Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomimetic insulin-imprinted polymer nanoparticles as a potential oral drug delivery system

Abstract In this study, we investigate molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which form a three-dimensional image of the region at and around the active binding sites of pharmaceutically active insulin or are analogous to b cells bound to insulin. This approach was employed to create a welldefined structure within the nanospace cavities that make up functional monomers by cross-linking. The obtained MIPs exhibited a high adsorption capacity for the target insulin, which showed a significantly higher release of insulin in solution at pH 7.4 than at pH 1.2. In vivo studies on diabetic Wistar rats showed that the fast onset within 2 h is similar to subcutaneous injection with a maximum at 4 h, giving an engaged function responsible for the duration of glucose reduction for up to 24 h. These MIPs, prepared as nanosized material, may open a new horizon for oral insulin delivery.
Homodimerization of tumor-reactive monoclonal antibodies markedly increases their ability to induce growth arrest or apoptosis of tumor cells.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that exert antitumor activity can do so by virtue of their effector function and/or their ability to signal growth arrest or cell death. In this study, we demonstrate that mAbs which have little or no signaling activity-i.e., anti-CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22 and Her-2-can become potent antitumor agents when they are converted into IgG-IgG homodimers. The homodimers exert antigrowth activity by signaling G0/G1 arrest or apoptosis, depending upon which cell surface molecule they bind. This activity is specific and, in the case of the anti-CD19 mAb, did not require an Fc portion. These results offer the possibility that homodimers of other tumor-reactive mAbs which have little antitumor activity as monomers might be potent, antitumor agents.
Stability of anhydrous phase B: Experimental studies and implications for phase relations in subducting slab and the X discontinuity in the mantle

[1] We have experimentally determined the equilibrium boundary of the reaction forsterite (Fo) + periclase (Per) = anhydrous phase B (Anh-B) at 900°–1600°C, and we used the retrieved Gibbs free energy of formation of Anh-B to calculate the stability field of Anh-B + stishovite (Sti) with respect to the Mg2SiO4 polymorphs. The results suggest the possibility of the reaction sequence wadsleytite → Anh-B + Sti→ ringwoodite with increasing pressure at temperature below ∼600°C. This might lead to an eye-shaped splitting of the 410 km discontinuity within the interior of a sufficiently cold slab, such as would prevail in a 140 Myr old slab subducting at an angle of ∼60° with a rate of ≥ 14 cm/yr (e.g., Tonga). The equilibrium boundary of Anh-B + Sti with respect to the wadsleyite and ringwoodite has, respectively, positive and negative slope in the P-T space. The reaction of Fo + Per to Anh-B seems to offer a viable explanation of the so-called X discontinuity that has been observed at 275–345 km depth in several subcontinental and subduction zone environments. It is suggested that periclase could form locally by the dissolution of silica in mantle fluid or precipitate from a hydrous melt that became enriched in MgO due to the incongruent melting of olivine at pressures of 6–8 GPa.
Camel trypanosomosis - a review

Camel trypanosomosis (surra), caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is the most important single cause of morbidity and mortality in camels. The disease, transmitted non-cyclically by other haematophagus flies (e.g. Tabanus) is endemic in Africa, Asia and South America, and in addition to camels other species of domesticated livestock are affected. Because of the wide geographic range of surra, its control has attracted international attention, with a focus on formulating and implementing effective strategies aimed at increasing productivity and achieving a decrease in mortality and morbidity. In this review, the clinico-pathological effects of surra are presented, as their understanding may help in the design of effective control. Anaemia appears to be a major component of the pathology of surra. Its development and persistence in the course of the disease induce anoxic conditions which manifest signs of dysfunction in various organs as a result of a fall in tissue pH and vascular damage. This is followed by the release of large quantities of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial enzymes, especially aspartate alanine transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT), among others, into serum, causing further cellular and tissue damage. The net effect associated with the above changes is immunosuppression which later develops and predisposes the animals to other infections and death if untreated. Therefore, emphasis is placed on accurate diagnosis of surra, treatment with effective trypanocidal drugs such as trypan and the use of vector control methods in the control and management of this disease.
Expectation of Pain Enhances Responses to Nonpainful Somatosensory Stimulation in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Parietal Operculum/Posterior Insula: an Event-Related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Although behavioral studies suggest that pain distress may alter the perception of somatic stimulation, neural correlates underlying such alteration remain to be clarified. The present study was aimed to test the hypothesis that expectation of pain might amplify brain responses to somatosensory stimulation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the region including parietal operculum and posterior insula (PO/PI), both of which may play roles in regulating pain-dependent behavior. We compared brain responses with and subjective evaluation of physically identical nonpainful warm stimuli between two psychologically different contexts: one linked with pain expectation by presenting the nonpainful stimuli randomly intermixed with painful stimuli and the other without. By applying the event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging technique, brain responses to the stimuli were assessed with respect to signal changes and activated volume, setting regions of interest on activated clusters in ACC and bilateral PO/PI defined by painful stimuli. As a result, the uncertain expectation of painful stimulus enhanced transient brain responses to nonpainful stimulus in ACC and PO/PI. The enhanced responses were revealed as a higher intensity of signal change in ACC and larger volume of activated voxels in PO/PI. Behavioral measurements demonstrated that expectation of painful stimulus amplified perceived unpleasantness of innocuous stimulus. From these findings, it is suggested that ACC and PO/PI are involved in modulation of affective aspect of sensory perception by the uncertain expectation of painful stimulus.
The impacts of first line highly active antiretroviral therapy on serum selenium, cd4 count and body mass index: a cross sectional and short prospective study

