Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical and microbiological evaluation of processed cheese available in Khartoum market, Sudan

This study was carried out to evaluate the chemical and microbiological quality of imported processed cheese available in the market. A total of 27 samples comprising three brands were collected from supermarkets in Khartoum market, Sudan during the period June-August, 2007. The samples were subjected to chemical analysis and microbiological examination. Results showed that fat, protein, ash and titratable acidity of cheese were not significantly affected by the time of sample collection, while the moisture content was high in samples of batch 3. The brand of cheese showed no significant effect on all chemical composition under study (fat, protein, moisture, ash, titratable acidity). The fat content was 29.0 29.83%, while protein content was 8.53-9.08%, moisture content 49.33 -54.17%, ash content 2.35 -2.85% and titratable acidity 0.60– 0.72%. The total viable bacteria count was high in samples of batch 1, while proteolytic bacteria count was high in samples of batch 2 and lipolytic bacteria count was high in samples of batch 3 and yeasts and moulds count was high in the samples of batch 1. The total viable bacteria and lipolytic bacteria counts were high in brand A, while yeasts and moulds count was high in samples of brand B and proteolytic bacteria count showed no significant variation between brands of cheese. Total viable bacteria were detected in all samples under study (100%), while coliform bacteria were not detected (0%), proteolytic bacteria were detected in 77.8%, lipolytic bacteria in 74.2% and yeasts and moulds in 44.4%.
A Longitudinal Supra-Inguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block Reduces Morphine Consumption After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background and Objectives The role of a fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) for postoperative analgesia after total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains questionable. High-dose local anesthetics and a proximal injection site may be essential for successful analgesia. High-dose local anesthetics may pose a risk for local anesthetic systemic toxicity. We hypothesized that a high-dose longitudinal supra-inguinal FICB is safe and decreases postoperative morphine consumption after anterior approach THA. Methods We conducted a prospective, double blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for THA were randomized to group FICB (longitudinal supra-inguinal FICB with 40-mL ropivacaine 0.5%) or group C (control, no block). Standard hypothesis tests (t test or Mann-Whitney U test, &khgr;2 test) were performed to analyze baseline characteristics and outcome parameters. The primary end point of the study was total morphine (mg) consumption at 24 hours postoperatively. Serial total and free ropivacaine serum levels were determined in 10 patients. Results After obtaining ethical committee approval and written informed consent, 88 patients were included. Mean (SD) morphine consumption at 24 hours postoperatively was reduced in group FICB compared to group C: 10.25 (1.64) mg versus 19.0 (2.4) mg (P = 0.004). Using a mean dose of 2.6-mg/kg ropivacaine (range, 2–3.4 mg/kg), none of the patients had total or free ropivacaine levels above the maximum tolerated serum concentration. Conclusions We conclude that a high-dose longitudinal supra-inguinal FICB reduces postoperative morphine requirements after anterior approach THA. Clinical Trials Registry: EU Clinical Trials Register. www.clinicaltrialsregister. eu #2014-002122-12.
Progressive increase in mtDNA 3243A>G heteroplasmy causes abrupt transcriptional reprogramming

Significance Mitochondria generate signals that regulate nuclear gene expression via retrograde signaling, but this phenomenon is rendered more complex by the quantitative differences in the percentage of mutant and normal mtDNAs that can exist within patient cells. This study demonstrates that depending upon its relative cytoplasmic levels, a single mtDNA point mutation can cause a discrete set of cellular transcriptional responses within cells of the same nuclear background. This qualitative regulation of nuclear gene expression by quantitative changes in mtDNA mutant levels challenges the traditional “single mutation–single disease” concept and provides an alternative perspective on the molecular basis of complex metabolic and degenerative diseases, cancer, and aging. Variation in the intracellular percentage of normal and mutant mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) (heteroplasmy) can be associated with phenotypic heterogeneity in mtDNA diseases. Individuals that inherit the common disease-causing mtDNA tRNALeu(UUR) 3243A>G mutation and harbor ∼10–30% 3243G mutant mtDNAs manifest diabetes and occasionally autism; individuals with ∼50–90% mutant mtDNAs manifest encephalomyopathies; and individuals with ∼90–100% mutant mtDNAs face perinatal lethality. To determine the basis of these abrupt phenotypic changes, we generated somatic cell cybrids harboring increasing levels of the 3243G mutant and analyzed the associated cellular phenotypes and nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mtDNA transcriptional profiles by RNA sequencing. Small increases in mutant mtDNAs caused relatively modest defects in oxidative capacity but resulted in sharp transitions in cellular phenotype and gene expression. Cybrids harboring 20–30% 3243G mtDNAs had reduced mtDNA mRNA levels, rounded mitochondria, and small cell size. Cybrids with 50–90% 3243G mtDNAs manifest induction of glycolytic genes, mitochondrial elongation, increased mtDNA mRNA levels, and alterations in expression of signal transduction, epigenomic regulatory, and neurodegenerative disease-associated genes. Finally, cybrids with 100% 3243G experienced reduced mtDNA transcripts, rounded mitochondria, and concomitant changes in nuclear gene expression. Thus, striking phase changes occurred in nDNA and mtDNA gene expression in response to the modest changes of the mtDNA 3243G mutant levels. Hence, a major factor in the phenotypic variation in heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations is the limited number of states that the nucleus can acquire in response to progressive changes in mitochondrial retrograde signaling.
Enhanced stochastic fluctuations to measure steep adhesive energy landscapes

