Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estrogenicity patterns in the Swiss midland river Lützelmurg in relation to treated domestic sewage effluent discharges and hydrology

Sewage treatment works (STW) discharge estrogenic effluent into rivers, which leads to variable estrogenicity of river water. Here, we characterize how the factors effluent and hydrology influence the estrogenicity of river water. We selected a river for which good hydrological data are available and collected water samples upstream and downstream from a STW discharge; effluent was sampled as well. Sampling took place during four 12‐d periods, associated with the seasons, and always occurred in the morning. We also investigated the estrogenicity along the river, both by grab sampling and by passive sampling. Estrogens were analyzed by a recombinant yeast assay (YES); the estrogenicity of a sample was equated to the 17β‐estradiol standard of the YES (ng/L). Estrogenicity upstream from the STW was mostly close to the detection limit of the YES (maximum, 0.4 ng/L). Estrogenicity of effluent ranged between 0.2 and 7.7 ng/L; lower estrogenicity was associated with higher hydraulic retention times. Downstream from the STW, estrogenicity exceeded 1 ng/L on 25% of the days (maximum, 2.1 ng/L). Measured river water estrogenicity correlated positively and significantly with predicted estrogenicity based on effluent estrogenicity and effluent dilution factor. Grab samples taken along the river indicate that no significant sources of estrogens were upstream from the STW; downstream from the STW, the pattern of estrogenicity was highly variable. However, passive sampling showed that the estrogenicity of river water downstream from the STW decreased continuously with increasing distance from the STW, which is largely explained by dilution.
Time-Dependent Transformation of the Herpesvirus Tegument

ABSTRACT All herpesviruses have a layer of protein called the tegument that lies between the virion membrane and the capsid. The tegument consists of multiple, virus-encoded protein species that together can account for nearly half the total virus protein. To clarify the structure of the tegument and its attachment to the capsid, we used electron microscopy and protein analysis to examine the tegument of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Electron microscopic examination of intact virions revealed that whereas the tegument was asymmetrically distributed around the capsid in extracellular virions, it was symmetrically arranged in cell-associated virus. Examination of virions after treatment with nonionic detergent demonstrated that: (i) in extracellular virus the tegument was resistant to removal with Triton X-100 (TX-100), whereas it was lost nearly completely when cell-associated virus was treated in the same way; (ii) the tegument in TX-100-treated extracellular virions was asymmetrically distributed around the capsid as it is in unextracted virus; and (iii) in some images, tegument was seen to be linked to the capsid by short, regularly spaced connectors. Further analysis was carried out with extracellular virus harvested from cells at different times after infection. It was observed that while the amount of tegument present in virions was not affected by time of harvest, the amount remaining after TX-100 treatment increased markedly as the time of harvest was increased from 24 h to 64 h postinfection. The results support the view that HSV-1 virions undergo a time-dependent change in which the tegument is transformed from a state in which it is symmetrically organized around the capsid and extractable with TX-100 to a state where it is asymmetrically arranged and resistant to extraction.
Health professionals' perceptions about the decision-making process in the care of pediatric patients

Objective To evaluate the perceptions of physicians, nurses and nursing technicians of their participation in the decision-making process surrounding life support limitation in terminally ill pediatric patients, with comparisons by professional category. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary public university hospital with the participation of physicians, nurses and nursing technicians. The MacArthur Admission Experience Survey Voice Scale was used to assess and quantify the perceptions of professionals who assisted 17 pediatric patients with life support limitation within 24 hours after the outcome of each patient was determined. All professionals working in the unit (n = 117) who were potentially eligible for the study received a free and informed consent form prior to the occurrence of the cases studied. Results Study participants included 25/40 (62.5%) physicians, 10/17 (58.8%) nurses and 41/60 (68.3%) nursing technicians, representing 65% of the eligible professionals identified. The questionnaire return rate was higher for physicians than technicians (p = 0.0258). A perceived lack of voice was reported in all three professional categories at varying rates that were lower for physicians than for nurses and nursing technicians (p < 0.00001); there was no difference between the latter (p = 0.7016). In the three professional categories studied, three subscale items were reported. For two of the three statements, there were significant differences between physicians and nurses (p = 0.004) and between physicians and nursing technicians (p = 0.001). For one of the statements, there was no difference among the three professional categories. Conclusion Respondents perceived a lack of voice in the decision-making process at varying rates across the three categories of studied professionals who assisted terminally ill pediatric patients with life support limitation, with physicians expressing lowered rates of perceived coercion.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Dendritic Beading during Neuronal Toxicity*

