Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Disinfectants on Toxocara canis Embryogenesis and Larval Establishment in Mice Tissues

The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the effects of several different disinfectant solutions on embryonic development of Toxocara canis eggs and (ii) to investigate the potential infectivity of exposed eggs by assessing larval establishment in various tissues in a murine model. All the disinfectants tested were products routinely used in veterinary clinics, kennels, animal shelters and laboratories. Ova were obtained from gravid female T. canis uteri. Thirty samples containing 10 000 eggs were divided into five groups of six identical sample tubes per group. The treatments for the groups were as follows: Group H benzalconium chloride, Group A 70% ethanol, Group B 2–2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution, Group L 7.99% formaldehyde‐based disinfectant and Group C tap water (controls). Samples were incubated at 27 ± 1°C and 80 ± 10% relative humidity. Embryonic development was evaluated on days +6, +9, +12, +15, +18, +21, +25, +28 and +36 of exposure by visual observation under light microscopy. Seventy percent ethanol degenerated all eggs within a few days and thus inhibited larval development. Sodium hypochlorite removed the external layer of the ova, but eggs harboured infective larvae for up to 2 weeks. Benzalconium chloride and formaldehyde‐based disinfectants had no effect on T. canis embryogenesis according to comparison with control eggs (P > 0.05). Embryonated eggs from each of the six samples from Groups C, H and L were administered to mice as only these ova were considered viable based on in vitro trial. On day 30pi, those were euthanized and had their tissues were submitted to organ compression (brains) or acid‐isolation technique (kidneys, lungs, livers and carcasses) for larval counting. The mean number of recovered larvae for Groups C, H and L were: 512.8, 393.7 and 477 respectively (P > 0.05). Larvae derived from Groups H and L eggs maintained their ability to migrate. However, larval establishment pattern differed from control. While certain disinfectants do negatively affect embryogenesis (70% ethanol) and reduce the integrity and durability (sodium hypochlorite) of infective T. canis eggs, others have no effect upon embryogenesis. Those eggs can still be a threat to human and animal health even after over a month of disinfectant exposure.
The betrayal of the Negro, from Rutherford B. Hayes to Woodrow Wilson

