Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress modulation by Rosmarinus officinalis in CCl4‐induced liver cirrhosis

Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) possesses antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects, and so may provide a possible therapeutic alternative for chronic liver disease. The effect produced by a methanolic extract of Rosmarinus officinalis on CCl4‐induced liver cirrhosis in rats was investigated using both prevention and reversion models. Over the course of the development of cirrhosis, the increased enzymatic activities of gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase and alanine aminotransferase, and the rise in bilirubin levels caused by CCl4 administration, were prevented by Rosmarinus officinalis co‐administration. When the cirrhosis by oxidative stress was evaluated as an increase on liver lipoperoxidation, total lipid peroxides, nitric oxide in serum, and loss of erythrocyte plasma membrane stability, R. officinalis was shown to prevent such alterations. On cirrhotic animals treated with CCl4, histological studies showed massive necrosis, periportal inflammation and fibrosis which were modified by R. officinalis. These benefits on experimental cirrhosis suggest a potential therapeutic use for R. officinalis as an alternative for liver cirrhosis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Refeeding syndrome relevance for critically ill patients

Abstract Refeeding Syndrome (RFS) is a potential life-threatening complication of the nutritional therapy in the replenishment phase after period of starvation. This not very known syndrome may be a life-threatening metabolic condition due to rapid, inadequate nutritional support in malnourished catabolic patients. The intake of food and therefore the switch from a catabolic to an anabolic metabolism is most considered etiological mechanism. The main biochemical feature of RFS is hypophosphatemia and low levels of potassium and magnesium. Lack of vitamins, especially vitamin B1 or thiamine is often present and involves severe clinical complications.
The p40 phox and p47 phox PX Domains of NADPH Oxidase Target Cell Membranes via Direct and Indirect Recruitment by Phosphoinositides*

The Phox homology (PX) domain has recently been reported to bind to phosphoinositides, and some PX domains can localize to endosomes in vivo. Here we show data to support the conclusion that the p40 phox PX domain binds to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate specifically in vitro and localizes to endosomes in intact cells. In addition, its Y59A/L65Q mutant, which has decreased affinity for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate in vitro, fails to target EGFP-p40-PX to endosomes. However, unlike published results, we find that the p47 phox PX domain weakly binds to many phosphoinositides in vitro showing slightly higher affinity for phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Moreover, we show for the first time that upon insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulation of COS cells, the p47 phox PX domain is localized to the plasma membrane, and this subcellular localization is dependent on PI 3-kinase activity. Unexpectedly, its R42Q mutant that loses in vitrophosphoinositide-binding ability can still target EGFP-p47-PX to the plasma membrane. Our data suggest that the translocation of p47 phox PX domain to the plasma membrane does involve 3′-phosphoinositide(s) in the process, but the phosphoinositide-binding of p47 phox PX domain is not sufficient to recruit it to the plasma membrane. Therefore, the p40 phox and p47 phox PX domains can target subcellular membranes via direct or indirect recruitment by phosphoinositides, while both are under the control of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity.
Molecular effects of hesperetin, a citrus flavanone on7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced buccal pouch squamous cell carcinoma in golden Syrian hamsters

Abstract In recent years, researchers have been focused on citrus flavanone, a naturally occurring bioactive substance of hesperetin. To investigate the molecular mechanism based chemopreventive efficacy of hesperetin on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The oral tumour was provoked by painted with 0.5% DMBA on left buccal pouch thrice a week for 10 consecutive weeks developed well-differentiated SCC and tumour formation was 100% in DMBA alone. We evaluated the chemopreventive potential of hesperetin by assessing the lipid peroxidation (LPO) by-products, status of enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, detoxifying agents etc. Moreover, modulating expression of apoptotic and cell proliferation markers were observed in HBP SCC experimental hamsters. Oral administration of hesperetin (20 mg/kg b.w.) to DMBA painted hamsters significantly reversed the stages of oral SCC. Our findings indicate that hesperetin possesses a chemopreventive effect in DMBA-induced oral SCC by exerting anti-carcinogenic property.
Comparison of Optical Coherence Tomography and Scanning Laser Polarimetry for Detection of Localized Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defects

