Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure of asteroid bodies in the vitreous of galactose-fed dogs.

PURPOSE Asteroid hyalosis is a condition in which white spherical particles (asteroid bodies) are suspended in the vitreous, usually in the dependent part of the vitreous. These particles seldom cause serious visual symptoms; however, their presence can be a source of irritation. It has been suggested, but not confirmed, that asteroid hyalosis may be associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension. Studies indicate that these particles are composed of lipid material and calcium; however, the specific composition and structure of asteroid bodies remains unknown. We have observed that asteroid hyalosis occurs in galactose-fed dogs, and this represents the first animal model which consistently forms this vitreal condition. The purpose of this study was to identify the main structural component of the asteroid bodies present in the vitreous of these dogs. METHODS Vitreous humor containing asteroid bodies was collected and frozen from long-term galactose-fed beagles and from age-matched normal controls where asteroid bodies were absent. A portion of the frozen vitreous was sent out for elemental analysis. Thawed vitreous samples were sonicated with HPLC grade water and the aqueous layer was extracted three times with chloroform and then three times with n-butanol. The three organic layers from each extraction were combined and the solvents removed in vacuo. The residue from each extraction was re-dissolved in methanol and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). RESULTS Vitreous-containing asteroid bodies had significantly higher levels of calcium and phosphorus. Negative mode ESI-MS analysis of the n-butanol extracts from vitreous samples with and without asteroid bodies were similar with both containing a predominant peak with a mass to charge ratio (m/z) of 538.4. However, similar analyses of the chloroform extracts indicated that three peaks with m/z values of 547.1, 690.5, and 1430.6 were present only in vitreous samples containing asteroid bodies. Subtraction analysis indicated that the m/z of 690.5 peak corresponded to the main component present. This peak was identified and confirmed to be the quasimolecular ion of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE). CONCLUSIONS Based on the current belief that asteroid bodies are composed of lipid-calcium complexes, we propose that the main component of asteroid hyalosis in the galactose-fed dog is a quasimolecular ion of DPPE in which two molecules of DPPE are complexed through their phosphates groups with calcium.
Active Antitumor Immunity Elicited by Vaccine Based on Recombinant Form of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Active immunotherapy targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) should be another attractive approach to the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors. To test this concept, the authors evaluated the potential immune responses and antitumor activities elicited by dendritic cells pulsed with recombinant ectodomain of mouse EGFR (DC-edMER). Spleen cells isolated from DC-edMER-vaccinated mice showed a high quantity of EGFR-specific antibody-producing cells. EGFR-reactive antibody in sera isolated from vaccinated mice was identified and shown to be effective against tumors in vitro and in vivo by adoptive transfer. DC-edMER vaccine also elicited cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses that could mediate antitumor effects in vitro and adoptive transfer in vivo. In addition, EGFR-specific cytokines responses were elicited by DC-edMER vaccine. Immunization with DC-edMER resulted in tumor regression and prolonged survival in mice challenged with Lewis lung carcinomas and mammary cancer models. Depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes could completely abrogate the antitumor activity and EGFR-specific antibody responses, whereas the depletion of CD8+ T lymphocytes showed partial abrogation of the antitumor activity but antibody was still detected. Furthermore, tumor-induced angiogenesis was suppressed in DC-edMER-vaccinated mice or mice treated with antibody adoptive transfer. Taken together, these findings suggest the antitumor immunity could be induced by DC-edMER, which may involve both humoral and cellular immunity, and may provide insight into the treatment of EGFR-positive tumors through the induction of active immunity against EGFR.
Effects of Saline and Deficit Irrigation on Soil-Plant Water Status and Potato Crop Yield under the Semiarid Climate of Tunisia

Water supplies have been decreasing in several semi-arid regions, and it is therefore necessary to adopt irrigation strategies aimed at maximizing water use efficiency. In this paper, the effects of saline and deficit irrigation on water use efficiency and on potato crop response, based on observations of soil and plant water status, were investigated. Experiments were carried out in Central Tunisia, by monitoring potato crop growth during two seasons in four distinct treatments (T1–T4), represented by two different irrigation doses and two water qualities. For irrigation scheduling purposes, thresholds of soil matric potential, soil water content and Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) were identified with the aim to quantify the effects of water and/or salinity stress on the achievable yield. Experiments allowed verifying that crop yield is strongly affected by the seasonal amount and quality of applied water. Despite differences of crop yield between treatments T2, T3 and T4 not being statistically significant (P < 0.05), crop yield varied between 26.3 t/ha (T3 in 2015) to 16.3 t/ha (T4 in 2015). However, crop yield decline of 17.0 t/ha and 12.0 t/ha per each 100 mm decrease of applied water were observed under the application of water electrical conductivity of 1.6 dS/m and 4.1 dS/m respectively. On the other hand, an increase of 1.0 dS/m in water electrical conductivity caused a yield decline rate of about 10%. The results achieved showed that under the semi-arid climate of Tunisia, potato crop irrigation should be scheduled to avoid water deficit; however, the possibility to reduce water supply can be envisaged when water availability is limited, but with the awareness to accept the shortage of production. Finally, when saline water is the only source available to the farm, it is necessary to avoid the reduction of irrigation doses, to prevent excessive salt accumulation in the root zone with unavoidable effects on crop yield.
Influence ofdifferent soil parameters on the transfer factor soil to plant of Cd , Cu and Zn for wheat and rye

