Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thresholds in macroinvertebrate biodiversity and stoichiometry across water-quality gradients in Central Plains (USA) streams

Abstract N and P often limit primary and secondary production in ecosystems, but they also can cause eutrophication and negatively influence sensitive species above a certain level or threshold point. Aquatic biodiversity can have negative threshold relationships with water-quality variables at large scales, but the specific mechanism(s) driving these threshold relationships are not well established. We hypothesized that resource quality (i.e., C:P) might partly drive primary consumer (grazer and detritivore) richness thresholds by altering competitive interactions among species with differing resource demands, but might have less influence on predator richness. We estimated total N (TN), total P (TP), and turbidity thresholds for macroinvertebrate richness across trophic levels and feeding groups in Central Plains (USA) streams. We also determined if mean taxon body C:P of groups with diversity losses were negatively related to TP, a pattern that would suggest that eutrophic communities were dominated by a few species with high dietary P demands. Primary consumers were more sensitive to TN and TP (threshold mean = 1.0 mg N/L and 0.06 mg P/L) than secondary consumers (threshold mean = 0.09 mg P/L), a result supporting the resource quality hypothesis. Turbidity reduced richness regardless of feeding mode (threshold mean = 4.7 NTU), a result suggesting that turbidity and nutrient thresholds were driven by different factors. The TP-richness threshold could be driven partially by changes in food quality because the mean body C:P of shredding and collector-gathering taxa declined as TP increased (threshold mean = 0.07 and 0.75 mg P/L, respectively). Mean scraper C:P was not related to TP, a result indicating other factors might be responsible for the scraper richness threshold. Our results suggest that changes in resource quality could contribute to large-scale losses in biodiversity in nutrient-enriched lotic ecosystems. Within shredder and collector-gatherer macroinvertebrate feeding groups, P-rich food might allow faster growing taxa with high body P demands to out-compete slower growing taxa adapted to lower quality food resources. This pattern suggests that biotic integrity is directly linked to nutrients in streams and that toxicity, low dissolved O2, and increased turbidity might not be the only mechanisms leading to reductions in diversity as nutrient concentrations increase.
Comparison of Insulin Secretory Function in Two Mouse Models with Different Susceptibility to β-Cell Failure.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a susceptibility to beta-cell failure. However, subjects at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, such as those with obesity or a family history of diabetes, have been shown to display hyperinsulinemia. Although this hyperinsulinemia may be an adaptive response to insulin resistance, the possibility that insulin hypersecretion may be a primary defect has not been thoroughly investigated. The DBA/2 mouse is a model of pancreatic islet susceptibility. Unlike the resistant C57BL/6 mouse strain, the DBA/2 mouse islet fails when stressed with insulin resistance or when exposed to chronic high glucose concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare insulin secretory function in the DBA/2 and C57BL/6 strains in the absence of insulin resistance or high glucose. Insulin secretion was assessed in vivo using the iv glucose tolerance test and in vitro using isolated islets in static incubations. It was shown that DBA/2 mice hypersecreted insulin in vivo, compared with C57BL/6 mice, at 1 d and at 4 and 10 wk of age. This hypersecretion was not attributable to insulin resistance (as assessed by the insulin tolerance test) or increased parasympathetic nervous system outflow. Insulin hypersecretion was also demonstrated in vitro. This was associated with higher glycolysis and glucose oxidation, and elevated activity (but not protein levels) of islet glucokinase and hexokinase. Furthermore, GLUT2 protein levels were higher, which may explain an increase in glucokinase activity in DBA/2 mouse islets. In summary, the DBA/2 mouse, a model of islet failure, has increased glucose-mediated insulin secretion from a very early age, which is associated with an increase in glucose utilization. Further studies will determine whether there is a link between insulin hypersecretion and subsequent beta-cell failure.
Effects of phosphodiesterase III inhibition on length-dependent regulation of myocardial function in coronary surgery patients.

BACKGROUND Phosphodiesterase III inhibitors increase myocardial contractility and decrease left ventricular (LV) afterload. We studied whether these effects altered LV response to an increase in cardiac load and affected length-dependent regulation of myocardial function. METHODS Before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass, a high-fidelity pressure catheter was positioned in the left ventricle and the left atrium in 10 coronary surgery patients. LV response to an increased cardiac load, caused by leg elevation, was assessed during baseline conditions and after administration of milrinone at a dose of 20 micrograms kg-1 over 15 min. Effects on contraction were measured by changes in maximal rate of pressure development (dP/dtmax). Effects on relaxation were assessed by analysis of changes in maximum rate of pressure decrease and by analysis of the load dependency of myocardial relaxation (R = slope of the relation between the time constant of isovolumic relaxation and end systolic pressure). RESULTS Milrinone increased dP/dtmax but measures of relaxation were unaltered. Leg elevation had more effect on measures of contraction and relaxation after milrinone than at baseline. The relationship between R and changes in dP/dtmax shifted downwards and to the right with milrinone, whereas the relationship between R and changes in end diastolic pressure (EDP) shifted downwards and to the left. CONCLUSIONS This suggests that milrinone improved contraction, reduced the load dependency of LV pressure decrease, and reduced the change in EDP after leg elevation.
Role of Ferritin in the Control of the Labile Iron Pool in Murine Erythroleukemia Cells*