Purposes:To compare the ability of Stratus optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensator (GDx VCC) in recognizing a localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect identified on red-free fundus photography. Materials and Methods:Fifty-three patients with only 1 localized RNFL defect in either eye were taken RNFL thickness analysis using Stratus OCT and GDx VCC. Thirty-nine healthy subjects were used as controls and only 1 eye per subject was considered. Using red-free photography as the standard reference test, sensitivity and specificity for photographic defects, and topographic correlation with photographic defects were compared between Stratus OCT (sector average graph) and GDx VCC (deviation from normal map). Abnormal sectors at P<5% compared with their internal normative database were evaluated. Results:After excluding eyes with unacceptable scan images, 38 healthy eyes and 47 glaucomatous eyes were finally included. Stratus OCT and GDx VCC showed moderate sensitivity (78.7%) and high specificity (94.7% and 89.5%, respectively), and there was no significant difference (P=1.00 and P=0.69, respectively). RNFL defects determined by Stratus OCT and GDx VCC were correlated well with photographic RNFL defects in terms of peripapillary localization and clock-hour size, and there was no significant difference between 2 imaging devices (P=0.20 and P=0.27, respectively). Conclusions:In recognizing a localized RNFL defect, overall diagnostic performance of Stratus OCT and GDx VCC with regard to their internal normative database was not significantly different. As both Stratus OCT and GDx VCC showed only moderate sensitivity, these imaging devices may not substitute red-free fundus photography in clinical practice of glaucoma diagnosis.
Effect of tree channel conductivity on electrical tree shape and breakdown in XLPE cable insulation samples

The results of an investigation into electrical tree growth in XLPE cable insulation using an embedded needle electrode are reported for a range of voltages from 9 kV rms to 27 kV rms. The partial discharge (PD) activity and tree structures were measured simultaneously throughout the tree growth and the trees were recorded from initiation up to and including the final runaway stage. A multifractal analysis was also performed on the tree structures as they propagated, and it was found that their fractal dimension increased and the distribution of embedded structures changed as small side channels were added to the tree as it grew. At 11 kV rms only branch trees were found and only bush (bush-branch) trees at higher voltages, but at 9 kV rms trees of three different shapes were formed. Observation of the tree shapes at 9 kV rms under reflected light followed by a detailed analysis using con-focal Raman spectroscopy, showed that the stagnated and branch-pine (monkey puzzle) tree shapes were due to the formation of a conducting graphitic deposit upon the walls on tree branches in the region of the needle electrode. This was not present in the branch trees produced at 9 kV rms. A simple scheme is presented for the formation of branch-pine trees and their corresponding PD activity based on the concept of conducting branch generation. The trees produced at 13 kV rms and above have a bush shape, which converts into a bush branch shape when a runaway branch grows from their periphery. This is shown to happen when the field at the bush tree periphery exceeded a voltage independent critical value, which was estimated to be 100 MV/m. The consequence of this result for the initiation of the runaway stage in branch trees is commented upon.
Interprosthetic Femoral Fractures

Objective: Interprosthetic femoral fractures, ones occurring between ipsilateral total hip and total knee arthroplasties, are an increasingly common and challenging problem for orthopaedic surgeons. The purpose of this study was to report specific fracture locations and treatment outcomes associated with a protocol of femoral plate fixation that spanned the interprosthetic zone applied with modern soft tissue preserving reduction techniques without adjuvant bone grafts. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: One Level I and one Level II trauma center. Patients/Participants: A consecutive cohort of 25 patients with 26 interprosthetic femur fractures surgically treated by one of four orthopaedic traumatologists were retrospectively reviewed. There were nine fractures of the femoral shaft (Orthopaedic Trauma Association [OTA] 32) about hip arthroplasty prostheses and 17 supracondylar fractures (OTA 33) about total knee prostheses. Five patients with six fractures were excluded as a result of lack of follow up (n = 4) or deviation from the treatment protocol (n = 2). The remaining 20 fractures were all low-energy closed injuries in elderly patients (average age 80 years; range, 56-98 years; 14 females and six males). Intervention: A common surgical treatment protocol included plate fixation that spanned the entire interprosthetic zone (overlapping the stem proximally and knee component distally) and the use of biologic tissue-preserving plating techniques without use of supplemental bone grafts of any kind. Main Outcome Measures: Fracture healing, time to full weightbearing, malunion, nonunion, and the presence of any hardware failure. Results: Supracondylar interprosthetic fracture patterns (OTA 33A) were two times more common than proximal diaphyseal fractures (OTA 32) (Vancouver B), 65% versus 35%. All 20 fractures healed after the index procedure. The average time to weightbearing as tolerated was 13 weeks (range, 6-22 weeks). There were three malunions (one 10° valgus, one 9° extension, and one 10° flexion), two cases of painful implants (one required removal), and one loose long-stem revision hip prosthesis (required total femur replacement). All other implants remained well-fixed. All complications occurred in patients with supracondylar fracture patterns. There were no additional associated peri-implant fractures. Conclusions: Interprosthetic femoral fractures tend to occur more frequently in the supracondylar region about total knee arthroplasty components than in the diaphysis about hip stems. Modern biologic plating techniques that span the entire interprosthetic zone to eliminate additional stress risers show reliable union rates without the use of adjuvant bone graft while maintaining limb alignment and implant survivorship.
Identification of a sperm penetration factor in the oviduct of the golden hamster.