Mitochondrial dysfunction (depolarization and structural collapse), cytosolic ATP depletion, and neuritic beading are early hallmarks of neuronal toxicity induced in a variety of pathological conditions. We show that, following global exposure to glutamate, mitochondrial changes are spatially and temporally coincident with dendritic bead formation. During oxygen-glucose deprivation, mitochondrial depolarization precedes mitochondrial collapse, which in turn is followed by dendritic beading. These events travel as a wave of activity from distal dendrites toward the neuronal cell body. Despite the spatiotemporal relationship between dysfunctional mitochondria and dendritic beads, mitochondrial depolarization and cytoplasmic ATP depletion do not trigger these events. However, mitochondrial dysfunction increases neuronal vulnerability to these morphological changes during normal physiological activity. Our findings support a mechanism whereby, during glutamate excitotoxicity, Ca2+ influx leads to mitochondrial depolarization, whereas Na+ influx leads to an unsustainable increase in ATP demand (Na+,K+-ATPase activity). This leads to a drop in ATP levels, an accumulation of intracellular Na+ ions, and the subsequent influx of water, leading to microtubule depolymerization, mitochondrial collapse, and dendritic beading. Following the removal of a glutamate challenge, dendritic recovery is dependent upon the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane potential, but not on a resumption of ATP synthesis or Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Thus, dendritic recovery is not a passive reversal of the events that induce dendritic beading. These findings suggest that the degree of calcium influx and mitochondrial depolarization inflicted by a neurotoxic challenge, determines the ability of the neuron to recover its normal morphology.
Dural haemorrhage in non‐traumatic infant deaths: does it explain the bleeding in ‘shaken baby syndrome’?

J. F. Geddes, R. C. Tasker, A. K. Hackshaw, C. D. Nickols, G. G. W. Adams, H. L. Whitwell and I. Scheimberg (2003) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 29, 14–22 Dural haemorrhage in non‐traumatic infant deaths: does it explain the bleeding in ‘shaken baby syndrome’?
Postdiagnosis personal growth in an Australian population of parents raising children with developmental disability

Abstract Background Parenting a child with a developmental disability presents a variety of long-term physical and emotional challenges. When exploring parent wellbeing, the disability field is dominated by a deficit model despite parents reportedly demonstrating coping and resilience. The current study is embedded in a salutogenic theory (Antonovsky, 1979) and explores the potential for parents of children diagnosed with a developmental disability to undergo positive changes. Method Participants were 6 fathers and 27 mothers who completed measures of distress and posttraumatic growth. Results Compared with a number of other Australian samples, participants reported significantly higher levels of posttraumatic growth. Reports of growth did not negate reports of distress. Results also indicated that constructs of distress and growth were independent. Conclusions The research has important implications for disability support services, reminding providers to be cognisant of the potential for growth, as well as distress, thereby permitting an atmosphere conducive to exploring such outcomes.
Presence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

