Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Present and Future Mercury Concentrations in Chinese Rice: Insights From Modeling

We construct a rice paddy biogeochemical cycle model to investigate processes governing rice mercury sources and to understand factors influencing spatiotemporal variability in Chinese rice mercury concentrations. The rice paddy model takes atmospheric mercury deposition, simulated from a global atmospheric chemistry transport model (GEOS‐Chem), and soil and irrigable surface water mercury concentrations obtained from literature and calculates rice inorganic (IHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations. We use ranges of GEOS‐Chem‐simulated future atmospheric mercury deposition—no policy and strict policy to regulate mercury emissions from Chinese coal‐fired power plants under the Minamata Convention on Mercury—to simulate future rice IHg and MeHg concentrations. Sensitivity analyses suggest that rice IHg and MeHg concentrations are more sensitive to the process of soil desorption than infiltration of recently introduced mercury (atmospheric and irrigation source). The rate of internal methylation via microbial activity has the largest modeled influence on rice MeHg concentration. We find that soil mercury, rather than atmospheric deposition, explains observed spatial variability in rice IHg and MeHg concentrations and captures locations of rice mercury hot spots (>20 ng/g; China National Standard Limit). Under our future scenarios, the Chinese median rice IHg and MeHg concentration increases by 13% and decrease by 18% under no policy and strict policy, respectively. Regions with the largest percentage decline in rice IHg and MeHg concentrations under strict policy are in central China, which have high rice mercury concentrations, rice production, and consumption. Our study suggests that addressing Chinese rice mercury contamination requires attention to contaminated soil and regulation of anthropogenic mercury emissions.
Autoantibodies to RNA polymerases recognize multiple subunits and demonstrate cross-reactivity with RNA polymerase complexes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the subunit specificity of autoantibody directed to RNA polymerases (RNAP) I, II, and III, which is one of the major autoantibody responses in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS Thirty-two SSc sera with anti-RNAP antibodies (23 with anti-RNAP I/III, 5 with anti-RNAP I/III and II, and 4 with anti-RNAP II alone) were analyzed by immunoblotting using affinity-purified RNAP and by immunoprecipitation using 35S-labeled cell extracts in which RNAP complexes were dissociated. Antibodies bound to individual RNAP subunits were eluted from preparative immunoblots and were further analyzed by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation. RESULTS At least 15 different proteins were bound by antibodies in anti-RNAP-positive SSc sera in various combinations. All 9 sera immunoprecipitating RNAP II and all 28 sera immunoprecipitating RNAP I/III recognized the large subunit proteins of RNAP II and III, respectively. Reactivity to RNAP I large subunits was strongly associated with bright nucleolar staining by indirect immunofluorescence. Affinity-purified antibodies that recognized a 62-kd subunit protein cross-reacted with a 43-kd subunit protein and immunoprecipitated both RNAP I and RNAP III. Antibodies that recognized a 21-kd subunit protein obtained from sera that were positive for anti-RNAP I/III and II antibodies immunoprecipitated both RNAP II and RNAP III. CONCLUSION Anti-RNAP antibodies recognize multiple subunits of RNAP I, II, and III. Moreover, the results of this study provide the first direct evidence that antibodies that recognize shared subunits of human RNAPs or epitopes present on different human RNAP subunits are responsible for the recognition of multiple RNAPs by SSc sera.
Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Oestrogen Receptor-Positive/Progesterone Receptor-Negative/Her2-Negative Breast Cancer According to a Novel Definition of Negative Progesterone Receptor Status: A Large Population-Based Study from China

Purpose A lack of progesterone receptor (PgR) expression in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) tumours is associated with worse survival. PgR status is usually defined as positive or negative using 1% positive nuclei as a cut-off point. In this study, we aimed to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics of ER+/PgR-/HER2- tumours by comparing them with ER+/PgR+/HER2- tumours using a PgR cut-off point of 20% as a divisive criterion. Methods We analysed 1,522 patients with primary breast cancer who had undergone surgery at the Cancer Center of Fudan University between 2012 and 2014. Age, grade, tumour size, lymph node status and lymphovascular invasion were assessed. Multinomial logistic regression, linear regression and chi-square test models were applied to assess associations between ER, PR and clinical features. Results ER+/PgR-/HER2- tumours showed poorer clinicopathologic characteristics relative to ER+/PgR+/HER2- tumours using a PgR threshold of 20% instead of 1%. The clinicopathologic characteristics did not differ between tumours with purely negative PgR expression and tumours with a PgR percentage ranging from 1% to 19%. The prognostic significance of PR expression appeared more pronounced in patients under a high Ki-67 status than those under a low Ki-67 status. Conclusions Based on these findings, we propose the use of a novel threshold of 20% to define PgR status. Nevertheless, the impact of this new criterion on patient management and clinical treatment requires additional study.
In : Recent Advances in Equine Neonatal Care