* Introduction by Eric Foner Part I. * The Problem * The Let Alone Policy of Hayes * Dead Center Under Cleveland * The Reopening Under Harrison * The Nadir Under McKinley * The Supreme Court and the Negro * The Economic Roots of Second-Class Citizenship: Agriculture * The Economic Roots of Second-Class Citizenship: Organized Labor Part II. * Introduction: The Mind of the North: 18771901 * National Issues in the Northern Press: 18771890 * National Issues in the Northern Press: 18901901 * The Color Line in the New North: 18771901 * The Negro Portrayed in the Leading Literary Magazines * The Atlanta Compromise * The Roots of Recovery Part III. * A Low, Rugged Plateau * A Shore, Dimly Seen * The Negro as Portrayed in Representative Northern Magazines and Newspapers * Conclusion
Donepezil markedly improves long-term survival in rats with chronic heart failure after extensive myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Vagal activation by electrical stimulation has been shown to improve the long-term survival of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) after extensive myocardial infarction (MI). Acetylcholinesterase inhibition increases synaptic acetylcholine, and can disproportionately increase vagal tone. To develop an alternative therapy for CHF using a clinically available drug, the present study investigated whether oral donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhitor, could reproduce the beneficial effects of electrical vagal stimulation in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS At 2 weeks after ligation of the proximal left coronary artery, resulting in extensive MI, surviving rats were randomly assigned to donepezil-treated and untreated groups. Donepezil treatment started 14 days after MI significantly decreased the heart rate (325 ± 6 vs. 355 ± 10 beats/min, P<0.05) and improved 140-day survival (29% to 54%, P=0.03) by preventing pump failure (cardiac index: +29%, P<0.001; left ventricular+dp/dtmax: +18%, P<0.01; left ventricular end-diastolic pressue: -26%, P<0.01) and cardiac remodeling (biventricular weight: 2.73 ± 0.04 vs. 3.06 ± 0.08 g/kg, P<0.001). In addition, donepezil treatment lowered the levels of plasma arginine vasopressin, brain natriuretic peptide, catecholamine, and tissue pro-inflammation markers. CONCLUSIONS Oral donepezil markedly improved the long-term survival of CHF rats by preventing pump failure and cardiac remodeling, indicating that donepezil may be a new alternative therapy for CHF.
Penfluridol induces endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to autophagy in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers. Experimental and clinical evidence suggests that high basal state autophagy in pancreatic tumors could induce resistance to chemotherapy. Recently, we have demonstrated that penfluridol suppresses pancreatic tumor growth by autophagy-mediated apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo; however, the mechanism of autophagy induction by penfluridol was not clear. Several studies have established that endoplasmic reticulum stress could lead to autophagy and inhibit tumor progression. In this study, we demonstrated that penfluridol induced endoplasmic reticulum stress in BxPC-3, AsPC-1, and Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines as indicated by upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers such as binding protein (BIP), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and inositol requiring 1α (IRE1α) after treatment with penfluridol in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress by pretreatment with pharmacological inhibitors such as sodium phenylbutyrate and mithramycin or by silencing CHOP using CHOP small interfering RNA, blocked penfluridol-induced autophagy. These results clearly indicate that penfluridol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress lead to autophagy in our model. Western blot analysis of subcutaneously implanted AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 tumors as well as orthotopically implanted Panc-1 tumors demonstrated upregulation of BIP, CHOP, and IRE1α expression in the tumor lysates from penfluridol-treated mice as compared to tumors from control mice. Altogether, our study establishes that penfluridol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress leads to autophagy resulting in reduced pancreatic tumor growth. Our study opens a new therapeutic target for advanced chemotherapies against pancreatic cancer.
Prevalence of hookworm infection and its association with anemia among patients visiting Fenan Medical Center, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND Data was obtained from all study subjects and blood and fecal specimen were collected from all subjects who apparently volunteer to take part in the study. OBJECTIVE To determine prevalence of hookworm infection and its association with anemia. METHODS. : A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2007 in Diga District, East Wollega Zone. Hematocrit test was done on all blood samples. All stool specimens were processed with a Kato-thick method and examined for parasites and the density of parasites was determined as eggs per gram of stool (epg). Frequencies and proportions were used for the descriptive analysis of the data and Pearson Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between the demographic characteristics of the study subjects and the findings of the test samples. RESULTS The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 64.9% Hookworm was the predominant (49.7%) intestinal parasite identified among the study participants. The density of hookworm egg ranged from 48 epg to 11,520 epg with mean and median values of 685 and 288 epg respectively. The observed result for hematocrit ranged from 12% to 50% with mean (SD) and median values of 34.6% (4.7) and 36% respectively. The prevalence of anemia is 65.5% among study participants. Among those subjects with hookworm, 83.9% were anemic. On the contrary only 41 (22.5%) study subjects who appeared negative for hookworm on stool examination were anemic. CONCLUSION The prevalence of hookworm is higher and it is associated with anemia in East Wollega zone. Therefore intervention strategies should consider the concomitance of hookworm and anemia in the implementations of appropriate prevention and control strategies.
High Numerates Count Icons and Low Numerates Process Large Areas in Pictographs: Results of an Eye‐Tracking Study

In two experiments, we investigated the influence of numeracy on individuals’ information processing of pictographs depending on numeracy via an eye‐tracker. In two conditions, participants from the general population were presented with a scenario depicting the risk of having cancer and were asked to indicate their perceived risk. The risk level was high (63%) in experiment 1 (N = 70) and low (6%) in experiment 2 (N = 69). In the default condition, participants were free to use their default strategy for information processing. In the guiding‐toward‐the‐number condition, they were prompted to count icons in the pictograph by answering with an explicit number. We used eye‐tracking parameters related to the distance between sequential fixations to analyze participants’ strategies for processing numerical information. In the default condition, the higher the numeracy was, the shorter the distances traversed in the pictograph were, indicating that participants counted the icons. People lower in numeracy performed increased large‐area processing by comparing highlighted and nonhighlighted parts of the pictograph. In the guiding‐toward‐the‐number condition, participants used short distances regardless of their numeracy, supporting the notion that short distances represent counting. Despite the different default processing strategies, participants processed the pictograph with a similar depth and derived similar risk perceptions. The results show that pictographs are beneficial for communicating medical risk. Pictographs make the gist salient by making the part‐to‐whole relationship visually available, and they facilitate low numerates’ non‐numeric processing of numerical information. Contemporaneously, pictographs allow high numerates to numerically process and rely on the number depicted in the pictograph.
Effect of insecticides on plankton and fish of Ignacio Ramirez reservoir (Mexico): a biochemical and biomagnification study.