The mobility of the essential micronutrients Zn and Cu varies due to different soil conditions and is influenced by plant species and a number ofsoil parameters, i.e, the chemical forms in which the metal is present in soil, pH, CEC, content of organic matter and particle size distribution (ADRIANO, 1986). The plant availabiltiyofZn is influenced by pH and clay content, whereas soil Cu is mainly present in complexed form, therefore the availability ofCu depends most on the molecular weight of the Cu complexes and its amount present in soil. Unlike for Zn the pH is less important for the mobility ofCu (KABATA-PENIDASand PENDIAS, 1992). Cd is considered as one of the most toxic elements for living organisms. In contrast to other toxie heavy metals such as Pb or Hg, its mobiliryin soil and plant is rather high and it can be easily accumulated in edible parts to levels toxie for animal and man (ADRIANO, 1986). Soil Cd is mostly adsorbed at exchange sites and its plant availability is elosely related to pH and soil organic matter content. In previous investigations it could be demonstrated, that element conten~ in plant is eorrelated with mobile fraetions in soil extracted by different proeedures (HAQ et al., 1980; HORAK, 1982; BRüMMER et al., 1986; HORAK and KAMEL, 1990; HORNBURG, 1991; LOMBI et al., 1998). In sorne reports also the relationship between total meta! content in soil and plant levels was analyzed. LOBBEN (1993) found that for various crop species the transfer faetors for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn are lower on contaminated soils compared to uncontaminated control sires, KIEKENS and CAMERLYNCK (1982) reported that after applieation of heavy metals the aeeumulation in plant is lower on heavy clay soils than on sandy soils. Mixing a contaminated soil with lime or heavy clay soil ean be considered as an effective method to decrease plant metal uptake by increase of
2016-040 Natural disasters and human mobility

This paper reviews the effect of natural disasters on human mobility or migration. Although there is an increase of natural disasters and migration recently and more patterns to observe, the relationship remains complex. While some authors find that disasters increase migration, others show that they have only a marginal or no effect or are even negative. Human mobility appears to be an insurance mechanism against environmental shocks and there are different transmission channels which can explain the relationship between natural disasters and migration. Moreover, migrants’ remittances help to decrease households’ vulnerability to shocks but also dampen their adverse effects. The paper provides a discussion of policy implications and potential future research avenues.
Multiple Orientation-Dependent, Synergistically Interacting, Similar Domains in the Ribosomal DNA Replication Origin of the Fission Yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe

ABSTRACT Previous investigations have shown that the fission yeast,Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has DNA replication origins (500 to 1500 bp) that are larger than those in the budding yeast,Saccharomyces cerevisiae (100 to 150 bp). Deletion and linker substitution analyses of two fission yeast origins revealed that they contain multiple important regions with AT-rich asymmetric (abundant A residues in one strand and T residues in the complementary strand) sequence motifs. In this work we present the characterization of a third fission yeast replication origin, ars3001, which is relatively small (∼570 bp) and responsible for replication of ribosomal DNA. Like previously studied fission yeast origins,ars3001 contains multiple important regions. The three most important of these regions resemble each other in several ways: each region is essential for origin function and is at least partially orientation dependent, each region contains similar clusters of A+T-rich asymmetric sequences, and the regions can partially substitute for each other. These observations suggest that ars3001function requires synergistic interactions between domains binding similar proteins. It is likely that this requirement extends to other fission yeast origins, explaining why such origins are larger than those of budding yeast.
Levels of Some Trace Elements in Sera of Patients with Lung Cancer and in Smokers

