Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Flavonoid in Medicinal Plant Extract Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics has been developed for simple analysis of flavonoid in the medicinal plant extract. Flavonoid was extracted from medicinal plant leaves by ultrasonication and maceration. IR spectra of selected medicinal plant extract were correlated with flavonoid content using chemometrics. The chemometric method used for calibration analysis was Partial Last Square (PLS) and the methods used for classification analysis were Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies (SIMCA), and Support Vector Machines (SVM). In this study, the calibration of NIR model that showed best calibration with R 2 and RMSEC value was 0.9916499 and 2.1521897, respectively, while the accuracy of all classification models (LDA, SIMCA, and SVM) was 100%. R 2 and RMSEC of calibration of FTIR model were 0.8653689 and 8.8958149, respectively, while the accuracy of LDA, SIMCA, and SVM was 86.0%, 91.2%, and 77.3%, respectively. PLS and LDA of NIR models were further used to predict unknown flavonoid content in commercial samples. Using these models, the significance of flavonoid content that has been measured by NIR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry was evaluated with paired samples t-test. The flavonoid content that has been measured with both methods gave no significant difference.
A Bayesian Hybrid Adaptive Randomisation Design for Clinical Trials with Survival Outcomes

Summary Background: Response-adaptive randomisation designs have been proposed to im -prove the efficiency of phase III randomised clinical trials and improve the outcomes of the clinical trial population. In the setting of failure time outcomes, Zhang and Rosen -berger (2007) developed a response-adaptive randomisation approach that targets an optimal allocation, based on a fixed sample size. Objectives: The aim of this research is to propose a response-adaptive randomisation procedure for survival trials with an interim monitoring plan, based on the following optimal criterion: for fixed variance of the esti -mated log hazard ratio, what allocation minimizes the expected hazard of failure? We demonstrate the utility of the design by re -designing a clinical trial on multiple myeloma. Methods: To handle continuous monitoring of data, we propose a Bayesian response-adap -tive randomisation procedure, where the log hazard ratio is the effect measure of interest. Combining the prior with the normal likelihood, the mean posterior estimate of the log hazard ratio allows derivation of the optimal target allocation. We perform a simu lationstudy to assess and compare the perform -ance of this proposed Bayesian hybrid adaptive design to those of fixed, sequential or adaptive – either frequentist or fully Bayesian – designs. Non informative normal priors of the log hazard ratio were used, as well as mixture of enthusiastic and skeptical priors. Stopping rules based on the posterior dis -tribution of the log hazard ratio were com -puted. The method is then illus trated by redesigning a phase III randomised clinical trial of chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma, with mixture of normal priors elicited from experts. Results: As expected, there was a reduction in the proportion of observed deaths in the adaptive vs. non-adaptive designs; this reduction was maximized using a Bayes mix -ture prior, with no clear-cut improvement by using a fully Bayesian procedure. The use of stopping rules allows a slight decrease in the observed proportion of deaths under the alternate hypothesis compared with the adaptive designs with no stopping rules. Conclusions: Such Bayesian hybrid adaptive survival trials may be promising alternatives to traditional designs, reducing the duration of survival trials, as well as optimizing the ethical concerns for patients enrolled in the trial.
Population-based study of asymptomatic infection with Chlamydia trachomatis among female and male students

There are few epidemiological studies of asymptomatic chlamydial infection among students in non-medical settings with minimal bias and improved accuracy; thus, useful data from screening among students are limited. We aimed to obtain accurate epidemiological information about asymptomatic chlamydial infection among students in non-medical settings. A population-based cross-sectional survey of 10,440 ≥18-year-old asymptomatic students who volunteered for a urine screening test for chlamydia was conducted. The prevalences of asymptomatic infection were 9.5% for women and 6.7% for men. Multivariate analysis revealed the risk factors to be a lifetime history of ≥4 sexual partners for women (odds ratio [OR] 3.17) and inconsistent condom use for men (OR 4.18). For both sexes, younger age at first intercourse was associated with a higher rate of inconsistent condom use. This study produced accurate epidemiological information on asymptomatic chlamydial infection. These results may contribute to the establishment of preventive countermeasures against such infection.
Cross‐modal neuroplasticity in neonatally enucleated hamsters: structure, electrophysiology and behaviour

