Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALLOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS AND THE EVOLUTION OF ALLOMETRY

Morphological traits often covary within and among species according to simple power laws referred to as allometry. Such allometric relationships may result from common growth regulation, and this has given rise to the hypothesis that allometric exponents may have low evolvability and constrain trait evolution. We formalize hypotheses for how allometry may constrain morphological trait evolution across taxa, and test these using more than 300 empirical estimates of static (within‐species) allometric relations of animal morphological traits. Although we find evidence for evolutionary changes in allometric parameters on million‐year, cross‐species time scales, there is limited evidence for microevolutionary changes in allometric slopes. Accordingly, we find that static allometries often predict evolutionary allometries on the subspecies level, but less so across species. Although there is a large body of work on allometry in a broad sense that includes all kinds of morphological trait–size relationships, we found relatively little information about the evolution of allometry in the narrow sense of a power relationship. Despite the many claims of microevolutionary changes of static allometries in the literature, hardly any of these apply to narrow‐sense allometry, and we argue that the hypothesis of strongly constrained static allometric slopes remains viable.
An in vitro study on the effect of vinca alkaloid, vinorelbine, on chromatin histone, HMGB proteins and induction of apoptosis in mice non-adherent bone marrow cells

Abstract Context: Vinoreline is a vinca alkaloid anticancer drug widely used in cancer therapy. Drugs are not target specific, therefore might affect normal tissues/cells, in which bone marrow is the important one. Objective: To elucidate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of vinca alkaloid anti cancer drug, vinorelbine, on mice non-adherent bone marrow cells in vitro. Materials and methods: Non-adherent bone marrow cells were isolated and exposed to various concentrations (0–160 µg/ml) for 4 h at 23 °C. The chromatin proteins were analyzed by SDS PAGE and western blot. Fluorescent dye staining of the cells, anion superoxide and DNA fragmentations assays were also employed. Result: The results from MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays represented reduction of the cells viability. Extractability of histones and HMG proteins contrasted with difficulty as their content was decreased on SDS-gel upon increasing drug concentration as western blots confirmed it. The amount of degradation form of PARP (89 KD) increased significantly in a dose dependent manner. Increase in anion superoxide production and DNA fragmentation together with cytological detection of chromatin condensation and cellular damage upon exposure of the cells to vinorelbine were indicative of apoptosis induction in these normal cells. Conclusion: Vinorelbine is genotoxic in non-adherent bone marrow cells as affects chromatin components, DNA, histone and HMGB1 proteins and induces apoptosis.
Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of root canal surfaces prepared with three rotary endodontic systems: Lightspeed, ProTaper and EndoWave.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the cleaning efficiency, preparation time, instrument deformation and fracture with LightSpeed (LS), ProTaper (PT) and EndoWave (Ew) rotary instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 45 freshly extracted human mandibular premolars were subjected for the study. They were divided into three groups, each group consisting of 15 teeth. Group 1: The canals were prepared with LS system; Group 2: PT rotary system, Group 3: Ew rotary system. All the groups were prepared according to manufacturer's recommendation, using 5.25% sodium hypochlorite and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (dent wash, prime dent) alternately as an irrigants. Crowns of each tooth were removed with diamond disks at the level of cemento enamel junction. Canal length was determined by placing a size 10 K-file. The working length was 0.5 mm short of canal length. Two longitudinal grooves were prepared on the lingual and buccal surfaces of each root to facilitate vertical splitting with a chisel after canal instrumentation. The sections were then observed under scanning electron microscope for presence or absence of debris and smear layer and the photographs were taken at coronal, middle and apical 1/3 with a magnification of × 200 and × 1000 respectively. The time taken to enlarge each canal was recorded in minutes and seconds. The instruments were examined after every use for deformation. The scores recorded were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS There was statistically significant difference with regard to removal of debris and smear layer at coronal, middle and apical third for LS versus PT and LS versus Ew (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between PT and Ew. The mean preparation time for LS, PT and Ew was 1.76, 2.50 and 2.75 respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION The study demonstrated that, LS instrumentation removed debris and smear layer effectively with shorter preparation time and Ew instrument showed deformation.
Occurrence of caldesmon (a calmodulin-binding protein) in cultured cells: comparison of normal and transformed cells.