AIM To determine the prevalence of ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto's patients and to make a comparison in subgroups of patients. METHODS The study involved 110 Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients and 50 control subjects attending to the endocrinology department of the hospital. Subgroup classification of patients was made as euthyroid, subclinic and clinic in Hashimato's thyroiditis. All patients were evaluated by a single experienced ophthalmologist for the prevalence and characteristics of eye signs. RESULTS The overall prevalences of eye changes were 22.7% (25 patients) in patients and 4% (2 persons) in control subjects respectively (P=0.002). In patients the most common symptom was retrobulbar eye pain with or without any eye movement. Thirteen patients had significant upper eyelid retraction (11.8%). Six patients had eye muscle dysfunction as reduced eye movements in up gaze. In control patients one person had proptosis and another had lid retraction. The clinical activity score and classification of the ophthalmopathy did not show any significant differences among subgroups. CONCLUSION The eye signs were mostly mild (22.7%) and the most common eye sign was the presence of upper eyelid retraction (11.8%). Additionally six patients had eye muscle dysfunction as reduced eye movements in up gaze. Therefore we recommend to make a routine ophthalmic examination in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients in order not to omit the associated ophthalmopathy.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Decrease in Body Weight of a Transgenic Knock-in Mouse Model for TDP-43*

Background: Mutations in TDP-43 are frequently found in ALS patients. Results: A315T TDP-43 protein is elevated from this transgenic knock-in allele due to disturbed feedback regulation. Conclusion: Elevation of A315T TDP-43 was insufficient to cause ALS in this mutant. Significance: This TDP-43 allele could be valuable in determining genetic or environmental factors that cause full-blown FTLD or ALS. The majority of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases as well as many patients suffering from frontotemporal lobar dementia (FTLD) with ubiquitinated inclusion bodies show TDP-43 pathology, the protein encoded by the TAR DNA-binding protein (Tardbp) gene. We used recombinase-mediated cassette exchange to introduce an ALS patient cDNA into the mouse Tdp-43 locus. Expression levels of human A315T TDP-43 protein were 300% elevated in heterozygotes, whereas the endogenous mouse Tdp-43 was decreased to 20% of wild type levels as a result of disturbed feedback regulation. Heterozygous TDP-43A315TKi mutants lost 10% of their body weight and developed insoluble TDP-43 protein starting as early as 3 months after birth, a pathology that was exacerbated with age. We analyzed the splicing patterns of known Tdp-43 target genes as well as genome-wide gene expression levels in different tissues that indicated mitochondrial dysfunction. In heterozygous mutant animals, we observed a relative decrease in expression of Parkin (Park2) and the fatty acid transporter CD36 along with an increase in fatty acids, HDL cholesterol, and glucose in the blood. As seen in transmission electron microscopy, neuronal cells in motor cortices of TDP-43A315TKi animals had abnormal neuronal mitochondrial cristae formation. Motor neurons were reduced to 90%, but only slight motoric impairment was detected. The observed phenotype was interpreted as a predisease model, which might be valuable for the identification of further environmental or genetic triggers of neurodegeneration.
CTA Characteristics of the Circle of Willis and Intracranial Aneurysm in a Chinese Crowd with Family History of Stroke

Background and Purpose. The vascular morphology in crowd with family history of stroke remains unclear. The present study clarified the characteristics of the intracranial vascular CoW and prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in subjects with family history of stroke. Methods. A stratified cluster, random sampling method was used for subjects with family history of stroke among rural residents in Jixian, Tianjin, China. All the subjects underwent a physical examination, head computed tomography (CT) scan, and cephalic and cervical computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan. Anatomic variations in the Circle of Willis and cerebrovascular disease in this population were analyzed. Results. In the crowd with similar living environment, stable genetic background, and family history of stroke and without obvious nerve function impairment (1) hypoplasia or absence of A1 segment was significantly different in gender (male versus female: 9.8% versus 18.8%, p = 0.031), especially the right-side A1 (male versus female: 5.9% versus 16.4%, p = 0.004). (2) Hypoplasia or absence of bilateral posterior communicating arteries was more common in men than women (58.2% versus 45.3%, p = 0.032). Unilateral fetal posterior cerebral artery was observed more often in women than men (17.2% versus 8.5%, p = 0.028). (3) The percentage of subjects with incomplete CoW did not increase significantly with age. Compared to healthy Chinese people, the crowd had a higher percentage of incomplete CoW (p < 0.001). (4) No obvious correlation between risk factors and CoW was found. (5) The prevalence of aneurysm was 10.3% in the special crowd. Conclusions. The certain variations of CoW showed significant relation to gender, but not to age in people with family history of stroke. The incomplete circle may be a dangerous factor that is independent of common risk factors for stroke and tend to lead to cerebral ischemia in the crowd with family history of stroke. The prevalence of intracranial aneurysm is comparatively high in the present subjects compared to other people.
Widely Tunable Fiber Optical Parametric Oscillators With Idler Removal Filter

