Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Larvicidal Activity of Essential Oil from Leaves of Coccinia grandis against Three Mosquito Species

Background: To study the chemical constituents and larvicidal activity of essential oil extracted from the leaves of Coccinia grandis against three mosquito species. Methods: Essential oil was extracted by hydro distillation using clevenger apparatus and was analyzed for chemical constituents by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Larvicidal activity was recorded after 12 and 24h of post-exposure against three mosquito species, Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. Dead larvae were identified when they failed to move after probing with a needle in the siphon or cervical region. The LC50 and LC90 values for three mosquito larvae were calculated by Probit analysis. Results: The GC-MS analysis revealed that essential oil contains 23 different constituents. Out of these 23 constituents, major constituents identified were n-tetracosane (39.18%), n-eicosane (30.04%), tetratriacotane (2.97%), 7-octadecanal (2.81%), and tricosane (2.31%). Essential oil from leaves of Coccinia grandis exhibited significant larvicidal activity against An. stephensi with LC50 and LC90 values 39.41ppm and 123.24ppm, respectively. This was followed by Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus with LC50 and LC90 values of 48.20ppm, 131.84ppm and 52.80ppm, 135.48ppm, respectively after 24h of exposure. Conclusion: The results could be useful in developing a cost effective, ecofriendly, region specific and practical strategy for the control of mosquito vectors.
Lower Placental Leptin Promoter Methylation in Association with Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution during Pregnancy and Placental Nitrosative Stress at Birth in the ENVIRONAGE Cohort

Background: Particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) affects human fetal development during pregnancy. Oxidative stress is a putative mechanism by which PM2.5 may exert its effects. Leptin (LEP) is an energy-regulating hormone involved in fetal growth and development. Objectives: We investigated in placental tissue whether DNA methylation of the LEP promoter is associated with PM2.5 and whether the oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarker 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NTp) is involved. Methods: LEP DNA methylation status of 361 placentas from the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort was assessed using bisulfite-PCR-pyrosequencing. Placental 3-NTp (n = 313) was determined with an ELISA assay. Daily PM2.5 exposure levels were estimated for each mother’s residence, accounting for residential mobility during pregnancy, using a spatiotemporal interpolation model. Results: After adjustment for a priori chosen covariates, placental LEP methylation was 1.4% lower (95% CI: –2.7, –0.19%) in association with an interquartile range increment (7.5 μg/m3) in second-trimester PM2.5 exposure and 0.43% lower (95% CI: –0.85, –0.02%) in association with a doubling of placental 3-NTp content. Conclusions: LEP methylation status in the placenta was negatively associated with PM2.5 exposure during the second trimester, and with placental 3-NTp, a marker of oxidative/nitrosative stress. Additional research is needed to confirm our findings and to assess whether oxidative/nitrosative stress might contribute to associations between PM2.5 and placental epigenetic events. Potential consequences for health during the neonatal period and later in life warrant further exploration. Citation: Saenen ND, Vrijens K, Janssen BG, Roels HA, Neven KY, Vanden Berghe W, Gyselaers W, Vanpoucke C, Lefebvre W, De Boever P, Nawrot TS. 2017. Lower placental leptin promoter methylation in association with fine particulate matter air pollution during pregnancy and placental nitrosative stress at birth in the ENVIRONAGE cohort. Environ Health Perspect 125:262–268; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/EHP38
Petrology of MantleWedge Lithosphere: New Data on Supra-Subduction Zone Peridotite Xenoliths from the Andesitic AvachaVolcano, Kamchatka