Caldesmon is a calmodulin-binding and F-actin-binding protein originally purified from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. This protein binds to F-actin filaments in a Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent "flip-flop" fashion, thereby regulating the function of actin filaments. Here we report that various lines of cultured cells contain a Mr 77,000 protein that specifically reacts with the affinity-purified caldesmon antibody raised against chicken gizzard caldesmon . Among the fibroblast proteins that had been pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, the Mr 77,000 protein was the only protein band detected on the NaDodSO4 gel that reacted with the anticaldesmon . The subcellular distribution of the Mr 77,000 protein was investigated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique using the anticaldesmon . In all fibroblast cell lines examined, the immunofluorescence localized along the cellular stress fibers and in leading edges of the cell. In Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells (S7-1), however, the distribution of the fluorescence changed to a diffuse and blurred appearance. These staining patterns of anticaldesmon obtained with the normal and transformed cells coincided with those of antiactin in the corresponding states, strongly suggesting the functional linkage between the Mr 77,000 protein and actin filaments. We propose to refer to this Mr 77,000 protein as caldesmon 77. The cellular level of caldesmon 77 in transformed S7-1 cells decreased to about one-third of that in their normal counterparts (cell line no. 7). Essentially the same result was obtained with normal rat kidney cells infected with the temperature-sensitive transformation mutant Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus (68 N2 clone). The cellular level of caldesmon 77 observed at a permissive temperature (35 degrees C) was about one-third of that at a nonpermissive temperature (38.5 degrees C). These changes of caldesmon 77 in transformed cells may correlate with the loss of Ca2+ regulation in the transformed state.
Emergence of West Nile Virus in Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Communities of the New Mexico Rio Grande Valley

Abstract The first appearances of West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) in New Mexico were reported in late summer to early fall 2002. Several dead birds tested positive for WNV, and 78 equine cases were confirmed. All mosquito pools tested (n = 268) were negative. A statewide surveillance program was launched in May 2003 to study the emergence and spread of this new arbovirus in mosquitoes from the Rio Grande valley. Mosquitoes were trapped at 32 sites along a 750-km stretch of the Rio Grande valley. Sites were trapped for one night either weekly or biweekly, by using CO2-baited CDC light traps and gravid traps. Pools of captured mosquitoes were tested for WNV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. By mid-July 2003, WNV levels in the mosquito population had reached levels that were detectable by the surveillance program. Positive pools of mosquitoes were found in the Rio Grande valley from mid-July through late September. In total, 75 positive pools were found, from sites throughout the study area. The predominant species infected with WNV in this region were Culex tarsalis (Coquillett) in rural areas, and Culex salinarius (Coquillett) and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus (Say) in urban areas. There were 202 human cases and 438 equine cases of WNV in New Mexico in 2003, which corresponded well in time with the positive mosquitoes. Our results seemed to be consistent with introduction of WNV in late summer 2002, followed by a period of transmission and amplification cycles between local avian hosts and mosquito vectors.
Analytical Performance of Multiplex Real-Time PCR for Six Sexually Transmitted Pathogens.