Introduction Rhodococcus equi is one of the most important causes of disease in foals between 1 and 6 months of age, with most foals showing clinical signs between 4 and 12 weeks of age. Infection is most commonly characterized by a subacute to chronic bronchopneumonia sometimes accompanied by ulcerative typhlocolitis and mesenteric lymphadenopathy. R. equi may also be isolated from the cervical lymph nodes of pigs whereas in goats the organism may occasionally cause granulomatous lesions in the liver resulting in wasting and death of young animals [1, 2]. Infection in other species is rare and usually associated with immunosuppression. For example, R. equi has emerged as a significant opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed people, especially those infected with HIV [3, 4]. This article is a summary of recent advances in understanding pathogenesis of R. equi infections in foals. Current concepts in diagnosis, treatment and control are also discussed.
Medical conditions among Iraqi refugees in Jordan: data from the United Nations Refugee Assistance Information System.

OBJECTIVE To determine the range and burden of health services utilization among Iraqi refugees receiving health assistance in Jordan, a country of first asylum. METHODS Medical conditions, diagnosed in accordance with the tenth revision of the International classification of diseases, were actively monitored from 1 January to 31 December 2010 using a pilot centralized database in Jordan called the Refugee Assistance Information System. FINDINGS There were 27 166 medical visits by 7642 Iraqi refugees (mean age: 37.4 years; 49% male; 70% from Baghdad; 6% disabled; 3% with a history of torture). Chronic diseases were common, including essential hypertension (22% of refugees), visual disturbances (12%), joint disorders (11%) and type II diabetes mellitus (11%). The most common reasons for seeking acute care were upper respiratory tract infection (11%), supervision of normal pregnancy (4%) and urinary disorders (3%). The conditions requiring the highest number of visits per refugee were cerebrovascular disease (1.46 visits), senile cataract (1.46) and glaucoma (1.44). Sponsored care included 31 747 referrals or consultations to a specialty service, 18 432 drug dispensations, 2307 laboratory studies and 1090 X-rays. The specialties most commonly required were ophthalmology, dentistry, gynaecology and orthopaedic surgery. CONCLUSION Iraqi refugees in countries of first asylum and resettlement require targeted health services, health education and sustainable prevention and control strategies for predominantly chronic diseases.
Laparoscopy for Colorectal Malignancy

Laparoscopy for colorectal pathology is technically demanding with a steep learning curve. In expert hands, there is no doubt that there is a place for laparoscopy in the operative armamentarium for the treatment of benign disease. The question of its application in the treatment of carcinoma is more difficult to address. The evidence available suggests that laparoscopic resection is a feasible and appropriate option for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. The skill and technology to perform the procedure are developing apace, and level 1 evidence to support it is tantalizingly close. This paper will outline the development of the technique, the operative approach, and the available evidence for its use in the treatment of carcinoma.
Real-time 3D ultrasound-based servoing of a surgical instrument

This paper presents a real-time 3D ultrasoundguided robotic system, designed to autonomously navigate a surgical instrument to surgeon-specified target points. The system tracks the instrument in real-time (2 Hz) using image processing. Thus, it does not require tracking of the ultrasound scan head. It makes use of a line detection algorithm and a passive instrument marker, which together report the instrument's position and orientation (6 d.o.f.) from a single ultrasound image. Validation experiments are presented. The system controlled instrument position in a variety of image locations with a mean error of 0.8 mm
Endomorphin-2: A Biased Agonist at the μ-Opioid Receptor

Previously we correlated the efficacy for G protein activation with that for arrestin recruitment for a number of agonists at the μ-opioid receptor (MOPr) stably expressed in HEK293 cells. We suggested that the endomorphins (endomorphin-1 and -2) might be biased toward arrestin recruitment. In the present study, we investigated this phenomenon in more detail for endomorphin-2, using endogenous MOPr in rat brain as well as MOPr stably expressed in HEK293 cells. For MOPr in neurons in brainstem locus ceruleus slices, the peptide agonists [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) and endomorphin-2 activated inwardly rectifying K+ current in a concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of these responses with the operational model of pharmacological agonism confirmed that endomorphin-2 had a much lower operational efficacy for G protein-mediated responses than did DAMGO at native MOPr in mature neurons. However, endomorphin-2 induced faster desensitization of the K+ current than did DAMGO. In addition, in HEK293 cells stably expressing MOPr, the ability of endomorphin-2 to induce phosphorylation of Ser375 in the COOH terminus of the receptor, to induce association of arrestin with the receptor, and to induce cell surface loss of receptors was much more efficient than would be predicted from its efficacy for G protein-mediated signaling. Together, these results indicate that endomorphin-2 is an arrestin-biased agonist at MOPr and the reason for this is likely to be the ability of endomorphin-2 to induce greater phosphorylation of MOPr than would be expected from its ability to activate MOPr and to induce activation of G proteins.
Multi-Faceted Functions of Secretory IgA at Mucosal Surfaces