Peridotite xenoliths in arc volcanoes are very rare, usually small and remain poorly studied. Much of the earlier work focused on peridotites affected by re-crystallization, metasomatism and veining that took place shortly before the eruption of the host magmas; such lithologies may not be widespread in the mantle wedge.This study reports petrographic, major and trace element data for 17 large, fresh peridotite xenoliths from the active Avacha volcano and discusses the origin of supra-subduction zone lithospheric mantle, in particular the role and characteristics of partial melting and metasomatism. The xenoliths are spinel harzburgites containing interstitial cpx (1·5^3%) and amphibole ( 1%). Nearly all are mediumto coarse-grained with protogranular to granoblastic microstructures; some have fine-grained domains and thin cross-cutting veins of secondary opx and olivine. Core^rim zoning and unmixing of cpx and spinel in coarse opx indicate long-term cooling to 900^10008C; Cr#Sp and Al and Cr in opx are correlated with equilibration temperatures.The peridotites are highly refractory, with 44% MgO and very low Al2O3 and CaO (0·4^0·9%), TiO2 ( 0.01%), Na2O ( 0.03%), K2O and P2O5 (below detection) and REE in whole-rocks, 2·1% Al2O3 in opx and 0·1^0·3% Na2O in cpx. Comparisons of Mg, Al and Fe contents with melting experiments indicate 28^35% melt extraction at 1 to 2 GPa, in line with the absence of primary cpx and high Mg#Ol (0·907^0·918) and Cr#Sp (0·53^0·65). Bulk-rock Al2O3 is a more robust melt extraction index than Cr#Sp, Mg#Ol and Mg#WR. Forearc harzburgites and certain xenoliths from the Western Pacific share many of these characteristics with the Avacha suite and may have similar origins. A distinctive feature of the Avacha harzburgites is a combination of variable but commonly high modal opx (18^30%) with very low modal cpx. At a given olivine or MgO content, they have higher opx and SiO2, and lower cpx (as well as Al2O3 and CaO) than typical refractory peridotite xenoliths in continental basalts. These features may indicate fluid fluxing during melting in the mantle wedge. Alternatively, they could have been produced after partial melting by selective metasomatic enrichment in SiO2 by fluids to transform some olivine into opx, although the latter mechanism is hard to reconcile with the very low alkalis and REE contents and the absence of silica correlation with fluid-mobile elements. Bulk-rock enrichments in silica and opx are unrelated to the presence or abundance of late-stage, fine-grained materials and are due to an ancient event rather than recent re-crystallization and veining.
3,4-Dehydrodebrisoquine, a Novel Debrisoquine Metabolite Formed from 4-Hydroxydebrisoquine That Affects the CYP2D6 Metabolic Ratio

Considerable unexplained intersubject variability in the debrisoquine metabolic ratio (urinary debrisoquine/4-hydroxydebrisoquine) exists within individual CYP2D6 genotypes. We speculated that debrisoquine was converted to as yet undisclosed metabolites. Thirteen healthy young volunteers, nine CYP2D6*1 homozygotes [extensive metabolizers (EMs)] and four CYP2D6*4 homozygotes [poor metabolizers (PMs)] took 12.8 mg of debrisoquine hemisulfate by mouth and collected 0- to 8- and 8- to 24-h urines, which were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) before and after treatment with β-glucuronidase. Authentic 3,4-dehydrodebrisoquine was synthesized and characterized by GCMS, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and 1H NMR. 3,4-Dehydrodebrisoquine is a novel metabolite of debrisoquine excreted variably in 0- to 24-h urine, both in EMs (3.1–27.6% of dose) and PMs (0–2.1% of dose). This metabolite is produced from 4-hydroxydebrisoquine in vitro by human and rat liver microsomes. A previously unstudied CYP2D6*1 homozygote was administered 10.2 mg of 4-hydroxydebrisoquine orally and also excreted 3,4-dehydrodebrisoquine. EMs excreted 6-hydroxydebrisoquine (0–4.8%) and 8-hydroxydebrisoquine (0–1.3%), but these phenolic metabolites were not detected in PM urine. Debrisoquine and 4-hydroxydebrisoquine glucuronides were excreted in a highly genotype-dependent manner. A microsomal activity that probably does not involve cytochrome P450 participates in the further metabolism of 4-hydroxydebrisoquine, which we speculate may also lead to the formation of 1- and 3-hydroxydebrisoquine and their ring-opened products. In conclusion, this study suggests that the traditional metabolic ratio is not a true measure of the debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation capacity of an individual and thus may, in part, explain the wide intragenotype variation in metabolic ratio.
Loneliness, social isolation, and behavioral and biological health indicators in older adults.