In vitro studies have shown that ferritin iron incorporation is mediated by a ferroxidase activity associated with ferritin H subunits (H-Ft) and a nucleation center associated with ferritin L subunits (L-Ft). To assess the role played by the ferritin subunits in regulating intracellular iron distribution, we transfected mouse erythroleukemia cells with the H-Ft subunit gene mutated in the iron-responsive element. Stable transfectants displayed high H-Ft levels and reduced endogenous L-Ft levels, resulting in a marked change in the H:L subunit ratio from 1:1 in control cells to as high as 20:1 in some transfected clones. The effects of H-Ft overexpression on the labile iron pool were determined in intact cells by a novel method based on the fluorescent metallosensor calcein. H-Ft overexpression resulted in a significant reduction in the iron pool, from 1.3 μm in control cells to 0.56 μm in H-Ft transfectants, and in higher buffering capacity following iron loads. A fraction of the H-Ft-associated iron was labile, available to cell-permeant, but not cell-impermeant, chelators. The results of this study provide the first in vivo direct demonstration of the capacity of H-Ft to sequester cell iron and to regulate the levels of the labile iron pool.
SEASONAL TREND AND SEROTYPE DISTRIBUTION OF ROTAVIRUS INFECTION IN JAPAN, 1981–2008

A total of 10,917 fecal specimens from infants and children with gastroenteritis in seven different regions of Japan in the last 3 decades were examined for rotavirus. We observed that the rotavirus peak shifted gradually from January to April (winter to early spring) during 17 seasons and the G1P[8] combination was the most predominant genotype in the last 28 years in Japan.
Cerebral response to norepinephrine compared with fluid resuscitation in ovine traumatic brain injury and systemic inflammation*

Objective:Traumatic brain injury is frequently accompanied by a systemic inflammatory response. Systemic inflammation was associated with cerebral hyperperfusion uncoupled to global oxygen metabolism in ovine head trauma. The present study investigated the cerebral effects of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) management performed by either fluid resuscitation or vasopressor treatment of low CPP induced by systemic inflammation. Design:Nonrandomized experimental study. Setting:University hospital laboratory. Subjects:A total of 12 adult sheep. Interventions, Measurements, and Main Results:Sheep were anesthetized and ventilated throughout the experimental period (13 hrs). After baseline measurements (hour 0), blunt head trauma was induced by a nonpenetrating stunner. After postinjury measurements (hour 2), all animals received continuous endotoxin infusion. At hour 10, one group (n = 6) was infused with hydroxyethyl starch until CPP reached 60–70 mm Hg. A second group (n = 6) received norepinephrine for CPP elevation. In the norepinephrine group, blood was isovolemically exchanged by hydroxyethyl starch to achieve comparable hematocrit levels. Head trauma increased intracranial pressure and decreased brain tissue oxygen tension. Endotoxemia induced a hyperdynamic cardiovascular response with increased internal carotid blood flow in the presence of systemic hypotension and decreased CPP. Hydroxyethyl starch infusion further increased internal carotid blood flow from (mean ± sd) 247 ± 26 (hour 10) to 342 ± 42 mL/min (hour 13) and intracranial pressure from 20 ± 4 (hour 10) to a maximum of 25 ± 3 mm Hg (hour 12) but did not significantly affect brain tissue oxygen tension, sinus venous oxygen saturation and oxygen extraction fraction. Norepinephrine increased internal carotid blood flow from 268 ± 19 to 342 ± 58 mL/min and intracranial pressure from 22 ± 11 to 24 ± 11 mm Hg (hour 10 vs. hour 13) but significantly increased sinus venous oxygen saturation from 49 ± 4 (hour 10) to a maximum of 59 ± 6 mm Hg (hour 12) and decreased oxygen extraction fraction. The increase in brain tissue oxygen tension during norepinephrine treatment was not significant. Conclusion:We conclude that despite identical carotid blood flows, only CPP management with norepinephrine reduced the cerebral oxygen deficit in this model.
A REASSESSMENT OF THE EXTENT OF THE EASTERN AZTEC EMPIRE IN THE MESOAMERICAN GULF LOWLANDS

