Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Mentha suaveolens Essential Oil Alone or in Combination with Other Drugs in Candida albicans

Candidosis is the most important cause of fungal infections in humans. The yeast Candida albicans can form biofilms, and it is known that microbial biofilms play an important role in human diseases and are very difficult to treat. The prolonged treatment with drugs has often resulted in failure and resistance. Due to the emergence of multidrug resistance, alternatives to conventional antimicrobial therapy are needed. This study aims to analyse the effects induced by essential oil of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh (EOMS) on Candida albicans and its potential synergism when used in combination with conventional drugs. Morphological differences between control and EOMS treated yeast cells or biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM resp.,). In order to reveal the presence of cell cycle alterations, flow cytometry analysis was carried out as well. The synergic action of EOMS was studied with the checkerboard method, and the cellular damage induced by different treatments was analysed by TEM. The results obtained have demonstrated both the effects of EOMS on C. albicans yeast cells and biofilms and the synergism of EOMS when used in combination with conventional antifungal drugs as fluconazole (FLC) and micafungin (MCFG), and therefore we can hypothesize on its potential use in therapy. Further studies are necessary to know its mechanism of action.
Degree Correlations Optimize Neuronal Network Sensitivity to Sub-Threshold Stimuli

Information processing in the brain crucially depends on the topology of the neuronal connections. We investigate how the topology influences the response of a population of leaky integrate-and-fire neurons to a stimulus. We devise a method to calculate firing rates from a self-consistent system of equations taking into account the degree distribution and degree correlations in the network. We show that assortative degree correlations strongly improve the sensitivity for weak stimuli and propose that such networks possess an advantage in signal processing. We moreover find that there exists an optimum in assortativity at an intermediate level leading to a maximum in input/output mutual information.
Microcanonical multifractal formalism: Application to the estimation of ocean surface velocities

In this paper we investigate the validity of the multifractal formalism to study sea surface temperature (SST). It is shown that SST patterns observed in moderate resolution SST images have anomalous scaling properties characteristic of a multifractal structure. The most probable origin of the observed structures is the turbulent character of the oceanic flow as they evolve slowly and are very persistent in times compatible with ocean mesoscale dynamics (several days). The spectrum of singularity exponents indicates that the dynamics of the processes leading to the geometrical arrangement of the SST patterns is quite general over the available range of scales. As a consequence, multifractal techniques can be used to extract properties of the underlying flow. In particular, the geometry of the SST multifractal components is closely linked with the ocean flow, which allows to build a reasonable guess of the streamfunction (defined as the maximum singular streamfunction (MSS)) from a single SST image. Thus the ocean surface velocity field can be easily inferred, with some limitations. As multifractal analysis is in essence a geometrical approach, the method is able to retrieve a high resolution velocity field, well localized in space, but with some indetermination on the modulus and sense of velocity vectors. To solve this, a general framework for the integration of extra information is proposed, what is illustrated with an example merging MSS with altimetric data.
Role of Toll-like Receptors in Adjuvant-Augmented Immune Therapies

Effective therapeutic vaccines contain two primary constituents, antigen and adjuvant. Adjuvants consisting of microbial pattern molecules play a central role in vaccination. Successful vaccine requires efficient induction of antibody (Ab), type I interferons (IFN), cytokines/chemokines, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and/or NK cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) essentially act as adjuvant receptors and sustain the molecular basis of adjuvant activity. Current consensus is that TLRs and their adapters introduce signals to preferentially induce IFN-α/β, chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines, and mature mDC to augment antigen presentation. Although most of these data were obtained with mice, the results are presumed to be adaptable to humans. Whenever TLR pathway is activated in mDC, NK and/or CTL activation is promoted. For induction of antigen-specific CTL toward phagocytosed material, cross-priming must be induced in mDC, which is also sustained by TLR signaling in mDC. Since the TLR responses vary with different adjuvants, mDC functions are skewed depending on adjuvant-specific direction of mDC maturation. It appears that the directed maturation of mDC largely relies on selection of appropriate sets of TLRs and their adapter signaling pathways. Synthetic chimera molecules consisting of TLR agonists and target antigens are found to be effective in induction of CTL to eliminate target cells in vivo. Here, we review the role of human TLRs and adapters in a variety of host immune responses. We will also describe the relevance of adjuvants in the manipulation of receptors and adapters in vaccine therapy.
Mutational Analysis of the Drosophila DNA Repair and Recombination Gene mei-9