Previously, we found oviductal eggs to be significantly more penetrable and fertilizable in vitro than ovulated eggs collected from the ovarian bursa, while bursal eggs were comparable to mature (unovulated) follicular eggs. Incubation of follicular eggs with a soluble eluate of oviductal egg cumulus complexes (COF) increased sperm penetration: the activity was macromolecular, was destroyed at 56 degrees C, and was produced in the oviduct. We now report purification of this oviductal factor that enhances penetration of follicular eggs and have identified it as oviductin (OVN). Oviducts, 1-1.5 h post-LH from eCG-primed females, were homogenized and the cytosolic fraction was chromatographed on a Helix pomatia lectin affinity column; specific proteins were eluted with 0.2 M N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Fractions were monitored by dot-blot assay using as the primary antibody monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1C4 against OVN. Proteins were resolved by one-dimensional SDS-gel electrophoresis, followed by electrotransfer and immunostaining of Western blots. OVN fractions were indexed to COF by quantitative dot-blot assay, and activity was bioassayed by penetration of follicular eggs within 1 h of coincubation with precapacitated sperm +/- factors: COF and BSA (high and low controls, respectively) and fractions from the lectin-isolated peak. The mean penetration rates for three isolations were 17 +/- 4.0a, 51.7 +/- 5.0b, and 49 +/- 2.7b% for BSA, COF, and column fractions, respectively (p < or = 0.05). Purified OVN bound to follicular zonae during culture. Acrosome-intact sperm heads bound OVN during 30 min of incubation both before (t = 0 h) and after capacitation (t = 5.5 h) (visualized by indirect immunofluorescence). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Distribution and Diversity of Archaeal and Bacterial Ammonia Oxidizers in Salt Marsh Sediments

ABSTRACT Diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria (β-AOB) and archaea (AOA) were investigated in a New England salt marsh at sites dominated by short or tall Spartina alterniflora (SAS and SAT sites, respectively) or Spartina patens (SP site). AOA amoA gene richness was higher than β-AOB amoA richness at SAT and SP, but AOA and β-AOB richness were similar at SAS. β-AOB amoA clone libraries were composed exclusively of Nitrosospira-like amoA genes. AOA amoA genes at SAT and SP were equally distributed between the water column/sediment and soil/sediment clades, while AOA amoA sequences at SAS were primarily affiliated with the water column/sediment clade. At all three site types, AOA were always more abundant than β-AOB based on quantitative PCR of amoA genes. At some sites, we detected 109 AOA amoA gene copies g of sediment−1. Ratios of AOA to β-AOB varied over 2 orders of magnitude among sites and sampling dates. Nevertheless, abundances of AOA and β-AOB amoA genes were highly correlated. Abundance of 16S rRNA genes affiliated with Nitrosopumilus maritimus, Crenarchaeota group I.1b, and pSL12 were positively correlated with AOA amoA abundance, but ratios of amoA to 16S rRNA genes varied among sites. We also observed a significant effect of pH on AOA abundance and a significant salinity effect on both AOA and β-ΑΟΒ abundance. Our results expand the distribution of AOA to salt marshes, and the high numbers of AOA at some sites suggest that salt marsh sediments serve as an important habitat for AOA.
Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on the Electron Transfer Reactivity and the Catalytic Activity of Myoglobin

Silver nanoparticles (11±1.5 nm) could greatly enhance the electron‐transfer reactivity of myoglobin (Mb) and its catalytic ability toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Direct fast electron transfer between Mb and a pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrode was achieved, and a pair of well‐defined, quasireversible redox peaks was obtained. The cathodic and anodic peaks were located at −329 and −281 mV, respectively. Meanwhile, the catalytic ability of the protein toward the reduction of H2O2 was also studied, and a H2O2 biosensor was subsequently fabricated. Its detection limit was 1.0×10−6 M with a sensitivity of 0.0205 μA per μM of H2O2. The apparent Michaelis–Menten constant was calculated to be 1303 μM. Flocculation assay showed that the protein maintained plasmon layers surrounding the surface of silver nanoparticles and avoided silver‐nanoparticle aggregation. On the other hand, UV‐visible spectroscopy studies revealed that silver nanoparticles could induce a small change of the heme‐group environment of the protein; this contributed to the enhancement of the electron‐transfer reactivity and the catalytic activity.
Evolutionary Approach to Automated Discovery of Censored Production Rules with Fuzzy Hierarchy

A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel and includes a housing and a valve member movable with respect to the housing for opening and closing the hopper outlet. A transmitter tube containing longitudinally spaced-apart magnetic switches and associated resistors is carried by the housing, the switches being connected in circuit with resistors and coupled to power supply and indicating means in the vessel. A hollow sleeve is fixedly secured to the valve member and is disposed in surrounding telescopic relationship with the tube, the sleeve carrying a permanent magnet therein for sequentially actuating the magnetic switches as the valve member moves between its open and closed positions, the varying current through the assembly of switches and resistors indicating the position of the valve member.
Isolation and Characterization of Current Human Coronavirus Strains in Primary Human Epithelial Cell Cultures Reveal Differences in Target Cell Tropism