OBJECTIVE A number of mechanisms have been proposed through which social isolation and loneliness may affect health, including health-related behavioral and biological factors. However, it is unclear to what extent isolation and loneliness are independently associated with these pathways. The objective of the present analysis was to determine the impact of social isolation and loneliness, individually as well as simultaneously, on health-related behavioral and biological factors using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). METHOD Data on health behaviors (smoking and physical activity) were analyzed from 8,688 participants and data on blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammatory markers were analyzed from over 5,000 of these participants who were eligible for a nurse visit and blood sampling. Loneliness was measured using the short form of the Revised UCLA scale and an index of social isolation was computed incorporating marital status; frequency of contact with friends, family, and children; and participation in social activities. RESULTS Fewer than 2% of participants reported being lonely all the time, while nearly 7% had the highest possible scores on social isolation. Both social isolation and loneliness were associated with a greater risk of being inactive, smoking, as well as reporting multiple health-risk behaviors. Social isolation was also positively associated with blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen levels. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness and social isolation may affect health independently through their effects on health behaviors. In addition, social isolation may also affect health through biological processes associated with the development of cardiovascular disease.
Immunomodulation of afferent neurons in guinea‐pig isolated airway.

1. The trachea, larynx and main bronchi with the right vagus nerve and nodose ganglion were isolated from guinea‐pigs passively immunized 24 h previously with serum containing anti‐ovalbumin antibody. 2. The airways were placed in one compartment of a Perspex chamber for recording of isometric tension while the nodose ganglion and attached vagus nerve were pulled into another compartment. Action potentials arriving from single airway afferent nerve endings were monitored extracellularly using a glass microelectrode positioned near neuronal cell bodies in the ganglion. Mechanosensitivity of the nerve endings was quantified using calibrated von Frey filaments immediately before and after exposure to antigen (10 micrograms ml‐1 ovalbumin). 3. Ten endings responded to the force exerted by the lowest filament (0.078 mN) and were not further investigated. In airways from thirteen immunized guinea‐pigs, the mechanical sensitivity of A delta afferent fibres (conduction velocity = 4.3 +/‐ 0.6 m s‐1) was enhanced 4.1 +/‐ 0.9‐fold following airway exposure to antigen (P < 0.005). Mechanical sensitivities of afferent fibres (conduction velocity = 4.3 +/‐ 0.6 m s‐1) from non‐immunized control guinea‐pig airways were unaffected by antigen (n = 13). 4. Antigen did not overtly cause action potential generation except in one instance when the receptive field was located over the smooth muscle. This ending also responded to methacholine suggesting that spatial changes in the receptive field, induced by muscle contraction, were responsible for the activation. 5. The mediators responsible for these effects are unknown, although histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and tachykinins do not appear to be essential. The increase in mechanical responsiveness was not associated with the smooth muscle contraction since leukotriene C4, histamine and tachykinins, which all caused a similar contraction to antigen, did not affect mechanical thresholds. Moreover, the antigen‐induced increases in excitability persisted beyond the duration of the smooth muscle contraction. 6. These results demonstrate that antigen‐antibody‐mediated inflammatory processes may enhance the excitability of vagal afferent nerve terminals projecting from the airway and thus may contribute to the pathophysiology of allergic airway diseases.
Experiences from Using the CORAS Methodology to Analyze a Web Application

During a field trial performed at the Norwegian telecom company NetCom from May 2003 to July 2003, a methodology for model-based risk analysis was assessed. The chosen methodology was the CORAS methodology (CORAS, 2000), which has been developed in a European research project carried out by 11 European companies and research institutes partly funded by the European Union. The risk analysis and assessment were carried out by the Norwegian research institute SINTEF in cooperation with NetCom. NetCom (www.netcom.no) is one of the main mobile phone network providers in Norway. Their â€˜MinSideâ€™ application offers their customers access to their personal account information via the Internet, enabling them to view and change the properties of their mobile phone subscription. â€˜MinSideâ€™ deals with a lot of sensitive customer information that needs to be secure, while at the same time being easily available to the customer in order for the service to remain usable and competitive. The goal of the analysis was to identify risks in relation to the use of the â€˜MinSideâ€™ application and, where possible, suggest treatments for these risks. This was achieved through two model-driven brainstorming sessions based on system documentation in the form of UML sequence diagrams and data flow diagrams.
Adverse drug events among patients receiving postsurgical opioids in a large health system: risk factors and outcomes.