Drosophila mei-9 is essential for several DNA repair and recombination pathways, including nucleotide excision repair (NER), interstrand crosslink repair, and meiotic recombination. To better understand the role of MEI-9 in these processes, we characterized 10 unique mutant alleles of mei-9. These include a P-element insertion that disrupts repair functions but not the meiotic function; three nonsense mutations, one of which has nearly wild-type levels of protein; three missense mutations, one of which disrupts the meiotic function but not repair functions; two small in-frame deletions; and one frameshift.
Improvement in social and cognitive functioning associated with paliperidone extended-release treatment in patients with schizophrenia: a 24-week, single arm, open-label study

Purpose This single-arm, open-label study aimed to explore the effects of extended-release paliperidone on social and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Paliperidone extended-release (flexible dose ranging from 3 to 12 mg/day orally) was administered for 24 weeks in patients with schizophrenia. Patient function was assessed using the personal and social performance scale, measurement and treatment research to improve cognition in schizophrenia initiative-consensus cognitive battery, positive and negative syndrome scale, and clinical global impression-severity. Results Ninety patients were included in the full analysis set, while 72 patients were included in the per protocol set. The personal and social performance score was 54.3±14.3 at baseline, and significantly increased to 73.4±12.6 at week 24 (P<0.001). For the measurement and treatment research to improve cognition in schizophrenia initiative-consensus cognitive battery assessment, six of the nine individual subtests, six of the seven cognitive domains, and total cognitive scores improved significantly (P<0.05) between baseline and endpoint. positive and negative syndrome scale total scores and clinical global impression-severity scores decreased gradually (P<0.001) from week 4 to the conclusion of the study. Conclusion Paliperidone extended-release treatment significantly improves social and neurocognitive function as well as symptoms in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.
MULTICOMPONENT TRANSPORT ALGORITHMS FOR PARTIALLY IONIZED PLASMAS

We investigate iterative methods for solving transport linear systems of partially ionized plasmas. We consider the situations of weak and strong magnetic fields as well as nonequilibrium and the linear systems are investigated in their natural constrained singular symmetric form. Stationary iterative techniques are considered with a new more singular formulation of the transport linear systems as well as orthogonal error algorithms. The more singular formulation is derived from an expansion of generalized inverses into dyadic products of conjugate directions. Numerical tests are performed with high temperature air and show that iterative techniques lead to fast and accurate evaluation of multicomponent transport coefficients for all ionization levels and magnetic field intensities. We obtain in particular low cost accurate approximations of multicomponent diffusion matrices in partially ionized plasmas.
Litterfall and nutrient flux in tropical rain forest , West Sumatra , Indonesia