Potential auditory compensation in neonatally bilaterally enucleated Syrian hamsters was explored anatomically, electrophysiologically and behaviourally. Gross morphology of the visual cortex appeared normal and no obvious cytoarchitectural malformation was discerned. However, enucleation induced a significant increase in the spontaneous firing rate of visual cortex cells. Further, auditory stimuli elicited field potentials and single unit responses in the visual cortex of enucleated, but not normal, animals. About 63% of the cells isolated in the visual cortex of 16 enucleated hamsters responded to at least one type of auditory stimulus. Most of the responses were less vigorous and less time‐locked than those of auditory cortex cells, and thresholds were typically higher. Projection tracing with WGA–HRP disclosed reciprocal connections between the visual cortex and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus in both intact and enucleated animals. However, in the enucleated animals retrogradely labelled cells were also found in the inferior colliculus, the major midbrain auditory nucleus. Behaviourally determined auditory sensitivity across the hearing range did not differ between enucleated and intact hamsters. Minimum audible angle, as determined by a conditioned suppression task, ranged from around 17 to 22°, with no significant difference between normal and enucleated animals. The two groups also did not differ with regard to the direction of their unconditioned head orientating response to intermittent noise. However, the enucleated animals showed a more vigorous response and were slower to habituate to the noise. These results show that bilateral enucleation of newborn hamsters results in auditory activation of visual targets, in addition to the typical activation of the intact auditory pathway. Behaviourally it appears that enucleated hamsters, compared with their normal littermates, are slower to habituate in their response to an unexpected source of sound.
Classification and Regression Tree and Spatial Analyses Reveal Geographic Heterogeneity in Genome Wide Linkage Study of Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis

Background Genome wide linkage studies (GWLS) have provided evidence for loci controlling visceral leishmaniasis on Chromosomes 1p22, 6q27, 22q12 in Sudan and 6q27, 9p21, 17q11-q21 in Brazil. Genome wide studies from the major focus of disease in India have not previously been reported. Methods and Findings We undertook a GWLS in India in which a primary ∼10 cM (515 microsatellites) scan was carried out in 58 multicase pedigrees (74 nuclear families; 176 affected, 353 total individuals) and replication sought in 79 pedigrees (102 nuclear families; 218 affected, 473 total individuals). The primary scan provided evidence (≥2 adjacent markers allele-sharing LOD≥0.59; nominal P≤0.05) for linkage on Chromosomes 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 20 and X, with peaks at 6p25.3-p24.3 and 8p23.1-p21.3 contributed to largely by 31 Hindu families and at Xq21.1-q26.1 by 27 Muslim families. Refined mapping confirmed linkage across all primary scan families at 2q12.2-q14.1 and 11q13.2-q23.3, but only 11q13.2-q23.3 replicated (combined LOD = 1.59; P = 0.0034). Linkage at 6p25.3-p24.3 and 8p23.1-p21.3, and at Xq21.1-q26.1, was confirmed by refined mapping for primary Hindu and Muslim families, respectively, but only Xq21.1-q26.1 replicated across all Muslim families (combined LOD 1.49; P = 0.0045). STRUCTURE and SMARTPCA did not identify population genetic substructure related to religious group. Classification and regression tree, and spatial interpolation, analyses confirm geographical heterogeneity for linkages at 6p25.3-p24.3, 8p23.1-p21.3 and Xq21.1-q26.1, with specific clusters of families contributing LOD scores of 2.13 (P = 0.0009), 1.75 (P = 0.002) and 1.84 (P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions GWLS has identified novel loci that show geographical heterogeneity in their influence on susceptibility to VL in India.
Infant Nutrition and Later Health: A Review of Current Evidence

There is a growing recognition of the need for a lifecourse approach to understanding the aetiology of adult disease, and there is now significant evidence that links patterns of infant feeding to differences in health outcomes, both in the short and longer term. Breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of infection in infancy; in high-income populations, it is associated with reductions in blood pressure and total blood cholesterol, and lower risks of obesity and diabetes in adult life. Breastfeeding rates are suboptimal in many countries, and strategies to promote breastfeeding could therefore confer important benefits for health at a population level. However, there are particular challenges in defining nutritional exposures in infancy, including marked social gradients in initiation and duration of breastfeeding. In recent studies of low and middle-income populations of children and young adults, where the influences on infant feeding practice differ, beneficial effects of breastfeeding on blood pressure, BMI and risk of diabetes have not been confirmed, and further information is needed. Little is currently known about the long-term consequences of differences in the timing and nature of the weaning diet. Future progress will depend on new studies that provide detailed prospective data on duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding together with appropriate characterisation of the weaning diet.
Stanniocalcin-1 Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Oxidative Damage

Optic neuropathy including glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss, and there are currently no effective therapies. The hallmark of pathophysiology of optic neuropathy is oxidative stress and apoptotic death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), a population of neurons in the central nervous system with their soma in the inner retina and axons in the optic nerve. We here tested that an anti-apoptotic protein stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) can prevent loss of RGCs in the rat retina with optic nerve transection (ONT) and in cultures of RGC-5 cells with CoCl2 injury. We found that intravitreal injection of STC-1 increased the number of RGCs in the retina at days 7 and 14 after ONT, and decreased apoptosis and oxidative damage. In cultures, treatment with STC-1 dose-dependently increased cell viability, and decreased apoptosis and levels of reactive oxygen species in RGC-5 cells that were exposed to CoCl2. The expression of HIF-1α that was up-regulated by injury was significantly suppressed in the retina and in RGC-5 cells by STC-1 treatment. The results suggested that intravitreal injection of STC-1 might be a useful therapy for optic nerve diseases in which RGCs undergo apoptosis through oxidative stress.
Increased skin conductance responses and neural activity during fear conditioning are associated with a repressive coping style