Secretory IgA (SIgA) plays an important role in the protection and homeostatic regulation of intestinal, respiratory, and urogenital mucosal epithelia separating the outside environment from the inside of the body. This primary function of SIgA is referred to as immune exclusion, a process that limits the access of numerous microorganisms and mucosal antigens to these thin and vulnerable mucosal barriers. SIgA has been shown to be involved in avoiding opportunistic pathogens to enter and disseminate in the systemic compartment, as well as tightly controlling the necessary symbiotic relationship existing between commensals and the host. Clearance by peristalsis appears thus as one of the numerous mechanisms whereby SIgA fulfills its function at mucosal surfaces. Sampling of antigen-SIgA complexes by microfold (M) cells, intimate contact occurring with Peyer’s patch dendritic cells (DC), down-regulation of inflammatory processes, modulation of epithelial, and DC responsiveness are some of the recently identified processes to which the contribution of SIgA has been underscored. This review aims at presenting, with emphasis at the biochemical level, how the molecular complexity of SIgA can serve these multiple and non-redundant modes of action.
Adapting to living with a mechanical aortic heart valve: a phenomenographic study.

AIM To describe how patients adapt to living with a mechanical aortic heart valve. BACKGROUND Aortic valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis is preferred for patients with life expectancy of more than 10 years as they are more durable than bioprosthetic valves. Mechanical valves have some disadvantages, such as higher risk of thrombosis and embolism, increased risk of bleeding related to lifelong oral anticoagulation treatment and noise from the valve. DESIGN An explorative design with a phenomenographic approach was employed. METHODS An explorative design with a phenomenographic approach was applied. Interviews were conducted over 4 months during 2010-2011 with 20 strategically sampled patients, aged 24-74 years having undergone aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis during the last 10 years. FINDINGS Patients adapted to living with a mechanical aortic heart valve in four ways: 'The competent patient' wanted to stay in control of his/her life. 'The adjusted patient' considered the implications of having a mechanical aortic valve as part of his/her daily life. 'The unaware patient' was not aware of warfarin-diet-medication interactions. 'The worried patient' was bothered with the oral anticoagulation and annoyed by the sound of the valve. Patients moved between the different ways of adapting. CONCLUSIONS The oral anticoagulation therapy was considered the most troublesome consequence, but also the sound of the valve was difficult to accept. Patient counselling and adequate follow-up can make patients with mechanical aortic heart valves more confident and competent to manage their own health. We recommend that patients should participate in a rehabilitation programme following cardiac surgery.
Public Perceptions of Lake Mendota Water Quality in Madison, Wisconsin

Public perception is an important part of human geography and affects how citizens approach environmental issues. We researched differences in public perception of water quality on Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. Specifically, we used an online survey and social theory analysis to examine how and why perceptions differ between two key demographics, professors of UW-Madison and the general public, and what respondents are willing to do in rehabilitation efforts. We found visible water quality issues such as presence of trash to be most important to citizens, while non-visible effects like water temperature were least important. Professors also had a narrower view of water quality, while public views were much more diverse. Our study shows the importance of applying public perceptions to environmental management plans in order to effectively increase environmental quality. Introduction There is no doubt the world as we know it today is governed and shaped by humans. Humans are a major factor in environmental quality, for better or for worse. In the realm of human geography, perception is many times reality. The interesting aspect is how perceptions can affect environmental health. It is important to understand public perceptions in order to promote governmental change or action in the future. Human geography and environmental science are generally not thought of as one, but the reality is that human geography actually shapes environmental science, through the vector of public perception. Using these perceptions, management actions and strategies can be developed around them. This is the interface in which our study focuses. We researched the public perceptions on water quality, related to agricultural practices, industrial and sewer outputs, invasive species, and urban waste, surrounding Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. We were curious to know how the public perceives these issues depending on a variety of factors, and what they are willing to do about water quality issues in their community. Our research questions were as follows: first, do perceptions of water quality in Lake Mendota vary based on someone’s demographic background in Madison, Wisconsin?
Attention promotes episodic encoding by stabilizing hippocampal representations