Litterfall and nutrient flux variation were studied in a 1 ha plot of tropical rain forest, in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Seasonal and spatial patterns of litterfall and its nutrient concentrations throughout a year were determined using circular litter traps installed at 25 sites in the plot. The aim of this study were to determine the relationship of seasonal pattern of litterfall, rainfall and temperature and to qualify the spatial variation of litterfall and nutrient content in relation to tree composition and soil edaphic factors within the study site. To characterize the relationship between spatial variation of litterfall and nutrient flux with tree composition and soil edaphic factors, the omega index of Iwao was applied. Mean litterfall was 11.7 t ha y and it varied both seasonally and spatially. The variation of litterfall were 0.4 to 1.9 t hamonth from December 1997 to November 1998, and ranged from 5 to 22 t ha y between the sites. The litterfall amount showed considerable variations that nearly reached 5 times the difference between the lowest and the highest both seasonally and spatially. Seasonal pattern of litterfall positively correlated with temperature and showed weak negative correlation to rainfall. Spatially, variation of litterfall positively correlated with basal area, tree population and tree species diversity. In relation to edaphic factors leaf litterfall positively correlated with extractable P. Fe, Zn and Cu. However, there were no clear relationship with the other major element Ca and Mg. Based on the total elemental analysis of leaf litter, nutrient flux was found to be varied within the site. The nutrient flux of various elements through leaf litter were N(59-161), P(2-5), K(9-32), Ca (56.-164), Mg(6-20), S(6-19), Al(5-22) Fe(1-4), Zn(0.1-0.4) and Cu(0.1-0.2) kg ha y, respectively. Nutrient flux corresponded with the litterfall and as expected, the amount of nutrient flux positively correlated with tree population and number of tree species. The relationship between nutrient flux and soil edaphic status of K, Mg and Al showed negative omega values, meaning negative correlation. Whereas Ca, P, Fe, Zn and Cu showed positive correlation. These results suggest that tree species diversity creates the diverse of edaphic niche by means of nutrient cycle, i.e nutrient uptake, accumulation and return through litterfall.
Investor Reaction to Corporate Event Announcements: Under-Reaction or Over-Reaction?

Two conflicting behavioral models, underreaction and overreaction, have been proposed to explain long-run abnormal returns following a variety of corporate events. We test hypotheses that distinguish between these two models. We find that across four different corporate events, long-run abnormal returns exhibit a pattern that is most consistent with investor underreaction to short-term information available prior to the event and to the information conveyed by the event itself. The pattern in long-run abnormal returns is inconsistent with the overreaction model as well as with a model that postulates investor underreaction to short-term information and overreaction to long-term trends.
ACE inhibition with ramipril improves left ventricular function at rest and post exercise in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease and preserved left ventricular systolic function.

AIMS To assess the effects of 6 months intervention with +ramipril on resting and post exercise left ventricular function in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease and preserved left ventricular systolic function. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients (n=98, age 65+/-9 years, 37% women) were randomized to double-blind treatment with ramipril 5 mg. day(-1)(n=32), ramipril 1.25 mg. day(-1)(n=34), or placebo (n=32). Resting and post maximum exercise echocardiography/Doppler examinations were performed at baseline and after 6 months. Changes over 6 months in resting transmitral E-wave deceleration time (Edt) and Edt adjusted for heart rate (Edt/RR) differed between the ramipril 5 mg, ramipril 1.25 mg, and placebo groups: Edt 24+/-82, -1+/-69, and -29+/-64 ms, respectively, P=0. 012; Edt/RR 30+/-105, 2+/-61, and -28+/-69 ms, respectively, P=0.015. Changes in the difference between resting and post exercise Edt/RR also varied between groups: -53+/-137, -28+/-118, and 35+/-101 ms, respectively, P=0.029. No differences in E/A indices were noted. Resting atrioventricular plane displacement improved in the combined ramipril groups vs the placebo group: 0.2+/-0.8 vs -0.2+/-1.3 mm, P<0.05. Conclusion Six months ramipril treatment in patients with stable ischaemic heart disease and preserved left ventricular systolic function improved resting left ventricular function and reduced the exercise induced diastolic filling abnormalities usually seen in these patients.
Mobile- versus fixed-bearing modern total knee replacements – which is the more patella-friendly design?