BACKGROUND Most organisms that cause sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) are fastidious pathogens that are difficult to detect with conventional microbiological methods and the proportions of multiple infections were noted up to 39.3% among the STI-positive subjects. However, only a few multiplex PCR and multiplex real-time PCR tests that can screen more than six microorganisms that cause STDs have been assessed. METHODS A total of 114 endocervical swabs (ThinPrep PAPTEST PreservCyt Solution, Hologic Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA) were collected from healthy Korean women. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) were detected by uniplex PCR with Seeplex kits and by multiplex real-time PCR with Real-Q Kits (Biosewoom Inc., Seoul, Korea). To evaluate analytical sensitivity, plasmids containing target genes from CT, NG, MG, MH, UU, and TV were serially diluted five times with saline buffer and replicated eight times per dilution. RESULTS Real-Q STIs Kit assays showed 100% sensitivity for detecting MH, MG, CT, TV, NG and 94.1% sensitivity for detecting UU. In addition, it showed 100% specificity for UU, MH, MG, CT, TV, and NG. The analytic sensitivity of UU (95% probit = 17.3 copy/μL, 95% CI = 11.6 to 138.6) and MH (95% probit = 30.9 copy/μL, 95% CI = 20.6 to 169.9) was relatively lower than for others pathogens. Thus, the cutoff Ct value of < 45 for UU and MH and a cutoff Ct value of < 38 for CT, MH, NG, TV could minimize differences in detection limit among the six STIs (95% probit values = 5.3 to 14.6) and to optimize overall diagnostic performance. CONCLUSIONS For medical applications of a multiplex real-time PCR assay, one kind of cutoff value, which is according to manufacturer's instructions, was generally used without the consideration of lowest actual detectable concentration of each target substance. However, analytical performance at the low concentration limit often defines the ability of the test to diagnose disease and determine treatment endpoints. Therefore, suitable cutoffs for negative or positive screens by multiplex real-time PCR should be evaluated for accurate diagnosis.
A Continent-Wide Migratory Divide in North American Breeding Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)

Populations of most North American aerial insectivores have undergone steep population declines over the past 40 years but the relative importance of factors operating on breeding, wintering, or stopover sites remains unknown. We used archival light-level geolocators to track the phenology, movements and winter locations of barn swallows (Hirdundo rustica; n = 27) from populations across North America to determine their migratory connectivity. We identified an east-west continental migratory divide for barn swallows with birds from western regions (Washington State, USA (n = 8) and Saskatchewan, Canada (n = 5)) traveling shorter distances to wintering areas ranging from Oregon to northern Colombia than eastern populations (Ontario (n = 3) and New Brunswick (n = 10), Canada) which wintered in South America south of the Amazon basin. A single swallow from a stable population in Alabama shared a similar migration route to eastern barn swallows but wintered farther north in northeast Brazil indicating a potential leap frog pattern migratory among eastern birds. Six of 9 (67%) birds from the two eastern populations and Alabama underwent a loop migration west of fall migration routes including around the Gulf of Mexico travelling a mean of 2,224 km and 722 km longer on spring migration, respectively. Longer migration distances, including the requirement to cross the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico and subsequent shorter sedentary wintering periods, may exacerbate declines for populations breeding in northeastern North America.
Adverse Effects Related to Thionamide Drugs and Their Dose Regimen

The authors studied 389 Graves' hyperthyroid patients receiving either high propylthiouracil (PTU) or methimazole (MMI) daily doses or low doses to evaluate whether adverse effects were related to the thionamide drugs or its daily dose regimen. Group 1 patients (n = 286) received high PTU (728 † 216 mg/day, n = 92) or MMI (60 † 19 mg/day, n =94) doses, and group 2 patients (n =103) were treated with low PTU (255 † 85 mg/day, n =39) or MMI (23 † 10 mg/day, n = 64) doses. Major adverse effects were observed in 11 (2.8%) patients. Of these, four (1.0%) had agranulocytosis, two (0.5%) were granulocytopenic and five (1.3%) had hepatotoxicity. Agranulocytosis occurred in two patients from each group, 0.7% and 1.9%, respectively from group 1 and group 2. There was no significant difference between the groups or the types of thionamide. there also was no correlation with the patients' age. All of the patients were hyperthyroid, and its onset occurred in the first to third month of treatment. Full recovery was achieved in all cases after drug withdrawal. Four of 5 patients with hepatotoxicity were treated with high PTU doses, and one patient received low MMI doses (p < .05). All patients were euthyroid. Arthralgias, skin rash and gastric intolerance, theminor adverse effects of thionamides studied, were observed in 52 (13.4%) of the patients. Although no significant differences were found, most of the patients experiencing side effects were from group 1 an received MMI therapy. These adverse effects did not demand drug withdrawal. The present study showed that adverse effects of thionamide drugs were similar in both high-and low-dose regimens. These undesirable effects demand a strict follow-up, and the high dose regimen for Graves' disease treatment in advised for patients with particularly severe symptoms.
La fonction musculaire au niveau de la hanche chez les patients présentant un conflit fémoro-acétabulaire symptomatique

