Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of steryl glycosides on the phase transition of dipalmitoyl lecithin.

The phase transition of dipalmitoyl lecithin, measured by thermal analysis, was eliminated by the plant sterol, sitosterol, and by the derivatives steryl glucoside and acylated steryl glucoside, which were isolated from soybean lipids.When digitonin was added to dipalmitoyl lecithin-sterol mixtures, in amounts equimolar to sterol, the phase transition of the phospholipid was revealed presumably because of the formation of a sterol complex. When digitonin in molar excess of sterol was added, the endothermic peak disappeared again.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF VEILLONELLA AND MORPHOLOGICAL CORRELATION OF AN OUTER MEMBRANE WITH PARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH ENDOTOXIC ACTIVITY

Bladen, Howard A. (National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, Md.), and Stephan E. Mergenhagen. Ultrastructure of Veillonella and morphological correlation of an outer membrane with particles associated with endotoxic activity. J. Bacteriol. 88:1482–1492. 1964. —Normal, phenol-water extracted, and lysozyme-treated Veillonella cells were embedded in Vestopal W, sectioned, and examined by electron microscopy. Normal cells as well as the phenol-water extract (endotoxin) were examined by negative and positive contrast techniques. In thin sections of normal cells, three separate structural entities were observed surrounding the protoplasm, and were referred to as the outer membrane, the solid membrane, and the plasma membrane. The outer membrane was a membrane composed of two dense layers (30 A) separated by a less-dense layer (20 A), and followed a convoluted and continuous path around the cell. The solid membrane appeared as a taut, dense structure 100 to 500 A wide, and was separated from the outer membrane by up to several hundred Ångstroms. The plasma membrane was a unit-type membrane. After cells were treated with phenol-water, the outer membrane was absent, but the cells remained intact owing to the solid membrane. Observation of the phenol-water extract (endotoxin) revealed predominantly circular particles or discs which had approximately the same dimensions in height as the outer membrane had in width. Negatively stained whole cells showed similar structures on their surface. Lysozyme treatment of the cells did not affect the outer membrane; however, the solid membrane became diffuse and often disappeared, suggesting that the outer membrane and the solid membrane were separate structures.
Metabolic Evaluation of HIV-Infected Patients Receiving a Regimen Containing Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra™)

Abstract Purpose: We have analyzed retrospectively the evolution of metabolic parameters in a cohort of 159 HIV-infected patients taking a lopinavir/ritonavir-containing regimen during a mean period of 15 months. Method: This study was completed by an additional evaluation after strict 12 hours fasting of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-c, LDL-c, triglycerides (TG), glucose, and insulin levels in a subset of 100 patients from the cohort. Results: TC and TG levels increased early after introduction of lopinavir/ritonavir, but remained subsequently stable. After a median of 15 months, TC was greater than normal laboratory range in 46% of cases and TG levels were greater than normal laboratory range in 52% of cases. However, in nearly 90% of these cases, elevations were less than or equal to grade 2. These increases were dependant on CDC stage and lipid levels at lopinavir/ritonavir initiation. No impact on glucose metabolism was found. Conclusion: These results are particularly reassuring for the use of lopinavir/ritonavir in everyday practice.
Relationship of QT dispersion with sex hormones and insulin in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in reproductive women. Cardiovascular disease risk factors are more frequent in this population. We aimed in this study to investigate presence of QT dispersion and effects of sex hormones and insulin on QT duration in young PCOS patients. METHODS This present study was cross-sectional observational study. A total of 47 women, 25 patients with PCOS and 22 healthy, were included. Serum testosterone, estradiol and insulin levels were studied and electrocardiography was performed at 2nd or 3th days of menstrual cycle. The study population was divided into groups according to serum testosterone and estradiol levels. Sub-groups and pairwise groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U or student t-test. The associations of QTc durations with hormone levels were calculated using Spearman rank correlation analysis. The results were evaluated at the p<0.05 significance level. RESULTS No differences found between groups regarding to demographic parameters. Estradiol and testosterone levels were higher in patients with PCOS (41.12 ± 13.59 vs. 35.57 ± 19.29 pg/mL, p=0.09 and 105 ± 58.5 vs. 17.6 ± 10.9 ng/dL, p=0.01, respectively). QT dispersion was significantly longer in PCOS patients (47.1 vs. 32.7 ms, p=0.01). A positive correlation was found between the serum insulin level and QTc min, QTc max, and QTc mean (r=0.402, p=0.011; r=0.341, p=0.033; r=0.337, p=0.036; respectively). QT dispersion with serum testosterone and estradiol levels were positively correlated (r=0.525, p=0.001 and r=0.326, p=0.046; respectively). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that QT dispersion is prolonged and testosterone, estradiol and insulin are associated with QT duration in young PCOS patients.
Experiments with fractionated x-ray treatment of the skin of pigs.