Lung cancer is one of the most common leading causes of cancer mortality around the world. Many efforts have been made recently to use element contents in human body to aid for diagnosing various diseases including cancer. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the serum contents of elements Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, Mg, and Fe of lung cancer patients and compared them with those found in smokers and non-smoking controls using atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique. The results obtained showed that there were significantly lower levels of Zn, Fe, and Mg (p<0.001) in patients and smokers than in non-smokers. The Zn and Mg levels of patients were significantly lower than in smokers. The serum levels of Cu, Mn, Ni, and Cr were significantly higher (p<0.001) in lung cancer patients than in smokers and controls. In addition, it was found out that the Cu/Zn ratio was significantly higher in patients and smokers than those of controls. The results suggest that adequate intake of Zn and Mg may have a protective role in the occurrence of lung cancer, while the high levels of Cu, Mn, Ni, and Cr may cause a threat of lung cancer. It is also possible to conclude that exposure to cigarette smoke leads to impair oxidant defense system. The data suggest that Cu/Zn ratio could be of great value in diagnosis and evaluating the lung cancer. In addition, it is possible to rely on trace elements to give indications to warn, especially the smokers, of the risk of lung cancer.
Social capital and Health status : a protective impact among elderly or inactive but not among active ?

The recent report of the World Health Organization’ s Commission on Social Determinants of Health presents a wealth of evidence identifying so cial determinants as the most important determinants of health, beyond the traditional boun daries of the health-care sector. Therefore, they constitute some good candidates for public hea lt policies in order to “close the gap’ in various health inequities (CSDH, 2008). According t o Epstein and al. (2009), one important issue addressed to economists in order to build pol icy implications on the work of the Commission is the assessment of the causal impact o f social determinants of health and health inequalities. In fact, those recommendations are su pported by a large set of researches documenting the existence of differences in health ccording to socio-economic conditions, but only few studies provide evidence of a causal i mpact of social determinants of health, and as a consequence, there is a lack of study identify ing potential tools for tackling health inequities (Marmot & al., 2008 ; Epstein & al., 20 09).
The efficacy of intravenous darbepoetin alfa administered once every 2 weeks in chronic kidney disease patients on haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND It is becoming increasingly more common to administer intravenous (i.v.) darbepoetin alfa to haemodialysis (HD) patients at less frequent dosing intervals in routine clinical practice. This study investigated extending the dosing interval for i.v. darbepoetin alfa treatment from once a week (QW) to once every 2 weeks (Q2W) at the same dose in order to maintain target haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations (11-13 g/dl). METHODS Stable HD patients in routine clinical practice receiving i.v. darbepoetin alfa QW for a period of 6 months (n = 105) (treatment period 1) were switched to i.v. Q2W darbepoetin alfa for a further 6 months (treatment period 2) (n = 90). The dose of i.v. darbepoetin alfa was titrated to maintain Hb concentrations between 11 and 13 g/dl throughout the full 12-month study period. RESULTS The mean change in Hb for treatment period 2 was 0.04 +/- 1.1 g/dl (+/-SD), which was not clinically relevant (11.7 +/- 0.8 g/dl vs 11.7 +/- 1.0 g/dl; P = 0.8). The mean weekly doses of darbepoetin alfa were similar throughout the treatment periods (34.0 +/- 17.1 microg/week vs 32.1 +/- 17.3 microg/week; P = 0.3, respectively for QW and Q2W dosing). Intravenous darbepoetin alfa was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of renal anaemia in HD patients with i.v. Q2W darbepoetin alfa effectively and safely maintains Hb concentrations at a less frequent dosing regimen than observed with QW administration. Dose requirements for i.v. darbepoetin alfa administered QW or Q2W were not different. The results of this study demonstrate that i.v. darbepoetin alfa administered Q2W is an effective regimen for HD patients requiring anaemia treatment in routine clinical practice.
CANADIAN PATTERNS OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : Epidemiology , treatment and control

frequently challenging issue for clinicians. Not only can low-level antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms rapidly increase to high-level resistance, but microorganisms that are primarily resistant to one antimicrobial agent may rapidly become resistant to many others, affecting entire classes of compounds and creating cross-resistance between drug classes. Antimicrobial resistance has major implications for the health care system. It is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and health care costs (1). The greatest risk factors for acquiring an antibiotic-resistant infection are intensive exposure to antibiotics and proximity to persons harbouring resistant bacteria (2). Antibiotic resistance has been precipitated by antibiotic overprescribing, inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics for nonbacterial infections, and the use of antibiotics in farm and animal products. In the United States, more than 190 million courses of antibiotics are prescribed in hospitals annually and 145 million courses are prescribed in the community setting (3). Of the hospital prescriptions, 25% to 45% are believed to be inappropriate, while in a community setting, 20% to 50% have been deemed inappropriate. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a major hospital-acquired pathogen over the past two decades worldwide (4). MRSA is currently the most commonly identified antibiotic-resistant pathogen in the United States (5). Recently, infection due to community-acquired MRSA has also been reported (6). It is therefore not surprising that the incidence of MRSA has also increased in Canadian health care institutions in the past few years.
Local product space and firm-level churning in exported products