Significance Why does the brain store memories of some things but not others? At a cognitive level, attention provides an explanation: What aspects of an experience we focus on determines what information is perceived and available for encoding. But the mechanism of how attention alters memory formation at the neural level is unknown. With high-resolution neuroimaging, we show that attention alters the state of a key brain structure for memory, the hippocampus, and that the extent to which this occurs predicts whether the attended information gets stored in memory. The dependence of hippocampal encoding on attentional states reveals the broad involvement of the hippocampus in multiple cognitive processes, and highlights that the workings of the hippocampus are under our control. Attention influences what is later remembered, but little is known about how this occurs in the brain. We hypothesized that behavioral goals modulate the attentional state of the hippocampus to prioritize goal-relevant aspects of experience for encoding. Participants viewed rooms with paintings, attending to room layouts or painting styles on different trials during high-resolution functional MRI. We identified template activity patterns in each hippocampal subfield that corresponded to the attentional state induced by each task. Participants then incidentally encoded new rooms with art while attending to the layout or painting style, and memory was subsequently tested. We found that when task-relevant information was better remembered, the hippocampus was more likely to have been in the correct attentional state during encoding. This effect was specific to the hippocampus, and not found in medial temporal lobe cortex, category-selective areas of the visual system, or elsewhere in the brain. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how attention transforms percepts into memories.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Oxycodone in Patients With Cancer-Related Pain

ABSTRACT Oxycodone is an opioid widely prescribed to cancer patients for pain relief. However, the pharmacokinetics of oxycodone has not been sufficiently examined. Therefore the aim of this work was to study population pharmacokinetics of oxycodone in patients with cancer pain. The authors analyzed 108 serum oxycodone samples of 33 individuals with nonlinear mixed-effects model (NONMEM). Population pharmacokinetics was calculated using the one-compartment model of clearance, volume of distribution, bioavailability, absorption constant rate, and lag time. An exponential error model was used to determine interindividual variability and a relative error model was applied to assess residual variability. Population pharmacokinetics of oxycodone at the end point were as follows: CL(L/h) = 10.7 × [1 + (2 − Child-Pugh Classification)] (Class: A = 0, B = 1, C = 2); Vd (L) = 193; ka (h−1) = 0.336; Tlag (h) = 0.859; F (%) = 63.9. Interindividual variability was CL: 30.5%, Vd: 44.6%, and F: 37.0%, and residual variability was 16.2%. As the total clearance in patients with liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh class B) was reduced to 33.3%, serum concentration of oxycodone increased by 1.5. Therefore, it became clear that dose adjustments are essential when treating patients with liver dysfunction. These findings suggest that population parameters are useful for evaluating pharmacokinetics of oxycodone in patients with cancer pain.
Mechanisms of siderophore iron transport in enteric bacteria

Uptake of 55Fe- and 3H-labeled siderophores and their chronic analogues have been studied in Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 and Escherichia coli K-12. In S. typhimurium LT-2, at least two different mechanisms for siderophore iron transport may be operative. Uptake of 55Fe- and 3H-labeled ferrichrome and kinetically inert lambda-cis-chromic [3H]deferriferrichrome by the S. typhimurium LT-2 enb7 mutant, which is defective in the production of its native siderophore, enterobactin, appears to occur by two concurrent mechanisms. The first mechanism is postulated to involve either rapid uptake of iron released from the ferric complex by cellular reduction without penetration of the complex or ligand or dissociation of the complex and simultaneous uptake of both ligand and iron coupled with simultaneous expulsion of the ligand. The second mechanism appears to consist of slower uptake of the intact ferric complex.
The study of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates.

OBJECTIVE To determine the number of cases and manifestations of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates. DESIGN An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY The study was conducted at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Paediatric Department, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from September 1997 to February 1998. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 365 neonates from 0-28 days of age admitted with different clinical problems irrespective of birth weight and gestational age were evaluated for thrombocytopenia. These neonates were categorized into five different groups (A-E), which were of neonatal infections, asphyxia neonatorum, preterm and smallness for gestational age, jaundice and miscellaneous respectively. RESULTS Out of 365 cases, 88 were found to have thrombocytopenia (platelet counts < 150,000 per mm3) which was 24.1% of the total. In group A (neonatal infections), out of 152 neonates, 62 had low platelet counts (40.78%). In group B (neonatal asphyxia), out of 90 only 11 had thrombocytopenia (12.2%). In group C (preterm and small for gestational age), out of 60 cases only 9 had thrombocytopenia. In group D (jaundice), all 33 cases had normal platelet counts. In group E (miscellaneous), out of 30 cases only 6 had thrombocytopenia. The common manifestations in thrombocytopenic babies were petechiae and bruises followed by gastrointestinal hemorrhages. The percentage of manifest thrombocytopenia cases was 56.8% and of occult thrombocytopenia 43.1%. CONCLUSION The leading causes of thrombocytopenia in sick neonates are infections, asphyxia, complicated pre-maturity and smallness for gestational age. Apart from the platelet counts the bleeding mainfestations also depend upon the underlying ailments.