Experiments have been carried out to compare the skin reactions in pigs produced by various regimes of fractionated irradiation with X rays, extending up to 28 days. A total of 27 X-ray fields were applied to two pigs. The results show that the major factor which determines the skin response is the size (or number) of the fractions, i.e. the shape of the dose—effect curve. This factor is found to explain approximately five-sixths of the increase of total dose required to produce a given reaction when the dose is divided into five fractions. The remaining one-sixth of the increase is due to tissue repair or repopulation occurring between five and 28 days. The implication in radiotherapy is as follows. If fractionated treatments using fewer and larger fractions are given over the same overall time as a “daily” regime, it is suggested that care must be taken to reduce the total dose below that used in the daily regime, in order to avoid greater skin damage.
d-Dimer in Acute Pancreatitis: A New Approach for an Early Assessment of Organ Failure

Objectives: Studies on the clinical value of parameters of hemostasis in predicting pancreatitis-associated complications are still scarce. The aim of this prospective study was to identify the useful hemostatic markers for accurate determination of the subsequent development of organ failure (OF) during the very early course of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: In 91 consecutive primarily admitted patients with AP, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, protein C, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, d-dimer, and plasminogen were measured in plasma within the first 24 hours of admission and 24 hours thereafter. Two study groups comprising 24 patients with OF and 67 patients without OF were compared. Results: Levels of prothrombin time, fibrinogen, and d-dimer on admission were significantly different between the OF and non-OF groups, and all these parameters plus antithrombin III were significantly different 24 hours later. A d-dimer value of 414.00 &mgr;g/L on admission was the best cutoff value in predicting the development of OF with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 90%, 89%, 75%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions: Measurement of plasma levels of d-dimer on the admission is an accurate method for the identification of patients who will develop OF in the further course of AP.Abbreviations: AP - acute pancreatitis, PT - prothrombin time, APTT - activated partial thromboplastin time, AT III - antithrombin III, PAI-1 - plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, ROC - receiver operating characteristic, AUC - area under the curve
GAVaPS-a genetic algorithm with varying population size

The size of the population can be critical in many applications of genetic algorithms. If the population size is too small, the genetic algorithm may converge too quickly; if it is too large, the genetic algorithm may waste computational resources; the waiting time for an improvement might be too long. We propose an adaptive method for maintaining variable population size, which grows and shrinks together according to some characteristic of the search. The first experimental results indicate some merits of the proposed method. <<ETX>>
Gender Difference on Stress Induced by Malaria Parasite Infection and Effect of Anti-malaria Drug on Stress Index

Malaria is a serious public health problem in most countries of the tropics. Oxidative stress is related to the severity of malaria, oxidative stress in malaria may originate from several sources including intracellular parasitized erythrocytes and extra-erythrocytes as a result of haemolysis and host response. The aim of this study therefore is to determine the gender difference on stress induced by malaria parasite infection and effect of anti-malaria drug on stress index. 202 confirmed malaria infected patients were recruited for the study between the ages of 15 – 64 years of both sexes at the general outpatient clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. 129(63.9%) were males and 73(36.1%) were females. The mean ± SD of MDA, MPC and WBC in male were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to female in pre, post anti-malaria drug treatment. Stress induced by malaria parasite was observed higher in male compared to female; gender norms and values that influence the division of labour, leisure patterns, and sleeping arrangements can influence different patterns of exposure to mosquitoes for men and women which responsible for differences in stress induced by malaria parasite among the gender; during malaria treatment, the level of stress induced by malaria parasite was decline due to the effect of anti-malaria drug used.
In Search of Identity and Legitimation