Studies on the limnology, plankton, and biomagnification of pesticides at Ignacio Ramírez (IR) reservoir (Mexico) were undertaken. The reservoir is located in central Mexico, in an agricultural zone with high soil erosion. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), and lipid peroxidation were assayed in fish. Organochlorines (0.024-0.279 mg/liter) and organophosphates (0.02 x 10(-3)-0.21 x 10(-3) mg/liter) were present at high concentrations in water and the biota assayed. In the IR dam the plankton fluctuated depending on the dry and wet seasons. The dominant group of phytoplankton was Bacillariophyta (20-85%) in May, Cyanophyta (22-65%) in September, and Cyanophycean (10-65%), Chlorophycean (10-60%), and Bacyllariophycean (5-80%) species in March. The zooplankton were dominated by cladoceran species (40-70%). Organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides were bioconcentrated (2- to 10-fold) from water to algae, 10- to 25-fold in zooplankton, and 8- to 140-fold in fish. GGTP activity and lipid peroxidation increased and AchE activity in fish decreased in response to the environmental stress caused by the elevated biomagnification of pesticides. The bioaccumulation of these contaminants in fish and the potential for biomagnification in humans are perceived as threats.
Evaluating the experiential user experience of public display applications in the wild

Studying pervasive systems in the wild has recently gained significant interest. However, few methods exist that focus on the subjective of user experience of such systems rather than objective metrics, like performance and task success. Especially multimodal interaction in this context poses challenges to understanding how different input and output methods affect the users' experience. We present a new method for evaluating the experiential user experience of interactive systems. It combines two existing approaches from different fields: a questionnaire-based evaluation method called SUXES, intended for evaluating user expectations and experiences, and a theoretical experience framework, Experience Pyramid, originally developed for analyzing and improving experiential tourism products. The new method was used in two field studies of multimodal public display applications. Our findings show that the method is a practical approach for user experience evaluation in the wild, especially in the case of pervasive applications that aim to provide novel experiences rather than facilitate task-oriented information access.
Perfusion cells for studying regional variation in oral mucosal permeability in humans. 2. A specialized transport mechanism in D-glucose absorption exists in dorsum of tongue.

To clarify the site of d-glucose absorption in human oral cavity, newly designed perfusion cells were applied to five different sites in the human oral cavity, i.e., the dorsum of the tongue, the ventral surface of the tongue, the labial mucosa, the floor of the mouth, and the buccal mucosa. The solution of D-glucose was perfused for 1 h and the rate of absorption was calculated from the amount that disappeared from the perfusate. D-Glucose was absorbed rapidly from the dorsum of the tongue and the absorption was saturable. The saturable absorption was also observed in the ventral surface of the tongue, but not in the other three sites. The rate of D-glucose absorption in the dorsum and the ventral surface of the tongue was significantly larger than that of L-glucose, while in the other sites they were not significantly different. The presence of a specialized transport system for D-glucose absorption in the dorsum of human tongue was suggested.
Use of B‐natriuretic peptide as a diagnostic marker in the differential diagnosis of transfusion‐associated circulatory overload

BACKGROUND: Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload (TACO) occurs when the transfusion rate or volume exceeds the capacity of a compromised cardiovascular system. Characteristic symptoms and signs associated with TACO are neither sensitive nor specific. B‐natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a 32‐amino‐acid polypeptide secreted from the cardiac ventricles in response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. This study was performed to explore the usage of BNP in the differential diagnosis of TACO.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and Akt Occupy Central Roles in Inflammatory Responses of Toll-Like Receptor 2-Stimulated Neutrophils1