The investigation of individual differences in coping styles in response to fear conditioning is an important issue for a better understanding of the etiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. It has been assumed that an avoidant (repressive) coping style is characterized by increased emotion regulation efforts in context of fear stimuli as compared to a more vigilant coping style. However, no study so far has investigated the neural correlates of fear conditioning of repressors and sensitizers. In the present fMRI study, 76 participants were classified as repressors or as sensitizers and were exposed to a fear conditioning paradigm, in which the CS+ predicted electrical stimulation, while another neutral stimulus (CS−) did not. In addition, skin conductance responses (SCRs) were measured continuously. As the main findings, we found increased neural activity in repressors as compared to sensitizers in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during fear conditioning. In addition, elevated activity to the CS+ in amygdala, insula, occipital, and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) as well as elevated conditioned SCRs were found in repressors. The present results demonstrate increased neural activations in structures linked to emotion down-regulation mechanisms like the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which may reflect the increased coping effort in repressors. At the same time, repressors showed increased activations in arousal and evaluation-associated structures like the amygdala, the occipital cortex (OCC), and the OFC, which was mirrored in increased SCRs. The present results support recent assumptions about a two-process model of repression postulating a fast vigilant response to fear stimuli, and a second process associated with the down-regulation of emotional responses.
Effect of contralateral acoustic stimulation on active cochlear micromechanical properties in human subjects: dependence on stimulus variables.

1. Outer hair cells (OHCs) have active micromechanical properties that are thought to be the origin of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs). In the present study, click-evoked otoacoustic emissions were recorded in humans with or without various contralateral acoustic stimulations. A previous study, concentrating on contralateral stimulation with broadband noise, had shown a decrease of the EOAE amplitude in humans. Results support a role for the efferent system in cochlear mechanics; indeed, medial efferent neurons of the olivocochlear bundle terminate on the OHCs. To obtain a better understanding of the medial efferent system functioning in humans, the present study looked at the contralateral suppressive effect as a function of stimulus parameters. 2. The study of the input-output function of the EOAE amplitude with and without a 50-dB SPL contralateral broadband noise showed that the suppressive effect was equivalent to a mean reduction of 3.77 dB. 3. For the EOAEs to tone pips, the contralateral suppressive effect was strongest when the contralateral ear stimuli were narrow bands that were centered around the central EOAE frequency. This frequency specificity disappeared for contralateral narrow band noise levels greater than 50 dB SPL. 4. The contralateral suppressive effect was also observed with transient contralateral sounds (nonfiltered clicks). Significant reductions of the EOAE amplitude were seen with contralateral click levels as low as 17.5 dB SL. Above this level, the EOAE amplitude decreased as the contralateral stimulus level increased. This effect was still present in subjects without any stapedial reflex, but absent in total unilateral hearing-loss subjects. Therefore this suppressive effect is unlikely to be due to alteration of the middle ear function or to transcranially conducted sound. 5. When the contralateral interclick interval exceeded 14.2 ms. the suppressive effect was smaller. With contralateral stimulus level maintained subjectively constant, the effect was found to disappear when the interclick interval was greater than 49.9 ms. A saturation of the contralateral suppressive effect was observed for click rates greater than 70/s (interclick interval less than 14.2 ms). 6. Our study confirms and specifies the contralateral sound suppression effect on cochlear mechanisms in humans, assessing the equivalent reduction, showing a frequency specificity and extending these findings to contralateral transient sounds. Any influence of the acoustic crosstalk was eliminated. A role played by middle ear muscles cannot be absolutely ruled out but is not necessary to produce such a contralateral suppressive effect (the effect being found in subjects after surgical removal of the stapedius muscle) and could not explain the frequency specificity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Distribution, variability and sources of tropospheric ozone over south China in spring: Intensive ozonesonde measurements at five locations and modeling analysis