Introduction The relationship that exists between body weights, serum selenium and immunological markers of HIV/AIDS continue to provoke more researches in the recent times. The objectives of this study were to examine baseline body mass index, CD4 count and serum selenium and to prospectively assess the impacts of HAART on same parameters 48 weeks post HAART among HIV patients. Methods A cohort comprising 140 newly diagnosed HIV positive were prospectively studied. Anthropometric measurements, serum selenium and CD4 count were assessed at diagnosis and 48 weeks post HAART. Results The mean age for patients was 35±8.8 years; 68% was female. Patients’ mean weight was 56.79±10.22kg, BMI; 21.59±3.53, serum selenium; 0.55 ± 0. 45µmol/L and CD4 count; 288.36 ± 232.23 at the baseline. At diagnosis, 47 (33.6%) were in stage 1, 49 (35.0%) in stage 2, 26 (18.6%) and 18 (12.9%) were in stage 3 and 4 respectively. Similarly, most patients had normal body mass index, 94 (67.14%), 26 (18.57%) were underweight, (12.86%) were overweight and two (1.43%) were obese at diagnosis. At 48 weeks post HAART, the mean weight, BMI, serum selenium and CD4 count were significantly increased. Conclusion HAART repleted CD4 count and serum selenium, Post HAART overweight was associated with lesser CD4 count reconstitution and selenium repletion. A renew call for weight monitoring in HAART era.
5-HT4-Receptors Modulate Induction of Long-Term Depression but Not Potentiation at Hippocampal Output Synapses in Acute Rat Brain Slices

The subiculum is the principal target of CA1 pyramidal cells and mediates hippocampal output to various cortical and subcortical regions of the brain. The majority of subicular pyramidal cells are burst-spiking neurons. Previous studies indicated that high frequency stimulation in subicular burst-spiking cells causes presynaptic NMDA-receptor dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) whereas low frequency stimulation induces postsynaptic NMDA-receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD). In the present study, we investigate the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 4 (5-HT4) receptor activation and blockade on both forms of synaptic plasticity in burst-spiking cells. We demonstrate that neither activation nor block of 5-HT4 receptors modulate the induction or expression of LTP. In contrast, activation of 5-HT4 receptors facilitates expression of LTD, and block of the 5-HT4 receptor prevents induction of short-term depression and LTD. As 5-HT4 receptors are positively coupled to adenylate cyclase 1 (AC1), 5-HT4 receptors might modulate PKA activity through AC1. Since LTD is blocked in the presence of 5-HT4 receptor antagonists, our data are consistent with 5-HT4 receptor activation by ambient serotonin or intrinsically active 5-HT4 receptors. Our findings provide new insight into aminergic modulation of hippocampal output.
The decomposition of p-xylene in air by plasma-assisted catalysis

The decomposition of p-xylene in contaminated air streams by using non-thermal plasma was studied in the absence and in the presence of AlAg catalysts. A dielectric barrier reactor packed with spherical quartz pellets was used at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The conversion of p-xylene increased with increasing the specific input energy (SIE), reaching 66% for a SIE of 264 J/l. The main gaseous reaction products resulting from p-xylene decomposition were carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, with selectivities towards CO2 of 44%, independent of the SIE, over the range investigated. The catalyst was placed downstream of the plasma reactor, in a catalytic reactor that was heated up to 500°C. The catalyst became active above 300°C, however xylene conversion was rather low in purely catalytic experiments, reaching 11% at the maximum temperature investigated. In the plasma-catalytic system, it was found that the catalyst addition had little effect on the conversion of p-xylene. However, the selectivity towards CO2 was significantly improved in the presence of AlAg catalyst as compared to the results obtained with plasma alone. The catalyst temperature influenced the CO2 selectivity as well. Above 300°C the CO2 selectivity reached 65-70%.
The TcI and TcII Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infections induce distinct immune responses and cardiac fibrosis in dogs