In the late 1970s, neoinstitutional and organizational culture theorists challenged prevailing rationalist organizational paradigms by introducing social constructionism to the field of organizations. Despite their common foundation, these approaches built on seemingly contradictory empirical observations. Institutionalists observed that organizations actively copy one another’s practices, resulting in substantial isomorphism, whereas culture theorists observed that organizations institutionalize distinctive cultures comprising practices that set them apart from others. These seemingly contradictory findings reflect processes of organizational identity formation and interorganizational construction of legitimacy as they have evolved since the rise of the corporate form in the 19th century. Formation of identity through uniqueness and construction of legitimacy through uniformity are two sides of the same coin. Research on management schools suggests organizations pursue individuation through uniqueness and legitimacy through commonality simultaneously and that organizations bridge the two processes in four ways, which the authors dub imitation, hybridization, transmutation, and immunization.
Left Behind: Chronic Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean’s story in the 2000s was one of rapid progress for many. More than 70 million people moved out of poverty and started on the path to a better life for themselves and their families. The middle class grew at an impressive rate, and despite recent slowdowns in growth, remains a large segment of Latin American society. Income inequalities shrank between those at the top and those at the bottom, albeit not nearly enough. Despite these improvements, still too many Latin Americans are trapped, unable to see the progress that their compatriots have experienced. One in four people is still living in poverty. And of the millions who have moved out of poverty, most are stuck between poverty and the middle class, making up a growing vulnerable class that remains at risk of losing their hard-won gains. One very concerning group is the focus of this book: the nearly 130 million chronic poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. These are the one in five people in the region who have never known anything but poverty. They have not benefitted from the rising tide driven by the growth over the past fifteen years, and thus have thus been left behind by policies and programs that have otherwise been effective in improving the lives of millions. These are the poorest of the poor, concentrated in communities that share the same issues, and for whom an escape from poverty seems unattainable. This book points to a few areas where policies and programs can have more and better impact. First, improving the enabling environment for the chronically poor to succeed, balancing direct support to poor families with critical improvements in their communities as a whole. It is not enough for people to have skills or education; they need to be able to find good jobs, have access to universal quality health care, and build their businesses in safe neighborhoods.
The Patient: Emerging Clinical Applications of Intravenous Immunoglobulin

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IGIV) originally was used as prophylactic treatment of infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency disease. Today, administration of IGIV, due in large part to its immunomodulatory activity, has expanded to include a number of other disorders. Available data suggest that the accepted indications for IGIV will continue to expand. As the number of clinical applications for this therapy grows, so will market opportunities; current preparations will be modified and improved and new products introduced. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy has improved the lives of many patients with immune‐related disorders. Future applications will ideally advance this paradigm further.
Differential localization and function of GABA transporters, GAT‐1 and GAT‐3, in the rat globus pallidus

GABA transporter subtype 1 (GAT‐1) and GABA transporter subtype 3 (GAT‐3) are the main transporters that regulate inhibitory GABAergic transmission in the mammalian brain through GABA reuptake. In this study, we characterized the ultrastructural localizations and determined the respective roles of these transporters in regulating evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in globus pallidus (GP) neurons after striatal stimulation. In the young and adult rat GP, GAT‐1 was preferentially expressed in unmyelinated axons, whereas GAT‐3 was almost exclusively found in glial processes. Except for rare instances of GAT‐1 localization, neither of the two transporters was significantly expressed in GABAergic terminals in the rat GP. 1‐(4,4‐Diphenyl‐3‐butenyl)‐3‐piperidinecarboxylic acid hydrochloride (SKF 89976A) (10 μm), a GAT‐1 inhibitor, significantly prolonged the decay time, but did not affect the amplitude, of eIPSCs induced by striatal stimulation (15–20 V). On the other hand, the semi‐selective GAT‐3 inhibitor 1‐(2‐[tris(4‐methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl)‐(S)‐3‐piperidinecarboxylic acid (SNAP 5114) (10 μm) increased the amplitude and prolonged the decay time of eIPSCs. The effects of transporter blockade on the decay time and amplitude of eIPSCs were further increased when both inhibitors were applied together. Furthermore, SKF 89976A or SNAP 5114 blockade also increased the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous IPSCs, but did not affect miniature IPSCs. Significant GABAA receptor‐mediated tonic currents were induced in the presence of high concentrations of both SKF 89976A (30 μm) and SNAP 5114 (30 μm). In conclusion, these data indicate that GAT‐1 and GAT‐3 represent different target sites through which GABA reuptake may subserve complementary regulation of GABAergic transmission in the rat GP.
Isoflurane: An Anesthetic for the Eighties?

The introduction of isoflurane to clinical practice follows the search for a nonflammable, potent inhalation anesthetic which, above all, is chemically stable so as to resist biodegradation or attack by other chemicals. These attributes characterize isoflurane (Table 2). The hoped for freedom from hepatic and renal toxicity and from carcinogenic and mutagenic properties is a reality with this drug. Other favorable characteristics include relatively low solubility in blood in relation to anesthetic dose, lack of arrhythmogenic effect, provision of good muscle relaxation, and the absence of central nervous system excitation. Its moderate pungency detracts slightly from the ease of inhaled induction. Disadvantages include respiratory depression, reduced arterial blood pressure, uterine relaxation, decreased uteroplacental blood flow, and likely ability to trigger malignant hyperpyrexia. The frequency and/or significance of tachycardia and dilation of muscle blood vessels in clinical practice remain to be established. We believe isoflurane is a significant improvement over earlier potent inhalation anesthetics.
Value Relevance of Accounting Information: An Empirical Study of Selected Indian Firms