PURPOSE Results of a study of postsurgical opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) within a large health system are reported. METHODS In a retrospective cohort study, data from the information database of an 11-hospital Texas health system were analyzed to (1) describe postsurgical opioid use among adult patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery over a one-year period, (2) identify ORADE risk factors and associated costs, and (3) compare clinical and economic outcomes in patients who experienced ORADEs and those who did not. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify ORADE risk factors. Propensity score-matched comparisons of outcomes in patients with and without ORADEs were conducted. RESULTS Among 6,285 patients in the study population, 6,274 (99.8%) received postsurgical opioids; 11.5% of those patients experienced an ORADE. ORADE risk factors included age (≥65 years), male sex, prior opioid use, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, regional enteritis, diverticulitis, and ulcerative colitis. Patients with multiple risk factors had higher mean hospitalization costs ($21,073) relative to patients with one risk factor ($14,110) or no risk factor ($11,433) and accounted for a disproportionately large share of overall costs; patients who experienced ORADEs were more likely to be cost and length of stay (LOS) outliers. CONCLUSION Analysis of information from a large database demonstrated that opioid-treated postsurgical inpatients who had multiple risk factors for ORADEs were more likely to have higher mean costs, greater readmission rates, and longer LOS than patients with fewer risk factors.
Malformations, genetic abnormalities, and wilms tumor

Wilms Tumor (WT) can occur in association with tumor predisposition syndromes and/or with clinical malformations. These associations have not been fully characterized at a clinical and molecular genetic level. This study aims to describe clinical malformations, genetic abnormalities, and tumor predisposition syndromes in patients with WT and to propose guidelines regarding indications for clinical and molecular genetic explorations.
Hemolysins and other characteristics that help differentiate and biotype Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus schleiferi

Reference strains and clinical isolates representing the newly defined species Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus schleiferi were examined with the battery of tests previously recommended (G.A. Hébert, C.G. Crowder, G.A. Hancock, W.R. Jarvis, and C. Thornsberry, J. Clin. Microbiol. 26:1939-1949, 1988) for other species of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). The Staph-Ident system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) supplemented with tests for synergistic hemolysis, adherence to glass, pyroglutamyl-beta-naphthylamide hydrolysis, and susceptibility to a set of five antimicrobial disks differentiated each of these species from other species of CNS and separated strains within each species into several biotypes. Most strains (95%) of S. lugdunensis produced a delta hemolysin like that seen with nine other species of CNS. Most strains (91%) of S. schleiferi produced a beta hemolysin, which is a unique characteristic among CNS. Most (95%) of the S. schleiferi but very few (12%) of the S. lugdunensis were adherence positive. Both hemolysins and adherins are potential virulence factors among CNS. Some (29%) of the S. lugdunensis were beta-lactamase positive. The S. lugdunensis were resistant to polymyxin B and bacitracin (10 U), but the S. schleiferi were susceptible to both disks. Clinical isolates of S. lugdunensis were aligned in 18 biotypes because of eight biochemical profiles and eight physiologic subtypes; isolates of S. schleiferi were in 8 biotypes because of three biochemical profiles and subtypes. These tools for correctly identifying and then biotyping two more clinical species of CNS should enhance both epidemiologic and ecologic investigations.
Effect of dietary protein regime on meat quality traits and carcase nutrient content of broilers from two commercial genotypes