ABSTRACT The human airway epithelium (HAE) represents the entry port of many human respiratory viruses, including human coronaviruses (HCoVs). Nowadays, four HCoVs, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-NL63, are known to be circulating worldwide, causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in nonhospitalized and hospitalized children. Studies of the fundamental aspects of these HCoV infections at the primary entry port, such as cell tropism, are seriously hampered by the lack of a universal culture system or suitable animal models. To expand the knowledge on fundamental virus-host interactions for all four HCoVs at the site of primary infection, we used pseudostratified HAE cell cultures to isolate and characterize representative clinical HCoV strains directly from nasopharyngeal material. Ten contemporary isolates were obtained, representing HCoV-229E (n = 1), HCoV-NL63 (n = 1), HCoV-HKU1 (n = 4), and HCoV-OC43 (n = 4). For each strain, we analyzed the replication kinetics and progeny virus release on HAE cell cultures derived from different donors. Surprisingly, by visualizing HCoV infection by confocal microscopy, we observed that HCoV-229E employs a target cell tropism for nonciliated cells, whereas HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoV-NL63 all infect ciliated cells. Collectively, the data demonstrate that HAE cell cultures, which morphologically and functionally resemble human airways in vivo, represent a robust universal culture system for isolating and comparing all contemporary HCoV strains.
A CMOS 2D Micro-Fluxgate Earth Magnetic Field Detecting System with RS232 Digital Output

In this paper we present an acquisition system to measure the Earth magnetic field (whose full-scale value is of the order of 60 muT), consisting of a microcontrolled management subsystem, a CMOS integrated interface circuit and a 2D integrated micro-flux gate magnetic sensor. The couple of orthogonal axis of the sensor makes the system suitable for realizing an electronic compass device. The complete acquisition system achieves an accuracy resulting in a maximum error of 1.5deg in the measurement of the Earth's magnetic field direction, providing a digital output through an RS232 serial interface. Furthermore a measurement setup was developed to evaluate the acquisition system performances. It consist of a precision mechanical structure, in tower form, of a PC software properly developed to post process the data from the acquisition system and of a Helmholtz Coils device to estimate the linearity of the system. This setup allows to perform a completely automated and numerically controlled characterization of the acquisition system.
Sinogram smoothing techniques for myocardial blood flow estimation from dose-reduced dynamic computed tomography

Abstract. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) could provide an accurate and widely available technique for myocardial blood flow (MBF) estimation to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. However, one of its primary limitations is the radiation dose imparted to the patient. We are exploring techniques to reduce the patient dose by either reducing the tube current or by reducing the number of temporal frames in the dynamic CT sequence. Both of these dose reduction techniques result in noisy data. In order to extract the MBF information from the noisy acquisitions, we have explored several data-domain smoothing techniques. In this work, we investigate two specific smoothing techniques: the sinogram restoration technique in both the spatial and temporal domains and the use of the Karhunen–Loeve (KL) transform to provide temporal smoothing in the sinogram domain. The KL transform smoothing technique has been previously applied to dynamic image sequences in positron emission tomography. We apply a quantitative two-compartment blood flow model to estimate MBF from the time-attenuation curves and determine which smoothing method provides the most accurate MBF estimates in a series of simulations of different dose levels, dynamic contrast-enhanced cardiac CT acquisitions. As measured by root mean square percentage error (% RMSE) in MBF estimates, sinogram smoothing generally provides the best MBF estimates except for the cases of the lowest simulated dose levels (tube current=25 mAs, 2 or 3 s temporal spacing), where the KL transform method provides the best MBF estimates. The KL transform technique provides improved MBF estimates compared to conventional processing only at very low doses (<7 mSv). Results suggest that the proposed smoothing techniques could provide high fidelity MBF information and allow for substantial radiation dose savings.
PREVALENCE OF MACROVASCULAR DISEASE IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Objective: To detect the prevalence of macrovascular disease in systemic sclerosis. Methods: Thirty patients with systemic sclerosis and ten normal controls matched in age and sex were included in the study. All subjects were screened for atherosclerosis risk factors and non-invasive vascular assessment as carotid duplex scanning and measurement of ankle brachial blood pressure index. Results: There was no significant difference in risk factors as cigarette smoking, systolic, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels between patients and controls groups. Twenty three out of 30 patients (76.7%) had carotid artery disease compared to (30%) of normal controls with a highly significant difference. Conclusion: Macrovascular disease is a common finding in systemic sclerosis. Early identification allows early intervention and treatment with better control of high rate of cardiovascular mortality.