Le conflit femoro-acetabulaire (femoroacetabular impingement, FAI) est une pathologie mecanique de la hanche qui peut causer des douleurs et limitations fonctionnelles. Le but de cette these etait d’etudier la fonction musculaire au niveau de la hanche chez des patients presentant un FAI symptomatique. La fonction musculaire de la hanche a ete evaluee, dans un premier temps, chez des patients avant qu’ils ne subissent une operation. Ces patients demontraient un deficit de force qui pourrait etre explique par de l’inhibition musculaire. Cependant, ce deficit de force n’etait pas associe a une plus grande fatigabilite musculaire. Dans un deuxieme temps, les alterations de force musculaire ont ete evaluees chez des patients ayant subi une arthroscopie de la hanche. Apres l’operation, les patients recuperaient un niveau de force normal au niveau de tous les groupes musculaires de la hanche excepte les flechisseurs. Le cas d’un joueur de hockey sur glace ayant subi une chirurgie ouverte aux deux hanches pour traiter un FAI bilateral a aussi ete decrit. On a demontre que la dehiscence de la bandelette ileo-tibiale pouvait survenir apres chirurgie, empecher l’augmentation de force musculaire des abducteurs de la hanche, et retarder la reprise du sport. Enfin, un protocole d’evaluation du taux de developpement de la force normalise, variable permettant d’estimer l’inhibition musculaire de la hanche, a ete propose chez des sujets sains. La fiabilite et reproductibilite des resultats ont ete montrees au niveau des adducteurs, rotateurs externes, et flechisseurs de la hanche. Ces resultats montrent que ces patients ont une fonction musculaire alteree au niveau de la hanche, qui est toutefois recupere apres une operation.
Role of endogenous glucocorticoids in the healing of gastric erosions and chronic gastric ulcers in rats

To investigate the role of endogenous glucocorticoids in the healing of gastric lesions, we compared the healing of indomethacin- or cold-restraint-induced gastric erosions as well as aceticacid-induced ulcers in sham-operated rats, adrenalectomized rats and adrenalectomized rats with corticosterone replacement. Adrenalectomy was performed immediately after the formation of gastric erosions (4 h after indomethacin administration or 6 h after the onset of cold-restraint stress) or chronic ulcers (in 3 days after ingestion of acetic acid into the luminal side of the stomach). All ulcerogenic stimuli caused an increase in corticosterone production. Adrenalectomy created corticosterone deficiency and delayed the healing of gastric erosions and chronic ulcers. Replacing corticosterone reversed the deleterious effect of adrenalectomy on healing of gastric damage in adrenalectomized rats. These results suggest that glucocorticoids participate in natural healing processes of injured gastric mucosa. The data obtained also indicate that participation of glucocorticoid in the healing of gastric lesions is more evident under prostaglandin deficient conditions.
Fat-Related Anthropometric Variables and Regional Patterns of Body Size and Adiposity of Adolescents in Aba South LGA, Abia State, Nigeria