[1] We examine the characteristics of the spatial distribution and variability of tropospheric ozone (O3) by analysis of 93 ozonesonde profiles obtained at five stations over south China (18–30°N) during a field campaign in April–May 2004. We use a global 3-D chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to interpret these characteristics and to quantify the sources of tropospheric O3 over south China during this period. The observed tropospheric O3 mixing ratios showed strong spatiotemporal variability due to a complex interplay of various dynamical and chemical processes. A prominent feature in the upper and middle troposphere (UT/MT) was the frequent occurrence of high O3mixing ratios shown as tongues extending down from the lower stratosphere or as isolated layers at all stations. The model largely captured the observed pattern of day-to-day variability in tropospheric O3 mixing ratios at all stations, but often underestimated those tongues or isolated layers of O3enhancements observed in the UT/MT, especially at low-latitude stations. We found that tropospheric O3 along the southeast China coast was mainly produced within Asia. Lightning NOx emissions (over South Asia and equatorial Africa) and/or stratospheric influences were responsible for major events of high O3observed in the UT/MT at all stations. Underestimated contributions of these sources likely led to the model's underestimate in the low-latitude UT/MT O3. This study emphasizes the need for improved understanding of lightning NOx emissions and stratospheric influences over the Eurasian and African continents and for better representation of these processes in current global models.
pH-dependent function, purification, and intracellular location of a major collagen-binding glycoprotein

A major collagen-binding heat shock protein of molecular mass 47,000 D was found to bind to collagen by a pH-dependent interaction; binding was abolished at pH 6.3. Native 47-kD protein could therefore be purified from chick embryo homogenates in milligram quantities by gelatin-affinity chromatography and gentle acidic elution. Rat monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were generated against the purified 47-kD protein. Immunofluorescence microscopy of cultured chick embryo fibroblasts with these antibodies revealed bright, granular perinuclear staining as well as a weaker reticular network structure towards the cell periphery, suggesting that this protein was located in the endoplasmic reticulum. No immunofluorescence staining was detected on the cell surface. Double-staining experiments with these antibodies and fluorescently labeled wheat-germ agglutinin suggested that the 47- kD protein was absent from the Golgi apparatus. Localization of the 47- kD protein in the endoplasmic reticulum but not in the Golgi complex was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. In vivo localization studies using immunohistochemistry of cryostat sections of chick liver revealed that the 47-kD protein was present in fibrocytes, Kupffer cells, and smooth muscle cells. It was absent from hepatocytes and the epithelia of bile ducts or sinusoidal endothelium. This major transformation- and heat shock-regulated glycoprotein is thus localized intracellularly, is expressed in only certain cells, and functions in a pH-regulated manner. These findings suggest that this glycoprotein is not likely to be a general cell-surface collagen receptor, but may instead play roles in intracellular protein processing or translocation.
The Role of Mast Cells in Parathyroid Bone Disease

Chronic hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a common cause of metabolic bone disease. These studies investigated the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the detrimental actions of elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the skeleton. Bone biopsies from hyperparathyroid patients revealed an association between parathyroid bone disease and increased numbers of bone marrow mast cells. We therefore evaluated the role of mast cells in the etiology of parathyroid bone disease in a rat model for chronic HPT. In rats, mature mast cells were preferentially located at sites undergoing bone turnover, and the number of mast cells at the bone–bone marrow interface was greatly increased following treatment with PTH. Time‐course studies and studies employing parathyroid hormone–related peptide (PTHrP), as well as inhibitors of platelet‐derived growth factor‐A (PDGF‐A, trapidil), kit (gleevec), and PI3K (wortmannin) signaling revealed that mature mast cell redistribution from bone marrow to bone surfaces precedes and is associated with osteitis fibrosa, a hallmark of parathyroid bone disease. Importantly, mature mast cells were not observed in the bone marrow of mice. Mice, in turn, were resistant to the development of PTH‐induced bone marrow fibrosis. These findings suggest that the mast cell may be a novel target for treatment of metabolic bone disease. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Anatomy of optic nerve radiations as assessed by static perimetry and MRI after tailored temporal lobectomy

AIMS To determine the course of optic nerve radiations in the temporal lobe, especially their retinotopic organisation and the anterior limit of the Meyer's loop. METHODS 18 adult patients who had undergone a tailored temporal lobectomy for epilepsy were included in this study between 1994 and 1998. The rostrocaudal extent of the lateral temporal lobe resection assessed intraoperatively by the surgeon and by postoperative MRI was compared with the postoperative visual fields determined by automated static perimetry (ASP). RESULTS 15 patients (83%) presented a postoperative visual field deficit (VFD) confined to the superior homonymous field contralateral to the side of the resection. All degrees from a minimal upper field loss to a complete quadrantanopia were observed. The VFDs were somewhat stereotyped, predominating along the vertical meridian. The smallest anteroposterior resection resulting in a VFD was limited to 20 mm from the tip of the temporal lobe. A relation was observed between the extent of the lateral resection in front of the second and third convolutions and the occurrence and extent of postoperative VFDs. No patient reported persisting subjective visual impairment. CONCLUSION The high frequency of postoperative VFDs appears to be due to the greater sensitivity of ASP. The characteristics of the stereotyped VFDs allow new conclusions about the course and retinotopy of optic nerve radiations. The anterior limit of Meyer's loop is likely to be located more rostrally than previously believed.