Significance Intermolecular interactions are governed by complex energy landscapes that give rise to their kinetic behavior and nanoscale properties. These properties have been measured, but the underlying energy landscapes for many stable interactions have not, as soft springs are commonly unable to fully measure strong interactions. We used atomic force microscopy with a white-noise excited cantilever to overcome this challenge, observing highly adhesive silicon nitride–mica interactions in water, and reconstructing the interaction energy as a function of tip–sample distance. Confirming our method with established models, we found an ideal excitation energy that allowed the cantilever to explore the full depth and contour of the energy landscape, demonstrating a capability for directly measuring highly adhesive interactions. Free-energy landscapes govern the behavior of all interactions in the presence of thermal fluctuations in the fields of physical chemistry, materials sciences, and the biological sciences. From the energy landscape, critical information about an interaction, such as the reaction kinetic rates, bond lifetimes, and the presence of intermediate states, can be determined. Despite the importance of energy landscapes to understanding reaction mechanisms, most experiments do not directly measure energy landscapes, particularly for interactions with steep force gradients that lead to premature jump to contact of the probe and insufficient sampling of transition regions. Here we present an atomic force microscopy (AFM) approach for measuring energy landscapes that increases sampling of strongly adhesive interactions by using white-noise excitation to enhance the cantilever’s thermal fluctuations. The enhanced fluctuations enable the recording of subtle deviations from a harmonic potential to accurately reconstruct interfacial energy landscapes with steep gradients. Comparing the measured energy landscape with adhesive force measurements reveals the existence of an optimal excitation voltage that enables the cantilever fluctuations to fully sample the shape and depth of the energy surface.
p53 Plays an Important Role in Cell Fate Determination after Exposure to Microcystin-LR

Background Microcystin-LR, a cyclic heptapeptide, possesses the ability to inhibit the serine/threonine protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A and, consequently, exhibits acute hepatocytotoxicity. Moreover, microcystin-LR induces cellular proliferation, resulting in tumor-promoting activity in hepatocytes. However, mechanisms that regulate the balance between cell death and proliferation after microcystin-LR treatment remain unclear. Objective We examined the contribution of the transcription factor p53, as well as that of the hepatic uptake transporter for microcystin-LR, organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3), to the cellular response to microcystin-LR exposure. Methods We analyzed intracellular signaling responses to microcystin-LR by immunoblotting and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction techniques using HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells stably transfected with SLCO1B3 (HEK293-OATP1B3). In addition, we analyzed the effect of attenuation of p53 function, via the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-α, and knockdown of p53 mRNA on the cytotoxicity of microcystin-LR using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results Microcystin-LR induced the phosphorylation and accumulation of p53 in HEK293-OATP1B3 cells, which resulted in up-regulation of the expression of p53 transcript targets, including p21 and seven in absentia homolog 1 (siah-1). In addition, microcystin-LR activated Akt signaling through the phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3β. Although Akt signaling was activated, the accumulation of p53 led cells to apoptosis after treatment with 50 nM microcystin-LR for 24 hr. Both pharmacological inhibition of transcription factor activity of p53 by pifithrin-α and knockdown of p53 with small hairpin RNA attenuated the susceptibility of HEK293-OATP1B3 cells to microcystin-LR. Conclusions This study demonstrates the importance of p53 in the regulation of cell fate after exposure to microcystin-LR. Our results suggest that, under conditions of p53 inactivation (including p53 mutation), chronic exposure to low doses of microcystin-LR may lead to cell proliferation through activation of Akt signaling. Results of this study may contribute to the development of chemoprevention and chemotherapeutic approaches to microcystin-LR poisoning.
Deep Sketch Hashing: Fast Free-Hand Sketch-Based Image Retrieval