Objectives Our study aimed to examine if a mobile-bearing total knee replacement (TKR) offered an advantage over fixed-bearing designs with respect to rates of secondary resurfacing of the patella in knees in which it was initially left unresurfaced. Methods We examined the 11-year report of the New Zealand Joint Registry and identified all primary TKR designs that had been implanted in > 500 knees without primary resurfacing of the patella. We examined how many of these were mobile-bearing, fixed-bearing cruciate-retaining and fixed-bearing posterior-stabilised designs. We assessed the rates of secondary resurfacing of the patella for each group and constructed Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results Our study showed a significantly higher rate of revision for secondary resurfacing of the patella in the fixed-bearing posterior-stabilised TKR designs compared with either fixed-bearing cruciate-retaining or mobile-bearing designs (p = 0.001 and p = 0.036, respectively). Conclusions This New Zealand Registry study shows that during the last 11 years, revision procedures to resurface an unresurfaced patella in primary TKR occurred at a higher rate in fixed-bearing posterior-stabilised designs.
Solving a Migration Riddle Using Isoscapes: House Martins from a Dutch Village Winter over West Africa

Background The ability to connect breeding, stopover and wintering locations of populations of migratory birds greatly enhances our understanding of the phenomenon of migration and improves our chances of effectively conserving these species. Among Palearctic-Afrotropical migratory species, aerial insectivores like the house martin (Delichon urbicum) are sensitive to factors influencing the availability of flying insects, and have declined in recent decades. The strict aerial behaviour of martins severely limits ring recoveries on wintering grounds and so there is a dearth of information on where European breeding populations over-winter in Africa, and the relative effects of population regulation on breeding vs. wintering grounds. We used a newly developed multi-isotope (δ 2H, δ 13C, δ 15N) feather isoscape for Africa together with inferences from summarized ring return data based on longitude, to assign winter origins to birds captured at a breeding colony in The Netherlands. Principal Findings Based on isotopic analyses of winter-grown martin feathers, we used a likelihood-based assignment approach to describe potential wintering locations where molt occurred of individual house martins from a Dutch colony by assigning them to four potential isotopically distinct clusters in Africa. We found the overwhelming majority of Dutch martins were assigned to a geographical cluster associated with West Africa. Conclusions/Significance The existence of strong isotopic gradients and patterns in African foodwebs that support migratory wildlife allows for the spatial assignment of tissues grown there. The assignment of Dutch house martins to wintering grounds primarily in West Africa was in strong agreement with independent and indirect methods used to infer winter origins of this species based on the association between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in Africa and population patterns in Italy and the United Kingdom. These confirmatory data-sets underscore the importance of suitable habitats in West Africa to the conservation of migratory aerial insectivores and other species.
Crime Prevention: Principles, Perspectives and Practices

Crime Prevention: Principles, Perspectives and Practices provides a comprehensive, example-based overview of prevention theory and practice. Unlike other books, it argues that contemporary governments can and should embrace crime prevention as a policy alternative to 'law and order' and, unlike most criminologists, the book's authors contend that crime prevention strategies should include both social prevention (programs addressing social causes of delinquency) and environmental prevention (reducing crime by minimising opportunities). After arguing the case for prevention, Crime Prevention: Principles, Perspectives and Practices discusses key approaches and analytical frameworks, and explains theories and techniques of both social and environmental prevention. Other issues discussed include program evaluation; crime prevention in Australia, the United Kingdom, other western European countries and the United States; crime prevention in public places; and crime prevention and public disorder. This book is essential reading for professionals and students in the areas of crime prevention, criminology and sociology.
Palliative Radiotherapy in the Presence of Well-Controlled Metastatic Disease after Initial Chemotherapy May Prolong Survival in Patients with Metastatic Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