Trypanosoma cruzi infection may be caused by different strains with distinct discrete typing units (DTUs) that can result in variable clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease. The present study evaluates the immune response and cardiac lesions in dogs experimentally infected with different T. cruzi strains with distinct DTUs, namely, the Colombian (Col) and Y strains of TcI and TcII DTU, respectively. During infection with the Col strain, increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, erythrocytes, haematocrit and haemoglobin were observed. In addition, CD8+ T-lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood produced higher levels of interleukin (IL)-4. The latter suggests that during the acute phase, infection with the Col strain may remain unnoticed by circulating mononuclear cells. In the chronic phase, a significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells was detected in the right atrium. Conversely, infection with the Y strain led to leucopoenia, thrombopoenia, inversion of the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes and alterations in monocyte number. The Y strain stimulated the production of interferon-γ by CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and IL-4 by CD8+ T-cells. In the chronic phase, significant heart inflammation and fibrosis were observed, demonstrating that strains of different DTUs interact differently with the host.
Interpulse growth hormone secretion in the episodic plasma profile causes the sex reversal of cytochrome P450s in senescent male rats

Humans as well as other mammals experience an aging-related decline in drug metabolism as well as a diminution in growth hormone secretion. In the case of rats, these events are more pronounced in senescent males, whose expression of male-specific isoforms of cytochrome P450, the major drug-metabolizing enzymes and constituting ≈60-70% of the total cytochrome P450 in male rat liver, is completely suppressed, whereas female-dependent isoforms are remarkably induced to female-like levels. Overlooked in these independently reported studies is the fact that “signals” inherent in the masculine episodic and female continuous growth hormone profiles regulate expression and/or suppression of the dozen or so sex-dependent cytochrome P450 isoforms in rat liver. Whereas previous studies identified profound reductions in the pulse amplitudes of the masculine growth hormone profile as the cause for the diminished hormone secretion during aging, pulse heights are not recognized by the cytochromes as regulatory signals. Instead, we have shown that just a nominal secretion of growth hormone during the usual growth hormone-devoid interpulse period in the masculine episodic profile can explain the complete repression of male-specific CYP2C11, CYP3A2, and CYP2A2 and induction of female-dependent CYP2C12, CYP2C6, and CYP2A1 observed in senescent male rats.
Occupational therapy interventions for chronic diseases: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE We reviewed the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community occupational therapy interventions, delivered alone or within a multidisciplinary team, in improving occupational outcomes for adults with selected chronic diseases. METHOD We completed a scoping review of randomized controlled trials published from 1988 through 2008. Studies included participants with heart disease, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or diabetes. RESULTS Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies found significant differences between intervention and control groups for at least one outcome of function in activities of daily living, functional self-efficacy, social or work function, psychological health, general health, or quality of life. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the impact of intervention on physical function and health. CONCLUSION Occupational therapy can improve occupational outcomes in adults with chronic diseases. Using and building on this evidence, occupational therapists can continue to promote their role in helping to meet this population's needs.
CuSbS2 -sensitized inorganic-organic heterojunction solar cells fabricated using a metal-thiourea complex solution.

The device performance of sensitizer-architecture solar cells based on a CuSbS2 light sensitizer is presented. The device consists of F-doped SnO2 substrate/TiO2 blocking layer/mesoporous TiO2 /CuSbS2 /hole-transporting material/Au electrode. The CuSbS2 was deposited by repeated cycles of spin coating of a Cu-Sb-thiourea complex solution and thermal decomposition, followed by annealing in Ar at 500 °C. Poly(2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)) (PCPDTBT) was used as the hole-transporting material. The best-performing cell exhibited a 3.1 % device efficiency, with a short-circuit current density of 21.5 mA cm(-2) , an open-circuit voltage of 304 mV, and a fill factor of 46.8 %.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Quadratus Lumborum Block type I using ropivacaine in postoperative analgesia after a cesarean section - a controlled clinical study.