Free-hand sketch-based image retrieval (SBIR) is a specific cross-view retrieval task, in which queries are abstract and ambiguous sketches while the retrieval database is formed with natural images. Work in this area mainly focuses on extracting representative and shared features for sketches and natural images. However, these can neither cope well with the geometric distortion between sketches and images nor be feasible for large-scale SBIR due to the heavy continuous-valued distance computation. In this paper, we speed up SBIR by introducing a novel binary coding method, named Deep Sketch Hashing (DSH), where a semi-heterogeneous deep architecture is proposed and incorporated into an end-to-end binary coding framework. Specifically, three convolutional neural networks are utilized to encode free-hand sketches, natural images and, especially, the auxiliary sketch-tokens which are adopted as bridges to mitigate the sketch-image geometric distortion. The learned DSH codes can effectively capture the cross-view similarities as well as the intrinsic semantic correlations between different categories. To the best of our knowledge, DSH is the first hashing work specifically designed for category-level SBIR with an end-to-end deep architecture. The proposed DSH is comprehensively evaluated on two large-scale datasets of TU-Berlin Extension and Sketchy, and the experiments consistently show DSHs superior SBIR accuracies over several state-of-the-art methods, while achieving significantly reduced retrieval time and memory footprint.
Instillation of particulate matter 2.5 induced acute lung injury and attenuated the injury recovery in ACE2 knockout mice

Inhaled particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) can cause lung injury by inducing serious inflammation in lung tissue. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung diseases and regulates inflammatory response. Angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), which is produced through the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II) axis, protects against lung disease. However, few studies have focused on the relationships between PM2.5 and ACE2. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of ACE2 in PM2.5-induced acute lung injury (ALI). An animal model of PM2.5-induced ALI was established with wild type (C57BL/6, WT) and ACE2 gene knockout (ACE2 KO) mice. The mice were exposed to PM2.5 through intratracheal instillation once a day for 3 days (6.25 mg/kg/day) and then sacrificed at 2 days and 5 days after PM2.5 instillation. The results show that resting respiratory rate (RRR), levels of inflammatory cytokines, ACE and MMPs in the lungs of WT and ACE2 KO mice were significantly increased at 2 days postinstillation. At 5 days postinstillation, the PM2.5-induced ALI significantly recovered in the WT mice, but only partially recovered in the ACE2 KO mice. The results hint that PM2.5 could induce severe ALI through pulmonary inflammation, and the repair after acute PM2.5 postinstillation could be attenuated in the absence of ACE2. Additionally, our results show that PM2.5-induced ALI is associated with signaling p-ERK1/2 and p-STAT3 pathways and ACE2 knockdown could increase pulmonary p-STAT3 and p-ERK1/2 levels in the PM2.5-induced ALI.
GROWTH KINETICS, CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, AND MORPHOLOGY OF OMVPE-GROWN HOMOEPITAXIAL CdTe

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. GROWTH KINETICS, CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, AND MORPHOLOGY OF OMVPE-GROWN HOMOEPITAXIAL CdTe D. Snyder, P. Sides, E. Ko, S. Mahajan
Yield and composition of the essential oil of Mentha piperita L. (Lamiaceae) grown with biosolid

This research evaluated the effects of biosolid levels on yield and chemical composition of Mentha piperita L. essential oil. Mint plants were grown in a greenhouse in pots containing the equivalent to 0, 28, 56, and 112 t.ha-1 biosolid. Three evaluations were made at 90, 110, and 120 days after planting (DAP). The oil was extracted from the dry matter of shoots by hydrodistillation, and composition was determined by GC/MS. Oil production was slightly affected by the biosolid, increasing when plants were grown with 28 t.ha-1, a condition which did not result in quality improvement. Menthyl acetate was the component obtained at the highest percentage in all treatments. At 90 DAP, plants showed a higher percentage of menthol, the second-highest oil constituent, with a content of 42.3% in plants grown without biosolid. The presence of biosolid favored menthofuran formation. As with menthol, menthone decreased with plant development. Under these conditions, plant harvesting is recommended at 90 DAP, period in which the menthol level was higher. Since the production of biosolid is on the rise, a suitable destination must be given to it, and restrictions exist for its use in relation to the environment and plants. Thus, although cultivation with 28 t.ha-1 is within the limits allowed by law, such a rate, which increased oil yield, did not improve oil quality. Therefore, biosolid from the Barueri Station is not recommended for cultivation of this specie.
The Synthesis, Characterization and Comparative Anticorrosion Study of Some Organotin(IV) 4-Chlorobenzoates