Abstract Ethnohistoric documents have been used to define the eastern limits of the Aztec empire in the Mesoamerican southern Gulf lowlands with contradictory results. Until the research presented here, complementary archaeological evidence for Aztec imperial interactions has largely evaded detection in this region. In this paper, I review the documentary data for Aztec expansion and interactions near its eastern frontier and present the most robust archaeological evidence discovered to date that supports this imperial presence in the southern Gulf lowlands. A new model for imperial-local interaction is also introduced.
A Phase 2 Study of the Hsp90 Inhibitor AUY922 as Treatment for Patients with Refractory Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

ABSTRACT Background: AUY922 is an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Hsp90 inhibitors induce kit degradation in preclinical gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) models. This trial was designed to determine the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with GIST refractory to or intolerant of imatinib and sunitinib. Methods: Eligible patients received AUY922 70 mg/mg2 by intravenous (IV) infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of 21-day cycles. Treatment continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: Between December 2011 and January 2015, 25 patients were enrolled (median age, 63 years; 56% male) and received a median of 2 cycles (range: 1–12) of AUY922 treatment. Thirty-four patients were planned, but enrollment was stopped early due to slow accrual. Median PFS was 3.9 months (95% CI: 2.5, 5.3) and median OS was 8.5 months (95% CI: 5.2, 16.7). Radiographic response was evaluated in 21 patients; one patient achieved PR (4%) with another 15 having best response of stable disease (60%). The most common treatment-related adverse event was diarrhea (60% all grades). Reversible ocular toxicities that resulted in drug hold (24%) or reduction (8%) were also observed. Conclusion: AUY922 produced a median PFS which compares favorably to historical controls of placebo (6 weeks) for patients refractory to treatment with imatinib. While diarrhea and ocular toxicities were common, the majority of patients received treatment until disease progression.
Menopausal hormone therapy and risk of colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) may influence colorectal cancer risk. A total of 136,275 postmenopausal women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition were followed for an average of 9 years, during which time 1,186 colorectal cancers were diagnosed. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models stratified by center and age, and adjusted for body mass index, smoking, diabetes, physical activity and alcohol consumption. Compared to never use of HT at study enrolment, current use of estrogen‐only (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.79–1.31) or estrogen plus progestin (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.77–1.14) was not significantly associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, and these associations did not vary by recency, duration, route of administration, regimen or specific constituent of HT. Our results show no significant association of estrogen‐only or estrogen plus progestin therapy with colorectal cancer risk.
A survey of practices of tunnel preparation among dentists who attended the 100th FDI Annual World Dental Congress.

AIM To study the practice of tunnel restoration (TR) among dentists who attended the 100th World Dental Federation (FDI) Annual World Dental Congress (AWDC). METHODS An anonymous questionnaire was administered to a sample of 150 dentists who attended the 100th FDI AWDC in 2012. The participants were asked about TR and their practice of TR. They were also asked to provide their years of dental practice and the countries in which they received their dental training. RESULTS Fifteen respondents were not performing restoration, and they were excluded from analysis. Most respondents (123/135) practiced general dentistry. Their basic dental training was from 46 countries and regions. Most of them (n = 117, 87%) knew about TR, and 53% (n = 71) practiced it. There were 12 dentists (9%) who had performed more than 10 TRs in the previous 12 months. Practice of TR among dentists who graduated more than 10 years previously was more common (odds ratio 5.87-5.98) than those who graduated <3 years previously. CONCLUSIONS The current study found that about half of the surveyed dentists practiced TR, although most of them knew about it. Tunnel restoration was performed more frequently among dentists who had more than 10 years of clinical experience.
Concentration instability of sedimenting spheres in a second-order fluid

The slow sedimentation of a dilute suspension of spherical particles in a second-order fluid is investigated using theory and numerical simulations. We first analyze the motion of a single isolated spherical particle sedimenting under gravity when placed in a linear flow field. In the limit of weak viscoelasticity (low Deborah number), the velocity of the particle is calculated, and the nonlinear coupling of the settling motion with the local flow field is shown to result in a lateral drift in a direction perpendicular to gravity. By the same effect, the mean flow driven by weak horizontal density fluctuations in a large-scale suspension of hydrodynamically interacting particles will also result in a horizontal drift, which has the effect of reinforcing the fluctuations as we demonstrate using a linear stability analysis. Based on this mechanism, an initially homogeneous suspension is expected to develop concentration fluctuations, a prediction supported by previous experiments on sedimentation in polymer.
[Relation between alkaline phosphatase in gingival crevicular fluid of implant and the curing result].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation between alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and prognosis. METHODS We measured the alkaline phosphatase in gingival crevicular fluid among 56 cases of implant tooth which included 2 failed cases, 5 cases in bad oral hygiene and with gingivitis, compared with the normal group consisted of 10 healthy persons. RESULTS The difference of ALP level between normal group and success implant group is not significant, but between normal group and success with gingivitis group is significant(P < 0.05). The ALP level of 2 failed cases are highest (because of few failed cases, no statistics was done). CONCLUSIONS The ALP level in GCF is supposed to be an important index in evaluating the result of the implant.
Effect of Size on the Acute Toxicity of Crude Oil to the Mangrove Oyster, Carasostrea gasar