Neutrophils are critical initiators and effectors of the innate immune system and express Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4. Although signaling through pathways involving phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) and the downstream kinase Akt (protein kinase B) plays a central role in modulating neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide generation in response to engagement of G protein-coupled receptors, the importance of these kinases in affecting inflammatory responses of neutrophils stimulated through TLR2 has not been examined. In these experiments, we found activation of Akt in neutrophils stimulated with the TLR2-specific ligands peptidoglycan and the lipopeptide tri-palmitoyl-S-glyceryl-Cys-Ser-(Lys)4 that occurred earlier and was of greater magnitude than that present after exposure to the TLR4 agonist LPS. The release of the proinflammatory mediators TNF-α and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by PI3-K blockade. The IC50 for inhibition of peptidoglycan-stimulated Akt activation and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 release correlated closely, indicating linkage of these two events. PI3-K blockade did not inhibit nuclear translocation of NF-κB, but did prevent Ser536 phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB, an event required for maximal transcriptional activity of NF-κB. Inhibition of PI3-K also prevented activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular receptor-activated kinase 1/2 in TLR2-stimulated neutrophils. These results demonstrate that the PI3-K-Akt axis occupies a central role in TLR2-induced activation of neutrophils.
A study of dentists' preferred maxillary anterior tooth width proportions: comparing the recurring esthetic dental proportion to other mathematical and naturally occurring proportions.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Presently, there are no generally accepted standards for designing smiles using tooth proportion relationships. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether North American dentists prefer smile designs created using the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion, other mathematically defined tooth proportion relationships, or naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions previously reported to occur in the North American population. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three hundred and one North American dentists were surveyed to determine their preferences of imaged smiles exhibiting different anterior tooth width proportions and the primary proportion influencing their decision. One-sample t-tests were used to compare preferences of constructed smiles. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to assess the independence of the relationship between the subjects' demographic attributes and the factors reported as being instrumental in their decision processes. RESULTS Fifty-seven percent of dentists surveyed preferred the smiles with the 70% RED proportion over the smiles with the naturally occurring maxillary anterior tooth width proportions in normal-length teeth. Dentists preferred the smiles of the naturally occurring maxillary tooth proportions (70%) and the 70% RED proportion (75%) over the golden proportion. In smiles with tall teeth, the golden proportion was preferred by 58% of the surveyed dentists over the naturally occurring tooth-to-tooth width proportions as previously defined by Preston. Sixty-two percent of dentists cited the overall balance as the primary factor affecting their selection. Twenty-three percent made their selection based on the size of the maxillary central incisors, whereas 15% used other teeth or factors. CONCLUSION Smiles created using the principles of the RED proportion were preferred by a majority of dentists surveyed. The majority of dentists reported that overall balance was the primary factor affecting their selection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The RED proportion may be useful in creating smiles preferred by North American dentists. Seventy-five percent of North American dentists preferred using the RED proportion when designing smiles with normal-length teeth over using the golden proportion, which has been a pseudostandard in esthetic dentistry. Applying the golden proportion universally in smile design should be reconsidered as it was found to be the least pleasing and accepted in this study for normal-length teeth.
Democracy And Stock Market Development: The Case Of Nigeria

ABSTRACT:Institutional economics theories stress the importance of political dispensations as a determinant of financial market development. The Literature shows that political institutions can influence financial market system by imposing constrains on the discretion of political power. In addition, a more democratic system may encourage free market and increase the number of new entrants which helps existing firms to be more efficient and improves its performance in the stock market. Democracy can reduce the power of government to manage and control the financial market which in turn increases the level of competition and further improves participation. However, the empirical findings remain inconclusive. There is evidence of positive, negative and/or no direct effect of democracy on financial markets. This paper contributes to this debate by examining the dynamic non-linear effect of democracy on stock market development for the period of 1984–2015 within nonlinear ARDL framework. The results show an asymmetric response of stock market to democracy in Nigeria. In a more specific, it shows that stock market’s response to democracy is negative both in the short run and long run. This finding serves as a confirmation that the stock market behaviors are related in a nonlinear way to the institutional fundamentals. The study therefore suggests that weaknesses in governance system, mismanagement of the economy and failure to grant independence to monetary authority are the key sources of challenges facing Nigerian stock exchange market. Efficiency of stock exchange is anchored largely on the efficient institutional environment. A good institutional framework remains the efficient ways of tackling corruption which has been one of the key factors most investors are afraid of in the context of Nigerian capital market. Sound regulation quality with adequate respect for the rule of law, avoid violence and political instability are very important to ensure efficient operation of Nigerian capital market.
Weekly paclitaxel improves pathologic complete remission in operable breast cancer when compared with paclitaxel once every 3 weeks.

PURPOSE To determine the impact a change in schedule of paclitaxel administration from once every 3 weeks to frequent administration would have on the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in the breast and lymph nodes for patients with invasive breast cancer treated with primary systemic chemotherapy (PST). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with clinical stage I-IIIA breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive PST of paclitaxel doses administered either weekly (for a total of 12 doses of paclitaxel) or once every 3 weeks (four cycles), followed by four cycles of fluorouracil/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (FAC) in standard doses every 3 weeks. Two different doses of paclitaxel were used based on lymph node status defined by ultrasound and fine needle aspiration. Clinical response and extent of residual disease in the breast and lymph nodes was assessed after completion of all chemotherapy. RESULTS A total of 258 patients were randomly assigned to receive doses of paclitaxel administered either weekly or once every 3 weeks, followed by FAC. Of these 258 patients, 110 patients had histologic lymph node involvement and 148 patients had clinical N0 disease. Weekly paclitaxel followed by FAC was administered to 127 patients and once-every-3-weeks paclitaxel followed by FAC was administered to 131 patients. Clinical response to treatment was similar between groups (P = .25). Patients receiving weekly paclitaxel had a higher pCR rate (28.2%) than patients treated with once-every-3-weeks paclitaxel (15.7%; P = .02), with improved breast conservation rates (P = .05). CONCLUSION The change in schedule of paclitaxel from once every 3 weeks to a more frequent administration significantly improved the ability to eradicate invasive cancer in the breast and lymph nodes.