Aim: This study assessed fat-related anthropometric variables and regional patterns of body size and adiposity of adolescents in Aba South LGA. Methods: A total number of 600 adolescents who were secondary school students aged 10 to 19 years wereselected from 61 registered secondary schools. A multi-random sampling technique was used to select the patients. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained from the patients who participated in the study. Each patient was subjected to weight, height, mid–upper arm circumference (MUAC), and skinfolds measurements using standard methods. Body fat percentage was calculated by the formulas described by Slaughter, Siris, and Shailk equations. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to examine the gender-specific anthropometric indices. Chi-square and independent t test were also applied to determine the differences between the parameters or variables of the genders at P< . 05. Results: The respondents aged 19 years had the highest measurement for triceps (14.60 mm), thigh (35.05 mm), and MUAC (25.95 mm), while those aged 18 years had the highest measurement for suprailiac (15.00 mm) and subscapular (16.94 mm). Females had more fat deposits than males in all the skinfold sites. They also had a significantly (P = .05) higher body fat percentage than males. A multiple regression analysis revealed that maximum calf fat was a strong predictor of body fat percentage of the patients. Conclusion: High prevalence of obesity was found in this study, and the 3 equations of body fat percentage showed similar findings that more females than males had higher body fat percentage.
Relationships Between Countermovement Jump Ground Reaction Forces and Jump Height, Reactive Strength Index, and Jump Time

Abstract Barker, LA, Harry, JR, and Mercer, JA. Relationships between countermovement jump ground reaction forces and jump height, reactive strength index, and jump time. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 248–254, 2018—The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ground reaction force (GRF) variables to jump height, jump time, and the reactive strength index (RSI). Twenty-six, Division-I, male, soccer players performed 3 maximum effort countermovement jumps (CMJs) on a dual-force platform system that measured 3-dimensional kinetic data. The trial producing peak jump height was used for analysis. Vertical GRF (Fz) variables were divided into unloading, eccentric, amortization, and concentric phases and correlated with jump height, RSI (RSI = jump height/jump time), and jump time (from start to takeoff). Significant correlations were observed between jump height and RSI, concentric kinetic energy, peak power, concentric work, and concentric displacement. Significant correlations were observed between RSI and jump time, peak power, unload Fz, eccentric work, eccentric rate of force development (RFD), amortization Fz, amortization time, second Fz peak, average concentric Fz, and concentric displacement. Significant correlations were observed between jump time and unload Fz, eccentric work, eccentric RFD, amortization Fz, amortization time, average concentric Fz, and concentric work. In conclusion, jump height correlated with variables derived from the concentric phase only (work, power, and displacement), whereas Fz variables from the unloading, eccentric, amortization, and concentric phases correlated highly with RSI and jump time. These observations demonstrate the importance of countermovement Fz characteristics for time-sensitive CMJ performance measures. Researchers and practitioners should include RSI and jump time with jump height to improve their assessment of jump performance.
Behavioral responses to sublethal cadmium exposure within an experimental aquatic food web

The foraging and predator‐avoidance behaviors of mayfly (Baetis tricaudatus) nymphs and predator‐prey interactions were investigated under differing combinations of cadmium concentration and predation risk. Predators consisted of stonefly (Kogotus nonus) nymphs, juvenile brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae), either alone or in combination. Organisms were exposed to 0, 0.5, or 5.0 μg/L Cd for 7 d (invertebrates) or 30 d (vertebrates) prior to observation in artificial stream channels. Behavioral observations (20‐min duration) were made both day and night over a 24‐h period. Mayfly feeding rate was assessed by image analysis of grazed diatom mats cultured on ceramic tiles. Both predators and cadmium produced significant effects on the behavior of B. tricaudatus and K. nonus nymphs, with mayflies showing a hierarchical response in the presence of multiple predators. A significant increase in activity was observed in S. fontinalis exposed to 5.0 μg/L Cd, with significant decreases in capture efficiency of prey items apparent at 0.5 μg/L Cd. Conversely, the foraging behavior of R. cataractae was unaffected by cadmium, possibly as a result of species‐specific cadmium tolerance. Such sublethal effects of a contaminant on the energy budgets of individuals and the interactions between species have implications for community structure in aquatic food webs.