Purpose We report the outcomes of patients treated with palliative radiotherapy (pRT) to the primary tumour in the context of well-controlled metastatic disease after initial chemotherapy. Materials and Methods Clinical records of 132 patients with metastatic esophago-gastric (OG) cancer treated with palliative chemotherapy (pCT) between January 2009 and June 2013 were reviewed. Ninetyseven patients had responding or stable disease after 3 months of chemotherapy, of whom 53 patients received pRT to the primary tumour after initial chemotherapy in the presence of well-controlled metastatic disease (group A, pCT-RT). The remaining 44 patients were treated with pCT alone (group B, pCT). Treatment-related outcomes were assessed in above groups including time to local progression (TTLP), progression-free and overall survival. Results The median overall survival for patients treated with pRT after initial chemotherapy (group A) was 23.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.70 to 28.89 months) and significantly higher than the 14 months (95% CI, 10.91 to 17.08 months) in patients treated with pCT alone (group B) (p < 0.001). The use of pCT-RT was an independent predictor of OS in multivariate analysis. Local recurrence was observed in 12/53 of patients (23%) in group A compared to 16/44 (36%) in group B. The median TTLP was significantly higher in patients after pCT-RT at 17.3 months (5.23 months to 44.50 months) compared to 8.3 months (range, 4.10 to 25.23 months) in patients treated with pCT alone (p=0.006). Conclusion The possibility of pRT influencing systemic disease in advanced OG cancer has not been reported, and results from the present study present strong arguments for investigation of this therapeutic strategy in a randomized trial.
A New Templated Ordered Structure with Combined Micro- and Mesopores and Internal Silica Nanocapsules

The increasing awareness of the need to create green and sustainable production processes in all fields of chemistry has stimulated materials scientists to search for innovative catalysts supports. These new catalytic supports should allow the heterogenization of most catalytic processes, increasing the efficiency and selectivity of the synthesis and reducing waste and byproducts. Following the development of several micellar templated structures, such as M41S1, FSM-16,2,3 HMS,4,5 MSU-x,6 and SBA-x,7,8 it is a crucial next step to create support materials, consisting of a composite matrix with combined micro- and mesoporosities and a sufficient stability to withstand most industrial treatments. We describe in this paper the very first development of a hexagonal material with large pore diameters and thick walls (4 nm), containing internal microporous silica nanocapsules. These plugged hexagonal templated silicas (PHTS) have two types of micropores (originating from the walls and the nanocapsules respectiv.
The Norges Bankâ€™s key rate projections and the news element of monetary policy: a wavelet based jump detection approach

This paper investigates the information content of the Norges Bankâ€™s key rate projections. Wavelet spectrum estimates provide the basis for estimating jump probabilities of short- and long-term interest rates on monetary policy announcement days before and after the introduction of key rate projections. The behavior of short-term interest rates reveals that key rate projections have only little effects on marketâ€™s forecasting ability of current target rate changes. In contrast, longer-term interest rates indicate that the announcement of key rate projections has significantly reduced market participantsâ€™ revisions of the expected future policy path. Therefore, the announcement of key rate projections further improves central bank communication.
A Fragile Pillar: Statutory Pensions and the Risk of Old-Age Poverty in Germany

The statutory pension system is the most important source of income for senior citizens in Germany. Due to increasing disruptions in employment biographies since the 1970s and due to the mass unemployment in eastern Germany since the 1990s, there is a growing fear of postretirement poverty in Germany. We develop a microsimulation model to compare the distribution of statutory pension incomes for new retirees in 2020 with the incomes of new retirees in 2004. The pension income distribution is calculated for eastern and western Germany separately, for men and women, and for different skill levels. Throughout Germany, we find growing postretirement poverty, especially among low-skilled workers. Eastern Germany will lose its current advantage in high pensions and low inequality.
Rfam: an RNA family database

Rfam is a collection of multiple sequence alignments and covariance models representing non-coding RNA families. Rfam is available on the web in the UK at http://www.sanger. ac.uk/Software/Rfam/ and in the US at http://rfam.wustl. edu/. These websites allow the user to search a query sequence against a library of covariance models, and view multiple sequence alignments and family annotation. The database can also be downloaded in flatfile form and searched locally using the INFERNAL package (http://infernal.wustl.edu/). The first release of Rfam (1.0) contains 25 families, which annotate over 50 000 non-coding RNA genes in the taxonomic divisions of the EMBL nucleotide database.