OBJECTIVES Quadratus Lumborum Block in contrast to Transversus Abdominis Plane Block contains a unique component which not only stops somatic pain but also inhibits visceral pain by spreading the local anesthetic to the paravertebral space. This study was designed to determine whether performing the Quadratus Lumborum Block type I in patients un-dergoing cesarean section would be associated with both decreased morphine consumption and decreased pain levels in the postoperative 48-hour period. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly and equally assigned to one or other of two groups: QLB I (who received Bilateral Quadratus Lumborum Block type I with the use of 24 mL 0.375% ropivacaine per side) or a Control group. In both groups, on-demand morphine analgesia was administered postoperatively within the first 48 hours. The following were measured: the morphine consumption; the time elapsed from the C-section until the first dose of morphine; and the levels of pain intensity among patients in rest (numeral pain rating scale). RESULTS There were no statistically significant demographic data differences between the QLB I and Control groups. The following significant differences were observed in the 48-hour postoperative period: morphine consumption was higher in the Control group (p = 0.000); the time elapsed from the C-section until the first dose of morphine was longer in QLB I group (p < 0.05); and the median of the pain numeric rating scale was higher in the Control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Quadratus Lumborum Block type I significantly reduces morphine consumption and pain levels up to 48 hours postoperatively.
Potential impact of species and livestock density on the epidemic size and effectiveness of control measures for foot-and-mouth disease in Japan

The characteristics of a livestock area, including farm density and animal species, influence the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In this study, the impact of livestock area on FMD epidemics was examined using an FMD transmission model. For this simulation, three major livestock areas were selected: the 2010 FMD epidemic area in Japan as the baseline area (BS), a cattle and pig mixed production area (CP) and a cattle production area (C). Simulation results demonstrated that under the 24-hr culling policy, only 12% of epidemics among 1,000 simulations were abated within 100 days in the CP area, whereas 90% of the epidemics ceased in the BS area. In the C area, all epidemics were successfully contained within 100 days. Evaluation of additional control measures in the CP area showed that the 0.5-km pre-emptive culling, even when only targeting pig farms, raised the potential for successful containment to 94%. A 10-km vaccination on day 7 or 14 after initial detection was also effective in halting the epidemics (80%), but accompanied a large number of culled or vaccinated farms. The combined strategy of 10-km vaccination and 0.5-km pre-emptive culling targeting pig farms succeeded in containing all epidemics within 100 days. The present study suggests the importance of preparedness for the 24-hr culling policy and additional control measures when an FMD outbreak occurs in a densely populated area. Considering the characteristics of the livestock area is important in planning FMD control strategies.
Magnetically moderated outbursts of WZ Sagittae

We argue that the quiescent value of the viscosity parameter of the accretion disc in WZ Sge may be αcold∼ 0.01, in agreement with estimates of αcold for other dwarf novae. Assuming the white dwarf in WZ Sge to be magnetic, we show that, in quiescence, material close to the white dwarf can be propelled to larger radii, depleting the inner accretion disc. The propeller therefore has the effect of stabilizing the inner disc and allowing the outer disc to accumulate mass. The outbursts of WZ Sge are then regulated by the (magnetically determined) evolution of the surface density of the outer disc at a radius close to the tidal limit. Numerical models confirm that the recurrence time can be significantly extended in this way. The outbursts are expected to be superoutbursts since the outer disc radius is forced to exceed the tidal (3:1 resonance) radius. The large, quiescent disc is expected to be massive, and to be able to supply the observed mass accretion rate during outburst. We predict that the long-term spin evolution of the white dwarf spin will involve a long cycle of spin-up and spin-down phases.
Maximizing protein translation rate in the non-homogeneous ribosome flow model: a convex optimization approach

Translation is an important stage in gene expression. During this stage, macro-molecules called ribosomes travel along the mRNA strand linking amino acids together in a specific order to create a functioning protein. An important question, related to many biomedical disciplines, is how to maximize protein production. Indeed, translation is known to be one of the most energy-consuming processes in the cell, and it is natural to assume that evolution shaped this process so that it maximizes the protein production rate. If this is indeed so then one can estimate various parameters of the translation machinery by solving an appropriate mathematical optimization problem. The same problem also arises in the context of synthetic biology, namely, re-engineer heterologous genes in order to maximize their translation rate in a host organism. We consider the problem of maximizing the protein production rate using a computational model for translation–elongation called the ribosome flow model (RFM). This model describes the flow of the ribosomes along an mRNA chain of length n using a set of n first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations. It also includes n + 1 positive parameters: the ribosomal initiation rate into the mRNA chain, and n elongation rates along the chain sites. We show that the steady-state translation rate in the RFM is a strictly concave function of its parameters. This means that the problem of maximizing the translation rate under a suitable constraint always admits a unique solution, and that this solution can be determined using highly efficient algorithms for solving convex optimization problems even for large values of n. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the optimal translation rate can be computed based only on the optimal initiation rate and the elongation rate of the codons near the beginning of the ORF. We discuss some applications of the theoretical results to synthetic biology, molecular evolution, and functional genomics.