The properties of the singly resonant and double-pass pump fiber optical parametric oscillators (FOPO) are experimentally investigated. An idler removal filter is utilized to eliminate the idler component in a Fabry–Pérot cavity to minimize the effect of modulation instability. For singly resonant FOPO, the pump is also filtered out and leaves the signal to oscillate in the cavity. For double-pass pump FOPO, the idler removal filter is designed to allow propagation of signal and pump in the cavity. The results show that double-pass pump FOPO brings several important enhancements over the conventional singly resonant FOPO. Among them are the low threshold of 0.247 W with improvement by 51% at 0.45 W pump power. It is also found that the conversion efficiency of the two configurations has no significant difference.
Exposure to the American flag polarizes democratic‐republican ideologies

Some prior research has suggested that exposure to the American flag tilts Americans towards Republicanism, while others have proffered that it brings outs a common 'together' perspective instead. We explore a third possibility - that it may actually polarize Americans' political ideology. It is generally accepted that exposure to an environmental cue can shift attitudes and behaviours, at least partly or temporarily, in a manner that is consistent with that cue. Yet, the same cue can mean different things to different people. In the same vein, given how national identity and political ideology are intertwined in the United States, we hypothesize that the American flag should heighten different political beliefs depending on individuals' political ideology. To Democrats, being American is to support Democratic values, but to Republicans, being American is to support Republican values. The American flag thus should heighten Democrats of their Democratic identity, and it should heighten Republicans of their Republican one. The results of an experiment with 752 American respondents who were representative of the US population supported this polarizing effect of the American flag. The theoretical and policy implications of the findings are offered.
Heart rate complexity in sinoaortic‐denervated mice

What is the central question of this study? New measurements for cardiovascular complexity, such as detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE), have been shown to predict cardiovascular outcomes. Given that cardiovascular diseases are accompanied by autonomic imbalance and decreased baroreflex sensitivity, the central question is: do baroreceptors contribute to cardiovascular complexity? What is the main finding and its importance? Sinoaortic denervation altered both DFA scaling exponents and MSE, indicating that both short‐ and long‐term mechanisms of complexity are altered in sinoaortic denervated mice, resulting in a loss of physiological complexity. These results suggest that the baroreflex is a key element in the complex structures involved in heart rate variability regulation.
Repair of Nitric Oxide-modified Ferredoxin [2Fe-2S] Cluster by Cysteine Desulfurase (IscS)*

Iron-sulfur proteins are among the sensitive targets of the nitric oxide cytotoxicity. When Escherichia coli cells are exposed to nitric oxide, iron-sulfur clusters are modified forming protein-bound dinitrosyl iron complexes. Such modified protein dinitrosyl iron complexes are stable in vitro but are efficiently repaired in aerobically growing E. colicells even without any new protein synthesis. Here we show that cysteine desulfurase encoded by the gene iscS of E. coli can directly convert the ferredoxin dinitrosyl iron complex to the ferredoxin [2Fe-2S] cluster in the presence ofl-cysteine in vitro. A reassembly of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in the ferredoxin dinitrosyl iron complex does not require any addition of iron or other protein components. Furthermore, a complete removal of the dinitrosyl iron complex from ferredoxin prevents reassembly of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in the protein. The results suggest that cysteine desulfurase (IscS) together withl-cysteine can efficiently repair the nitric oxide-modified ferredoxin [2Fe-2S] cluster and that the iron center in the dinitrosyl iron complex may be recycled for the reassembly of iron-sulfur clusters in proteins.
Protease Activated Receptor-2 Expression and Function in Asthmatic Bronchial Smooth Muscle