This article explores the determinants of changes to the range of exports at the firm level with a focus on the role played by the firm’s local environment. It extends the model developed by Bernard et al. (2010) to a multiregional setting to account for localized externalities. The model is tested using French micro-data on monoregional manufacturing firms covering the period 2002–2007. Our main finding is that the local product space has an impact on exporters’ product-market entry and exit decisions. Firms tend to modify their exported product mix to achieve congruence with the core products of the locality. Also, firms receive higher revenue from the export of products that are more related to the core capabilities of the locality.
News, Credit Spreads and Default Costs: An expectations-driven interpretation of the recent boom-bust cycle in the U.S

The years leading up to the "great recession" were a time of rapid innovation in the financial industry. This period also saw a fall in credit spreads and a boom in liquidity and asset prices that accompanied the boom in real activity, especially investment. In this paper we argue that these were not unrelated phenomena. The adoption of new financial products and practices led to a fall in the expected costs of default which in turn engendered the flood of liquidity in the financial sector, lowered interest rate spreads and facilitated the boom in asset prices and economic activity. When the events of 2007-2009 led to a re-evaluation of the effectiveness of these new products, agents revised their expectations regarding the actual efficiency gains available to the financial sector and this led to a withdrawal of liquidity from the financial system, a reversal in credit spreads and asset prices and a bust in real activity. We treat the efficiency of the financial sector as an exogenous process governing bankruptcy (monitoring) costs facing intermediaries in a costly state verification framework and study the impact of "news shocks" regarding this process. Following the expectations driven business cycle literature, we model the boom and bust cycle in terms of an expected future fall in bankruptcy costs which are eventually not realized. The build up in liquidity and economic activity in expectation of these efficiency gains is then abruptly reversed when agent's hopes are dashed. The model generates counter-cyclical movements in the spread between lending rates and the risk-free rate which are driven purely by expectations, even in the absence of any exogenous movement in intermediation costs as well as an endogenous rise and fall in asset prices and leverage.
Heterogenous peer effects in body weight , physical activity and dietary choices : does type of peers matter ?

This article explores peer effect heterogeneity in adolescent adjusted Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity and dietary choices. In particular, this paper makes an original contribution by studying peers heterogenous effects based on friendship intensity. Adolescents are assumed to interact through a social network, where they have strong and weak friendships. To identify both types, I use Add-Health’s wave II friendship roster questionnaire to calculate a friendship score for every friend listed by each student in the sample: friends with a high score were defined as part of the strong friendship network and the rest were placed in the weak friendship network. It is expected that strong friendships have a greater effect on individuals’ observed outcomes. As in Liu and Lee [2010] and Dieye et al. [2017], identification conditions are provided. 2SLS and GMM strategies were used to estimate the econometric model. Preliminary results provide evidence that supports the heterogenous peer effect hypothesis: strong friendships endogenous effects dominate on adjusted body weight, physical activity. Mixed evidence is found for fast food consumption and unhealthy food consumed
Retina Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in Healthy Eyes

Citation: Greenberg JP, Duncker T, Woods RL, Smith RT, Sparrow JR, Delori FC. Quantitative fundus autofluorescence in healthy eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:5684– 5693. DOI:10.1167/iovs.13-12445 PURPOSE. Fundus autofluorescence was quantified (qAF) in subjects with healthy retinae using a standardized approach. The objective was to establish normative data and identify factors that influence the accumulation of RPE lipofuscin and/or modulate the observed AF signal in fundus images.
Surface Mycoses in Patients under Chemotherapy at the Avicenne Military Hospital of Marrakech

Original Research Article Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of superficial cutaneous mycosis in patients undergoing chemotherapy followed at the oncology unit of Avicenne Marrakech Military Hospital. Analyze the factors favoring their occurrence. Patients and methods: We report a cross-sectional prospective study, including 75 patients from the oncology unit of the Avicenne Marrakech MilitaryHospitalundergoingchemotherapy (all tumorsincluded). Clinical and mycologicalexaminations are performed in these patients, involving 8 locations. Results: On all patients included wenoted a predominance of the male sexwith a sex ratio H / F of 1.5. The averageage of the patients was 56.8 years. The risk factors selected are corticosteroids, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and diabetes. The nails and the dander are by far the most collected locations; these two sites represent more than 90% of all samples, the direct examination was positive for 20 samples (58.9%), while the culture was positive for 18 samples (53%). Dermatophytes were the most common group of agents with 83.3%. Then came in second position the yeasts with 16.7%. The crop has revealed different species. Trichophyton rubrum is the most incriminated species; this dermatophyte was found in 12 cultures or 66.6%. Conclusion: Given these results, it is therefore important to undertake specific measures of prophylactic and curative control against MCS for improving the comfort of life of patients on chemotherapy.