1. The present study aimed to evaluate breast muscle quality and muscle myofibre density in two broiler genotypes given three dietary protein feeding regimes. 2. A total of 1440 Ross 308 and 708 broilers (720/genotype) were given one of three dietary protein regimes (Low: 192, 166 and 155 g/kg, Control: 229, 199 and 182 g/kg and High: 266, 235 and 207 g/kg for starter, grower and finisher diets respectively). On d 21 and 42, initial protein solubility, DNA and myofibre density were determined. On d 42, breast meat samples were collected for meat quality analyses. 3. There were no genotype effects on pH24, L*, a* or b* values. Thawing loss was higher in meat from the 708 than the 308 genotype. 4. Broilers given the low protein feeding regime had highest carcase fat, lowest pH24 and palest meat. The low regression coefficients between dietary protein content and changes in pH24 and lightness, however, demonstrated that dietary protein was not the principal factor influencing these traits. 5. Although sarcoplasmic protein solubility was similar among protein feeding regimes on d 21, the highest sarcoplasmic protein solubility on d 42 was in broilers on the high protein regime. 6. Myofibre density was highest in meat from broilers given the low protein regime. 7. It was concluded that dietary-protein content contributes significantly to both protein solubility and myofibre density.
The Cebpa +37‐kb enhancer directs transgene expression to myeloid progenitors and to long‐term hematopoietic stem cells

C/EBPα is expressed preferentially in myeloid compared with lymphoid or erythroid cells and directs myeloid lineage specification. C/EBPα is also expressed at lower levels in HSCs and in several nonhematopoietic tissues. The Cebpa gene has a conserved, 450‐bp segment at +37 kb that harbors enhancer‐specific epigenetic marks and is activate in a myeloid cell line. Herein, we characterize transgenic C57BL/6 mice, in which the Cebpa enhancer and 845‐bp promoter regulate a hCD4 reporter. FACS analysis, in vitro colony assays, and in vivo competitive and secondary transplantation revealed that myeloid but not MEPs or lymphoid progenitors and also functional LT‐HSCs are found almost exclusively in the Cebpa‐hCD4+ compared with hCD4− marrow population. hCD4+ CMP yielded predominantly myeloid, whereas hCD4− CMP generated mainly Meg/E colonies. Providing insight into control of CMP maturation, Cebpa and Pu.1 RNAs were preferentially expressed in hCD4+ CMP, Scl, Gata2, Gata1, Klf1, Ets1, and Fli1 predominated in hCD4− CMP, and Runx1, Myb, HoxA9, and Erg levels were similar in both. Cebpa‐hCD4 transgene expression was lacking in multiple nonhematopoietic tissues. In summary, the +37‐kb Cebpa enhancer and promoter are sufficient for marrow myeloid progenitor and LT‐HSC‐specific expression.
Bone mineral density in acromegaly: the effect of gender, disease activity and gonadal status

objective Data on bone mineral density (BMD) in acromegaly are conflicting as most previous studies collectively evaluated eugonadal and hypogonadal patients of both sexes, with or without active disease. We have evaluated BMD in 152 acromegalic patients of both sexes with varying disease activity and gonadal status.
Time after time: biological factors in the course of recurrent depression

The primary focus of this dissertation was to increase the knowledge about possible biological factors and psychopathological mechanisms (including HPA-axis functioning, one-carbon and fatty-acid metabolism), as well as some gene-environment interactions for the course of recurrent MDD (MDD-R). Studying MDD-R is important because there are indications that it represents a more biological and genetic determined MDD-subtype, which may be specifically linked to recurrence and CVD-risk. For this reason we expected these patients to deviate the strongest from healthy controls in the (patho)physiological and genetic mechanisms and to have more pronounced alterations in their course of MDD. We considered two leading hypotheses that potentially could explain the underlying mechanism for the high risk for recurrence: (I) the vulnerability-accumulation or scarring hypothesis and (II) the premorbid vulnerability hypothesis. Our aim was to investigate specific premorbid factors (e.g. genetics, childhood trauma) that are present before MDD onset as well as the specific biological factors that could play a premorbid role and/or are involved in vulnerability-accumulation ('scarring'). These biological variables were collected in different stadia in the course of MDD-R, i.e. the remitted phase, subsyndromal phase and acute depressive state. Studies in this thesis are mostly based on data collected from the participants of the DELTA study: a well-defined high-risk population for relapse and recurrence as it includes exclusively remitted patients with at least two previous depressive episodes.