The synthesis of 3 compounds of a series of dibutyl(IV) di-4-chlorobenzoate, diphenyl(IV) di-4-chlorobenzoate and triphenyltin(IV) 4-chlorobenzoate have successfully been performed by reacting the dibutyltin(IV) dichloride, diphenyltin(IV) dichloride and triphenyltin(IV) chloride respectively via the dibutyltin(IV) oxide, diphenyltin(IV) dihydroxide and triphenyltin(IV) hydroxide with 4-chlorobenzoic acid. All compounds synthesized were well characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies as well as based on the microanalytical data. The anticorrosion activity of these compounds were tested on Hot Roller Plate (HRP) mild steel in DMSO-HCl solution using potentiodynamic method. The results revealed that the triphenyltin(IV) 4chlorobenzoate clearly showed the strongest inhibitor activity compared to the other derivatives, while diphenyltin(IV) compounds were better than that of dibutyltin(IV) analogous. The results reported here indicated that the optimal activity were depended on the ligand attached to the metal centre and might also be related to the number of carbon atoms present in the organotin(IV) used.
Increased β-Cell Mass in Obese Rats after Gastric Bypass: A Potential Mechanism for Improving Glycemic Control

Background Over the past few decades, bariatric surgery, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), has become widely considered the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. In most cases, it results in enhanced glucose management in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is observed before significant weight loss. However, what accounts for this effect remains controversial. To gain insight into the benefits of RYGB in T2D, we investigated changes in the β-Cell mass of obese rats following RYGB. Material/Methods RYGB or a sham operation was performed on obese rats that had been fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Then, the HFD was continued for 8 weeks in both groups. Additional normal chow diet (NCD) and obese groups were used as controls. Results In the present study, RYGB induced improved glycemic control and enhanced β-Cell function, which was reflected in a better glucose tolerance and a rapidly increased secretion of insulin and C-peptide after glucose administration. Consistently, rats in the RYGB group displayed increased β-Cell mass and islet numbers, which were attributed in part to increased glucagon-like peptide 1 levels following RYGB. Conclusions Our data indicate that RYGB can improve β-Cell function via increasing β-Cell mass, which plays a key role in improved glycemic control after RYGB.
Long-Lived Epidermal Cancer-Initiating Cells

Non-melanomatous skin cancers (NMSCs), which include basal and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC respectively), represent a significant burden on the population, as well as an economic load to the health care system; yet treatments of these preventable cancers remain ineffective. Studies estimate that there has been a 2-fold increase in the incidence of NMSCs between the 1960s and 1980s. The increase in cases of NMSCs, as well as the lack of effective treatments, makes the need for novel therapeutic approaches all the more necessary. To rationally develop more targeted treatments for NMSCs, a better understanding of the cell of origin, in addition to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that govern the development of these cancers, is urgently required. Research over the past few years has provided data supporting both a “bottom up” and “top down” mechanism of tumourigenesis. The “bottom up” concept involves a cancer stem cell originating in the basal compartment of the skin, which ordinarily houses the progenitor cells that contribute towards wound healing and normal cell turnover of overlying epidermal skin layers. The “top down” concept involves a more differentiated cell undergoing genetic modifications leading to dedifferentiation, giving rise to cancer initiating cells (CICs). This review explores both concepts, to paint a picture of the skin SCC cell of origin, the underlying biology, and also how this knowledge might be exploited to develop novel therapies.
Plunging Wave Breaking : EFD and CFD

A complementary experimental and computational study of plunging breaking waves is presented that are generated in a two dimensional open channel flume using a bottom bump and impulsive accelerated flow. The time evolution of the transient wave and its flow properties are measured using experimental fluid dynamics (EFD): upstream and downstream velocity and flow rates using pitot probes; air-water interface elevation measurements and two dimensional particle image velocimetry in the wave breaking region. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods are: Cartesian grid; embedded-boundary; hybrid HSM/GF/particle level set and VOF methods, and LES. CFD wave profiles at various time steps identifies the overall wave breaking process and major events: max wave height, first plunge, oblique splash-up, vertical jet, air entrainment, two repeats of these processes, dissipation and wave swept downstream which is qualitatively validated by EFD results. Both EFD and CFD results showed two subsequent plunging and splash-up events after the first plunge. After the wave breaks, the flow trends in mean velocity and vorticity observed in EFD are very similar to CFD which has more detailed resolutions of plunging, splashing, vertical jet and bubble entrainment. Current studies also revealed the occurrence of chaotic multiple splash-up events after the third plunging that produce span-wise vorticity and turbulence. Generation of a clockwise rotating bump vortex and an anticlockwise rotating span-wise wave breaking vortex that is created from the entrapped air after the breaking which transports turbulence from the trough towards the bulk fluid, were identified as the two important events. Mean values of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) below the broken wave showed that the TKE levels increase by almost 90% after the first plunge and another 40% after the second plunge, after which as the wave is swept downstream by the accelerating mean flow the TKE dissipates.