Asthmatic bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) is characterized by structural remodeling associated with mast cell infiltration displaying features of chronic degranulation. Mast cell-derived tryptase can activate protease activated receptor type-2 (PAR-2) of BSM cells. The aims of the present study were (i) to evaluate the expression of PAR-2 in both asthmatic and non asthmatic BSM cells and, (ii) to analyze the effect of prolonged stimulation of PAR-2 in asthmatic BSM cells on cell signaling and proliferation. BSM cells were obtained from both 33 control subjects and 22 asthmatic patients. PAR-2 expression was assessed by flow cytometry, western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. Calcium response, transduction pathways and proliferation were evaluated before and following PAR-2 stimulation by SLIGKV-NH2 or trypsin for 1 to 3 days. Asthmatic BSM cells expressed higher basal levels of functional PAR-2 compared to controls in terms of mRNA, protein expression and calcium response. When PAR-2 expression was increased by means of lentivirus in control BSM cells to a level similar to that of asthmatic cells, PAR-2-induced calcium response was then similar in both types of cell. However, repeated PAR-2 stimulations increased the proliferation of asthmatic BSM cells but not that of control BSM cells even following lentiviral over-expression of PAR-2. Such an increased proliferation was related to an increased phosphorylation of ERK in asthmatic BSM cells. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that asthmatic BSM cells express increased baseline levels of functional PAR-2. This higher basal level of PAR-2 accounts for the increased calcium response to PAR-2 stimulation, whereas the increased proliferation to repeated PAR-2 stimulation is related to increased ERK phosphorylation.
A Joint Rate and FEC Adaptation Approach to Enable High Speed Broadcast in IEEE 802.11 Networks

—Rate adaptation is a MAC-layer mechanism in IEEE 802.11 networks to ensure efﬁcient utilization of constantly varying wireless channel. However, for broadcast communication, most commodity wireless drivers only support the base rates (i.e., 1 or 2 Mbps in 802.11b/b+g and 6Mbps in 802.11a/g), leaving the channel capacity signiﬁcantly underutilized. In this paper, we present a novel rate adaptation framework designed for wireless broadcast to improve the 802.11 network performance. This framework jointly selects the data rate and the error protection level at the same time. It has been also designed in a manner that it does not require changes to legacy applications or to the 802.11 standards (thus can work in existing 802.11 networks). Using the performance measurement study in live networking environments, we show that the proposed scheme provides substantial improvement in performance while providing low application level loss, and can adapt to different operational environments.
Gait speed and related factors in Parkinson’s disease

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gait speed and various factors in ambulatory patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. [Subjects] Fifty ambulatory patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease who were admitted to an outpatient clinic were included in this cross-sectional study. [Methods] The Hoehn and Yahr Scale was used for measurement of the disease severity. Gait speed was measured by the 10-Meter Walk Test. Mobility status was assessed by Timed Up and Go Test. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used for evaluation of emotional state. Cognitive status was examined with the Mini-Mental State Examination. The Downton Index was used for fall risk assessment. Balance was evaluated with the Berg Balance Scale. Comorbidity was measured with the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey was completed for measurement of quality of life. [Results] The mean age was 66.7 (47–83) years. Twenty-eight (56%) patients were men. Gait speed was correlated positively with height, male gender, Mini-Mental Examination score, Berg Balance Scale score and physical summary scores of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between gait speed and age, disease severity, TUG time, Downton Index, fear of falling, previous falls and the anxiety and depression scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. There was no correlation between gait speed and comorbidity. [Conclusion] The factors related with the slower gait speed are, elder age, clinically advanced disease, poor mobility, fear of falling, falling history, higher falling risk, and mood disorder.