The acute toxic effects of a Nigerian crude oil (Egbogoro Liner II) to the mangrove oyster Carasostrea gasar were studied in bioassays. Tests were conducted over a 96-hr period after acclimatization of individuals in the laboratory, initially with a population comprising a broad size categories (11 - 60 mm) in range finding tests. The tests were semi-static bioassays in which the exposure media were replaced every 24 hours, at which the oysters were also examined for mortality. Subsequent experimentation was designed to compare the toxicities of oil to small (10 - 30 mm) and large (41 - 60 mm) oysters. LC 50 values were obtained by graphical interpolation. Significant differences in effects at each time interval between small and large oysters were determined using the Man-Whitney tests on percentage mortality values. Relative toxicity tests showed consistently lower mortalities for small oysters at 24-hr, 48-hr and 96-hr periods, with Mann-Withney tests showing significant differences (p 50 value for the larger oysters (135 ppm) was lower than that of the smaller ones (545 ppm), implying that smaller oysters (in the size ranges used) were more tolerant to crude oil than the larger ones. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 8 (2) 2004 :19-22
Coffee (Coffea canephora)

#Coffea canephora# possede l'une des aires de repartition les plus larges du sous-genre #Coffea# : elle s'etend d'ouest en est, de la Guinee au Soudan et, du nord au sud, du Cameroun a l'Angola. La conservation a long terme de cette espece s'effectue en champs a cause du comportement peu orthodoxe de ses graines lors de leur stockage. La premiere analyse de la diversite genetique de cette espece a ete realisee a partir du polymorphisme enzymatique. L'utilisation des marqueurs moleculaires est recente et les resultats presentes dans ce chapitre constituent les premieres donnees sur la variabilite moleculaire de #C. canephora#. L'analyse de la diversite agromorphologique ne permet pas de reveler une forte structuration de l'espece. A l'aide des locus isoenzymatiques discriminant les groupes guineen et congolais, un schema de selection recurrente reciproque de #C. canephora# fonde sur l'utilisation de ces deux groupes a ete propose et son efficacite a ete validee par la suite, ce qui confirme qu'il est important de connaitre la structure de la diversite pour exploiter au mieux les ressources genetiques. Les resultats de l'etude sur les marqueurs moleculaires devraient permettre d'ameliorer ce schema de selection. Un certain nombre de recommandations pour assurer une meilleure gestion #ex situ# des ressources genetiques est avance
Pauwels' Classification of Femoral Neck Fractures: Correct Interpretation of the Original

Pauwels' classification has been in use as a therapeutic guideline since 1935. Although its application is currently limited, it is still referred to and frequently misinterpreted by authors. The causes of this misinterpretation relate first of all to the degrees of the inclination of the fracture line in Degrees II and III of the classification. The correct values of Pauwels' classification are the following: Degree I, up to 30 degrees; Degree II, between 30 and 50 degrees; and Degree III, 50 degrees and more.
Comparison of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and Heidelberg Retina Tomograph III Optic Nerve Head Parameters in Glaucoma

Background: To evaluate the agreement between the optic nerve head (ONH) measurements obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography/scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SD-OCT/SLO) and the Heidelberg retinal tomograph III (HRT-III), and to compare the ONH measurements of both devices in different glaucoma types. Methods: In a prospective study, 30 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 30 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) were enrolled. All patients underwent SD-OCT/SLO and HRT-III evaluation of the ONH during the same visit. Agreement between measurements of SD-OCT/SLO and HRT-III were evaluated by determination of intraclass correlation coeficients. In addition, mean ONH measurements obtained with both devices were compared between POAG and PXG patient groups. Results: Mean SD-OCT/SLO measurements were greater than those of HRT-III, except for mean and maximum cup depth. Intraclass correlation coefficient values for disc area, rim area, cup area, cup/disc area ratio, mean cup depth and maximum cup depth were 0.367, 0.213, 0.632, 0.681, 0.775 and 0.661, respectively. No significant differences were found between ONH parameters of POAG and PXG patients as measured with both devices (p > 0.01). Conclusion: ONH measurements with SD-OCT/SLO and HRT-III did not show clinically acceptable agreement in glaucoma patients. This precludes interchangeable use of these measurements in clinical practice. PXG and POAG patient groups displayed similar ONH measurements with both devices.