherence monitoring as well as investigation of other factors including transport to take full advantage of universal access
Channels of risk-sharing among Canadian provinces: 1961–2006

This paper incorporates recent developments in the literature to quantify the amount of interprovincial risk-sharing in Canada. We find that both capital market and the federal tax-transfer system play an almost equally important role (about 26 percent each) in smoothing shocks to gross provincial product, while only 18 percent
of shocks are smoothed by credit markets. The remaining 30 percent are not smoothed. Our results bring to light the critical role that Alberta plays in trading-off credit market smoothing for more capital market risk-sharing to the rest of Canada. Our pairwise risk-sharing analysis has brought up some interesting questions and arguments that are often neglected in discussions of regional
risk-sharing. For example, one aspect of the pairwise analysis sheds light on the assessment of the economic effects of Quebec separation.
From China with love: Effects of the Chinese economy on skill-biased technical change in the US

In this study, we analyze the effects of labor shortage in China on the direction of innovation in the US by incorporating production offshoring into a North-South model of directed technical change. We �find that if offshoring is present (absent) in equilibrium, then a decrease (an increase) in unskilled labor in the South would lead to skill-biased technical change in the North. This fi�nding highlights the different implications of offshoring and conventional trade on innovation. Furthermore, we �find
that an increase in the Southern stock of capital reduces offshoring and also leads to skill-biased technical change. Therefore, rapid capital accumulation and labor shortage
in China could lead to a rising skill premium in the US. Calibrating the model to China-US data, we �find that a 1% decrease in unskilled labor (1% increase in capital)
in China leads to a 0.8% (0.6%) increase in the skill premium in the US under a moderate elasticity of substitution between skill-intensive and labor-intensive goods.
Influence of anodizing process on fatigue life of a machined aluminium alloy

In order to investigate the coupled effects of machining and anodizing processes on fatigue life of alloy 7010-T7451, a series of rotating bending fatigue tests were conducted at 60Hz. In the as machined condition, test results showed that fatigue life is surface roughness dependent and that fatigue life decreases with an increase in surface roughness and this effect is found to be more pronounced in high cycle fatigue where major portion of fatigue life is consumed in nucleating the cracks. Effects of pretreatments, like degreasing and pickling employed prior to anodizing, on fatigue life of the given alloy were also studied. Results demonstrated that degreasing showed no change in fatigue life while pickling had negative impact on fatigue life of specimens. The small decrease in fatigue life of anodized specimens as compare to pickled specimens is attributed to brittle and microcracking of the coating. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination revealed multi-site crack initiation for the pickled and anodized specimens. SEM examination showed that pickling solution attacked the grain boundaries and intermetallic inclusions present on the surface resulting in pits formation. These pits are of primary concern with respect to accelerated fatigue crack nucleation and subsequent anodized coating formation