The present study analyses the combined, individual, and incremental value relevance of accounting information produced by firms listed on the S&P BSE-500 for FY-2006 to FY-2010, and changes therein over a period of time. Results provide sufficient evidence that accounting information is value relevant for BSE-listed firms. The combined value relevance of accounting information represented by earnings per share and book value per share has declined while there have been insignificant changes in the incremental value relevance of accounting information.
Angiogenesis and the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Endometrium and Placenta

PROBLEM: The demand for increased angiogenesis and microvascular permeability during cyclical changes in the endometrium and during placentation raises the possibility that aberrations in these events could lead to suboptimal reproductive performance. However, relatively little is presently known regarding the regulation of vascular growth and permeability in these tissues.
Hydroxy Progesterone, Human Chronic Gonadotropin and GNRH Analogue on Fertility of Repeat Breeding Dairy Cattle in Theni District of Tamilnadu

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of different hormonal treatment regimens in repeat breeding dairy cattle of Theni district. The study was conducted in 60 apparently healthy crossbred repeat breeding dairy cows and divided in to four treatment groups with 15 animals each. Treatment group 1 was administered with 2 ml of hydroxy progesterone intra muscularly on 4th day of estrum after post insemination. Treatment groups 2 and 3 were administered with 1500 IU of human chronic gonadotropin and 10 mg GnRH analogue respectively intra muscularly, immediately after first insemination. Treatment group 4 was inseminated without any hormone therapy and kept as control group. All treatment groups were re-inseminated at 12 hour interval after the first insemination. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out in all treatment groups at 60 days post AI by rectal examination. Analysis of data showed that, the duration of estrum in treatment groups was significantly less than control group. The conception rate in treatment groups 1 to 4 was 46.67, 73.33, 60.00 and 30.00 per cent respectively. A maximum of 73.33 per cent conception rate was observed in treatment group 2. All groups were re-inseminated at 12 hrs interval to increase the conception rate in repeat breeding dairy cows with prolonged oestrum. Thus the present study reveals that, the Inj. hCG administered at the time of artificial insemination positively improves the conception rate in repeat breeding dairy cows.
Clinical Issues in the Care of Critically Ill Diabetic Patients

Critically ill patients with a preexisting diagnosis of diabetes mellitus are very common and they have several inherent disorders that make their ICU care challenging. There is increasing evidence that hyperglycemia is all too common in the critically ill and that improved glucose control at presentation and during an ICU stay improves mortality. Glucose control after acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting in particular affects patient outcome and mortality. Diabetic patients are more prone to several medical problems that can predispose them to critical illness, prolong hospitalization, and increase mortality. Delayed gastric emptying and altered metabolism that affect medication dosing, absorption, and efficacy are common in this population. In addition, many patients with diabetes have renal dysfunction that can cause difficulties with drug excretion and glucose monitoring. Finally, patients with diabetes have an increased rate and severity of life-threatening infections and venous thromboembolism than do patients with normal glucose metabolism. There are many treatment options for patients with diabetes, and hyperglycemia in the ICU should be corrected in order to avoid adverse outcomes.
Developmental Right-Hemisphere Syndrome

We report the clinical characteristics of the developmental right-hemisphere syndrome (DRHS), a nonverbal learning disability, in 20 children (9 girls and 11 boys; mean age = 9.5 years) who also manifested attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), severe graphomotor problems, and marked slowness of performance. Diagnostic criteria for this study included (a) emotional and interpersonal difficulties; (b) paralinguistic communication problems; (c) impaired visuospatial skills, verbal IQ > performance IQ, and verbal IQ · 85; and either (d) dyscalculia or (e) neurological signs on the left side of the body. In this group, verbal IQ was significantly higher than performance IQ (106.6 · 13.0 vs. 85.1 · 13.1, respectively, p < .01). Arithmetic was the lowest score among the verbal subtests (7.8 · 3.5, p < .01) and Geometrical Design was the lowest score among the performance subtests (5.8 · 1.7). Thirteen children had soft neurological signs on the left side of the body. ADHD was seen in all 20 children, marked slowness of performance in 16, and severe graphomotor problems in 18. The latter two features have not been previously described as part of DRHS.
Bed‐sharing among six‐month‐old infants in western Sweden

Aim: In spite of several reports of an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in connection with bed‐sharing, it is not an uncommon practice. The aim of this study was to examine bed‐sharing at 6 months of age and the factors that are associated with bed‐sharing.